Barely Alive (#JustWriteIt #SuperCharged)

Chapter 1 - Travis and Darcie Jones

"We will. Darcie, pack up cereals, trail mix, and cans of food along with the can opener. Just remember to pack light because we will have to carry these bags with us at all times. I will be right back. Also, stay as quiet as possible," he instructed.

Darcie nodded. Travis noticed tears were forming in his little sister's eyes. He cupped her small face in his hands.

"Hey. Don't cry," he whispered. "We're going to be just fine. I promise."

He pulled his sister's head a little closer so he could kiss her forehead.

"I love you. I'll be back as soon as possible."

With that, he turned and ran from the house, climbing over the fence to get in the Kendall's yard. The back glass door was broken. He slowly approached it. His eyes scanned for any danger. Although he couldn't see anything, he pulled out his knife for safety. With slow and cautious steps, he walked down the hall of the Kendall house and into the parent's bedroom. He shut the door behind him.  The room was torn apart. There was clearly a struggle. But, with Mr. Kendall being a hunter and Mrs. Kendall being a police officer, it was likely they escaped with Jayleen and their baby son. He peeked around for any guns. He snooped in the closet until he came across a door in the back of the closet that was cracked open. There was a lock on the door that was broken. That had to be where they kept their guns. Upon entering the room, Travis saw it had been mostly cleaned out. Mostly. There were two guns laying on the floor with ammo for both. He grabbed both guns and as much ammunition as he could carry. With careful hands and feet, he snuck back to his house. Darcie was still in the kitchen packing up food.

"That's probably good," he stated, causing Darcie to jump.

"You scared me," she cried out.

Travis shushed his sister. They couldn't attract zombies to them. He handed her one of the guns. She looked up at him in confusion.

"You need a gun and I need a gun," he explained.

"You think giving a little girl a gun that's bigger than her is a good idea?"

"Nope, but I'm going with it."

Travis pointed his gun forward and started towards the door, Darcie following behind slowly. Once they reached the entryway, Travis carefully scanned the porch. After both of them pulled on hiking boots, Travis led his sister out the door.

"I'm going to ask again. Darcie Jones, do you trust me?" Travis asked.

"Yes," she replied flatly. "I do."

Travis smiled down at the small brunette. She looked up at him.

"Do you trust me?" she asked.

"Always," he told her.

Darcie wrapped her arms around Travis from behind.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I could never not trust you," he whispered back.

Travis looked around them. The whole neighbourhood was trashed. Zombies had torn the place apart.

"You know you never had to kill Mommy and Daddy, right?"

Travis looked down at his little sister in confusion.

"Zombies aren't typically graceful climbers. You could have came upstairs and we could have used our fire escape ladders to sneak away. Mommy and Daddy could have been cured. And you were too mean. Did you not love Mommy and Daddy?" Darcie asked.

Travis was stunned. He couldn't clear his head at first. However, the thought cleared itself in his head.

"Darcie, I did it to protect you. I love you and if I would have lost you, I would have no reason to live. You give me a reason to be alive. Losing you would be like losing half my world. If I lost you to the zombies, I would probably go out in public just to be bitten or clawed. I need a reason to fight this apocalypse out. Darcie, my reason is you. My reason will always be you."