Hello~
This has nothing to do with the actual book, Wake the Dead. I just wanna throw a bit more angst into the already angst-filled book. As well as to throw in some character depth to my MC, Judith Archer.
Of course, this will be in Eli’s POV.
Hope you like it~
(Elijah Sipes)
“What are you doing?” The sharp edge in my voice was enough to wake Judith out of the daze she was under. Shocked brown eyes met my steely hazel ones.
“Eli, this isn’t-”
“Don’t give me no bullshit excuse, Judith. What are you doing,” I hissed. The tone in my voice may have come off much harsher than I intended, but I couldn’t find another way to express my shock and fear at the sight of the bloody blade in her hand.
The precise cuts leading up to her elbow.
The blood still was dripping down to her fingertips.
Judith scoffed.
“You have eyes, Elijah. What does it look like I’m doing,” she sassed. My brows rose close to my hairline at the sound of my full name. I narrowed my eyes at her.
I could spy the beginnings of bags forming under her eyes as well as the dried tear stains on her cheeks. Despite her attempt of trying to mask her true feelings with annoyance and indifference, I could see right through her.
Pain. Despair. Weariness. Defeat.
I silently walked up to her and kneeled to meet her on ground level. She flinched when I carefully cupped her cheek.
“Why,” I softly asked. She stared at me like a deer caught in the headlights, those usually warm eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“I-I…” she trailed off, her voice getting caught in her throat. I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, breaking her resistance.
“I can’t do this anymore, Eli! I-I-I want to be with Jaime. With Dad and Papa! Where…” she paused as she sniffed miserably.
“Where I’m wanted,” she whispered. I felt my heart seize up in my chest.
“But you are wanted, Judith,” I pressed. Judith let out a hollow chuckle.
“Barely. Everyone looks to me to make a decision for them, but always has something to say about the aftermath. And who’s to blame? Me. Some think I’m too harsh, others think I don’t have a backbone. Making choices that I think are necessary makes me cruel. But my faith in humanity, or what’s left of it, makes me weak. I’m going to cost everyone their lives just because I want to try to save and bind people together. It’s only going to be a matter of time before you, Troy, Angel, and Shannon will realize the same and blame me too. Dirk was right… I should’ve died instead of my sister,” she said.
I slowly started to see red creep in the corners of my vision when I heard her mention Dirk.
“When did he say that,” I mumbled, already having half a mind to cut out his other eye. Judith shook her head, breaking eye contact with me in favor of her bloody left arm.
“Doesn’t matter. Drunk or sober, he’s right…”
Drunk…
My eyes widen.
The same night we first got together…
‘Just… bad memories…’
If a zombie doesn’t kill him first, I sure as hell will.
“He’s wrong,” I growled.
“No, he-MHM?!” Not wanting to hear her protests, I placed a fierce kiss on her lips. I felt her shaky hands press against my chest, almost as she was unsure what to do. I held her close by the waist, slowly feeling my anxiety ease.
I broke the kiss in favor of trailing more down her chin, her delicate jawline, to her neck. I placed a soft kiss against her pulse before nuzzling the sensitive skin. Judith let out a small shiver.
“Eli…”
“I love you.” I felt Judith freeze up in my arms.
“W-what did you say…” I pulled away to look her in the eye.
“I love you, Judith,” I repeated again. Judith stared at me with watery eyes, not saying anything after my confession. I paid no mind to this, pressing a gentle kiss on her cheek before pulling away to find some medical supplies to tend to her cuts. Judith remained silent as I stopped the bleeding, cleaned her cuts, and bandaged them.
Once finished, I carefully lifted her in my arms. Carrying her like a bride, I brought her to her bed. Laying her down, I quickly took off my boots and laid down next to her. I pulled her close, looking into her eyes.
“Why?” I raised a brow in a silent question. She cleared her throat before speaking again,
“Why do you love me?”
“What isn’t there to love?” Her brows furrowed at my counter question.
“You really don’t know how much of a beautiful person you are, do you?” Judith looked ready to duck her head out of embarrassment but I caught her by the chin so she could hold my gaze.
“Don’t hide from me,” I whispered softly. She let out a soft exhale before giving a slow nod.
“You asked me why I love you, right? A simple question but it’s not a simple answer. It’s the way you love. In this cold world, you seem to bring a sense of warmth. Comfort. Safety. You make people feel heard, feel seen, feel understood. You do your damn hardest to show everyone a sense of humanity…” I trailed off with a soft chuckle.
“You even showed a hardass like me that it’s okay to feel. To care for others. To build bonds with people. To love…” I leaned in and kissed her. Her full lips trembled against mine through the slow exchange. I rolled on my back, pulling her on top of me. A small squeal escaped her throat at the sudden movement. Her arms found purchase around my neck as I sat up and leaned against the headboard. Her forehead rested against mine as she gazed into my eyes.
“Which is why I will do anything to keep you here with me. No one and I mean no one is taking you away from me. Not a zombie. Not your old colony. Not some enemy that wants your head on a pike. Not even yourself. I didn’t just start to open my heart to you, just for you to leave me,” I mumbled softly. I pecked her lips before moving to her neck. My lips pressed slow heated kisses against her sensitive skin, causing her to moan quietly.
“E-Eli…” A shiver ran down my spine at the sound of my name. I pulled back to look at her.
“I love you too…” I let in a sharp inhale, squeezing down on her hips. She pressed a kiss to my lips.
“I love you.” Another on my cheek.
“I love you.” Another on the scar on my nose.
“I love you.” Another to my forehead.
She cupped my jaw so I could look into her eyes again. Those dark brown eyes held that familiar warmth I was accustomed to. With a touch of tenderness and…
Love.
“Stay with me,” I softly asked. The corners of those perfect lips twitched upwards.
“Forever and always. I’m yours, Elijah Sipes…”