The City, Part Eight, The sewers

CHAPTER 29 (Blaze)

"What did you do?" Fern actually facepalms as she catches sight of Rye.  

"It.. itched.." I can see him look away as he tries to think of a way to make it seem like he's not definitely fucked. 

"Well.. I suppose there was nettle in the mixture I gave you.. But either you're allergic to something, or you're lying. Have you ever touched nettle before?" He's rocking on his feet, trying to avoid her daggered stare. He's not lying, is he?

"No.. I don't think so, no." He looks hopeful. Just an allergy. That's all it must be.

"Okay then." She turns, going inside for a moment, before returning with a branch of spiked leaves. "Give me your arm." 

"What..?" But before he can protest, she grabs his hand, turning it palm up, and rubs the leaves on the inside of his arm, under his elbow. Immediately, he pulls back. "What the hell, Fern?" He rubs the spot, skin already glowing red with irritation. 

"There. Are you happy?" He glares back at her. "It's red."

"Well, a little irritation is expected, it is stinging nettle. We'll need to wait and see whether it gets worse." I'd expect her to be smirking, but her face is stone cold. "Now, come in. We need to talk."

CHAPTER 30 (Rye)

We're sitting on Fern's couch, and however hard I try, I cant understand the words her and Blaze are exchanging. I can see their faces though, Fern is solemn, but sure, and Blaze is mad. They're arguing over something, but my mind can't help but drift off.

If it really was the nettle that made me do that, why would she put it on me again? My arm itches, like a festering wound, and I have the impulse to scratch it, but I don't. I don't want it to happen again.. My chest burns. The pain.. No. It can't happen again. My arm pulses with the unpleasant feeling. I can't. how long would they take to realize? How much of my blood would spill..? 

I can't breathe. I can't think. All I can feel is my arm, and my chest, and the panic swelling my throat. I need to breathe. I need to get as much air as possible in now. My heart is racing, demanding oxygen. But don't I want it to be the nettle..? There's only one other thing it could be.. Fuck, why did it have to be either? I can't breathe, and the feeling inches up my arm, infecting my joints. 

"Hey." Fern is staring at me. She grabs my hand, just as it reaches for the swelling red blotch on my arm. "Definitely allergic." Blaze glares at her, then sweetens his gaze as he turns to me. 

"Are you okay? We don't have to do it if you don't want to." What?

"Do what..?" He looks confused, and then sighs.

"Fern wants us to go to the sewers.. to find out what happened with the Tree dwellers, who sabotaged them.." 

"Look." Fern tries her best to wipe the anger out of her gaze. "I'd do it myself, but the sewers are too far, and you two are a lot closer. I'll help you as far as I can, but I can't go as far as you, and someone needs to find out what's going on, before it happens again." 

"But you could stay with us while you go look. Rye is sick, Fern." Blaze is trying his hardest not to back down, but Fern is a convincing person. 

"I can't. I need to watch my cabin. You know those Tree Dwellers will trash it if I leave for so long. I'm sorry, but it's the only way."

"Hey." They haven't considered the fact that I'm right here, and a part of the conversation. "Blaze. I'll be fine. She's right, we need to do this." His eyes sink as he realizes I'm not on his side this time.

"..Okay. Fine. When are we going..?" He glances at fern. 

"We start tomorrow. You two should go home, get ready." She stands, already ushering us up and out. Walking to the door, she stops before opening it. "I'm sorry that you guys have to do this. I would if I could, and if you need me, I'll be there." She steps to the side, holding the door open.

It's cold outside, signs of winter already showing in the crunch of leaves and the smell of decay. wait, what? The smell, sickeningly sweet, mixed with spice, radiates through the air. Blaze sees it before I do, gasping and backing up through the doorway. following his gaze, I find a horrible sight. A deer, lying on it's back, ribs out and pointing to the sky, the organs, usually behind them, lie in a heap next to the things head.

"Shit, no.." Blaze looks on the verge of tears. "No, no, no.." He pulls his hands to his arms, holding himself. 

"Fuck. Those damn Tree Dwellers must have left this here. Right in front of my house? Really guys? It looks like it was skinned by an 8 year old. They probably ruined it too much to eat, and decided to throw the whole thing." Fern scoffs, walking towards the carcass. 

Blaze is still in the door, breathing fast. Is he having a panic attack..? Fuck. I step in front of him, so he can't see it, and grab his hands, pulling them down to his sides. "Hey. Breathe, slow." Fuck. I've never seen him have a panic attack.. Usually it's me. "Blaze. You're okay." I pull my face closer to his, becoming all he can see. I breathe slowly, hoping he follows.

"I.. I'm okay." He looks in my eyes, trying to copy my calmness. His fingers slide over my wrist, finding and locking in on my slower heartbeat. 

"You're okay." I repeat his words, holding his gaze like he holds mine. 

"..Okay." He takes a deep breath, shaking his head as if he's trying to rid it of concern. Turning around, I see that Fern has moved it out of view, and she comes out from the forest, brushing her bloodied hands off. 

"We need to get home." Blaze pushes past me as if he's trying to hide his mood. 

"Okay. Yeah."

CHAPTER 31 (Rye) 

Once we get back to the apartment, Blaze starts pacing. I haven't seen him do it in a long time, but I can tell he's stressed out. He walks back and forth between the kitchen entrance and the desk, looking down at his feet. I can hear his muttering as he counts his steps, eleven each time. 

"Hey." He doesn't hear me. As I walk into his path, he almost stumbles into me, barely managing to catch himself. "Hey." He finally looks up at me, and I can see the panic on his face. 

"Shit- sorry. I'm sorry." He backs up, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"It's okay. Why don't you sit down? It's been a long day." He's shaking, and I can feel the vibrations from his bones as I reach out and grab his hands, guiding him to the bed. I shove him gently so that he sits down. 

"I need to go make dinner. Are you gonna be okay?" He nods, pulling his hands out of mine, tapping his fingertips one by one. 

Looking around in the kitchen, I remember the deer meat and veggies that Fern gave us. Today might've been a bit soon for deer meat, but I can jerky it. The smoke tree is out on the patio, really just a pile of sticks, but it works. I prepare the meat, slicing and seasoning, and bring it out. Lighting the fire under the tree, I hang the strips on branches. 

Then, I go into the kitchen and prepare the veggies. Salad will have to do for tonight. Bringing the plates back out, I see blaze sitting in the exact same position I left him. "Hey. Food's ready." He finally looks up, blankly, as I hand him the plate, sitting down next to him. 

"Thanks.." He stares at it, as if he doesn't know what it's for. After a moment of waiting, I decide I've waited enough. I scoff, grab his fork, scoop up some food, and shove it into his mouth. He jumps back, and the grabs the fork, chewing, and giggles. 

Fuck, his giggle. It's so sweet, the way his nose crinkles, and the suck in of air between them.. I can't help but join him, and soon we're both laughing, rolling on the bed. He bumps into me, his hand shoving my side, and I pin it down with one of my own. "Hey! Don't hit me!" I grin at him, moving to sit on top of him.

"Let me go!" He laughs, smiling, and tries to pry himself from my grip. He flips me over with his free hand, and we trade spots. Suddenly, he's on top of me, pinning both of my hands above my head. 

We're both panting, drained of oxygen, and he lowers himself, resting on me. "Blaze.." He looks up as I say his name, his face an inch away from mine. I can see the ridges in his eyes, and the scarring centered around his crooked nose. 

"Yeah?" He could kiss me right now if he wanted to. I want to tell him to, to tell him to do whatever he wants, that I wouldn't mind. I want to feel his warm, soft lips touch mine. But I can't. 

"We need to eat." 

CHAPTER 32 (Blaze)

"So, this is it?" We're standing in one of the long, round hallways of the sewers, staring at the makeshift town ahead of us. Fern has gone as far as she's willing.

"Yup," she says, "remember, talk to Smokes. He should know where to start. And don't, whatever you do, wander off into unlit corridors. The guard only watches places with light." The guard, the protectors of the sewers, act as policemen. Fern turns back the way we came, waving as she leaves. 

"Well, guess we aught a go find Smokes, huh?" Rye nods, pulling tighter on my arm. He's always been scared of the sewers, especially after an.. accident, years ago. 

We head towards the town, built of wooden pillars holding buildings high up. Fern had said that Smokes liked to hang out under the board walks, in an alcove. Once we find it, a small, wheeled cart with the words "Smokes' Souvenirs", Rye stalks up, hollering over the thing to the person hiding behind.

"Hey! Come out, Fuckhead! You got some explaining to do!" Shit, since when was he so.. pissed? Quickly, I pull him back, seeing the man crouched, shielding his head from Rye's wrath. 

"We're so sorry, Smokes. We mean no harm, just some.. business." Fern had said that if things went south, Smokes and making a good deal was the one thing we could rely on. She had given us a cut of meat, something rarely seen in the sewers, for trade.

"B-business? Wha'dya got? Wha'dya want?" Finally, he stands. He's short, and scraggly, with toothpick limbs and a hesitation that knows he could be beaten easily, and that knowledge is his only power.

"We just need some information. We've got fresh deer meat, straight from the forest." His eyes brighten at the mention of the rare meat, and he smiles.

"Well, information? I got all kinds of info, wha'dya wanna know?" Wow, is it really going to be this easy?

"The other day, the Tree Dweller camp was attacked. Do you know who by? Or why?" Suddenly, his smile drops.

"W-well, uh, wow, that's a real question huh? Well, I might be able to uh, provide some leads..?"  

"Go ahead, where can we start?" He thinks for a moment.

"Well, I spose I could take you to the guy who works with The Boss.. He knows everythin' goin on, down here and up there." The Boss? 

Fern told us about a man named The Boss.. said he was real dangerous, that we should avoid him at all costs.. But before I can say anything, Rye pipes up.

" Okay, fine, whatever, take us to your guy. You better not be lying though, or so help me god-" I grab his wrist and put my hand over his mouth before he can continue his threats.

"Yes, please take us to the man you know. We'd be very grateful." I put emphasis on the last word, glaring daggers at Rye. Smokes, unfazed, continues.

"Of course, of course, right this way."

CHAPTER 33 (Rye)

"Right past here, boys." Smokes stands in the mouth of a hallway, ushering us in. But there are no lights. 

"Hey, wait a minute. Fern told us not to go anywhere without lights, are you sure there's not another way?" Blaze looks concerned.

"Oh no, this is the only way, but don't worry, light's right up there, see?" He points, and we can actually see the light at the end of the hallway, about 20 meters away. A man stands, leaned against a wall. "There's my guy, right there too!"

Blaze looks at me. I can tell he's worried about me, especially going with such a sketchy guy, but I hope he thinks I'm doing alright. Hopefully, he hasn't noticed how fucking scared I am. I've been trying to act normal, and I think I'm doing pretty well.

"alright then, lets go." before he can decide not to, I begin walking forward, dragging him behind me. It really is dark in here, shadows seeming to throb, moving and reaching out for us. I'm so distracted by the absence of light, reaching out for that ahead of us, that I almost don't notice when, instead of ground, my footstep lands on air. 

I fall, Blaze behind me, and we land with a hard thud into a room. While it's mainly dark as well, there are dim lights, and those dim lights reveal hundreds of walkers, all turning towards us..