Game Of Hearts

FlashBacks

Ava. What a beautiful name. Ethan mulled it over in his head. If he had a daughter, he would name her Ava. 

Whoa there, don't get attached, remember. He reminded himself. If only he had that little mantra before he kissed Olivia. He glanced behind him to find the two girls holding hands and quietly whispering as they followed him to the car. Occasionally a giggle would erupt from Ava's mouth as Olivia tried to hush her, barely concealing her own laughter.

They made it to the Jeep and Ethan's eyes traveled over it as an inspection. It really was no good with a broken window. They needed a new car. As much as he loved this car, or how much it carried him through the ages, it was too dangerous. It simply wasn't going to work, and if he asked the girls, he was sure they'd agree.

Nonetheless, he had to make do with his Jeep until they got another car.

Not forgetting his gentlemanly qualities, he opened the back seat for the two ladies. Ava hopped in first with her childlike nature and Olivia followed after with her usual sophisticated grace.

That made him smile. Messed up hair, dirty clothes and still, she carried herself like a queen. She would have to learn how to fight though. And he knew the perfect place.

Ethan eyed the area speculatively through his windscreen. Nothing. Just light winds blowing dust around. Olivia glanced at him worriedly, sensing his tension as if it were her own. She felt like she could read his mind. How were they supposed to raise a child in a world like this? A world where death was dominant and where lives were taken every day?

Ava snuggled closer to Olivia as they sat in the sinister silence. Olivia felt a pain in her heart. It took this long? This long to notice how many people were dead and how many more would die? How many families were separated, how many parents breathing their dying wish to just be their children's safety? And how many of them were proven wrong...

Reality hit her. Ava was going to grow up without her mother. Though she only knew the girl for a short time, she was getting strangely attached to her. Maybe it was because the girl reminded her of Rosella.

Ethan was too. There was a silent moment of prayer, prayer for those families still out there. Still fighting. There had to be more people. There just had to be.

Ethan glanced back up and heaved a sigh. His lean arms stretched out to grab the steering wheel as he relaxed in his seat. "I'm going to find a clothing shop" he began. "Then a place with a shower, and lastly a place where I can teach you how to fight" He said, glancing at Olivia through the rear view mirror. She nodded, pulling Ava closer.

                                                           ***                         

It was four o clock in the evening and thunder threatened to bring rain as Ethan drove slowly, but swiftly through the damaged roads. He saw a few creepers on the way, feeding on the remains of lifeless corpses, drawing blood with their sharp teeth. Ethan grimaced as he heard the sound of flesh tearing and the sight of blood cascade down a nearby creeper's mouth. They all sat there, barely breathing, scared to make any loud sounds to alert them. There were three of them... they just had to make the Jeep quietly past the two and then take a right to avoid the last one. Ethan moved quietly, pushing on the accelerator as softly as he could. They passed the first one but he still held his breath.

"Almost there" he whispered, reaching midpoint of the second creeper.

Ava sneezed.

The creeper glanced up at her with his glowing white eyes. He was ready to kill.