Jackson's story

Chapter 2

There stood Henry's little girl. Of course, karma got in it's laugh.

"Uh..."

"You're welcome!"

"Thanks..." I said in a very uncomfortable tone.

"Wait a minute, you're Jackson! Jackson Daniels, a friend of my dad's!"

"I wouldn't really say we're friends, but-"

"Right, but my dad, you've seen him, right?"

I gulped, and my heart jumped out of my chest, "oh, maybe, I mean there are a lot of people in this town. I could have maybe seen him or- uh who are you?"

"I'm his daughter, Bella." Her soft, blue eyes looking back at me. She had honey blonde hair, with a peachy tone to compliment. She look so much like Henry, I'm surprised I didn't see it sooner.

A hiss and growl came from nearby, "we got to get out of here, come on."

I pounded on houses and jiggled doorknobs. I jiggled one last doorknob and knew that the houses of people weren't going to be of much help, so I decided to head off to the mayor's house. His house was big and over looked the town.

Once Bella and I got there, I pounded on the door and jiggled the doorknob. He knew he was in there, he had family and was probably trying to keep them safe in his house. There's got to be room for two more in his house.

"Mayor, it's me, Jackson. Jackson Daniels. I'm here with Bella, uh, Coleman is it?" Bella rolled her eyes and nodded, "you know, Henry's little girl. You see, I was in the woods and we kind of came across each other, and well we need some shelter just to regroup."

Silence. I cursed under my breath, and then I heard a voice, "who's there?"

My heart leaped. "It's Jackson. I'm here with Henry Coleman's little girl. You see, we need some help, so if you could-"

"Oh, no. I can't help you," he laughed, "hell I can't even help myself. Go find somewhere else to hide."

"Please mister Mayor. You can't just abandon us. What would Henry say if he were here? What would you do if you were in my position? What about if it was your daughter someone found? Or your son? Wouldn't you want them to take care of them and keep them safe? Please, I'm begging you. Let us in."

More silence. And then I here the click  of the door sound followed by the creeaak  of it opening. There stood a numb, blank faced mayor covered in blood. I didn't know if it was his or maybe his family's but I just wanted to go inside before those creatures got to us.

I stepped inside and Bella followed. Once inside, my stomach dropped at what I saw. His living room looked like a slaughterhouse. His family seemed to be splattered all over the walls, and it was truly a memory that would burned deep into my memory for many, many nights to come. Bella brought a hand to her mouth, and started to sob.

I shook my head, "Mister Mayor, what-what happened in here?"

As if I had said something to insult him, he shouted, "what do you think happened?  I couldn't take care of them, couldn't keep them safe. One of those stupid, stupid creatures came in here while I was gone and killed them. It ripped them apart, teared their flesh apart as easy as you would tear fabric. When I got here, they were beyond salvageable," he began to weep, like a little child, "I failed them. I failed them."

"Mayor Quincy, I don't know what to say. But if your family were still alive right now, then they would want you to get past this and survive. We can leave town. Go somewhere far away until this ends." If it ever will end, I thought.

"No, it's too late for me. I've-I've been bitten, attacked. I-"

"Well, we don't know, there might be a cure, right?" Wow, I was really pushing the false hope that day.

"Jackson." Bella whined.

I forgot that she was in this mess, I turn around for one second to tend to her needs, "what is it-"

BANG

Oh my god. I quickly turn around to see the mayor slump to the ground with the upper half of his head missing. I shield Bella from the horrific sight and retch at what just happened.

Immediately, I say, "Bella we have to get out of here. Name somewhere, anywhere."

"Let's go to my house."