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Chapter Text

The house was dark apart from a few streams of moonlight pooling at the carpet, only let in by the slim part in between the two curtains hanging over my window, the two pieces of fabric never quite touching. I dragged myself up from the comfort of my bed, my bare feet hitting the floorboards with a thud. I reached over to the tv, slipping on the socks I had worn for a couple hours during the day, then left my room. The ginger cat I had let in, along with the visitor I had killed just a few days prior, was sleeping on the desk next to the door. It began to purr as I pet it a couple times. I had always been a cat person, so having a cat in the house seemed to ease the tiniest bit of pain from everyday life. I heard the noises of the guests I had let in behind the doors of my house, silently crossing my fingers that they were all human like me. I peep through the blinds of the window to my left, seeing the charred remains of my neighbor's house. A crazed man was pointing a gun at the horde of people who had been taking shelter in the ruins of the house. He had probably stumbled upon them by chance. Who will survive in this new world? Not them. After walking down the short stretch of hallway, I peer out the other window into the fields behind my house. In the field were the bodies of some dogs, a FEMA officer standing over them and jotting down notes. I didn’t feel anything at the sight of the corpses. It was hard to feel much of anything these days, just fear.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

I whipped my head to look at the front door, dreading who, or what was behind it. I creep to it, grabbing my shotgun standing up against the wall next to it, waiting for its next use. I lean my forehead directly above the peephole, leaning my head so I have a perfect view of what stands outside my door.

“Hello!” That hoarse, but soft voice chirped out at me.

Of course he knew I was at the door. He could hear the whispers of the others in my house, of course he was able to hear me behind the safety of my front door. The familiar face of the Visitor greeted me. His smile too straight and white, his skin too tight on his body. I can feel my legs give a slight tremble, but I take a deep breath, prepared for the conversation ahead of me.

“What could you possibly want from me now?”

“You feeeeeelll that?”

A pause hung in the air, as if he might be waiting for a response, but there was nothing I could bring myself to say.

“Change is haunting you… so am I.”

I stayed silent, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a response. Maybe that way, he would leave.

“And now one of your ilk is deathless… all because of a word. One single word. But what a word it is! You know who I mean, yessss?”

The visitor, possibly waiting for a reply, slightly cocks his head to the side, but after no answer, tilts it back upright.

“Strange things happen around you.”

As if I couldn’t tell. Though, it probably wasn’t only me. In this new Hell, strange things happen around everyone… right? I haven’t left my house in ages, and I certainly wasn’t leaving now, yet I know of the horror that is now the world.

“I don’t feel anything.” I lie through my teeth, hoping he couldn’t tell.

“Must be tough. Sounds like you need help. Why don’t we try something new, a gamble, of sorts. If there are at least two of US inside your house…”

He paused momentarily. For dramatic effect, maybe? I didn’t agree to the little gamble he was proposing, but with him, I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.

“You’ll open the door for me,” he says, “Because dogs reside in their bodies now.”

The last part caught me off guard. What does he mean?

“I don’t understand.” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, but it betrayed me.

“It’s simple. Let’s give it a try. But first… you alone?” He presented the question just like before.

“I’m not alone.” I answered, and because this was the truth, my voice held confidence for the first time in what felt like weeks.

“Well, well… even we are a rare sight now. Let alone your kind, locked in their walls. Change isn’t the worst thing coming for you. You don’t think I lead the pack, do you? There are far greater things out there. I simply follow orders. Well then… until we meet again?” He finishes, beginning to retreat from my porch.

I knew he wouldn’t go very far. He seemed to like hanging around my house. It was evident from the various heads that would show up in various spots surrounding my house, as if he was showing off a trophy or leaving me a gift. It was gross. I knew I could just open my door and simply call out to him, wherever he went nearby, asking him to clarify what he meant by saying greater things were out there, but I didn’t. Instead, I went back to my new routine, conversing with people outside my door, either letting them in or turning them away, hoping the ones I let inside were human. The new game the Visitor wanted to play was dangerous, keeping me on high alert.

When no more people arrived at my door, I trudged back to my room, knowing I could get in a few hours of sleep before I rose to test the few new guests I had let in. As I lay down and close my eyes, all I can think about is him. His pale skin and thin frame. He scared me, but the possibility of him returning every night seemed to endear me. I hated it, but I couldn’t purge him from my dreams. I wondered if the dreams held deeper meaning, but I doubted it. I thought he would try to kill me in the dream. But instead, he just stood on the other side of my door, smiling. He was quiet, just staring at the peephole I was looking out of. It almost felt… reassuring, but I quickly pushed those feelings away. Why was I feeling that way in his presence? Where were the usual feelings of fear and discomfort? Were they thrown aside merely for the plot of the dream… or did this imply a change? He did tell me change was haunting me. And so was he.

Chapter Text

When I awoke the next morning, or rather afternoon, I first checked the television for any news. Only one thing truly caught my attention, a new way to identify visitors. Skin irritation. When finished with the news, I headed out of my room and entered the living room, where a new guest had made himself comfortable in the recliner. He was an angry man, always coming off as aggressive, but he seemed human enough.

“I need to test you.” I tell him, approaching the recliner.

“Seriously? Well, fine, but be quick about it!” He snapped back at me.

After having him show me his teeth, I decided he could stay, leaving the room and entering the office. Inside were some cultists that had entered a couple days prior against my will. I had told the guy who had showed up at my door that I didn’t want him in my house, but he sent in some of his people anyway, saying he would burn my house down if I let them die. I could care less about them, hoping they would be gone in a few days like they promised.

Instead of engaging with them, I turned my attention to a smaller woman sitting at the end of the sofa.

“Those poor children…” She muttered, looking down at the carpet beneath.

“Are you okay?” I asked, as her story had intrigued me.

“Yes, I suppose… I don’t know… I… don’t understand how grown, supposedly rational, adults could let their emotions make them do such a thing. Were they really so terrified they could kill a child?” She questioned.

“In chaos, reason is the first thing to go.” I responded, unsure of how to help this woman through grieving over children I had never known.

“But don’t people realize that killing children is… I can’t even find the words…” She paused, her eyes finally moving from the carpet, but still not looking up at me.

“Hardship unmasks us. Perhaps we are the real monsters, not the creatures that crawl up from underground.” She stated.

Hearing a different stance on this whole visitor thing was new. I suppose I had never viewed it that way. Us humans are willing to kill others at the mere thought of someone else being a visitor, and humans have probably killed way more of us than we have of visitors. I pushed away those thoughts, focusing on what I had originally entered the room to do.

“I need to test you.” I told her, asking her to show me her teeth.

Satisfied with what I had seen, I left the room. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Even if I was convinced the two I had tested were human, if there were two visitors in here, I would be dead within the next few days, assuming the one outside that seemingly stalks my house would come strike up a conversation.

I decided to call ForRest, ordering some cat food, before retreating back to my bedroom to sleep the rest of the day away. Once again I was plagued with thoughts of the pale Visitor, the one that made me feel fear, an emotion I had truly grown to hate recently.

I was awoken by knocks at my front door and I realized that they had either started coming to my door early or I had overslept. I carefully exited my room and headed to the front door, hoping that I wouldn’t be met with the same face that was in my dreams mere moments ago.

I looked through the peephole, seeing the delivery guy. I opened the door, taking the two cans of cat food from him before handing over the money necessary to pay for it. He thanked me before departing. The bag on his back, I assumed, was filled with other orders that must get completed before the sun rises. I left the cans on the desk next to the phone, deciding I would feed the cat later. I grabbed my shotgun from its place against the wall, preparing for another night of deciding people’s fates.

Not long after, I checked the peephole again, greeted this time with a normal looking guy. He was happy… much too happy for the events going on behind him. Despite his odd cheerfulness, I sighed in relief, knowing it wasn’t him. The conversation between us was strange, as he was much too positive and I most definitely did not have much, if any, positivity left. I let him in, deciding he seemed human enough.

The next knock belonged to a man with several coats piled on his figure. Despite the layers he had on, I could still see him shaking and faintly heard the chattering of his teeth. His presence made me feel uneasy, and I already decided I would reject him no matter how bad I felt for the cold guy on my porch.

I felt dread when I looked at the man, as if something bad would happen if I let him in. Before stepping off my porch, he looked back and asked if I had a gun to shoot him with, but I didn’t answer. He walked off, perhaps looking for a different shelter… or different people to eat.

The night after was swift, only a few more guests showed up. No appearance from the pale Visitor. However, as I walked down the hall, I began to overthink. If there were two visitors in the house… what would happen? Would he really kill me? Would he bust down the door and murder me like he had with that group of FEMA officers? I didn’t like thinking about it.
While I had nothing to live for, death wasn’t something I had truly come to terms with. Maybe I should, that way, it doesn’t take me by surprise when it arrives. I entered my room and crawled into bed, slowly embracing the idea of leaving this Hell behind.

The next day I decided to test the cheerful man twice, checking both his hands and his eyes. After finding noticeable irritation on his skin and watching his eyes move rapidly, I decided to shoot him. I truly thought he was human… Was I just getting worse at judging who was human and who was not?

The thought worried me as I took his limp body and disposed of it outside my house, throwing the trash bags that contained his body into the scorching sun as I stayed underneath the shelter of my porch. I cleaned the remaining blood from the room before heading into the living room.

“Damnit.” I sighed, looking at the body, lifeless on the recliner.

The visitor had gotten around to killing the angry man before I had a chance to test him further. Throwing out the second set of bags and cleaning up the second batch of blood of the day, I retire to my room.

In the comfort of my bedroom, I check the television. It was a replay of what had aired earlier today, which I was grateful for since I had missed it. The familiar new reporter appeared on the screen, going about his normal spiel about daily events. Today, there was just a bunch of news about FEMA. God, how I hated them. I flicked the tv off.

I slid underneath the blankets, and closed my eyes. All I could think about was the pale Visitor. No matter how much I may tremble in his presence, he would never leave my head. A tiny part of me wished he had shown up last night… and now it hopes he will show his face tonight. Perhaps I should just give in and accept the fact that he makes the night more thrilling? I’m already embracing death, should I just embrace the thought of him too?

Chapter Text

It had been days-or rather nights-since I had last seen him. He hadn’t come to my door and he hadn’t been in sight when I glanced out the windows. Just last week I would have loved the fact that he had not been present, but for some reason, I felt… concerned? If that was even the right word for the odd feelings that had recently developed.

The days dragged by, each one feeling longer than the last. I waited patiently for night to come, but when it did, I was greeted with a face that wasn’t his. I wondered if he had gotten bored with me. Maybe I wasn’t interesting to him anymore? An endless amount of questions filled my head, but I couldn’t answer a single one.

I dragged myself out of bed after watching the news. Same updates as usual, but none meant anything to me. It was mostly focused on the city or on FEMA. That group of low-lives could die for all I cared. I don’t think anyone else hates them as much as I do.

As I did the routine check-ins, testing the new guests in my house, I couldn’t help but think about the pale Visitor. Was it possible I… missed him? No, surely not, I mean, all he does is threaten me, trying to find a new way to get inside the safety of my house. Though, a small bit of doubt formed when I came to such a conclusion.

Finishing the routine, I entered the bathroom. I leaned over the sink, grasping the edge with my hands as I peered into the mirror. There were obvious eye bags under my eyes. It was clear sleep was a luxury I couldn’t afford ever since the world went to Hell. My eyes, however, were perfectly normal. My nails were clean, my teeth were white, but I took good care of them. I was perfectly human, and I preferred it that way.

I slipped into the kitchen before returning to my room, grabbing a beer from the fridge. Liquor has always helped me sleep, and that’s all I wanted at the moment. I downed it, throwing the can into trash and headed to the safety of my room. I heard some whispered conversations behind closed doors, but didn’t bother to strain my ears to listen in. Some of the guests had gotten close with each other, but I didn’t get attached to any of them. I was never skilled when it came to socializing.

I slipped into bed, a comforting warmth greeted me as I laid down under the covers. I already knew who I would be greeted by when I closed my eyes. His familiar smile and gaunt frame. I was used to his presence in my dreams now, though when I woke up, I was always hit with a wave of disappointment. I didn’t know why, but the thought of those dreams being pure fiction upset me. Knowing what was coming, I let sleep take me.

When I awoke, just like always, I sighed with discontent. The knocks on the door weren’t his. The ones echoing throughout my house were aggressive. I got up, my body unfortunately used to the nightly routine. I approached the front door, grabbing my shotgun, and peered through the peephole.

“I saw that damn visitor you spoke of.” A gruff voice spoke from the other side.

I stayed silent. It was the vigilante at my door. I noticed a couple new fingers on his necklace. God, that thing disgusted me.

“I tried to shoot him, but he just didn’t die. He’s unlike any visitor I’ve encountered before. I managed to get away though. I need to make sure you aren’t one of them. Nothing was stopping him from kicking down this door and killing you… so why else would you still be here?” He questioned.

I huffed in annoyance. As if I had the answer to that question. I obliged, however, taking a quick picture underneath the door for him to look at. I just wanted him to leave already.

“You thought you could trick me, you bastard?!” He spat at the door.

I snapped my eyes back to the peephole. He was pointing his gun at the door. If he pulled the trigger, I would get a bullet straight to the stomach. What the hell is wrong with him? My photo was perfectly normal? Had I accidentally slipped a photo of a previous visitor under instead? I panicked. I tried to back away from the door, but I was paralyzed in fear.

I braced myself, squeezing my eyes shut, but the sound of his gun firing never came. Instead I was greeted by the sound of him struggling, gasping for air. My eyes shot open. Did I dare check to see what’s happening? Finally able to move, I stumbled back, unsure of what to do. Was the vigilante being murdered right in front of my door? If he was being killed by something, did I even want to save him? Would that prove my humanity, or would he just go back to pointing his gun at my door?

I didn’t know what to do. I crept toward my door once more, but instead of looking through the peephole, I just stood close to the one thing separating me from the chaos unfolding outside and listened, holding my breath. I didn’t want the same fate as the man outside. He was still gasping for air, resilient, clinging desperately to life. It was ironic in a way, because I was too, but in a completely different way than he did. I let people enter my home so I wasn’t alone, but he sought out to kill any threats by himself.

A bit later, the struggling was replaced by silence. I worried if whatever had just killed the vigilante would turn its attention to me. I waited with baited breath. I was quickly proven wrong.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

It was unmistakable. I knew exactly who was behind my door now. Instead of trembling, I quickly pressed my forehead against my door, looking through the peephole once again. The vigilante’s body was lying next to his feet, lifeless. He was smiling, almost as if he was proud of what he had just done. His stance was calm, and I could tell his breathing was even, as if taking out the man had been a simple task. I couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

“I believe this interaction was long overdue, I apologize.” That familiar voice graced my ears.

“Where have you been?” I asked, but I didn’t know why it was any of my business.

“Not demanding I leave you alone? Did you miss me?” He asked slyly, but I couldn't deny it anymore.

I did miss him. I had missed him from the second he had left my view the last time he had visited.

Chapter Text

“I…” Not sure of what to say, I stop my sentence before I even start it.

Did I want to be vulnerable in front of him? Did I truly want to tell him I actually missed him? What would he think then? Would I be viewed as pathetic or stupid. Surely nothing positive for missing a man (if you could call him that) who had just killed someone on my porch.

“Don’t want to answer that question? Can I take that as a yes?” He replied smugly after a beat of silence.

“Why did you save me?” I questioned, glancing once again at the dead body on my porch.

“I simply can’t have you dying on me, that’s all.” He stated, as if there was any simplicity in what he said at all.

“I don’t understand. Wouldn’t it be easier for you if I died?” I asked, recalling the fact that he upped the stakes last time he visited.

If there were two visitors in the house, he would come in. That was his new rule when he visited. If he came in, that must mean he would kill me… so why did he just murder the vigilante to keep him from shooting me?

“Nobody gets to kill what’s mine.” He says possessively, smirking at the peephole I was staring out of.

“I-I’m not yours!” I protest, taken aback by his words.

“You might not know it yet, but you were the moment I first saw you. I may not be the highest power, but do you ever wonder why the visitors you may accidentally let in don’t kill you? Anyway, are you alone?” He tilted his head very slightly.

“I… w-what?” I stammer, not able to process the first sentence he replied to me with, let alone the rest of what he said.

“Are you alone?” He repeated, as if brushing off his previous comments.

“I’m… not alone.” I answered, willing to brush it off like he had, mostly because I didn’t quite understand what he said, and I knew I wouldn’t get a clear answer.

“Do you believe you are sheltering two visitors?” He asked a new question.

“No…” I replied, trying to sound confident, but it came out more uncertain.

He simply hummed in response, not speaking for a bit. He then nodded to himself before speaking,

“I can’t hear any of us in your house. Just your kind, but very few. You once had a steady stream of people coming to your door, did you not? But now, there are far less of your kind still alive. I won’t stay away too long, I promise.” He smiled, stepping off my porch and walking off.

I watched him until he was out of view. I was left with way more questions than when I woke up. He had visited, but what did he mean I was his? Had I just hallucinated that part? Or worse, was he just joking, letting his prey feel a small sense of security before murdering them?

I turned around, leaning my back against the door and letting out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding. The silence helped me think, but I couldn’t make much sense of his words. It was relaxing to know that everyone in here was human, however, proud of my decisions the past few nights. For once, the house felt peaceful.

It didn’t last long. Someone was banging at my door, loud and hard. I peer through the peephole, gasping and stumbling back once I look through. Whoever was at my door had their face pressed against the peephole too. I knew nobody could see in from the outside, but this person was definitely trying.

“Let me in! You have a nice house! That means I can come in, yes?” The voice was desperate.

I slowly approached the door, a sense of dread settling in the pit of my stomach.

“Just because I have a nice house doesn’t mean you can come in.” I replied after a while, though I would never call this place nice.

“I need shelter! The sun burns!” The voice screeched.

I winced. This person wasn’t coming in. No way.

“You need to leave.” I stated, trying to take on an authoritative tone despite the uneasiness I felt.

I dared to look out the peephole, but I regretted it instantly. The person’s teeth were pearly white and perfectly straight, their eyes bloodshot and darting around quickly. The skin on their body was irritated, their nails caked in dirt. I stepped back slowly. Every sign of a visitor. Were they unaware of the tests?

“Fine,” the visitor spat, “But you’ve made a grave mistake.” It growled.

I could hear the sounds of a body being dragged off my porch, accompanied by footsteps. At least I didn’t have to take care of the vigilante’s body. The interaction had unnerved me. Did that visitor not bother to erase the signs of their identity, instead hoping an unaware human would let them in? Surely nobody would let them in when they banged on the door and demanded like they had?

I made my way back to my bedroom, not caring if there were any more knocks on the door. He was right. I didn’t have many humans in my house, but I feel like letting anyone in tonight. The three interactions I had were enough. I passed the rooms once again, a faint conversation behind one. I opened my bedroom door, a creak echoed through the house. I hated how loud these doors protested.

Crawling into bed, I wondered if a new dream awaited me now that he had visited. I could still feel my heart racing from almost being shot. The way that the vigilante had shouted at me reminded me of my father. A man I despised more than anything else. Not even FEMA compared to the pure hatred I felt for the man. He was long gone, but the damage remained. I still remember his calloused hands on me. Worse, he left me this house. I had been living in a cramped, tiny apartment, so I took the house instead of selling it.

I wondered if everything would be different if I had sold it. Perhaps not the current state of the world, but I most likely wouldn’t have ever met the pale Visitor, my neighbor and his daughter, the humans currently residing in the home, and FEMA would most certainly not be knocking on my door.

I shut it all out so I could get some rest. I needed it. I was more relaxed than usual despite my racing-but definitely slowing-heart. He had come to my door, saved me, and called me his. Now that I had the time to think it over, for some reason, that thought got me kind of giddy. He had some level of authority over the other visitors to instruct them not to kill me if I let them in my house. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was constantly watching over me. For the first time in forever, I didn’t feel so lonely.

Chapter Text

I woke up with a start. I was drenched in sweat, my usual dreams replaced with a nightmare. I should have never compared that vigilante with my father. Visions of him still played in the back of my mind, haunting me. I didn’t bother turning on the tv, instead heading straight to the bathroom to take a shower. The pale Visitor had confirmed that the only people inside my home were humans, which eased my mind. Had he done that on purpose?

I entered the bathroom, turning on the shower, undressing, and sparing a quick look in the mirror before stepping in. I could see the scars. They taunted me. I hated my body… they were everywhere. I couldn’t forget, even if I tried. No matter how much time would pass, they would remain, etched in my skin. I shook my head, ripping my eyes from my reflection.

I quickly washed up, not wanting to spend any more time looking down at scars as I rinsed sweat and fatigue from my body. After stepping out and dressing into today’s clothes, exiting the bathroom, I saw my shotgun against the wall. Before I could allow my mind to spiral, remembering last night's events, I looked the other way.

The cat that usually kept its distance from me rubbed against my legs, purring. I was always told that animals could tell when something was wrong. Had it sensed my distress? I picked the cat up, situating it in my arms before petting it softly. Its fur was soft, something I hadn’t noticed before. I hadn’t given the cat a name… though was it even my place to name it?

I began walking to the kitchen to grab a beer. I didn’t need to test anyone and I had no intention of conversing with anyone before heading back to bed, so I might as well have a drink now. I set the cat down on the counter and opened the fridge, grabbing a can and opening it. I leaned against the counter after closing the fridge, petting the cat as it rubbed against me. I smiled softly, reminded of my cat I had when I was younger. She was the only thing I had and she was everything to me. I miss her, but nothing lives forever.

When I was finished with the beer, I threw the can in the trash and left the kitchen, heading to my room. The cat jumped onto the desk next to the door, laying down. I petted it a couple more times before I entered my room, slipping under the covers. It didn’t take long for my eyes to feel heavy and my body relaxed, the effects of the drink taking quick action.

Closing my eyelids, I was greeted by his familiar face. My dreams had returned to normal. He was smiling, and I felt myself smile too. It should be wrong, being comfortable in his presence. A being that could easily rip my head off like he had that FEMA officer, yet I felt relaxed around him. Could I truly be blamed though when he ensures my safety?

When night rolled around, I woke up as usual, though this time I was greeted by the cat meowing at my door. Sitting up and opening the door gently so as to not hit it, I saw the cat had already gone down the hallway, stopping underneath the window next to the kitchen. I felt compelled to look out the window, exiting my bedroom and approaching both the cat and window, drawing the blinds.

Outside, impaled on the fence, was the head of the visitor that had banged on my door the other night. My eyes widened. The last thing it had said was that I made a mistake, yet here was its head. It was dead. And I knew exactly who had murdered him. It wasn’t too hard to guess.

After closing the blinds, there were knocks on my door as usual. I headed over, looking through the peephole to see the egghead guy.

“I see you are well. Things were different last time we met. I cannot see much anymore. Perhaps there isn’t much further to go until we reach the end. Or maybe it’s just my end. I can, however, sense that the cat is still in your care, as well as an odd presence lurking around your house. It’s always watching, though for some reason, it isn’t a threat to you.” He said, his cryptic message not lost on me.

“I, uh, know what you’re talking about.” I answered, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.

Had he been watching when I opened the blinds earlier? Had he seen my reaction to the little decoration in my backyard? I didn’t feel nervous at being watched, however, since I knew he (for now) meant no harm to me.

“You do? The presence seems to threaten any beings on your porch, but your safety seems to be its main priority. That’s a luxury in today’s world… having something to protect you from any danger.” He looks to his right for a few seconds before returning his attention to my front door.

I simply nodded, though I knew he couldn't see me. I glanced over to where he was looking, but there’s only so much the peephole allows me to see.

“Keep the cat safe. I’d tell you to be weary of a woman who will attempt to charm her way into your home tomorrow, but I have a feeling your protector will take care of you. Perhaps we will meet again. If we don’t, take care.” He finishes, leaving my porch.

“A woman trying to charm her way into my house? I’ll just let him take care of her.” I said outloud, but paused after processing what had just come out of my mouth.

Let him take care of her? Was I okay with him killing people? I knew humanity was something I had lost a lot of ever since the world changed, but this was new. What if I interpreted the egghead’s message wrong and she was just a thief or something? I was okay with life being taken out of this world by the hands of someone who stalked my house?

I thought back to previous conversations with the pale Visitor, how he said I was his, and a few visits before that, he had said dogs rule the world now. It seemed wrong though, as if the roles were reversed. Not because I ruled the world, but because dogs are always loyal to their owners, and I found myself becoming more and more loyal and trusting towards him every day.

Chapter Text

After another day of not testing anyone, I woke at night to a stern knock. Whoever was knocking was growing impatient, so I got out of bed faster than usual, not wanting any trouble. I reached the door, peering through the peephole. I was greeted by a yellow hazmat suit. FEMA.

“Hello, homeowner. You know the drill.” The man spoke in a gruff tone.

“Get off my damn porch.” I warned, grabbing my shotgun.

I knew I couldn't do anything to him, the military level gun in his arms was no match against my shotgun.

“Just open the door and we won’t have any trouble.” He spoke again, but I wasn’t having it.

“No. I already told you. Get off my porch. All of these people are humans and I’m not letting you drag them to a quarantine zone and kill them. I know you don’t just test them there.” I responded, growing more agitated the longer he stood on the other side of my door.

“That’s not a choice.” He warned, and I already knew he was going to force open my door like the times before.

I was silent. I hated these freaks. Couldn’t they just collect the people that wandered up to my door? Without warning, the door flew open. Not again. The officer shoved me aside, not caring when my back slammed against the wall. I winced in pain but quickly tried catching up to the masked man, hoping to catch him before he could grab any of my guests.

I rushed to stand in front of the door to the office, preventing him from getting in, but he roughly grabbed me by my collar.

“Get out of my way!” He shouted, slamming me against the wall next to the door.

My head ached and I was dizzy, the house spinning around me. I groaned as I tried to stand upright, but he was already dragging two people out of the house. The deadbeat mom and her child as well as a cultist struggled in the officer’s grasp, loudly protesting. I could do nothing but watch as I clutched my head.

After a while I pushed myself off the wall and stumbled to the door. The lock was broken and needed repairing. I shut the door knowing I would have to find something to push against it to prevent any break-ins when I went back to bed.

I leaned my head against the door, trying to steady myself, but was met with a set of knocks.

“Hey baby, can I come in?” A woman’s voice came from the other side.

Looking through the peephole I saw a woman with voluminous red hair and a burgundy tank top, a singular strap falling off. Her tank top barely covered her bra and it was obviously intentional. This must be the charming woman that egghead guy mentioned.

“I’ve never met you before, why are you calling me that?” I asked, deciding instead of immediately rejecting her, I would question her first.

“I have a feeling we’ll get to know each other really well… why don’t you let me in and we can forget about this world and focus on us instead?” She proposed, her head cocked to the side.

“I’m not interested. I think you should leave.” I responded, uncomfortable with how forward she was.

“But love, you don’t even know what it’s like to share a bed with me yet.” She argued, and I could hear the tone of her voice switch slightly.

“Exactly. I don’t even know you. Just take no for an answer and get off my porch.” I demanded, but of course she had to be resilient.

“Babe, come on. We have so much time to get to know each other in this new world, why don’t we use it to our advantage?” She persisted, a finger running down the length of my door like doing that would somehow sway me.

“No, I want you to leave. Now.” I commanded, grabbing my shotgun that had been thrown to the floor when the FEMA officer broke in.

She could clearly sense a shift in the air, as she appeared more serious. She took a step back. She scowled at the door knowing I wouldn’t be changing my mind anytime soon. She opened her mouth to say something, but shut it before anything came out. She stepped off my porch, looking back one more time before she walked off. I didn’t bother to watch.

Instead, I headed to the kitchen, grabbed a chair, and dragged it to the door, poorly barricading the door. I knew nothing would happen with him outside, but it was just a precaution. I trudged back to my room, wincing as the pain in my head worsened. I suspected a concussion.

As I opened my door, the cat ran in, jumped on my bed, and curled up. I decided it could stay as I closed the door behind me and climbed in. Exhaustion caught up to my body and sleep took over not long after.

I followed the girl from a distance. I had already planned how I would kill her the moment she stepped onto his porch. She dared get into the house, dared to try seducing him. He knew he was mine now, however, so I wasn’t surprised when she finally left the door alone. Though she had left, her mark had been made, and I needed to purge her from this world.

As I caught up to her, I stepped on a stray twig. It snapped underneath my weight and the woman quickly turned to face the noise. When she saw my appearance, she visibly relaxed, but when I trudged closer and grabbed her by her neck, she gasped and squirmed, trying to break free.

“Let me go!” She rasped, but that was not a smart move.

Whatever breath she still had quickly drained as she continued to protest. Some visitors were just stupid, and this was a fine example.

“You should have listened when he first told you to leave. I would have left you alone if you had, but of course you had to keep trying to get in. He’s mine. And now, I’ll deliver your dead body as a gift for him.” I smirked as she tried to pry my hand off her neck.

“Yeah, right. You’re just delusional. He wouldn’t want a freak like you!” She gasped.

Somehow she still had enough oxygen to speak, so I tightened my grip.

“Oh, how wrong you are, you wretched pest.” I spat, seeing red.

Who was she to tell me what he liked? He clearly missed me when I had to take an… extended leave. He was clearly thankful when I strangled that vigilante a couple nights ago. I heard what he said the other night. He gave me permission to do this, and I wasn’t going to waste it.

When her body finally went limp, I switched my grip to her hair, dragging her alongside me like a child would their teddy bear. She hadn’t gotten too far, the house still in view. I knew he was asleep in his bed. That FEMA officer was next on my list. I had to fight myself not to barge right in and crush the guy’s head when he had broken in. It was a miracle that I was able to restrain myself from rushing to aid when the officer slammed my perfect human into the wall.

When I got to the porch, I pondered how to present the gift to him. Dropping the woman’s body on the ground, I headed over to the burnt house not far away, searching for rope. Miraculously, I found a long enough rope in near perfect condition, heading back to his porch.

I tied the rope to a hook clearly meant for a hanging pot of flowers, then tied it into a noose. I lifted the body, securing the neck in the loop, then tightened it. Her body swayed slightly in the small gusts of wind. It was perfect, and that’s exactly what he deserved. Nothing less than the best for my darling human.

Chapter Text

The cat was laying on my chest when I woke up, purring. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before reaching my hand out to stroke its fur. There was no point in getting up during the day recently, but I still did it anyway. A habit that I hadn’t bothered to shake. I reached blindly for the remote, bored but unwilling to actually get up. I was letting the cat rest, even though it was most likely the only being in the house that wasn’t exhausted.

I realized soon after the pain in my head, clearly from the officer last night. My head throbbed and I added a singular task to my nonexistent to-do list. That would at least give me something to do today.

After half watching the daily news report, I got up when the ads started, shutting the tv off and gently picking up the cat. I nuzzled into me as I carried it out of my room, shutting the door behind me as I exited. There was no more talking coming from the office, assuming that-before the FEMA officer took her-the deadbeat mother had been making conversation with the kindergarten teacher, who was still sitting there.

I wondered if I should talk to any of the few remaining guests, but I didn’t, knowing chatting with them wouldn’t stop FEMA from taking them away. I headed to the bathroom, grabbing some pain meds, before going to the kitchen. The cat, which had situated itself on my shoulders, perked its head up as I cracked open the can. My neck was in an odd position, but at this point, the cat was my best friend, the only one I didn’t truly mind hanging around the house.

I started to wonder if I should just let FEMA take the rest of the houseguests, or if I should just remove them from the house, pondering the idea of just letting the pale Visitor in regardless. Would he actually kill me? Our last conversation left me thinking otherwise. I headed back to the bedroom after taking the pain meds and finishing the can of beer, the cat jumping off my shoulders to lay at the foot of the bed.

Sleep crept up on me as usual, the routine not far from normal at this point. Another recent routine was dreaming of the same person every night, his features hauntingly… beautiful. They were too perfect and uncanny, and that’s what I found myself preferring. Had I lowered my standards, or increased them?

Something soft was tickling my face, and once I had woken enough to check what it was, I saw ginger fur. The cat had grown seriously affectionate within the past few days. I wondered why that was… perhaps it was because the visitor that had brought it here had a few similar features to the same one stalking the house, and we just happened to have the same interests now.

It took a while, but I realized there were no knocks coming from outside my front door. That was odd… had the pale Visitor been right about very few humans remaining? I still stretched, getting out of bed for the night. The ache in my head from my injury had not yet returned, so I went straight to the front door and glanced out the peephole.

After seeing the terrifying decoration hanging on my porch, I clumsily stepped away from the door. The same woman that had tried to seduce me to get into my house was now hung up on the same hook that typically hung flower pots. The image of her lifeless body was now etched into my memory, taking up space that could be occupied by… someone else.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

Nevermind. I found myself instantly walking to the door. His knock had trained me to run to the door like Pavlov’s dogs salivated when hearing a bell. Perhaps it was unhealthy to let myself indulge in these conversations, but I couldn’t help it. He was the only exciting thing remaining in my life, and I intended to keep it. I peered through the peephole, relaxed at the mere sight of him on my porch despite the hanging body behind him.

“Do you like the gift I left for you?” He asked, vaguely gesturing to the woman behind him.

“I… um, maybe?” I couldn’t form a coherent sentence, nervous.

I couldn’t tell whether the nerves were from excitement to see him or because of the natural instinct to feel fear when I saw a dead body.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then. She dared to push you and then she said I was too much of a freak for you to want me.” He said, though I could tell there was something troubling him.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked, disregarding the second half of his sentence.

“She’s wrong… right?” He spoke softly, quiet, as if he was afraid to find out the answer.

I paused, not immediately answering. He was insecure at the thought of me… not wanting to be his? I sighed, making up my mind. I was falling too fast for something I probably shouldn’t have fallen for in the first place, but if I was already falling, why bother catching myself when it felt so good?

“She’s wrong. You aren’t a freak. I… I like when you come to my door to talk to me.” I meekly responded, partially admitting my feelings.

At that, I heard the most beautiful sounds I had ever heard. He was laughing. I was shocked at his response, but couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face.

“Why… Why are you laughing?” I asked, though I didn’t want him to stop.

“I just can’t believe I doubted your feelings toward me. You’ve been mine since the beginning, so why would that change?” He calmed, saying something so possessive so naturally, as if it was common sense.

I would have outright denied his claim a couple weeks ago, but now, I knew it was true. I knew I should be scared of him, I should retreat to my room and hide, but I wanted nothing more than to let him in. It then occurred to me that I always called him ‘the pale Visitor’. I had no name to call him by.

“Do you… have a name?” I asked quietly, wondering if visitors were even given such titles.

“People used to call me Alexei, though I don’t get called much of anything these days.” He answered, and it was almost sad the way he said it.

“Right, Alexei. My name’s-” I decided to share mine, but he was already speaking once again.

“You have a beautiful name, Rowan.” I felt chills at what he said, but it only intrigued me further.

Warmth spread to my cheeks. He knew my name, like it said. We had just gotten started calling each other by name, but I would let this man in if he asked me to.

“Now, Rowan, my dear, are you alone?” He questioned me, the pet name casually rolling off his tongue.

“ I… no, I’m not alone.” I stammered out, the ‘dear’ had surprised me.

“Very well. Perhaps you will be when I return again. Take care of your head. I don’t want you hurting for too long.” He said his farewell, leaving my porch and heading back to wherever he came, obviously not far from my house.

My eyes widened. He knew about my injury from the other night. Of course he did, he was always watching, but the truth caught me off guard. He cared for me, that much was obvious. He left gifts around my house (even though they were extremely questionable). He killed people for me. He was the only one who I felt truly liked me for who I was, but the thought of fully, 100% opening my heart for him scared me. I was willing to keep falling for him, but was I willing to let him fall for me? Did he have ulterior motives? Would he treat me just like my father?

The questions raced around my head, the possibilities were endless. I felt my breathing grow heavier. I knew I was overthinking but I couldn’t stop myself. I sank to the floor, leaning against the door. The cat crawled over and laid next to me, as if trying to comfort me. At the thought of my father, I began to curl into myself.

I felt the tears run down my cheeks and I wiped at them with my hand. I hated this feeling. Being weak and vulnerable were things I could no longer afford. It was the middle of an apocalypse and I was here crying over the past. I pushed the thoughts of my father away, grabbing some tissues from the bathroom, blowing my nose and wiping my eyes.

I headed back to my room, knowing rest would help purge the feelings and clear my mind. It always did. The cat followed and I let it climb on top of me, purring as it sprawled out like I was its pillow. Maybe I should find out if he-no-if Alexei had any ulterior motives before I fully let myself trust him.

Chapter Text

I woke up feeling slightly better than normal, perhaps my crying had taken off some of the weight off my shoulders. The cat got up from its spot near my feet, stretched, then slinked over to me. It rubbed against my face, purring while it did so. Listening to the silence of the home both calmed and frustrated me.

The silence was comforting, a luxury nowadays, but reminded me of how just a few days ago, that FEMA officer charged in and took two of my guests. Now there were only two left. Two people separating me from Alexei. What would happen if he got in?

I got up and left the room, the cat hot on my tail. I didn’t bother checking on the others. There was no point in doing so anymore. Entering the bathroom, I leaned down to look in the mirror. The areas around my eyes were red from crying. I didn't bother checking anything else.

I grabbed some pain meds on the way out of the bathroom, the injury inflicted by the FEMA officer still causing my head to throb angrily. I headed to the kitchen and downed the pill with a can of beer. I noticed my supply was dwindling, making a note to order more tomorrow.

My bed was still warm from my presence when I returned, it was as if I never left. The cat curled up against my side, falling asleep almost instantly. The usual dreams flooded in, all of Alexei. I don’t know why these dreams came to me, but I like them. They comforted me. Perhaps Alexei didn’t have any ulterior motives… Why would he kill another visitor and place their head on a spike if he did?

I blinked the sleep from my eyes, rising from the bed. It took me a few minutes to gain my bearings, but when I did, I was greeted by a pleasant sound.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

It was Alexei. I got up, eager to see him. My steps were a bit quicker, the cat trotting behind me. Looking through the peephole I saw his familiar figure.

“Hello, dearest Rowan. I heard you crying after I left… Did I say something wrong?” He asked, and I hated seeing the guilt written on his face.

“No, it wasn’t you… I was just… thinking of my father.” I told him, opening up to him in a way I never did for anyone else.

For a moment, Alexei was silent, just staring at my door and frowning, only silence passing between us.

“Is he already dead?” He eventually spoke, and I knew what he was thinking about doing.

“Yes. He left me this house. He’s taunting me even in death.” I answered him, anger slowly building inside me.

“Ah. I see. I won’t ask if you’re alone. I know the answer, though I have a feeling that will change very soon. Could be tonight, could be tomorrow… but when it does, I’ll come see you. I promise.” He said, regaining his usual smile.

“Will you… hurt me? When I’m alone?” I asked, the anger at my father quickly replaced by fear.

“Hurt you? What makes you think I would ever do such a thing?” He questioned, tilting his head to the side.

“It’s just… why wouldn’t you? I have nothing to give, nothing to lose. There’s really no point in keeping someone like me alive.” I whispered to him.

“My dear, I would never kill you. You are one of a kind. There’s no one out there like you, Rowan. You’re mine, and in turn, I’m yours.” He told me, his confidence in his statement unwavering.

With that, he stepped off my porch, and I did nothing but watch. I thought about what he said. He didn’t want to kill me. If that was the case, what would he do when he was inside? What would he achieve? I backtracked to my room, my mind alive with possibilities. I climbed into bed, not bothering to close my door.

“I bid farewell to you, homeowner. This will be the last time we speak, I’m sure of it.” A voice spoke.

I screamed, my eyes shooting open. A face was hovering above my own. It was the last cultist left. One of the only two guests left in my house.

“What the… what are you doing in my room?!” I questioned, trying to press myself further into my bed, as if that would get me away from the man.

“I apologize for breaching your privacy. Your door was left open, and I saw that as a sign I was welcome. You never come to check on your guests, and since our departure is swiftly arriving, I figured a closure was necessary.” He answered, the thought of being alone causing me panic.

I knew now that Alexei wouldn’t hurt me when he entered, but what if something got to me before he could? What if he arrived too late? Seeing my distress, the cultist left. I was alone with my thoughts. That was never good. I needed to get up, to drink, and go back to bed, but I didn’t know if that was a good idea.

If the cultist was right, this would be my last day with humans in my house. DId I want to say goodbye to life as I knew it so quickly? If I wanted to cling to what was left of it, what would I even do before heading back to bed? But then, the thought of seeing Alexei quicker entered my head, and like a well oiled machine, I headed to the kitchen.

As I cracked open a can, I remembered I needed to order some more, so I went back out into the hall to grab the phone. Setting the open beer down, I dialed the number for ForRest. I tuned out the voice that began to speak, instead turning my attention to the cat that had begun to rub against my legs. I leaned down to pet it. I only spoke when the voice asked what I would like to order.

With that, the day for me was over, and I returned to my room after throwing the empty can away. The cat hopped up onto the bed as I made sure to close my door this time. Sleep came, and the dreams that came were, as usual, about Alexei. This time around, they were more domestic, the two of us cooking a meal in the kitchen and watching tv together, though the screen was rather blurry, my mind not deciding what we were actually watching. While being domestic with him seemed scary, I let it happen.

When I awoke, I heard knocks. It wasn’t Alexei, yet the knocks were ones I recognized. FEMA. It was true. In just a few minutes I would be alone. I got up, dragging myself to the front door. Instead of fighting this time, I let the officer in. My head didn’t hurt as much, not needing pain meds, and I didn’t want to have to take them again so soon.

Shortly after, he left with the kindergarten teacher and the last cultist. The door shut, and just like that, I was alone. For some reason, I felt uneasy, like someone else had been waiting for this moment, not just Alexei. I backed away from the door, a gut feeling screaming at me to hide. For once, I listened, backing into the storage room and pressing my ear to the door.

Just mere seconds later, I heard the door slam open. Heavy footsteps grew closer and I held my breath. That wasn’t Alexei. Who-or what- was in my home? By the time Alexei arrived, would I still be alive, or would I be a corpse on the floor, victim to whatever was hunting me down?

Chapter Text

The footsteps grew closer and I shrunk further into the storage room. I noticed the cat had entered with me and had retreated to the back corner. I sat down next to it, drawing my knees close to my chest, my hand covering my mouth.

“Rowen…” The voice spoke, and I knew exactly who it was.

Somehow, my father must have become one of the visitors. My heart raced at the thought of him crawling up from his grave where he should have stayed until the end of time.

“I know you’re in here, Rowen. You can’t hide from me, bitch.” He growled out, and I felt my eyes fill with tears.

This was my own personal nightmare. It was worse now that he was a visitor, his strength most likely able to overpower me, just like when I was younger. I knew he was getting closer to the door, closing in on me. I had left my gun at the door. I was utterly powerless. A whimper escaped my lips and I knew I only had a few seconds left until the door flew open.

“I know where you are now, Rowen. Just be a good girl and-” The door flew open and, as he saw me, his sentence paused.

“Still pretending to be something you aren’t, Rowen? Disgusting wench. It’s time you get what you deserve.” He stared down at me, fear paralyzing my body.

His nails were dirty, his eyes red, teeth perfectly straight and white, something they hadn’t been when he was alive. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks as he came closer, stepping toward me. This was it for me. I was dead.

His steps grew closer and I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid to face the one scarier than any visitor I had ever encountered. It didn’t matter how strong he ultimately was, it was the face that haunted me. His hands were itching to kill, and just like when I was younger, his hands would target me.

I heard his footsteps stop, pause before me. He was taunting me, taking a long time to finally reach out and grab me. I hated it. I hated him. Just when I thought he was about to lean down, I heard a loud thud. I opened my eyes slightly, wondering if it was just a trick to catch me off guard.

My father was writing on the ground, his hands prying at the pair of pale ones on his neck. It was Alexei, crouching while he strangled my father. He was saving me from death yet again.

“I don’t think so.” He spat at my father, who was trying to escape his grasp.

“Alexei?” I whispered, staring at him for the first time in my house and not outside my door.

“I’m sorry to barge in like this. I wanted the moment you let me in to be special, but not this kind.” He apologized, still wringing the life out of my father, whose erratic movements were starting to slow down.

“Well if you hadn’t barged in, I don’t think we would have had that moment anyway… Thank you.” I replied, his timing impeccable once again.

“You don’t have to thank me, my darling Rowan. It’s my fault I wasn’t fast enough,” Alexei answered, turning his head to smile at me while still strangling my father, and god was it the most romantic thing I had ever seen.

“You don’t want that skank, she’s useless!” My father grunted, causing me to flinch.

“He,” Alexei emphasized, “Is the most perfect being to grace this earth.”

My eyes widened at Alexei’s statement, and so did my father’s. He opened his mouth to retort, but there wasn’t much life left in him. He groaned, and I could tell it was the final stretch for him. He gasped one final time before his body went slack, dead for a second time.

As Alexei let go of my father’s body and stood, I scrambled to my feet, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, I hugged someone. I hugged him. I knew he was tall when I saw him through the peephole, but it still surprised me. My head reached his chest and I was taller than average.

It took a few seconds before I felt Alexei’s arms wrap around me, hugging me back. It seemed awkward on his part, as if he had never hugged before, and that was very possible.

“I am… sorry you had to see me do that.” He whispered, one of his hands coming up to rest on the top of my head.

“No, I feel so much better now. I think watching him die first hand will stop him from haunting my memory.” I responded, still clinging to him.

A wave of exhaustion rolled over me and I relaxed against his chest. The cat had come up to us, meowing at our feet. I reluctantly let go of him, leaning down to pick up the unnamed cat. He began to purr as I held him, eyes closing. Well, that made two of us that were tired.

“I’ll dispose of the body if you want?” Alexei proposed as we stepped out of the storage room.

“That would be nice, thank you.” I said, the thought of my father’s body burning in the sun tomorrow comforting rather than gross.

He deserved it. Alexei picked up his body and went to exit the house when he froze. I turned to the door, curious, and my body did the same.

“Man, what the actual Hell is going on here?” The delivery man, who was standing at the open door with a case of beer, exclaimed.

I forgot that he was coming tonight. I grab the money needed from the desk near the door and hand it to him. He shoves the case of beer in the hand I’m not holding the cat with and backs away slowly before turning around and jogging off to whoever else needs their orders.

“I think I scared him off.” Alexei said smugly, continuing out the door.

“I think it might have been the cat.” I say sarcastically, heading to the kitchen and replacing the singular can in my fridge with the full case.

I knew I would need to drink a can to sleep after what had happened. I open the can, down it, then throw it in the trash, the cat still laying in one of my arms. I headed to my bedroom, needing a break from the chaos that was my night.

I slid into bed, the cat laying on top of me. A few moments later, I heard Alexei enter the house and shut the front door. I heard his footsteps approach the bedroom door, but he didn’t enter, just stood outside the door.

“You can come in, you know.” I broke the silence, turning my head to look at the door.

After a few seconds, the door opened and Alexei came in.

“I figured you just wanted me to guard the house.” He spoke, confused.

“You aren’t my guard dog, Alexei. You can allow yourself some rest too.” I assured him, which seemed to do the trick.

He shut the bedroom door behind him and crossed to the other side of the room, but didn’t make any move to lay down on the bed.

“Are you just going to stand there? Lay down, I won’t bite.’ I let out a laugh.

How ironic was it that Alexei called me his, but he wouldn’t even lay down next to me. The cat seemed to agree, lifting its head up to meow at him. After a beat of silence, he lowered himself into my bed and laid next to me. It was awkward for a minute until he spoke,

“Most humans only allow their significant others into their bed.” He mumbled, and while it was true, he was an exception.

“You’ve saved my life multiple times and you say I’m yours and you’re mine. I think you’re allowed in my bed.” I smirked, rolling onto my side to look at him.

I could tell he was flustered, his head turned to face the edge of the bed instead of looking at me.

“I suppose when you put it that way…” He whispered, and I could see his shoulders relax.

I shifted a bit until I was positioned to hug him again. I was seriously grateful for Alexei. He saved my life on more than one occasion and still stuck around despite me having nothing to give him. He killed my father and stuck up for me. I had made up my mind the moment he smiled at me while strangling my father. I loved him, and with the way he gently pressed his lips against my forehead when he clearly thought I had fallen asleep, I think he felt the same way.

Chapter Text

I woke up with Alexei’s arms encasing me, my face pressed against his chest. The cat was cuddled up in between the two of us, purring softly in its sleep. Knowing there was nothing outside my room waiting for me, I shimmied even closer to Alexei.

Despite him being a visitor, he radiated warmth. It comforted me. I could tell Alexei was still asleep, and I wondered if he had even slept prior to being in my house. Now that he was inside, what would become of my life, my routine? I certainly wasn’t letting anyone in at night, which meant I didn’t need to test anyone, and FEMA wouldn’t stand a chance against Alexei.

Part of me wondered if Alexei would get tired of my hermit lifestyle. I was big enough to admit I shut myself in and never came out. I started thinking more and more about the possibilities. There was only so much time someone could stay in a house before growing tired of it… so how long would it take Alexei to grow tired of this place?

My overthinking was interrupted by Alexei shifting slightly, and I could tell he had woken up. He pulled away slightly to look at me.

“Good morning, my dear Rowan.” He spoke softly, and I realized just how lucky I was to get to see this side of him and not the murderous one.

“Morning.” I responded hoarsely, sleep still present in my voice.

He sat up, stretching his long limbs, then got up.

“Where are you going?” I asked, wondering if he was already bored of me.

“Your kitchen. I may not be human like you, but I still get hungry.” He answered, exiting my bedroom but leaving the door open.

My stomach grumbled, and I realized how long it’s been since I had a proper meal. I wondered if Alexei knew how to cook basic dishes that we could both eat. I got up, the cat waking up and jumping off the bed to follow me as I headed to the kitchen.

When I reached the doorway, I was greeted with Alexei making pancakes. I had bought the ingredients right before the world was flipped upside down, but I had never learned to make them, and my plans were abandoned for more important tasks.

“Do you need help?” I questioned him, though he just shook his head.

“While I appreciate your offer, I want to do something for you. You let me in your home, the least I can do is make you breakfast.” He replied, eventually grabbing two plates (after digging around my cabinets looking for them) and handing me one.

The pancakes looked perfect and fluffy. How he managed to cook something so good despite his kind typically eating humans was astounding. I didn’t question him though, digging in immediately.

“Are you even tasting them?” He joked, having only taken a few bites out of one when I finished a good one and a half.

I simply nodded. This was the first time I had properly eaten in about a month, and these pancakes just tasted so good. I could tell he wasn’t trying to make fun of me, just amused at how fast I was eating. If I ate like this when I was younger, my father would have yelled at me for not being proper at the table. I shuddered at the thought.

Pushing the haunting figure in my thoughts away, I focused on finishing my plate, though I ate a bit slower after reminding myself of my childhood. I could only blame myself for thinking like that. Those days were far past, my father most likely charred outside in the sun.

I wondered why Alexei thought he still owed me after he saved me from death… multiple times. Did he not understand that he didn’t owe me anything after he saved me the first time, let alone the second? Letting him into my house should have been me giving him something in return for literally murdering multiple people for me.

“Something on your mind, dear?” He asked, tilting his head like he always did when curious.

“Why did you think you owed me?” I questioned after finishing my last bite of the pancakes, getting ready to clean the dishes.

“You let me into your home. I still owe you. A small act of service is hardly enough to cover the sacrifice you made to allow me in.” He answered, trying to grab the plates before I could start to wash them.

“You are literally the only reason I’m still alive, if anything, I owe you.” I protested, pulling the plates from his grasp and grabbing the dish soap myself.

He paused, as if he found the idea of me owing him was hard to grasp. Since I didn’t let him wash the dishes himself, he settled for drying them when I finished scrubbing them. He made sure to do it quickly so that he could beat me to putting them away.

“You still let me in. Your house is a safe haven of sorts for outsiders. Getting in here is a blessing-” He started, but I quickly interrupted,

“You don’t owe me. From now on, we both contribute to household chores and such.” I spoke sternly to get the point across, earning a nod from Alexei.

After finishing in the kitchen, I went back to the bedroom and turned on the tv. The news was hardly interesting, so I flicked through a few channels to try to find some sort of entertainment. Eventually I gave up, stopping on a station playing a performance of Swan Lake. A silence hung between Alexei and I as the dancers on screen moved with grace, though I was hardly watching.

I was tired after actually engaging in basic human activities for once, not bothering to go right back to sleep after drinking a can of beer. I laid down, figuring I would need at least a bit of energy for the night ahead.

Chapter Text

When I woke up, Alexei wasn’t in the bedroom anymore. He had covered me with the blankets however, as I fell asleep on top of them. I carefully got up, noticing the cat was sleeping next to me. When I left the room, I found Alexei near the front door.

My shotgun was left leaning against the wall where I had left it a few days ago, and I doubted I would need to use it now that Alexei was living with me. If he could take out an entire squad of FEMA officers, my shotgun certainly wasn’t of any use.

“Ah, you’re awake. I figured I would check to see if anyone was coming tonight. I know you haven’t slept well in a while since this all started, so I didn’t bother waking you up.” He said, smiling at me.

One thing I had noticed was how considerate he was towards me, but I wasn’t complaining. It felt nice to have someone care about me for once, but I wanted to return that feeling so he knew I cared about him as well.

“It’s just part of my routine by now… though I doubt there’s many people out there anymore. It’s been a while since someone’s come to my door.” I replied, leaning my back against the front door to face him.

I immediately ate the words that came out of my mouth, a harsh set of knocks startling me. I stumbled forward, though Alexei was swift to catch and hold me upright. Before I could look out the peephole, Alexei was already there. Based on the guttural growl that came from Alexei, whoever was on the other side of the door was considered a threat.

“Who’s there?” I asked, but he didn’t respond.

Determined to get an answer, I crept closer to the door, but Alexei gently grabbed me by my elbow and dragged me behind him.

“We know you’re still in there. Let us in and we won’t resort to violence, homeowner!” A gruff voice shouted from the other side, and dread filled me as I realized who was out there.

FEMA. Another set of harsh knocks came, then the door handle started rattling. Alexei stood in front of me like a shield. All of a sudden, silence returned. Like they left. I couldn’t see outside, so I asked Alexei,

“Are they still-” I was cut off by the door flying open.

Two FEMA officers stood on my porch with their guns raised, but when they were greeted with the sight of Alexei, they dropped their weapons immediately.

“I-It’s him! The one that wiped out an entire squad!” One of them yelped, backing away.

The other one seemed to gain composure quickly,

“Just give us the human. It’s not like your kind and ours get along anyway. We’ll leave you alone if you just hand him over.” He spoke, not knowing of our little relationship.

At the silence from Alexei, the officer took it upon himself to try passing Alexei to get to me. He was swift, grabbing my arm quickly before I could defend myself. He yanked hard and I yelped, stumbling forward. I was worried at the lack of noise from Alexei, wondering if he was just going to let them take me, but then the officer holding my arm stopped, then fell at my feet.

After gaining my composure and looking up, I saw Alexei gripping the head of the officer, a little trophy he was showing off to the other officer, who was staring in horror.

“I would kill you too,” Alexei began, “But I’ll allow you to run off to your higher-ups. Tell them that if they come around here again, they’ll end up just like him.” He spoke calmly, as if beheading a human was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

The other officer shook in fear before vigorously nodding. He ran off, away from the house and presumably to wherever the FEMA officers who sent him were. Alexei tossed the head and I watched as it landed a few feet in front of my porch, rolling before coming to a stop.

He shut the door, then gently inspected my arm that had been yanked by the officer. I was speechless, the events unfolding so quickly I had no time to form words, just heavy breathing caused by the fear I had felt when I was grabbed.

After finding no evidence of harm on me, Alexei sighed in relief, the tension in his shoulders dissipating. Then he picked me up, causing me to gasp.

“W-What are you doing?” I managed to spit out, words mostly caught on my tongue with confusion.

“I’m simply bringing you back to your room. Don’t worry, dear. I won’t let anyone take you away from me. Nobody.” He said possessively, and where I should feel unnerved, I felt safe.

Alexei laid me down on my bed, gently bringing the blankets up to cover me. He left to check the front door was locked before entering my bedroom again, slipping into the bed with only the slightest bit of hesitation.

The cat had switched positions to lay at the foot of the bed, somehow having slept through all of the commotion down the hall. I shifted to lay closer to Alexei, feeling safe whenever he was near. He carefully draped an arm over me, drawing me closer to his chest.

“I won’t let those FEMA officers ever get that far again.” He whispered down to me.

“He only managed to get two feet before you yanked his head off.” I murmured, wondering what he could possibly consider “far”.

“That was two feet too many. They dared to lay their filthy hands on you, but that won’t happen if a next time comes. Hopefully that other one runs to his superiors and tells him to stay away. If they don’t listen, it will only result in more officers dying. They won’t ever touch what’s mine.” He said, though I hardly felt intimidated by his statement.

I simply sighed, resting my head on his chest. It wasn’t hard to drift back to sleep when he was near, though something told me things wouldn’t be this easy forever.