11. River
11
RIVER
R iver’s heart thudded against her ribs as she tore through the abandoned streets of Verdwater. The town lay in eerie silence, and the air was thick with the scent of decay and stale rain. The stench clung to her. She felt like she was stuck on the edge of some dark, twisted nightmare. All she wanted to do was wake up. She had to find Eliza—nothing else mattered.
Why didn’t she run? Didn’t she realize they were coming? Fuck! Why did I leave her in there?
Her body had gone into pure survival mode, running purely on adrenaline. She skidded to a halt at the corner of a street, her eyes scanning the desolate scene before her. The road ahead was littered with cars, motorcycles, shattered glass, and remnants of a world that looked like it had long since died, yet this outbreak had started just a few days ago, maybe a week or so. She couldn’t remember. She also realized that it didn’t really matter when, where, or how this whole end-of-the-world thing had happened. All anyone needed to know was that it had happened. The wind carried the faint scent of smoke and something sour that turned her stomach, but she forced the sensation aside. Her arm ached and her head spun.
Eliza was lost somewhere in this ruin, and River felt the need to find her pressing down on her like a physical force.
“Eliza! Just shout back to me!” she called out, her voice slicing through the oppressive silence. The only response was the distant rustle of leaves blowing in the heavy breeze and the low creak of a window swinging open and closed. She was running out of time.
She looked down at her arm in wonder. The bleeding had stopped and the pain had subsided.
How the hell did she fix this? She’s a miracle worker.
A flicker of movement caught her eye—a flash of color. River needed to know what it was. She bolted to the other side of the street, her boots crunching on the loose gravel and pieces of glass scattered across the pavement. As she approached an empty-looking burger joint, she could see the place had been ransacked—the counter was overturned, and dollar bills spilled out in a chaotic mess.
Shit! Does money not matter anymore? Why didn’t anyone pick up this money?
A wave of stale, musty air hit her as she drew closer, causing her nose to wrinkle up involuntarily. But before she could investigate further, she caught sight of a figure lurking by the entrance to the ladies’ washroom.
River tensed up, her instincts screaming at her to be on her guard. The man who emerged from the darkness was tall and gaunt, his face half-hidden behind a greasy curtain of unwashed hair. His clothes were filthy, the fabric caked with mud and something darker. The smell of him hit her like a wall—sweat, dirt, and alcohol.
Come on, Riv. Don’t judge the guy. Who wouldn’t want to get drunk right now, huh?
“What do we have here, sunshine?” the man drawled, his grin spreading across his red-stained lips. His southern accent was thick and familiar, but something about it made River’s skin crawl. Normally, she liked that kind of voice, but his felt wrong, like a red flag.
She squared her shoulders and took a step back, keeping her distance. “I’m looking for someone,” she said, keeping her tone neutral despite the unease curling in her gut. “A woman. Dark hair, about my height, maybe a little taller. Have you seen her?”
The man’s grin widened, revealing a line of crooked yellow teeth. He moved closer, his boots dragging lazily through the dirt. “Maybe I saw some broad run by,” he said, his words slithering from his mouth. “But what’s in it for me, huh? Ain’t no more use for money, and you don’t look like you’re carryin’ much of use. Got any drugs? Booze?”
A wave of disgust rolled through her, but she kept her expression blank. “I honestly don’t have anything to offer you,” she replied, her voice coming out colder and more abrupt than she’d intended. “Could you please just tell me where she went?”
The man’s smile vanished and his eyes darkened as he took another step forward. The stench of him hit her even harder than before—sour sweat and stale alcohol. It made her stomach churn. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? You’re no lady. I know that much,” he hissed, his voice low and threatening. “You think you can just go around demanding answers from people you don’t know?”
River clenched her fists, her heart pounding. “Look,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I don’t want any trouble. Just tell me what you know.”
Jesus, he’s an issue. How can I distract him?
“You ought to know I’m immune, darlin’,” he continued. “Got bit over a week ago, right when all this shit broke out. Not a damn thing happened. So I reckon I’m special.”
River raised her eyebrows in doubt. He was standing way too close, and he had a grayish tinge to his skin. He certainly looked like one of the undead, and he smelled like one, too. “Are you sure about that?” she asked, her voice low. “Because you look like one. You even move a little like one.”
His face twisted with rage, his eyes turning wild as he shoved his finger in her face. “Zombies don’t talk, bitch! So why don’t you shut the fuck up before you really start to piss me off?”
River’s pulse spiked, but she didn’t back down. “You’re right,” she said, her voice calm but icy. “Zombies don’t talk. But you sure as hell don’t look human.”
The man’s hand shot out, reaching toward her collar. River ducked, narrowly dodging his grasp, but he was fast—too fast for someone who was infected. His fingers grazed her skin and she felt a surge of disgust. Her injured arm flared with pain, but she couldn’t focus on that now. Her mind raced, trying to calculate his next move.
“You think you can just walk away from this?” His voice was laced with venom as he ran toward her again, this time grabbing her injured arm. His grip was firm, crushing her muscles and making her cry out in pain.
With pain radiating up her arm, she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. She swung her free arm, her fist connecting hard with his throat. The impact made him choke, a strangled sound escaping his lips as his grip loosened just enough for her to wrench herself free.
She stumbled backward, her foot catching on something sharp. A piece of broken metal sliced through her boot, sending a jolt of pain through her foot, but she couldn’t stop moving. She hobbled back, her eyes locked on the man as he recovered, his face contorted with fury.
“Bitch!” he spat, clutching his throat. “You’re gonna regret that.”
River’s heart pounded in her chest, every instinct screaming at her to run. But she stood her ground, muscles tensing, ready for his next attack. The guy had the unnatural motions of the infected, but his mind was still intact.
He’s probably high…
She could feel his rage simmering, boiling over as he advanced again. But this time, she was ready.
“Get the hell away from me!” she snapped.
As she stumbled to create some distance between them, her foot caught on a shard of broken metal. The sharp edge cut through her boot, slicing into her skin, but she had no time to register the pain. She was already hobbling away, the sound of his protests fading as she picked up her pace.
When she finally slowed, the town had thinned out, giving way to the wild, untamed land that bordered it. Tall grass swayed in the breeze, the only sign of life in this forgotten place. The sky above had deepened into a bruised purple, the last light of day clinging to the horizon like a fading memory. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint tang of metal—a storm was coming.
“Eliza,” River murmured, her voice nearly lost in the growing wind. Panic clawed at her insides. She needed to find Eliza, to hold her, to make sure she was safe. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to her.
As if in answer to her silent plea, she spotted movement in the distance—a figure stumbling through the tall grass, heading toward the open field beyond. River’s breath caught in her throat. It was Eliza. Her heart surged with both relief and terror as she began to run, the grass whipping at her legs and the ground uneven beneath her feet.
“Eliza!” she screamed, her voice raw as it carried across the field.
As she drew closer, she realized the state Eliza was in—her dark hair messy, her clothes torn and soaked through with mud. The sight sent a jolt of desperate panic through River, but it was the look in Eliza’s eyes that truly scared her. She looked terrified. She looked like she was in pain.
“Eliza!” River shouted desperately. “It’s me! It’s River!”
Eliza hesitated, her steps faltering for just a moment. But then she continued forward, her gaze distant, as if she hadn’t heard River at all. The realization hit River like a punch to the gut—Eliza wasn’t herself. She was lost, trapped inside her own mind.
“No…no. This can’t be happening,” River whispered. She couldn’t lose Eliza, not after everything they’d been through.
“Eliza!” she called again, her voice cracking. “It’s me! I’m here! I found you!”
This time, Eliza stopped. She turned slowly, her eyes searching the air in front of her as if trying to find something solid to hold onto. River saw a flicker of recognition in her face, a faint spark of life.
River moved closer, her hands outstretched. “Eliza, it’s okay,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m here. Please, come back to me.”
Eliza’s eyes focused on her, the fog lifting slightly as she blinked in confusion. “River?” she said, choking back tears, the word almost lost in the wind.
“Yes! Yes!” River shouted loudly, the sound of Eliza’s voice filling her with a fierce sense of relief. “It’s me! It’s your River! I’m so sorry. I promise I won’t leave you again.”
Eliza’s face crumpled and she took a shaky step toward River. Her movements were slow and deliberate, as if she were afraid she might fall apart if she moved too quickly. River rushed to close the distance, wrapping her arms around Eliza the moment they were close enough to touch. Eliza’s body was cold, her skin clammy and pale, but she was alive. She was here .
“You’re okay,” River whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she held Eliza tightly. The rapid thud of Eliza’s heartbeat against her chest reminded her of how close they’d come to losing everything. “You’re still here. I thought I’d lost you.”
Eliza’s breath hitched, her voice trembling like a scared child’s. “But I’ve changed, River. I’m a walker. Can’t you see? My face, my skin...it’s like them.” Her voice wavered, thick with fear and disbelief.
River pulled back slightly, cupping Eliza’s face in her hands, the cool, damp skin beneath her fingers sending a shiver through her. “No,” River said firmly, shaking her head. “You’re not a walker, Eliza. You’re here. We’re having a conversation. I see you . I’ll always see you.”
Eliza’s wide eyes filled with tears, her breath shaky as she tried to hold on to reality. “But I really thought I felt it,” she whispered. “The cold, the numbness...I’m not the same. What about my face? Can’t you see the bite?”
River leaned in, pressing her forehead against Eliza’s, her thumbs brushing away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “You haven’t changed one bit, Eliza. You’re just scared and probably in shock. It’s completely understandable.” She took a deep breath, steadying herself before she spoke again. “I met someone while I was looking for you. He said he was immune. He said he got bitten over a week ago, but nothing happened to him. Maybe it’s the same for you. Or maybe you didn’t get bitten hard enough. Honestly, it’s just a scratch on your skin. The walker barely broke the surface, I swear. I think you’re having an anxiety attack.”
Eliza blinked, confusion and disbelief flickering in her eyes. “Immune? No, that’s...that’s not even possible. Not with a virus like this. It’s too new. There’s just no way that’s possible.”
“I didn’t believe him either,” River admitted softly. “But Eliza, you’re not turning. You’re not like them. Please believe me. You just need to get cleaned up, safe, and warm.”
Eliza’s voice cracked. “Then why do I feel like I’m falling apart? Everything…feels wrong. I’m cold.”
River pulled her closer, her grip tightening as if she could physically hold Eliza together. “Because you’ve been through hell,” River whispered fiercely, her voice growing thick with emotion. “You’re exhausted and traumatized. But you’re alive , Eliza. I swear, you’re alive. You’re going to be okay.”
Eliza buried her face in River’s neck, her body trembling as she fought back sobs. “I don’t want to be like them. I don’t want to ever turn into one of them,” she choked out, her fingers gripping River’s shirt like she was afraid to let go.
“You’re not,” River insisted, her voice calm and reassuring. She pressed a kiss to Eliza’s temple, her lips lingering there for a moment, letting the warmth and love between them be the anchor in this storm. “I won’t let that happen, you hear me?”
For a moment, they stood in silence, their bodies entwined. The fear, the danger, the uncertainty—it all melted away, leaving only the two of them.
Eliza pulled back, her watery eyes searching River’s face. “You promise?”
River smiled softly, squeezing her shoulder. “I promise,” she whispered. “After everything we’ve been through and how you make me feel…how I feel when I think I’ve lost you…I think I might be falling for you. I’m sorry it’s so soon. I’m such a fucking typical lesbian. But I need you to know. Maybe it’s this fucked-up situation we’re in, but my feelings are just so…real.”
Eliza’s lips quivered. She let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly. “I think I love you too,” she whispered back, the emotion behind her words undeniable. “I don’t understand it, but I do. It can’t be anything else. It has to be love.”
The confession hung between them, a fragile truth that had been waiting to surface. River’s heart beat faster as she leaned in, her lips brushing against Eliza’s in a kiss that was both gentle and urgent, filled with all the things she didn’t know how to say aloud. This wasn’t what she’d expected when she’d set out to find help for her dad. Just a week ago she was doing regular things, like tidying the house, cleaning up, taking a shower, and suddenly the world was upside down and she was falling for a stranger. A doctor. Eliza . But it felt so natural.
Their kiss deepened, as slow and deliberate as if time had stopped, and nothing mattered except this—their connection, their love. River’s hands slid down to Eliza’s waist, pulling her closer. She needed to feel the warmth of her body against hers. She needed to keep her safe.
River opened her eyes first. “We’re going to be okay. I’ll get us to the cabin and get you warm and cleaned up. We’ll figure all this out when we get to safety and save my father,” she whispered.
Eliza nodded, her eyes still wet but filled with something stronger now—hope. “I believe you,” she said softly.