zombie apocalypse | the fallen (book One) [REWRITING]

chapter 8

"I'm Zoe, that's Emma and Preston." "Temi you may leave now." Kin says very impatiently. "Yes ma'am." Temi walks swiftly out the door not looking back. Something's not right. "So, where are you guys from?" "Originally we were in Chicago but now we're here, in Ohio...obviously." You say quietly. "How did you find us?" "Temi brought us even though I said no at first." "Of course. She is very persistent." She laughs slightly. "Is it just you three?" "Uhm...yes." You look down and play with your fingers again. "Are you alright?" "She's okay just... family." Preston takes over. "Oh, I'm sorry. I completely understand. anyways you are welcome here anytime and if you have any questions you can ask me or temi." "Thank you."

You all leave and go back to the house. "Zo?" Preston follows you up the stairs and you ignore him, closing the door. "Zo, don't do this. Open. The door. " Nothing. "Zoe..." Silence. After a few moments you hear him walk away and you let out the breath you were holding. Some time passes before night falls completely upon the desolate town.

"Why did i agree to come here?"  You put your head against the wall but then you hear yelling. You rush outside. "I DON'T CARE WHAT THE FUCK YOU WERE DOING YOU DONT TOUCH HER!" "I'm sorry man! She looked lost! " SO YOU DECIDE TO GRAB HER ARM AND TRY TO DRAG HER AWAY?" "PRESTON!" Everyone goes silent and stares at you.

  "What the hell is going on?" "This son of a bitch tried to drag Emma to his house." You turn to the man "why?" "She was alone I assumed she was lost I just wanted to he-" "I wasn't lost I was going to Sarah's house." Emma finally speaks. "You mother fucker." Preston jumps on him  and you try to get him off but he resists.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" Kin comes sprinting over. "Mark? Preston? What is this!?" "Kin this man tried to take Emma." "Mark is this true?" "I-...OF COURSE NOT!" Preston looks back towards him and starts beating him once more. "PRESTON THATS ENOUGH!" You and kin both say grabbing him. "If you ever try and come around any of us again I swear to god I'll fucking kill you!" Preston says and walks away.

You grab Emma and follow him. "Preston." "Not now zo." "Emma has finger marks on her arm." Preston looks up at you. "What?" "Look." You roll up Emma's sleeve. "I'm gonna fucking kill him. I'm gonna kick the shit out of him Zoe."  You've never seen Preston like this. It gave you an extremely uneasy feeling. Many memories flash before your eyes.

So many you worked so hard not to remember.

"They'll go away in a few minutes. You beat his ass already, I don't think he's coming around any time soon."  "I don't care I'm gonna kill him." "Just relax, don't think about it right now. She's here, she's safe inside with us. Things happen but you made sure it didn't." You try to say as gentle as you can but in reality you were horrified. "Things happen. Exactly. Death happens, disappearances happen. So maybe you should come relax too and forget about your mom, because she may be like everything else outside of these walls, and it's destroying you!"

⚠️i want to put a trigger warning here for semi-self inflicted wounds⚠️

Your eyes widen and your face turns red. "Zoe i-" "don't fucking talk to me.  I've heard a lot of fucked up shit but I've never expected anything like that from you. You're just as bad as that man out there. The anger, the aggression, the lies. I have nothing left to say to you tonight."

You walk upstairs and lock your door and then go sit in your bathroom. You stare in the mirror, angry tears rolling down your face. It finally hits you and you break down completely. "I fucking hate you!" You yell towards not only Preston and everyone who hurt you, but also yourself.

Within moments the glass starts falling off the wall. A fist sized hole placed in the center of the mirror.  You watch the blood run down the broken glass, and into the sink. You just look at it, squeezing the glass more.

"ZOE?" Preston comes crashing through your bedroom Door. "ZOE WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" You stand silently biting your lip to stay quiet, but you collapse on the floor sobbing. The panic sets in and breathing becomes difficult.

  "ZOE!" Emma's voice is laced with concern and fear. "ZOE ARE YOU OKAY? PRESTONS TERRIFIED AND I LOOKING FOR THINGS TO OPEN YOUR DOOR. PLEASE LET ME IN. ARE YOU OKAY?!"

You don't respond which makes your heart hurt worse. But you'd rather protect her than yourself. "watch out Emma." Preston started lock picking the door and as he opens it you black out.