mmMMMMMM UHHHHHMMMMM WHATS mmmMmPOPPPPIN

1

(Percy POV)

A wave of nausea hits me as I open the door to my house, the stench of death filling the air. I glance back at Imara who was holding my hand and sticking behind me. The benefit of living in the country is no one lives here, so the amount of those.. things.. was decreased. Now I've never shot a gun before, so to say the least this was the scariest experience I have ever gone through.
"Alright, Mar, we're heading to Kyu's house. If anyone tries to tag you, run to her house. Understand?" I say looking her straight in the eyes; she nods, fear suddenly filling her eyes. Around 5 of those things stood eating something unrecognizable the other direction of Kyu's house. I am so lucky that we're neighbors or this whole thing would be insane.. I grab Imara's hand tightly and we make a run for it, not looking back for any slight noise, the 3 backpacks clanking loudly as we run. After around a minute of running the small hand that was previously in my grasp was tugged away.
Imara fell. Those things, although not fast started coming at us full speed. With no time to spare I pick her up and put her on my shoulders, Kyu's house coming into view, and those pestering things following along. More and more of them followed, and by the time I reached Kyu's door I couldn't count them. I let Mara down, then pound on the door. I turn, grabbing the gun I loaded. I held it up. Hands shaking, pointing it at them. They aren't human, shoot them! My hand refused to though. As I helplessly looked back at Imara, those things inching closer. Right when I thought our time was up the door opened revealing a disheveled Kyu, who proceeded to yank us inside .
"You idiots! You could've died out there!" She yells, her tear stained face slightly red. I looked around, seeing Meri and HC already on the couch, both crying messes as well. I glace back at the now locked door, the clawing and pounding echoing around the quiet room.
"Excuse me Mar, can you go talk to Meri for a bit? I need to have a talk with the older kids." I whisper to her, then turn back to Kyu.
"Can I talk with you and HC alone?" I murmur, tapping my foot lightly on the floor. Kyu motions HC over and we all make our way to the kitchen, taking seats at the ends of the table.
"Alright, first things first. Are there any parents here and alive?" I say looking between the two. HC's face immediately starts brimming with tears.
"My- my parents tried to come over here with me, but the walk was too long, my dad-" she tries to hold back a sob, "he got bit, my mother stayed with him-" Her voice trailed away, fresh tears staining her cheeks. Kyu and I stand to give her a hug when a loud scream sounds from the living room. All three of us rush in and glance around nervously. One of the windows was shattered, though most of those things have left since we arrived, there were still around 5-10 there at the window trying to get in. I pulled out my gun, but again, the hesitation. HC noticed this and grabbed my gun. Without fear or hesitation, she starts shooting them. I glance at her, completely surprised by these actions. It doesn't take her long to injure those things to the point where none can get in. She glances back at me and hands the gun over.
"Sorry for taking it, I just saw how you hesitated, and well, it made me scared in case you didn't shoot them on time." She mumbled, tugging on the ends of her faded yellow hoodie. I glance back down at where the gun sat in my palms before glancing back up at her.
"Here, I think you're better with this than I am." I say, handing the gun back over to her. She glances back over at Imara and Meri, then smiles.
"As long as I can protect our sisters, I'm happy." She glances back at Kyu, who's still in her pajamas.
"C'mon Kyu you need to get changed, and we need to start stocking up on supplies." Kyu heads to her room while HC starts raiding the kitchen for anything useful. I make my way over to the couch where Meri and Imara sat.
"Poet.." Imara says looking at me, her eyes wide. I hum in response taking a seat at the end closest to the window.
"Why did HC shoot those people?" She says. I sigh and stare back at the window still seeing some of those things lurking around outside, before looking back over at both of them.
"This isn't really a game, is it?" Meri says, glancing at the window fear still prominent in her eyes.