Until the End

Chapter Twenty-Two: From hell.

"No! Jacqui please don't!" Kirby cried out, her tears blurring her vision.

"Shit, Jacqui." Shane said quietly, as Jacqui's limp hand slipped out of his.

Kirby wrapped her arms around Jacqui's shoulders, hugging her friend's body close. She continued to cried on Jacqui's shoulder as Shane stood up. He ran his fingers through his hair as sorrow took hold of the two of them. Shane slammed his fist down on the counter in anger and let out a shout of agony for his friend.

Minutes passed, but to Shane and Kirby it felt like hours after Jacqui passed away. Kirby sat with her back up against an isle, facing Jacqui. Her face was blank as she mourned for her friend. Shane stood leaning up against the wall nearest to the door, not knowing what else to do. The rain seemed to do anything but slacken up.

"She shouldn't have died." Kirby whispered, catching Shane's attention.

"You did everything you could, Kirby." Shane said, setting his shot gun to the side.

"I know that. What I'm saying is that Jacqui shouldn't have died from that bite wound. I stopped the bleeding, so she was out of immediate danger." Kirby stated, looking up at Shane for the first time since they've been inside the store.

"Are you suggesting that, that bite killed her? That the dog was infected?" Shane asked, in utter disbelief.

Kirby shook her head.

"I'm not suggesting anything, Shane. You saw the dog for yourself. It was rabid, but at the same time it wasn't. It looked like it had been dead long before you shot it." Kirby said, resting her cheek on her knees.

"Okay, so not only do we have to worry about walkers, but now we have to worry about canines from hell?" Shane questioned, his brows furrowed.

"They must to of been infected from a bite or they've been..." Kirby trailed off, her eyes widening.

"Or they've been feeding on infected flesh. Now that's just fucking disgusting." Shane pointed out, frowning.

"If a walker's bite can turn the living into one of them, then would that same principle apply to the dogs?" Kirby asked, standing up and looking down at Jacqui's body.

Shane stepped over and aimed the shot gun at Jacqui's head.

"What are you doing?!" Kirby demanded, pushing the barrel of the gun away from Jacqui.

"You said so yourself that it's possible that she will become a walker. It's best to get it over with now, before she wakes up." Shane stated, moving Kirby aside.

He pointed his gun at the spot Jacqui's body was.

"What the fuck?" Shane mumbled, turning in every direction to find Jacqui.

"S-Shane." Kirby said, scared at the sight in front of her.

Jacqui stood facing the two of them. Blood dripped down the corners of her mouth and onto the floor. Her eyes were filmed over with gray and her dark complexion was now a sickly pale blue from the lack of oxygen in her veins.

"Get behind me." Shane said, lifting his shot gun.

Jacqui let out an ear piercing screech as she lunged at Shane and Kirby. Shane fired his gun, but the round hit Jacqui's shoulder. It didn't seem to slow her down at she latched her fingers onto Shane's gun, trying to get close enough to bite him. Shane fought to keep Jacqui back as her jaws snapped shut multiple times, just waiting to take a chunk right out of Shane.

"She's too strong! I can't hold her back much longer!" Shane shouted, the muscles in his arms quivering in the strain to hold back Jacqui.

Kirby aimed her .9mm at Jacqui. She received the save result as before.

"The chamber. Pull it back to clear it." Shane grunted, Jacqui managing to push Shane up against the wall.

Her jaws snapped shut again, rather close to Shane's jugular. Kirby did what Shane said and the jammed bullet popped out, being replaced by another. She aimed it at Jacqui and pulled the trigger. Missing Jacqui's head, but nailing her in the shoulder seemed to distract her from tearing into Shane's throat. Jacqui let out another screech, before running at Kirby.

Screaming, Kirby was knocked back, the gun going off as Jacqui landed on top of her. Kirby pressed her hands into Jacqui's throat, keeping her from biting her. Shane wrapped his arms around Jacqui's waist and pulled her off of Kirby. Shoving her backwards, Shane aimed his shot gun at Jacqui's head, before pulling the trigger.

Kirby's chest heaved up and down, seeing Jacqui laying motionless for the second time that night. Shane was quick to haul Kirby up and move her away from Jacqui's body and to the other side of the counter. Kirby continued to breath quickly. Taking her face in his hands, Shane made Kirby's eyes meet his.

"Calm down before you hyperventilate. I don't need you passing out on me right now." Shane said.

Kirby pressed her hands over Shane's as she continued to cry.