6. Eliza
6
ELIZA
E liza and River waited until nightfall before daring to venture outside. It seemed the zombies, for want of a better word, had ventured off elsewhere. The front of the hospital seemed quiet. As they walked across the bridge toward the downtown area, Eliza saw just how much the city was in shambles. She’d thought she’d seen the worst of it back at the hospital, but out here, in the open streets, it was clear the situation was even direr than she could’ve imagined. Buildings that once stood as pillars of the community were now nothing more than smoldering ruins. The air was thick with smoke and ash, making it difficult to breathe.
“Why the hell have people been setting fire to everything?” she asked, voicing her thoughts aloud.
“Maybe they’ve been trying to burn the zombies, the walkers…the risen? We need a name for them,” said River, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
“Erm, I don’t think we do,” replied Eliza, rolling her eyes. “I think we need to prioritize. We need to find a place to lay low for the night and work out how to get our hands on some supplies.”
“We’ve got plenty of supplies at the cabin: canned goods, dried pulses. You name it, my daddy’s got it,” said River in a reassuring tone.
“Surgical equipment? Antibiotics? Sterilizing fluids? Morphine? A qualified anesthetist? We need supplies before getting to him, or this is pointless,” said Eliza with a hint of irritation.
“Well…no. I guess not,” replied River, lowering her head.
“I thought as much,” snapped Eliza.
Eliza glanced at River, who moved with the kind of ease that only someone who’d spent years navigating the wilderness could muster. Every step River took was calculated, every glance purposeful. Despite her embarrassment, Eliza noticed that the younger woman was like a hunter on the prowl, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. Eliza couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for River.
But there was also a part of Eliza that found River’s approach unnerving. Where Eliza wanted to blend into the shadows, hide from the danger, and think things through before acting, River seemed almost eager to confront the issue head-on. The contrast between them was stark, and it made Eliza uneasy. She’d spent her life learning to stay calm, to weigh the positives and negatives, and to avoid unnecessary risks. River, on the other hand, was all about action, and it was clear that she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
“You hear that?” River whispered, her voice low and alert. She stopped dead in her tracks. Her head tilted slightly as she listened to the distant sound of shouts and gunfire.
Eliza tensed up, her pulse beating loudly in her eardrums as she strained to hear. “ You said you saw looters this morning, right?” she said quietly, her eyes narrowing as she peered down the street. “We should find another way around. It’s too dangerous to get involved.”
River shook her head, her jaw set in a determined line. “It’s nothing. They’re not eaters. We can take them. They’re only normal people. If they’re looting, it means there might be some supplies we can use.”
Eliza felt a surge of frustration. “I don’t like ‘eaters.’ Pick another word.”
“Biters? Rotters?” River suggested.
“What did you say before? Walkers? Let’s go with walkers. What if those people have guns? They could be violent, right? River, we can’t just go charging in there. We need to be smart about this.”
I can’t believe we’re fighting over what to call zombies. Who’d have thought this would be the new normal?
River turned to her, her eyes blazing with that wild intensity that Eliza was beginning to get used to. “I’m not saying we should charge right in like a pair of total fucking idiots. But we can’t avoid every confrontation. Do you understand? We need supplies. You’ve made that clear. So let’s go find what we need.”
Eliza’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. The tension between them was thick. She understood River’s point, but it felt so reckless to seek out trouble when it could be easily avoided. Well, maybe not easily, but they could do their best, couldn’t they? “How come you’re so eager to fight?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “There’s more to survival than breaking bones and stabbing people in the head. I saw what you did to that man in the hospital.”
“Hey! A little ‘thank you’ wouldn’t go amiss, doc. I saved your ass. And that wasn’t a man. He was one of them. And just so you know, there’s a hell of a lot more to survival than hiding in the shadows. I should know. I’ve been leading survival workshops for years. I was just about to go into business with my father, okay?” River shot back. “Look, I totally get that you’re scared. So am I. I’m scared out of my goddamn mind! But we’re not going to get anywhere by running away all the time. We need to get proactive. We need to face this shit head-on and accept that the world is now totally fucked.”
Eliza opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself. As much as she hated to admit it, River was right—they’d never be able to avoid every potential danger. But the thought of confronting those looters head-on, of risking their lives for the chance at a few supplies, made her stomach churn with anxiety. They could be fighting over drugs and batteries, or just chips and soda.
“Fine,” Eliza said tightly. “But please…let’s just try this my way. We need to observe them first and find out what they’re looting. If it looks too dangerous, we back off. Agreed? Jeez, I trained to be a doctor and now I’m out here avoiding being killed by…walker zombies. This is some fucked-up shit.”
River hesitated before giving her new friend a slight nod. “Agreed. But if we have to fight, we fight. Or…erm…I fight, okay?”
Eliza pushed her unease to the back of her mind and followed River as they crept closer to the source of the commotion. Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest as they approached the corner of the street, where the looters had gathered outside a large convenience store.
From their hiding spot behind a toppled-over garbage can that had been pushed out onto the sidewalk, Eliza could see a group of men and women, their faces desperate as they tore through what little was left on the store’s shelves, stuffing anything they could find into their bags. Most of them were armed—some with makeshift weapons, others with handguns that glinted menacingly in the dusky light. It hadn’t taken long for the shops to become vacated and for the survivors to descend on the precious supplies. Everyone watched enough TV shows to know how apocalyptic scenarios like this played out.
Eliza’s breath caught in her throat as she watched them. These people weren’t just looters—they were dangerous. She could tell by the wild looks in their eyes and the way their hands shook with barely contained aggression.
“Jesus, River. Look at them! They’re insane. They’re all carrying,” she said, knowing in that moment that River’s plan was too risky. She realized that there was no way they could take on these people without getting hurt—or worse. “Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Eliza whispered, her voice trembling. “There’s too many of them. We can’t do it. We’ve got crowbars, and they have guns.”
River didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the looters. Eliza could see the gears turning in her mind and felt the tense energy radiating off of her as she weighed their options. Then, with a resigned sigh, River nodded. “You’re right. Let’s move.”
Relief flooded through Eliza as they backed away from the scene, careful not to make any noise. They retreated into a nearby alley, the darkness swallowing them as they put distance between themselves and the looters. Eliza’s heart was still racing, her hands shaking with the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“God, my blood pressure is through the roof,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Breathe, doc. Take a deep breath. That’s what it’s all about.”
“Erm…I don’t think mindful breathing, yoga, Pilates, weird vegan cookies, or any of your other forest ways are going to cut it. My blood pressure is high because it’s an evolutionary response. My adrenal glands release hormones that cause my heart to beat faster, which in turn pumps more blood through my veins. That’s what’s happening. And it’s happening because I’m scared. Because we’re in the beginning of some kind of apocalypse, or at least that’s what it looks like. Fucking zombies. Fucking looters. My friends killed right in front of me. I can handle a lot, but this is next level.”
“Fuck, doc. Calm down. How did you even know I was vegan?” River replied curtly.
“I’ll calm down when we’re no longer in danger of getting eaten, beaten, shot, or mobbed. Does that sound okay to you? And the vegan thing was a lucky guess. I think it’s your hair that was the giveaway,” Eliza cried out, her voice increasing in volume.
“Shh!” River hissed. “If you stay quiet, there’s less chance of any of those things happening. And leave the hair alone. I’m cute as hell, and you know it,” she said, with confidence nearing the edge of arrogance.
As they continued to navigate the chaotic streets, dodging groups of zombies, looters, and ordinary folk fleeing the city, Eliza found herself relying more and more on River’s skills. River moved with an ease that Eliza envied, her instincts sharp and her senses attuned to every sound and movement. It was clear that River was in her element, and Eliza couldn’t help but be impressed. It was also clear that the scenes she witnessed were almost unbelievable. Sure, she’d binge-watched The Walking Dead and loved The Last of Us , but never in a month of Sundays did she think she’d be weaving her way through real-life zombies in her home city. The tension rose inside of her, anxiety slowly bubbling farther up her torso.
They passed through another series of alleyways, avoiding the main streets where the infected were most likely to be. The city was a labyrinth of destruction, with overturned cars, debris, and the occasional body blocking their path. The sight of the bodies made Eliza’s stomach turn; even though anyone would think she’d be used to it by now, she had to force herself to keep moving.
It wasn’t long before they encountered more people—this time, a group of armed men patrolling the streets, their eyes scanning for any sign of life. Eliza’s breath caught in her throat as she and River ducked behind a wall.
“We could take them out. Just knock them unconscious or something and take their supplies, or even just their weapons,” River whispered.
Eliza shot her a warning glance. “Are you out of your mind? We don’t even know how many there are. Why would we risk it?”
River’s expression hardened, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she nodded and followed Eliza as they slipped away into the shadows, the men’s voices fading into the distance. River was getting a little ahead of herself, and Eliza was starting to realize she needed reining in.
Eliza could sense the younger woman’s impatience with her cautious approach. But she couldn’t afford to let that frustration cloud her judgment. They had to stay focused.
“Listen, River,” said Eliza. “I don’t mean to be so harsh with you. You’re just a little gung-ho. For my tastes, at any rate. Do you think we can compromise? I’m willing to fight if I have to, but I don’t think we’re there yet. I think maybe you’re on a bit of an adrenaline high.”
River’s response was quick and emotionless. “I’ll thank you not to be so patronizing.”
Eventually they came across a pharmacy, the glass windows shattered and the door wide open. It looked like it had already been ransacked, but Eliza wanted to take a look inside on the off chance they might find something of use. They needed medical supplies, food, and anything else that could help them on their journey.
River was the first to step inside, her eyes scanning the darkened interior for any signs of danger as she clutched her crowbar tightly. Eliza followed close behind, beads of sweat forming on her brow as they made their way up and down the aisles. The shelves were mostly empty, but there were still a few items scattered here and there—bottles of water, protein bars, vitamins, and some over-the-counter painkillers.
“I reckon we’ve hit the jackpot here, doc,” River cried out, grabbing a bottle of water and passing it to Eliza. “We so need this. Who knows how long it’ll take us to get back to the cabin? Getting to Campdale was pretty straightforward, but that was before all the infected showed up and everyone went nuts. Look at this place—it’s crazy! This has all happened today.”
Eliza took the bottle, her fingers brushing against River’s for the briefest of moments. The contact sent a charge of electricity through her and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with heat.
What the hell was that?
She couldn’t afford to get distracted. Not now.
They moved quickly, gathering anything else that looked useful. River found a few flashlights, some batteries, and a first aid kit that had somehow escaped the looters’ attention. Eliza focused on the medical supplies, grabbing bandages, antiseptics, and anything else that might be useful for treating River’s father’s injuries.
I need antibiotics. The old man will probably die without them.
As they continued to search, any conversation between them dried up. Every passing minute seemed tenser than the last. Eliza couldn’t help but notice the way River moved her body. Her confidence and physicality were on full display. She was efficient, resourceful, and completely in control, and it was hard not to be impressed.
Is she doing this on purpose? Like, trying to impress me?
But there was also something else—a subtle flirtatiousness in the way River interacted with her, a teasing smile here, a lingering glance there. It wasn’t too obvious, and Eliza had no clue how to handle it, but it was there.
But you’re straight, Liz. Why are you even thinking about this?
As they finished gathering supplies, River turned to look at Eliza with a playful glint in her eyes. “So, doc, what’s next on the agenda? You got plans for tonight? How about a candlelit dinner…or a torchlit dinner?”
Eliza couldn’t help but smile. They’d been through so much already in the short time they’d known each other. She guessed it couldn’t hurt to enjoy a little teasing. “We’ll have to settle for protein bars, I’m afraid.”
River chuckled, the sound surprisingly light given their circumstances. “I say we make the most of it. Who knows when we’ll get another chance? Let’s go all out! Let’s have two protein bars each.”
Eliza rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t suppress the small smile that tugged at her lips. “You’re absolutely impossible, you know that? I don’t meet a whole lot of women like you, you know.”
“Guilty as charged. There are no other women like me,” River replied, her grin widening.
Eliza shook her head slowly as warmth spread through her chest. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was secretly enjoying River’s playful banter. It was so odd, though. Should she really be allowing herself to feel something so normal in the midst of what was shaping up to be a real tragedy? The world seemed like it was on the brink of collapse. Yet she was starting to feel comfortable being in River’s company. Maybe this young woman was simply a reminder that there was still plenty of life left in this world. She was a sign. River was slowly but surely teaching her not to give up.
As they finished gathering supplies, Eliza glanced toward the back of the pharmacy.
I think there’s a storeroom back there .
“Hey, River. Come have a look at this. I’d say it’s pretty secure. What do you think? We should stay here for the night,” Eliza said firmly. “It’s as safe as we’re going to get.”
River looked around the store, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah, I think you’re right. You’re getting rather good at this survival malarkey, huh? But we have to take shifts. Now’s not the time to get a full eight hours, okay? We need to keep an eye out for any trouble.”
Eliza nodded in agreement. She couldn’t help but notice the way River looked at her. But then, she’d never been good at reading people. And she’d never had a woman show the slightest bit of interest in her. The subtle glances, the soft teasing—it all felt unfamiliar, like stepping into unknown terrain. She wasn’t used to this. River’s banter was clearly meant to ease the tension, but instead it left her feeling adrift, unsure how to navigate the sudden shift in their dynamic.
They settled into the storeroom, the air heavy with the scent of dust and mold. River pulled out a couple protein bars and handed one to Eliza, who grabbed it greedily.
“I’m so ready for this. It’s total processed crap, you know. But I’m all over it,” Eliza said with a giggle.
They ate in silence for a few minutes as the exhaustion of the day began to catch up with them.
“You know something?” River said after a while, her voice soft. “I couldn’t agree more. I used to hate protein bars. I hated the whole idea of them for some reason. My dad likes to take them on our hikes, and I’m always fighting with him about it. Eat a good breakfast, stay hydrated, and nobody needs this cardboard shit. Like, if you need protein, find some real protein, right? But I swear this tastes like a five-star meal.”
Eliza chuckled. “I guess we’re about to learn to appreciate the little things in life. We all learned that during the last pandemic, right? Also, do you think we’re currently in shock about this whole zombie situation? I mean, shouldn’t we be curled up crying in panic, or something?”
River nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah. It’s funny how things change. A week ago, I was worried about how to convince my dad to go vegan. Now I’m just hoping we can find something—anything—to eat. And no, we’re not in shock, we’re surviving.”
Eliza smiled, though the mention of River’s father brought a pang of guilt. She hadn’t forgotten why they were doing this. “Does vegan protein even exist?” she asked jokingly, before turning the conversation to a more serious issue. “We’ll get to him,” Eliza said, her voice steady. “We’ll get the supplies he needs, and he’ll make it. We just need to lay low and wait until it’s safer out there.”
River’s eyes softened as she looked at Eliza with a mix of gratitude and something else—something Eliza couldn’t quite place. “Thank you so much,” River said quietly. “For everything. I don’t think I could do this without you. I don’t know why you’re helping me.”
Eliza grinned. She wasn’t used to people relying on her, not in this way. Her job as a doctor was to help people, but this was different. This was personal, and it touched something deep inside her.
“Please don’t thank me,” Eliza whispered. “We’re in this together, right? And besides, you’ve been the one leading the way. I’m just trying to keep up. I’d have been eaten if you hadn’t shown up when you did. We both know it.”
River chuckled. “Well, I think you’re keeping up fine. And who could blame that zombie for wanting to eat you? Not me, that’s for sure.”
The tension between them slowly eased as they settled into their makeshift camp. Eliza couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of respect for River—she was strong, capable, and determined, but there was also a vulnerability to her, a softness that Eliza found herself drawn to…a softness she was intrigued to learn more about.
“So, tell me about your dad,” Eliza said after a while, breaking the silence. “You mentioned earlier that you’re close, and I want to know who I’m risking my ass for.”
River smiled, although Eliza could sense the sadness behind it. “He raised me on his own after my mom passed away. He’s always been there for me and supported me in everything I’ve done. We have our disagreements—the guy will only ever eat at the all-you-can-eat steakhouse when we go out for dinner—but he’s my rock. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without my dad. Jeez, I wonder if we’ll ever go to that steakhouse again.”
Eliza understood what River was saying. “It sounds like you have a really great relationship. I think you should hold on to that, especially now. And honestly, if this is anything like the movies we all watch, I’d say the world is about to change forever.”
River’s eyes widened as she looked at Eliza with a warmth that made Eliza’s heart flutter. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Anyway, I can’t think about the future too much right now, so what about you? What about your family?”
Eliza hesitated, her thoughts drifting to her own family, their strained relationship, and the distance she’d created over the years. “I have a brother,” she said slowly. “We’re close, but…I guess it’s complicated. My parents, they…well, I don’t see an awful lot of them these days. It’s kind of my fault. I put my job first.”
River’s expression softened with understanding. “Yeah, I get that. It must be hard. So you’re on your own a lot?”
Eliza shrugged. “Sometimes. I mean, they’re all away someplace right now. I’ve tried to contact them, but it’s impossible to get through. I’m praying they’re alright, but I’m also trying not to think about it too much. Like you said, I can’t think about the future right now.”
They lapsed into silence again as the weight of their shared experiences settled between them. Eliza couldn’t help but feel a connection to River. A bond was starting to form between them. It was strange, feeling so close to someone she’d just met, but there was something about River that made Eliza feel…safe. Safe in a way she hadn’t felt in some time.
As the night wore on, they took turns keeping watch, the darkness outside pressing in on them as they huddled together in the storeroom. The sounds of the city had quieted, but the tension in the air was still palpable, a reminder that they were far from safe. Luckily there’d been no sign of the infected around them, but at times a distant scream jolted them back into their new reality.
Eliza couldn’t sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts of the future and what they’d do next. But she also found herself thinking about River and how she’d stepped up, taken charge, and kept them both alive.
Something about River was drawing her in, something that made her want to understand the woman behind the confident exterior.