As I walk over to him, he doesn’t even look at me, and I can’t help but deflate a little bit.
Ever since we got into the house last night he’s been acting different. I mean everyone is acting different because we’re all freaked out. The thing that’s got me wondering is why he is just acting strange to me. Is he mad at me, that we’re stuck here? I admit he was persistent about getting to his car, but we almost didn’t make it. He even got hurt over it.
Maybe it’s a guy thing?
I kneel in front of him, and offer up the plate for him. He looks at me then and his eye are full of something weird I can’t figure out what.
“
I know it’s not much, but it’s all we could find.” I say.
Glaring at me, he thrusts his hand out and tips the plate out of my hands. It falls to the floor with a clatter and spilling its contents. I sit back in shock, and can only stare at him with wide eyes.
“
You’re just useless, aren’t you?” He says.
Dan leans around Maria and his eyes shoot daggers at him. “Don’t talk to her that way. It’s not Maggie’s fault there is shit to eat.”
Matt just looks at him, and shakes his head. He turns back to me, and I’m still too shocked to even stand up for myself. Not sure if I even need to, I feel like I just got planted into the middle of a conversation and I don’t know what’s going on.
Turning back to me he says, “Now go back and get me something else. If you come back with more crap like this, I’ll make you pay for it.”
“
What the hell Matt? You’re acting nuts, it’s just food. If you don’t like it then don’t eat.” I move to stand up, but he grabs my arm. Startled I stop midway, so that I’m hunched over facing him. He leans his face close to mine, and I can feel the heat from his breath.
“
You’re really asking for it, you stupid bitch.” He practically spits the word in my face, and all I can do is let out a shuddering breath. I’m too shocked to do or say anything, so I just stare at him. I can hear some retorts from the others in the room, but I can’t take my eyes off of Matt to see who.
Out of the corner of my eye’s I see Gabe stand up, he comes over so that he’s standing off to my left side and is facing Matt. He leans down towards him, and speaks so low I can hardly hear him.
“
If you don’t let go of her right now, I swear I’ll show you who will pay. And understand this, I won’t hesitate.”
Slowly, Matt takes his eyes off me and turns to face Gabe.
I can’t help too notice that his hold on my arm gets a little tighter, and my heart speeds up. But then, eye’s still locked on Gabe, he releases my arm. I stumble back a step and cradle my arm rubbing the red mark he left on it. Matt pushes himself up the wall and starts to take a step toward me, but Gabe gets in his way. I can see the muscles tighten along his shoulders, and I know he’s about to take a swing at Matt. Even over Gabe’s shoulder I know Matt is just itching for a fight.
Before either one can spring, I force myself between them and place a hand on each of their chests. I can feel some of the others stand up and start to move towards us. But I just look between the two of them. My eye’s land on Matt, and he’s grinning at me.
Or I should say he’s smirking, as if he’s mocking me.
Letting my hands fall to my sides, I face Matt fully.
“
Listen, we can’t do this. Fighting with each other is beyond stupid. Considering what’s just out the front door.”
He makes like he’s about to say something, but I cut him off.
“
If you have a problem with me, then I suggest you be a man, and just talk to me. So quit being a jackass and starting fights we don’t need right now.”
It’s so quiet in the room that I glance around. Gabe is still standing just behind me, and he’s glaring at Matt over my shoulder. Dan is standing in front of Maria, and clenching his hands into fists but he’s looking at me. Claire is on his left with Brian holding her shoulders like he’s trying to hold her back. Sam is sitting on the floor next to them with wide eyes and he’s shifting as if he could get closer to the wall. Near him on the bed, sit Lucy, Peter, and Alex all leaning against the wall. They just look board with it all.
My eyes rest on Matt.
Sighing I say, “If you think you could calm down, we can talk in private. But if you grab me one more time, I’m telling you now that it’s over.”
Behind me, Dan and Claire try to voice their opinions, but I just hold up my hand to stop them. At my back, Gabe comes around so he’s facing me.
“
Maggie, I’m sorry but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I keep my eyes focused on Matt, and I can see that he’s really thinking about what I said. Whether in a good or bad way, I have no idea. Then he’s suddenly grinning at me, and it’s hard for me to remember that he was just yelling and hurting me. My heart speeds up again, but I squash it down, not trusting my feelings.
He looks away from me for a second, and says to Gabe.
“
Sure, let’s go somewhere more private.”
Chapter Fourteen
I step into the hall first, not even waiting to see if Matt follows me. I’m so furious at him I almost want to hit something. But more than being mad, I’m also confused. I have no idea what’s making Matt act this way. He’s never treated me this way before. I mean sure we’ve argued before, but I don’t think over who’s a better superhero counts. This is more real, and hurtful. Deep down though, I kind of feel like I deserve it.
I’m the one who was just yesterday questioning my feelings for someone else.
I don’t even make it too the stairs before Matt grabs my arm and turns me to face him. I make a squeaky girlie sound and he smirks and squeezes my arm to the point of painful. I don’t like what I see in his eyes. They are almost feral, with something dark underneath. Regretting coming out here with him, I try to back up and pull my arm free. This makes him pull me to him, I start to protest and he shoves me back into the wall. With a glare he moves in as if to kiss me.
Having had enough I shove at him with my hands on his chest.
“
What is your problem Matt?”
He leans into me again, this time locking me between his arms.
“
My problem is you.” He snarls. “You’ve been practically throwing yourself at him, and it makes me sick”
He steps back then, shaking his head. His whole body is tense with anger. I don’t know why he’s so angry, but I think back to the past day and have I been obviously watching Gabe. I didn’t think I have been. We’ve been a little busy what with all the death.
“
Who am I throwing myself at? I haven’t even done anything and you’re not making any sense.”
“
You know damn well, who I’m talking about, that jackass Gabe.” He waves his arms in the direction of the bedroom behind us. “I see how you are with him, and I know you’ve been sneaking around behind my back!”
Sighing, I start to walk downstairs. Matt grabs for me again, but this time I side step him and turn to glare at him.
“
If you want to argue about fictional nonsense, fine. But I won’t do it where our friends can hear. They have more important things to worry about than you being jealous over nothing.”
Going down stairs, I say over my shoulder. “Come downstairs if you want. Otherwise, just leave me alone.”
At the base of the stairs, I don’t wait to see if he follows or not. I make my way into the kitchen near the back of the house. Almost to the afraid to get a drink, I freeze. Down here, I can hear the dead outside more clearly. They scratch and shuffle into the windows. They’re lifeless moans send chills down my spine. I’m about to turn to look out the window, afraid that I’ll see one of my friends now mindless. But I hear a quieter whimper, one much closer.
My first thought, is that one of the dead got inside somehow, but then I look down. Under the counter island, Austin’s Pomeranian is hiding. I never did get its name, but I know how he feels. Probably something like terrified.
I’m about to turn to the fridge, and I bump into Matt, who was standing behind me. I gasp, and bump back into the counter. Making the dog yelp and run out from his hiding spot. I glare at Matt, but he doesn’t say anything. He just stands there and stares at me, his arms are at his sides and his hands are clenched.
His body begins to shake, and he narrows his eyes.
“
You’re a liar.” He says as he steps closer to me. “I can’t believe I ever fell for your crap. All of this is your fault you know.”
My eyes widen at this, but I don’t even know what to say, so I step away from the counter. Not wanting to get pinned again, I make my way towards a small hallway just off the kitchen in the direction of the patio. I doesn’t really lead anywhere though, just a door at the end of it. Thinking of it as a dead end I stop.
Matt is right on my heels though.
“
What, not going to defend yourself? Because you know it’s the truth. We wouldn’t be stuck here if you weren’t whoring after that loser!”
I turn to face Matt with a cry of outrage, and find that he has stopped a foot away from me. Austin’s dog runs into the room then and begins whining and yipping at Matt. He doesn’t seem to notice him though his eyes are all for me. He’s shaking much more strongly now, and his eyes are full of rage. I know I should be worried or scared, but I’m angry at him too.
Before I can tell him where to shove his stupidity, he gasps and hunches over.
His shoulders are heaving, and he’s making a whining sound. Austin’s dog instantly begins barking with fervor. My earlier anger is gone, and I’m full of worry. Even if I’m mad at him, he’s still Matt and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. I take a step towards him, but he turns away and leans into the wall with his back to me. I start to reach my hand out to him, that’s when I notice the tremors going up and down his back.
His shoulders shake more violently.
He begins to make a high pitched wheezing sound.
“
Matt? What’s happening are you alright?”
The dog runs up to him suddenly and begins to nip at his feet, making a low growling noise. Before I can tell the dog to stop, Matt goes still. He stands up straight and his arms fall to his sides. The dog is still barking, and Matt’s head tilts sideways and he moans quietly. In a movement to fast for my eye’s to really understand, he reaches for the dog. With one hand he lifts it up, making it yip in surprise. With a bone crunching sound he snaps the dog’s neck as he bites into its throat. He eats at the dog with such savagery, that I take in a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
I take a step back, trying to be quiet so as not to startle him.
Matt quickly turns to me to me then, and I swear my heart stops at the sight of him.
His eyes are fully dilated and I don’t even see any blue. Blood is coating his lips, and as he snarls at me some blood slides out. I realize then that this is no longer Matt. He’s turned into one of the dead. He drops the dog, and fully faces me. I freeze for half a second, not knowing what to do. I see his muscle tense, readying to spring.
I do the only thing I can think of.
Run.
Turning down the hall behind me, I charge for the door beyond. I hear him coming after me, but I’m too scared to look to see how close he is. I throw myself at the door with a crash, and my sweaty hands twist at the knob praying it’s not locked. I push it open and fling myself into a darkened room. Just as I slam the door closed, Matt is already smacking into it. I fall back into something as the door shudders under his attacks.
Leaning against something solid I try to slow my breathing. From the sound of the door cracking I know it won’t hold much longer with Matt fighting against it. I quickly turn around and look around the room I’m in, hoping for a weapon of some kind. I’m in the garage and it’s just big enough to fit one vehicle, which is what I was leaning against. It’s large, maybe a truck, but it’s covered in a dark tarp. There isn’t time to try to find the door and get in to hide. I do feel a relief though, if I make it out of this alive, we have a way out of here.
Hearing the door splinter behind me, I survey the room. The back wall in lined with tools and lawn equipment, and amongst them is an old wood ax. It’s hanging above a shelf, and I can see the blade glinting off the light from under the door.
My heart speeds up and I’m filled with salvation.
Chapter Fifteen
As fast as I can, I rush around the truck and make my way to the ax. It’s dark in the room and I stumble into the work benches below the shelves. Just as I reach for the ax, I hear the door cave into the room. With a yell, I pull it down from the wall and I hear Matt crashing into the room. Before I can turn around to face him, he’s already too close to me.
He’s snapping his jaw and his arms are reaching for me.
I quickly back up and swing the ax up at him with a cry, but he’s too close and I barely hit his left shoulder. He gets knocked to the side, and I only have time to back up before he’s coming at me again. Unfortunately I backed myself up into the truck behind me. So I swing the ax out at him again before he gets to close. I lose my balance, as I’ve hit nothing. And he’s on me before I can recover.
He slams me to the ground with a force so strong, all the breath gets knocked out of me. I land on my back, with the ax in both my hands between us. He’s growling and snapping at me, and pushes himself down at my throat. With a scream I turn my head away and push the ax up at him and trap it just under his jaw. This keeps his snapping teeth from me, but his hands are clawing at me, but they are no use against dislodging the ax between us. I hardly feel it as his hands slash at my arms. I thrash my legs trying to keep him off me, and I struggle to lift the ax further.