Until The End // Phan

Chapter 12

*Alex's Pov*

Flashback

"Alex!" My mother called to me from the kitchen. "Pick up the phone, it's your dad!"

I picked the house phone up from the table beside the couch and hit the green button.

"Hey, Dad! What's up?"

"Alex, hunny, do you mind visiting with me as soon as you can?"

"Umm.. yea, sure. Is everything ok?"

"Of course.. Well, not really. Just please get here as soon as possible."

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"Please just.. just please come."

Before I could protest his lack of answers, the line went dead and I hung up the phone. I made my way into the kitchen to let my mother know what was happening.

"Mum?" I started as I entered the heated room. She had been baking things all day.

"There's something wrong with Dad. He wants me to fly out to Atlanta right away."

"What?" She almost yelled, concern in her voice. "Why?"

"He wouldn't tell me, but he sounded really worried.. I guess I'll go pack."

~

"Hey, Dad!" I hugged my father when he opened his front door.

"Hey, baby. How are you?" He didn't sound very happy I was here.

"I would be better if you told me what's going on" I scolded him. He guided me inside and closed the door behind me.

"Right, sorry. I'll take your things and we can head over to the CDC." He began to pick up my bags before I grabbed his hand, a feeling of dread filling my entire body.

"The CDC? Why are you bringing me to your job? Am I even allowed to be there? What's going on?" My voice was frantic and shaky, nothing but fear ringing in my ears. What's so important at the CDC that concerns me? Why is it so urgent that I flew out here immediately?

"Calm down, it's ok. I just really need to show you something. Everything's fine for now, I promise." The last sentence pierced though my chest like a knife.

"For now!?" I almost yelled in his face.

"Alex, please. Just come with me."

~

After my Dad explained everything to me, I had no idea how to respond. I didn't even believe any of it until he showed me all the data he and the other scientists have collected. He even showed me a video of one of them.. coming back. All the information had suffocated me. I could barely breath I was in such shock.

"Alex, hunny? Are you ok?" My dad snapped me back into reality.

"Yea, yea. I'm.. I'm fine. I just need some air" I stammered as I began to stand up to go outside.

"Do you want me to take you home? Or, uh, back to my house?" He asked me, grabbing my arm to keep me grounded. I was so close to bouncing off every wall in that room. I couldn't believe what was happening. Basically, The Walking Dead is about to break out across the world.

"Ok." I couldn't manage another word. I just needed something to keep whatever sanity is left in my brain.

~

My father had to go into work early the next morning. I reluctantly came with him, wanting nothing more than to sleep just a little longer.

"Do you mind waiting in the break room for a little bit? There's a few things I need to do before you can come in to the lab." He gave me a fake smile as he motioned me towards the door to the break room. I nodded, returning the equally fake smile.

"You're not even supposed to be in there, so if anyone comes in and asks, just tell them I had to come in for a bit and you're waiting for me in here. Ok?"

I nodded again, still silent.

"Ok, I'll come get you in a few minutes."

His fake smile dropped from his face as he walked away. I entered the break room, closing the door behind me. As i sat down, the thoughts started to bombard my brain.

All I really wanted to do now was go home. I felt like being home would make this less real. But it doesn't matter where I am. This is going to happen, and there's nothing that can stop it or make it better. I have to just embrace it and prepare myself for the worst.

I was about to grab a magazine to keep myself busy when I heard a man's screams ring out through the building. Without even thinking, I bolted out the door and sprinted to the lab my father was in.

I regretted opening the door. My dad was on the ground, choking on his own blood as a body stood over him, ripping apart his stomach with it's teeth. I tried to scream but I couldn't. I felt like I was crying but my eyes were dry. I almost puked at the sight, but I restrained myself.

I was going to run over to my father to try and help him, but someone came up behind me and shoved me out of the way. They dragged the body off of my father by its neck and dug a silver pocket knife into it's skull. I stood and watched in horror and shock. My father's body lay lifeless on the ground, a pool of blood surrounding him.

"Who are you?" The man asked me, almost hyperventilating from his encounter.

I couldn't answer, I just stood in the doorway silent as I began to cry.

~

"Alex! What happened with your father? What did he say was wrong? I tried calling you yesterday, you never answered" My mum's voice rang though the phone.

I was back at my father's house now, alone in the empty livingroom.

"Mum.. something's happened."

"What? What's wrong?"

"It's.. it's hard to explain.. but Dad's dead."

The line went silent for a few moments.

"Mum?"

"What happened?" She choked a sob. My father might have left us, but it was only to be closer to his job. Mum didn't want to move to America, but Dad had to, so he left. My mother still loved him. They never even got the divorced finalized.

"I can't really explain. I sent files to your email. It's a case Dad was working on at the CDC. Just.. call me back after you look at it."

I ended the call before my mum could respond.

~

About a half an hour later, once I had gotten myself packed and had bought my plane ticket back to London, my mother called me back.

"Alex, if this is all true, you can't come back to the city. You shouldn't be in a populated area, it's not safe."

"Where do you want me to go?"

She was silent for a few seconds before she answered.

"Our vacation home. You know, the lake house? That's in the middle of nowhere. You'll be safe there."

"What about you?"

"I'll meet you out there. Just get the first flight back home, please. Before this spreads and they all get cancelled."

"Ok. I was just looking online, there's one in a few hours."

"Good. Go. I love you."

"I love you too, mum."

With that, I ended the call, grabbed my bags, and headed to the airport.