THE ONES WHO LIVED

The escape

Kai was not dead. He was not even hit. He had dodged the bullet and the knife at the last second, throwing himself to the ground. He had seen the man's movements and anticipated his attack. He had used his survival instincts and his reflexes to save himself.

He saw Haley lying on the floor, bleeding from her chest. He saw the man standing over her, ready to finish her off. He saw the woman and the child, still alive but barely. He saw the blood and the bodies, the horror and the madness.

He felt a surge of anger and adrenaline. He felt a need to act and to fight. He felt a will to live and to protect.

He got up and ran at the man, kicking his knee cap out of place. He heard a crack and a scream. He saw the man fall to the ground, dropping his knife and his gun. He saw an opening and an opportunity.

He jumped on the man and punched him repeatedly. He hit him in the face, in the chest, in the stomach. He hit him with all his strength, with all his rage, with all his hate. He hit him until he stopped moving, until he stopped breathing, until he stopped living.

He got off the man and checked on Haley. She was still alive, but barely. She had a bullet wound in her chest, but it had missed her heart. She was losing blood, but she was not dead.

He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her wound. He tried to stop the bleeding and to keep her warm. He tried to comfort her and to keep her awake. He tried to save her and to keep her alive.

He looked around and saw the woman and the child. They were still alive, but barely. They had multiple stab wounds and cuts. They were in pain, but they were not dead.

He took some bandages and some water from his backpack. He tried to clean their wounds and to dress them. He tried to ease their pain and to calm them. He tried to help them and to keep them alive.

He looked around and saw the door. He saw a way out and a chance to escape. He saw a hope and a possibility.

He took the knife and the gun from the man. He put them in his backpack. He took the woman and the child in his arms. He lifted Haley on his back. He carried them to the door. He opened it and left the bunker.

He saw the motorcycle and the road. He saw a means of transport and a direction to follow. He saw a future and a destination.

He put the woman and the child on the motorcycle. He put Haley behind him. He got on the motorcycle and started the engine. He drove away from the town and towards the north.

He hoped to find the Northbounders and to reunite with them. He hoped to find some medical help and to heal them. He hoped to find Eden and to live there.

He hoped to survive and to thrive.