“I love you,” Amy said.
“I love you too. Forever and always.”
After a long time, they pulled apart, and Amy watched her mom walk upstairs, pistol in hand. When the shot rang out, her knees gave in. She collapsed to the floor, and curled into a ball, mourning her loss with wracking sobs that threatened to rip her apart. This was it. The moment when everything changed.
***
Amy shook her head to clear the memory. She had to concentrate. There was still so much to do. With a grunt of effort, she dragged her mother’s body into the shallow grave she’d dug.
The corpse was wrapped in linen. She didn’t want to look at her mother’s dead face again, her skull deformed by the pistol shot. It had been bad enough cleaning the mess in her parent’s bathroom, and she didn’t think she’d ever be able to set foot inside it again. No. She wanted to remember her mom as she used to be. Warm, loving, and beautiful. A shining light who welcomed all into her heart and home with open arms.
Taking up the shovel, Amy closed the grave one spadeful of earth at a time. She winced when the fresh blisters on her palms burst but kept at it. Her blood dripped onto the ground. An offering. A final farewell. “Goodbye, Mom. I’ll always love you. Say hi to dad for me.”
After saying a prayer, Amy walked to the house with the shotgun slung across her back. The sun was setting, its golden rays fading to mauve on the horizon. Night was falling, and with it would come the darkness. “I’d better be ready for it.”
Chapter 3 - Alex
For the umpteenth time, Alex tried to call his mother. Nothing. It went straight to voicemail. Ever since the shit hit the fan, reception had been spotty. He glanced up and down the street, aware that his uniform was attracting attention. That was the last thing he wanted, especially at a time like this.
When he first heard about the outbreak, he thought it was a joke. So did his army buddies. But when they were dispatched to deal with a particularly violent riot, he got to see firsthand what they were up against. It wasn’t pretty.
Even now, the memory was enough to give him nightmares. He’d seen things that couldn’t be explained. Horrifying things: A mother attacking her own children. A man getting back to his feet after a fellow soldier emptied half a magazine into his chest. People eating people.
It didn’t take long to figure out they weren’t human anymore. They felt no pain, didn’t get tired, didn’t sleep, and couldn’t be reasoned with. They were dead. Only now, death was no longer the end. It was just the beginning.
At first, he did his duty and followed orders. He believed, as they all did, that the outbreak could be stopped and the zombie menace eradicated. He was wrong. Within days, millions were infected. Key installations fell to the undead hordes, major cities burned, and the infrastructure began a slow collapse beneath the strain. It wasn’t long before he made up his mind to leave. His family needed him. He wasn’t the only one, either. A bunch of other soldiers had the same idea. It was every man for himself now.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t get into trouble if caught, however. The army was still very much the army. A stickler for the rules and they did not tolerate deserters.
Alex ignored the curious glances of onlookers and ducked into an alleyway. After making sure it was empty, he pressed dial on his phone again. “Come on, Mom. Answer.”
The phone rang and after a few seconds, connected. “Alex? Is that you?”
“Mom! Yes, it’s me.” Relief flooded his veins.
“Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried. Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I’ve been watching the news, and it’s just terrible. All those units falling. I was scared you were one of them.”
“No, Mom. I’m still here, alive. Promise.”
“Where are you?” she asked.
“In Kansas City, Missouri. I left the army,” he replied.
“Why?” she asked with a gasp.
“Because, I’m coming home, Mom. You guys need me. After what I’ve seen, this is not going to blow over,” he explained.
“Are you sure? Won’t you get into trouble?” she asked.
“Not if I’m careful,” he replied. “What about you guys? Are you okay?”
“Oh, sweetie. I don’t know how to say this, but your dad…your dad’s gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean gone?” he asked, a sense of dread settling on his shoulders.
“He went to town for supplies and never returned. But that’s not all, sweetie. I…I went myself this morning to look for him, and I was attacked.”
Alex’s blood ran cold. “Don’t say it, Mom. Please, don’t.”
“I was infected, Alex. That man bit me,” she said, confirming his worst fears.
A long silence ensued as neither knew what more to say. A knot formed in Alex’s throat, and he swallowed hard to contain his grief. “What…what about Amy?”
“Amy’s fine for now, but she needs you. When can you get here?”
“It’s a seven hour drive from here to Louisville, give or take, but with the road conditions, I’d say a day or two. Maybe three.”
“Well, she should be okay until then. She’s got food, water, and the shotgun.”
“What about you?” he asked, though he didn’t really want to know the answer.
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’ll take care of it. Just make sure you get here. Amy needs you. She’s too young to survive on her own.”
“I know. I’m on my way.”
“Promise me, Alex,” she said, her voice hardening. “I need to know you’ll keep your promise, no matter what.”
“I swear it, Mom. I’ll protect Amy. No matter what.”
His mother sighed, her voice breaking on her next words. “I love you, sweetheart. Never forget that.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
She hung up, and for a long time, Alex stared at the phone in his hands. Grief and loss weighed heavy on his heart, turning it into
