I. Interrogation

“Are you really a Rotter?”

That was the first question they asked me.

I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.  No, you just gagged me and dragged me here because I was a perfectly normal human.  

I knew they knew what I really was.  A Rotter. Undead. Zombie. It was all the same, really.  

Even a blind man would notice what I was, given the terrible odor that radiated from every pore of my body.  Not to mention my grey skin was falling off in patches, my bones stuck through my body, and my eyes were colored the palest blue you could imagine.  

But I knew why they asked me that question.

A Rotter...well, a regular one, wasn’t self-aware.  They didn’t know they had become these mindless monsters.  Hell, even though they stumbled about and were decomposing they thought they were normal humans.

But I knew I wasn’t.  

“I am,” I finally replied dejectedly.  

The bespectacled man sitting behind the desk across from me nodded and then muttered something to the man next to him, who wrote something in a small notepad.  I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward a little, trying to see what he could possibly be writing. However, I was roughly pulled back into my seat by the iron bindings around my wrists and ankles.  I could have easily broken through them, but, hey, these men weren’t doing anything harmful to me so why be rude?

“Okay, next question,” the man wearing glasses said suddenly, his gruff voice breaking the silence.  “How long have you been dead?”

I pursed my lips and thought back.

These last few years were a blur; this was the result of my...transformation. But there was still something there...

“Two years,” I answered.

“Do you remember your past life?” the man continued.  “Did you have a name?”

“I still do,” I answered sharply.  I noticed the man’s lip form a frown.  “It’s Peter Hollick. I...was twenty-five old.  I worked at a bar,” I added, shrugging. I remember I had struggled to make ends meet.  I had worked day in and day out in this little bar where I dealt with drunks and other unsavory folk (although it wasn’t all that bad, if I remembered correctly) and then whenever I could afford to rest I’d go home to my apartment.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a blessing that I caught the disease.

I was still clad in my work uniform now, fifteen years after the disease had spread.  It was nothing special; a pair of black jeans, a white button down shirt that was now stained with blood and god-knows-what, and muddy grey converses.

The man seemed surprised by my recollection of my past life; most Rotters didn’t quite have the...well, brain, to remember that much.  He whispered something to the man beside him and he started to furiously write in his notepad.

The man with the glasses looked back over to me.  I could barely make out his dark eyes observing me head to toe.

“It’s amazing, really,” he muttered.  “I’ve never seen a Rotter like this. I almost didn’t believe them when they said one like this existed...”

“Who is ‘them’?” I asked.  The man seemed surprised by my question, as if he didn’t expect me to wonder about my situation.  “And, speaking of which, why’d you bring me here? Heck, where is here? I was in the middle of a really good meal when you dragged me here, you know.”

The man next to the one wearing glasses blanched slightly at the mention of my “meal.”

“...You don’t need to know why you’re here,” the man wearing glasses said. I noticed his voice was trembling slightly.

“Actually, I’m pretty sure I do,” I replied, leaning forward in my seat and ignoring the iron bonds digging into my flesh.  Hey, it’s not like I had the most perfect skin anyway. “I’m the Rotter you took in, after all. I might just go on a rampage if you don’t tell me why you dragged me out here.”

The man with the glasses flinched but quickly composed himself.  “...You wouldn’t,” he said, but there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“Are you sure?” I asked, smiling coolly, baring my yellowing teeth.

Okay, so I wasn’t really going to eat them, I just wanted answers.  I had just eaten, after all, and I was in no mood for anything more.  Even the usually tantalizing smell of the two men in front of me was starting to make me nauseous.

“Alright, just don’t hurt anyone,” the man begged.  “I...can only divulge so much information right now.  You must understand.”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied, leaning back into my chair.  You have to respect a man’s privacy.

“We need you...Peter,” he said, spitting out my name as if it were some foreign object.  “You see, the human race is losing our battle against the your kind and this disease.”

“Oh, trust me, I know,” I scoffed.

The man glared at me for a moment before continuing.  “We’ve started to bring the battle to your kind instead of waiting for them to attack our domes...but it’s difficult to fight them on their home turf.”

“So, what, do you want me to lead you into their den or something?” I asked, cocking my head to one side.  “Teach you all their secrets?”

“Well, not me personally,” the man explained.  “I’m...not sure who will be accompanying you. I’m not privy to every detail, you must understand.  I was only told to find a Rotter fit for the job, and here you are.”

So I was a tool, plain and simply.  I was just a little toy to be used for these humans’ amusement.  And, to be honest, that bothered me more than the fact they would be killing people of my...species.  I held no love for them and most of us felt neutral about each other at best.

“And what if I don’t want to?” I asked.  “What if I just decide to kill all of you?”

The man glared at me.  The air in the room seemed to go still.

“Well, we’ll just kill you instead.”

Now, wasn’t that a convincing argument.

II. Artemis

I never saw the fact of the soldier who was to accompany me.  Well, not his real face, anyway.

His name was Artemis Green; that’s what the people who led me into the giant black building told me.  Those same people also explained that this building belonged to the REO, or the Rotter Extermination Organization.  

Pleasant, right?

Apparently there were smaller branches associated with this organization in all the human domes.  But here, in Dome 0, was the headquarters.

I have to admit, it was quite interesting being in an human dome for the first time.  They were impenetrable barriers intended to keep my kind out and the toxins of the outside world at bay.  And, even more interestingly, the people all looked terrified. They kept glancing at each other nervously, as if they expected one of them to turn at any moment and eat them.

Geez, how could they expect to kill us if they couldn’t either trust each other?

I was literally dragged into the REO Headquarters by the chains around my arms.  And who should be waiting there for me when I entered than Mr. Artemis Green himself?

He was wearing the black gas mask that was standard gear for human soldiers.  It was meant to protect them from the poison outside. If you took it off them, though, they would start gasping like a floundering fish and then die.

I would know, I’ve done it before.

Anyway, Artemis was also clad in a long, black shirt covered by a grey robe.  His pants were black, as well, and a pair of laced boots traveled up to his knees.  But the part of his appearance which held my attention the longest was the belt around his waist.  Attached to it was an array of knives and pistols.

And then, of course, was the machine gun he clutched firmly in his right hand.

I gulped beside myself.  Okay, so maybe I didn’t want to get on this guy’s bad side.

Artemis observed me quietly.  For a split second I thought I saw a pair of blue eyes flash in the lenses of his gas mask.

“...So, you’re the Rotter,” he said, his voice muffled through his mask.

I nodded.  “Yes, sir, I would say so.  The name’s Peter. Apparently I’m supposed to be leading you somewhere, yeah?”

The man flinched slightly.  Anyone who wasn’t paying close to attention to him might have missed the quick movement, but I saw it clear as day.  Was Artemis...unnerved? Something definitely had to be wrong. I mean, he wasn’t saying anything now and I swear I could feel his eyes staring holes into me.  Maybe he didn’t expect a Rotter to act normally? That was usually the response I got whenever I started chatting with someone else. But this...was different. Somehow.  That look in Artemis’s eyes...I could hardly make it out, but it seemed sad.

Why?

Before I could examine his eyes even further, Artemis blinked and shook his head, as if trying to get rid of something in there.  

“...Yes, you are going to be leading me somewhere,” Artemis explained, turning his eyes from mine.  “You...know the Rotter territory better than any of us could. You’re going to lead us to Dome 7, an area we haven’t been able to access.”

I blinked.  “Dome 7?” I repeated, interrupting Artemis.  “But why? A human like you doesn’t want to go there.  It’s just...the undead everywhere. It smells pretty bad, too.”

I couldn’t remember much about what happened there, but apparently at the beginning of the outbreak the entire Dome was overrun by Rotters.  The defenses hadn’t been built up around the area so they just waltzed it and took it as their own. Even now they were probably just milling around the place, not sure what to do with themselves.  But it was definitely way too dangerous for any human to enter. Hell, I doubt a whole army could kill all those Rotters there.

I woke up in Dome 7, so I could probably assume that’s where I used to work.  But besides remembering that bar I couldn’t quite recall anything else.

“I’m fully aware of the danger,” Artemis huffed, snapping me from my thoughts.  “But we need to go there.  There’s....” He hesitated.  “...There’s rumors that there is something important there that we need.  It is absolutely vital.”

“A cure?” I asked.

Artemis glared at me.  “It’s classified.”

I raised my hands in mock defeat, the chains on my shackles jingling.  “Okay, okay, sorry. I was just curious, is all.” I stared at his black gas mask and I could briefly make out his blue eyes gazing back at me.  “Will you tell me anything at all?” I asked, my voice sounding a little more desperate than I had intended. Hey, if I was going to be used then I at least wanted to know what I was being used for.  

Artemis was silent for a moment.  “...Perhaps,” he finally answered, and from the tone of his voice I could swear that he was grinning.

And, somehow, that made me smile, too.  I could hear the people beside me groan in disgust at the sight of my yellow teeth, but I didn’t care.  Maybe this guy wasn’t all bad. I mean, if you can smile at least you have a heart, right?

Artemis noticed my grin and immediately turned back to his serious self.  “But, we have to get going right away. Captain’s orders.”

“Right away?” I parroted.  

“That’s right,” Artemis confirmed, walking towards the entrance of the building.  I watched him stupidly, wondering what he could possible be doing, and he stared back at me, his brows furrowed.  “What’s wrong?”

“...We’re going now?” I asked.  “So soon?”

“Of course,” Artemis answered.  He waved his machine gun towards the outside world.  “We don’t have anytime to lose.”

Okay, so I had to leave right now and help guide this soldier (who could possibly kill me) out into the outside world (which could possibly kill both of us) and I had no time to prepare for it?  Man, humans are a demanding bunch, aren’t they?

But, you know, it seemed kind of...fun.  

I smiled besides myself.  “Alright, alright, you’re the boss.  Let’s go.”

III. Scars

“Does it hurt?”

It took me a few seconds before I realized what Artemis was referring to.  “Oh.” I stared down at the metal bonds around my wrists. They were starting to dig into my skin because they were latched onto me so tightly.  I could see fresh blood spilling from where they cut me (funny how something that technically isn’t even alive can still bleed), but I couldn’t feel anything.  

“No, it doesn’t,” I replied, looking back at Artemis.  “I’m fine. ...Thanks though.”

Artemis paused a little, as if he didn’t expect me to be thanking him, but then continued walking.  What, I wasn’t a mean person. If someone’s looking out for you then it’s only common courtesy to thank them, after all.  

And, besides, it was nice hearing Artemis talk for once.  We had been walking for hours already, and it was almost frightening how little the human spoke.  We were far from Dome 0 now, and all that awaited us was a blank expanse of sand, grass, and burned trees.  

The world had deteriorated along with the disease.  No one is quite sure how it came about, or at least I don’t know anyone who is, but when we started to turn into these monsters some strange chemical also began to appear.  I’m pretty sure it comes from the Rotters themselves, I mean, have you smelled their breath lately? But...I don’t know for sure. I don’t know what caused it...

But, anyway, back to Artemis speaking.  I was trying to get him to talk a little more; I had tried to coax him into conversations time and time again.  Who’s your family? Why’d you become a soldier? Did someone you love die? ...Why don’t you ever talk?

I thought it would be easier to speak out here where no one would hear us, but apparently not.

I sighed and continued walking in silence instead, my metal chains clinking with every step.  I looked slowly up at Artemis and examined his profile as he walked, too. His black hair looked soft to the touch and fell neatly over his gas mask.  

Ah, there was another question.

What does your face look like?

Artemis suddenly paused and stared down at me.  I met his gaze, confused.

“What’s up?” I asked.

Artemis furrowed his brows.  “I should be asking you that,” he replied.  “What kind of a question is that?”

Question...?  My eyes widened in horror.  Oh, God, had I actually asked that aloud?

“Um, um...it’s nothinggg,” I lied, shifting nervously where I stood.  “Sorry, I was just thinking aloud, ha ha. You don’t have to answer - “

“You were thinking about my face?” Artemis asked.

“No!  I mean, uh....yeah, I guess,” I stammered.  “But I was just curious because you had that mask on when I first met you and I was just....” I trailed off, not quite sure what else to say.

This was it, I knew it.  My journey had hardly just begun and I was going to get a machine gun in the face.

But, oddly enough, Artemis started chuckling.  I glanced hesitantly up at him, afraid it might be some sort of act to catch me off guard, but, no, he was actually laughing.

“T-There’s no need to be scared!” he said, trying to control his laughter.  “Just look at you, you seem so frightened!”

I pursed my lips.  “That’s not funny,” I grumbled.  “Any of us would be frightened around a human soldier with some weapons like that.”  I motioned towards Artemis’s startling array of weaponry.

Artemis followed my gaze and then shook his head.  “No, don’t worry,” he said gently. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Is that orders from the Captain, too?” I scoffed.

Artemis hesitated.  “Well, yes, but I wouldn’t hurt you otherwise.”

“Why?” I asked.  “I’m a Rotter.”

This time Artemis didn’t reply.  He looked out at the horizon instead.  “...Come on, night is going to fall soon, we should keep moving.”  With that he began to walk again, and the silence fell upon us once more.  

I sighed.  Ah, well, it was fun while it lasted.  

But wait.

“You never did tell me about your face,” I pointed out.

I swear Artemis smiled under his gas mask.  “You’ll see it one day. I promise.”

--

“Do you remember what it was like to be a human?”

Now that question really caught me off guard.

We had taken shelter for the night in one of the many broken down homes that dotted the barren landscape.  The roof of this house was practically nonexistent, and the entire building was a skeleton, devoid of any walls.  We had built a fire on the grass in front of the steps and were sitting around it. I could feel the flames warming me up, but I really didn’t need it.  I was dead, I couldn’t feel hot or cold. But it must have been really chilly out seeing as Artemis was shivering and huddling closer to the fire. Artemis had undone my chains, even though I could have easily broken them, which kind of surprised me.  After all, I could kill him at any second. Despite his tough demeanor he was a pretty trusting guy, huh?

But, right, that question.

“...What?” I asked stupidly.

“Do you remember?” Artemis repeated.  “Mr. Nichols, the man who had questioned you, told me that you could recall some of your past.  That’s a very unusual trait for your kind, you know.”

“Yeah, I know,” I replied.  “But...it’s nothing very interesting.  I can only remember bits and pieces.”

Artemis looked at me like he wanted me to clarify.

“I remember I worked in some nasty bar,” I explained.  “I worked day and night for minimum wage, and then I would return to my apartment.”  I shrugged. “But that’s it, I guess. Nothing special.”

“No, it’s very special,” Artemis said, shaking his head.  “Even that much...Even remembering that much is impressive.  It shows you’ve retained much more of your humanity than others.  You can even talk fluently...”

“I don’t know why or how I can, if that’s what you’re going to ask,” I interjected.  “I just...From the very beginning I knew I was different from the others.” I fiddled with my fingers nervously.  “But, I mean...it’s okay...”

Artemis gazed at me silently.  “Do you want to be a Rotter?” he whispered.  

Do I...?  Surprisingly, the answer came quicker to me than I had imagined.

I shook my head.  “No, I don’t. I want to be human.”

Artemis nodded.  We were quiet again for a while.  The only sound was the wind moaning across the sand.  

“...What did you say your name was again?” Artemis asked suddenly.

“Peter.  Peter Hollick.”  I cocked my head to the side.  “Why?”

I could see Artemis’s bright blue eyes through the lenses of his mask.  They were looking at me, and I could feel them studying every scar, every blemish, every bone sticking out of my body.

It made me feel disgusting.  

I hugged my legs to my chest to try to prevent him from examining me.  

Artemis finally looked away me from and shook his head.  

“...Sorry, it’s nothing.  Just...go to sleep.”

With that he fell onto the ground, wrapped his robe around himself, and started to fall asleep.

I just sat where I was, my eyes gazing into the flickering flames of the fire.

Why did his voice sound so sad?

IV. Blood

“Check out what I found!”

Artemis turned at the sound of my voice and waited until I had hobbled over to him as quickly as I was able.  He was already prepared to leave, but I had insisted on scouring the broken down house before we left.

“What is it?” Artemis asked as I smiled excitedly at him.

“It’s a book!” I said, holding the object up in my bound hands.  “I haven’t seen one of these in years!”

Artemis gingerly took the book.  “Well, yes, I suppose you wouldn’t have seen one in a while, being out here and all.”  He gently blew the dust off the cover of the book, creating a little cloud that made my eyes water.  Artemis squinted his eyes. “...The Velveteen Rabbit,” he read aloud. “I haven’t read this book in such a long time....”

That title sounded familiar, but I couldn’t recall it exactly.  I really hated this decomposing brain of mine.

Artemis must have noticed my confused expression because he immediately clarified.  “It’s about a stuffed rabbit,” he explained, “that becomes real through a human’s love and affection.”

“That sounds cheesy,” I commented, taking the book back as Artemis handed it to me.  

He chuckled.  “Yeah, it kind of is, but it’s a good read.  ...You can read, can’t you?” he added, hesitantly.  

I frowned.  “I think so.  Maybe a little.  I’m kind of rusty, but I think I can manage.”  I grinned at him. “It’ll give me something to do on the way to Dome 7.”  I stared down at my shackles and added quietly, “Well, if I can even turn the pages.”

Artemis was silent for a moment before he motioned for me to walk closer to him.  I obeyed and he shuffled through a little pouch attached to his belt before pulling out a little key.  He grabbed my iron bonds and quickly unlocked them, and they fell to the ground with a small thud.

I massaged my wrists happily.  Ah, sweet relief! Those things were such a burden to wear.  “Thank you,” I said.

“No problem,” Artemis replied, putting the key away.  “I think I can trust you not to attack me. And we do have a long journey ahead...”

“Yep, just lead the way, partner!” I exclaimed, holding the book to my chest.  I knew I was probably...no, scratch that, definitely used by the humans, but...But it felt alright now.  I felt good.

I liked Artemis.  He was nicer than he appeared and would definitely prove useful in a pinch.  Besides, I felt like...I knew him. From, you know, before I became a Rotter.

Nah, never mind that.  Forget it.

Artemis chuckled again.  “Well, someone’s certainly excited today.  Let’s go.”

--

Ah yes, fresh meat.  How delicious! The way it melted in my mouth, the way it’s blood trickled down my throat like the most satisfying elixir...

Oh, yeah, when you couldn’t get your hands on humans, horse meat was definitely the next best thing.  

I had started getting hungry about this afternoon, and Artemis had allowed me to stop for a while to hunt.  There were plenty of farms left destroyed after the outbreak, but finding any livestock that survived...now that was different.  Sure, there was no concrete chance I would actually stumble upon some living animals, but the chance I would find a human out here was even more slim.

And I was not about to eat Artemis.

So, Artemis had stopped for a few moments while I lumbered about for a while, searching for any livestock that had somehow survived.  I finally came across a pitifully thin horse that seemed to be on its final leg. The poor thing was limping and its hair was matted everywhere.

I didn’t feel bad about putting it out of its misery.

And now here we were, taking refuge again in a small house.  This place was much better than the last we had stayed in; it had a roof and walls!  It was like an awesome package deal. And, luckily for Artemis, that meant that only limited chemicals had made their way in here.  So maybe he could afford to take off his mask for a while.

And...I guess that was lucky for me, too, I suppose.  I did want to see his face...

“Is everything okay in there?”

Artemis’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked up, blood dribbling down my chin with the movement.  He was standing in the doorway, his arms folded. To my disappointment he was still wearing that awful gas mask.  Maybe the smell of blood and flesh was too much for him.

He didn’t say anything for a while.  He just kept looking around, examining the blood and gore surrounding me.  His gaze would occasionally land upon me and I could practically feel his eyes boring holes through my already rotted skin.  

I knew what he was probably thinking.

What a disgusting, horrible monster.  

I quickly wiped my chin of any blood and stared down the torn about horse before me.  It’s black eyes, as smooth as glass, seemed to be glaring at me too. I could almost hear it speak: you’re disgusting, you’re a beast, you should have died! Even he thinks so!

I felt sick.  

I clutched my eyes shut.  I didn’t want to see it, I didn’t want to see their gazes.  I knew what I was, I knew how terrible I could be. It’s not liked I had asked for it...!

So just stop....stop looking at me like that!

“Well...if there’s nothing wrong, I’ll just be going then,” Artemis piped up awkwardly, preparing to walk away.

“Wait!” I shouted, jumping up from my seat on the floor.

Artemis flinched, and then turned to face me.  I assumed that at this moment he must have been wearing an expression of absolute surprise.  

I ungracefully dropped the hind leg of the horse that I had been gnawing upon onto the floor, and began to make my way towards Artemis.  “I don’t...I don’t want to stay here,” I admitted. I could smell the scent of rotting flesh, taste the blood staining my teeth.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It was disgusting.

“I-I...don’t want to eat this anymore,” I stammered, my voice cracking.  “So...I’ll go with you. Is that...okay?” I asked, cocking my head to one side.  

Artemis gazed at me quietly before nodding and urging me forward.  “...Of course it is. Come on, I’m about to set up things so I can sleep.”

He began to walk towards the living room of the house, and I couldn’t have followed him quicker if I had had normal, human legs.  

I could have sworn I heard the horse cackling madly behind me.

You beast, you beast, you beast!

V. Real

Artemis was the only one in our unlikely duo that actually slept.  Rotters can’t sleep due to their....well, brain-hungry minds. And even I can’t seem to fall into a slumber, although I’m not like the rest.

It’s a shame.  Sometimes I wish I could escape this world for just a little while.

Artemis didn’t have much in the way of supplies; he had to sacrifice bringing a lot of materials to go on this journey.  But he managed to make a meager sleeping area by laying a thin blanket covered in moth holes on the ground and placing a pillow basically deprived of all its feather stuffing next to it.  

He then sat on the wooden floor of the building and opened up a small of beans that he had kept in his supply bag.  He slowly consumed his food, but every so often I could make out his blue eyes darting quickly over to me and back again.

I was sitting in a corner of the room, far from Artemis, clutching my legs to my chest.  

I...didn’t want to get too close.  He was probably disgusted with me right now.

And after all the trouble I went to to appear more human.

That’s all I wanted, really.  I just wanted to go back to being a living, breathing human that wouldn’t be ridiculed and shunned by everyone else.  I couldn’t remember what it was like when I was actually human, mind you, but it had to be much better than this.

But finally Artemis broke the terrible silence that stretched between us.  “Are you alright?” he asked, placing his empty can of beans on the floor.

My dark eyes flickered over to him, but I quickly looked back down at the floor again.  Was I...alright? No, I wasn’t. Not at all.

“...I’m sorry for being such a monster,” I whispered, wringing my thin hands together.  “You must have been disgusted by what you saw earlier.”

Artemis was silent for a moment before answering and I could have sworn that my no longer beating heart was furiously pumping in fear.

“I’m not...disgusted,” he slowly replied.  “I’ve seen it a lot before, mind you. And I...”  He hesitated again before continuing, scratching his black hair.  “I...don’t think you’re a monster,” he finished.

I blinked.  What?

“You don’t?”

Artemis shook his head.  “No. I never have. You’re...you’re different, Peter.  To me, you’re a human.”

That was...all I had ever wanted to hear.  That I was human. That despite my rotting flesh and my tendency to eat others, that I was a human.  Even just a little bit.

I didn’t care.  Even if there was only an ounce of humanity left in me I would grab onto it with white knuckles and never let go.  

Heck, it wouldn’t have even mattered to me if Artemis was lying.  Although, I could tell he wasn’t from the tone of his voice.

I began to feel some sort of...bubbly feeling in my stomach.  Yeah, that would be the best way to describe it.

And that...that had to be happiness.  

My yellow teeth formed a small smile, and I could hear Artemis chuckle a little bit at the sight of it.  “Good, good, that’s what I’ve been waiting to see,” he said.

I blinked.  “What?”

“I just wanted to see you smile, is all,” Artemis clarified.  “You’re not one to get so glum all the time. You never were.”

What.

“What do you mean...I never was?” I asked hesitantly, cocking my head to one side.

Artemis flinched at my question and then immediately tensed up, as though he had said something that he really shouldn’t.  “I-I...nothing,” he stammered. “Sorry, it’s nothing. Don’t worry, alright?”

His voice certainly didn’t make it sound like it was nothing, so I continued to glare at him with my lips set into the biggest pout I could muster.  It had no effect, though, as he simply yawned and placed his threadbare pillow on his lap.

“I think I’ll go to sleep now,” he said, scratching his head.

My pout deepened.

Well, way to change the subject.

I shifted in my seat, pulling my copy of the Velveteen Rabbit out from underneath me.  I kept the book close to me at all times and had actually managed to make my way through the first pages.  And I didn’t sleep so...this was the perfect time to read a little more.

“Okay, then,” I said.  “Goodnigh -”

Before I could finish, though, my jaw dropped.

What I had mistaken as Artemis simply scratching his head was actually him removing his gas mask.

And, boom, there he sat as clear as day, his mask on the ground before him.

I had to admit, for waiting so long so see his face this was very anticlimactic.  But I almost didn’t care as I stared at his face dumbfounded, unable to form any words.

His skin was pale, almost shockingly so, and his eyes seemed even brighter and more brilliant compared to it.  What caught my attention most of all, however, was the left half of his face...his otherwise unblemished skin was covered in horrible looking scars that stretched from his lips to his forehead.  It was...terrible, really, that was the only word that could describe it.

With a start, I realized that it probably wasn’t very nice of me to keep staring at his injury like this and I hurriedly looked away.  

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Artemis said, smiling gently.  “I’m used to getting all sorts of stares.”

“...Does it hurt?” I asked quietly, bringing my eyes back to his face.

He shook his head.  “No, not anymore.”

“Was it...a Rotter?” I asked again, removing my eyes from his face.

I was starting to feel...nauseous looking at that scar.  But why?

Artemis was silent for a moment.

I could feel my stomach doing backflips.

Why why why.

Why did that scar invoke such bad memories?  Why did I feel so terrible? Why could I almost feel fresh blood coating my hands?

“...Yes, it was,” Artemis finally answered.

I could feel my breath hitch in my throat.  

I could almost see it my mind’s eye; a Rotter attacking a defenceless Artemis and giving him that horrible scar.  But why did it look like me?

Was it me?  Had I hurt Artemis?

I couldn’t remember, but I could hear my brain screaming at me, begging at me to remember, to recall the terrible thing I had done.  But had I really done it? Or was I just imagining?

What was the truth?

“Are you okay?” Artemis asked, his eyes flashing with concern.

“I’m...I’m fine,” I lied.  “I’m sorry...I’m sorry you were hurt like that.”

I almost said “I’m sorry I hurt you” but I managed to hold my tongue.  After all, I couldn’t quite be sure it was me, even though my mind was shouting that I was at fault.

Artemis smiled.  “...It’s okay. Don’t be sorry.”  He hesitated for a moment and licked his slightly chapped lips before continuing.  “Just relax, okay? I’ll see you in the morning.”

And, without leaving me any time to respond, Artemis flopped into his makeshift “bed” and immediately fell asleep.

I was astounded by how quickly it had happened, but we had been walking all day...

“Good night, Artemis,” I whispered.

I could still feel my body shaking.  I could almost taste blood. I felt sick.

But was I really the one who had hurt him?  Was I? I tried to recall, but my memories were just a black, impenetrable fog.  Why, why? Why couldn’t I remember?

I took a deep breath and told myself to calm down.  After all, no good would come from dwelling on it if I didn’t know the answer.  So, I managed to make myself stop trembling (well at least a little bit) and picked up my book.  

And then I began to read.

It took me awhile to find where I had left off, and then it took even longer to figure out the words.  My mind was a jumbled up mess and every time I tried to understand a sentence or even speak the words aloud, the letters would just flow away.  But, slowly, ever so slowly, the words began to make sense and made their way through my muddled brain. My chapped lips whispered the words on the pages, bringing the tale to life in my undead mind.  

This seemed to be a very important scene.  The little rabbit was asking an old rocking horse how to become alive.  Now, obviously stuffed animals can’t come alive; even as a Rotter I knew that was ridiculous.  But then...the horse said something that I hadn’t expected from this otherwise childish piece of literature.  

“‘I-It doesn’t happen all at once,’” I read slowly, fumbling slightly over my words.  “‘You become. It...It takes a long time. T-That’s why it...d-doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  G-G...Gen....’” I didn’t quite remember this word, so I just skipped it. “‘B-By the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and...y-your eyes drop out and you g-get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things d-don’t matter at all...’”

I trailed off as my eyes flickered over the remaining words in the paragraph, and I could feel my throat tighten.

“‘...B-Because once you are Real you can’t be ugly...e-except to people who don’t understand.’”

I looked up from the page and blinked.  Now...wasn’t that interesting?

I had been told plenty of times that wasn’t real.  That I was unnatural.  And, yeah, maybe I was.  But I was made of flesh and bones, even though it may have been different from living people.  And I still had a heart. So that had to mean I was real. And being real meant you were alive, right?

My hair was thinning and my joints were more than shabby and my eyes had popped out of their sockets once.  So, I had to be alive. I had to be real.  I wasn’t pretty, and I certainly wasn’t what came to people's’ minds when they heard of something being “real.”  But those people didn’t understand, did they?

My eyes flickered over to Artemis, who was still sleeping soundly.  He didn’t think I was ugly. Or maybe he did and just didn’t say it outloud.  But still...he was nothing but kind to me. So he definitely had to understand.

I slid over to his side and gazed down at him, grinning to myself.

“Well...I guess you’re a little shabby, too,” I chuckled, examining his scar.

It was huge and made his skin look all stretchy and red.  But...it wasn’t hideous. At least, I didn’t think so.

So, I understood Artemis, too.  

I smiled to myself again and gently touched Artemis’ scar with my finger.  It felt...different than I had expected it to. It was harder than it looked and the little ridges on it felt like mountain ranges as I dragged my finger across it.  

But, I found myself unable to cherish this moment.  Only seconds after I had touched the scar, I found myself hastily pulling my hand away.  The scar had started to...burn? Or at least it felt like it was. I found that I simply couldn’t hold my finger to it any longer.

And then the pain in the head started.  It was sudden, but searing, like someone had smashed my head with a bat.  I quickly left Artemis’ side and clutched my head with my hands.

What...what was happening?

I found my vision going dark, and the world seemed to swim underneath me.

I clenched my eyes shut, hoping, praying that this would just end soon...

And then the memory appeared.

----

He’s cowering before me, his eyes wide with fear, his body trembling wildly.

“Peter, stop!” he begs, his throat choking with tears.  

I hear him, but I don’t comprehend.  Why are you screaming? I just want to eat.  And you are food.

Food, food, food.  

He cries out again, but I limp forward, snarling.  

“Peter, this isn’t you!” he shouts, backing up again the front door to the apartment, furiously searching for the doorknob.

Food, food, food!

I lunge forward, my mouth agape as I aim for his throat, but...

I pause mere inches from his face.

He’s shaking so much.  He stares up with me with pleading eyes.

Ah.

He...always did have the most beautiful bright blue eyes.

I falter for one moment, the memories of my past life rushing into my mind, and he takes the opportunity to thrust open the door.

I wake up.

Food, food, food.

Before he can completely escape, I attack.  It’s only one strike, but it leaves giant scars stretching across his face.  I hear him scream in pain, I see the blood gushing from the wound...

And then he’s gone.

And I’m entirely alone.

All I can do is bellow meaningless nonsense at the top of my lungs.

Food, food, food, food, FOOD!

----

The pain subsides, finally, but I find no relief.  I’m completely stunned.

For a few minutes I simply am unable to move.  My body quivers, and my lips flop uselessly up and down, but I cannot speak.

There are so many questions in my mind; why was Artemis there?  Why was I there? Why were we together?

But that’s not important now.

I did it.

I really did hurt Artemis.

It was all my fault.

I could almost recall that day in perfect clarity now; the horrified look on his face, his cries for mercy, his blood staining my hands.

I choke back a sob and curl up into a ball against the wall.  

I hurt Artemis.

I am a monster.

I am a real monster.

I cried to myself the rest of the night.

VI. Forgiveness

When Artemis awoke in the morning, I found that I still couldn’t bring myself to speak.  He woke up, mumbled a “good morning” to me in a drowsy voice, splashed his face with some water from his canteen, and then quickly threw on his clothes.  

Rejuvenated, he pulled another can of beans out his satchel, and grinned at me.

“How are you?” he asked pleasantly.  

I had long since stopped crying, but I found that my throat was raw.  And it hurt to even lift my eyes to him...

I darted my eyes away and forced myself to speak.  “...I-I’m alright,” I stammered.

Well, that wasn’t convincing at all and Artemis certainly didn’t buy it.  “Now that’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one,” he replied, kneeling down before me.  He gazed at me with those bright blue eyes, and I quickly tore myself away from them.  

They reminded me all too well of what I had done.

The most beautiful blue eyes...

Artemis seemed surprised by my glancing away, and he backed up slightly.  Still, his eyes never left me, causing me to shrink in guilt.

“Please tell me what’s wrong,” he asked me softly.

His voice was so gentle, so kind...It made me want to spill my secrets out one by one. But I couldn’t just say it, I couldn’t...

Even if he knew it was me, I couldn’t say it aloud.  Then it would be the absolute truth.

Instead of answering him, I covered my face with my hands.  

Don’t look at me.

I could hear the the floorboards creak as Artemis approached and flinched slightly.

“Go away,” I said.  I meant it to be far more intimidating, but it came out quiet and weak.  

“No,” came Artemis’ firm reply.  

He was even closer now, I could feel his hot breath brushing against my cheek.  I tried to twist away, but he gently grabbed onto the sides of my face and pulled me back.

“Peter, look at me.”

I shook my head as best as I could.  

“No.”

“Peter.”

I didn’t reply.

The air was still with silence.

Finally, I slowly lowered the hands from my face and lifted my eyes to Artemis’ own.  He stared directly at me, his gaze unflinching, but despite the absolute fear knotting my stomach (or lack thereof), I just couldn’t look away.

“What’s wrong, Peter?”

His voice was so soft...so gentle.  My eyes faltered for a moment, sliding down to the scar marring his face.  My fault. That was my fault.

Before I knew what I was saying, I uttered the words.

“I’m sorry.”

Artemis’ eyes widened but he did not reply.

My eyes lifted back to his eyes again, and that phantom grip clutching at my abdomen grew tighter and tighter.  “I’m sorry...I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

The words flowed out endlessly, but Artemis didn’t seem to mind.  He simply continued staring at me and then, ever so slowly, wrapped his arms around me.

I couldn’t speak.

He pulled me closer, his scarred cheek rubbing across my own rotting one.

“It’s okay.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Well, I mean...I could never breathe.  But this time I really felt it.

“I know...it was you,” Artemis continued.  “And it’s okay. I’d forgiven you a long time ago.”

Ah...that was all I wanted to hear.

I could feel the tears welling in my eyes again, and I buried my face within Artemis’ shoulder.

“...So you knew?” I choked out.

“From the beginning.”

“And you were okay with traveling with me...?”

Artemis slowly unfurled his arms, and I raised my head to gaze at him once again.  He smiled.

“Idiot...I missed you.  I missed you so much.”

I could feel the crinkled skin around my lips lift as I grinned in return.  

“I missed you, too.”

VII. Seven

I was right.  It really did smell.

It a noxious mixture; part rotting flesh, part a sort of smoky gas that burned your nostrils.  That was what came from Rotters’ mouths; it was some sort of chemical, the scientists back at Dome 0 had said, and apparently it had to do with whatever turned them in the first place.  The gas was apparently enough to kill any living thing, plants, animals...humans. It was the entire reason the land had become so barren, so lifeless.

The glass that had surrounded the zone was entirely useless now, shattered and scattered all about the dirt.  Old, crumpled signs laid on the ground, crying out warnings such as “STAY OUT”, “REMAIN WITHIN THE CONFINES”, and “RUN”.

The warnings fell on deaf ears now.  What a shame.

Artemis only paused for a moment to examine the area as we arrived.  I could see his piercing blue eyes flit underneath his mask, taking in every little possible thing he could find; plants, rubble, you name it.  None of it seemed interesting to me, but I figured I should indulge him at least for a while.

The city, if it could even be called that anymore, was eerily quiet.  The buildings still stood somehow, despite the gaping holes in their structures.  It was a pity. The city had been so beautiful at one time...but here were the buildings, their paint peeling, their windows cracked and dirty.

It was but a shadow of its former self.

----

Artemis stayed close to me the entire time.  Well...I guess it was more that I stayed close to him.  I didn’t much like the idea of getting too close to the other undead.  Sure, we were the same...in some way. But they couldn’t think.

It was terrifying.  Those beady, black eyes of theirs.

Thankfully they weren’t hostile.  Artemis had had the sense to coat his suit with some bloody remains from a Rotter he killed outside the Dome.  He reeked to high heaven, but at least it worked.

The streets were painfully silent.  Even the dead seemed to be holding their breath as they shuffled by us.  Er, figuratively, of course.

It didn’t help that neither of us were talking.  There wasn’t much to say, after all.

This was the end of our journey.  We would do whatever amazingly top secret assignment the REO had in store for us - which, by the way, Artemis had still not told me anything about - and...what?  Save the world? Kill the Rotters? Well, those were basically the same thing, I supposed.

And then we would go our separate ways.  ...Right? After all, we were different, we couldn’t...just stay friends.

It wouldn’t be right.

And yet I wanted to stay.

“Where are we going?” I finally asked, somehow finding my voice.

I expected a grunt at best, but Artemis was surprisingly forthcoming with his response.  “The REO branch. What we need is there.” He motioned towards some decrepit old, white brick building in the center of town.  “It fell long ago, but we need to get what’s inside.”

“What is inside?”

Artemis was silent that time.

----

Eventually we happened upon the bar.  I could remember it clear as day.

This was where I woke up.  I had worked here, too. I could still recall the booze, the burning scent of cigarettes, and the crooning voices from the performers who came by every Friday night.

Artemis didn’t complain when I beelined towards the building, and walked behind me quietly as I examined the ruins.  Half of the bar had collapsed, leaving a gaping hole that led back out onto the street. The bar itself, however, was still intact.  

I found myself pulled towards it, and I absentmindedly stroked the wooden surface.

I could see it.

The smiles of the patrons, the laughs coming from so many people who had drank just a little bit too much.

And there was a man.  He had the best laugh of them all.  He had bright blue eyes.

“Do you remember this place?”

Artemis’ sudden question pulled my out of my fantasy.

I quickly turned around to face him.  “I...I think so? I worked here, didn’t I?”

I swore Artemis smiled.  “You did.”

“You...”

Blue eyes.

“You visited me here, didn’t you?”

Artemis’ voice was softer this time.  “I did.”

I needed answers.

I wanted to ask why he came, how I knew him, why...why we were in the apartment together.  I had to know the truth. I had-

There was someone whimpering underneath the bar.

Both Artemis and I immediately glanced towards the wooden structure.  Artemis nodded his head towards the small door that led behind the bar; the door that allowed us bartenders to serve our customers.

Artemis gently nudged open the door, and we stepped through to see...a survivor.

A survivor on the verge of death.

It was a young girl; she had to be about fifteen at most.  Her skin was red and flaking, with black sores covering her body.  Her eyes were bloodshot, and her body trembling.

This was what happened when you were exposed to the gas.  You inhaled it and you slowly died. It broke you down until you were nothing.

Becoming a Rotter almost seemed like a kinder fate.

But, y’know...she did smell pretty good.  

Artemis approached her carefully and knelt down by her side.  She opened her cracked lips and began to babble furiously, about how her family had died, how she had escaped, how she had been waiting for help for so long.

It meant nothing to me.

I could feel my body shaking.  I tried to hold it back, I really did.  Just hang in there, Peter, you don’t have to eat!

But she was already dying anyway.  Wouldn’t it just be better to let it all end?

I was her savior.  Eating her would be a favor.

I gave in.

The poor thing, she was screaming.

The first thing I heard when I came back to my senses was Artemis screaming.  He was gripping my shoulders and shaking them violently, telling me to wake up, to get a hold of myself.

It felt like I was waking up from a dream.

I blinked, slowly bidding the world to come back into focus.  

The girl’s body was crumpled before me, a myriad of large bite marks carved onto her flesh.  

I opened and closed my mouth.

Oh god...there was blood.

I spit it up as quickly as I could, my body convulsing.  Now I was the one babbling, going on and on about I tried to fight it, how I didn’t want to.  I was begging Artemis for forgiveness while simultaneously praying that he wouldn’t look at me - this monster with blood stained teeth.  

But Artemis just held me silently.  He stroked my back and held me close, even as the blood dripped from my mouth and stained his clothes.

Finally, I calmed down.

He held me for a few more minutes before speaking again.

“I have to show you something.”

----

The apartment room was modest.  

Artemis had to push over some rubble that covered the entrance before we could get in.

He took my hand, which surprised me.  But it wasn’t...bad. It was comfortable and familiar, like we had done it a million times before.

Had we?

He led me inside, showing me around the room.  He pointed out where the rooms had been, where the kitchen was, where the tv had stood before it had become the pile of shattered glass that now was there.  

My memories were hazy.  This apartment...I had lived here, hadn’t I?  But what else could be important? What else...

My eyes happened upon the wallpaper.  It was greenish-blue, like a robin’s egg.

And just like that, it clicked.  

“I remember...you wanted to paint the walls yellow,” I began, the words coming slowly.  

Artemis just stared at me silently, but his grip on my hand tightened.  

“But I couldn’t stand the color!”  A smile touched my lips involuntarily.  “And you made such a huge fuss that we had to go back to the store and find a color we both liked!  You...”

It made sense.

“...You lived here with me.”

Artemis didn’t reply, but instead reached for a picture on the table beside him.  He held it up to my eyes.

That was us.  It was me, before the whole Rotter thing, and Artemis, before the whole being scarred thing.  And we were holding hands. And smiling.

I could feel tears pricking my eyes.

Artemis chuckled.  “You always were a crybaby.  And a sap,” he teased.

He took me in his arms again.

I laid my head on his chest, hearing the steady sound of his heartbeat.  

It all made sense.  Finally.

VIII. Cure

The REO branch had seen better days.

It was completely overrun by Rotters - ironic, right?  The windows were smashed open, the once beautiful white brick walls were stained with blood and dirt.  Posters wasted away as they remained hanging on the wall, their gentle reminders of how to handle the undead falling upon deaf ears.

The smell was wearing off of Artemis’ clothes.  I noticed, and the Rotters around us definitely noticed.  Their heads turned our way as we passed by, their rotting teeth clacking wildly as they tried to decide if Artemis was friend or foe.

We had to do this quickly.  

“Where to?” I muttered, trying to ignore the growls of the Rotters shuffling along by my side.

Artemis scanned the area, clicking his tongue.  “Hmm...there should be a central area, just like the one back at Dome 0.”

I blinked in confusion.

“It’s like an auditorium,” Artemis explained.  “The one back home is where we usually hold meetings.  But the organization told me that this one should have what we’re looking for.”

“And what is that?” I asked, barely avoiding a collision with another Rotter.

“...I don’t know,” Artemis admitted.

Well, that was comforting.

----

The sign to the auditorium was on the ground and buried under some rubble, which was probably we kept walking aimlessly in circles.  It didn’t help that the white brick almost entirely covered the white double doors right behind them.

It took a few moments, but eventually we managed to remove all the bricks in our path.  But...it was an awfully big mess.

Before I speak, however, Artemis took my hand and led me through the rubble, taking care to make sure I didn’t trip and fall.  Not that it would matter, seeing that I was dead, but...it was sweet.

I was glad it was him that I had chosen in my past life.  I was glad that it was him who was with me now. It was a miracle, wasn't it?  And I thought I had given up on those.

A large, circular stage greeted us as we passed through the double doors.  Faded, red seats surrounded the stage on every side.

And on the stage there was a large machine.  It...was difficult to describe. It was all metal, with buttons and valves and god-knows-what's reaching up through a gaping hole in the ceiling.  A small seat was attached to the machine, with all manner of wires connecting them.

I cocked my head to the head to the side.

“It’s...confusing.”

Words of wisdom, I know.

“It certainly is,” Artemis replied.

He squeezed my hand and led me up the stairs to the machine.  It was covered in rust and cobwebs and looked...useless. That was probably the best word.

“What...are they planning?” Artemis mumbled.

He released my hand to take a phone out of his pocket, and he quickly typed in a number.  The REO immediately picked up.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Some mumbling from the other end.

“Are...you serious?”

More mumbling.

“I won’t.”

A stern voice.

“I won’t!”

Shouting.

They hung up.

Artemis gripped the phone tightly, his hands shaking.

Something was very wrong...

I gently touched Artemis’ shoulder.  “What’s wrong?”

He turned towards me, his blue eyes suddenly solemn.

“It was all...a plan.  I-I didn’t know, I’m sorry.  I-”

“Don’t apologize.”  It hurt to see him pleading like this.  “What is it, what’s wrong?”

He took a shaky breath.

“This machine was built to save humanity.  But those who created it passed away before it was completed.  So, it is only capable of spreading a cure across the world. But to do that it...it...”

“...It needs a cure,” I completed.

Artemis was silent.

“What’s is the cure?”

He was still silent.

“What is it, Artemis?”

Artemis’ voice was soft.  “It’s you. It was you this whole time.  That’s why you were able to think, to speak, to...”  He trailed off, shaking his head. “I...can’t let you do this.  I can’t lose you again, you know that.”

And I didn’t want to go.  I wanted to stay. Maybe the world was a mess, maybe I was a gross Rotter, but...but I was happy.  I wanted to stay with Artemis.

How selfish.

But...what about Artemis?  He deserved a healthy world.  Everyone did. And maybe those who were Rotters could be saved...Maybe everything could be saved.

“I would love to stay with you,” I began carefully.  “But...I...I have to do it. It’s all up to me now.”

I managed a smile.  

“I have to help everyone.”

Artemis was quiet, but promptly removed his mask.  He looked like he was about to cry.

“Are you sure?”

His lips were trembling.

I nodded.

“Positive.”

Artemis chuckled.  “Y-You always were like this...caring about other people before yourself.”

He sniffed and rubbed his eyes quickly.  

“Okay...okay let’s do this.”

----

The chair was surprisingly comfortable.  And I was actually quite cozy. That is, until Artemis stuck all matter of wires in my arms.  

They stung, they made my body burn.  But this was what I had to do.

Eventually Artemis finished, and stepped back to observe his handy work.  “You’re like a robot,” he commented.

“Better than a Rotter,” I quipped.  

That made Artemis laugh a little.

He quickly went silent, however, and glanced up to the machine.  

“I guess...this is it.”

He looked back down to me and strolled over to my side, taking my hand once again.  

“I’m sorry...We finally met again and this is what happens.”

I squeezed his hand.

“Don’t be sorry.  This isn’t your fault, you know.”  I closed my eyes and sighed. “This is the right thing to do.”

“Oh, don’t be such a hero.”  Artemis was trying to joke around, but tears were already rolling down his cheeks.  He cradled my hand in both of his before leaning closer to me.

He then placed a gentle kiss on my lips.  

They were soft in comparison to my own.

He pulled away after only a moment, but his hands remained tightly wrapped around my own.

“I love you.”

I smiled.  Somewhere in back of my mind I could see us together, in a much happier time.  A time when the world was kinder.

“I love you, too.”

It was all right.  Everything was going to be all right.

Artemis turned on the machine.

IX. Future

Peter looked human again.  

Not just that, but he looked just as he had the day I met him.

Dirty blond hair falling over deep blue eyes.  A cute boy dressed in a button up shirt and jeans.

He had smiled at me and asked me if I wanted a drink.  And then we just talked. We talked all night until the bar closed.  And then we exchanged numbers.

And then...well.

I smiled despite myself.

He looked so peaceful now, even if he was tied up to this machine.  

“...Sleep well, love,” I whispered, leaning over to plant one more kiss on his forehead.

Hopefully his dreams would be sweet now.

I slid my gas mask back on, and promptly exited the auditorium, making my way out of the abandoned REO base.  The Rotters that had been prowling about earlier were now collapsed on the floor. And they were human again. Their pulses were still frozen and they would never wake up again, but at least now they could rest peacefully as humans now.

Dome 7 was silent.  Bodies laid scattered about the ruins, their eyes closed as if they were sleeping happily.

There were more bodies around the entrance of the dome.

I sighed.

I would have to report back to the REO quickly.  They would want to know everything. They could mount an operation to clean up these bodies, give them a proper burial...

Peter.

This was all thanks to him.

I threw off my mask without a second thought and inhaled the once toxic air.

It was clean.

I could breathe.

I smiled.

“This world will be beautiful again.  Just you watch, okay?”