Till Death Do Us Part

Teaser Chapter

"Daddy" I stuttered out the words as uncertainty began to weave its way through my body.

He peered over the top of his book to see me stood by the window, "what is it dear, you look like you've seen a ghost" he questioned.

"There's someone in the field, it looks like they're carrying something and they're heading this way" I reply not taking my eyes of the figure encroaching on our location.

I don't know how many days I had been in this farmhouse but it'd been a while, and since stepping foot on the property I hadn't seen a soul other than those who resided here.

My father made his way across the room, joining me at the bay window to survey his property, his eyes falling on the figure I was so intently studying.

I could see now that the figure was a man and he was indeed carrying something, it looked like a boy.

We quickly made our way out onto the porch, intrigued by the sudden company.

"Hershel, I need hershal" the man shouted as he ran towards us, picking up speed as he lay his eyes upon us.

"Please my son, he needs help. Your man Otis, he shot him" he carried on out of breath. I looked to my family as the cogs began to whir in their minds.

"Patrica fetchs some blankets, Maggie my medical kit" my father exclaimed before rushing into the house "show him into the front bedroom when he gets here" he shouted through the screen door as it crashed shut behind him.

My heart began to beat faster. I hadn't interacted with anyone in so long. Not since ...

No dont think about it.

As the man ran up to the porch I held the screen door open for him.

"the first door on the left, my daddy will help you" and in my mind I actually believed those words. I actually believed my dad could help that little boy who looked so pale and dead.

No don't think like that, he's going to live, he has too. We've had too much death around here. I look over to my daughter who is staring into the space where the boys lifeless boys occupied just moments ago, a look of shock on her face. How much could a child endure before it broke them? Or would growing up in this new horrible world make them numb to the feeling of loss. To the abundance of death.

I was left for seconds with my thoughts spiralling before I heard more shouting. This time from another man but towards a familiar face.

Otis.

The second man had a harsher face with a dark beard and set of hair. He kept calling for Otis to keep up and pushing him as he fell behind. I couldn't help but feel for the man. He wasn't built for running, and was clearly exhausted from the sweat dripping down his forehead.

"Where is he?" The strange new man demanded as he approached the porch, causing Grace to hide behind my legs, pulling on my jeans. I pointed through the screen door taken aback by his harsh and forceful tone.

Who were these people?

And where had they come from?