𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍; 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀

i. blood

J U N E

          We once lived a quiet life on the farm. The birds chirped every morning and the sun shone bright through the windows reflecting on every surface. The morning dew is visible on the humid grass. After the outbreak the appearances did not become that much different but the atmosphere became eerie. The dead had rosen from their graves and if they did as much as scratch you, you would become one of them. Mindless creatures roaming the Earth craving nothing but blood. Although my dad thought otherwise, he believed there was a cure to this virus.

          Today was just as any other, the warm Georgia sun striking through the windows of my room. Well, my sister Beth has been staying at my room since this whole thing started so it became our room. I groaned and hid underneath the sheets, but I couldn't go back to sleep.

          I slipped out of my bed, trying my best to not wake up my sister. I successfully did and went to the bathroom brushed my teeth and changed to fresh clothes. I felt like today was going to be a good day. Walking downstairs I was met by the yummy smell of eggs, ham and toast which Aunt Patricia was making.

          "That smells amazing!" I exclaimed, rapidly sitting on the kitchen table to get the first plate, Patricia smiled warmly. If you couldn't already tell, I love food. I waited patiently and the more time passed by Maggie, Beth and Dad started to wake up as well.

          The whole family sat at the table, but there was one missing. Otis. He was always the last one to wake up. "Well, will somebody go upstairs and wake Otis up?" Dad said, chuckling to himself a bit. I laughed along with him. Patricia did and soon we were all eating breakfast together, occasionally laughing at the jokes made by Dad or Otis.

          "That was so good, thank you auntie Pat." I said sweetly as me and Beth gathered the used dishes to place them on the sink. "Yeah, thanks. I'm gonna be upstairs June if you wanna join me." Beth offered kindly, I looked at her nodded.

          "Mhm, just give me a minute." I said.

          Beth hummed in response as she walked upstairs, boots clacking in the wooden panels with every step she took.

          "June, come here for a sec!" Maggie yelled from the small porch outside. I quickly walked to her and there she stood with Dad. "What's up?"

          "June, hun— will you help Maggie collect the eggs from the chicken coop and give them food please."

          "Of course." I answered following Maggie into the yard, my boots making small indents in the ground. I thought about the monsters outside the comfort of my home, they weren't seen that often because Otis and Randall would 'take care of them' as Dad would say. "How ya' holding up?" Maggie asked out of the blue.

          "I'm okay. It has been peaceful, y'know. The monsters," I paused. "They don't come very often."

          "Yeah, that's good, Dad keeps us safe." Maggie said as we arrived at the coop. We walked inside and gently gathered the eggs, placing them inside our baskets.

          "Stay here, give me your basket and I will put these inside while you feed the chickens."

          "Okay." I said, giving Maggie my basket full of eggs. She left the coop and I was left alone inside the small house. I grabbed the small buckets of food and threw it sparsely on the ground, the chickens went quickly on their feet and poked at the ground to eat their food. I chuckled slightly at their antics.

          "Acting as if we haven't fed you in weeks." I muttered to myself. There was a quick shove at the door but I ignored it. I kept feeding the chicks and then there was another shove to the door but this time it was a bit harder making the door squeak.