Chapter 2
Jane woke up and opened her eyes slowly. She was sleeping in a big bed, alone. It was comfortable. She was well rested. But something felt strange.
She looked around the room. Light was coming in through the bedroom window. Her door was closed. She couldn't hear any sounds.
She got out of bed and rushed to her bedroom door. She wanted to call out to Charles and the young boy. They were supposed to be sleeping in another room.
Something didn't feel right.
She opened the door and stuck her head into the hallway. Her eyes shot from side to side.
Nothing out there.
"Charles?" she whispered.
She stepped out into the hallway, the floor boards creaking underneath her weight. Her heart was racing
.
Something was wrong
.
She knew it.
As she came upon the bedroom where Charles and Robert had gone to sleep, she knew that it had been a mistake for them to split up. She was going to go into the room and see that the old man and young boy had been killed. That one of thos
e
thing
s
had come in in the night and slaughtered them. Tore at their faces, pulled out their eyes.
She grabbed hold of the door knob.
They were going to be dea
d
.
She turned the door handle, then nearly pulled away
.
She couldn't look. She couldn't see them lying there, killed.
Yet, she had to know. Had to make sure.
She door opened. Her heart continued to race.
Then she let out a sigh of relief
.
Everything was okay.
Charles was lying on the bed. Robert's head rested on the old man's chest. Sunlight shone upon the two of them.
Jane smiled and turned to leave. Charles called out to her.
"Good morning," he said. His voice was nothing more than a whisper.
She looked back at him.
"Did you have a good sleep?' he asked.
Jane placed her finger to her lips. She didn't want to wake the young boy. She nodded her head. Still smiling.
"Good," Charles said. He smiled back at her. "I'll be up in a minute."
"No rush."
Jane turned to leave. They were all safe. Just waking up from a nice sleep. Everything seemed normal.
If only that were tru
e
.
Chapter 3
Adam woke up, laying in a field. A little wet from the dew. But he was happy. He had gotten Shelly back.
The young girl was beside him, Claire on the far side o
f
he
r
. They were both sleeping.
Adam reached out and touched Shelly's head. Not to wake her. Just to make sure that she was there, that this was all real. She moved slightly at his touch
.
It was rea
l
. He kept his hand on her.
After a while, his thoughts shifted to the woman beside her
.
Clair
e
. He could see her face better in the morning light. The cuts upon it. The bruising.
She had been crying a lot last night. And, for some reason, he thought that he had started it. He knew that, deep down, it had nothing to do with him. It was the situation, what had happened to her. Yet he felt a little guilty, nonetheless.
He sat up and looked around. The sun had just started to rise. The sky a soft yellow and red.
He glanced in the direction that they had come from. No one was there. No one was coming after them
.
Good.
Adam felt the young girl move and turned back to her. Her eyes were already open, looking at him.
"Good morning," he whispered, not wanting to wake Claire.
"Hi." Shelly gave him a little smile. He could see that she was still tired.
"You can sleep," he said. "I think we're safe."
She pushed herself onto one elbow. "It's okay. I should get up. We should get going. I'm hungry."
Adam hadn't thought about that. Of course they'd be hungry. They probably hadn't been fed much…if any.
"Sure," he said. "We should get you something."
Shelly sat up and looked around. "It looks like it's going to be a nice day."
Adam smiled. He hoped that she was right.
*
Claire woke up not long after. She pushed herself up and looked in the same direction toward the camp.
"I haven't seen anyone out there," Adam said. It wasn't a typical greeting.
Claire turned to him. "What? Oh…" It dawned on her what he was talking about.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Shelly asked. Claire looked at her. The young girl had concern in her eyes.
"I don't know abou
t
a good slee
p
," Claire admitted. "But it was…well…" She had been going to say that it was nice to be out of the cage. Except she didn't want to talk about that this morning. "It was fine."
Adam nodded his head, though he could see that something was troubling her.
Shelly stood up. "Let's go. I'm starving. And I want some new shoes!"
"New shoes?" Adam looked at her feet. The guard's shoes were far too big for her. "Oh yeah."
"And some new clothes!" Shelly looked down at her shirt and pulled it out at the bottom. She held it there for everyone to see. Parts of it were torn. There were still stains from the man that she had shot. "I definitely need some new clothes!"
Adam saw the blood too. Last night, he hadn't really noticed it. It had been too dark. They had been too busy trying to escape. But he could see it now. And it bothered him.
He turned to look at Claire. Her shirt was also ruined. Covered in blood and who knew what else.
"We'll find you both something soon," he said. "There's got to be a house or something around here. Lots of clothes.
"No," Claire said quickly.
Adam turned to her in surprise. Even Shelly looked over at the woman.
"No?"
Claire shook her head. "I wan
t
ne
w
clothes
.
New one
s
."
Adam understood. There was something morbid about walking into someone's house and taking their clothes. Especially since that person was either dead or one o
f
the
m
. "All right. We'll have to look for a store."
"It'll be just like shopping!" Shelly said, excited about it. It was as though she didn't remember much of what had happened to her over the past few days. Or maybe she just didn't want to.
Either way, Adam looked at her. Then he started to laugh. He couldn't help himself.
To his surprise, Claire joined him.
*
The three continued to go in the direction they had been headed: away from the camp. They didn't know if there was a town nearby. They didn't know if there would be a store there. Then, an idea came to Adam. He turned around.
"See over there," he said. He pointed at a hill far off in the distance. "There's a little town behind it. That's where I left my bike."
"You want to go back all that way?" Shelly asked. "Just for your bike?"
"No. It's just that I know that there's a town there."
"But we'll have to pass by the camp," Claire said. Her voice slow.
"You're right." Adam hadn't thought about that. "W
e
woul
d
have to pass the camp. Though we could go around it."
"I don't think it's a good idea. Those guys might've returned. Big Mike might be there." Now her voice shook as she spoke. Adam didn't know if it was out of fear or anger.
"You're right," he said again. He continued to look at the hill. It was far away, and that was another reason not to go back there. Maybe there was something closer by. He turned back around. "So, we should keep walking this way?"
"Yeah," Shelly said.
Claire simply nodded her head.
Chapter 4
Jane opened the door to the house, her backpack strapped over her shoulders. It was a beautiful day. The sun shining. Warm. She looked up and down the street, checking for thos
e
thing
s
. Then Robert ran past her and out into the yard.
She tried to reach out and grab him, but wasn't quick enough. "Get back here!" she nearly screamed.
Robert spun and looked at her. She could see the guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry." He lowered his head and walked back to her.
She placed her hand on his head, her arm shaking with fright. "It's not safe out here. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."
Robert kept his head lowered.
"I'm sorry I yelled," Jane added. She didn't want to make him feel bad.
"It's okay," he moped.
Charles came up behind them and ruffled Robert's hair. He had seen the boy run outside and was frightened, himself. "You've gotta listen to Jane here," he said. "You understand?"
"Yes."
"Thing's have changed now. You've gotta keep on the lookout."
"I know," Robert said. "I'm sorry."
Charles ruffled the little boy's hair again. "You're a good kid. Just eager to get outside, huh?"
Robert looked up at the old man. "What's that?" he asked.
"What'
s
wha
t
?"
"Eager."
Charles grinned. "It means that you really want to do something. Like go outside. And I can't blame you. It's a gorgeous day."
The corners of Robert's mouth raised.
"There a good boy," Charles continued. "Now, let's get you into your wagon."
They brought it out of the house and placed it onto the sidewalk. Both Jane and Charles kept looking around to make sure that there weren't any of the creatures nearby while they did it. Everything still looked clear.
Robert went to hop into the wagon. He lifted his leg. Then stopped.
"I can walk," he said.
Jane shook her head. "It's okay. We don't mind pulling you. We have a long way to go."
"Where are we going?"
"To…find safety." Jane didn't know what else to tell him.
Robert got into the wagon. Charles came up behind him.
"Forgetting something?" the old man asked. He held out his hand. In it was Robert's stuffed animal, Mr. Baker.
Robert looked at the toy and another look of guilt crossed his face. "I...I..." He grabbed Mr. Baker and held him tightly in his arms. "I'm sorry," he said to the stuffed rabbit. "I didn't mean to leave you."
The young boy looked at Jane and Charles, hoping that they could give him some sign of forgiveness. Charles was the first to respond.
"Don't worry," he said. "We all forget things. Just today, I almost forgot to put on my pants."
Robert looked at the old man, disbelieving. Then he started to laugh. "You did not!"
"I did too. I almost walked right out of the house without them."
Jane joined the laughter.
"So, don't feel bad, okay?" Charles said.
Robert nodded.
"Time to go," Jane said as she grabbed hold of the wagon and started to pull. Robert squeezed onto the sides of the wagon.
She walked to the road and looked down it. There were several dead bodies strewn through out. She could see red patches of blood, where the puddles had dried.
She wished that the little boy didn't have to see such things, but there was nothing that she could do about it. They had all been thrown into this mess and simply had to deal with it.
Jane pulled the wagon forward with the little boy in it. Charles followed. Three generations, come together.
Chapter 5
Jane pulled Robert along behind her. She hadn't said much to the little boy or the old man since they had left the house. Things were bothering her. She often thought of her husband and daughter and what had happened to them. Plus, there was a new child depending on her. And an old man.
It took all that she could to stop herself from crying. She couldn't breakdown. Not now. She had to be strong.
Jane squeezed the handle of the wagon. She could hear the wheels rumbling on the pavement, her feet patting along beside it.
She took a deep breath. The air smelled bad. The dead bodies were well into decomposing. She tried not to focus on them.
When she heard a little laugh, she turned to look at Robert. He was playing with his stuffed animal and wasn't paying any attention to all that had happened. It brought somewhat of a smile to her face. Though she was also confused that he could so easily block out all that was around him
.
If only she could do the same…
As they came to a corner, Jane slowed down. She didn't know which direction she was supposed to go. She had never been to this town before. She didn't know how to get out of it. It was also bigger than she had expected.
"Robert," Jane said. "Do you know where we are?"
Robert stopped playing with Mr. Baker and looked up at her, half a smile on his face.
"We are near the bridge," he said.
"The bridge?"
"Yeah. Over there."
He pointed down the road. Jane looked. It wasn't easy to see, but she could tell that the houses ended there. That must be the end of the town, their way out.
"Do you know what's on the other side?" Jane asked.
Robert shook his head. He didn't have any idea.
Jane turned to look at Charles. "What do you think?"
"I think it's as good as any of these other streets," the old man replied. "We don't really know where we're going, after all."
Jane nodded. Charles was right.
"Then let's go," she said. But before she took another step, she looked once more at Charles. "Are you okay? Did you want to take a break?"
Charles raised his hand in protest. "I'm okay. I feel pretty good right now. Though we might have to take a rest at the end of the street. It looks pretty long."
"It's okay if you want to stop for a bit."
Charles shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Besides, if we stop, I might not be able to get moving again."
Jane smiled. She had to appreciate Charles' effort. "All right, then. Let's get moving."
*
As they walked, Jane kept looking around. She couldn't help herself. She was always worried that one of thos
e
thing
s
was going to come rushing out of one of the houses and attack them. She didn't know what would happen if it did. She could grab the child and run. Though what about Charles? Surely, he couldn't make it to safety in time.
She tried not to think about it. She'd simply have to deal with it when the problem arose. Which, hopefully, it never would.
*
They came upon the bridge. Jane could see it better now. It wasn't very long. And she was happy for that. She hadn't thought about it before, but now she worried about getting stuck on it
.
What it one of those creatures came while they were in the middle of the bridge? What would she do? Wha
t
coul
d
she do?
She looked at Charles and could tell that he was getting tired. "Are you sure you don't want to rest now?"
"It's okay. Just a little further. We can stop when…"
A noise stopped his words. A door had swung open quickly and slammed against a wall.
They turned to look. It had come from a house to their right. The one straight before the bridge.
Someone stood in the doorway, staring at them, anger in his eyes.
Jane turned to Charles
.
A creature. They had to run.
Jane bent down and picked up Robert. He didn't know what was happening. He had been playing with Mr. Baker. Now he was lifted into the woman's arms.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Shhh," Jane said. She turned to Charles. "Are you okay? Can you make it?"
"Where should we go?"
Jane didn't know. Of course, they had to run to one of the houses. Only she didn't know which one.
She looked back to the creature standing in the doorway. It was approaching them now, arms held up in the air. Jane thought that she could make out something in its hand. A black book of some kind.
He started to shout. Except, this time, Jane could make out the words.
"Blasphemy," the creature yelled. "Vile demons! Go back to where you came from!"
Jane looked back to Charles. There was an expression of confusion on both of their faces. They had never heard any of the creatures talk before. They had simply yelled and attacked.
"Blasphemy!" it shouted again.
"I think it's a man," Charles said.
Jane looked back at the figure. It was approaching quickly. But she knew that Charles was right. This wasn't one of the creatures.
"It's Mr. Gordon," Robert said.
Jane looked down at the child. "What?"
"Mr. Gordon," Robert repeated.
"You know him?"
"Yes…it'
s
Mr. Gordo
n
."
Jane looked back at the man. He was coming closer. He continued to yell.
"Blasphemy," he said. "Devils! Demons! You shall all perish!"
Jane didn't know what to do. She still wanted to run, but surely this man wasn't going to harm them. He must have mistaken them for some of the creatures
.
Then why would he have come out?
"I don't like the look of this," Charles said. "Something isn't right with this man."
Jane agreed. "We have to find a safe place. We should head over there."
She pointed at one of the houses. But, as she did, her concentration shifted further down the road. There were a few people down there. She knew straight away tha
t
the
y
were creatures.
"We have to get out of here," she said.
She turned to Mr. Gordon. And, just like that, she knew that he wasn't shouting at her and her group. He was shouting at th
e
thing
s
down the road.
She tried to grab hold of his shirt as he passed.
"Mr. Gordon," she said. "Come with us."
He paid her no attention. He walked passed with a little black book raised over his head. Jane could see now that it was a bible.
"Blasphemy, demons, go back to where you came from!" Mr. Gordon continued.
The creatures started to shout now too.
Jane tried to pull at the man's shirt again, but it was of no use. He walked past her, screaming.
"We have to leave," Charles said, interrupting her thoughts.
Jane looked back at him. "Where?"
Charles pointed toward Mr. Gordon's house. It seemed to make the most sense. He had just come from there, so there wouldn't be anything dangerous inside.
"But what about Mr. Gordon?" Robert asked.
Jane turned to the little boy. "Don't think about it. We tried to stop him. He didn't want to come with us."
"Why not?"
Jane didn't answer the question. She couldn't. She didn't kno
w
wh
y
Mr. Gordon hadn't wanted to go with them. But, at the moment, it didn't really matter
.
The
y
had to get to the house. That was what was important. Mr. Gordon had made his own decision.
She glanced back at the man walking down the road toward the creatures. They had started to charge toward him.
"What should we do about the wagon?" Charles asked.
"Leave it. We can come back for it after." She started to run toward the house with the little boy in her arms.
Charles followed behind, unable to keep up. Though he tried his best and didn't stop until he reached the front porch of Mr. Gordon's house. He was out of breath once he arrived.
"Are you okay?" Jane asked.
Charles nodded his head. He took a few steps up to the front door.
Jane stayed where she was. Her gaze had returned to the scene down the road.
Mr. Gordon was almost at the creatures. She could hear him shouting. His hands raised above him.
Then the attack began. The creatures pounced on him and began tearing at his body.
Jane kept her hand on Robert's head. She pressed his face into her neck. She wouldn't allow him to watch. Not this.
A hand touched her shoulder and she jerked around. Charles was standing a few steps above her.
"Let's go," he said. "We don't want them to see us."
Jane nodded and turned away from Mr. Gordon and the creatures. She made her way up to the front door. But, before she entered, she heard the man shout a final "Blasphemy!" Then his voice was cut off as the creatures tore out his throat.