New dawn

[Jackson Church]

I raised up rubbing my hands over my face as a yawn slipped my lips. I looked to my left at the bed stand where my medication sat and slid one leg at a time out of the covers. I got up out of the bed, my body felt stiff and sore. And I picked up the medicine filled needle, thrusting it into a vein, squeezing the anti dote I had worked on for months into my body. I stood still for a few minutes waiting to see if I were going to have a reaction to the medicine, but still to my liking, no reaction was felt. Hopefully I had finally done it this time, I had finally made a toxic sustaining cure.

I walked over to the mirror and looked into it at the stranger I was, the stranger I had become to like again after forgiving myself and her for the vampire blood that had saved my life. I was so bitter at Scarlett for so long, but after months of not seeing her, I had finally came to terms with what had happened. I turned on the faucet and splashed some water over my face. A shower would be nice, but I would have to wait for the water to cleanse and boil. I reached for a big vase I had sitting next to the sink and filled it. I made my way out the basement door and over to a wood burning stove where I sat the water and lit the stove. Every morning was a fresh start, a new dawn. If I made it till morning that meant God wasn't through with me yet. I still had work to do.

I sat on the stair and looked up, watching a hawk fly through the sky. It was the first wild creature I had seen in days. The quake and gases about wiped everything out, but the fact that hawk was there said to me the earth was healing itself and God didn't see fit to end us. It was a good feeling.

A feeling that quickly haltered when I looked to the graveyard to my right and seen all the head stones. And the dead made me then think about the walking dead, and the walking dead meant I was thinking about her.

[Deleted]

Whenever I had free time I would visit Michael. I tended to over work myself at the hospital or at the clinic where I would volunteer. I just wanted to keep myself busy. I hated thinking about how Michael wasn't here anymore.

I kneeled down by his grave and ran my fingers over his name. A sigh escaped my lips and I batted away what tears formed. I missed him terribly. I shook my head and looked at the church that lingered in the back of the graveyard.

I got up off the ground, dusting off my jeans and went to the doors. Gently, I pushed the door opened. I glanced around at the sanctuary. It had been awhile since I was in a church. The last time was for Michael's funeral, so the empty pews were a little haunting to me.

[Jackson Church]

As I stood up to get the water from the burner, I caught glimpse of someone moving across the graveyard to the church. She must not of seen me sitting there. I opened the basement door, and sat the water inside it, before closing it and moving to the front of the church where I seen her go in, "Most people spend their lives trying to avoid Gods house, not breaking into it. " I smiled pointing to the sign on the door saying it was off limits for 3 more hours, "Guess I need to start locking the place up." My voice trailed as I noticed her fascination with how it was decorated. I felt a tug of the heart, God telling me he sent her here for a reason.

"My name's Jackson, my daddy was the Pastor." I offered her my hand to shake. I walked to the front of the church when I noticed she had been crying and grabbed her a box of tissues, "It looks like you need these. " I said as I took them to her, "It also looks like you need to be here as well."

I stopped following her and let her move freely around the sanctuary. I walked to the front of the church and sat down behind the piano and started to play amazing grace slowly, "Is this okay?" I nodded toward my playing. I figured when she was ready, she'd tell me what she needed to.

[Deleted]

I didn't know someone else was there until I heard his voice. I jumped, keeping the surprised squeal in. He brought my attention to the sign on the door. Instantly I felt embarrassed for my lack of attention and could feel the hot blush blaze across my cheeks. "I-I'm so sorry," I stuttered. I truly did feel bad, but I honestly didn't have a single bad intention in my body for trespassing on the church's property.

"Autumn," I replied, informing him of my name like he did for me. I watched as he walked over and picked up a box of tissues. I smiled sadly taking a few and dabbing them along the bottom of my eyes. I sighed, and continued to wander about the church. I allowed my hands to run along the back of the pews while looking at the stain glass windows and other such decorations that adorned the church.

I jumped upon hearing the piano keys. I turned and looked at Jackson, asking if it was okay to play. I nodded and smiled softly. "It sounds beautiful. Don't stop," I replied. I hummed the familiar tune softly to myself. My home and this church gave me an odd sense of security. It was rare these days for me to have such a sense.

[Jackson Church]

Autumn was a pretty name and also my favorite time of year. I smiled at her as she started to hum along. It reminded me of a simpler time when people would gather here to worship on Sundays.
I played a few minutes before stopping and getting up, "Did you go to church?" I asked as I moved to sit on the step that lead up to the pulpit.

It felt nice to have company. I hadn't seen any vagabonds in a few weeks. I was starting to feel lonely. There were nights I even wished for Scarlett to return. Scarlett. I sighed discontent that I couldn't help her. When I thought of her, it was usually in that alley with such hatred in her eyes and voice. I shook it off and focused back on Autumn, "So what bring you this way?"

[Deleted]

I turned my attention to him when he asked if I went to church. I nodded slightly. My parents weren't the church goers, but when my dad turned to drinking and my sister was out of reach, who else could I turn to? I would go on Sundays, but sometimes I would find myself there in the dead of night. If the doors were closed, I would just sit out in my car in the parking lot, praying. I just thought maybe God would hear me better if I was closer to a church.

I walked over closer to him. It was odd hearing my voice echo through the empty church. He took a seat on the step to the pulpit and I stood along the side. When he asked me why I was there, I felt that familiar little ache in my chest. "My fiance is buried in the cemetery. Whenever I get a break from the hospital or the clinic I try and visit him. Talking to him helps clear my head, even if he can't hear me. The thought of him being there helps..."

I had to take the tissues that were balled up in my hand and use them again since I felt the tears bubbling up. It had been years since I buried Michael and it still hurt as if it was just yesterday. I sighed, "Sorry you probably don't want to hear my sob story.." I said as I balled up the tissues in my hand again.

[Jackson Church]

"My fiance is buried in the cemetery. Whenever I get a break from the hospital or the clinic I try and visit him. Talking to him helps clear my head, even if he can't hear me. The thought of him being there helps..."

I listened silently to her. Sometimes that's all people needed was someone to listen to them. She was obviously sad and God sent her my way because we were both lonely. I stood up and walked over next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry you probably don't want to hear my sob story.." she said as tears streamed down her face. I smiled softly at her, "I do too. I'm here because of people like you. My parents and sibling perished in the quake. God felt need to leave me here for some reason and I think it's to help people as crazy as that sounds." I said reaching behind me and pull her fresh Kleenex from the box. I handed them to her and moved toward the door that lead to the basement, "You're welcome to come." I motioned toward the door, "I need to..." I started to feel sick and slumped over holding myself up by the door, "I need to take my medicine and eat."

The spell left as quickly as it had hit me. I raised up feeling a cool sweat break across my brow, "I'm okay."

[Deleted]

When he set his hand on my shoulder, I smiled. It was nice to have the reassurance from someone. When he spoke about being left behind to help others, I couldn't help but feel like I was left for the same purpose. I had been spared unlike my family, friends, and fiance and now I worked as a nurse to help whoever I could. Though the hospital was mostly for healthy humans like myself, I preferred helping out at the clinic. I got to work with shifters, toxics, and the vampiric poisoned, even though I didn't really like working with the vampiric. I had too many close encounters involving my neck. I would try not to show fear when they came in, but sometimes it was too hard not to.

Jackson moved towards the door and my eyes followed him at first. I didn't want to intrude, but when he offered I nodded and followed. My steps quickened when he slumped over. "Jackson..." I felt my lips run over his name in worry. In a few brief seconds, I was at his side. A hand to his face to feel if he felt feverish, but the wave of fatigue passed as quickly as it came. Soon he stood up, placing the hand I had at his face down his arm due to my height.

"Are you toxic?" I asked. Fatigue being one of the symptoms, but they tended to travel in groups and Jackson was by himself. "Not that I care of course, I just worry," she said. Some of those who remained healthy made sure to keep away. What was done was done and I knew I wouldn't become sick myself.

[Jackson Church]

"Are you toxic?" "Not that I care of course, I just worry,"


I nodded yes at her as my balance became stable again, "Come with me." I said as I opened the door completely and headed down the stairs. When I got down there I lit a lantern for light and carried it over to my study. This felt so familiar only this time I wasn't entertaining a blood thirsty female vampire. I took the key from it's hiding place and opened the locker containing all of my hard work and moved away for her to look.

"I was a med student before all of this happened." I offered an explanation, "I've been working on a toxic cure... I think I'm almost there." I moved back to the back door and picked up the vase of clean water I was previously boiling when she wandered into the church, and moved it to the sink, "I need to clean up, feel free to look around." I said grabbing a wash clothe from the linen closet.I picked up the vase and disappeared to the bathroom to clean myself and returned fresher. I felt bad though because I didn't have any other clothes to put on, "I'm sorry." I said looking down at my clothes. Jokingly I said, "Haven't been to the mall lately."


I stood there watching her as she looked through everything, "What do you think?"

[Deleted]

Jackson was able to carry himself like before, but I could still feel my brow knitted in worry. He beckoned me to follow. I was a little hesitate; I wasn't sure exactly why, but I did follow him. He took a key and unlocked this small room. Jackson stepped aside and allowed me to see what was in it.

I gaped at his work. "This is amazing....impressive, Jackson. I only thought about helping them....you thought about curing them..." I turned to him when he said for me to feel free to look around. I didn't want to be exactly want to be nosy so I just allowed my eyes to roam over his living space lightly. I took in small details, but nothing too much.

When Jackson came back out from cleaning up, he apologized. I put my hand up and shook my head. "Its no problem really," I said with a small laugh. "I'm a nurse at the hospital. You should see some of the characters that come into there."

Jackson asked what I thought about the place. "It's quaint," I replied softly with a smile. "About the size of my apartment near town.." I ran my hand along the side of his sink. "It's lived in, unlike mine. I barely sleep in my apartment anymore," I laughed a little. I had a tendency of taking cat naps on a cot at the hospital or clinic and then just working again for hours and hours.

[Jackson Church]

I just smiled at her as I looked through the drawers for a can opener, "Do you eat?" I showed her a can of dinty moore beef stew, "It's not much but it keeps you fed."
I opened the can and dumped it into a pot I had on the stove. With generators I was able to keep my own power out here for the most part.

I let out a sigh and turned from the little stove to face her, "Have you ever thought about getting involved at some place like this? The bible says the best thing you can do is love your neighbors ya know." I went back to stirring the soup. I could feel Scarlet on a day like this. There were days her blood felt stronger in my veins than others. I stopped stirring it for a moment, and reached up to my face placing my hand to my eyes. I needed to shake the feeling, shake her off. I was starting to feel sick, and dizzy. My heart rate was starting to beat more rapidly like it does when this happens. I've never been able to figure it out, but I often thought she were thinking fo me, or looking for me when I felt her.

I turned abruptly to Autumn, "Okay you know what, how bout going into town? I think..I think I'm a little beef stewed out. " I forced a smile. And with a twinge of anger reached over and turned off the stove knob. I wanted Scarlet to let it go, but it was like she was constantly haunting me. Or maybe I wanted her to haunt me, either way it was making me insane.


After my run in with Scarlet and all the hell she caused, I didn't feel like myself. I had stopped doing what I strived for, and that was helping people and letting them know the church was here for them .

[Deleted]

When Jackson asked if I wanted to eat I nodded. I felt my stomach turn a little inside of me. I had skipped breakfast this morning. I rarely ate breakfast in the morning, not because of vain reasons but just because I wasn't hungry. Seeing some of the wounds in the hospital and clinic would make some people lose their appetite and maybe that was how it was with me. Or maybe it was just that I helped out so much I forgot to eat.

I smiled a little at the beef stew can. I was fine with anything really. I wasn't a picky eater and whatever I could find really that wasn't soured was good to me. I looked to Jackson when he asked if I ever thought about getting involved and helping the neighbors. ”I volunteer at the clinic whenever I can and work at the hospital. I didn’t realize that people still came to church.” I didn’t mean it as an insult or anything. I always came to visit Michael, but I never really went into the church. Jackson suddenly changed his mind and I just agreed. ”Sure. Whatever you want,” I said.