7. River
7
RIVER
R iver awoke to an uneasy stillness around her.
Did I fall asleep? Shit!
The light filtering through the doorway to the small storeroom was weak and gray, casting faint, spectral shadows on the dusty floor. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up, careful not to wake Eliza, who was still curled up in the corner. As River looked around, it felt like she was in a tomb rather than a sanctuary. The high ceiling loomed above her, and the silence was punctuated only by the occasional drip of water from a tap somewhere.
Is the water still on?
River’s gaze wandered over to their small stash of food and medical supplies. Eliza had spent some time neatly packing them in the corner of the room, but her heart sank as she noticed the disturbed state of their hoard. The packets of protein bars and cough drops were in disarray. Either she’d kicked them during the nap she wasn’t supposed to be taking, or someone had come into the room and tampered with it. Or maybe some big city rat had broken into their snacks. She counted the items quickly, her mind racing. There was little point, though; it was clear that their supplies had been pilfered, leaving them with a mere fraction of what they’d once had.
She felt a pang of frustration and anxiety. Their situation was precarious at best, and now that their supplies had been compromised, their chances of getting back to her father and surviving the journey seemed even slimmer than before. River’s fingers traced the edges of the empty spaces in their food stash, her thoughts swirling with the implications of their loss.
“Eliza,” she whispered urgently, leaning closer to shake her travel companion awake. “Eliza, wake up. We’ve got a major problem here. I’m not kidding, Eliza! Wake up.”
As Eliza stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open, River’s gaze lingered on her face longer than it should have. Even in the dim light, Eliza’s beauty was undeniable—her soft, dark hair fanned out across the makeshift pillow, the curve of her delicate lips as she mumbled something incoherent, and the delicate flutter of her luscious eyelashes against her cheeks. River’s breath caught in her chest as a rush of heat coursed through her body. She’d known the minute she first saw Eliza that she was attracted to the older woman, but in this moment, the intensity of her attraction caught her off guard.
God, you’re stunning.
Desire mixed with anxiety was a potent cocktail of emotions, and she wasn’t too sure she’d be able to keep control of them. Eliza looked vulnerable, yet effortlessly alluring. River’s pulse quickened. All she wanted right then and there was to touch her, to draw her close and feel the warmth of her skin against hers, to lose herself in the intoxicating scent of her hair. It took her by surprise. She questioned if it was just the intense situation they’d found themselves in, or if maybe they were two souls meant to connect.
But River knew she had to push these thoughts aside, no matter how much her body protested. Still, she couldn’t help but let her fingers linger for a moment on Eliza’s arm, her touch feather-light, before she shook her more insistently.
“Doc?” River’s voice was a little calmer, the urgency tinged with something else—something she’d love to confront but couldn’t, given the circumstances. “We really need to talk.”
Eliza’s eyes opened fully now, concern clouding her gaze as she registered River’s tone. She pulled back her hand, focusing instead on the trashed supply stash, trying to regain her composure.
Eliza sat up, her eyes blinking as they met River’s. The dim light emphasized the fatigue etched into her features, but River still found every inch of the woman beautiful. “What’s up? What’s going on?” she asked, her voice still slightly groggy.
River took a deep breath in an attempt to steady her racing pulse. “Our supplies are gone. Well, a lot of them. We’ve been robbed. I’m not sure how, but we need to figure out what happened…and find more supplies, I guess. I think someone just snuck in and took a bunch of stuff. Thank God they didn’t try to harm us.”
Eliza’s eyes widened with alarm. “Well, it didn’t happen on my watch, River. How come someone took our stuff? So much for our plan, huh? Where’s my sweater? I was counting on wearing that today. Jesus. Do I have to stay in these scrubs for the rest of my life?”
“I don’t know,” River said, her frustration evident. “Well, actually, I do. I must have fallen asleep. I’m sorry. I’m really fucking sorry, but I couldn’t help it.”
The small pile of remaining supplies looked pitifully inadequate.
“This isn’t going to be enough to sustain us, but at least they didn’t hurt us,” said Eliza, tears forming in her eyes.
River sat back on her heels, her face set with grim determination. “It took me nearly ten hours to cover the forty miles to Campdale,” she said, her voice steady but weighted by the memory of that brutal trek. “But I’m in pretty good shape. I was moving fairly fast, and I wasn’t weighed down by anything. Even so, it was a brutal journey—plus, it was at night. My legs were cramping pretty badly by the end of it.” She locked eyes with Eliza, her expression firm but sincere. “We can totally make it without food, but it’s going to be rough. The most important thing is getting the supplies we need for my dad. That’s all I care about. After that, we have enough food to last us a while at the cabin, and there’s a spring nearby for fresh water. So let’s push through, okay?”
“How about we get a car?” Eliza asked.
“The roads south out of town are blocked. We’ve seen so many abandoned cars that I assume there’s no way out with a vehicle.”
They sprang into action, gathering what was left of their gear and preparing to leave the pharmacy.
“Okay, let’s look at what we have here: vitamins, plenty of gauze and dressings, antiseptic fluid, wipes, painkillers…” Eliza said, listing everything as she pushed it into River’s bag.
“Right…if we try to continue north, through my old neighborhood, we can get onto the road we need. It’s a more or less straight path up to the forest. Well, not straight, but direct. We just need to stay on that one road,” River explained. “There might be something left in people’s homes or stores along the way.”
Eliza nodded and they set out, their movements cautious and deliberate. The silence outside was oppressive, broken only by the distant, haunting groans of walkers.
“It looks like most people have made a run for it. They’re hiding…or dead. I mean…turned, infected…” muttered River sadly. “Actually, I don’t know what I mean. I’m putting a brave face on things. But this is just all so sad.”
“I know,” replied Eliza, pulling on River’s arm and bringing her closer. “I never thought I’d see anything like this. You’re doing such a good job.”
“I can’t thank you enough for helping me,” River sighed.
“Honestly, you saved my life, so it’s the least I can do. I don’t know what else I would’ve been doing other than trying to reach my parents, but maybe I’ll get enough signal to call them.”
“After we’ve sorted out my dad, I’ll help you do anything. The cabin is rural and safe. I’m sure my dad will have a way of making contact with the outside world.”
Eliza nodded as they made their way down the street.
The wind carried the scent of decay, and River gagged. The houses, once filled with the sounds of everyday life, stood abandoned, their doors ajar. River’s senses were on high alert as they approached the small grocery store that loomed ahead.
Inside, the store was a ghost of its former self. The shelves, once neatly stocked with goods, were now a chaotic jumble of debris and scattered items.
“Look for anything that might be usable,” River instructed, her voice low and cautious.
Eliza nodded, her gaze scanning the scattered contents of the shelves. “There’s not much here. Let’s break into someone’s house and raid their medicine cabinet. All we really need is antibiotics. I doubt anyone is living in them anymore.”
“We’ll have to make do with what we can find. How about we go back to the hospital?” River said, her voice tinged with frustration. “We could be quick about it. You must have plenty of supplies there. It’s our only option. We don’t know how long this place will stay safe.”
Eliza’s response came out harsher than she would have liked. “There’s not a chance in hell I’m going back there. Half the city is in that place. No way. We’d never make it out alive. If you want to go back there, then you’re going alone.”
“Jesus, doc. Calm down would you? We’ll find another solution,” River replied, feeling guilty as soon as she realized that Eliza was hurt by her words.
I’m so sorry. Please don’t look at me like that. Come into my arms, and let me help you feel better.
As they gathered what they could, River’s attention was drawn to a faint whispering sound from outside. Her instincts kicked in and she motioned for Eliza to stay close. The sound was muffled, but it carried an unmistakable note of urgency.
“Do you hear that?” River asked, her voice tense.
“Yes,” Eliza replied, her eyes fixed on the store’s entrance. “It sounds like someone’s out there.”
River approached the entrance cautiously. The storefront was partially blocked by debris, but she could see a shadow moving outside. Her heart raced with anticipation as she prepared for whatever might come through the door.
“Look!” River said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They’re the ones who stole our stuff. That woman’s wearing your sweater.”
As if on cue, the shadow solidified into the shape of a mother and her young daughter. The mother’s face was drawn and weary, her eyes wide with desperation and fear. The young girl, clutching a fluffy toy rabbit, clung to her side.
“I guess it wasn’t really my sweater. But…what do we do? Let them keep it?” Eliza asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Not a chance. I say we confront them,” River said, her voice steady despite the churning emotions within her. “Let’s find out what they’re playing at.”
She stepped out of the door, her gaze fixed on the pair. “Hey!” River called out, her voice authoritative. “Stop right there!”
The mother and daughter froze. The woman’s hands trembled as she tried to shield her daughter from this new danger. “I beg you,” she said, her voice quivering. “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble. We were cold and hungry. We’re locked out of our house, and…well…you know what’s happening.”
River’s expression softened as she caught a glimpse of the young child. “But you took almost everything we had,” she said, her tone edged with frustration. “We’re struggling, too. Everyone’s got their own shit going on.”
The mother’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at River. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to steal. I just...I didn’t know what else to do. The monsters are outside our house. The door’s locked anyway. My husband had the key, but he turned and…”
Eliza stepped forward, her face a mixture of compassion and resolve. “We understand it’s hard. Do you have any other family nearby? Someone who could come and pick you guys up?”
“If you need help,” River said, her voice softening, “you can keep what you took. It’s fine. But you need to understand it’s not easy for any of us out here. Everything’s been looted. There’s almost nobody left in the city.”
“The monsters are still here,” said the little girl with a whimper.
“There’s no such thing as monsters, honey,” explained Eliza with a kind smile. “There’s a virus going around—a nasty bug. But we’ll have a solution soon. You stay with your mommy and do as she tells you, okay, sweetie?”
The mother’s shoulders sagged with relief as she looked at River. “Thank you.”
River nodded, though the anger from losing their supplies still gnawed at her. “Alright. Get out of here. Stay safe.”
River and Eliza watched them go, their hearts heavy.
“God, this is just awful. Should we ask them to stay?” asked Eliza, looking River straight in the eye.
River felt a surge of anxiety wash through her. She knew she needed to make things clear to Eliza. They couldn’t waste their time and resources on saving others. They had to put themselves first. “Listen. You’re a good person, I can tell. But we can’t help everyone we see. We’ll never make it. Let’s continue north, try to find medicine if we can, but…the main point is we need to keep going. We need to get out of Campdale.”
The conversation was disrupted as a nearby window smashed and a group of infected hurtled out.
“Fuck! Get down behind that car and don’t make a sound,” River whispered as she grabbed Eliza’s hand.
“But what about the mom and her kid?”
“They can outrun them, they’re slow. Look.” River pointed to the infected, whose skin was almost green as groans left their mouths.
“This is fucking insane. They are really zombies, aren’t they? Oh my God, what if my mom and dad are like that too? I’m never gonna see them again, am I?” Eliza panicked, losing the calm and collected attitude she tried so damn hard to uphold.
“Just stay quiet and breathe. Let them pass. You’re okay, I’ve got you.” River grabbed her hand and pulled her close.
Eliza leaned in to River’s body. She lifted her head and stared into River’s eyes. They were soft and kind.
“Oh, God. What are we doing?” asked Eliza, smiling. “This feels so good. How do you do that? I’m terrified, but I feel so safe with you.”
River agreed. “I want to kiss you. I have since I met you. I can’t explain it.”
“What?” Eliza asked, pulling away violently. “I’m not your girlfriend, River. Why are you acting like this? I said I’d help you with your father, but that’s all there is to it. I’m not gay, okay?”
“But you…just then…you…” River stuttered in confusion, knowing full well she hadn’t imagined what had just happened. “Fine. Let’s get out of here.”
As they left the store and continued through the streets, River noted that the city felt like a silent witness to her struggle.
Why did she do that? The way she looked at me. The way her eyes met my lips. She’s in denial.
Every road was lined with abandoned vehicles, their contents long since scavenged. Buildings stood like skeletal remains of a once-thriving community. At times the infected would make an appearance, but they managed to stay out of their sight. It seemed if they remained quiet, hidden and still, they would pass them by.
“What about over there?” Eliza asked, pointing to two high rises. “We could go looking for supplies. We’ve been walking the streets for hours. One of us is going to have to make a decision. We can’t just keep roaming up and down streets and back alleys. My feet are fucking killing me, River.”
“Oh? Your feet are killing you, are they? Should we stop off somewhere and get you a massage and pedi, Eliza?” River answered in an irritated tone. “Can’t you hear that low hum? The groaning? That’s them! They’re getting closer and soon they’ll be everywhere. Why do you think we haven’t been into any of these buildings? They’re full of infected. It seems like most of them take cover during the day. That’s what my gut’s telling me. I’m not marching you all over Campdale for the fricking fun of it, doc.”
“I’m sorry,” Eliza whimpered.
Despite feeling like her emotions were about to get the better of her, River was still determined to keep her senses on full alert, every creak and distant moan forcing her heart to race with anticipation for the next unseen threat. “Just keep up. And remember that I know what I’m doing.”
As they turned a corner, River spotted a man standing in front of a small laundromat. His presence was unexpected, and the sight of him felt like a beacon of hope in the monotony of that afternoon’s slow journey through the city. The man’s clothes were neat and clean, and he carried a radio in his hands, its crackling broadcast breaking the silence around them.
“Hello there!” River called out cautiously. “Can we talk to you?”
The man looked up, his eyes bright with a mixture of relief and curiosity. “You two look like you’ve had a hell of a time of it,” he said, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern. “I’ve been listening to these reports. They’re on repeat. Things are pretty bad out there.”
“Really? You can pick up the news on that thing?” River said. “Wow. My dad has one just like that. Does it work? What can you tell us?”
The man gestured for them to come closer. “The government has collapsed. Well, I guess most of them will be hiding in underground bunkers. Something like this happens, and you don’t see their asses for dust, right? They’re saying the military is in control now, but it seems they’re struggling to contain the situation. This virus thing is spreading faster than they can keep up. I don’t think it’s a virus. I reckon it’s chemical warfare. It’ll be the commies. If you get bitten, or possibly even scratched, it’s over. It’s genius if you ask me.”
“Let’s not get political. There’s no point playing guessing games,” replied River with a cautious smile.
“And what about killing them? Is that what they’re doing? Or are they hopeful for a cure? I mean, the military can’t exactly go around killing its own citizens, can it?” interjected Eliza.
“The only way to kill them is through the head,” River said, her tone grim. “We’ve figured that part out.”
“You mean you’ve figured it out. I’m not talking about how to kill them. My question is, should we even be doing it?” Eliza snapped angrily. “Two days ago, it was illegal to go around murdering people. Do you remember? They’re still people.”
The man turned to Eliza, his expression grave. “Your friend’s right. Headshots are the only way to stop them. The virus doesn’t kill you—it turns you into one of them. You can’t let your guard down, not for a second.”
River exchanged a glance with Eliza, their worry mirrored in each other’s eyes. “We’re making our way to the northern forest. We have a cabin up there,” River said, her voice steady despite her uncertainty. “Any advice?”
The man considered them for a moment, then nodded slowly. “All the roads north are blocked. The military closed everything down. They laid mines. They’re trying to contain it; keep the virus in the cities. But it’s too late. I don’t know why they’re bothering. It might be worth taking a look, but you won’t get out. Be careful; it’s not safe out here. If the zombies don’t get you, our boys in green will.”
“Thanks,” River said, gratitude in her voice. “We’ll be careful. What are you going to do?”
“My great-grandfather opened this laundromat in 1902. I’m staying right here,” he replied, smiling. “I turned eighty-two yesterday, you know? I’m not going anywhere.”
“I understand,” said River softly. “Happy birthday, sir. Thank you so much. Take care.”
As they were about to leave, River’s keen senses picked up movement behind them. She turned just in time to see three walkers stumbling toward them. Her heart jolted as she grabbed the crowbar from her belt and pivoted toward them.
“Eliza, get behind me!” River shouted.
Eliza nodded, her face set with determination. The two of them moved as a team, River taking the lead as she lunged at one of the walkers with a precise whack to the head. The crack of its skull was loud as its limp body crashed onto the sidewalk. It was gruesome, but it had to be done. River gasped for extra breaths as the adrenaline flooded her body. Meanwhile, Eliza grabbed the old man and tried to pull him into his store, but one of the walkers had already clamped its jaw onto his leg.
“River!” Eliza screamed. “Help me! Help me!”
“Drop him, Eliza! Drop him!” River cried out as she struggled to step over the remaining two walkers, who were now lying on the ground, snapping at the old man’s legs. She heaved the old man’s body out of Eliza’s grip and threw him to walkers. “Get inside! Now!” River’s adrenaline surged as she pushed the doctor into the laundromat and slammed the door shut behind them.
She looked out of the window and watched for a few seconds as the walkers devoured the man who had only minutes earlier shown them such kindness. Her breathing was heavy and ragged. “Jesus, that poor guy. Look at them! Those things are demonic. They’re eating him!”
“Don’t look, River. Please stop it. That was too close,” Eliza said, her voice shaking. “They came out of nowhere. I tried to get him inside. I was too slow. It’s my fault. I’m fucking useless! I’m no good to anyone, and now he’s dead. At least you got one of them.”
“Yeah,” River said, not meaning to sound as though she agreed, her heart still pounding. “We need to stay alert. This new world is unforgiving. He’s gone. We need to stay holed up in here for the night until it’s safe to go out again. We have to survive this and help my dad.”
“I’m sorry it’s taking us longer than expected to get to your dad,” Eliza replied quietly.
“It’s not your fault. Nobody expected a fucking apocalypse to break out, did they?” River huffed.
As the pair settled into their new hiding place, the weight of the day’s events pressed heavily upon them. The dangers they’d faced and the uncertainty of their future hung over them like a dark cloud.
“I don’t even know what we’re doing,” River said. “We spent the day creeping around Campdale, and we’re no better off than we were this morning. We haven’t found any antibiotics. The walkers are everywhere. Let’s get some rest while we can.”
As the sun began to set, River and Eliza sat together behind the counter, the warmth of their proximity offering a small comfort amidst the cold and darkness. They’d managed to barricade both entrances with various furniture and scraps of wood.
“River,” Eliza said softly, breaking the silence. “About earlier...I need to talk to you.”
“Sure,” River replied, her tone neutral. “What’s on your mind?”
Eliza hesitated, her eyes searching River’s face for a moment before she spoke. “I’ve been thinking, you know? About what happened earlier? It’s confusing me.”
River’s heart skipped a beat as a mixture of hope and apprehension filled her chest. “I get that. It’s confusing me, too. But I feel something when I’m around you. You know I’m queer, right?”
Eliza’s lips trembled slightly as she met River’s gaze. “Of course, but I’m not. I’m scared. Everything’s so messed up, and I don’t want to complicate things. But I can’t deny that...well…”
River reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against Eliza’s. “We’re here together. I’m here for you. You’re stuck with me. We can figure it out as we go along. Nobody’s one hundred percent straight, you know? Didn’t they teach you that in med school?”
The space between them seemed to shrink, the tension crackling with an unspoken energy. “You’re right. But they didn’t teach us about zombies, either.” Eliza laughed, breaking the tension.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything!”