A Cimmerian Silence- A zombie apocalypse novel Book 1

Chapter 6

I paced backwards and forwards agitatedly in a small store I had found down an alleyway. Outside, the street lights flickered, causing eerie shadows to cast over the floor. Suddenly, the door opened abruptly- I aimed my gun forwards. I felt the sweat slip the handle of the gun from my palms slightly.

A familiar face made me drop my gun to the floor.

"Oh dad," I sighed with relief. "Thank God. You found me." I rushed to his side, wrapping my arms around him. But instead he grimaced and I backed away. "Dad, you're bleeding. You're hurt."

He looked at me deeply with sullen eyes. My shoulders dropped in disbelief, my bottom lip began to quiver.

"Baby, you have to go." My dad gulped. "It's not safe here."

"I'm not going without you."

"I can't go anywhere, Deanna."

"What are you talking about?" I questioned, grabbing his hand. I soon noticed his hand was drenched with blood. "We'll get you patched up- you'll be fine."

"Deanna..." he let go of my hand slowly, then lifted his shirt collar away from his neck, exposing a bite.

"Dad, no..."

His legs began to buckle, his body slumped against the wall until he fell to the ground.

"Dad, no!" I repeated, quickly dropping to my knees and sliding over.

I took a long look at his face in the dull light- his eyes were heavy and sunken, causing dark lines under his eyes to droop down to his already chiselled cheekbones. Although it was dark, his skin was of an ashen tone, blending in with the wall behind him.

Tears ran down my cheek, but he brushed them away with his thumb.

"Deanna, you know what you have to do, don't you?" He asked me, as he held one side of my face in the palm of his hand. "I can't turn into one of those things."

"Dad, please... I can't. Don't make me do this. You're going to be ok!" I sobbed through my broken breaths.

"You need to, baby. But then you're going to have to run."

I knew what I had to do. I squeezed my dad's hand hard, but I felt his hand weaken. I looked back at his eyes- they drifted open and shut.

"Take my gun." He muttered over his fleeting breaths and a cough. He placed his gun in my hand and I gripped it reluctantly.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." He said, trying to force out a smile but it came out as a whimper instead. "I love you."

"I love you dad."

"You make me proud every single day." My dads eyes filled with tears as we began to cry together. "Never forget who you are. You are strong and confident and beautiful."

"Dad, please don't go."

I placed my forehead against his and cradled him in my arms. Then I moved away and his body was limp. His eyes were staring far into the distance- no more tears ran.

I wept over his shoulder as I held onto his lifeless body tightly, hoping he would hold me back.

But he didn't.

Remembering his final wish, I Shimmied backwards and staggered to my feet. I held the gun in my shaky hands and aimed it at his head.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed quietly.

The gunshot echoed in my head, causing me to scream myself awake.

The bedroom door swung open- I grasped my pocket knife I hid under my pillow and aimed it in the darkness. That's until I realised it was Evan, and I dropped it to the ground.

"I'm sorry." I admitted as I began to sob loudly. Evan rushed to my side and sat on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Shh..." he whispered as he brushed a single tear away with his thumb. "It's ok."

"I'm sorry," I repeated anxiously, trying to catch a breath. "I'm so sorry."

"It's ok," Evan hushed soothingly. He placed his arms around me and I clung on tight. "I get nightmares too."