Chloe was hungry. Her mother hadn't gotten up in a few days, now, and her dad was worried. Mommy used to play with her, but she got sick. Dad wanted to leave earlier, but mom wouldn't let him. There wasn't much Chloe understood, being five, but she knew something was wrong. She just wished she knew what.
"Chloe, do you know whats wrong with mommy?" Her dad asked her before leaving for work.
Chloe shook her head.
Her dad sighed and stared at her, then ruffled her hair.
"'S okay. You're to young to understand. Just don't go in there with mommy, okay? Daddy has to go, now."
Chloe stared after him, silently urging him to stay, so when she saw the black truck leave the driveway, she was crushed. Maybe mommy would be better today?
Then, she heard a crash. Mommy must be up. Little Chloe heaved herself up of the floor, and she ran to her mommy's room. She creaked open the door and froze.
Mommy was standing up, staring out the window. She heard a soft clicking noise and peered around the room for the source. It sounded like it was coming from mommy.
"Mom?" Chloe asked, shuffling into the room.
Chloe's mother turned to face her, and Chloe froze. Where her mom's eyes should've been, they were empty, black sockets. Her teeth looked decayed and one fell out. Her teeth clattered together, making the clicking sound. Her mother began walking towards her, slowly at first, like she was unsure of herself, then she began to get faster, groaning like every step hurt.
"M-Mom?" Chloe scrambled back.
Her mother continued towards her, until they were nearly face to face. Chloe was scared and ran, screaming. Her mother's heavy footsteps sounded behind her, and Chloe saw her dads truck in the driveway.
"Daddy!" She screamed, running for the door.
The door slammed open, and her dad ran and grabbed Chloe, shuffling out the door with her mom trailing behind. Her dad locked her in the car, but stayed out.
"Chloe, Chloe, it's okay. Your uncle is-"
And then he began screaming. A blood-curling scream, followed by a sick smacking sound. Red stuff-blood, began gushing out onto the window and her father slumped to the floor, making a strange sound. Chloe tried to open the door, but she couldn't make it budge. She saw mommy kneel down next to him and she began eating him. Her dad's blood was all over her mother.
Chloe began screaming and she scrambled away from the door, then hit her head on the dashboard as she pitched forward. She tried to grab at something-anything to keep her from falling to the floor. She missed, and hit her head on the floor of the car.
When Chloe woke up, the sky was dark. A man was carrying her, and finally seemed to notice her fluttering eyes.
"Dad?" She mumbled, the words falling from her mouth like a feather floating in the air.
"No. Uncle." The man said, and then Chloe remembered her father was dead.
She sobbed, and the man put her down, grasping her shoulders.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. Your uncle Danny's here now, and it'll be okay." He tried to reassure her, but his own voice was coated with grief and despair. His eyes flickered to his pistol that was on his belt. As he went to grab it, Chloe scrambled away from him, kicking rocks into the air as she ran.
"HELP!" She screamed as loud as she could, then arms wrapped around her.
"Chloe, stop-" Chloe kicked him, and for a moment, he let go. Then he grabbed the gun around his waist and pointed it at her. She stared back at him and wet herself.
Her dad would hit her with the gun when he was angry, or would make her stand in front of it while he put bullets in. One time, he shot her in her foot. She still had the scar.
"Please don't shoot me...don't hit me, please! I'm sorry. Don't be like daddy. Please." Chloe whimpered, holding her hands up to protect herself.
Her uncle put the gun down and stared at her, shocked.
"Your dad..? No, I won't hurt you, sweetie." He mumbled, picking her up and shuffling to the car.
Chloe was tired, so she did the only thing she could do.
Sleep.
