PARADOX ↦ ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

47

Shiro knew they didn't have much time. The dog was wild and ravenous, the blood on the senses it needed to recognize who was touching him. Rover was nothing more than a danger. And they needed to get out without risking anyone's life.

He stood between Rover and Pidge in a protective manner, his eyes not leaving the husky mutt as he writhes in pain and fear. The dog was lost and Shiro didn't know what to do.

All Pidge could do was watch in horror as the dog laid upon the ground, then quickly stood up, trying to sense his surroundings but being unable to as he focused on trying to defend himself. From anyone. With the shack being so small, the dog thrashing around took up much of the space. It was almost as if they were in a jail cell, and they had to fight their way out, a gun between them both and at risk of being bit by the dog.

Shiro had to thing of a plan. The man said they had an hour max in here, and Shiro could already hear the gunshots. The sounds were echoing and he knew that they were already running out of time each passing second. And the gun left behind was their only defense.

The plan was not up for discussion either. Shiro slowly walked forward, trying not to startle the dog any more by catching him off guard. Yet as he reached for the gun he almost fell forward, the dog whipping around and almost biting Shiro's arm. The man flinched and pulled away quickly before he goes to get the gun once again. There was almost no hesitation in his arm as he reached under Rover.

Once the gun was between his hands, Shiro checked to see if there was ammo before he glanced to Pidge. Slowly kneeling down, Shiro looked at the young teen. The one he had watched grow so much over these past months, almost a year now. Ever since he ran into their group in the forest, he had been so glad they did.

The camps, the troubles, the attacks. The war dragged her into the field. She was only 15 now, 15 and a half really. And yet she grew in this world without hope of a future. Yet here she was, standing here with her life on the line again. The only difference now, was that she had family helping her through every step.

"I need you to hold this." He whispered to her, trying to get her to not look at the pained and trashing dog. he held out the gun with a shaky a blood stained hand. it was their last chance.

The girl was hesitnt but she took the gun from his hand. she didn't have a choice. she needed to focus and do whatever he told her to. he had the experience. if she didn't listen to him, they will die.

As soon as the girl held the gun, shiro stepped aside, glancing down at the thrashing dog in front of the door. It was then when Shiro slowly started to reach his hand forward, carefully trying to go for Rover's collar. He didn't know how else to get past the dog. He would never kill Rover.

Rover could sense a hand coming toward him, so he flinched and bit upward, Shiro quickly retracting his hand and trying so hard not to seem threatening. But the dog had no control. No hearing. Not smell. No sight.

So Shiro reaches again for the dog's collar, only for the worst possible outcome to occur. As Shiro reached to grab the collar, rover got faster, thrashing his head upward before he succeeded.

Shiro cried out as the teeth pierced his flesh. The blood gently oozing from the open pores in his skin. Teeth clamped onto his arm as the dog didn't let go.

Rover didn't know it was Shiro. All he knew was that there was a hand coming toward him and that he was in danger. He didn't know that the arm he bit belonged to someone he trusted and cared for. Someone he wanted to protect.

Pidge screams as she watched Shiro get bit and dragged to the floor, pinned down by the dog and his cries echoing through the small shed. She didn't like this.

Yet she held that gun firm in her hand as she quickly raised it. She didn't know what she was aiming at. All she knew was that it was in the same direction of Rover.

" rover let him go!" She screams at the top of her lungs, her eyes beginning to turn red as she goes to stand, wanting to get the dog away from Shiro and not risk anyone's health.

" don't come closer! He'll hurt you!" Shiro cried out, his right arm bleeding badly and pain surging through it .

Pidge froze. Her eyes on them as she watched everything move in slow motion. That's when she picked up the gun again.

"Rover! i said let him go!" She screams, feeling her red eyes stain with tears as she begged to herself that the dog would stop. He didn't.

" rover let go!"

HE DIDN'T LET GO

It creeps upon you quietly. At the very beginning you struggle with the little things, but usually choose to ignore them. It's like a headache. You'll tell yourself its temporary and it'll pass. It's just another bad day. But it's not. You're stuck in this state of mind. You get used to putting on a social mask and you continue to live among other people, because that is what you have to do. That's what others do.

SHE FROZE

However, the problem does not go away. You struggle to put on a play every day and it starts to cost you more and more. That is why you fall even deeper and that's when you slowly start to back away from friends and family, sometimes completely shutting them out. All satisfaction is gone. The little things that used to bring you joy are now worthless. Even the simplest tasks become painful. That is why you lack motivation. Now... why would you keep on trying if nothing makes you happy anyway. All of this makes you feel even worse and you get caught up in a vicious circle.

SHE KEPT HER GUN RAISED

Suddenly you find yourself living in slow motion. Days become indistinguishable Just white noise, just... heaviness, filling your mind and spilling over your body. You feel as though you'll never be happy again. You continue to back away and destroy relationships. You're ashamed for everything you've done and everything you haven't. There is a part of you that wants to make things right.

HER TEARS KEPT FALLING

A sudden positive upsurge makes you want to go out and meet people but... it's all very short-lived because you know it won't work anyway. Things that make your friends excited leave you indifferent and you become aware of the huge gap that lies between you. Another failure is not an option, so in the end you choose to be alone in your comfort zone where no one asks any questions. The low self-esteem and the lack of purpose become unbearable. You finally realize you can't go on that way and two things can happen.

BY SHOOTING THAT GUN AT HIM , SHE WOULD BE KILLING HERSELF

You either decide to get some help, or you might attempt a suicide.

THE GUNSHOT RANG