With Our Time Left

Chapter 8

SARA'S POV

The airport terminal felt like a never-ending labyrinth. My lungs burned, and my legs felt heavy, but I pushed forward, weaving through the abandoned gates and deserted hallways. I had to find her—Mom. The growls of the undead echoed behind me, their hungry moans growing louder.

I darted into a side corridor, pressing my back against the cold wall, trying to steady my breath. My hands trembled, and the memories I'd tried so hard to bury began clawing their way back to the surface, dragging me into the past.

Flashback

I was fourteen when everything shattered. The night Dad left was the first time I'd seen Mom break down like that.

They were arguing again, their voices carrying through the thin walls of our house. I was at the top of the stairs, listening to every word, even though I knew I shouldn't. Dad's voice was angry, tired. Mom's was desperate, pleading.

"This isn't working, Lori," Dad shouted, his voice raw. "I can't keep pretending everything's fine when it's not!"

Mom's voice wavered, a mix of anger and heartbreak. "You think it's easy for me? You think I don't see what's happening to this family?"

"Then do something about it!" Dad roared back. "Stop trying to control everything!"

I could feel my chest tightening, my heart racing. I hated this—hated how everything felt like it was falling apart, like we were on a cliff's edge, about to tumble over.

I stood up, my hands clenching into fists. I stormed downstairs and faced them both. "Why can't you just stop?" I yelled, tears stinging my eyes. "Why can't you just try harder?"

Dad turned, surprised to see me there. "Sara, this isn't—"

"No!" I cut him off, my voice trembling. "You don't get to walk away like this. You don't get to destroy everything and leave us to pick up the pieces!"

Mom reached for me, her face crumpling. "Sara, please..."

But I pulled away, my anger surging. "I hate you!" I screamed at both of them. "I hate both of you for doing this to us!"

I ran up to my room, slamming the door behind me, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on my chest. I heard the front door slam, and then there was only silence—the kind of silence that makes you feel like you're drowning.

End of Flashback

I blinked back tears, shoving the memory away. I needed to focus. I could hear the creatures getting closer, their footsteps dragging across the tile floors. I couldn't stay here. I had to keep moving.

But before I could take another step, another memory surfaced, darker and more painful—the one I'd tried hardest to forget.

Flashback

It was 2 years after the divorce when Mom started dating again. At first, I thought it was good. She seemed happier, less broken. But then he came into our lives, and everything changed.

He was always there, always watching. I felt his eyes on me every time I entered the room. I'd catch him staring, a strange smile on his lips. At first, I tried to ignore it, told myself I was imagining things. But it only got worse.

One afternoon, I came home early, hoping to disappear into my room, but he was there, leaning against the kitchen counter, a cup of coffee in hand.

"Hey, Sara," he greeted with a smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "You're home early."

"Where's Mom?" I asked, my voice tight.

He stepped closer, his smile widening. "She's out for a bit. But we can hang out, right? Get to know each other better."

I felt trapped, my heart pounding in my chest. "No, thanks," I muttered, trying to move past him, but he blocked my way.

"Don't be like that," he murmured, his tone too soft, too familiar. "I'm just trying to be friendly. I care about you, you know."

I flinched as his hand brushed against my shoulder. "Get away from me," I snapped, pushing past him.

His smile didn't falter. "Your mom says you have a little crush on me, but it's okay. I won't tell anyone."

My skin crawled, and I felt my cheeks flush with anger and shame. "That's not true!" I shouted, stepping back. "You're lying!"

He chuckled, raising his hands. "Hey, relax. Just having a bit of fun."

I ran up the stairs, locking myself in my room, my whole body trembling. I couldn't live like this. I had to tell Mom.

The next day, I confronted her, my heart racing. "Mom, you have to break up with him," I demanded. "He's a creep. I don't trust him around me."

Mom's face tightened, her expression shifting to frustration. "Sara, you need to stop this," she said. "You're making it so difficult for me to move on."

"Move on?" I echoed, incredulous. "He's not who you think he is! Why can't you see it?"

She shook her head, exasperated. "You're just upset about the divorce. You don't want to see me happy."

"No, Mom, it's not that!" I cried. "I'm scared of him! He's manipulating you!"

Her eyes flashed with anger. "I don't get why you're still with him, Mom! He's a narcissist and an asshole!" I shouted, my voice filled with a mixture of rage and fear.

Before I knew it, her hand connected with my cheek. The slap echoed between us, a sound that seemed to hang in the air.

"You have no right to disrespect my boyfriend like that, Sara!" she yelled, her fury blazing hotter than the sting on my face.

I stared at her, stunned, my hand pressed against my burning cheek, tears pooling in my eyes. "I can't believe you'd choose him over me," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I hate you for this."

She looked back at me, eyes softening just a little, as if she realized something was wrong. "Sara..."

But I was already gone, turning my back on her, on everything. I left that day and didn't look back.

End of Flashback

I blinked away the tears, my heart pounding in my chest. I had avoided her for years after that. I blamed her, hated her for not believing me, for not protecting me. I ran from everything, from her, from my sister, from all of it.

Now, here I was, risking everything to find her, to save her. I wanted to hate her, but I couldn't. She was still my mom, still the person I needed, even if she had broken my heart over and over again.

I heard her voice again, faint but clear. "Sara!"

I looked up and saw her, standing at the end of the terminal, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear.

"Mom!" I shouted, feeling relief and fear surge through me at once.

"Sara!" she cried back, and started running towards me.

But suddenly, a swarm of the undead lurched between us, blocking the path.

"Run, Sara!" Mom screamed, her voice breaking. "Run!"

"No!" I yelled, tears streaming down my face. "I'm not leaving you!"

"Go!" she shouted again, turning to draw them away from me. "Meet me at the old church, down the road!"

"Mom!" I sobbed, but she was already moving, disappearing into the crowd of bodies.

I turned and ran, her words ringing in my ears. The old church... the old church... I had to believe she'd make it. I had to find her again. I couldn't lose her, not now, not after everything.