What will happen when the world that we know comes to an end?
When you need to push all of your boundaries, to break all the rules... just to survive.
Kill or be killed. You're either a survivor or you're long gone...
• [AU] original story about Ric...
I take Sophie on my back like a little kid and run upstairs to my apartment. I put her down on a sofa and look around trying to gather my thoughts. To make some kind of plan.
- Sweetheart, change your clothes to something warm. – I say as I take out a backpack from the closet an begin packing the most important things like water, some kind of food, flashlight and a gun. I never used it, but it's always been there, just in case, if something ever happened. I guess it was that moment.
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- What's happening? What are you doing, daddy? – She asks and I can hear fear in her voice. She has no idea what is happening. Honestly, I'm clueless as well. What is really happening?
- Pumpkin we need to go, it's not safe here. Mommy will join us and we will leave the city for awhile. Go to grandmas. – I look at the clock, it's been an hour since Care's call. I don't know how much longer I can wait for her, with each second leaving the city will be harder and I have to do everything in my power to keep Sophie safe. Staying here isn't safe. I hear a woman scream and I go to look through the window. She's attacked by another one of those nutjobs. This is not good. I take our family picture from the drawer and give it to Sophie. – Put it in your backpack.
She hides the picture in the backpack and starts quietly sobbing. I don't know what to say to make her feel better. So I don't say anything, I just hug her tightly while still looking at the clock. Half hour. And then we're leaving. I can't risk waiting longer. Where am I going to take her? Is there any place that is still safe? I think about it for awhile when I make the decision to go with Sophie to my brother. He lives an hour away from Atlanta. I can make it.
Half hour later there is still no sign of Caroline. I grab a piece of paper to leave a note for her when I hear a loud bumping on the door. I sigh with relief. She made it. I run to open the door when someone pushes me inside. I fall on the floor in shock and realize right away that I'm in danger. My daughter is in danger. The man is crazy, I can see madness in his eyes. Or maybe it's something else. I grab the chair next to me and hit it in the head. I don't lose any time. I grab the backpack and take Sophie into my arms as I make my way down the stairs. I put Sophie inside the car and drive away as fast as I can.
....
It was really hard to get out of the city. But somehow we managed to get out in one piece. I look at Sophie curled up and sleeping on passenger's seat. She was restless for the past two hours, but she finally fell asleep. This is good, she needs some rest. I still heard nothing from Caroline, there is no signal. There is no way for me to contact with her. I just hope that she is safe. She is tough and she can take care of herself - that I don't doubt for a second. I look at a big house shaping in the distance. We're finally here, at my brother's place. It's a farm so there is literally nothing else ahead. It's so quiet and peaceful, nothing like the city we just left. I'm still looking around carefully trying to see if there is any threat ahead of us.
I park the car in front of the big house and get out. I leave Sophie inside, but I make sure that all the doors are closed. I don't want to wake her up yet and beside, I have to check out the house first. It's dark inside which makes me worried. Maybe they cut the power? I go inside and look around. I see a silhouette of a man in the living room, but I can't really guess if that's my brother, it's so dark.
- James? Is that you? – I turn on the flashlight and direct the light on the silhouette. He slowly turns around in my direction, finally facing me. It's my brother. But it's not really him. They got to him, he turned into one of these things. – Brother? – I ask desperately as if it's gonna change the fact that my brother is dead. My hands are shaking when I reach for the gun. I try to aim at him, but I can't get myself to shoot. He starts walking my way, making weird noises. I take a few steps back trying to gain the courage to shoot. I have to do this. I saw what these things do to people. I have to protect Sophie, I can't do that if I'm dead. I pull the trigger and the bullet goes straight through his heart. But he keeps moving, it's like it did nothing to him. I take another shot, but with the same result. He is just few steps away from me when I aim for his head and he loudly falls on the floor. I drop the gun and fall on my knees next to my brother's body. I can't wrap my head around the fact that he is dead. I take his body into my hands and I can feel tears on my face. It feels like a nightmare, but I know it's a reality.
- Dad? – I hear Sophie behind my back. I let go of my brother and get up right away. I look at my daughter in shock. I don't want her to see this. I take a step in her direction to take her out of the room, but suddenly I stop when I see drops of blood falling on the floor. I look at my hands drenched in blood and then I look at Sophie.
All I see is fear. She's terrified.
And she's scared of me.
~~~
Author's note:
I know, I'm sorry for being inactive for so long! The college got the best of me and when I had any time at all, I just didn't have the inspiration to write. Now that I have holidays, hopefully I can write more often. Hope that you liked this chapter. :)
