“I think we have room for two maybe three houses more. Then we can head back. How does that sound?” He questioned.
Crystal nodded her head in agreement and Mindy found a bit of lively spark she once had, “That sounds like a great idea, this has been one of our better runs don't you think?”
Javier nodded his head all while he stood up and grabbed his personal belongings, “It has. I thank you guys in advance for being a good group. I don't know about you but I'm ready to get the hell out of here. So, let's hurry up.” He ordered.
Quinta placed the lid on her half of salad and rolled her shoulders before she lifted the straps over her shoulders again.
She looked down at Dane only to chuckle under her breath, “Are yuh ready or are yuh too full from suckin’ down dem sausages?” She asked.
Dane quirked his brow at Quinta before he stood up and towered over her, “There's no such thing as being too full of sausage.” He said while he rubbed his stomach.
Quinta couldn't help but roll her eyes at Dane but she was happy to be near him again.
Now that the group was in a groove it didn't take them long to knock out the first two houses. The dangers of the mission seemed to have been forgotten when the team's vibe was casual. This set them all in a false sense of security. Although there was a wriggling feeling in Dane and Quinta's stomach, they ignored the signs.
This seemed too peaceful, too easy, and too quiet.
Soon they approached what they all agreed would be the last stop of the day. After all these houses in stifling heat they were tired. Walking up to the third and final house that rested along the water's edge, Quinta nudged against Dane softly before she smiled and shook her head. If there was ever a moment they could be near each other, they took it. The relaxed nature of this mission was easy lose themselves into.
The tip of Mindy's tongue poked from between her lips as she turned the hook of the lock. A sharp, distinct click sounded around them on the porch and she slowly pushed the door open. In an instant, the overwhelming stench of bleach mixed with rot and old blood stung their senses. All of them stepped into the large home. Opening to a gruesome scene, Dane felt his stomach plummet at a sickening rate. Quinta placed both hands over her nose and mouth while she held her breath.
Sun filtered in from the French doors that would have led out to a scenic backyard and pool area. But that's not what caught the attention of the group. In the far corner of the sitting room, there was a large pile of freshly decapitated corpses. The once white carpet was soggy and a dense, off color brown from the blood that saturated through the fibers. The walls were riddled with several deliberately placed hand prints. Some brown and faded, others a vibrant red and still wet. From the ceiling fan, the banister of the stairs, and chair legs hung severed heads. They were each gagged by a wad of bloodied fabric. Holes had been banged and punched in along the walls. The cabinet doors had been removed from the kitchen. And bloody drag marks led a countless trail along the floor.
This was not the work of the undead.
Javier began to shake his head as he stepped further into the home and waved them along. Quinta's head darted around and stared in horror while Crystal kept a firm hold of her crowbar and Mindy stayed close to Dane.
“What's dis?” Quinta whispered.
Javier stopped at the sound of scurrying scrapes against the floor above them. A mad, low chuckle sounded from within the home only for Javier to reach around and grab his sawed-off shotgun.
“Wendigo.” He whispered under his breath. Javier looked to Dane and nudged his head over towards the stairs, “Keep close to me. All of you.” He demanded.
Dane had heard about Wendigos before in a sense of the native lore they use to represent. At this point he didn't know what exactly to expect but the only one word crossed his mind with a fierce prevalence. Cannibal. Dane immediately took his bat from its holster and followed.
Once at the foot of the steps, Javier stopped because a curdled voice greeted them, “Oh. Oh. Oh. It's been so long since company has come to see me. Why...did you bring flowers? Chocolates? Blood?” The voice chattered before it released a joyous laugh, “Or. or. or. Sweet, sweet flesh. Oh...how I love flesh. And eyes. The prettiest ones make the best tea. Yes. Yes. Yes. One. Two. Three. Hee, hee! Four. Five. Just for ME? How lucky. Live ones too. The ones I find are so.... bitter.... and old. Full of pus. You.......yes YOU will make a wonderful gift. Your skin will feel so lovely against mine.”
Silence filled the home while they all held their breath. Mindy stood in the back with her hands tucked beneath her jaw. Crystal stepped ahead of Quinta who had already pulled her machetes out and held them at the ready. Dane's blood froze in shock.
Javier took a few more steps up only for a long creak to echo through, “Oh. Now that just won't do.” The voice called from the direction they had just come.
Mindy's stomach dropped and her mouth widened while she peered up and saw it through the hole in the ceiling. Its hair was stringy, it's face was covered in dirt and fecal matter, the gums around its teeth were inflamed, engorged with blood, and seeped with pus.
Its features twisted up in a snarl while it hissed a whisper, “Hi.” He quipped before he jumped on top of her.
Mindy's screams were cut short once he landed on her back, its long nails were ripped and torn around the cuticles from the constant picking he had put on himself. The wind was knocked out of Mindy's body and he cupped his hands beneath her jaw in an instant. Pulling back with a strength that she didn't expect, he grinned down at her and panted passionately while her legs kicked and her arms flailed. He was fully intent from ripping that pretty head from her body.
In an instant Crystal had rushed once again around Quinta and connected the hook of her crowbar into the Wendigo's neck. Mindy gasped for air and began to cough and crawl away. Quinta was quick to her aid and pulled Mindy to her knees with Dane's help. Crystal continued to strike the Wendigo with her bar while Javier stumbled over and proceeded to slam his boot against the bloodied face of the animal. Mindy's shrieking wails echoed throughout the home as she collapsed on Quinta's petite form. Quinta fell onto her back and held around Mindy's back and shoulders.
The Wendigo was long dead but that did not stop Crystal or Javier from their adrenaline powered attack. Its face was unrecognizable by the time they had finished. Crystal leaned over and panted out while the metal clattered beside her feet. Javier licked his bottom lip generously while he reeled back a bit and finally turned to see that Mindy had yet to calm down.
Going over to her, he hooked both of his arms beneath Mindy's armpits and lifted her to her feet, “Come here. Come here.” He whispered to Mindy.
Javier pushed Mindy's face into his chest and rocked from side to side. His fingers dug into her short blonde locks and Quinta looked up at Dane with a look of disbelief. Dane reached down to bring Quinta up to her feet with a pant.
His hands felt along her face and cheeks, “Are you okay?” He asked in a hurried whisper.
Quinta could only nod her head. Her own heart was in her throat. In that moment Dane realized just how useless he had been in a shocked realization. If he didn't steel himself better to handle these wild horrors in the future he could be finished off if he had the lack of reliable team mates. As would Quinta.
Standing straight, Crystal pressed her palm against her forehead before she straightened up, grabbed the crowbar, and turned towards the rest of them.
“That would explain why the lack of walkers.” She said in a matter of fact tone. Crystal rubbed her hand against Mindy's back, “We should go now. I've had enough.”
Crystal was the first one to hobble past Dane and Quinta and open the front door. She made her way down the steps and looked back expectantly into the home. Agreeing with Crystal to get the hell out of there, Quinta lifted Mindy's bag and held it up to Dane. There was not one argument from the others. The vote to return home was unanimous.
Getting back to sanctuary took a little longer th
an normal since Mindy was still wobbling against Javier. Quinta was in a daze because she'd never in her life encountered or even heard of a Wendigo before. The sun beat down on their heads as they made the long trek across the bridge into safety and towards Sanctuary. Quinta stared out towards the water lost in thought about what would have happened if Crystal hadn't acted in time. That the infected could be both cognitive and sane enough to speak. This was all how the virus affected each person. But could one pass as “human” and still be...out of their minds? She then turned her attention up at Javier, Mindy, and Crystal who walked ahead of them. What a horrible end to the day.
Dane walked side by side to Quinta with his bat in one hand. The other swayed close to hers and in stride touched. Quinta figured that because they were so closely huddled together that it was an accident. Dane's knuckles brushed against the back of her hand before his fingers hooked hers and laced them together. Quinta looked down for a moment before she tilted her head up at him. He glanced down at her from the corner of his eye and gripped them tightly. To see those blue eyes looking at her with a knowing glance made her heart soar. Slowly, her lips broke into a smile all while she glanced down at the cracked ridden road. Her fingers slowly clasped around his hand.
They had survived another trip, all of them shaken but safe. Still, there was the meeting with Leon that would now trouble them.
They continued to walk hand in hand back until they arrived to the thick, metal walls of their home. Once again, they were separated, stripped, thoroughly washed, given their share of what they collected, and paid. Mindy was issued to be checked out at the medical ward to which Crystal accompanied her. Quinta stood outside of the building and counted the money she was issued which was twice as much that she'd received the first time. So, this is what an entire haul pay looked like.
Once Dane was by her side, Javier rushed over to them and shook both their hands, “I hope we get to work together again really soon. Be safe you two, I have to get home to my family.” Javier said before he bowed out on his way home.
This in turn left Dane and Quinta alone again.
Wetting her lips, she looked out to the clock that hovered at the top of the building, “We got to get goin’ to Leon's, right? Me guessin’ it's not for a sleepover like last time.” She said. Turning fully towards Dane, Quinta placed her hands behind her back, “But first. 'ow are yuh Dane? 'ow's Addie?” She questioned.
Dane followed suit and took a glance at the clock to view the time. He felt that it'd be better to see what Leon wanted over and done with. Deep down he had a slight hope that this would entail something enjoyable but the way Leon acted earlier caused him to doubt.
He turned his attention back to Quinta and shook his head, “Addie is fine. At least as far as I can tell. Me...” He trailed off. Dane glanced back towards the towered wall, “I'm not sure. A bit shaken up I think.” He answered.
Meeting her eyes again, she took his mind away from those troubling memories momentarily, “And you?”
Quinta wet her lips, “Fine.”
He then nudged his head in the direction of Leon's place, “I'll go and get Addie and meet you over there.”
An awkward air came about them when he answered her bluntly and plainly. A bit of unexpected disappointment settled in her stomach though, in total, honesty she didn't know why. Maybe she was...expecting more?
Quinta nodded her head and looked down the walkway of the official building, “Yuh right. Me see yuh den.” She answered.
Pulling away from Dane, Quinta hooked her thumbs into the straps of her bag and made the short walk back to her place. Once out of the sun, she released a sigh of relief and lowered the pack from her shoulders by the floor. Crouching down, she pulled out her wad of cash and instantly divided the bills in half. Going into the closet, she crouched in the corner and pulled up a loosened floorboard. There revealed a stash of cash she'd been saving for Dane in his time of need in a worn, red wallet. Her thumb brushed along the bills before she returned everything back, complete with boots on top of the board.
She put her own money away in the top drawer with her underwear before she sifted a notebook and pencil. Pulling it out, she flipped through the pages and her eyes scanned over the headings she'd written along the top. “Family”. “Fallen”. “Findings”. “Infected”. Every category had a list of names and dates that followed. Halfway down the page she wrote “Wendigo”, a brief characterization of what he did, and the date. Thankfully she could leave “Fallen” unmarked today. Quinta flipped the book shut and tossed it behind her on the mattress and stared.
With a shake of her head, she pushed out all she could about Dane and rubbed her hands together. She was exhausted but the fact was Leon needed them and that curiosity was enough to drive her back to his house.
An hour passed in which Dane went home, got Addie, and made it back to Leon's, “What do you mean he had to talk to us? Leon never asks to talk to anyone. I should know I had to force him to hang out with me.” Addie expressed while she racked her brain with what he would want.
Entering through the glass doors, Dane waved to Quinta when he spotted her in the lobby. Quinta glanced over her shoulder and gave them a soft smile only for Addie to draw her into a hug. Quinta returned her gesture with a loose hug before the three of them made their way up to Leon's apartment in silence. Once at Leon's door Dane knocked. They were greeted with the sound of glass being smashed against the floor.
“Merde.” Leon's muffled voice called. With a heavy sigh, Leon stomped over and opened the door, “Oh good. You made it. Come on in and uh try not to step on the glass.” He said sullenly. With another sigh, he retrieved a dustpan and broom before he squatted over and swept up what used to be a bowl, “Make yourself welcome. Grab a drink and do what you need. Then, if you could sit so we can talk.” Leon said.
Standing up with a pan full of shards, Leon wiped his brow off with the back of his forearm. With a look of disappointment, he dumped the mess in the garbage and groaned to himself.
Addie whistled out and pointed, “Oh that must've set you back about a hundred bucks and then you went and broke it.” She shook her head and tsk'd him, “You butterfingers.” She added with a laugh.
Leon cut his eyes over to Addie and blew out with a lackluster laugh, “Ha! That was nothing. Where am I going to put THAT thing?” He questioned.
Slumping over the counter, he pointed near the sink where he had a bag tied off and filled with. A colorful little fish swam the circle within. Certainly, an expensive, tiny friend for him.
Addie's gaze followed Leon's finger and instantly she gasped out before she scurried and bent over, “Hey there Little Leon! Aww you're so cute unlike your daddy!”
Snickering, Addie grinned at him over her shoulder while he desperately found him a forever home. Quinta stepped over and around the counter to grab herself a cup and fill it with water from the tap. Dane had to stay hydrated as well. As she got him a glass, she slid it across the counter towards Dane before she pulled a chair out from the table. Leon moaned out softly as his fingers dug into his hair. He proceeded to open cabinet after cabinet around Quinta and Dane.
Sitting down it was quite apparent that Quinta was ready to go and get this over with. She didn't like feeling as though something was wrong. Staring out at the view of the glittering horizon, she sipped her drink and waited.
Finding a glass pitcher, Leon tucked his lips to the side as though the wind had been taken out of his sails, “I'll put it in here.” He answered to himself.
Addie arched an eyebrow before she frowned, “I'm never drinking out of that...again.” She muttered.
For the end of the world and their grim lifestyle, Leon seemed to have a way to completely ignore the fact that mankind was dying. Perhaps out of care for his own sanity or maybe he had lost a marble or two under these strenuous conditions.
Either way was hard to tell.
Dane sat beside Quinta at the head of the table and sipped his drink. He grew i
mpatient from his own uneasiness and so he cleared his throat. Addie brought little Leon over to his daddy and placed the bag beside the pitcher. She hardly even noticed that Dane and Quinta had sat down until Leon brought that to the forefront of her attention. Silently, Addie slipped into the seat across from Quinta and all eyes were now on Leon while they waited. Addie leaned over against the table while Quinta sipped her water and narrowed her eyes a bit.
Leon straightened his back and set the pitcher down once he caught a glimpse of Quinta's face, “Right. I asked you all to come here to talk about your future.” He said.
Sitting down with them, his features hardened to a serious demeanor once again while those slate eyes paused on each one of them.
He sighed before he continued, “This sector is no place to live. I'll be honest and say that this place is the bottom of the barrel. The new people that wander in like you all did tend to be overworked and underpaid. I'm sure you all have figured that out, especially after trying to shop down at that joke of a market.” Leon clasped his hands together, “There is a way to get out of here but it either costs a lot of money or as in my case a rank in authority. Remember when I was telling you about my job? The reason I have these privileges and get to live like this....is because of my position and I'm tired of living here.” He admitted.
When Leon first met them, and expressed to work for the government they weren't enticed enough to bite. Which would have been fine, he would have soon transferred out of there on his own terms and at least lived better. Then, because of Addie, oddly enough he grew to care about them and wanted them out of there with him. Mainly because he'd learned a couple of underhanded tactics that were used and planned for this sector. Personally, he didn't want to be a part of it.
Leon sighed he while tapped his fingers against the table, “To get right down to it. I have a job lined up. A big one that I must do thanks to our little rendezvous at the beach. I'm personally fine with working outside of the walls occasionally. The pay is great. The problem is it's a class C mission, which means it is required for others to go with me. I want to take you three.
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