Netherstream - Episode 1: Jane Doe Read Free Page A

I hid inside my tower while the world crumbled.
    In light of everything, why did fate spare me? Clearly I’m not the chosen one. Not even close. I’m just…confused…about so many things…and the day of reckoning was fast approaching.
    Marge tore off her dress and panty hose before fumbling with her bra. She tugged at it, and when that failed, began chewing on the fabric. Like the lock, I showed her that unhooking her bra required a different skill set.
    Putting it back on would be more challenging, though. She abhorred things touching or clinging to her body, and would keep removing her clothes until she got tired of me or forgot they were on her. Even though bathing Marge was a royal pain in the ass, she deserved the dignity of fresh bath and set of clothes. She was still a member of the human race, and until that day, I would continue fighting for her.
    “Let’s try this again.” I help up a bar of soap. She nipped at me, causing me to retract my hand. “No clawing or biting this time!” I scolded her.
    I guided her to the shower and got her body and hair thoroughly wet. She did not seem to mind the frigid water, and stood still while I lathered up her body. I hid the bar of soap before she snatched it from me again, and pointed to the soapsuds on her body.
    Once she saw the bubbles she was completely mesmerized. Marge leaned against the wall, popping them with glee before demanding that I lather her up again. She could do this for hours without complaint, but there was only so much water and patience.
    After rinsing the shampoo from her hair, I took a deep breath and turned off the water. Like a child that did not want to leave the pool, Marge went berserk. She slapped my hand aside and turned the knobs. A moment later the water came back on, prompting her to turn and grin.
    “Come on, Marge. It’s time to go. Wait…was that a smile?” I studied her closely.
    Abruptly she pried the bar of soap from my hand and began lathering her arm. The suds brought fresh bubbles, which brought another smirk.
    “There’s hope for you yet.” I smiled back.
    When I finally ripped her away from the shower, Marge went for my neck. She’d bitten me before on the arms and legs, but never this. Each time she got increasingly more violent, and if this continued, I was going to have to handcuff her to a pipe and hose her down, or slip a sedative in her Chunky Beef Soup just to bathe that wretched zombie booty. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
    I dried her off, and then examined my neck. As I pulled my hand away, I came away with blood. “Fuck!” I blurted out, trying to locate the open wound.
    “Funnckk…” Marge replied.
    Oops. I had to be careful what I said around her; otherwise, she’d wind up with a potty mouth like me. “Yeah, funk. That’s what I meant to say.”
    I looked in the mirror and gasped. “Where’s my earring?” I pressed closer. “Hell, where’s my earlobe?”
    “Hhhelll…” Marge moaned, and then coughed up the diamond earring. It bounced off the floor and headed for the drain.
    “No!” I shouted. Lightening quick, I sealed the drain with my foot and snagged the earring off the tile floor. “Bad!” I tried to keep the smile from my face. She didn’t understand, couldn’t understand. Not even if she pondered it for a thousand years.
    I cursed under my breath, sprayed her with the house perfume, and wrapped towels around her head and body. As I led her to Laundry, I looked back, wondering why she was being so compliant. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her stuffing the bar of soup in her mouth. Clever girl. Perhaps she was trying to tell me something.
    Laundry and Kitchen were the first two departments that I cleared of zombies. It’s impossible to keep one’s sanity with someone puking on your clothes and fucking up your food all the time. I had to draw the line somewhere, and fresh panties and a bowl of Rice Krispies were worth killing for.
    I’d seen zombie