Don't Close Your Eyes

Chapter 1: 14 year old Reese

Gunpowder and I have somehow survived the last 5 years. He was almost out of food, and I just finished the last of mine. I was starting to think we would have to head out soon, even though I was really scared, but I know we would have to go sooner or later.

 So, I decided now was the time, besides Gunpowder needed to run and stretch his legs, and so did I.

 " You want to g outside today boy?" I asked him. I could tell he was happy by the way his eyes were dancing. " We just have to wait until it gets a little lighter outside, then we can go, but you will have to run as fast as you can, ok?"  He didn't say or do anything, he just stared at me.

Once it was lighter outside, I put the saddle and the reins on him, then I checked all of the windows to make sure there were no zombies outside. When there wasn't, I opened the front door and got on Gunpowder.

 Finally we were outside, before we left I made sure to grab all of the materials we needed. I had a jacket, some water, rope, and a whole backpack filled with stuff that I would need later on.

It was so nice to finally feel the cool breeze on my skin, I could tell that it was now spring, somewhere in March. In April I would be 15. My family and I would be all in the house in the backyard playing with my uncles dogs.

 I decided to let Gunpowder run. We ran into the forest, which was probably a bad idea since there were some zombies here and there.  I should have a gotten a weapon, I thought to myself.

 The zombies must have been blind or something, because we passed right by them without them even looking back at us. Weird, I thought.

 We kept running and running, until we came across a clearing, and up ahead I saw a house. I know the smart thing would have been to check the house out, but I didn't want to find out the hard way that there were zombies in there, so I kept my distance.

  Gunpowder and I were really hungry. Not hungry enough to have a pain in my stomach though. My hair was now knotted and tangled. We had stopped by a creek, hoping zombies wouldn't be smart enough to follow the water, which they weren't, at least not yet.

 I looked at my reflection in the creek. My dirty blonde curly hair had leaves tangled in it, you could tell I had been lying on the ground. I didn't look anything like I did 5 almost 6 years ago. I was way skinner, which I didn't mind much, but what I did mind was that my abs were starting to show more. I didn't want to look tough, I liked being the little innocent girl who everyone liked. All well, I do need some muscles for what's happening now, I thought.

 I noticed that the sun was lower then it was before. I had to hurry and find some cover for Gunpowder and I. I saw a shed in the middle of the forest, I quickly grabbed the reins and ran over to it.

I checked if it was locked, it wasn't. I went in, and saw there was enough room for Gunpowder as well as me.

"C'mon boy." I whispered while clicking my tongue quietly. He came in, and I quickly shut and locked the door. I took out my flashlight and turned it on. On the walls were axes and bows and arrows. I looked on the floor, and strangely enough there was hay.

"Hey look Gunpowder, you get half and I get half." I told him. "Just don't eat all of it, because you need some to sleep on." I giggled as he started to chew on it. I grabbed my backpack and took out my sweater, the one my father gave to me for my 9th birthday. It didn't fit me anymore, well none of my clothes did. The shirt stopped right at where my bra started, and the shorts I had were like booty shorts. I didn't care though, there were still clothes, better than nothing.

 I put the sweater over my legs and put my hands on my stomach, falling asleep.