Chapter 3: Prayers for the Slayers Part VIII

—Fuck... Fuck! —Jason shuddered at the sound of the gunshot and together with Nikolai and the policemen they went to another area of the shelter, an area that was part of a section of the warehouses. Upon entering they realized what had caused the gunshot... it was Cindy Milford who was behind the body of Lexie Washington who had been shot in the head.

Greg and Matthew pulled out their guns and pointed them at the woman.

—Drop the gun now! That's an order! —Greg yelled at Cindy as he took the safety off his gun and pointed it at her.

—Why did you do it, Cindy? Why did you...? Aren't you supposed to want to protect them all? —Jason was still incredulous at Milford's sudden actions.

Cindy, however, was looking at Lexie's corpse with great sorrow.

—I freed her from this martyrdom... Why did YOU lie to us, Jason? You told us we would be safe... but you lied to us. Those men we brought from the butcher shop turned! George said... Lilly said... they turned because they were raped by people who had sex with the bodies! They had sex with the fallen...

There was something particular about Cindy, and that was that the sparkle in her eyes had disappeared, leaving behind a face devoid of emotion.

—We were raped and tortured by men who had contact with the corpses of the women who came back as zombies... We are infected, Jason. We know what happened to those men. —Cindy sighed, resigned to know what would happen to her next. —But they died... they fucking died!

—Cindy! It was just a theory! We don't know if... —Lilly said as she got inside the room where the events were taking place. —There could be so many posibilites!

—And that's why you killed Lexie, woman? What did she do to you? Did you listen to our conversation and decided to kill her? Are you going to do the same to Lilly? —George was angry at Cindy's actions.

—Lexie begged me to kill her, George... she told me everything she heard and... I tried to struggle with her but ultimately I ended up shooting her in the head. Just accept it, George... you can't save everyone. I know I will die... there is nothing you can do to delay the fact that... eventually I will die. Everyone is going to die!

—It didn't have to be like this! We could have discussed it... not do whatever this shit was. —Jason showed his disappointment with his words.

—Chelsea killed herself because she knew what would happen to her... I couldn't let Lexie... suffer. We're all infected, Jason... but if being penetrated by the same man who fucked a zombie is the same as being bitten... or worse...

Cindy sighed.

—It's the end.

Cindy pointed her gun at Jason and this caused a "domino effect" as Nikolai drew his gun and fearlessly shot Cindy in the throat. They all watched as Milford lay on the ground, choking on her own blood. Nikolai was the one who approached her and finished her off mercilessly.

The policemen remained silent at the scene. Jason didn't express much at Nikolai's actions either, however he felt hurt when he saw Lexie looking at him... it was almost as if he was seeing an image he didn't like, a "thing" with a human face that wasn't human... but Jason knew deep down that this thing lying on the ground was Lexie, that she was once alive.

It wasn't long before they covered the bodies with sheets and, like the other bodies, they were thrown outside the shelter, from the rooftop to fall straight down onto the pavement of the parking lot.

Jason felt something in his stomach, a pain too strong to bear that made him drop to his knees and vomit up what he had eaten that morning. Jason placed his palm over the remnants of vomit and contemplated his own creation.

—FUCK! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS SHIT! I JUST CAN'T! DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE FUCKING TRIED TO DO? TO ME?!

—It wasn't supposed to be like this, Jason... but things change suddenly. If I told you everything I've been through... Maybe we should focus on those who are still here and deserve a second chance, it's up to them to take it or not. If it's any consolation... those people were already doomed. The virus had been triggered in them and eventually... well, they were going to die.

—Ah, Nikolai... that applies perfectly to us and yet we don't do mass suicide. Fucking Cindy... She tried to kill me! Even after we saved her ass... and then... Well, fuck her, fuck Lexie, fuck all of them. —Jason looked at the cops as if they were going to give him the answers he was looking for. —There is a guy who needs our help, he is trapped inside an elevator. Would you like to come? Honestly I don't have the time to mourn for this bitch who tried to fucking shot me! The audacity!

—We're here to serve and protect, Jason. —Matthew replied, folding his arms.

—You just say where you want us and we'll go. —Greg nodded.

Jason stood up and faced the danger again with his head held high.