The Morning After [Season 1]

Life's A Tricky Thing

4:15 PM

August 2nd, 2010

Atlanta Suburbs, GA

"I don't see what's so important about this 'Tanner' guy picking up your phone for you." Red, Alexia's sister, said while she turned the truck into their garage. "What do you mean? That means everything." Alexia stated while getting out of the truck, her voice a little squeaky. Her voice always went up when she was annoyed, or embarrassed. 

"Well, if that's what you think." Red chuckled, turning the car off. "I don't get it..." Rika, the youngest, mumbled while she pulled her backpack out of the truck. Alexia sighed, "Never mind... I gotta start my paper." Alexia ran to the door, running past the kitchen and into her room.

"Don't run, Lexi!" Alexia heard Red yell behind her, before closing her door.

12:57 AM

August 3rd, 2010

Atlanta Suburbs, GA

Alexia was sitting at the counter in the kitchen, with her twin brother, Jaxon. Red was sitting on the couch in the living room, scrolling through TV channels. Alexia let out an over-exaggerated sigh, "Why don't we just lock him out to teach him a lesson?" Jaxon shook his head, clearly half-asleep, "He's our dad, Lexi. We can't just-" Jaxon yawned. "- leave him out to dry..."

Red turned to look at Alexia, a hint of pity in her eyes. "Your brother's right. If you want to go to sleep you can." Red turned back to the TV, continuing to scroll. 

Knock.

Knock.

There was a heavy pounding at the door, making the three of them jump. "I got it." Red muttered, going to the door, and opening it. "Finally, you're ba-" Jaxon was cut off when their 'father' tackled Red, chomping at the air above her. "What the hell?! Get off of me you sick bastard!" Red yelled, struggling.

"What's wrong with him?!" Lexi screamed out, seeing blood on her father's shirt. "It must be the virus... That one on the news!" Jaxon exclaimed, before running to one of the drawers in the kitchen. "I don't care why he's like this, get him off of me!" Red yelled, their father's chomps getting closer to her neck.

Jaxon had grabbed their father's pistol, an M9. "You're gonna shoot him?!" Alexia yelled out, shock and fear on her face. "We have to! It's the virus!" Jaxon yelled, and quickly pulled the trigger, the bullet eching into their father's skull.

The sound rang in Alexia's ears, on repeat. Their father's body went limp, laying on top of Red. "Oh my god... Oh god..." Alexia kept repeating to herself. "Jesus..." Red muttered, pulling herself up, and closing the door. "I need to check on Rika. You two, close all the curtains, and turn the lights off." Red quickly walked down the hall, into Rika's room.

Alexia was shaking, but she did as Red asked, and closed the curtain facing the street, while Jaxon turned the living room lights off. When they were done, they sat down on the couch, in complete darkness. "I'm sorry, Alexia..." Jaxon muttered.

"No, you did what you had to. Red's alive because of you." Alexia nodded as she spoke, as if trying to agree with herself. Neither of them could say anything else, they just sat in silence.

"Hey. Pack what you can carry." Red said, emerging from Rika's room. "What? What are we doing?" Alexia asked, worry in her voice. "Henry sent me a video from the news station. This virus is spreading like wildfire. You two can watch it in the car. We need to go into Atlanta, since they're setting up a shelter there. So, go pack." 

Red turned and went to her room, Jaxon and Alexia springing up and going to their rooms too.