Living Amongst The Dead

Chapter 9

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move and I couldn't breath. This is the end, I thought. Any minute its going to bite me and there was no way I could get this monster of me. The smell of death and decay was making my eyes tear up and there was nothing I could do.

Then I heard Calem scream. No. No. No! There must be more zombies and there trying to get Calem. I thought that Calem and I could get away from this city but now we're going to die in it. Then then I heard a loud crack.

The zombie fell of me with a thud and I spun around to see Calem, his sandy colored hair soaked with sweat and the iron bar gripped in his hands. I looked to my right and saw that the zombie had its head bashed in. It was dead.

I jumped up and hugged Calem while he sobbed into my shoulder. "You did it!" I whispered, "You saved my life!"

He mumbled something in my ear but I didn't hear him. I asked him to repeat what he said. "I killed him," Calem said, "I killed my dad."

I had tears falling down my cheek so fast, they were soaking Calem's shoulder. "I, I'm so sorry," I stuttered as I kissed his forehead, "But if you weren't as brave as you were, he would have killed me. You did the right thing."

Calem wiped away his tears and looked me in the eyes. "Now I know that they're gone and I'm never going to see them again."

This was the saddest thing I'd ever seen. The poor kid probably thought that one of his parents were still alive and that he could at least know that one of them were OK. Now he knew that they were gone and all he had left were the memories and me.

"Calem, look at me." I said as he lifted his head from my shoulder. "I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you and I will always be here for you, no matter what and I'll always protect you. Understand?"

Calem nodded, wiped away his tears, took a deep breath and smiled. "Now, what do you think? Should we get out of here?" I murmured as I stroked his hair. "Great idea." He replied.

We stepped outside and scanned our surroundings. Calem pointed out our getaway car and we headed towards it, avoiding several zombies in the process. The car was a jeep and it was in pretty good condition.

Like Calem said, the tank was full and the keys were inside so we loaded our stuff in the back and jumped in the front. The engine started up perfectly though it did alert some zombies nearby and they came after us, but we lost them easily.

As we drove I looked over at Calem who was staring out the window. I decided that no matter what happens, as long as this kid is with me we could get through this.

Calem was my family now. He was my home.