Afterworld: Into the Arms of Darkness Ch.40
Title: Afterworld: Into the Arms of Darkness
By: Pink Rabbit Productions
Chapter: 40
Date: 14 November, 2010
Rating: R (for sex and violence)
Disclaimer: Hmmm, characters, not mine, situation, mine, though with the proviso that certain scenarios owe a major debt of gratitude to George Romero. Sex? Likely. Genders involved? Likely all female (at least anything on camera). Also there are likely to be very bad things in this story. I'm not one for prodigious amounts of gore, but this is horror and there is likely to be ickiness and things that might disturb some folks. Seriously. If it's gonna bother you, move along.
Summary: When the dead rise, civilization falls.
Author's Notes: Awhile back, just for fun, I did a faux movie poster that set Otalia in a horror setting and used some elements from an idea I've had running around for ages (what can I say---it was the Halloween season). See the poster here: http://altfic.com/artgallery/otalia/glafterworld01b.htm . Sooo, at some point, it seemed like fun to take a gander at writing them in that universe. I've quite deliberately tried to break away from my usual style and make it a bit faster moving, with frequent chapter breaks, deliberate cliffhangers, shorter scenes and more directed pov. We'll see if I can keep to one pov per chapter (well, they are short chapters...lol).
Dedicated to: My mom. Seriously. All of my growing up years, she would constantly throw me these what-if scenarios and press me to figure out logical ways to survive/get out of various emergency situations. Now, she never mentioned the zombie apocalypse, but I'm sure that was just an oversight or a desire not to scare a little kid (because, really, I grew up as the daughter of a top secret type during the cold war...I already had enough fear issues), but really, that odd little game was the genesis of...well...not just this story, but a lot of my love of writing. So, thanks mom.
Previous Chapters: | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 | Chapter 26 | Chapter 27 | Chapter 28 | Chapter 29 | Chapter 30 | Chapter 31 | Chapter 32 | Chapter 33 | Chapter 34 | Chapter 35 | Chapter 36 | Chapter 37 | Chapter 38 | Chapter 39 |
Afterworld:
Into the Arms of Darkness
Chapter 40
The rising sun found them still talking quietly, bodies so exhausted their words slurred and there were frequent, long, unpredictable pauses between them and yawns that offered further delays.
Natalia was actually somewhat the worse off, Olivia noted as she peered down at the other woman. Her eyelids would flutter and slip closed for a second or two, then she would jerk herself awake again. Remembering how the other woman had sat awake in the chair next to her bed, offering what comfort was possible while she suffered through a night of demons and hellfire, she was mildly amazed Natalia was even still conscious.
Gently ruffling dark hair, Olivia guided Natalia's head up until their eyes met. The other woman briefly lost focus, shook herself, then peered at her again with bleary intensity.
"When was the last time you slept?" Olivia asked gently.
Natalia screwed her face up into a look of concentration that reminded Olivia oddly of Emma at a few months of age...usually just before she let out a massive burp and passed out. The impression was so strong, she almost giggled. Getting a little giddy there, are ya, Spencer?
"I dunno...maybe three months ago," Natalia mused aloud, then snickered softly, though she apparently tried to muffle the sound by nosing into Olivia's shoulder. "Closer to a year if you're talking anything nightmare free." Which wasn't even remotely funny and yet she snickered again and squirmed a little closer, plastering her body against Olivia's.
All of which was far more pleasant that Olivia would have predicted. She'd never really thought about women, what they smelled like or felt like, how warm and soft they could be or how the give of their bodies could offer so much comfort.
Suddenly she couldn't think about anything else. Tightening her hold on the slender figure in her arms, she petted dark silk hair with slow strokes, drawing pleasure from the feel and coolness against her skin.
Natalia wriggled again, lighting off a pleasurable, slow-burn kind of friction.
One way to make you feel your heart, Olivia mused as hers did a notable thump in her chest. She was amazed Natalia didn't notice the extra force to the beat with the hand still resting over her breastbone. The feeling of the soft curves squirming gently against her was almost too appealing, too pleasant, too-
"Why don't you see if you can grab a few Zs now," Olivia suggested abruptly, thinking maybe it was time for a little break in the cuddling action. She wasn't at her best, but she was starting to believe that maybe she was going to live through the night and the steady wiggling was getting...confusing.
Which was actually rather surprising given her condition. The only thing she should have been confused about was whether to sleep for a week or a month.
Natalia tipped her chin up, peering at Olivia with a bleary frown. "'m s'poseta be takin' care 'f you," she mumbled drunkenly, so exhausted she might as well have been on the last leg of one hell of a night of carousing.
Olivia stroked the other woman's cheek, then tugged her head back down to its resting place on her shoulder. "You have," she murmured thoughtfully. "Now let me return the favor for a bit."
"Bu' wha'f you start hearin' thin's again?" Natalia questioned, the words slurring together.
"I don't think I will," Olivia whispered. She hadn't heard a peep out of the demons in hours. With luck, they were gone for good. And she wouldn't miss them either. "But I'll wake you if I do."
Natalia shook her head slowly, though it didn't take much pressure to settle her back down. "Don' think i's a good idea," she said, her voice little more than a soft sigh.
Olivia nuzzled the other woman's temple and couldn't resist the temptation to dust a soft kiss onto silky hair and skin.
Mumbling something under her breath, Natalia turned deeper into the protection of Olivia's body, all warm and kitten-soft.
"Just sleep," Olivia whispered, her voice near inaudible. "Trust me to watch your back for a little while."
"Will, won'ya?" Natalia breathed, her tone making the words more a statement than a question.
"I will," Olivia assured her.
Natalia wiggled once or twice more, then lay limp in her arms, the only sign of life, the slow rhythm of her breathing.
Despite the temptation to follow her into the welcome arms of sleep, Olivia drove herself to stay awake, determined to protect the woman lying so trustingly in her arms-from the demons outside the house or any remaining inside herself...
* * * * * *
Natalia awoke caught in a wave of panic. She wasn't supposed to sleep. She had to stay awake. She knew that even if, for the briefest second, she couldn't remember why.
Then she tipped her chin up and encountered green eyes staring down at her.
And she remembered everything.
Olivia was deeply flushed, her eyes red-rimmed and heavy lidded, but there was nothing wild or frightening in her expression."Feel better?" she drawled.
Not really. Natalia was stiff and uncomfortably warm, her body sluggish and feeling vaguely like it wasn't her own. "You shouldn't have let me sleep," she insisted as she pushed into a sitting position, relieved when the blanket fell away from her shoulders and cool air eased some of the overheating.
"You needed it," Olivia disagreed, her tone firm. "You'd gone what, thirty-six, maybe even forty-eight hours without?"
Natalia shook her head, "I was-"
"Barely conscious and as giggly as a sorority chick on the fourth day of a three-day bender," Olivia cut her off, her tone gently teasing. "You're lucky I'm not a frat rat...or I might have taken advantage." She was silent for a beat, then abruptly she shook herself and continued, her tone becoming wholly practical, "We need you in good shape. Pushing yourself until you fold won't do me any good and sure as hell won't protect my daughter."
Drawing a breath to argue, Natalia held off as she realized the other woman was right.
"Good girl," Olivia said very softly, the expression in her eyes making it obvious she knew Natalia had surrendered to her point of view.
Natalia could feel the clench of muscles as her eyes narrowed and her mouth pinched in irritation. Needing to take back a bit of control, she pressed her inner wrist against Olivia's forehead. Her skin was still fiercely hot. At least 103° and probably more like 104°. The jade eyes peering up at her were a little glazed even in their triumph. As she stared, that full-lipped mouth turned up in a wicked smile.
It was knowing and appealing...
And intimidating as hell.
Suddenly a little panicked, she pressed her hand against Olivia's chest, feeling frantically for a beat.
Then she found it. A little fast, but firm, the rhythm a solid thud against Olivia's sternum.
"Still human," Olivia assured her, her voice hoarse. Probably the effect of extended fever. She settled a hand over Natalia's where it rested on her chest, her skin too warm and a little papery, but also temptingly soft.
Right. Human. Natalia took a breath, let it out, tried to concentrate on a dozen different details at once. Like dry skin and Olivia's uneven breath. Probably dehydrated, she realized in a rush, strangely relieved to have something practical to focus on. In the hours since they'd met, the other woman hadn't had nearly enough fluids, particularly considering her fever. "You need a drink," she said abruptly.
"You have no idea," Olivia agreed, her tone making it clear she was thinking of something in the eighty proof range.
"Of water," Natalia snapped impatiently.
"Spoilsport," Olivia groused, though there was no animus in her tone and she offered a wry twist of a smile as she said it.
Pushing to her feet, Natalia stumbled back a pace. Escaped. The thought went through her head before she could stop, even though it made no real sense. Olivia was human. No need to escape her arms.
Jade-green eyes were still watching her.
"I need to get you some water," Natalia stammered after a beat. "And something to eat...and see how Emma's doing," she added, going through a mental check list as she spoke.
Olivia held up a hand and winced. "On that last one-"
"Is she standing behind me?" Natalia whined, wondering if the child had slipped the leash once again.
"No," Olivia said. "I sent her back up...but she checked on us...got me a drink."
Natalia suddenly noticed the empty water glass on the side table.
"And part of a very dry peanut butter sandwich," Olivia added. In that instant, wicked, knowing smile was whisked away on the wings of a look of such raw love and affection that Natalia could barely face it and remain on her feet.
"How'd they set?" Natalia didn't bother to ask how Emma was doing because she knew that would have been Olivia's focus from the first instant if there was any problem.
Olivia shrugged. "I've had a lot worse in the last few months." Sighing heavily, she settled back into the couch, her eyes sliding closed.
Taking a moment, Natalia dug through the medical bag Emma had brought down earlier to find a collection of antibiotics, then quickly retrieved a fresh glass of water and a few crackers that were still left in one of the kitchen cupboards. "Hey there," she said softly when she returned.
Olivia blinked, peering at her for a moment. "So fuckin' tired," she exhaled.
Natalia instantly moved back to her side, setting things aside as she sat on the edge of the couch. Laying her hand on Olivia's forehead, she let it rest there a second, the heat from the other woman's body enough to sear her skin. Still feverish. A second later, she trailed her fingers down the side of Olivia's face to the underside of her jaw. She found the steady rhythm of her pulse beating there.
"Alive," Olivia said sleepily.
"Yeah..." Natalia confirmed. Grabbing what she'd brought, she made sure Olivia ate and drank and took the antibiotics.
Other than a few grumbles, the other woman didn't really complain. Finished, she collapsed back into the couch and lay there, utterly limp. Her body had to be hitting the outer edges of physical exhaustion.
Still seated on the edge of the couch, Natalia gently smoothed dark hair back from Olivia's temple, the strokes slow and rhythmic. "I think it would be safe for you to sleep now," she suggested gently, afraid that if the woman pushed herself much farther, she might yet find a route to the grave.
Olivia didn't respond for a long moment, but finally green eyes blinked open and she peered at Natalia with bleary intensity. "You'll stay with me?" she questioned hesitantly.
Seeing the fear in jade eyes, Natalia nodded. "Right with you." Emma had been down and doing well enough to look after her mother, so hopefully she'd be okay on her own a little longer.
"And if my temp goes down too much-"
"I'll wake you and make you do jumping jacks," Natalia promised, not resisting when Olivia caught her hand and dragged it back to her chest. "It's beating," she assured her.
Olivia nodded ever so slightly, her eyelids fluttering heavily as she sank even deeper into the cushions. Tugging lightly on the hand bound to her own, she smiled ever so slightly as she reached out with her other hand. Bracing it along Natalia's hip, she added more gentle pressure, her voice a soft rumble. "Please."
Natalia went willingly, snuggling close to wrap the other woman in her arms, forming a small cocoon of safety in a terrifying world. Holding Olivia close, she petted her hair in slow smoothing strokes and continued to monitor her heartbeat. "We're gonna be okay," she whispered very softly and felt the other woman relax against her.
"Is that even possible?" Olivia exhaled. Her eyes drifted closed and she nestled her cheek against Natalia's shoulder.
"We'll find a way," Natalia promised as she pressed a soft kiss to Olivia's temple. "We'll find a way."
Olivia slept...
* * * * * *
TBC