Until the End

Chapter Three: Family matters.

Kirby crossed into Georgia as Mallorie happily crunched on a chip from a bag of Bugles. Back in Columbia, SC, Kirby had driven off of an exit ramp ahead of the one from the last gas station. There she had parked behind a Pilot gas station and went inside for supplies. Luckily there was only one walker, as Kirby came to call them, inside. She had managed to trap it in the store restroom and safely go about gathering food and water.

Kirby found a small gift shop while inside the Pilot and had grabbed the only clothes that were stocked. Which was a extra large green T-shirt with the store's logo on the front. She also grabbed a small belt, before leaving the store.

"Do you want some?" Mallorie asked, her fingers orange from the nacho cheese flavored powder.

"Sure, I'll take one." Kirby said and leaned over, keeping her eyes on the road.

She glanced quickly at Mallorie, smiling as the three year old brought a single triangle shaped chip out of the bag and held it up to Kirby's lips as if to feed her. Kirby ate the chip and laughed lightly.

"Grr!" Mallorie cried out, trying to make a scary noise as she waved her hand at Kirby.

Mallorie had placed five of the chips on the tips of her fingers and looked as if she had long sharp nails.

"Very scary, Mallorie." Kirby chuckled, gently pinching Mallorie's cheek with her right hand.

Mallorie giggled and ate the chip that was on her thumb. She was free of the hospital gown and was now wearing the green T-shirt with the belt buckled around her small waist to make the T-shirt into a dress. Her feet were still bare other than the small pair of tan socks that the hospital gives out.

A moment of silence caused Kirby to look away from the road and over to Mallorie. Seeing the frown on the child's face, had Kirby frowning.

"What's on your mind, sweetheart?" Kirby asked, going back to looking ahead of her.

"Is Daddy going to come after us?" Mallorie asked, her tiny voice thick with tears.

"No. Absolutely not. You'll never have to be afraid of him again." Kirby said truthfully.

Mallorie turned her head and looked at Kirby.

"What about Mommy? Is she gone too?" Mallorie asked.

For a second, Kirby didn't know what to say.

'How do you tell a three year old that her parents are dead?' Kirby thought, unsure how to go about telling Mallorie.

Kirby pulled over to the side of the interstate and took Mallorie's face in her hands. She used her thumb to wipe away a stray tear.

"Yes, she's gone, but your not alone. I will never leave you on this earth all alone. You have my word on that, Mallorie." Kirby promised, kissing Mallorie's forehead.

Mallorie hiccuped and brought her small hand up to grab Kirby's hand.

"Since Mommy is gone, does that mean your my new mommy now?" Mallorie asked, confusion in her voice.

"Uh...." Kirby trailed off, speechless.

"You don't want to be my new mommy?" Mallorie questioned, poking out her bottom lip.

Kirby's eyes softened up and she smiled at Mallorie.

"I'm sure your mother would want you to be safe. I'll take care of you, Mallorie, but you don't have to call me 'Mommy'. You can just call me Kirby if you want." Kirby stated.

"But...I've never been without a mommy before. Can I call you Mommy?" Mallorie asked, seriously for a three year old.

Kirby ran her tongue along her teeth and nodded.

"Alright, you can call me Mommy, but in no way should your forget your real mother. Okay?" Kirby said just as seriously.

Mallorie nodded her head and Kirby pulled back out onto the interstate. It was noon by the time Kirby reached Atlanta, GA.

'Should I get off here and look for a place to stay or should I continued on to nowhere?' Kirby thought, slowing her car down.

"Are we going into that big city?" Mallorie asked, sitting on her knees in the seat as she peered out of the side window.

"I'm not sure if we should. There could be a horde of walkers in there." Kirby stated, glancing around.

"Walker? Are those the mean people that are covered in boo-boos?" Mallorie asked, turning to look at Kirby.

Kirby nodded.

"Your a doctor. Why don't you put a band-aid on them and make them all better?" Mallorie questioned, causing Kirby to frown.

"Because, baby. I can't heal what they have. If there comes a time when you're alone and see one, run the opposite way and hide. Don't ever let them catch you. They will do bad things to you." Kirby said, seriously.

"I promise."

Kirby drove down the exit ramp, but didn't stay in the city long. She drove through the streets quickly, until she reached the outside of the city. She drove for another half hour, before her car began to slow down.

"What? No." Kirby hissed, glaring down at her gas meter that read empty.

Her car rolled to a stop and Kirby put it in part and turned the key off. Letting out a sigh, Kirby looked around at the surrounding area. Trees lined the road on both sides and there was a wreak about a mile back that Kirby had went around. All in all, she didn't see any walkers around at the moment.

"What's wrong?" Mallorie asked, scared.

"The car just ran out of gas, that's all. Don't be scared." Kirby said even though she herself was beginning to freak out.

'Stay calm. You don't want to scare Mallorie.' Kirby thought and placed a smile on her face.

"We'll have to walk from here on out. Do you think you can handle that?" Kirby asked the child.

Mallorie bit her bottom lip, but nodded.

"Stay inside, until I tell you. I just want to make sure that there isn't any walkers around." Kirby said as she cracked her door open.

"B-be careful, Mama." Mallorie said, her voice breaking from fear.

Kirby reluctantly left the safety of her car and shut the door. She strolled around her car, keeping her back to it as she scanned the area. Seeing nothing dead or otherwise, Kirby went back to her car and opened the backseat. She had the food and water in a travel bag that she had taken from the Pilot. Taking that bag out, she slung the strap over her left shoulder and grabbed the medical bag out next.

She shut the back door went around to the passenger side. Opening up the front passenger side door, Kirby helped Mallorie out of the car. Mallorie held onto Kirby's hand tightly with her uninjured hand as the two began their walk. After walking for half a hour, Kirby's hand that held onto Mallorie's, began to be pulled farther and farther back. Kirby stopped and let Mallorie catch up with her, before kneeling down to Mallorie's height.

"Do your feet hurt?" Kirby asked, tucking a curl behind Mallorie's ear.

Mallorie nodded.

"Come here, sweetheart." Kirby said and scooped the child up into her arms.

Mallorie let out a squeal of laughter when Kirby nuzzled her face against Mallorie's neck, tickling her.

"Better?" Kirby asked, starting to walk again.

"Uh huh." Mallorie said and yawned.

Kirby grinned and bounced Mallorie up a couple of times. Despite the extra weight of the two bags, Kirby enjoyed the giggles that escaped Mallorie's pink lips.