#buddykeith

“Claire?!” Louis blurted out, ignoring the gun to his head. The sound of her name caught the woman off-guard and she took a step back to get a better look at the man before her. Eyes widened and began to tear up. A bright smile flashed across her bruised face.

“Oh god! Louis!” The woman lowered her weapon and tossed her arms around the man’s waist, pressing herself into his warmth. Louis was practically trembling. Claire... The woman who he had loved all those years ago was there... In Rayford no less!

Claire tilted her head back and pushed herself up with her toes. Hands wrapped around the back of Louis’ neck and she went in for a kiss. Louis was just about to welcome it, when his eyes flew open and he grasped her wrists, holding her back.

“No! You can’t! Well, believe me, it’s not that I don’t want to you... It’s...” Louis’ words sputtered from his mouth. “I’m a Carrier, Claire... If you kiss me, well, you’ll turn...” There was no sense in being subtle about these things anymore. A blank stare crossed Claire’s face for a moment before she rolled her eyes playfully. Forcing his grip, Claire leaned forward again and pressed a kiss to Louis’ lips. 

Her warmth flooded over Louis' dry lips and his panic passed. Cautiously, he lowered her hands and released them. He cupped her face gently and dipped further into the kiss. The blissful moment passed when Claire broke the kiss, a small smile spreading across her delicate features.

"I'm a Carrier too, you dork," she whispered into his ear before planting a quick kiss on his cheek. The small woman lowered herself back to flat feet, beaming at the taller man. "When the news of Carriers hit Cali, I tested myself." 

Louis was still gaping at her, having difficulty believing she was even here. He was almost convinced this was some sort of messed up dream. Claire rolled her eyes and gave him a light, playful slap on the cheek. 

"Snap out of it, Romeo." 

"Claire-" Louis began and he took a brief moment to gather his words. "Claire... How did you...?" The man suddenly became aware of the situation they were still in. The streets were empty, safe for the two of them, but he knew Infected would soon join them. "Tell me everythin' on the way to the safe house!" He flashed a grin. Words could not describe Louis' bliss. 

Claire's smile flickered for a small moment, but Louis did not catch the subtle movement. She slipped a loose piece of dark hair behind her ear that had fallen from her long braid. With a firm grip on her pistol, the woman nodded and walked along side her ex. Louis glanced down at her. Memories of their time together flooded his mind as he tried to keep his attention focused on her story and the empty area they walked in. 

"The news hit us later than you guys..." She began, voice quiet and eyes focused. "Infection had begun in the East. Still haven't heard of how it even started... L.A. was on lock down. No one was allowed to leave or come in. Doctors from every hospital, myself including, were told to report to a medical center that had set up in the middle of the city. 

The government, the police, everyone, tried to keep Infection out of California, but  this was a pandemic... It couldn't be stopped. Government officials fell, people rioted... It was a mess." 

Louis furrowed his brows as he listen to her speak. 

"A group of medical staff and I came together. We heard of a safe haven down South." A small, sarcastic snort and Claire shook her head. "Who knew how wrong we were... We made it out of California and across a few states. At the beginning, we had twenty-five of us, lots of vehicles and even more supplies. The further South we went, the more we lost..."

Claire kept her attention focused on the streets and forced back the tears that stung her eyes. 

"Weeks passed by and there were only five of us left... We made it to the outskirts of Georgia, hardly any supplies left, but we made it. Got here and that damned Echo base they talked about didn't exist anymore..."

The woman sighed. 

"We didn't know what else to do, so we ventured further into the state. I told them that we needed to turn back, to go somewhere else, but no one listened to me. I was stuck with four, self-righteous male doctors. Let's just say they don't like taking orders from a woman."

Claire paused for a moment to take a deep breath through her nostrils. 

"We traveled for a few days and we saw it... The monstrous zombie... We'd never seen anything like it in the West and we were not prepared for the strength it possessed. I-It... tore apart Trevor right before our eyes..." A few tears betrayed the woman and slid down her cheek. "It wasn't long before it got the rest of them... Somehow, I got away. It's all a blur now... I only saw blood. So much blood..." Claire choked on her words and Louis came to a halt. Without a word, he wrapped the small woman in an embrace. 

Claire did not protest, but she quickly wiped the tears away with the dirty sleeve of her purple shirt. Gently, she backed away from Louis' embrace and nodded, indicating for them to keep moving. 

"I wound up in Rayford after that..." The story was finished, but Claire decided not to mention her encounter with the Tank had only been the day before. Louis glanced at the woman again. 

"I'm so sorry, Claire," he began and a hand reached up to stroke her cheek as they walked. "You're not alone anymore... You've got me, and Zoey and Francis." Claire raised a brow at the new names. "I met them in Philly!" The survivor continued. "You'll love Zoey and Francis... Well, you'll get used to him." Louis chuckled as he attempted to lighten the mood. Claire forced a smile across her lips and nodded. 

A series of growls ripped through the air. Louis and Claire halted, frozen in place as they gazed at the direction of the sounds. From a nearby alley, a small horde raced towards the survivors. Louis gritted his teeth as Claire cocked her pistol. Both of them raised their weapons, ready to attack. 

"Never thought we'd be doin' this together!" Again, Louis chuckled. Claire did not answer, she was far too focused on the approaching Infected. A squeeze of her pistol's trigger and the first Infected of the group had fallen. Louis followed suite and sprayed bullets into the crowd. Blood spurted from the wounds as the creatures collapsed to the hard ground. 

Thankfully, the numbers did not increase and only eight or so Infected remained. They zig-zagged towards the survivors and quickly surrounded them. Claire pulled the long, butcher's knife from her belt and sunk the blade into the neck of the nearest creature. With his back to Claire's, Louis continued to fire bullets into the creatures... 

Five... Six... 

The two remaining Infected did not last much longer. A knife to the gut for one and a shot to the head for the other. Louis breathed rapidly as he gazed at the damage the two of them had done on the zombies. A tired smile spread across his face. He looked back at Claire. 

"When'd you learn to fight like that?!" He beamed at the woman, but his smile faltered when she did not return the enthusiasm. 

"Claire?" Louis took a step towards her when the woman's head drooped and he caught sight of tears rolling down her cheeks. 

"I'm so tired, Louis..." Her words were merely a whisper on her lips. 

"Don't worry! We're almost to the safe house! We even have a couch for you to sleep on. It's not that comfortable, but, hey, I'm not gonna complain." He chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder to urge her forward. 

"No," the woman answered and she gazed up at Louis with tears welling in her eyes. "No, Louis, I'm tired of this... Tired of all of it... Tired of fighting." Louis could have sworn his heart stopped for a moment. 

"Claire, what are you sayin'...?" He knew exactly what she was saying, but he did not want it to be true. 

"Before you showed up today..." She shrugged his hand off her shoulder and took a step back, while her hand tightly clutched her pistol. "... I was about to kill myself, Louis." 

"Claire!" Louis took a step forward, but halted when she brought the end of the barrel to her temple. Claire's shoulders were trembling and she choked on her sobs. 

"Don't! Just don't..."

"Think 'bout what you're doin', Claire!!" Louis cried out, desperate for her to listen. Claire had just been thrown back into his life and he would not let her be taken away again. Not like that....

"It's the only way..." She began, taking another step from Louis. "There's no point anymore, Lou... It's over. T-This world doesn't belong to us anymore... It's their world now."

"Please, Claire, listen to me... You don't have to do this... My team mates and I, we have a plan." Louis stayed where he was and hoped she would not do anything rash. "We're gonna get out of this country and go to an island. Zombie-free! No more fighting..."

A dry laugh fell from Claire's lips and she shook her head. Anxious fingers twitched against the handle of her gun. 

"An island?! Really, Lou?? And what will that get you? You think you'll just be sipping on Pina Coladas for the rest of your life? No! Ever think about what you'll do once you're on this magical island of yours?" She spat out her questions as more hot tears streamed down her skin. "It's hopeless! This is it! The end of the world! We're nothing but an extinct species!" Claire's voice morphed into a shout and Louis winced, eyes darting around to make sure no Infected came running. 

A few moments of silence passed between the ex-lovers. Louis' heart raced in his chest and he kept his vision focused on Claire's dark eyes -- eyes that had entranced him all those years ago. 

"Louis..." Her voice was quiet again, almost feeble. "Come with me..." 

Louis' eyes widened and he was frozen. 

"We could do it together, Lou... Leave this god forsaken place together... We'd never have to fight again..." Claire kept the gun to her temple, but hopeful eyes gazed at the man. 

"Come with me..." 

"I..." Louis found his eyes on the ground. No... He could never do that, he could never leave his team mates. He could never give up. Louis focused his gaze back on the woman, wary of the gun clutched firmly in her hand. Louis opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by a sickly growl. Before either of them could react, a Hunter had Claire pinned to the ground. The pistol flew from her hand when she hit the ground. 

A blood-curdling scream ripped from the woman's throat as the the creature dug its vision talons into her delicate skin.

"NO!" Ignoring his racing heart and blurred vision, Louis flew into action. He raced towards the Special Infected and shoved the creature off. While the Hunter gathered its bearings, Louis fired a single shot between its eyes. And yet it did not fall like the others. Louis squeezed the trigger of his Uzi so hard he felt as though his fingers was just going to break off. Bullets found their way into the monster's skin and it collapses to the ground, unable to attack again. 

Not a moment later, Louis was on the ground, at Claire's side. He tore his dress shirt off, leaving him in his muscle shirt, and pressed the material to her abdomen, to hold back the gushing blood. Wide, fearful eyes stared at the sky as Claire laid on the ground, her skin shredded. Louis fumbled to hold the shirt in place, but blood quickly soaked it. 

"No no no... Claire, god damnit, no!!" Louis spat through gritted teeth as tears streamed down his cheeks. "Everything's gonna be okay... Everything's gonna be okay... We'll get you back to the safe house and we'll fix you up..." Louis held the shirt and directed his attention away from the wound as a soft sound was uttered from Claire's lips. 

"Louis..." She choked as the tears welled up again. Her skin was growing paler by the second. She was loosing too much blood... With a free hand, Louis reached for his med-pack that he had tossed to the ground and looked for something, anything, to help. 

"Louis..." Claire repeated and the man focused his attention on her. "Louis... Please..." Those were the only words she could utter before blood spilled into the back of her throat, causing her to choke. Louis' hands shook and he knew exactly what she wanted. The wounds were too severe, she had lost too much blood... She was suffering. 

"No..." He whispered, shaking his head. Louis squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the hot tears flowing from his eyes. He had no other choice. Slowly, Louis' hand reached for the handle of the gun holstered on his thigh. The survivor removed it and held the weapon in his quivering hand. Claire choked on the ground, her eyes begging him to do it. 

Louis leaned his mouth to her ear. 

"I never stopped loving you..." His words echoed in Claire's mind and she closed her eyes, ready. The man brought the end of the barrel to the side of her head. A finger graced the trigger. One squeeze of the trigger... and she was gone.

Louis' shoulders were hunched over, his body unconsciously protecting hers. A blood-soaked dress shirt still covered her wounds. Tears no longer fell from his eyes, but wide eyes stared blankly at the pavement beneath his knees. Trembling limbs hung loose and Louis was frozen in place. Claire... The woman he had loved, the woman he had wished to marry all those years ago... was gone. 

Mindlessly, Louis threw the straps of his Uzi and med-pack onto his shoulders. Gently, he shifted her body into his arms, lifting her lifeless corpse from the cold ground. Louis walked, Claire's body clutched tightly to his chest, for who knows how long. He did not even care to check for Infected. Luckily, none came. The survivor wandered down the street. A small field was tucked behind a building and he migrated towards it. Once there, Louis placed Claire's body on the dirt. Inside the building was a gas can and a white sheet covering old furniture. Louis grabbed the items and returned to her. 

He could hardly look at the body as he tossed his blooded dress shirt off and replaced it with the white sheet. The material completely covered her limp body, only an outline remained. Louis twisted the cap off the gas can and gently coated the sheet in the foul smelling liquid. The task was quick and from his back pocket, Louis found his lighter. A flame erupted from the tip and he knelt down to the edge of the sheet. It immediately ignited and the flames spread rapidly across the fabric, taking the body with it. 

Louis took a step back with trembling shoulders. And he watched the remaining piece of his past burn away... 

'Come with me...'