I shoot up, hearing glass break. I rush to Eli's room, assuming it was him, but he was sound asleep. I hear my heart in my ears, as i run silently back to Matthew.
"Matthew?"
I shake him awake
"The hell~"
He asks, groggily and tired.
"Matthew, something's in the house."
Matthew wakes up completely, hopping off his bed and grabbing my old softball bat.
"Get Eli."
I run to Eli's room and gently pick up his sleeping body. I hide in the hallway following Matthew close behind, 911 dialed into my phone already. I suddenly hear the sickening sound of a metal bat crushing against a skull, waking up Eli, confused in my arms
"Matthew! What did you kill?!"
He walks to our TV, but doesn't answer.
I watch him as Eli goes back to sleep on my shoulder.
"Matthew."
He switches the TV to the news.
"-claims and reports of cannibalistic people breaking into homes have come in all along the West Coast. People afflicted with this disease show signs of aggression and try to harm any living thing. The first report came only a hour earlier at 1 am, but since then there has been hundreds of reports. The CDC is working on a cure to whatever is happening to these humans. The World Health Organization has also been brought into the situation after the confirmed deaths had passed 200. Scientists have already reported that the latest vaccinations do not make you immune to this disease. Th-"
As the lady was about to continue, a person jumps on her, biting and ripping at her neck. As the camera man runs, you could tell by his screams that he was attacked, too.
I stay frozen staring at the TV. Matthew grabs my shoulder
"April, I need you to listen to me. You're gonna go pack up things for all there of us. Imma pack food and water, and start my car. You have to move fast. Understand?"
I nod, not being able to use my voice.
"Go."
Matthew runs around me to the kitchen and i run to Eli's room. I lay him on his bed as i grab a backpack and shove his clothes and anything else of his into it. He wakes up, but begins crying when i don't answer him when he asks what's happening. I grab his favorite stuffed turtle and crouch down next to his bed.
"Eli, it's okay. Just calm down, baby."
"Then why are you crying?"
He asks, calming down his tears. I touch my face, not realizing i was crying. I quickly wipe my tears.
"I'm fine, Eli. You're gonna wait her with your turtle-"
"Nick"
"What?"
"My turtle's name is Nick."
"Okay. You're gonna wait here with Nick. I'm gonna be in my room, okay? And Matthew's in the kitchen. You're gonna wait here. I'll be right back."
I kiss his forehead and run into our room. I get Matthew old track-and-field and open all his drawers shoving clothes in. I look around for anything else that's he'd need. I swing my head to his desk. A picture of Rachel. And picture of us and Chris. Chris. God knows what might have happened to her by now.
I shove both picture in his bag, and zip it up. I balance my phone uncomfortably between my shoulder and ear as i pack my belongings.
"April? What's happening? What's going on?"
Her voice is shaky and i can tell she's on the edge of having a panic attack.
"Chris, where's your family?"
"Mom. Dad. Outside. Too much blood. They're torn apart."
Her voice sounds so different.
"Where's Emerson? What about Emerson?"
"She crying. Really loud. She's on my bed."
"Okay, Chris? Listen to me. You have to listen to me, okay?"
"Okay, April."
"You're gonna wait in your room with Emerson. And you're gonna lock your door. And you're gonna be fine. You understand?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Imma hang up now."
"Okay."
I end the call as i finish packing. I hear Matthew's dark orange Jeep wrangler sputter to life. I swing all the bags over my shoulder and pick up Eli as he holds "Nick".
Matthew waits at the door, ushering us out to the car, taking the bags from my arms. I jump in the passenger seat and Matthew backs out of our house. He takes a wrong turn, heading a different direction of Chris' house.
"Where the hell are you going?"
". . . "
He continues driving
"Matthew, where the hell are you going?!"
"TO RACHEL'S, DAMN IT!"
"LIKE HELL YOU ARE! TURN BACK TO CHRIS' HOUSE!"
"I CAN'T!"
"I'M NOT FUCKING ASKING. TURN NOW!"
Eli starts crying from our screaming. I unbuckle my seat belt and hop to the back. I cup his small face in my hands
"Shh. It's okay. We're okay."
I sooth, barely meaning it from the mood Matthew had put me in.
"Matthew, please. . . "
Matthew grips the stirring wheel tighter.
"Fuck it."
He swerves the truck back and speeds to Chris' house.
