Dead Man Lurking

Runaways

Dave went downstairs to the basement where his father had been relocated to. He wasn't looking very well. He had his hand tightly gripped to his collar bone where he was bit.

"D-D-Dad?" Dave struggled with his words. He ran his finger through his hair over and over in frustration.

"Dave..." said Stu

"What happened?"

"There was an extra one. Wouldn't go away. I got him though.."

"He got you too..." Dave could feel years beginning to form. "Why didn't you wake me up? I could have helped!"

"It's too late. II'm just glad I have a chance to say goodbye... II'm proud of you. You kept everyone safe up until now, and the only reason I even got hurt was because you were asleep and I didn't get you. I want you to keep doing what you think is right. II'm proud of you son. you became the man I knew you would."

"II'm only the man I am because you raised me..." The tears began to roll down his face one by one. "Is this really goodbye? I never thought it would be like this"

"This is goodbye. I- I love you son"

Dave hung his head low. This was the first time his father had said that. "I love you too..."

Dave heard his sister from behind.

"Daddy?"

Dave looked at his father. He had shut his eyes and his breathing stopped. Everyone was gathered around crying except Jay. Where was she?

People one by one left the room until it was just Dave and Rebecca.

"You looked surprised.." said Rebecca

"What?" Said Dave

"When he said he loved you. You looked surprised. Was that the first time he..."

"Yeah. The first time anyone has."

"He isn't the only one go loves you. I know that for sure. and he has for a Long time."

"What makes you say that?"

"The way he looked at you while you were working. And sometimes he would come in while you were sleeping to check on you. And have you seen the people here? those little girls love you like brothers, and only one of them really is your sister. And Link, he's your best friend. You've also grown close to Link's parents. Like another one of their own children. And.. you.. you captured my heart too.. I love you Dave..."

Dave stopped crying. He wasn't sad anymore.

"Really?!"

"Yes. Really"

"Because.. I've been in love with you for a while now.."

They both began to smile. Dave kissed Rebecca on the cheek, but just as he did so, he heard a rustle of denim behind him. His father had begun moving again. "Run." said Dave sternly.

Rebecca turned and began to run to the door. She climbed the stairs and was stumbling over her steps. She had just made it upstairs when she realized that Dave hadn't gotten out of the basement. She began to panic and she grabbed the bat next to the door and ran back downstairs.

Dave swung his Kamas. The first one missed and got stuck in the wooden beam that supported the house. The second one got caught in his father's shoulder. He had nothing else to defend himself. He would have ran upstairs and shut the door but Rebecca was down here with him again.

"I told you to go upstairs!!"

"And let you die?! I can't do that."

Rebecca swung the bat, hitting Stu's now zombified chest. He stumbled back onto the ground. Link came running down the stairs with the shotgun

"I can't get a clear shot! I'll hit one of you!"

Dave and Rebecca started to run, but Rebecca tripped because she tried to run to fast. She dropped the bat.

Dave fell only for a moment when he tried to turn around to help Rebecca. He stumbled and started to help her up off the ground when he saw his father had gotten up and was running toward them.

Even now that his father was no longer human, Dave couldn't even think about... finishing him. He froze.

His Father dived at them and something inside Dave snapped and he grabbed the bat and quickly swung it at his fathers head. There was so much force, that it knocked stu to the side a few feet. A loud shot could be heard from the right... Stu stopped moving.

Dave checked to make sure Rebecca was okay. She had bruised her ankle, but other than that she was okay. Link ran over to help them off the ground.

"Thanks for not hitting me." Said Rebecca.

"You're welcome" said a voice from the top of the stairs.

Dave turned and saw Jay holding a pistol. Did she just..?

Dave had realized what had happened and he buried his head into his knees and wrapped his arms around his legs. He began to grieve once again.

He didn't even look up to see who had put their hand on his shoulder. But then he felt somebody hugging him from the other side. He looked to see who it was and he saw that Rebecca had been hugging him, Link had put his hand on his shoulder and Jay was kneeled in front of him looking sorry.

"I have to tell you guys something" Said Dave

"Anything." said Link. "What is it?"

"Well, I can't see anyone else I care about be bit. II'm leaving tomorrow morning. Don't tell anyone."

"And just leave everyone here to fend for themselves?!" said Link

"They have everything planned out, and they'll be safe here." Said Dave "Tony and Viv would make sure everyone is safe."

"What about the kids?" asked Rebecca.

"I- I guess you're right. But if anyone else gets bit, I'm out. No hesitation. A lone runaway."

"No" said Link "you're not going anywhere without me. I'll go with you"

"Me too" said Rebecca. "You're all I have..."

"And I would have no reasons to stay" said Jay

"So now we're ready to be runaways..." said Dave. "I hope we never have to"

"We have to make sure they'll be okay without us. it's my family." Said link

"I couldn't leave them if I thought they were in danger anyways"said Dave "that's my mom and sister"

"Let's get some supplies for them tomorrow... just in case we do become runaways" said Link