"This building is secure enough for the mission not to get too messy. The only room we really need to worry about is the room you broke into.” Cable scoffed at my statement.
“I’ve heard that before.” my jaw twitched at his obvious doubt, but I couldn't blame him.
"Look, you don't have to believe me but It’s true I'm not being assumptious, besides I'm aware that trust is earned and I don't know if you trust me yet but just know... You already have my trust it may not feel like it but you do… not trying to kill me when I lowered my gun and turned my back afforded you that luxury but luxury is in the eye of the beholder I guess.”
"I appreciate the sentiment," he responded, his voice laced with a sense of acceptance. He seemed to respect my perceptiveness, recognizing that I had an acute understanding of the harsh reality in which we lived.
“ I just need you to trust that this can go smoothly. All I need you to do is follow my lead but all of this is baseless without proof I'm sure. So trust me don’t trust me either way we need to get shit done."
We first lowered the barricade as I mentioned earlier and then set up the pulley elevator for a descent from the roof level.
“Who set up that pulley system? It looks rock solid?”
“... I did.” I lied to avoid the touchy subject that was bound to happen if I told the truth.
We stepped out onto the roof for the second time today with the brisk spring morning winds feeling fresh on my skin.
"Are you ready to see the plan?" Cable nodded at me with curiosity.
"Good. Imma take a wild guess and say you hopped that metal fence there to get into my home?" Cable nodded once again looking into the distance where I was pointing as I continued to speak
"Well that's an electric fence that will stand as our deterrent for any extra unwanted attention as we clear the building, it's a makeshift electric fence but it's good at its job, and that's all that matters. We don't want to kill the dead-os down in the courtyard because it helps deter unwanted guests... Well usually." I rolled my eyes and tilted my head to the side. He seemed to be one of the few exceptions to that statement. I then moved to a switch bolted in place on the ledge, the fences below were no doubt now active. I then strolled to the wall looking at the handful of car keys hanging on the hooks, these were a big part of the plan nodding in certainty that some of them would come in handy.
I marched to the side with the compromised window, peeking over the ledge and taking note of the model of the car I needed keys for.
Then I plucked car keys hanging on the wall and walked to the opposite ledge pulling up on a corner of a tarp I had concealing the next part of the plan: a compact bow and a quiver full of padded arrows.
Tossing the two keys we needed to Cable then moved to collect my gear and meet Cable at the other end of the roof. His confused look was utterly entertaining.
"Next we need to trigger the alarms on the cars and I will set them off with my bow, the siren will act as a distraction... Effectively calling the dead heads out to play.” I mounted the ledge and pulled off my long sleeve shirt to expose a tank top underneath stretching my shoulders, arms, and fingers.
I didn't need to look at Cable to know his eyes were scanning me. I was heating up under his gaze against my will. I hated how flustered he was making me, so to take some control back I readied myself.
"For this to work I need the cars to be armed... Then we'll need to wait for a second before hauling ass downstairs.” drawing back the bow and taking aim Cable armed the cars.
He did as he was told but curiosity gnawed at him. The scene of me drawing my bow displayed a level of power and discipline I spent years building as I drew the padded arrow back. I could feel Cable’s gaze but shook my head dismissing the distraction out of my head.
"So, You're telling me that with this compact bow and those padded arrows, we can clear out the crowd and secure the damaged area? That sounds a little too good to be true," Cable replied, a hint of skepticism creeping into his voice.
“Just watch,”
"Alright… Show me, let's see what you can do," I smirked and loosed the arrow. He grumbled, keeping his doubts not very hidden as we prepared to tackle the seemingly small task of clearing the lower floors and establishing some semblance of security in the post-apocalyptic building. Deep down, I hoped I could prove that my method had enough merit. A flicker of anticipation ignited in his eyes as he braced himself for the impending conflict.
The arrow struck the car and impressively bounced to the ground, setting off the alarm. Cable jumped and cringed at the screeching sound astonished with my accuracy.
"That was amazing holy crap how did you hit your mark so easily?” he rushed over to me stroking my flank in innocent excitement. My hand found my knife's hilt but I stopped myself from pulling it... An action that earned a soft smile from Cable. Flustered, I moved on pretending nothing happened.
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"Okay. That's only half the battle... Now we need to make headway to the bottom floors to clear and secure the room once again... Then and only then will we be safe enough to call our deal even." I said this but could feel a pang of sadness consume me…
The first human I've seen in years and he was destined to leave once the deal was over.
"Then it's back to being alone, you'll be free to leave after I show you the safe path out." shock and embarrassment took over now as I realized that the last statement was supposed to remain a thought. I rolled my eyes, playing it off like I wasn't bothered.
With clear caution and intrigue, Cable turned his attention to the sound and movements that echoed from below. With the attention of the undead successfully diverted, he stepped towards me nodding, the determination within him reignited. But he didn't comment on what I said.
"Let's move swiftly, and watch each other's backs, it's only one room, how hard could it be?" he stated, his tone commanding. With that, Cable silently nodded at his half-masked face harboring a sympathetic smile as I took the lead.
"I'm with you... Our deal stands until the bottom floor is secured," he replied with a gruffness that couldn't hide the edge of gentleness beneath it, swearing that he was ready to follow me through the chaos that was about to unfold.
His voice was low and steady, devoid of any emotion to betray what he truly felt but I could tell he was worried... About what has yet to be figured out but he was worried I could feel his tense muscles as we walked briskly, our bodies occasionally brushing as we raced to take advantage of this tense moment.
"Then, we can discuss what happens beyond that. Until then, focus on the task at hand." my jaw twitched knowing he was implying my earlier comment on solitude.
I felt super transparent at this point which annoyed me. I always thought of myself as being too hard to read but with this guy... It felt like he knew everything.
We were now at the pulley elevator and I was ready at the top. I lowered him to the first floor with the pulley system and let him take point as I lowered myself after him.
I was almost at floor level when suddenly I heard a gunshot sound from down the hall flashbacks of a loved one shooting themselves crashed into view the world transforming into a figment of my memories, my eyes failing to tell the difference between reality and memory as I delved deeper into the delusion, a visceral fear propelled me forward as I ran to the corner frantically trying to locate Cable.
I had no rational reason to suspect Cable would take ‘that’ way out, but there were always possibilities… always personal reasons, fear.
tears poured down my face as I dreaded re-living the scenario from so long ago all over again. I burst into the hall killing a zombie that stumbled out into view as I sprinted past its dead body and found Cable fending off three zombies as more seemed to try to enter suddenly attracted to the loud sound of the gunshot. Racing to the window I lifted the wooden barricade from the floor and shoved it into place, only one zombie was currently giving me problems so I let the barricade down and stabbed it in the temple before I pushed its body out of the way. But if I worked quickly the damage to the barricade would and could be minimal. With my crossbow slung sloppily over my shoulder, I rushed to do just that.
I slammed one more nail in on the corner diagonal to the first which was enough to help keep it shut. I then turned and skillfully launched the only two sharp arrows I had in my quiver to kill the zombies hounding Cable watching him dispatch the last zombie with a throwing knife before rushing to help me finish nailing the barricade. Once finished I closed the distance between us checking him for bites. Tears still heavily cascading down my face.
"Cable are you okay? Please tell me you aren’t bitten!" The tears streaming down my face were a stark contrast to his cold and composed demeanor. As I checked him for any signs of a bite turning his head and arms, Cable shook his head, confirming that he wasn't bitten, patting my head before pulling me into a hug. He instantly shook his head, easing most of my panic, but it wasn't enough to calm me down before I collapsed to my knees and broke down crying. The process to collect myself was harrowing. I watched him descend into panic
"I'm alright! I was just caught in a bit of a tight spot there, please it's alright. I'm alright." he reassured me in his deep, rough voice, panic lingering underneath the surface.
Sloppily stuffing a stick of gum into my mouth in an attempt at easing my nerves my tears transformed from fear to relief.
Cable was caught off guard by the sudden explosion of what felt like misplaced panic and tears. I could tell that he wanted to lighten the mood to comfort me.
“Damn! You’re that worried about my well-being? Aww, you really do like me!” I attempted to collect myself.
It barely worked.
“Oh fuck off, I just got scared you took the easy way out instead of making good on our deal. It would have been a hassle for me.”
“You thought I killed myself?... As your first thought?... Instead of you know, fighting to defend myself?” his abrasive reply stung a bit but it was fueled by logic, and I fell silent.
“I've been put in a situation where that type of thinking wasn't the case… that's all. But uh you did well, good job.” my somber attitude made him second guess his words, instantly forcing him to become silent. The silence persisted for too long making me choose to move on.
“Anyway… we cleared the room… let's head upstairs. I still need to fill my side of the deal.” The walk and pulley elevator ride back was silent.
"Hey, we can talk about it tomorrow...”
"No.”
“...”
“To get to the ground floor safely...” Cable interrupted me.
“I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“... You go up to the roof and hang right... There will be a bridge that leads to what looks like a shooting gallery... The fire escape of that building will get you to ground level safely.”
Upon clearing the room and returning to safer floors the deal was now fulfilled Cable was now owed a safe way out of my building. My heart ached as I thought about him leaving and not being able to wake up and just talk to someone ever again... But Cable inquired about what triggered my reaction earlier. And all hell broke loose in my mind.
“Please don't kick me out! Can I stay for a little while longer? Let's talk. What happened back there? And please don’t lie… I just want to avoid panicking you so badly. Because frankly watching that was heartbreaking.”
"No, I don't need your fucking pity.”
"It's not pity... I actually care, please just tell me and I'll leave. I'll go... I promise...”
"Don't make promises you can't keep.” Cable's willingness to leave made me bitter. My mind frantically looked for loopholes. I didn't want to be alone but he was a stranger... Leeah's brother died trying to save a stranger that ended up trying to kill us in the end... Multiple members of the group were murdered or betrayed by strangers... I know I wanted to die but I want the time and method to be my choice.
all the same, I wanted company. I wanted someone to talk to to argue with, I wanted someone to call mine. Cable's proposal popped into my head and almost made me tear up... I wanted that. I wanted him to stay to be mine... Hell even if the proposal was just a joke, I just wanted company. The past day has been the most sane I've felt in years... I imagined encounters with people that felt so close to this. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him to stay... I wanted him to choose that. For himself, no matter the reason, no matter the outcome.
Now the only question left is, should I tell him the truth and will he run?
Do I answer him? Do I tell the truth? I should tell the truth. I should let him know. But will he leave? Will I end up alone again? I can't be alone for another day... I don't want to... I'll die... I'll go crazy. Please stay please stay. I'll keep you safe. I’ll do anything. Please just stay!