Through The Rot: Too Many Questions

This is the 5th part of my ongoing zombie story. If you missed any, you can find them all

here. Keep in mind some chapters, like this one, have warnings, while others do not.

:warning: TRIGGER WARNING! :warning:

Violence, cursing, hints of abuse

Word count: 4036

    Kaelor groaned as consciousness crept back in, his eyelids fluttering open to a world blurred and shifting. A dull, throbbing pain pounded against his skull, and instinctively, his hand drifted up to cradle his head. The moment his fingers grazed the tender spot, a sharp sting shot through his nerves. His vision wavered, the edges of the room tilting unnaturally, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut in an attempt to steady himself.

    “You saw for yourself. He's clean.”

    The unfamiliar voice cut through the haze, drawing Kaelor's attention. His breath hitched as his eyes snapped open, scanning the dimly lit room.

    “Then explain what the hell happened.” Another voice hissed, lower, and rougher, demanding an answer.

     Kaelor turned his head toward the source, wincing as his head protested the movement. Two men stood a few feet away, locked in a tense, hushed argument. The taller of the two gestured wildly, his hands slicing through the air as he spoke in rapid bursts, his frustration barely restrained.

    “Guys. He's awake.”

    A woman’s smooth voice drifted from the shadows. Kaelor's eyes darted toward the sound, squinting against the dim lighting as he tried to locate her.

    The men stopped talking immediately and the shorter man, the one wearing a blue baseball cap, turned to face Kaelor. He studied him for a short minute, nodding slightly to himself before stepping forward with cautious steps.

    Kaelor inhaled sharply and pushed himself onto his elbows, but the world spun violently. His arms buckled, and he collapsed back down, groaning as his hands flew to his head.

    “Just relax.” The man said, his voice was even, but it also held authority. “We’re not going to hurt you.” He crouched slightly, keeping his hands where Kaelor could see them. “I’m Liam. That’s Brax.” He nodded toward the taller man, who remained in the middle of the room, arms crossed, his sharp gaze pinned to Kaelor with unhidden suspicion. “And that’s Olivia.” He tilted his head toward the far corner, where the woman remained shrouded in darkness.

    Kaelor’s chest rose and fell in ragged breaths as his gaze flickered from one unfamiliar face to the next. His mind struggled to piece together how he had ended up here, surrounded by strangers.

    With a deep, shaky inhale, he tried again, this time moving slower. His muscles trembled as he forced himself upright, leaning heavily against the cold wall behind him. It was the only thing keeping him grounded in a reality that still felt like it was slipping through his fingers like sand.  

     “Why didn’t the rotters tear you to bits?” Brax’s voice was sharp, edged with suspicion and something Kaelor couldn't understand. His shoes scraped against the floor as he took a few slow, deliberate steps forward. His stance was tense, like a predator sizing up a threat. “How come they didn’t see you?”

    Kaelor’s dazed eyes flickered to him, then shifted back to Liam, his sluggish mind struggling to keep up. The words felt distant, muffled by the relentless pounding in his skull. He couldn't deal with a hostile man in this condition, not when he wasn't even sure what was real and what wasn't, so he spoke to Liam instead.

     “Rotters?” He rasped, his voice raw, barely more than a whisper. He winced as he lifted a trembling hand to his temple, massaging the sharp ache radiating through his head. Nothing made sense. His memory was a fogged-up mirror, fragments of something just out of reach.

    Brax’s glare darkened at Kaelor’s confusion, his hands clenching into fists. “Don’t play dumb.” He snapped. “You walked right through a goddamn horde without so much as a scratch. Either you explain how, or…”

    “Brax.” Liam cut in, his tone full of warning. “Back off.”

    But Brax didn’t move, his fierce eyes locked onto Kaelor like he was waiting for the right excuse to throw him against the wall.

    Kaelor blinked sluggishly, his mind still struggling to catch up. His pulse thrummed behind his eyes like a war drum, each beat sending another wave of pain crashing through his skull. He pressed his palm against his forehead, as if he could physically hold his thoughts together.

    “We call the dead, or undead, I guess, rotters.” Liam explained with exaggerated patience, like he was speaking to a particularly slow child. “We saw the horde move toward you. We thought you were a dead man.” He shrugged, as if the memory was just another tally on a long list of close calls. “But they didn’t even look at you.” His gaze sharpened. “Why?”

    Kaelor swallowed, his throat dry as sandpaper. He tried to think, but his mind was still tangled in confusion and hazy half-memories. He knew just as much as they did, probably less.

“I…I don’t know.” He itted, his voice hoarse. His eyes flickered between the three strangers, reading their expressions. Brax was still tense, obviously still not believing him, his anger and suspicion palpable. Olivia remained quiet in the shadows, so he had no idea what she was thinking. Liam, though curious, didn’t seem hostile. Yet.

    “I don’t even know how I got here.” Kaelor licked his cracked lips nervously, his throat dry and aching. A deep, pulsing throb in his skull made every word feel like a battle. Still, he forced himself to continue. " Do you think I could have a sip of water? Please?”

     Brax responded first, his voice dripping with a strange hatred. “Answer our questions first. Then water.”

    “Jesus Brax.” Olivia's voice broke through the tension as she stepped out of the shadows, her expression full of frustration. “He's not a prisoner of war.” She shot Brax a glare before moving towards a table near the window to retrieve a canteen. “He's a human being. Have some comion.”

     Brax snorted and folded his arms. “Is he? How do we know?” As Olivia ed him, Brax snatched the water from her hands.

     “Brax! What the hell is wrong with you?” Liam asked as he jumped to his feet, shoving himself between them. He looked ready for a fight as he asked, “Do rotters talk? Do they feel pain? He's obviously one of us.”

    “For now.” Brax's voice was more of a growl as he glanced at Kaelor. “What if he's infected? What if they injected him with the virus in the hospital then set him loose to infiltrate survival camps?” His voice grew louder as he jabbed a finger toward Kaelor. “That would explain the little show down there, wouldn't it?”

    Kaelor’s stomach twisted. Was he right? Is that why he had been in the hospital? Is that why his brain felt like it was misfiring, why everything was a fragmented haze? His eyes darted between Liam and Brax, their tension thick in the air. He didn’t want to be the cause of a fight, but his presence was clearly a problem.

    “Look.” He rasped, pushing his palms against the floor, trying to lift himself. “I’ll just go, okay?”

    He barely made it halfway before his legs gave out, sending him crashing back down. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as his muscles trembled beneath him, utterly spent. Humiliation burned in his chest, but there was nothing he could do. He was at their mercy.

    “You can't even stand.” Olivia murmured softly with concern. She took a cautious step forward, hands outstretched toward Brax, her expression firm. “Give me the canteen. He needs water. It’ll help.” She lifted a brow, silently challenging him to refuse her.

    Brax’s jaw tightened, his grip on the canteen unmoving. His knuckles whitened as if letting go would mean surrendering to something bigger than just this moment.

    “She's right.” Liam didn’t wait for an argument. He snatched the canteen from Brax’s hands with a sharp tug, his frustration boiling over. “The least we can do is give him some damn water.”

     He shoved the canteen into Olivia’s hands as he and Brax locked eyes, neither willing to back down. The air between them was thick with fraying tempers. Liam wasn't going to give in. He saw a human who needed help. Not a monster in disguise.

     Olivia moved toward Kaelor slowly, her steps patient and gentle, as if he were a frightened animal she didn’t want to startle. She could see the tremor in his hands, the way his wide, unfocused eyes darted between them, filled with confusion and raw fear. It was as if every movement he made was weighed down by something heavier than just exhaustion. Her heart ached for him, for the helplessness in his posture, the way he shrank back from every noise, every shift in the room.

    She reached out carefully, keeping her hand steady, watching for any signs that he might pull away. She could feel the weight of the silence in the room, everyone's eyes on her. She didn’t know how he had ended up here or what had happened to him, but she could tell that whatever it was, it had left its marks on him, deep ones.

    “Here. Drink slowly so it doesn't upset your stomach,” Olivia said softly, her voice gentle and reassuring, like she was tending to a lost little boy she had found in the park, scared, alone, and needing comfort.

    Kaelor’s hands shook as he took the canteen from her, his dry and cracked lips trembling. He looked at it for a moment, unsure if he should really drink it. His thirst won and he hesitantly raised it to his mouth, taking a slow sip. The cool water slid down his throat, a welcome relief, but he couldn’t shake the threat he felt from the men watching him.

     “This is bullshit.” Brax’s voice was low and angry as it shattered the moment. He turned and stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind him with a force that made the walls shake.

    Olivia didn’t take her eyes off Kaelor, though. The tension in the room didn’t escape her, but saw how he flinched and tried to shrink himself into a smaller target. Olivia sighed as she gently put her hand under the canteen to coax him into taking another sip. Whatever Brax thought, she knew Kaelor was just as much a victim as they were.

    Kaelor took a few more swallows of the cool water, savoring the relief it brought to his dry throat before reluctantly handing the canteen back to Olivia. “Thank you.” He whispered, his voice barely above a breath, offering a small, uncertain smile that barely touched his eyes.

    “Let’s start with something small.” Liam said, his tone softer now, though his posture still carried the faintest hint of wariness. He gently pulled Olivia back a step, as if anticipating Kaelor might suddenly lash out in a moment of confusion. “What’s your name?”

    Kaelor's heart sank at the question. He wanted to slap himself. How could he have forgotten the simplest thing, his name, the one thing he should be sure of? He blinked a few times, trying to focus through the disorienting fog in his mind, but his brain felt like a jumble of disconnected thoughts. He forced himself to speak, though the words came out thick and halting. “Kaelor?” It came out as a question rather than a statement. He was pretty sure that was his name, but he wasn't completely convinced.

     His eyes dropped to the floor, embarrassed by the delay, but he couldn’t force his brain to work right. Was this really happening? Was he really here? Or was this all in his head? He had no idea. Nothing felt real.

     “Okay, Kaelor, now why were you in the hospital?” Liam asked, his voice gentle as he squatted down, trying to make himself less intimidating. He wanted to give Kaelor a sense of safety, hoping that the less on edge he felt, the clearer his thoughts might become.

    Kaelor’s eyes snapped to Liam when he moved, and he flinched slightly, as if caught off guard. He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the fog in his brain. “I can't . Everything’s a jumbled mess in here.” He tapped his head lightly, wincing at the sharp throb that echoed through his skull. “It’s like trying to see through a frosted window. I can make things out just enough to know they’re there, but I can’t actually see anything clearly.”

    He looked down at his hands for a moment, then back up at Liam and Olivia, unsure if his words even made sense. From the way they exchanged glances, he wasn’t sure they did. His head ached, and the confusion swirling inside him felt heavier than ever. He swallowed hard, trying to collect himself, but the more he thought, the more everything slipped further away.

    “Maybe we should let him rest. He looks exhausted and he's obviously in a lot of pain.” Olivia’s voice was soft and soothing as she placed a gentle hand on Liam’s shoulder.

    “Good idea.” Liam nodded in agreement, his gaze still softening as he looked at Kaelor. “Rest, maybe your head will clear up by tomorrow.”

    Kaelor gave a slight nod but made no move to lay down. His eyes were fixed on the two of them, uncertainty weighing on him. He wasn’t sure if he trusted them enough to close his eyes, to surrender that control. The last thing he wanted was to wake up to find himself alone or worse.

    The door suddenly flew open with a force that startled Kaelor, making him flinch. A tall, wiry girl barged into the room, her eyes sharp as they darted around the room. “Okay, where is he?” Her voice was laced with anger as she stalked forward, and immediately locked her eyes onto Kaelor. Her gaze was like a laser, pinpointing him without hesitation. Her long, slender finger pointed straight at Kaelor. “You!” She hissed, her eyes narrowing. “Out.”

    Liam reacted immediately, stepping between them, his posture defensive. “Shay, that’s enough.” His voice was low and fierce, a clear warning. “He’s not going anywhere. He can’t even stand, for hell’s sake. He’s not a threat.”

    Kaelor instinctively pressed his back harder against the wall, as if trying to melt into it, becoming as small and invisible as possible. His heart raced in his chest, panic rising like a wave. The last thing he needed right now was another person hostile toward him, someone who saw him as nothing more than a problem. He couldn’t deal with that, he couldn’t handle more confrontation. He couldn't even handle the kindness from Liam. He felt overwhelmed and the confusion was just getting worse.

   "That's not what Brax said." Shay countered, stepping closer to Liam, her movements aggressive. "He says that boy's infected." Her lips curled in a sneer as she turned her piercing glare on Kaelor again, baring her teeth like a rabid animal asserting dominance. "We should put it down before it turns, if you ask me." Shay lifted her arm, brandishing a pistol she had hidden against her leg, the business end pointing at Kaelor.

     Kaelor’s heart slammed against his ribs, panic seizing his chest like a vice. His survival instincts screamed at him, he had to get up, had to be ready. He couldn’t just sit there and let himself be executed like some wounded dog.

    Gritting his teeth, he pressed his trembling hands against the floor, forcing his arms to bear his weight. His muscles screamed in protest, his vision spinning wildly as blood rushed to his throbbing head. The world around him tilted and blurred, the edges of his sight darkening. He clenched his jaw, willing himself to stay conscious. If he blacked out now, he was done for. Vulnerable. Helpless. And he refused to go down without a fight.

    Kaelor got to his knees but couldn't push any further. He was gasping for air as his head spun faster, the pain almost overwhelming now.

     “No one's putting him down, Shay.” Liam narrowed his eyes, his body subtly shifting backward, positioning himself between Kaelor and the barrel of Shay's gun. His muscles were tense, ready to spring at a moment’s notice, his tone warning her to back down. “Brax has no idea about anything. He's making up reasons for what we saw. If Kaelor were infected, we'd know by now.”

    Shay's grip on the pistol tightened. “How do you know that? Have you timed a turn before?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she challenged Liam. “And if he was injected instead of bitten, who the hell knows how long it takes. We kill him now. I'll do it if you're too weak.” Without hesitation she cocked the gun.

     “Move, Liam.”

    Kaelor barely ed the cold steel aiming at him as he swayed on his knees. The pain was a living thing, twisting inside his skull, making his vision warp and fracture. Reality blurred at the edges, his mind snatching at random thoughts. Memories? Fantasies? He couldn’t tell anymore.

     A sharp click snapped Kaelor back to reality, his breath hitching as his eyes darted to Shay, then to the gun. Cold sweat dripped down his back as his heart skipped a beat.

    "I'm not infected." He rasped, but the words felt hollow, even to him. His fingers dug into his scalp as he bent forward with a small whimper, his head throbbing so violently he thought it might split open. A bitter thought crept into his mind. Maybe she should just pull the trigger. Maybe it would end this agony. Was he even telling the truth? He had no idea. He didn’t know if he had the virus, and didn't even fully understand what it was.

    "Shay, please, put the gun down." Olivia's voice was soft but filled with urgency as she took a cautious step forward. Her gaze flicked to Liam, then back to Shay. "What if you accidentally shoot Liam?"

    Shay's gaze moved to Liam as she hesitated for a second, her fingers twitching ever so slightly. Olivia saw her chance and pressed on. "You don't want to hurt him, do you?"

    "Then he should move." A new voice cut in.

    Kaelor’s stomach turned to ice as Brax stepped into the room behind Shay, arms crossed, a smirk curling his lips.

    "One way or another." Brax said, his tone dripping with certainty. "He dies tonight."

    “Not unless you kill me first.” Liam growled as he balled his fists.

    “Don't test me, Liam.” Brax narrowed his eyes and said evenly.

    “Guys, what are we even doing?” Olivia's voice trembled as she shook her head, disappointment written all over her face. “We're all friends. We've known each other for years. You're seriously going to shoot Liam because maybe Kaelor is infected?”

     Shay's grip on the gun tightened, but her expression flickered with uncertainty. Brax continued to glare at Liam, but said nothing.

     Olivia swallowed hard as she glanced at Kaelor and furrowed her brows. The way he clutched his head and flinched at any sudden movement made it clear he was in pain and scared. His unfocused eyes was proof he was confused and concussed. But she couldn't ignore the facts. He obviously just came from the hospital for unknown reasons, he still had the gown on. His memory loss was too convenient. He did act extremely strange, even for someone who suffered a serious blow to the head. He was too weak to stand or even move. And they did all see the rotters walk right past him as if he wasn't there.

     “What if we bound him?” Olivia finally said, her voice apologetic. She turned her attention back to Shay and Brax. “If he changes, he won't be able to hurt anyone.”

    Kaelor’s eyes snapped to Olivia in pure shock. His pulse pounded in his ears so loud he thought it would break his ear drums, as a new wave of panic washed over him. He could handle suspicion, could even handle the gun aimed at his head, but the idea of being tied up sent terror up his throat.

     “No!” The word came out in a frantic rush. “Please don't tie me up.” His breathing became quicker, almost hyperventilation fast as dread sank its teeth into him. “Shoot me if you have to, but don't tie me up.”

    Silence hung thick in the air as Kaelor’s voice cracked, raw desperation bleeding into every word. The flickering lantern light cast shadows across his face, highlighting the terror in his wide, pleading eyes. His body trembled, not just from exhaustion, but from something deeper, something primal.

    Shay hesitated, her finger moving slightly from the trigger. For the first time since she’d stormed in, she actually looked at him. Not as an enemy. Not as a threat. But as someone who was terrified beyond reason.

    Even Brax, who had been so adamant about killing him, looked uneasy. His lips pressed into a thin line, arms crossed tightly, as if he was trying to convince himself that Kaelor was just acting. But the fear in Kaelor’s voice was too real.

    “It won’t hurt, I promise.” Olivia’s voice was gentle, coaxing, but it only seemed to make Kaelor shrink further into himself. “It’s just to keep you safe. To keep us all safe. It’ll only be for a little while.”

    Kaelor shook his head violently, his breathing coming in sharp gasps as he rocked back and forth. His arms wrapped around himself like a shield, his fingers digging into his own skin.

    “Please…” His lips trembled, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please, no. I didn’t ask you to bring me here. Just…just throw me back outside. Shoot me. Anything but this. I’m begging you.”

    His last words shattered something in the room. A cold weight settled over them as the reality of his fear sank in.

    Liam exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face. “Jesus…” He muttered, exchanging a glance with Olivia. “What the hell happened to you?”

    Shay looked at Brax, a silent conversation spoken between them before she lowered the gun. Without so much as a single word, the two turned and walked from the room, closing the door softly behind them.

     Kaelor released a shuddering breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His arms remained locked around his body, his muscles so tight they ached. He didn't dare relax, not yet.

    Liam watched the closed door for a moment before letting out a slow exhale. “That could've gone worse.” He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

    Olivia crouched down beside Kaelor, keeping her movements slow. “They won’t touch you.” She promised softly. “Not while Liam and I are here.”

    Kaelor swallowed hard, his throat tight. He wanted to believe her, but trust wasn’t something he could afford, not in a place where people pointed guns at him without hesitation. Not after she was the one who wanted to tie him up. None of these people were his friends. They weren't even allies. They were hostiles and he was their prisoner.

    Liam sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “Look, man, we’re all just trying to survive. You showing up the way you did… it scared the hell out of them.” He studied Kaelor carefully, his eyes hard yet lacking the hostility Brax and Shay carried. “I need you to tell me the truth. What do you ?”

    Kaelor hesitated, pressing his fingers to his temples. “Flashes.” He itted. “A car wreck. So much pain. The hospital. More pain. A white light. Electricity. Pain. But nothing solid. It’s like trying to grab smoke.” His breathing hitched. “And when you said tie me up…” His voice cracked as a violent shudder ripped through him. “I don’t know why, but I can’t. I can’t be bound. A fear deep inside my soul. I can't.” He whimpered softly as he started to rock again.

    Olivia frowned, concern deepening in her eyes. “You had a strong reaction to that. It’s more than just fear, isn’t it?”

    Kaelor met her gaze, his own filled with something fractured, something barely holding together. “I think…” He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, “I think something really bad happened to me.”