LUX UND AUSLANDER CH4

Chapter Four
[Written by Kyra]

A look of astonishment was written on all three faces, the boy on the end jumped with joy.
"Yay! We found them!" the boy on the end cried out, jumping up and down.

The other boy grabbed him as if he was scared that the boy was going to hurt himself.
"You found us? More like we found you." Kyra laughed, eyeing the group.
Tom walked up behind Kyra and whispered into her ear.
"Who are they?" He asked, inaudible to the group on the roof.
"I have no idea, why don't you ask them?" She said back, looking into Toms brown eyes.
"Who are you guys?" He asked. He wasn't too sure if they could understand him from his thick German accent.
"I'm Dallon. This is Eleanor, and this is Brendon."
"Nice to meet you." Bill grinned like a little kid, waving like a gay boy. Kyra laughed and Tom brought his palm to his face and sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry about my twin, I swear he is gay sometimes." Tom shrugged.
Bill scoffed and hit Tom in the shoulder.
"I'm not gay, and you know it!" Bill yelled at Tom.
"No, I don't know. You're still a virgin, Bill." He stared at Bill, a laugh threatening to escape his mouth.
Bill blushed a deep red, his mouth screwed up into a tight line. He tackled Tom to the ground, forcing his shoulders down.
"Hey!" Kyra grabbed the back of Bill's jacket and yanked him off of Tom.
"Stop it you two! I am sick of you guys fighting all the time!" Kyra yelled at the two. Tom was still lying on the ground, staring up at the sky as the sun slowly began to rise.
"I didn't start it!" Bill gasped, trying to get out of Kyra's grip.
She ignored them and looked up at the other group on the roof.
"Are there zombies inside?"
"Yeah." Dallon nodded, Kyra sighed and let go of Bill. She gripped her gun tight and moved forward. Entering the mall in a sly manner. Eyeing each and every shop for a sign of a rotten, dead, brain-eating zombie. The stereotypical zombie. Kyra wasn't sure if that is what they actually do. She had grown to know that they eat the whole body, bones and all. They were cannibalistic mutants.

It didn't take long for the first zombie to show it self. It came running at Kyra from the side with blinding speed. But Kyra didn't see it; it tackled her to the ground, making loud chomping sounds.
Kyra screamed, it was the first time in a long time that she had.
"Get the fuck off her!" A loud yell sounded from beside her, the zombie was off her in an instant. She bounced up to see that Tom had tackled it off her.
"Balls out!" Kyra used a phrase that her brother would use when he played rugby. She kicked the head of the zombie and it went flying, it landed in the fountain in the middle of the hall.
Kyra grabbed Tom's hand and pulled him up.
"You're not bitten?" She demanded, looking for any signs of blood.
"No." Tom smiled reassuringly.
"Are you sure?" Kyra asked, continuing to check.
"Yes, I didn't get bitten." He smiled. But Kyra continued to inspect his body.
"Kyra, for fuck sake. I didn't get bitten!" Tom grabbed her wrists.
"Sorry." She frowned.
She moved away from Tom and headed towards the fountain where the zombie's head had landed.
It was bobbing on top of the water; its bloody eyes were wide open, staring up at Kyra in an unbreakable stare.
"Kyra, watch out!" Bill yelled from behind her, she looked to the side to see about four zombies heading her way. She turned, raised the gun and shot. One fell to the ground, a massive hole in its chest. She squeezed her eyes shut and shot three more times. She heard gunshots from behind her as Bill and Tom backed her up. Soon enough, they couldn't find anymore. But something was wrong with Kyra, as they got closer to the door that leads to the roof.
She was shaking badly, but she didn't know why. Her face felt flushed and her head throbbed.
"I don't feel too good." Kyra said just before she started coughing. She clamped her hands to her mouth and continued to cough.
"What the…" Kyra started, but her head span and she lost balance. Tom caught her just before she hit the ground.
"What is wrong with her? I've never seen her this weak." Tom had a worried look on his face; he passed his gun to Bill and lifted Kyra bridal style. Her glove covered arms hung limply, swaying gently as Tom walked up the stairs towards the roof. Her plaits were slowly starting to come loose and her hair leaving the Mohawk style and slowly starting to curl back into its natural style.

Bill opened the door to the roof and was greeted by Eleanor, Dallon and Brendon.
Dallon had a worried look on his face and ran over to Tom's side.
"What's wrong with her? Did she get bitten? Is she okay?" He flooded Toms mind with questions, but he managed to keep his cool.
"I don't know what is wrong, she didn't get bitten and I think she'll be fine." Tom gently set Kyra on the ground and sat next to her. He moved the hair out of her face; her eyes fluttered a little under the touch but did not open.

Laine looked over at Brendon and noticed he was a little pale.
"Are you okay, Brendon?" She grabbed his arm and squeezed softly.
Brendon swallowed loudly and nodded, looking at Laine and then smiled.
"Why is there blood on her?" Dallon demanded, Kyra had blood all down the front of her jacket and a little on her face and hands.
"Zombies, duh." Bill said, setting the guns down and placing his hands on his hips. He stared at Tom.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tom demanded, he stood.
"No reason." Bill said simply, but everyone knew by now how Tom had taken what Bill had said.
"You think it's my fault? How the fuck is it my fault?!" Tom pushed Bill.
"I didn't imply that it was your fault." Bill held his hands up.
"Stop being so sensitive." Kyra sat up groggily, she still felt lightheaded.
Tom turned around to see that she was awake.
"Kyra! Are you okay? What happened?" Tom demanded, grabbing both of her wrists.
Why is he being like this? He automatically has feelings for me or something?
Kyra thought, she was totally unsure of what Tom was doing.
"I'm fine… I just passed out, no big deal." Kyra shook Tom off and stood on her own. She looked over at Laine, Dallon and Brendon. But when her eyes lay on Brendon, something happened. Brendon went unusually pale and Kyra started coughing again and her stomach was gripped with painful cramps.
Something clicked in Bill's head; he ripped his jacket off of his shoulders and wrapped it around Kyra's head so she could no longer see Brendon.
Kyra fell back and Bill went with her.
"Dude, what are you doing?!" Dallon demanded, he went to rush forward but Bill held his hand up.
"I know it may seem weird, but I might know what is happening."
Silence followed after what Bill had said, but Bill had no idea of a way to put it into a sentence that they could understand.

Chapter Four
[Written by Eleanor]

Laine eyed Dallon with a worried look, pleading with her eyes for some sort of explanation. What she saw in his reply gave no better understanding of the situation at hand, yet it made her stomach quench with an uneasy feeling. Dallon's cough echoed in the empty bracing night, the fading moon slipping away from the sky's grasp. The sun shun over the horizon, casting an orange yellow glow on the six strangers whose alliance was only formed due to the sudden outbreak of a hideous plague. Brendon stuttered a reply.

"Maybe we should go back in? Guessing from what I heard, you guys took out the zombies," he said, seeking for confirmation. Bill still cowered over Kyra, whose audible coughs still shook her frail body. Tom nodded, keeping his eyes on Bill.

"Yeah, we should. Maybe we could find medicine or something for Kyra."

As Bill carried Kyra to the door, and Tom helped them open it, Brendon spun on his heels and addressed Lux.

"We found them, like it was a miracle! Nicely done, Dal," he applauded, clapping Dallon on the back. Color had returned to Brendon's cheeks and he seemed perfectly fine as he pranced happily to the door, flipping it open with two fingers and disappearing inside. As Dallon silently followed, Eleanor took a step forward and grabbed hold on his jacket.

"Dallon," she said softly. He didn't turn around, or even peek at her beyond his shoulder. Something had him down, and it made Eleanor anxious. "What just happened? It went by way too fast for me to understand, but I know you do. So spill it."

His voice sounded rougher than usual, and the false smile he hid beneath his words was so obviously fake, Eleanor almost lost it.

"No idea what'cha talking about, Laine."

She gripped harder and jerked her arm back, making Dallon stumble backwards. His body twisted and his arms flailed in the air until he fell onto Eleanor, his weight jolting her feet. Her back collided hard with the cold concrete ground with a thud! Dallon heaved himself on his hands, blushing at the sudden realization that he was in fact laying on top of Laine, the girl who stared deeply into his brown eyes. Words couldn't form on his tongue; he just lay staring, his body seeming to refuse to move even though he was so very cold. Eleanor gripped his arm's sleeve.

"Dallon, please tell me."

He almost couldn't resist. He felt like smoldering his blue freezing lips onto Laine's, her body temperature to warm up his. He wanted to embrace her small beaten body in his arms, giving into the hot desiring passion flourishing from deep within his core. He wanted to run his fingers through her soft red hair, to smell the aroma of apple shampoo and bless kisses down her neck and collarbone, to not fight the repressed shivers that urged him to make a move.

But he didn't.

He got up onto is feet, and after coldly refusing her hand to help her up, he took three steps to face away, a hand raised to his mouth and the thought of shame blaring in his head. I almost lost control! He thought, deciding to never bring up this incident again, to never end up anywhere close to giving in.

In to what, exactly?

Eleanor's voice made it hard for him to succumb to his resolve.

"Dallon, why won't you say anything? I know we don't know each other that well, but—"

"You're right, we don't. So don't act so familiar."

Dallon hated saying what he did in such a heartless tone. He knew her abrupt silence was the equivalence of Laine being plunged in the chest with many rusty daggers—in a time like this where she witnessed her parents dead, and she had no one else to fall back on, Dallon was the last person she wanted to hear such words from.

However, she got the hint. Moving to the door, she climbed down the bloody stairs at to the first floor of the mall. The vague yellow lights above flickered as she walked to the nearest clothes store, avoiding the dead bodies and trying to ignore the horrid stench of rotten flesh. She flew through the racks and found a nice pair of warm high length boots that still bore the price tag—$198.99. She yanked from a mannequin a lovely red scarf and grabbed a new pair of black skinny jeans along with a long sleeved grey t-shirt with the words Killer written across it. You have no idea, she mused, changing into them behind the curtain of the changing cubicle. Once stepping out in fresh, new clothes, she glanced to her messy reflection in the mirror. She had blood covering her face, dirt in her hair. It was a wonder how she looked human anymore.

A face reflected in the mirror behind her shoulder. Eleanor screamed and acted instinctively; turning around and bringing her arm across to somewhat perform a half slap half punch to the figure. Before her hand made contact however, it grabbed hold on her wrist, shaking her.

"Eleanor! Chill! Its me, okay?" Brendon calmed.

He dropped her hand and she took a step back, rubbing her wrist.

"Oh, Brendon. I thought you were a zombie."

He must have seen the pain in her eyes—her sudden rejection by which she considered the closest person she knew who was still alive. Brendon stirred her away after whipping on a new-checkered shirt and throwing his bloody torn one to the floor. He spoke to her softly.

"Everyone's taking a break at the furniture shop. Kyra's kind of . . . out of it, so we're letting her sleep. We need another girl to tend to her—the twins were arguing over who should, so I'm leaving it to you, okay?"

Laine nodded. And so when they got to the furniture shop, Bill was spread out like a cat on a leather couch, Tom sitting neatly at a wooden table a bit further away, and Dallon was no where to be seen. She went and drew a chair to Kyra's bed, whom was cuddled under bed sheets and surrounded by way too many throw pillows. Kyra was covered in blood, but seemed to still be breathing, relieving Laine just that bit.

Dallon noisily joined Tom, drawing Eleanor's attention. He was looking away to her disappointment. Brendon came up from behind Dallon and whispered into his ear, "Do you think she'll be able to hear from here?"

Dallon shook his head.

"Well, then, in that case," Brendon continued, drawing a chair and addressing both Tom and Dallon. "Should I explain a few things? Firstly, we three are Lux."

"We are Ausländer," Tom replied.

"Yeah, we know," Dallon snapped, sounding too grouchy for Tom's liking. Brendon raised a hand before he could return his bitter remark.

"Zombies have risen. Don't ask me why, or how, I have no idea. I do know, however, that Ausländer can stop it. Considering the fact that there are more of you guys, right? More hunters?"

Tom hesitated.

"Uh, more? We only formed our group not so long ago. I didn't even come up with the name—Kyra did."

Dallon slammed his hand down. "Who cares? We have to figure out now what we're going to do! We're sitting ducks like this, and you know I hate it," he yelled, particularly aiming it at Brendon who hushed it like everything was all right.

"We're not going to do anything. My plans have changed—there's no way we can go back out there with only six of us, two of us being quite . . . ill."

"What do you guys know about this?" Tom asked, wishing to know more for Kyra's sake. If there were anyway he could help her in the state she was in now, he would do anything. He leaned in closer.

"It's a deadly virus," Dallon contributed. Brendon and Tom both looked in his direction, confused.

"Virus?"

"There was this lab in north America that was attempting to make a cure for cancer, ejecting vaccines into test subjects in order to get their fullest and most accurate results. All the test subjects were failures, and the two head scientists became more desperate with every time they had to kill another mutated being," he explained, a look a sorrow across his face. Brendon had a look of disgust as Tom calculated what this could mean.

Dallon continued.

"One test subject, however, went out of control and became very aggressive. It bit one of the head scientists. The scientist, however, was appointed a new job location here in England, and began conducting his own research on the bite he received himself. Before too long, the virus was formed and broke out world wide, turning humans into cannibalistic monsters."    

"How long ago did this happen?" Tom questioned. Dallon sighed.

"Approximately a year. At first, those contaminated with the virus were feasting on blood, usually killing their prey by draining them dry—"

"Like a vampire?" cheerfully added Brendon, happy he was the first to point that out. It earned a stern look from Dallon.

"Yes. It was only recently, like, during the eclipse recent did the vampires begin going completely out of control and going cannibalistic."

Tom rocked back on his chair, his hand lifted to stroke his chin. "So, what you're saying is that the moon triggered the vampires to morph into zombies? How lovely!"

Dallon rose from his chair with a sharp look. "This isn't a joke! Thanks to that one incident, millions, even billions of people are dead! All our loved ones—dead! Just like that! Yet here you take it as a fucking joke!"

Brendon jumped up, firmly gripping Dallon's arm, holding him back from advancing onto Tom, getting into a massive fight that honestly wasn't needed right now.

"Dallon! Just because you're in a bad mood doesn't mean you have to take it out on Tom!" Brendon scolded. Dallon shrugged off his hand and twisted around to stampede off.

"Fuck all of you, then! Die if you want—see if I care!" he yelled childishly. Brendon shook his head and looked to Tom. Anger was spawn right across his face, as if he was going to snap from all the stress being weighed on his shoulder. Everyone seemed like that, fighting among each other because they couldn't take it anymore. Brendon sighed, truly exhausted at having to play the good guy.

"Tom, go take a walk. Hell, scout out the perimeter for us, we don't want a zombie attack to raid on us while we're so vulnerable."

Tom grunted and did exactly that, stomping off much like Dallon did, only in the opposite direction. Those two really do seem alike.

~

"Brendon?" called Eleanor from beside Kyra's bed, gripping her hand tight. Kyra was breaking out in sweat, but her eyes seemed to be flickering open. Bill awoke—he seemed to have fallen asleep while everyone was at the active peak! —and sluggishly moved to see Kyra. Brendon joined them.

"How're you feeling? Better? Worse?" Brendon asked. Kyra lifted her head up and began to sit, Bill behind her supporting her up.

"Definitely better," she replied, her bed hair falling into her face. Laine stroked it away. They all silently crowded around Kyra, sharing an awkward look with each other. "I'm serious, I'm fine!" she roared. Bill calmed her down with soothing words.

"We know, we know," he said. He suddenly looked up to Brendon after doing a wide pan with his eyes of the furniture shop. "Where's Tom?"

"I sent him to go cool his head about twenty minutes ago. Dallon just came back and told me he was going to the toilet."
"What? Tom's taken a while?" Eleanor said, her doubt tinting her words. Bill shared her worry and pressed on.

"I'll go look for him? Maybe he got lost or something?"

Gunshots rang; once, twice, three times. The sound echoed within the mall, and the four all listened. It took only a second after that for Kyra to identify who those gunshots would belong to.

"Tom!" she whispered, kicking off her bed sheets and jumping out of bed, fighting the headache that crept its way up. It made her vision blurry and her thoughts slow, her feet not exactly doing what she wanted them to do. More gunshots rang, making her motions that much more fastened and uncoordinated. Her guns flapped in their sheaths, having to have forgotten grabbing her bow and arrow from the tableside drawer, but she didn't care.

All Kyra wanted was to get out in time in order to help tom, wherever he may be.