Throw Me to the Wolves and I'll Return Leading the Pack

Chapter One

"This is not good," Aria flung open all of the kitchen cabinet doors, pulled out all of the drawers, and yanked open the pantry, fridge and freezer. "Mom and Dad haven't come home and the food larder is nearly empty. They left about a week ago, they haven't returned." She propped herself upon the kitchen bench, "Okay, assuming that they're dead," she clenched her fists, "I need to do something. I need to go to the city." Aria stood up, "But," she leaned back onto the bench, "I have no form of transport. Dad was supposed to fix my bike."

When the apocalypse began, Aria and her family had only heard about it through the T.V. Graphic images of zombie-like people on a cannibalistic spree were the only thing that covered the news headlines. The news reporters' only advice was to stock up on supplies. Everyone in and around the city, in a panic attack, stampeded into the supermarkets and outdoor stores which caused confusion amongst everyone in the crowd. Instead of buying, most people were stealing. All the water ran out almost immediately. But the worst thing of all, people were being killed by not only those that turned into zombies but also themselves. Most were trampled and died within the panic. They then became zombies and those that were in early enough to get to the supplies made it out. Everyone else became undead and unfortunately that was what happened with Aria's parents; caught amongst the chaos; only to suffer a horrific death.

Before then, Aria's father was unloading everything in the ute. Her mother was holding Aria's hand and talking to her.

"Aria, we're going into the city while everything is still calm. If everything turns to custard and we don't make it back, you are to stay here unless uttermost necessary," Aria's mum explained.

"Would it be considered uttermost necessary if I run out of food?" Aria combed her hair back.

"Yes, and that will be the only reason." Aria's mum clarified. She held her daughter's head in both hands, "I promise you we will come back as soon as possible if we are still alive by the time we're out of the supermarket. But if we don't-" she pulled Aria into a hug, "-always remember that we will help to guide you through this apocalypse. But hopefully we'll come back."

"I hope so too," Aria mentioned, "Dad still needs to fix my bike."

Aria's dad chuckled, "We'll see if we can get you a new one instead. The store will probably so chockablock that we may have time to steal it!"

"Dan!" Aria's mum scowled.

"You don't have to steal, Dad!" Aria also scowled. She chuckled a bit as to say the scowling was sarcasm.

Dan was in a funny mood in a tense situation which usually meant he was nervous. He placed a pile of empty cardboard boxes down on the ground and went up to his daughter, "I want you to be a good girl while we're gone. I'll fix your bike if I don't came back with a stolen one."

Aria chuckled, "Okay, Dad!" she gave him a tight hug.

"And here's a little something I was going to give to you on your birthday," Dan held up a necklace.

Aria saw a tiger's eye pendant in his hand, "It's awesome!" she picked it up and inspected it.

"We knew you'd like it, but if we do come back, I'll be taking it back to wrap it up-"

"C'mon Dan!" Aria's mum yelled from the car, "We'll see you soon, sweet-pea!"

Dan gave Aria one last hug before climbing into the driver's seat.

As they drove off, Aria had a nagging feeling in the back of her mind saying that that will be the last time she will ever see her family.

That nagging feeling was right, Aria knew they were dead but shoved all matter of sadness aside. She went into the basement and found a ruck sack. Making sure as she was waking that there are no holes, she gathered a small amount of what was left of the food, filled up two water bottles and put them in her bag. She kept the drink bottles above the food so that they were easily accessible.

Aria dropped the ruck sack next to the door. Thinking about the dangers in the city, she thought about her dad's revolver gun and machete. She walked into her parents' room and underneath the bed was a brief case. A shiny revolver was there when Aria opened it up. Inspecting under the bed further, a machete and its sheath with a shoulder strap was also brought out. From her dad's drawer there were two boxes of bullets that went with the revolver.

'So based on what the news said, the undead are attracted to noise and the revolver does make a loud noise. The revolver can be used only when necessary and the machete will be my main weapon,' Aria thought.

She put the machete around the back of her, the revolver in an easy pocket of her ruck sack and kept the bullets in another. Satisfied with what she has she headed out the door but stopped midway. The pendant was in her front pocket. She adjusted it around her neck, inhaled the musty scent in the air and said, "I have to get to the city and I have to come back home no matter what it costs me."