~the undead Diaries~ (re-editing!!)

running

His gaze intensified, and a sense of urgency filled the air. "Now go. Run, find shelter, gather those supplies, and live for us. Live for her."

At this point, he was crying and Mom's zombified body was thrashing around in Dad's lap. She turned fully when he was talking to us. "But Dad you haven't been bitten and maybe we can save Mom. She can survive" Brodey was balling by now and it was bad. He was pulling attention to himself and we needed to get out of here. Dad was bit by Mom by now. So he would turn eventually too. " I will take care of him, Dad. With my life even if I have to die for him I will sacrifice everything."

Tears were spilling out of my eyes, cascading down my cheeks like an uncontrollable waterfall. I didn't want them to escape, but the overwhelming sadness had other plans. I had to stay strong for Brodey; he needed me now more than ever to shield him from the heartache that weighed heavy in the air. With a trembling voice, I turned to Brodey, urging him to say his final goodbye to Dad.

"I love you, Dad," he choked out, his small frame shaking with emotion. "I always will." I felt a pang of pain as Brodey's words hung in the air, each syllable steeped in love and loss.

"I promise to take good care of Brodey, with my life," I vowed, my heart aching as the reality of our situation crashed down around me. I dropped down to my knees, the cool ground grounding me in this unbearable moment, as grief washed over me like a tidal wave.

"I know you will, baby girl," he said, his voice a mix of urgency and calm. "You've always looked after him. Now, you need to take him and run. Get as far away from the city as you can. Find a deserted place—somewhere no one will think to look for you. Stay hidden, stay safe. Whatever you do, don't draw any attention to yourself."

As he spoke, I could see his eyes darkening, a shadow creeping over his intention. The worry etched on his face deepened, urging me to make my choice swiftly. "You need to go, now!" he stressed, just before his transformation began.

"I love you, Mom, and you too, Dad," I whispered, feeling the weight of finality in my words as I turned to my parents, a surge of fear and love flooding my chest. I had to leave them behind, but I promised myself I would do whatever it took to protect my brother. Time was slipping away, and I had to act quickly.

With that determined thought in mind, we started to sprint, our hearts pounding with both fear and urgency. I glanced back at Brodey, his wide eyes reflecting sheer panic. "Stay close to me," I urged, needing him to understand the importance of our next move. "We can't go back to the car!" he exclaimed, confusion mingling with fear. "Dad told us to run to the fields, not back to the car!"

I could see the terror written on his face; I didn't want to add to it. In a moment of instinct, I scooped him up into my arms, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavily on my shoulders. "Brodey, listen. We need supplies. If we're going to survive out here, we have to be prepared," I explained as my feet pounded the ground beneath us.

It felt like a lifetime before we reached the car, the familiar sight bringing a fleeting sense of relief. But there was no time to relax. I flung the door open and dashed inside, quickly rummaging through my mom's large backpack that had been tossed in the backseat. I dumped its contents onto the floor – clothing, snacks, and a few stray items scattered around.

"Okay, this is what we need," I muttered to myself as I sifted through the mess, stuffing essentials into the bag. I carefully selected items that would sustain us: water bottles, granola bars, and a small first aid kit. I grabbed the other bags we had brought with us, knowing they could hold more provisions.

"Alright, Brodey," I said as I closed the backpack and secured it on my back, "we have to run to the hills now. I need you to follow me closely and don't let go of my hand, please." I reached for his small hand and felt him grip mine tightly, which gave me a spark of reassurance in this uncertain and terrifying moment. Together, we took off toward the distant hills, each step heavy with the weight of survival and hope.