𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘'𝐒

OO2. In The Face Of Shadows

IN THE FACE OF SHADOWS
Words:
2959
ACT TWO
DATE: August 17th 2012

As the moon cast a ghostly glow through the dense canopy of trees, Sadie gently sat next to Tommy her ten year old brother who laid on a bunch of leaves and a cold hard ground. The distant growls and rustling of the undead filled the night air, but she whispered soothingly,

"Tommy, you have to try and sleep now. I know it's scary, but I'll keep watch" Sadie brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her heart aching to see the fear in his eyes.

"I'm right here, and I wont let anything happen to you. Just close your eyes and imagine we're back at home, safe and sound."

As the night deepened, Sadie sat by the small fire, her eyes scanning the perimeter for any signs of danger. Every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves sent a shiver down her spine, but she remained vigilant. She knew that Tommy's safety depended on her staying alert.

Hours passed, and the forest seemed to settle into an uneasy calm. Sadie's thoughts wandered to the days before the apocalypse, to a time when their biggest worry was homework and chores. She sighed, longing for the simplicity of those days, but quickly shook off the nostalgia. There was no room for daydreaming in this new world.

Tommy stirred in his sleep, mumbling softly. She leaned closer, brushing his hair gently. "I'm here, Tommy," she whispered. "You're safe."

The night dragged on, and the older sister fought off the weariness that threatened to overtake her. She knew she couldn't afford to sleep, not even for a moment. The fire crackled softly, providing a small comfort in the vast darkness.

As dawn began to break, the first light filtering through the trees, she felt a glimmer of hope. They had made it through another night. She gently shook Tommy awake. "It's morning, buddy. Time to get moving."

Tommy rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking around. "Did you sleep at all?" he asked, concern in his voice.

She smiled, ruffling his hair. "I'll catch up on sleep later. Right now, we need to find some food and water."

They packed up their sparse belongings and set off through the woods, the older sister leading the way. She kept her senses sharp, listening for any signs of danger. The forest was both their refuge and their prison, offering protection but also hiding countless threats.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the older sister, Sadie, and Tommy trudged through the dense forest, their mother trailing behind them. The tension between them was palpable. Their mother, who had never been particularly nurturing, seemed even more distant and irritable in these dire circumstances.

"Keep up, Tommy," their mother Dawn snapped, her voice harsh and impatient. Tommy quickened his pace, his small legs struggling to keep up with his sister's longer strides.

"Mom, he's doing his best," Sadie said, trying to keep her voice calm. She knew that arguing with their mother would only make things worse, but she couldn't stand seeing Tommy pushed so hard.

Their mother rolled her eyes. "We don't have time for this, Sadie. We need to find food and water. If he can't keep up, he'll just slow us down."

Tommy's eyes filled with tears, and he stumbled over a root, falling to the ground. Sadie immediately knelt beside him, helping him to his feet. "It's okay, Tommy. You're doing great," she whispered, giving him a reassuring smile.

But their mother's patience had run out. "Get up, Tommy! We don't have time for this!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the trees. Tommy's tears spilled over, and he clung to Sadie, his small body shaking with sobs.