Into The Darkness

Chapter Five

Two months have passed since Alex welcomed me to the warehouse and since I found Rose. More and more survivors have found us, and most of them have decided to stay. So our building has gotten a little more crowded, but we aren't about to start turning people away.

I was woken up by Rose trampling over top of me, "Gosh child, what on earth are you doing?"

"I'm going to play!" she called to me as she disappeared from the tent. I rolled my

eyes and quickly got dressed for the day. When I stepped into the center room of our tent, Alex was standing there, just smiling at me.

"So, I was thinking maybe we could find a library to raid. I could really use some sort of entertainment other than the kids."

"Sounds like a plan, let me find a map." Alex said going back into his side of the tent.

Seconds later screams erupted from outside, making my skin crawl. I ran out onto the roof and scanned the crowd.

"What's going on?" I shouted.

Someone pointed down the side of the building to the front of the street. I ran over to see that someone had busted through the doors and there was a very large group of rotter's making their way inside. How long has the door been opened? I turned to the roof door in time to see Rose and Ollie run out of it, eyes wide with panic. Ollie was almost dragging Rose, who was crying.

"ALEX! Get the kids down to the truck! We're leaving!" I darted off to the tent while Alex helped the kids down the ladder. I have an emergency bug out bag packed for just this occasion. I dropped the bag from the roof into the truck bed below and began climbing down the ladder. Halfway down there were already rotter's spilling around the building coming towards us. But I was just quick enough to get into the truck right before they slammed into the side.

"Drive!" I screamed and Alex hit the gas so hard my head slammed against the headrest.

Once we were safely out of the city, Alex pulled over onto the side of the road so we could regroup.

"Holy shit that was crazy! There were hundreds of them!" Alex said, visibly shaking.

I climbed into the back seat to calm Rose's nerves, she hasn't stopped crying since we got into the truck.

"Rose, no need to cry, we're safe now. Nothing can get us in here. Plus we've got a safe place to go."

"We do?" Alex asked

"Yeah, I tried to tell you about it before. It's an old family friend who lives out in the country." I turned back to Rose, who was still sobbing, then I watched Ollie point to her back.

"I think something bit her." he said

My heart dropped and I felt like I may puke, no she cant be infected. I leaned her up to see her shirt was soaked in blood. Underneath was a gnarly bite mark that looked like it was already infected.

"No." Now I realize how hot her skin felt, she is already burning up from the infection. "Alex." I held back a sob. "What do I do?"

Alex handed me some gauze and some medicine for the pain, but that's all we can do. I wrapped my arms around her and laid back in the seat.

"I don't want you to be afraid, okay? You will get to see mom, and the twins again, I'm sure they miss you." she didn't answer, so I decided to sing her a lullaby that our mom used to sing to all of us when we were scared. She stopped crying after I sang for a while, and I could just feel her getting hotter and hotter.

"I love you Rose." I whispered in her ear.

"I love you too." she croaked out looking very sleepy. "Remember don't be afraid." I felt my heart shatter, she is dying but she is being so brave. I bit down on my tongue hard to keep from crying.

"No Rose, you don't be afraid."

She didn't say another word, her breath became labored, and she began gasping for air. I could feel her heart beating so hard, then nothing at all. I felt her muscles relax in my arms, this can't be real. She was all I had left..

"Wake up! Please wake up!" I sobbed. "ROSE! PLEASE!" I glanced up at Alex who wasn't holding back tears. He couldn't help, nobody can... I just buried my face into her chest and cried until I felt Alex's hand on my arm.

"You have to let me take her, June."

I feel faint. He's going to put her down so she doesn't turn. This isn't fair. I let Alex lift her from my lap and disappear behind the truck. I sat in the truck while Alex took care of Rose, after around thirty minutes I slid out of the truck and found Alex finishing up the grave with Rose's tiny body covered in a blanket right next to it. I sat next to her as he finished the grave and fashioned a cross from some fallen branches.

I sat and watched as he lowered her body into the grave and I sobbed when he started to throw the dirt on top of her. Alex let me sit by her grave as long as possible, but us being here started bringing out the rotter's in the woods nearby.

"June, we should get going..."

I sat quietly in the passenger seat watching the trees pass by. I don't know how far we went before Alex pulled off the road for us to all get some rest. Ollie had cried himself to sleep in the back seat.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alex asked

I didn't answer.

"I'm here for you June." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it, that gesture was enough to make me start bawling again. He pulled me over and laid my head on his chest, all I could do is sob while he kissed the top of my head.

I woke up with a pounding headache, the sun glaring off of the windshield into my eyes isn't helping much. Alex was outside dealing with Ollie so I got out to stretch my legs. The breeze feels nice on my skin, but the sound of Ollie sobbing brought me back to reality. Rose is gone, the virus took her from me. My stomach churned like I may vomit. This doesn't feel real, but in some way i guess its for the better... She doesn't have to be scared, or hungry, or hurt anymore. I took a deep breath to clear my head. I have to be okay, I have to keep going.

"Hey, you ready to get on the road?" Alex asked, pulling me back to reality.

"Yes, lets go."  

Sorry for the short chapter! Some will be shorter than others! Anyway, I hope you enjoy and don't forget to hit the star!