Trinity knuckles tightened against the dashboard as Stewart swerved around another abandoned car. Their tires screeching under them. The familiar street of Highland Heights had transformed into this horrific nightmare within hours...Mr. Gray who always complained about how loud Stewart played his guitar was now stumbling around in his front yard. His bones bending at impossible angles. The Dolly boys who you would always find skating down the street now clawed mindlessly as their mother's front door leaving a bloody mess in their wake.
Trinity: Keep driving...
She muttered. They had a plan...They talked about this time and time again over drinks, jokingly about a zombie apocalypse while everyone else discussed their kids or future plans with their kids...No children meant structure. No children meant survival...Stewart navigated through the fallen chaos with ease. His eyes burning with determination.
Stewart: We're almost at the highway...The emergency broadcast said to head South o--
Trinity: Brake Stewie brake!!
Trinity's scream echoed in the car as Stewart rushed to slam on the brakes. The Volkswagen skidded to a loud halt...There in the headlights stood a small boy. He couldn't have been more than six. His batman pajamas were covered in something dark and his face streaked with old tears. He tightened his grip on a tattered blanket...its pattern splattered with the same odd stains on his clothes
Trinity: Oh hell no
Trinity read Stewart's face almost immediately as he unbuckled his seatbelt
Trinity: Absolutely not!
Stewart: We cannot just leave him out here...He's a fucking kid Trin
Stewart's voice cracking as they watched him through the windshield. The boy stood frozen in place like a statue, his small chest heaving up and down with every terrified sob. Trinity's eyes darted to the rearview mirror. Shadows in the darkness behind them growing closer and closer..
Trinity: No he'll only slow us down. Plus he's not our responsibility...Remember our agreement Stewart??...No kids ever
Stewart: This is so different! Did we expect a zombie apocalypse to happen for real??
Stewart's hand moved closer to the door handle
Stewart: This isn't about wanting kids Trin or even having them. This is about having human dec--
A jagged low moan cut through the nights air. Four houses down a figure emerged from behind a broken car, followed by three more. Their movements were swift, untamed, drawn in by the sound of their roaring engine
Trinity: Stewart we have to go...Now
Trinity's voice shook as she watched the approaching undead horde start to close in...The boy still never moved an inch...paralyzed by fear. He dropped his ruined blanket on the ground as more of the creatures slowly emerged from the darkness behind him
Stewart: Fuck...
Stewart muttered as he threw the car into park...Before Trinity could say anything else he jumped out sprinting for the boy...The boy was scared but didn't fight back when Stewart picked him up. Trinity slid into the driver's seat....Her hands shaking as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. The infected were only getting closer...So close she could smell their decaying flesh. Stewart yanked the back door open and flung the kid inside before jumping into the passenger seat.
Stewart: Fucking drive!
The Volkswagens tires spun against the pavement before moving...when it picked up some traction they sped their way into the darkness...In the rearview mirror she could see the undead horde standing in the spot they'd just been at..where only a small tattered blanket lay...The boy in the backseat was quiet. His loud sobs were now quiet hiccups. Trinity and Stewart's eyes met in the darkness. She could see he was sorry and grateful...She wanted to be angry...She was furious...But there was no time for that right now. The world they knew of was ending..Despite their plans they weren't escaping alone. As they approached the abandoned highway Trinity caught a glimpse of the boy in the mirror...He sat quietly watching the chaos they left behind unfold...She felt something churn in her stomach...not motherly love she insisted to herself...Something that felt like...an unwanted responsibility...The infected took everything from them. Their home, their community, their planned out future...And now in the middle of all of that they ended up with the one thing Trinity swore she never wanted...A child...A child who was counting on them to help him survive...
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