“I feel like shit,” I thought touching the back of my head gingerly. “Wait. Where’s Vince?”
I looked over at the nightstand and remembered Vince had given me a slightly melted candy bar. Apologized about eating the can of peaches or something. I giggled and literally inhaled the candy bar. I licked my fingers and slide out of bed slowly. My head no longer throbbed, but I still felt dizzy.
I slowly made my way to the door. I peeked out and lo and behold Madison stood in the hallway. She seemed occupied as she looked down and I quickly scanned the room for my sword. I grabbed it quickly ready to pounce and then she knocked on the door.
“Come in,” I said unsure as to what to say as I stood behind the door ready.
She opened the door and she poked her head in first looking around. There was my chance. I jumped forward and pointed my blade at her. She jumped and she fell backward with a loud crash. I opened the door wide open and she laid there with food splattered everywhere. Food on the floor, on her clothes, and some even on her head.
“Well, good morning,” she mumbled staring up at me. “I thought we could eat breakfast together and talk. I guess not.”
“I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I stammered.
“It’s ok. It’s understandable.”
“But I wasted food. Was that for me?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s ok. We have more eggs,” she said wiping food from her face. “I just have to cook up something real quick. Maybe you can help me this time. That’s if you want.”
“Um,…sure I guess.”
“Then off to the kitchen then. Just have to finish cleaning this up and change.”
I helped her out the best I could, picking up what was left as she wiped the floor with wet paper towels. When we were done, I waited outside in the hallway as she changed clothes. I peeked in and her bare back was exposed with various scars decorating it.
“Nice house huh?” she chuckled watching me as I looked around in amazement. She grabbed a frying pan from the stove. “I noticed you were alone this morning. Aaron was supposed to be watching you and keeping your company. He’s getting worse and worse nowadays.”
“Where’s Vince?” I blurted out sitting down at the table.
“He went out with Matthew, Nathan, and DJ,” she said glancing over at me. “He told you about them, right? Well, they’re good people. Don’t worry. They just went to get the gas and help out Vince with the car. They shouldn’t be too long.”
I sighed. “I hope not.”
“Well, how about you stop being a worry wart and get me the eggs you owe me,” she said playfully. “The coop is out back. Go through the dining room and you’ll find the back yard. Some friendly faces are out there.”
“Coop?” I thought as I stepped outside on the porch. There a beautiful yard laid before me. I stood there just staring at it completely stunned.
“Yeah. That’s Audrey,” a man chimed in. I looked over to see him on the porch sitting on a bench next to me. “Nice to see you conscious.”
“That’s my husband, Omar. My name is Grace. It’s lovely to meet you. Are you doing ok?”
“I’m fine”, I said still stunned. “A little tired, but I’m alright. I came out here for eggs?”
“Coop over there. Lucky for you the cat and walkers haven’t ate them yet,” Omar joked pointing it out.
“Cat?”
“Omar, don’t be crude,” she laughed shaking her head. “Ms. Fluffy is a nice cat.”
“Cat?” I thought puzzled as I spotted the coop.
I walked over and greeted the hens petting them. They walked around squawking with not a care in the world. I had once own chickens so it was no big surprise to see them, but zombies had ate mine. They were lucky to be still alive. I spotted a basket nearby and gathered the few eggs left in the coop still feeling guilty for what happened earlier. Then I looked over and saw a cat. An actual cat. I jumped a little holding the basket close to me and instantly felt silly for reacting that way. How strange it was to see a cat now.
“Hi…kitty,” I said grinning as it rubbed against me purring.
Grace walked over to me beaming. “Looks like she’s taking a shine to you.”
“We found and saved her at the sanctuary we were staying at before this,” she replied kneeling down again over her plants. I joined her kneeling next to her as she continued. “It was a nice place. I don’t know why we left.”
“Well, this place seems nice. It almost seems like a dream.”
“It does sometimes and Mr. Jones is such a nice man. Have you met him?”
“No. Not yet,” I said. “Have you met Vince?”
“Who is that sweety?”
“My friend. The man who came here with me.”
“No. I haven’t had the pleasure”, she said shaking her head smiling.
“You know. You remind me of my granddaughter so much. You’re much older though.”
“How much?”
“She’s a baby. Not even a teen yet.”
“Does she live here too?”
She frowned. “No. I wish. I wish she was here.”
“She out there then?”
“No. I..I don’t know where she is. Do you know?”
“Huh?”
Tears began forming in her eyes. “I don’t know where she is. Omar keeps telling me she’s gone, but she’s not. She can’t be!”
“But we were talking…,” she said sounding increasingly upset.
“You can talk later,” she said gently grabbing hold her hand. He then guided her towards the house and nodded at me before disappearing into the residence.
Madison then appeared on the porch. “Audrey. Come on. Let’s have breakfast.”
I hurried back into the house and into the kitchen. I sat at the table and laid down closing my eyes. I could hear Madison cracking the eggs and the delicious sound of them frying in the pan, but my mind was on Grace. Had I said something wrong? The frying stopped and I heard the clinks of plates next. I then felt a poke and looked up to see Madison standing over me with two plates.
“What’s wrong? Lost your appetite?”
“No,” I said sadly. “I think upset Ms. Grace.”
“No. You didn’t. Not on purpose, she said putting the plates down on the table. She sat down across from me. "Grace isn’t well.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
She sighed. “She has Alzheimer’s. Whenever she talks about her granddaughter or anything upsetting or death, she gets upsets. It’s not easy.”
“That’s horrible,” I cried feeling my own tears coming to the surface. “And I think I remind her of her granddaughter.”
“Everything reminds her of her granddaugter,” she lamented. “It’s really not your fault. Don’t feel bad. Do you need a tissue?”
“No. I’m fine.” I sniffled and I picked up my fork. “You wanted to talk?”
“Yeah. I just wanted to apologize. About what happened. I acted on emotion and I hurt you.”
“I’m the one who jumped on you.”
“Yeah, but I’m not the one who got seriously hurt,” she said glancing at me. “I’m really sorry.”
I chuckled. “This morning I wanted to kill you. Now I don’t think I could be angry at you if I wanted.”
“Well, I’m glad. That sword is freaking sharp,” she smirked poking her eggs.
“Sorry about your hand.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. I still have all my fingers.
I laughed and looked down at my plate. "Vince cooked me eggs the first time we met. Told me he was the breakfast king.”
“Breakfast king? Hmm…interesting,” she smirked. “Well, I’m no breakfast king, but I hope this a good peace offering. Better than my last attempt at least.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I can’t remember the last time I had a hot meal.”
“Maybe you can have another one at dinner,” she said getting up. She then grabbed two glasses from the cupboard. “All we have is water right now. Hope that’s ok.”
“It’s fine.”
“Hey and don’t worry about Grace. She’ll be better after her nap. She’ll be happy to talk your ear off. Both her and Omar.”
She poured me a glass of water and poured one for herself. She sat back down. Both of us relaxed and comfortable. A complete turn around from our first meeting, but the calm didn’t remain. A gunshot could be heard outside in the distant and Madison jumped up immediately. She speedily walked to the back door with me following close behind her. She then swung the door open looking out.
“Lin, was that you?” she asked the Asian woman standing in the yard now. “You and your damn itchy trigger finger is going get us kicked out!”
Lin looked back wide-eyed. “That wasn’t me!”
P.S. Again sorry this was late. Family issues came up. I hope I have time to do it this weekend, but I do have school work. D:
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