One Survivor

22 'His escape'

Hodges tried to calm the class, but they all started jumping out the window, he watched Ava do the same and he grunted in frustration, he'd expect her to be one of the smart ones who wait for the police to come. He waited for them to come but all that could be heard were the sounds of the monsters outside.

Hodges swore to himself before jumping out of the window as well, just as he did kids budged past him and he fell to the ground. He let out a loud groan before picking himself up off the ground. He looked at the deserted school as students stumbled out of the entrance, he went to go help them but stopped when he looked closer at their faces, it looked as though someone had dug their nails into their eyes and pulled down the skin, the students growled and started running to him. He stumbled back and felt like he had lost all feeling in his legs when he feel once again.

He was two feet from one of the monsters, out of nowhere multiple gun shots flew through the air and one by one, the bodies dropped.

Hodges gasped and tried to catch his breath before slowly getting up and turning around revealing a group of people standing there with guns in their hands.

"Come with us"

"They took me with them wherever we went until we found this place, we've built it up and made it home" Hodges finished explaining to Ava.

"I still can't believe you're alive, I mean—fuck" she whispered and burst out into laughter.

"So, you had a kid..." Hodges nodded his head and looked to Lucas who was eating with Sam and Luke.

"Oh Lucas? No, no, no, no. Not my kid, I found him not too long ago and we've been taking care off him" she explained and took a sip of her soup.

"Your mom?" he looked up to her and she just continued to drink her meal, "I'm sorry. She was a good woman" he said softly.

"Yeah, she was" Ava smiled at the memory of her mom; she hadn't thought about her for a while. I guess she had started to slowly forget her over the years, she could remember slight features of her in her mind and her laugh, yeah, Ava could hear her laugh.

Ava stood up, "I'm gonna get going, Lucas gets tired around this time" she smiled, and he stood up as well, smiling at her and then pulling her into a long hug.

"I'm glad your okay" he whispered.

"You too" she pulled away and turned around, Lucas saw her and ran to her, letting her pick him up and take him into the apartment building.

She carried him up the stairs and listened to his gentle breathing signaling that he was asleep. She unlocked the door and closed it behind her, walking down the hall and opening the door to the kids room.

She gently undressed Lucas and grabbed some night clothes from the dresser and threw them on him. He stirred in his sleep gently and she winced, trying not to wake him up. She tucked him under the covers and kissed his forehead, "Night Builder" she whispered and turned around.

"Night mommy" she heard a small voice whispered and she turned back round to see Lucas dozing off.

She felt her heart gently melt as she smiled before opening the door and closing it behind her, "Good night mommy" she heard someone behind her and she pulled out her knife and held it up, she stared at the person and recognized his laughter.

"Jesus Ed" she sighed and shoved the knife back in her boot.

"I'm sorry" he whispered and walked closer to her, placing his hand son her waist as she moved her hands to his shoulders.