Scavengers: July (10 page)

Climbing the drainpipe felt like hours. Under his heavy outfit, he was dripping with sweat, but his armor had served its purpose: he wasn’t scratched and a zombie that bit his leg never managed to pierce the leather, giving him enough time to kill it. In this part of the building, the slope of the roof was at a sharp angle, but Ira still wanted to climb. If he made it to the top, at least he could sit and think for a minute or two. He didn't feel any discomfort, completely focused on the task at hand and determined to reach the safe place. He also knew zombies couldn't climb. Ira smiled breathlessly as the brink slowly became within reach. Supporting his legs on metal pins, he straightened his back grabbing the edge with a desperate groan. Reaching a little further, he managed to place his knee on the roof and grab the lightning conductor with a hoarse laugh.

“Yes... fuck yeah,” he mumbled, slowly scrabbling up the roof. Once he felt safe enough, he laid down with his cheek nestled against the warm metal. Only now, as the adrenaline rush wore off did he feel how much of a strain this escape had been. Everything hurt, including his overexercised lungs. From the top of the roof, he could see the tree he had left James at, but there was no sign of the aristocrat. Was he up in the leaves? Or maybe he left, taking his chance for a relatively safe passage? Letting his mind slip into pleasant thoughtlessness, Ira slowly moved up the slope of the roof, trying to ignore the heavy feeling in his limbs. His temples pulsed with pain. At least the weather was on his side, caressing him with a gentle breeze. On the other hand, the sun was slowly setting and that was never a good thing out in the open.

He felt a strange pang of loneliness gnawing at his insides as he sat on the roof scanning the area in silence. The emotions he'd experienced an hour ago came back. He massaged his face with both hands, suddenly realizing that they were red from rust and blood. He must have cut himself a number of times during the climb.

“Now where are you?” he breathed, remembering the soft, perfect skin beneath his own. He never had the chance to be with someone like James before and it felt... different. It made him want to please him even more. The man was just so honest and passionate.

The zombies seemed to be everywhere, moving slowly, with no apparent purpose and Ira sighed with worry. With the situation as it was, he could not risk going down until morning. There was a chance the monsters would forget him and disperse by then.

After a good hour of sitting on the rooftop it was almost dark when all of a sudden he heard a kind of roaring, like an automobile’s engine. He blinked, looking up from a bag of dried prunes he was eating. His heart sank as he recognized the unmistakable sound of the Firefly. James must have made it.

Ira stood up carefully, trying to see him disappear over the forest. He could not blame the man for wanting to save his own life. After all, he had a wife and son to take care of. The understanding did not stop a little pang of hurt though. Back there in the attic, he got the impression that there was a connection between them and now, being simply left behind felt... wrong.

Finally, he saw the figure rise above the trees. James wasn’t proficient with using the machine so every now and then he fell a bit lower only to rise again. But instead of the forest, he turned to the mansion. His legs dangled only a few feet above the zombies that followed him. If he would fall, a certain, highly unpleasant death awaited him.

Ira felt a tremor going through him as he watched James come closer, his long hair fluttering beneath a pilot’s cap. The man’s heart hammered violently in his chest as he observed his companion approaching. This was unexpected. Even with the feeling of disappointment, he would never have expected the man to take such a risk for him. His breath trembled as his eyes caught the other man’s gaze through the goggles.

James smiled, reaching his hand out to Ira. Nevertheless, there was a worried look to him. “I didn’t know if you would make it!”

The older man pulled him down, switching the steam engine off with one move and catching his partner as he lost balance. “Me neither,” he breathed, holding him close. Their eyes locked, but James didn’t wait a moment longer to force a kiss onto his lips. The touch sent shivers down Ira’s abdomen and he drew in a sharp breath, cradling him in his arms.

“You came back... that’s crazy...,” said Ira, in a quiet voice.

“I’m not a coward!” James said, with conviction, kissing and hugging him again. The older man studied him intently, feeling a rush of heat in his body. Now, that he had the Firefly, he knew they would survive. Both of them.

“You ain’t,” he whispered, slowly unbuckling the machine. He was more proficient in the use of it.

James kept touching him over and over again, as if he couldn’t get enough. “Promise we’ll make it to the station?”

Ira put the device on himself and expertly adjusted all the straps. His gaze ran up the aristocrat’s body, over to his lovely mouth and he smiled at him. The man was as sweet as honey.

“I promise to get ya there,” he said quietly, and gently took hold of James’ hands.

*

About the Author:

K.A. Merikan is a joint project of Kat and Agnes Merikan who jokingly claim to share one mind. Even though they come from different cities, somehow they kept bumping into each other due to a fair amount of shared friends and interests. In 2006, a friend invited them for the weekend and that’s when the idea of writing a novel together first came up, marking the beginning of both a professional collaboration and lasting friendship of Kat and Agnes. The two are heavily addicted to writing but it is worth it.

Kat Merikan is a freelance illustrator and fashion enthusiast whose favourite things include chili chips, stilletto shoes and cats.

Agnes Merikan aspires to become a sexologist. Adicted to chocolate, kitsh and her two dogs.

About “Scavengers:July”:

“
Scavengers:July”
is the first installment in a three part series. The whole
“Scavengers”
series belongs to a bigger project called
“Gentlemen's tales of love, lust and the undead”
. There are many stories to come, that are all based in the same universum, but can be read as stand-alone novels and novellas. Though, in subtle ways, all the stories from
“Gentlemen's tales of love, lust and the undead”
tie in together.

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:

http://kamerikan.com