Chapter Text
“Hello, Karen.” Benjamin phrased once he stepped into the room, a principal's office, actually.
Fire lights came from the corridor, one candle was left on the table close by the window as the sky started darkening. Karen only pointed to the gurney.
“Come on.” Dex let out a streamy breath, he removed his dirty jacket, approached while holding a hand, his wrist got cuffed on the bed’s side bar.
Karen stepped to the other side.
“I have been here since…” His words came out in an unusual tone.
“The beginning? So did I.” she pointed to his free hand, which he held up, her fingers wrapped around his arm as she cuffed his wrist.
“Alright, I get it.” Ben smiled, “I suppose once an infected breaks into the room I will be left by myself.”
“That is the point, also I would get more time to run away.” her sight slipped to his arms, shoulders and neck, she searched for bites or scratches, the later rarely turned someone, but even that small change was terrifying enough. Yet thankfully she only found bruises.
Karen started to carefully clean the cut above his eyebrow, Ben closed his eyes, his head leaning on the hand she used to keep his face in place, soon she removed the stain of dust on his cheek with a soft fabric.
“Thanks.” He blinked slowly, slightly tilting his head to the side as her attention went to the dry blood crusting the back of his scalp.
Karen brushed off the excess, gave the wound a check, then did the same on the rest of his head by running her fingers through his scalp.
“It was a human inflicted wound.” He spoke only after she was done, as usual.
Karen stood up ready to take a gauze, she turned to him in silence, Benjamin had a very light smile, eyes not fully open as if tired, which he was in fact. His hair disarranged, and another thin cut was noticed on his hairline.
He let out a breath before speaking in a low voice, “That is the only one.”
“Should I ask?”
“It has been neutralized.”
“You should have mentioned that situation as soon as you arrived-”
“I thought the others had done it already.”
A sight, Karen rushed to clean that wound.
“Can I have water?” his glance slipped to her as soon as she was about to stand up.
Karen let out a breath, she took a bottle and brought it to his mouth, once he was done, she wiped the drop that rolled down his chin, “If you knew what a nuisance you are…”
“I bet you regret it… opening the door that day.” he looked into her eyes, yet his voice was playful.
Karen held his gaze, “I definitely do.” And sometimes she didn't.
“Then, why?” his voice came out hoarsely.
Karen shrugged, “Why did you walk in?”
“There were too many zombies around.”
“Make your words mine.” she placed the bottle back at its place.
“Yet you also convinced them to let me in-”
“I convinced them you would be useful-”
“Still-” he laid down.
“It was that, or whatever alternative was left.” Karen took a blanket and covered him.
“Such as, being useful to someone else?”
“Dead, by them, someone else, zombies…” Karen arranged the supplies over the small table close by, “Sleep.” she closed curtains, blew the candle, placed an armchair in front of the door, and stepped to her makeshift bed behind the principal's desk.
“Good night, Karen.” Ben's voice came out softly.
“Shut up.” She closed her eyes, waiting for the sleep that only came when the sky was fully dark, yet she soon woke up once the door was knocked.
Karen sat up while sniffing, she rubbed her eyes and spent a few minutes staring ahead before standing up and starting her day.
“Wake up.” She pushed Dex’s arm roughly.
He opened his without a startle, how long has he been awake, “Morning, Karen.” he smiled, watched as she removed the cuffs, then as she stepped away to open the curtains.
Soon Karen sat at the chair in front of the window.
“It seems like it's going to rain today.” he folded a sheet.
“No shit…” her words came out slowly, almost playfully, she rubbed her forehead as she stared outside.
“It distracts the infected, at least. We were able to save two kids last week thanks to the rain.”
“Good job.” Karen let out without a thought, her gaze far away, as if she could spot the exact place she found herself once this mess started.
“Thank you.”
Karen looked behind herself, Benjamin returned to his morning tidying up the office.
*
Karen opened the door of the terrace, cold wind hitting her face as she stepped outdoors. That was an off limits area, so she wasn't going to spend too long there though.
The sky had become grayer as the clouds got heavier, a few silent lightnings were spotted, she stepped to the edge, only until she was close enough to see a street, the infected roaming around, grunting-
“They said you were going out.”
Karen blinked slowly before turning back, “I am.”
“You can't.” Benjamin stood in front of the door, he spoke promptly, “It is dangerous.”
“So?” Karen crossed her arms, stepping out, closer to him, to the door, actually.
“You will not find them.”
Karen ignored his words and passed by him, yet her elbow was held.
“I know it is hard, yet-”
“Stop it, I am tired of you acting as if you care about anything.” she let out a breath, it wasn't the first time they spoke about it.
“I do care about-”
“You are putting up an act, I know deep down you don't care.” she made an effort to keep her voice at a low volume, “You have said it yourself before.” once he told her about his therapist, how she taught him to behave, to be good. It was weeks after they ended up stuck together, stuck in the same room.
“Doesn't everybody put an act on something?” he paused, “It has been a year, Karen. They must be either dead or infected.”
“You don't know, neither do I.” she looked down to her elbow, “Let go.” she stepped away, speaking only once she passed through the door, “Get out of there, I saw lightings.” Her voice louder, Karen didn't look behind as she took the stairs, yet she heard the door getting close, and heavy steps approaching.
“It is just a warehouse-” Ben took a breath as he got interrupted.
“It is close to the last time I saw them.”
Dex blinked slowly, “No wonder you are acting like this since last week.”
They got in the corridor, Karen crossed her arms, rubbing her forehead as she stepped in a straight line.
A man passed by them, “We leave in 10 minutes.”