The Zombie Reaper

Lynuel woke up with a headache. When he tried to move, every ache and joint groaned making him feel like he was eighty. He would have to remember to never underestimate Father Thomas again. It had been a very foolish mistake on his part. He just wondered how long he was likely to be paying for it.

Pushing himself up with one hand, Lynuel had to bite his lip to keep back a groan. The last thing he wanted was the medical brothers to come rushing into the room to reprimand him... again. His ears were still burning from the rebuke they had given him when Father Thomas had brought him in the night before, it was the night before wasn't it?

A head poked into the room and a bright grin greeted him. “I was wondering if you'd be awake,” the younger male whispered excitedly as he slipped inside and closed the door behind him. “How are you feeling?” Brooks asked leaning back against the wall. “You look much better if it helps.”

“It doesn't,” Lynuel confessed rubbing his side. “Has anyone noticed I'm... well, absent?” he asked as he shoved the sheets and covers away from his legs. One of his ankles was wrapped. Looking at it seemed to remind it that it was injured as the ankle began to throb. Gritting his teeth, he swung his legs off the bed and sat there, forcing himself to breath. Movement had caused every little ache to redouble and flare up in objection to his movements. He also knew that if he didn't move he was simply going to grow stiff and the muscles would start to work against him even more than the sores were now.

It was better to just work through the pain.

“Do you need help?” Brooks asked stepping forward. Lynuel almost said no. Then he thought better of it as he nodded. His friend rushed forward and he found himself honestly glad as an arm slipped around his waist and pulled him up to his feet. His arm was pulled over Brooks shoulder and he found himself leaning against the man.

Lynuel sighed. “I hate being so weak,” he admitted through gritted teeth. “One day I'll have to pay Thomas back for this.”

Brooks chuckled softly. “But not today,” he said with a nod. “Now let's get you out of here. I know you. You'll find a way out even if I don't help you.”

Lynuel made a noncommittal grunt. It was true. Then again, he had always been stubborn in that way. And he hated hospitals. There was something about them that was so cold and distant. Something that made him feel like there were bugs starting to scramble under his skin. It made him feel itchy and anxious. The place clearly just wasn't for him. He accepted that. And by default it meant that he generally avoided it if at all possible.

The two men hobbled forward slowly to the second door in the room that led straight out into the hall. Lynuel knew that the medics wouldn't approve but he honestly couldn't bring himself to care. He wanted out. The medics had looked over him and treated him. That should have been good enough. It rarely was however. That was why he had to leave quickly before they noticed what he was doing.

The two men moved down the hall silently. Lynuel was brooding more than anything, trying to work several things out in his mind at once. “How did you know I was in the hospital in the first place?” he asked frowning.

“Father Thomas told me,” Brooks said with an easy shrug. “I would have come to visit you last night, but I had a few errands I had to take care of. By the time that I was finished, they were sounding the evening bells,” he explained.

“Uh-huh,” Lynuel grunted skeptically. “If you say so,” he muttered shaking his head. He wasn't going to argue with Brooks about this particular matter. He honestly didn't have the energy. He would argue with his friend later. And likely Brooks realized that even if neither of them was going to mention it.

It was simply an unspoken understanding.

“Thomas wants you to go back to your room and rest some more,” Brooks explained. “But I thought you might appreciate a meal first.”

Lynuel gave his friend a faint smile in response. "How did you know they didn't already feed me?" Lynuel asked arching an eyebrow.

Brooks couldn't help but laugh at that question. "Because I know you," he said pointedly with a bright smile. "If they had tried to feed you, the food would have been splattered all over the walls. I know how you feel about hospitals Lyn and I know that you don't trust anything they give you unless you have to."

Lynuel flinched at the truth in those words. His friend was more right than most would have realized. It wasn't just a fear or even a hate of hospitals that Lynuel had. He simply couldn't stand them. There was something about hospitals that was simply horrifying to him. Something about them that made him stray away from any associate of them.

"Is there anyone in the eating areas now?" Lynuel asked a little anxiously turning the attention away from the current conversation. "I would rather not have to have the conversation that will stem from... well, you know what I mean."

Brooks nodded. He understood exactly what his friend meant and he couldn't really blame the other male. "It's two in the afternoon. All of them are out in the training yards or wandering around town. I made sure that they cleared out the halls and left one empty just for us. I know what you need Lynuel. You should learn to trust me more."

Lynuel snorted. "Trust has nothing to do with it and well you know it," he pointed out. Brooks couldn't help but laugh in reply.

Lynuel shook his head as they continued down the hall quietly. With each step that he took, he felt a little more relaxed and at ease. His muscles were beginning to stretch and though he still felt a little raw, he felt a little more alive than he had when he had first tired to move. He was going to likely be sore for several more mornings but that was the price that one paid for being stupid in the middle of a fight.

"So should I expect to see you in the hospital wing with injuries like that again?" Brooks asked arching an eyebrow.

Lynuel flinched. "Not if I can help it!" he cried. "God, I haven't felt like this since I was six! I let my guard down, that's all."

Looking at his friend he was surprised and a little embarrassed to see the other male looking at him skeptically. "Alright! Alright! The man is better than me. It's not often, but it does happen. No one is perfect after all," he pointed out.

Brooks chuckled and shook his head as they finally reached the eating hall that Brooks had had reserved for them. "I know that. I won't argue with you. I am far from perfect myself. There's nothing wrong with it. I'm simply pointing out the fact that as a man working to become an ordained priest, you should not lie even to your friends."

Lynuel's cheeks flushed. "Well, I know that..." he trailed off mumbling. "I just, I hate being weak Brooks. You know better than anyone what my life was like growing up. And you know, because of that, how I feel about fighting and about losing. I just..." Lynuel sighed. "The moment that I was down and actually lost it was like every bit of spirit went out of me and I never want to feel that again Brooks."

"Than listen to what Father Thomas has to teach you," Brooks urged. "He has your best interests at heart Lyn. You know that. We all do. Well, most of us," he corrected himself with a smile. "How are Marcus and Henry doing with the rest of you?" he asked allowing them to change subjects to something that he knew wouldn't brother Lynuel as much.

Lynuel chuckled. "Henry's not so bad. He's actually a pretty good fellow from the looks of it. It's Marcus we have to look out for. The boy is stupid, impulsive and he could get us all killed," he said shaking his head. They moved to one of the tables and the two men shifted, Brooks carefully helping Lynuel settle into one of the few chairs in the room before he took a seat on the opposing bench.

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised really," Brooks said shaking his head. "I actually was one of the ones who trained to help Marcus with some of the initiates that came to some of the other new initiates. He's a stupid boy, but he also has a legacy," he admitted shaking his head. "You see, his uncle happens to be GrandFather Nicholas."

Lynuel groaned and pressed his hand to his brow. “Well, well. Didn't my day just turn wonderful,” he muttered darkly.

Brooks shook his head. “Don't think of it that way,” he insisted. “Think of it more as a challenge. You always have enjoyed those, haven't you?”

Lynuel shrugged. “Doesn't matter if he gets us killed.”

Brooks shrugged. “Well there is that chance, but I have faith in you Lynuel.”

Lynuel's smile faltered. “Yes...faith,” he whispered. That word always made him think of her. “I'm glad at least one of us does.”