Morning Coffee And Sweet Surprises (Closed to Poprockz)

[Drobabes]

"I had thought people like that only existed in movies."

And I thought evil only existed in books...

Her arm pulled him a little closer for a moment and she kissed the top of his head again. For a moment she was very quiet, just breathing softly and staring out the window. When she did speak up, she sounded a little distant.

"I wish she had been able to do something for you before she got fired.

...I wonder if she made it through? I would have liked to meet her someday."

___ ___

"I did everything right and still ended up like this."

Delvins anger had slowly dissolved away as he sat there listening, replaced by a bitter sadness for the man. He was reminded once again of why he had stepped away from Christianity as a whole as he walked along his own path in life. Not for the first time, he thought to himself that if there was some ultimate being, then it didn't hold the same moral values that people wanted to force on it. Perhaps it didn't even hold any values at all.

He put his head in his hand and continued to listen, and when Robert said "I'd say you've gotten more than one experience with unusual zombies like us", his eyes shot open and he came to the bars. What did he mean by that? More than one? As far as he knew, Raphael was the only other one that he had encountered, unless...

He was interrupted from that train of thought as Robert suddenly stood, prompting him to put his hands on the bars and try to look where he was looking, his body pumping itself up with anger again as he got ready to fight whoever came through that door. However, when he saw who it was, he turned back around and went and sat on the bed once more.

He watched the two quietly as they broke down together, his heart aching for the both of them, but his mind also racing with his own thoughts. It was a difficult place to be, and while he wanted to offer some sort of comfort to the two, he couldn't think of anything to say. He wanted desperately to help them get out, but what could he do from behind his own barred door?

He could ask the women if she could try to get the key, but from what she had already just attempted to do, they might kill her for it. And if Robert tried to break himself free once he was stronger, they would probably use her to make him stop.

"Genevieve..."

He came and stood near the bars.

"They're using you to keep him under control, aren't they?"

He crossed his arms and looked at the door, trying to think for a moment.

"If you can get into my room, I have a set of car keys in my backpack. If you can get out of here, use my car to leave, then Robert could break out without having to worry about them going after you. There is a town south of here, about six hours drive, called Huckery. The military went through and cleared it of any infected, so it's pretty safe. You could wait there."

He paused for a moment, trying to think. As much as he hated to do it, he might have to take Roberts suggestion and kiss the preachers ass.

"You can tell the guards or whoever that I requested my guitar, that I want forgiveness for my sins and I'll spend my time down here contemplating my evil thoughts as I play. Or you can tell them something else, but don't try to sneak the keys. If they catch you, they might just kill you. Or worse..."

 

[Poprockz]

"She was pretty damn resourceful- I wouldn't be surprised if she was alive and kicking zombie ass somewhere out there- I think you would have liked her a lot." He was silent for a moment before continuing, "there was nothing she could have done. My parents could buy off any judge even if she had a video tape of what happened, or even me admitting in front of the judge what I had done. Even if I was convicted and sent to juvie, they would have me out of there within days by overturning the ruling, or using their influence to garner sympathy. It just wasn't going to happen."

He was grateful that her arms were so tightly around him, it made it feel a bit easier to talk about what had happened.

--------------------------------------------

"She's the main reason I won't resist, but it's more than that too. The father may be a twisted man, but the rest of them are simply being fooled by them. That's why he is able to get away with the things he does, he makes things that would normally sound wrong sound as though it was ordained by the lord. If I were to fight my way through them, I would never forgive myself if I accidentally killed them."

Genevieve looked up at Vin as he spoke and looked away, nodding sadly. "He said he would condemn and kill me if I didn't condemn Robert. I would be at peace if I died in order to secure his freedom, but I know they would have just used my death to incriminate him further. At least by being alive, I might be able to help in some way."

When Vin mentioned his keys, Robert's eyes widened and he clasped his hands around Genevieve's. "Yes! Go, escape with his car. Go to that town and then to the nearest military base." He seemed hopeful before she shook her head.

"I don't know how I'm going to get the keys, though. They already took your things out of your room and put them in the father's office. If I were to ask for your guitar, they would just grab that and bring it, not let me go to your belongings. I think my only chance is trying to sneak the keys out of his office. I won't say I'm not afraid of what might happen, but if it means you might be able to escape, then I would have no regrets." Genevieve turned her gaze back to Robert and leaned her face against his hands, closing her eyes.

Robert quickly said, "no, it's too risky..." They were silent, trying to think of an alternative before a guard called from down the hall, "five minutes left, Genevieve."

 

[Drobabes]

Despite trying to blink them back, a few tears leaked down her face. She hated hearing that his situation was so hopeless, and on top of it, it brought back the pain of her own childhood. How many years had she wished someone would have saw how much pain they were hiding? And tried, at least fucking tried, to do something like that officer did for him?

"I...I know what you mean. He spent so many years grooming us and setting up his game that by the time we were old enough to even question it all, he had us by the throats. He used us against each other, but even if he hadn't, he still had the whole community and my parents at his back. He was a big, kind, war veteran who volunteered his time reading to children in a library. Who would have ever questioned that?"

She sniffed and swallowed. He had been so good at his little game that even when her parents, her devoted and loving parents who would have done anything for them, started to question their behavior, he turned it back around on them and blamed it on school bullies. And they ate it up. They ate it up, because if her or Quint ever dared to speak against it, he would have had one of his lackeys kill them in their sleep.

___ ___

Every one of their points was right. He really couldn't argue a single one of them. He wished they hadn't been so quick to grab his stuff from his room, but there was nothing to be done about that now.

He crossed his arms again and said "fuck", then paced a few times before coming back to the bars when he heard the guard.

"Whatever you decide to do, don't put yourself in danger. We'll... I'll talk with Robert. We'll figure something out. It's going to be ok, you two."

He sounded confident, but he really didn't feel it. They were up Hells shit creek without a paddle and he really wasn't sure how they were going to abandon ship.

Making his way back over to the bed, he went ahead and sat down, waiting for Genevieve's time to be up. Once she was gone, he was silent for a few moments. Then,

"Hey Robert... What did you mean earlier? When you thought I've had a few encounters with... people like yourself?"

He tried not to grind his teeth, so he started tapping his foot against the ground instead. His suspicions were growing, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to face the reality of it just yet.

 

[Poprockz]

Damien was appalled by what she said, his scowl deepening the more she talked. How could an entire fucking community of people not believe her? His heart ached, thinking about how trapped she was, caught in his spiderweb before she even knew how tightly he had wrapped her up in a silky prison of deceit and control. He felt a kinship about it in some ways.

His parents had kept him under their thumb, twisting him to the point where he didn't even think he deserved anything more than the treatment he got. He knew that if he ran away, they would find him easily and punish him more harshly- there was nowhere he could truly go. It was a psychological prison, but a prison nonetheless.

"Sometimes I wonder why the world has such utter pieces of shit in them. You didn't deserve that, Cora. Neither did Quint." He sighed, "I think maybe the most evil people in the world are the ones who think they have the right to own other people, to take their lives and use them however they want."

---------------------------------------------------

Genevieve smiled hopefully at Vin and nodded, trusting his confident words. Robert couldn't look her in the eye at that point, recognizing that Vin was just trying to comfort her. "Time's up!" The guard yelled, causing Genevieve to tenderly kiss Robert's hand before getting up and jogging away.

When Vin questioned what he had said previously, Robert looked at him, "I mean I can smell them on you. I can smell one with a really strong smell, probably one that was completely turned, but I can also smell one that smells kind of like me. We have extremely good senses of smell. That's why I could..." His fists clenched and his brows furrowed, "smell his... smell him on her." He tried to relax his fists, sighing and running his fingers through his hair.

He paused for a moment, "when I first came here, I had to pretend that I was blind to hide my eyes. Did you know anyone like that? Maybe someone with sunglasses? Or... maybe someone who's stronger than they ought to be? Zombies completely ignore us, so maybe you saw a zombie running past them or something? I don't know. If they were really careful, they may have gotten away with hiding most, if not all of those symptoms if they had colored contact lenses or something. Um... abnormal fear of fire? Sensitivity to cold? Honestly, I can understand why they didn't tell you, especially if they were a friend of yours. There's nothing more awkward than coming out and telling someone that you're a dangerous tentacle monster that might lose their mind and try to lay eggs in you one day."

With a sigh, he sat back down on the bed. "Anybody like that that you know of?"

 

[Drobabes]

"You didn't deserve that shit either..."

She hugged him close again, closing her eyes and sighing. She felt safe there, laying in that bed and talking with him, but the memories still hurt and she was still exhausted from what her body had been put through. Without even realizing it, she had closed her eyes and was soon breathing very softly.

___ ___

Delvin looked up and stared at Robert with a somber expression when he said he could smell the preacher on his wife. He didn't want to imagine what the bastard had done to her, so he looked down and just continued to listen.

Everything checked off. The fear of fire, the strength, hiding his eye... Vin had had his suspicions ever since he woke up at the gas station and saw those beautiful eyes, but with how drunk he had been, he had doubted himself. But now, he had no way to reason it away. What he had saw was real, he hadn't imagined it.

"There's nothing more awkward than coming out and telling someone that you're a dangerous...monster..."

He looked back up then, a certain sadness in his brown eyes as he tried to process it all.

So he had been ashamed of what he had become? And scared? Had he been trying to protect him when he turned him down, too? But he didn't even give him a choice in it. If he had known, he might have...

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing and trying not to lie to himself. No, if Sabastian had told him then what he was, Vin would have looked at him with disgust and fear. It would have ruined any friendship they might have had because, until now, until what he had just seen and experienced, he might have believed what Robert believed. That Sabastian might one day lose his mind to the infection and become nothing more than a monster.

"Yea..." he sighed, finally answering the man.

"I knew someone like that."

He laid down on his own bed and put his hands behind his head. A deep sadness and frustration had settled over him, and he needed a moment of peace and to brainstorm what they were going to do.

They had to get out. It didn't matter how, but they had to leave.

 

[Poprockz]

"Thank you Cora..." his eyes threatened to spill over a bit, but he fought it, swallowing hard. Once he was back in control, he looked to find that she had fallen asleep. He smiled and closed his own eyes, sleeping and thanking whatever cosmic force there was out there for sparing her life.

Cora needed a bit of time to heal before they could leave again, so they stayed at the house for two days. Damien cooked meals for them from what was in the pantry, and Sabastian washed their clothes. Cora's clothes had been stained by puke, so he borrowed some from the woman's closet. They were a bit baggy in general, but they fit okay.

Before she had changed, Damien had showered with her, making sure she didn't fall or hurt herself. He couldn't deny that he had the temptation to turn it into an intimate affair, but he restrained himself and simply washed her hair and body. There were no razors to be found, so unfortunately he had to leave his five o'clock shadow, but at least he smelled good and was clean for her.

When she was strong enough, they loaded up Bowie into his carrier and siphoned the gas from the woman's nearby car. She had a full tank, so it was extremely fortunate.

------------------------

Over the next day or two, the two of them simply hung out in the cells. There was a big difference between the quality of food that was brought to Robert versus Vin. For example, while Vin got chicken with peas, carrots, a buttered roll, and some fruit (complete with a glass of water), Robert got a stale piece of bread and a glass of water.

Genevieve wasn't allowed to visit them over that period of time, but every now and then someone would come down to the cells and yell angrily at Robert about what a disgusting monster he was and how they couldn't believe he had deceived them. He simply listened to them and didn't offer an explanation- if he dared to do so, he knew the father would take out his disappointment on his wife.

Even when he was literally spat on, a glob of saliva going into his hair, he didn't budge. Simply knelt there and took the verbal abuse. If Vin asked why he didn't at least hiss at them or react angrily, he would say that they were simply afraid of him, and that fear can twist a good man's heart into something he doesn't recognize. Try as he might to remain strong though, he wasn't able to hide the way the words truly wounded him at his core.

There were now only three more days until judgement day for him, and he was running out of time.

 

[Drobabes]

Before they left the house, Cora went rummaging through the bathroom supplies, and although feeling a little guilty about taking the women's things, she went ahead and grabbed a manicure set that had some tweezers. Not only would she use them on herself, but she might have to dig rocks or glass out of someone's wound at some point, so she figured it would be good to have. She wished she had found some razors as well, though she couldn't deny that she kind of liked seeing Damien with a beard.

Sabastian and Damien had taken such good care of her during the two days that they stayed in the house, that she felt almost completely better. The car ride was long and tiring however, so when they drove by a highway sign with a painted blanket offering refuge, she sat up in her seat a bit.

"Do you think we could stop there for the night? I bet Sabastian won't be getting drunk around a bunch of church folk" she teazed. She didn't know if that would be true though, although she hoped. She really wanted just one more night of good sleep.

___ ___

They had just gave them their dinner, and like the nights previously, Vin took half the food and then put the tray through the bars as carefully as he could so Robert could use his tentacles to grab the rest. He had been sneaking it this way from the beginning, insuring they could both keep their strength up somewhat for when or if they could make their move. He had waited for Robert to finish and hand the dishes back, setting them on the tray inside his own cell so they wouldn't suspect anything, and then he stayed by the bars.

"Robert... We have to think of something. We're running out of time. I've done my best to kiss that bastards ass, but I don't think he's falling for it. And if we do get out, we still have those people we have to fight through. Look..."

He pulled his hands out of his pockets and placed them on the bars.

"I know you don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to either. But if it's not you they're burning at the stake, then it will be someone else. Someone else like you, like me, like my friend..."

He had to swallow then, the thought of Sabastian going up in flames like the way that Raphael had when he took the torch to his face making his stomach drop. He couldn't have that.

"We're going to have to hurt some of them to get free, at the very least."

 

[Poprockz]

Damien smiled and nodded, following the signs to their new destination.

"Psh, try and stop me. I'll drink all the blood of christ they have," Sabastian joked. He really didn't intend to drink anything tonight, the idea of drinking just for the sake of drinking not holding much appeal for him. drinking was only fun if it was with friends or if there was a point to it. At the military camp, he was more drinking to have a good time rather than to sooth his feelings about... about Vin.

His demeanor suddenly changed and he grew quiet. He still wasn't over losing him, and he wasn't sure when he ever would be. True, the sexual tension between the two of them drove him nuts that he couldn't pursue it, but he would have at least liked to have Vin as a friend. He was a good man who forgave easily and spoke directly- even if he couldn't have him as a lover, he had wanted to be near him.

There was a lump in his throat now as they pulled up to the prison, some of the congregation working at the gardens again. However, when they pulled up, he felt something very weird which made him look around wildly. It was like there was a zombie nearby but... not? It didn't feel like Margaret, but it felt similar. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he had never felt such a presence before. It was frustrated, hopeless, and worried, perhaps. "Guys. There's something here... It's not a zombie, but... something else? I don't know, I'm a little confused..." He held his head, feeling almost like whatever he was sensing was intruding into his head a bit."

---------------------------------------------------

Robert looked up from his bed when Vin spoke, leaning down and putting his head in his hands. "I... I know you're right, but I'm afraid of my own strength. I haven't really tested my limits or how to control it, so if I'm off and exert too much force, I could very easily kill someone even if I'm just trying to incapacitate them."

"And how is our escape going to change that? I feel for you and I want you to be free, but if by some miracle, the three of us are able to escape, how does that help future visitors? The only way to really ensure their safety would be to-"

At the end of the sentence, he suddenly sat up straight and rigid, his eyes going a bit dull as though he was very spaced out or lost in thought, his face became apprehensive. "Someone's here. Someone like me. I can feel them." He started to cry, tears coming down his face. "Mourning." After uttering that last bit, he shook his head and blinked, looking at Vin with a bit of a spooked expression.

"Sorry about that. We can actually sense zombies too, like we have some kind of link with them. I suppose it makes sense, considering. But zombies aren't alive so it's not like you can really feel feelings or hear thoughts or anything. With another one like me, though... It's like a really crappy radio signal that goes on and off. Sometimes it plays perfectly, and sometimes not at all."

 

[Drobabes]

Cora was smiling in the back seat at Sabastians joke, but when she saw his demeanor change, she politely turned away. She knew he was still having a hard time with Vin being gone, and truth be told, she was too. It wasn't until he spoke up about sensing something, that she looked back and then looked at Damien.

"What, like, someone else like you maybe?"

It was all she could think of. If it wasn't a zombie, then what else could it be?

"You don't think it's like...like Margaret, do you?"

If that was the case, then she did not want to get out of that car.

___ ___

He watched him carefully, nodding his head in agreement. The guy probably could hurt them quite easily if he wasn't careful, but at the same time, if they did nothing, then they were just sentencing themselves to death. He was just about to speak up and voice this concern when Robert sat up.

"Like you?"

He was little concerned for a moment, but when he mentioned mourning, he relaxed very slightly. Raphael hadn't seemed the type to mourn, so Vin could only hope that it was someone who hadn't lost their minds.

"Robert..."

Vin became very serious as he leaned against the bars then.

"We need to get out. We can't stay here. If we stay here, they are going to kill you. They will kill that newcomer. And, they'll likely keep your wife here.

"I know you don't want to hurt them Robert, but we have to do something. It's not just our lives at stake here. They'll keep spreading this message of hate and kill so many more innocent people. Do you want that to happen? Or do you want to go free and have the chance the show the new world that not everyone who got turned like you is evil? That you aren't a monster?"

 

[Poprockz]

Damien looked back with a worried expression, not putting the car in park just yet. He wanted confirmation that it was safe to get out as well. With what they just went through with Cora, he was not in the mood for another brush with death.

"No, it doesn't feel like Margaret. Her feeling was strong and overpowering, this seems weaker in a way, it's hard to describe. It feels like me but... they're frustrated. They don't know what to do, like conflicted and worried. I don't know why or what's going on, but that's the feeling I get from them." Sabastian answered, looking out the car window at the prison. He wondered who it was and why they felt that way.

-----------------------------------------------

Robert sighed and stood up, going to the bars. "Frankly, I don't care what they think of me. I am a monster, technically. But what I can't stand is the thought of innocents being hurt, whether that's you, the newcomer, or especially my wife. If it means I have to fight through them, then I suppose we could try it if there was a way to guarantee they wouldn't hold Margaret hostage in the meantime. What if we break out of here and someone has a knife to her throat? We'd be back to square one."

He blinked for a moment and rubbed his left eye, blinking again as though he was having trouble seeing out of it.

"In any case, we need a plan. We can't just go busting out of here willy-nilly. What do you suggest?"

 

[Drobabes]

Cora visibly relaxed as he went on to explain. Feelings of confliction and frustration were much more normal and healthy, and it likely was just someone only half turned like himself.

"Hmm. Maybe it's because they're at a church? Maybe they're feeling conflicted about their fate and beliefs? Either way, that's much more human and I'm sure they're fine. You should probably keep your eye patch on though, for the time being, to make sure no one messed with you. Just pretend you lost your eye when you were a kid.

And hey, maybe you guys can swap some info; I know I wouldn't mind learning more about what's going on with you. It might help later if you get sick, make it easier to treat you."

She gave him a little reassuring pay on the shoulder, suddenly feeling pretty excited to go in. If it meant they could learn something during their stay, then she thought it was worth it.

___ ___

"No, I know. If they are holding her, we could try to feign giving up. You haven't shown them your real strength yet, so I doubt they understood how dangerous or fast you can actually be. That's an advantage for us..."

He paused as Robert rubbed his eye. Something about it was sending up a red flag, though it was a pretty simple movement that really shouldn't have. He shook it off and kept talking.

"I think we need some kind of distraction, at least. Can you... Ok, I know this is going to sound disgusting, but can you, like...make stuff? With them?"

He gestured at Roberts stomach to indicate he was talking about the appendages.

"That last place I was in, there was... something on the walls. I don't know what it was, but I can't imagine where else it had come from unless he made it. If you can make that, then maybe you can use it on yourself and make yourself look sick and like you're dieing. Think about it-the preacher needs to put on a show and 'purge the evil', otherwise he might lose his followers. If he thinks you're dieing before it's time, then he might move you out of this cell and into a room that we can break out of more easily. Or at least, you can."

 

[Poprockz]

Sabastian reached into his pocket and took out the heart-shaped eyepatch. He still thought it looked stupid as fuck, but at least it would keep him safe and distract people from his eye.

He smiled and nodded, "I think I'd like to meet someone like me. Maybe they can tell me about my limitations, or what things I can do to avoid infecting people or something. He thought about being able to touch someone and feel their body against his, but it just made him think of Vin again and he shook his head.

Damien looked relieved, putting the car in park and turning off the ignition. There was another car parked nearby, and he wondered if the other zombie person had just arrived recently. Getting out of the car, he stretched then rubbed his hand along his stubble. He would have to inquire as to whether they had any raisers. Most of the women he had come into contact with preferred clean-shaven men, and he hoped to keep that up for her for as long as he could.

Again, Samantha saw them and was the one to come over, "Wowee! We've just been getting visitors out the wazoo lately! Unfortunately the last one ended up being infected, but at least we were able to keep him comfortable. Welcome! All of you are welcome to stay for as long as you want as long as each of you pitch in."

Her eyes went to Sabastian as he came out, and she giggled, "now isn't that eyepatch adorable!"

Sabastian immediately frowned and blushed, "It's all I have right now, but I'd rather not talk about it."

She looked a bit embarrassed at this point, responding with, "oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be rude, it was just the heart-shape that got to me. Well, Let me show you the rooms if that's okay?" Samantha turned and started heading into the complex.

-------------------------------------------------

He nodded, "that's true. I might be able to grab her in time. At the very least I could pull her legs out from under her so she goes down. They won't be expecting that and I can use another appendage to keep her from being hurt from the fall."

When Robert realized what Vin was suggesting, he looked absolutely disgusted. "That's... I can. I mean I think I can at least. I know for sure I can make a lubey substance and a weird glue, but I think I know what you're talking about. In order to do that I need... organic material. Over the next several meals, you would need to let me eat all of the chicken. Normally, what the others use is... " He put his hand through his hair and looked at Vin pointedly. "Meat."

Once that was out of the way he looked conflicted, "but what about you? I may not be able to get back here and they might punish you if I escape."

 

[Drobabes]

Cora, like Delvin, was tricked into feeling a sense of security with Samantha as she greeted them so kindly and warmly. Even her mention of someone being infected didn't throw it off, and Cora actually thought it was very kind that they kept the person comfortable until it was over. After what she had just gone through, she foolishly thought they had done the person a service by not letting them suffer through it alone.

She simply nodded her head in agreement to staying in trade for some work. That was more than fine by her, and she was looking forward to being around some other people again. She took Damien by the hand and followed her in.

___ ___

Vin tried to hide the disgusted look from Robert, but a bit of it slipped through. Still, he wiped it from his face quickly and just nodded.

"Alright, take what you need. It's... horrifying, but, at least if you think you can do it with just some chicken, then that's probably a small price to pay. Just remember Robert-you're not a monster. You didn't choose this, but you do choose how you get to handle it going forward."

He stepped back a little and crossed his arms, looking at the door and then giving a shrug.

"I can handle a punishment if it means you and your wife can get out of here. And if it means a chance at a world where my friend won't get beaten and killed for something he can't control. If that's what it takes then I'll gladly take whatever they think they can throw at me."

He met Roberts gaze then, his own expression intense. He meant every word he said and it didn't seem as if he was willing to back down.

"Now that we have a plan, we should try to get some sleep. We're going to need to be ready."

 

[Poprockz]

Damien smiled and squeezed Cora's hand as he walked beside her, Sabastian pouting and following along behind them. They followed Samantha to the rooms, the woman leading them to the first room. "Here's one room, and the other two are on the opposite side. Let me get one of your names." She smiled at them and popped off the cap on the dry-erase marker.

"Sabastian." The blonde offered, giving a strictly polite smile. She smiled and nodded, writing it out on the white board. With that, she pushed the door open and gestured toward the room. As soon as it opened, his eyes went wide and he looked confused. He walked into the room, looking around and trying not to sniff conspicuously. Why did it smell like Vin? Was he going crazy? Did one of the travelers have the same scent? Did he miss Vin enough to imagine his scent.

"I'd... like some time alone." He said quietly, walking to the door and going to close it. Damien put his foot out and stopped him. "Woah woah, are you okay?"

------------------------

Robert nodded, "it is horrifying. I'm fine with those other two functions even though they're a bit weird, but that particular thing is really disturbing to me too." His eyes lowered as Vin mentioned him not being a monster. It didn't look like he believed Vin, but at the very least it looked like he wanted to believe it. His eyes watered and he pursed his lips before swallowing hard.

At the end of Vin's speech, Robert was taken aback a bit from the intensity of Vin's conviction. He had no doubt that Vin believed what he was saying. The man found himself admiring how strongly Vin felt about protecting his friend, that display of love causing him to have more faith in Vin and trust that their plan would work.

"Alright, I'll try to sleep" He went to his bed and laid down, pulling his half of the wool blanket over himself. The first night, he had split the blanket in two so that at least they could both be warm during the night. Soon he was sound asleep, breathing softly.

 

[Drobabes]

Cora looked around a little at the work they had been doing until they got to the rooms, then she just waited politely. When Samantha brought up there being 'two other' rooms, she got a bit confused.

"Oh, that's okay mam, we don't need to take up three of your rooms. Me and Damien are a couple, so we can share a room."

She was about to comment on how graceful they were being with trying to give them all separate rooms to begin with, until Sabastian said he wanted to be alone. Her eyes went from him, then up to Damien, and back at her friend. Something was up, although he didn't look scared.

"Sabastian?"

She wasn't sure what was wrong, or if it was even something they could talk about in front of the women.

___ ___

He wished he wasn't stuck behind those bars. If he could have, he would have patted the man on the back or given him a hug. Some kind of physical touch to let him know he wasn't alone. All he could do though was try to give him hope and courage, and it seemed with that, at least, he had succeeded.

He went and laid down, pulling the blanket over himself but finding it a bit too hot for comfort. He didn't bother to move it off himself though, as he just laid there and stared at the roof. Despite saying they both needed sleep, his mind kept going around in circles.

Was Sabastian actually drunk that night at the concert, or had something else been effecting him? He did drink some, Vin had seen him drink, but maybe because of the infection it didn't sit right with him?

At the time, he had been hurt and angry even though it was obvious that Sabastian wasn't in his right mind. He had still drove him absolutely crazy with lust, but now as he lay there and thought about how he must have been terrified of revealing what he really was, how much self control had it taken not to force himself on Vin more than he had? How much had he wanted to protect him if he had to get that plastered to come onto him like that, despite outright refusing his advances before? He was grinding his teeth again, but this time he didn't stop himself.

Despite what he had told Robert, he really didn't want to stay here. He wanted out desperately. He wanted to hunt Sabastian down and make him tell the truth, and then after, after he had told Vin everything, then he wanted to hear how he really felt. Was it only because he was infected that he had turned him down? He had to know. He couldn't let him go until he knew, once and for all.

 

[Poprockz]

The woman had smiled at them and apologized, "oh, sorry about that. I hadn't seen rings so I didn't realize you were married."

Damien had rolled with it and said, "yeah, we went to a military outpost and they confiscated them. Not sure what for, though."

Sabastian looked at Cora, not wanting to stick around for them to watch him cry. Of course he had cried a lot at the beginning, but he felt like a drama queen right now, getting riled up from the smell of a room. He felt so bitter and sad about Vin's death, and he couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if things were different.

"Sabastian, please talk to us. I can see you need some support..." Damien said in a concerned tone.

The little blonde didn't know why, but the way he said that made him angry. It was as though they were all expecting him to just have a nice little chat about it and it would all be better. That was bullshit, and all he wanted was to be left the fuck alone right now.

"Leave me alone, Damien. I'm not a fucking child." He gave Damien's foot a firm shove out of the way and slammed the door in their face, locking it.

Samantha looked incredibly awkward, quickly saying, "well um. Maybe he just needs a bit of a rest. Here's your room, can I get your names?" She walked over to the door opposite with the marker ready. Damien gave their names and she scribbled it down, opening their own door for them.

--------------------------

Robert started tossing a bit, a bit of a frown on his face. At one point, he mumbled, "leave me alone, Damien. I'm not a fucking child," before rolling over and grumbling something unintelligible.

 

[Drobabes]

If Cora hadn't been so concerned for Sabastian, she might have blushed deeply at Damien just rolling with the married comment. He was probably just doing it so they could get a room together, though, so in her head she just let it go.

The sudden angry outburst made her flinch, and then she looked down at the ground. After that she was just quiet until they got in their room, waiting until Samantha left to say anything.

"Do you think he was thinking of Vin? He seemed really sad in the car..."

Cora sat down on the bed and started taking her shoes off, momentarily pausing and looking down as if she didn't trust them not to rip even though they were brand new sketchers. After a beat or two, she went ahead and finished, then stretched out on the bed, lying on her stomach with her chin on her hands as she stared at the wall. Despite being extremely tired, she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to sleep much now.

___ ___

Vin shot up so fast out of that bed that he almost tripped as the blanket got wrapped up around his foot. He kicked it off, then quickly went over to the bars and stared at Robert.

He had said something earlier about telepathy, and that he had sensed someone like himself. And now he had just talked in a tone that almost exactly resembled Sabastians.

His hands were shaking a little as he backed up and then sat down on the bed, conflicted on what to do. He wanted to wake Robert up and demand that they brake out tonight, right now, but he knew if they weren't ready then it might mean an early death for the both of them. Still...he wasn't really here, was he?

Suddenly he was clenching his fists. If that sick bastard hurt him before Vin could get to him, the preacher would be seeing Hell before he took his last breath at his hands.

 

[Poprockz]

Damien sighed and walked toward her, sitting on the bed next to his lovely lady. "Yes, I think he's still having a rough time with it. It's only been a couple days, so it's still fresh. I've heard that those kinds of memories sneak up on you when you least expect it."

He looked around the room, finding it rather plain with just a bed, nightstand, and little closet. Thankfully the bed was a full-sized, so it wouldn't be too snug. Not that it mattered per se, as he planned on sleeping cuddled up close to her.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sabastian felt a little bad about the outburst, but he was a bit too upset to care too much. He shuffled over to the bed and let himself face-plant on it. God, it smelled so much like him. The blonde grabbed the pillow and took a deep smell. In some ways it was so good to smell the man's scent (or something very much like it) again, but on the other hand it just made him feel more alone.

He raised the pillow as though he was going to throw it across the room, but then stopped. It was lowered and he broke down, the pillow held gently against the side of his face as he cried. Why did it have to be Vin? Why did it hurt so much?

"Why am I even here, mama...?" The man choked out. All of his emotions felt like they were amplified, and he felt a deep wave of depression wash over him. It felt like no matter what he did, he was never going to find love, or even someone to simply hold him. He would always just be a third wheel to those two as they lived out their lives as soulmates. Sabastian felt like a burden, a diseased child that they would have to constantly support or try to find a cure for.

He wished his mother was there to offer some guidance, and he realized he still missed her as well. Sabastian simply cried, mourning everything that had happened.

---------------------------------------------------

Robert turned over again and started crying softly in his sleep, hugging his pillow close, "why am I even here, mama...?

 

[Drobabes]

Cora hadn't answered him, but she did look up at his face, studying him. She wondered if he had ever had memories sneak up on him. She kind of hoped not, it wasn't a nice feeling usually. She couldn't count how many times she had been doing some simple task, and something about it would remind her of something in her past, and then wham! The memory would be there front and center, clear as day, making her take a deep breath and stop whatever she was doing to demand her attention. It always left her feeling a little shaken.

Suddenly she rolled over and clutched a pillow, not wanting to think anymore tonight. She just wanted to try to sleep.

___ ___

His brown eyes shot up and stared at Robert, feeling unnerved but also a deep sadness. He stood and made his way to the bars and sat down by them. For a few moments he simply stares, debating whether to wake him up or not. He felt a bit foolish, unsure if he really believed in the whole telepathy bit. Still, those words earlier had definitely sounded like him, and now he was crying for his mother.

Delvin didn't understand what was happening exactly, but his heart was aching. He wished he could reach Sabastian somehow, if that's truly what was happening right now.

Maybe... maybe he could? If Robert was getting thoughts from Sabastian, maybe Sabastian could get thoughts from him?

He took a look at the door, then he turned back to Robert. Still feeling a bit foolish, he started to sing softly, his voice echoing off the walls of the cell.

"The other night dear, as I was sleeping,

I dreamed I held you, in my arms..."

Could he hear him? Would it help, even if he could?

"...please don't take, my sunshine away..."

For the second time in years, Vin shed tears.

"Please don't cry Bastion. It'll be alright, so please don't cry."

 

[Poprockz]

Damien patted her shoulder, "hey, do you mind if I look around? I also want to check on Bowie in the car and see if they'd be okay with me bringing him inside."

----------------------------------------

As he cried, he suddenly got an odd feeling. It was as though the memory of Vin singing had been made clearer. He closed his eyes and simply let the memory wash over him. Soon, his breathing slowed and his tears abated, a little sad smile on his face. The memory was so vivid, it was almost like he could hear him singing. He wiped his eyes dry and simply laid there until it was over. Once it was done, he wished it would have continued, every second of being able to hear it clearly making it feel like Vin was beside him.

He wasn't a religious man, but it almost felt like Vin was really there. While he thought that idea might have been a bit odd, he felt comforted by the idea of Vin's ghost, or even maybe Vin watching over him. It was probably just himself being tired and stressed, imagining things that weren't there, but he felt a little bit of peace from the experience.

The blonde hoped no one could hear him outside, but he started softly singing, "Another head hangs lowly, Child is slowly taken. And the violence, caused such silence- who are we mistaken?"

-----------------------------------------------------

Robert seemed to be comforted by his singing, the tears stopping as his expression changed to one of bittersweet joy. He simply laid and listened to Vin sing until he stopped. When a few moments of silence hung in the air, Robert softly sang back to him.

"Another head hangs lowly, Child is slowly taken. And the violence, caused such silence- who are we mistaken? ... In your head, in your head. Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie. What's in your head, in your head. Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh" The slumbering man sang. He certainly wasn't singing it as well as Sabastian was, and some of the words were sleepily slurred, but it was definitely the same song he had sang during the concert- likely one Sabastian would associate with him.

 

[Drobabes]

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.

"No I don't mind, go for it. Uh...might want to leave Bowie in the car though. Snakes are a bad symbols in the Bible, and his eyes turned purple all the way. Someone might notice... He'll be ok though."

___ ___

Vin was sitting with his back against the cold concrete wall, his head resting and his eyes staring at the ceiling. After he had finished singing, he felt kind of empty and doubting again. Maybe he was just lonely himself.

His head snapped over when he heard Robert begin to sing, however, and suddenly his heart began to beat like he was running. His hands went to the bars, and he spoke back in a desperate tone.

"Sabastian, you need to leave."

He stood up on his feet, staring into the other cell as the lingering doubts were erased.

"Sabastian, can you hear me?" he spoke quietly, not wanting to wake Robert for fear of losing whatever connection was going on.

"You need to leave, right now. It's not safe."

He waited a moment, and when he didn't hear anything, he finally lost himself to desperation and yelled.

"Leave!"

 

[Poprockz]

"Okay, thank you. I'll be back soon." He leaned over and kissed her cheek affectionately before walking over to the door. Upon opening it, he looked back and smiled warmly at her before leaving.

He simply explored a little bit, wandering the public spaces of the jail church. Damien wondered when the church had moved here and what had happened to all the criminals who had been housed in it previously. Were they all released, or did most of them turn? It looked as though they were only using a specific wing, so maybe they cleared this one out and simply shut down the other sections rather than wasting bullets.

When he wandered into the church sermon room, he saw that the front was bare and the cross was in the corner, making him wonder why they needed that space. Maybe they were having a skit or had the choir up there or something.

A silver-haired man came from a side-entrance, talking with three large men until he noticed Damien. He looked a bit surprised, but then he almost seemed to recognize him. "Damien? Or Sabastian? Samantha told me we got some new arrivals recently. Here, come with me to my office, I'll like to discuss something with you."

-------------------------------------------------

Sabastian sighed as he finished the song. He still felt a bit sad, but at least he felt a little bit better. It was like the calm and peace one got after a good, long cry. He turned over on his back and rested his head back against the pillow. Indeed, he felt very peaceful until he started feeling odd.

He suddenly felt apprehensive, like something was wrong but he couldn't put his finger on it. It was like his instincts were telling him that he wasn't safe there for some reason, but he couldn't figure out why. He got the very strong urge to run, to take off anywhere and not stop until he was miles from this place. Sabastian couldn't lay still, the feeling persistently trying to get his attention.

LEAVE!

If the feeling could have been put into one word, that would have been it, the strong surge of emotion startling him and cause him to jump and flail, accidentally falling off the bed. What the hell had that been? Just as soon as the feeling came, it was now gone, replaced with a bittersweet ache in his heart.

-------------------------------------------------------

At his last yell, Robert was jolted awake, also falling off of his own bed. He looked up alarmed, making eye contact with a frustrated and desperate-looking Vin. "What-what was that? Why did you yell?"

 

[Drobabes]

"Alright."

She smiled when he kissed her cheek, feeling a flush of warmth before she rolled back over and snuggled up under the blankets. She wasn't sure if she would be able to fall asleep until he came back, but at least she could lay in a comfortable bed for a while.

___ ___

He let go of the bars and stepped back. His breathing was a bit ragged as he ran a hand through his hair and he looked down at the ground. Before he answered, he reached in his back pocket, looking for his pack of smokes. When he felt nothing, he remembered he had left them in the backpack, so he let out a curse and walked toward his bed for a moment.

He stood there for a good few minutes, his hands clenched at his sides and shaking. Finally, he turned back around and walked back to Robert.

"You were talking in your sleep. You were... saying things that my friend would say. And then you started singing a song that I had sang up on a stage not three days ago, that he watched me perform."

His brows knitted in a serious scowl.

"He's here Robert. The one you were sensing, his name's Sabastian, and he's here."

 

[Poprockz]

"Damien, nice to meet you." He shook the man's hand and followed him back, finding out along the way that this man was Father Gabriel, and that he had been the one to move the church here, making it a safe haven. He smiled politely as he listed, interested in hearing more about the place in general. Perhaps the father would mention the other zombie and point them in the direction of that person.

When they reached the office, he watched the father pour two glasses of wine and offer him one. "Oh, um. I'm fine. Thank you though, Father." Through his paranoia, he noticed that the other three men had followed them in, shutting the door and very inconspicuously locking it. He really didn't like that, feeling a shiver run down his back. When he turned to look back at the father, he caught him eyeing Damien up and down.

"Ahem. I really think I should be getting back now. I told Cora I'd only be out for about five minutes."

The father shook his head, "that's okay. If she comes around, I'll have someone let her know we're having a private discussion. Since you're new here, I thought I would personally welcome you. I heard the three of you handsome individuals just arrived." He came out from around the desk and slowly walked over, leaning back against it. Damien didn't like this one bit, feeling more trapped by the second.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert's eyes widened as he realized what Damien meant, "here? Of all people and of all places, he had to end up here?" He shook his head and started pacing in his cell a bit. "It makes sense that I would be repeating what he was saying, though. Being asleep, I would basically be a willing receptacle for his thoughts without any kind of interference."

The man paused and tried to concentrate, "did you say something to him? I don't think the communication would have actually sent real words, but he seems very anxious and tense right now." He went to the bars and looked at Vin, waiting for his answer.

 

[Drobabes]

Vin was pacing again, not being able to stand still. If it wasn't for these fucking bars he would be out there looking for him.

"I tried to tell him to leave."

He waved his hand towards the door in an angry gesture.

"I was trying to tell him it wasn't safe, and when you didn't say or do anything for a minute, I yelled it. If he's tense, then maybe it got through? Do you think we could try to get something else through? Like maybe an image of the bars or the door or something?"

He came back to the bars then and put his hands on them, suddenly looking at Robert with desperation.

"I can't let them hurt him. Robert, I can't. I don't care who I have to take down, I can't, let him, get hurt."

He really didn't know what he was asking for in that moment. Reassurance maybe? Or just a willingness to put up a fight? He was losing his self control again, feeling trapped and unable to do anything for Sabastian and possibly the others, if they were with him too.