10 Aftermath

   "So how bad is he? I mean, are we going to be safe like this?" Matthew tries to speak with Marty as he tries to get the pump at an old roadside gas station working without the other hearing. They both know the dangers of William being in this rough state and how his body regenerates. Matthew's concerns are for the people they have rescued and does not want to be driving back when this thing decides the truck is a buffet.

   "He's in rough shape and I am keeping an eye on him, but I don't think we need to worry. He doesn't act like he is in pain, but he is also barely able to move. I was not leaving him behind like this after everything he did back there, but I guess you think I should have, right?" Marty stands giving him a stern look trying to hide the fact that she wonders if she will have to do more damage before they reach Oasis.

   "Look, I'm more than grateful for what he did. I'm just thinking about what he is now and that is dangerous. No one at Oasis would have made it close to that raider hellhole let alone burned it to the ground, but what if he.... changes? If he went through all that back there and still got up and walked, then how are you going to protect the rest of us?" Matthew stares at Marty intently awaiting and answer she cannot give.

   "Just get the pumps working and get us on the road. We are sitting ducks out here in broad daylight." Marty turns and walks back to the rear of the truck to check on William and trying to ignore the facts he has thrown in her face. Making her way back, she pulls herself up the back of the truck to find the fourteen or so rescued still huddled to the front of the bed in slight fear of the man propped against the bed, his cold blank eyes unable to even blink as the fire burned most of his face including his eyelids completely. Marty climbs in and hunkers down in front of him to see how conscious he is of himself and how his mindset is.

   "How are you feeling William? Any pain? Can you move yet?" Her eyes show concern for him as he moves his eyes slightly to survey the people in the bed nearly cowering at the sight of him. William begins to force his mouth to open as the slight crackling of burnt skin is the only sound to be heard as his melted lips peel apart.

   "I told you not to try and save me. You should just drag me out right here and leave. If the hunger starts, I will break loose and kill everyone here. Right now my body is locked up from the burns, but it won't matter then. It's why I don't move right now, but if I start to move you either dump me or grab that shotgun up front and finish me."

  "Matthew will have us on the road soon, then we will get back to Oasis and Andrea and the others will get you fixed up. No one is leaving you or killing you William, not after what you did. Now just relax, sleep if you do that, whatever it takes to get through this trip. You're going to be okay." Marty rubs his left shoulder trying to comfort him and that is one of the few parts of him remaining undamaged as she looks at the tattoo on the skin, the patterns of the lines not enough to tell what it used to be, but the first five letters of a name still able to be read, Shann.

   "When you heal, does that come back as well?"

   "Just the skin. That arm used to be covered, but I lost everything from the elbow down a long time ago. Bits and pieces along the way as well. Maybe it's best that it all go away." William turns his eyes to look out over the hills trying to distance himself from the young lady who tries to show him compassion. The last two years have been filled with people who have tried and died for it. William has no intentions of adding Marty to that list. After another hour wait, Matthew manages to get enough fuel pumping to get the truck on it's way.

   As the group make their trek, a few of the rescued attempt to try understanding William as he simply looks to the horizon warning them to leave him alone. He is fighting the burning in his stomach that signals the coming uncontrollable hunger. He knows he should try to throw himself from the truck, but the current state of being makes him worry he will give in once he starts to move. The trip takes longer than expected as the sun begins to sit and another 10 miles left as the burn he feels gives way to sheer pain. He will not make it and he knows now what he has to do. The crackle of burnt skin begins filling the air as Marty climbs from the front seat making her way back to William who fights to pull himself up and over the gate.

   "William, what are you...." Marty's words are cut short by the growling words that echo in every one's ears as he continues to fight his way over.

    "Stay back or flip me over, but don't you dare stop me. I have to get out now, the fear in the air is making me crazy and I can't fight much longer. I need to get away from all of you." Marty leans down trying to stop him as instinct takes over. He grabs her jacket and pulls her down in an attempt to pin her, climbing onto her ready to feed. Fear overwhelms the passengers as they run back pulling him off the young lady.

   "Throw me out, NOW!" Marty tries to scramble to her feet as the two men are able to roll him over the tailgate, the sounds of breaking bones drowned out by the truck as she sees him flop along the ground a few times. The last sight of William she sees is him pulling himself to his feet, his body appearing slightly broken as he struggles to walk towards them. In that moment, Marty Daniels realizes what he truly is, but fear is the last thing she can feel. Her mind quickly rationalizes another scenario of what William Daniels is and she knows none of them have seen the last of him.