Bite The Hand (Joel Miller x f!reader)

Prologue

The brightness of the flashlight against the abyss of black blinded Joel. A few moments earlier he had been running from whatever those things were, desperate to get Sarah to safety. His heart beat wildly beneath his chest, the warmth of his blood rushing through his veins radiated an intense heat off of his skin. Despite the cool autumn night air in Texas, sweat trickled down his back, coating his arms in a slick, sticky layer. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath burning his throat, while a sharp pain in his side suddenly manifested.

"It's okay, baby. We're safe," Joel whispered to Sarah, reassuring her as he tightened his embrace, pulling her even closer to him. She tightened her arm around him, her fingertips digging into the back of his neck. "We're safe," he repeated, though this time it served as more of a self-assurance, a reminder to stay calm for her.

Joel's work boot made a crunching sound as he took a single step toward the lone soldier. Suddenly, his stomach felt as if it was pulled tightly into a knot. Something felt wrong although he couldn't put his finger on exactly what. Many things at that moment were wrong: a mysterious infection sweeping over the world, people violently assaulting one another for seemingly no reason, the military bombing cities without warning, police barricading roads and highways, and confining helpless citizens within the city limits. Regardless of the chaos around him, Joel's primary focus right now was ensuring Sarah's safety; he had little concern for much else.

Joel lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light and called out to the soldier, "We need help," speaking with a calm yet urgent tone. The soldier's shoulders tensed as Joel took another step towards him, causing him to hover his finger directly over the trigger. "Please, it's my daughter. I think her leg's broken," he further pleaded, desperation evident in his voice.

"Stop," the soldier commanded, his grip tightening around the semi-automatic, his voice sounding young yet laced with authority. "Stop right there!" With each repetition of his demand, his tone grew more frantic, sending a haunting chill down Joel's spine.

Every muscle in Joel's body stiffened as he abruptly halted his approach. A tinge of confusion washed over him; he had no fucking idea what was going on. All he knew was that his daughter was frightened and in need of medical attention. After all, the military was supposed to assist citizens in times of need, right?

"We're not...sick if that's..." Joel let his sentence trail off, the words melding with the gentle rustling of the brushes in the vacant field. The soldier shifted his weight from one leg to another repeatedly, as if contemplating his course of action. Joel glanced at his daughter, her eyes wide and terrified; his heart sank in his chest.

The soldier lowered his gun, and the flashlight fixed to it illuminated the ground just before Joel's feet. A wave of relief swept over Joel, and he adjusted Sarah in his arms, offering her a reassuring nod. "Got a couple civilians on the outer perimeter. Please advise," the soldier spoke in a hushed tone into the walkie-talkie attached to one of his shoulders. Joel continued to watch him carefully, narrowing his eyes.

"Daddy, what about Uncle Tommy?" Sarah whispered into Joel's ear. Tommy, right. Where the fuck is he? Joel wondered to himself. Taking a sharp inhale through his mouth, he tightened his grip around her knees, contemplating what to tell her.

"We're gonna get you to safety and go back for him. Okay?" He said with the sole intent to keep her as calm as possible. Hoping his answer would suffice, Joel knew Sarah was stubborn and strong-willed, much like himself. If she thought Tommy would be left behind, she would raise absolute hell until all three of them were reunited.

When she still remained silent after a few seconds, Joel tore his gaze from the soldier to Sarah. He immediately noticed the tears welling up in her eyes and the quivering of her chin, despite her efforts to hold back. Eventually, she gave him a few short nods, resting her cheek on his shoulder. Joel ran his thumb over her forearm, trying to offer her some comfort.