Fearing the Dead

2// The Clarks

"MAMA!" I hear someone yell followed by a big crash. Chris and I turn our heads to see Ofelia trying to pick up the massive metal shelves that had litres of bottled water on it, off of Griselda.

"Quick!" I tell Chris dragging him towards the screaming woman as everyone tries to pry the shelves off of her too. I let go of Chris' hand and grab the cool metal and heave, allowing just enough room for Daniel to grab and pull Griselda out from under it. Her foot is a swollen, black colour and everyone is yelling still.
The protestors are off their nut and there are cars, bins, and ambulances on fire everywhere.

"Get to the truck" I hear Travis yell to us as we all run to the brown pick-up a few feet away. We all pile in with Daniel, Ofelia, Liza, and Griselda in the back, her foot on a jacket provided by someone, and with Travis, Chris and myself in the front seat.

"All good back there?" Travis asks through the window at the back of the front compartment

"Yeah, go, go, go!" Liza waves Travis as the brown pick-up lurches forward.
I look out the window and see people stumbling around the streets and trying to bite the frightened. My gaze flicks around everywhere as I see a group of sick people surrounding a man who is yelling at them to get back. Tears prick my eyes yet again as I see the man get ripped to shreds by the sick. I muffle my sobs with my hands, tears falling down my face and I hope no one sees me but because I am sitting in the middle of Travis and Chris I don't go unnoticed.

"Hey, Angel you okay?" Travis says to me which causes Chris to stop looking back out of the window and seeing me in my breakdown stage.

"Ange" Chris says seeing the tears and hearing my sobs. His arm goes around my shoulders pulling me into his chest, my tears now muffled by his shirt.

We bend around streets and eventually we arrive at a house. My crying has stopped and I have calmed down. A bit.

"Chris stay in the car okay?" Travis says to the boy as he gets out and walks to the front doorstep.
When Travis is inside Chris opens the door and slides out the truck, his mum getting out the back.

"Chris he told you to stay in the car!" I tell Chris as he stands next to the car.

"I'm going to go check okay? Stay here!" He tells me but I shake with fear being left alone out here with 3 people I don't know and the ill.

"No please let me come, please" I plead my voice laced with fear as I look at the boy with pleading eyes.

"Okay stick with me" he tells me as though he is going to protect me and I believe him some how.
I slide out and follow the boy, a noise in the house making me squeal and jump.
Chris spins around at the sudden moment that disrupts our slow pace and seeing me shake in fear causes his face to soften. His warm hand wraps in my own making my hands seem and feel small. We continue into the house seeing Travis standing at the end of the hallway looking into what seems is a family room but I can't tell because of the fact that the lights are out and the only light source is the moon. Chris' hand drags me along as Liza follows behind me her hand on my upper back as though re assuring me she is there.
We hear a tearing and slushing noise followed by a growls when we get to where Travis is.
I try to walk backwards, against Chris' pull.
My lip quivers as I see a man get up blood dripping down his face after eating what looks to be a dog his arms outstretched to us.

"Peter?" Travis asks the man who is still coming at us.
My hand pulls against Chris' as I try to get away my attempts not getting unnoticed.

"Dad!" Chris yells as the man, 'Peter' lunges for Travis. Travis extends his arms preventing the man from biting him because it looks as though he is going to maul Travis.
Two more people enter the house one being a lady with a gun the other a boy who looks to be in his 20s.

"Travis!" The lady yells cocking the gun and pointing it at 'Peter'.

"Don't shoot. Peter your sick, stop" Travis tell the man who looks to be possessed.
Daniel, Ofelia, and a limping/hobbling Griselda appear behind Chris, Liza and myself.
Daniel takes the gun off the lady and shoots 'Peter' in the face.
The man turns back around,with his brain matter all on the wall and a half blown up face and looks at Daniel trying to grab him. A squeal escapes my lips and my hand slides from Chris'. Tears fall again as Daniel shoots the man once again and falls on the ground. Chris turns around feeling that my hand isn't there but instead of asking me if I'm okay like he looked like he was going to, there is a scream outside.
Chris takes off pushing passed everyone in their own conversations me hot on his tail.
Everyone piles out to see a girl on the top of the fence, with something trying to pull her down on the other side. Chris grabs her and pulls her over she squeals louder than before. When he has her safe on the ground she lashes around trying to get Chris to let go and elbows him in the face.

"Alicia, Alicia! Stop!" He yells to her as she gets off him after the elbowing.
"I was trying to save you Alicia!" He yells to her his nose bleeding furiously.

"Chris calm down!" Travis tells him holding his arm trying to stop Chris' from storming off into the house.

"No dad you calm down!" Chris yells to his dad shaking off his arm while holding onto his bloody nose.

"Susan?" The lady asks the Asian woman over the fence who like 'Peter' was, is trying to get us.

"I don't think that's Susan anymore." I mutter causing everyone to look at me

"Who are you?" The lady asks looking at me like I just insulted her mother.

"I'm I'm Angel....., Angel Sommers. Chris' friend.." I stutter out feeling slightly threatened.

"Ange go in and check on Chris for me quickly can you please?" Travis tells me gesturing towards the house.

"Suuuure.." I say cautiously walking towards the glass sliding doors and into the living room.
As I go in I see the dog and 'Peter' laying on the ground and my breathing hitches.

"Don't cry, don't cry!" I mumble to myself ripping my glance away from the duo and trying to find Chris.
"Chris?!" I call out my voice shaky and croaky from crying.
I hear a noise in the bathroom and guess it's Chris. I walk to it and see he is there looking into the mirror using a tissue to dry up the blood.
"You okay?" I ask him seeing his struggle.

"Mmm" he grumbles out. I turn him to face me and get a new tissue doing it myself.
I cautiously dab his nose softly trying not to hurt him.

"Thank you" he tells me causing a small smile to form on my face.

"It's okay. Who are they?" I ask him feeling his gaze on my face as I look briefly up into his brown eyes after asking the question.

"Oh their the Clarks. Dads girlfriend and her kids." He says looking into my eyes before I start dabbing his nose again.
"It's Maddy and her kids Alicia and Nick".

"Ahhh" I say looking from his nose, where I'm cleaning, to his eyes. "They seem lovely!" I chuckle. "Although I'm a little scared of Maddy" I joke causing a smile to form on his face.

I love that smile.
Word count: 1366