EPISODE ONE: Anew Every Morning

Part 10: Request

Luke swung open the door and burst into his father's hospital room, panting frantically. There was no time to explain it all to his parents or sister. They just needed to get the hell out of here and they could make sense of everything once they were safe. Nick had chased him down, and was waiting outside for Luke to retrieve his family and get everybody to safety.

John barely looked up at his son, his gray eyes half-opened. But Luke could at least make out a half-smile forming across his father's face.

He attempted in vain to recollect himself quickly and catch his breath again, but the shock and loss of adrenaline left him paralyzed, standing there. He was still hyperventilating and unable to speak, though his facial expression was probably enough to express that something terrible had occurred.

"Luke! You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?" Luke's inability to respond and his still-rushed breaths helped Linda realize that something was horribly wrong. Her pupils dilated with fear. "Luke… what's happenin'?" Her voice sounded increasingly worried.

"Take a breath, son, 'n come out with it." John laughed dryly, as if he was amused by the situation or something and watching his son freak out internally. He would quickly realize that what Luke and Nick had just witnessed was no laughing matter by any means.

"Is… is it w-worse?" Caitlin stuttered, sounding panicked already. She was clearly on edge after Luke had told her about what they'd seen the first time. To address her concerns, it was most certainly worse now.

Luke took a deep breath and did his best to get his thoughts under control, but his mind was still plagued by terror and shock. When he thought that he could form a coherent sentence, he looked back up at his family.

| Something horrible is happening. |

| It's getting worse. |

| We have to leave now. |

| We just saw a cannibal kill and eat a person. |

"We… we have to leave right now, all right?" Luke replied. "There ain't time to explain it all right now, but I'll tell y'all everythin' that happened once we get someplace safe." He gulped. They had to trust him that it was urgent to leave and get the hell out of dodge. Luke didn't know if they had the luxury of waiting inside and letting him disclose all of the details. With what he'd seen so far, those monsters were absolutely ruthless and near-invincible, and it wouldn't be long before they would probably make their way to their wing of the building.

"What do you mean, leave?" Linda appeared confused. Although she didn't want to admit that John was on his last leg, she understood that it would be unlikely that they could get him out of the hospital, and she would refuse to leave him behind.

"We need to go, and right now. We can all stay safe at Nick's house tonight and in the meantime. And if it's necessary, we can find someplace else later. I just need y'all to trust me on this, all right?" Luke begged. He just needed his family to be safe. He'd made a promise to his father to protect them, and he was entirely determined to keep his word.

"Right. But how are we going to get daddy out of here?" Caitlin asked. Luke had no idea how to disconnect all of the medical equipment let alone ensure that his father made it out of the hospital. He hoped that he could come up with a plan, and soon.

"I'll try... t' figure somethin' out…" John's voice was still as scratchy and pained as it had sounded yesterday.

"Yeah." Luke didn't seem very confident about that.

Nick appeared in the doorway, looking even more uneasy than before. "Uh… don't mean to interrupt, but I think we might have to leave about now. I don't think they've exactly got it under control yet."

"Nick, dear, what do you mean it's not under control?" Linda didn't seem like she was aware of what was going on outside.

| Okay. We're coming. |

| Is it getting urgent? |

| Give us some time to figure this out. |

| … |

"Nick, is it gettin' urgent now? Are they comin' this way?" Luke was already pretty sure that there wasn't much time to screw around here.

"I t-think so." Nick shuffled around, clearly worried.

"What do you mean by 'are they comin'?' Luke, tell me what's goin' on." Linda crossed her arms. She was a complete sweetheart ninety-nine percent of the time, but she didn't refrain from being stern with her son when she thought it was necessary.

Luke sighed. It looks like she would demand that they explained themselves right now, despite the precarious situation they were all in. "All right… We were attacked by some crazy people over in the other wing. I don't want to go into detail about what happened, but it wasn't pretty, all right? I don't think they've been taken care of yet, so we need to find someplace safe soon, away from 'em until the sheriff or somebody deals with them."

"He's telling the truth. Luke already told me about what he and Nick saw," Caitlin defended her brother. Luke gulped, contemplating whether or not he should tell his sister the entire story of what they'd seen the second time they went back to check on the situation. She still didn't know about the horrifying murder and acts of cannibalism they'd witnessed.

"Pete just called me and said that he and mom were watchin' the news and a-apparently it's gettin' worse and turnin' into complete chaos over in the cities," Nick mentioned. They hadn't received any updates since yesterday, so it wasn't very reassuring to know that the situation hadn't improved back in Atlanta. And it seemed like whatever was going on in the city had spread here too, to a sleepy Tennessean town.

"All right, all right. We just need a way to get your father out of here…" Linda looked around, trying to think of something.

John began coughing violently, drawing everybody's attention back to him. "T-that won't be necessary."

Luke, Linda, Caitlin, and Nick all exchanged concerned glances with each other. What exactly did Luke's father mean by that?

"Honey, what are you saying?" Linda asked. The fear in her voice was evident.

"I l-love you a lot, Linda. I love our son and our little girl more than a-anythin'," John admitted. He wasn't usually a man who was willing to ever really express his emotions, which made his words a lot more impactful on Luke. John sighed. "You know I'm tryin', but I think this is it for me."

Linda shook her head, as her eyes quickly began to redden. "J-John… No. We can't…" Her brown eyes were swollen and the tears began to stream down her face. Caitlin gave her a gentle hug and Luke placed his hand on their mother's shoulder.

"Y'all have to… And have t' go soon. Jus'... Gimme some time to say goodbye to each of you," John requested. His solemn eyes looked up at Luke and Caitlin. "You kids mind givin' us a moment? Then I wanna talk to each of you both… alone."

Linda nodded slowly, rubbing away at her eyes. Although she didn't want to admit that she knew it was the end of the road for John, she understood what was happening. Luke, Caitlin, and Nick exited the room to give their parents their privacy. Hopefully they wouldn't take long, because they still had to get out of the hospital.

"Hey, uh… I'm sorry, guys." Nick rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of what else to say to help the situation. He wasn't the best as offering comfort, though neither was Luke. The thought was really what counted.

"Yeah. Thanks, man." Luke gave his friend an appreciative smile.

"It's okay. He won't have to suffer anymore," Caitlin hoped. At least she was able to remain optimistic about what was happening to their father.

"You're right, Cait. He's gonna finally get a break for once, I guess," Luke said.

"Yeah… So, where's Christopher? Is he safe somewhere else?" Caitlin asked. Luke's eyes widened, realizing that neither of them had stopped to check for the kid in the chaotic situation. Could she blame them for panicking and freaking out, though? If she knew what they had just been through, she might not blame them for their neglect.

"Shit. I mean - sorry," Nick apologized.

"W-what?" Caitlin seemed horrified that they would even consider leaving a child unattended with everything that was going on.

Luke stammered. "I'm sorry, Cait. We were panickin', I guess, and we didn't go back to check on him before we made it up here-"

"-I'll go make sure he's okay," Nick offered. Both Luke and Caitlin appeared surprised at that. They didn't think that he would be the one to step up and try to save the child.

| Okay. Go make sure he's fine. |

| I can go. |

"Hey, I can go. Don't worry, Nick." Luke touched his friend's shoulder.

(?) Nick will remember that.

"C'mon, Luke. Just... give me a chance to do somethin'. You stood up for me back there, and I honestly really wanna prove that I'm not as screwed up 'n useless as they think I am." Nick reassured, "I'll be fine."

Luke realized that there was no arguing with Nick right now. He fully understood that he really just wanted to prove to himself and his family that he was worth something. At least he already felt secure that Luke would always believe in him. "All right. Just make sure to come back to us quick. And bring Chris with you so we can go find his daddy afterwards, obviously."

"You got it." Nick smiled brightly and ran downstairs to find Chris.

Caitlin looked up at her older brother and gave him a sad smile. "It's okay. I know that you two must have been really scared and stressed out right now. And I think it's really really nice how much you two can trust each other."

"Hey, that's what friends are for. You gotta trust and believe in each other, you know?" Luke grinned.

"I guess so." Caitlin gestured towards the door, where Linda was exiting. "I guess I'll talk with daddy right now." She gave their mother a tight hug and shut the door behind her.

Linda sat down on one of the plastic chairs in the hallway. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, trying to soak up the remaining teardrops. Her expression seemed so distant, as if she wasn't really even there anymore. Luke understood that his parents had loved each other very much, and it was probably destroying his mother to know that John would have to be moving on prematurely. Not only that, he had asked them to actually leave him in the hospital, while they escaped and found someplace safe.

Luke took a seat next to his mother, hoping to provide some comfort to her.

"I… I didn't want us to have to say goodbye like this, Luke. I can't believe we're doin' this, dear. Leavin' him like this..." The guilt of seemingly abandoning John in his last hours was probably eating Linda alive.

| He won't have to be in pain anymore. |

| It was his last request. |

| He would want us to be strong. |

| … |

"Uh… I know it's real hard to do this, but he would've wanted us to be strong," Luke tried to encourage her. "We all gotta remember that 'n keep his wishes in mind."

(?) Linda will remember that.

"Luke, I know you're right. It doesn't make it any easier doin' this, though." Linda sighed. "I mean, what if there was still a chance out there that he wouldn't have to move on this early? I'm just thinking about all of the things that he won't be here for in person. I know he'll be watchin' over us, but how am I supposed to ever forgive myself for… abandonin' him right now?"

"We're not… abandonin' him. If anythin', we're all bein' here for him by doin' what he wants for him and us," Luke tried to reason.

"I know, Luke." Linda kept her gaze fixed on her lap, probably still thinking too much about everything.

Nick returned, with Chris following him intently. Luke breathed a sigh of relief to know that the kid was safe and okay. But upon closer inspection, Luke realized that Chris seemed frightened by something, and he hid behind Nick's leg, grabbing Nick with his good arm. Luke wasn't sure if they would be able to take the cast off his other arm by themselves once it was fully healed.

"Hey. You two made it." Luke gave his friend a warm smile.

"Yeah. But we almost got jumped by one of those… guys when we were leavin' his room. He's pretty damn scared right now, if you can't tell," Nick explained. Chris refused to say anything, probably still in shock.

| Is it not clearing up yet? |

| What's going on now? |

| Do you think it'll be fine? |

| … |

"So, is the situation not clearin' up yet?" Luke asked.

"No, I don't think so," Nick said. "Some more people came in to help, but it's not goin' well. It's like they're fuckin' invincible or something, man. They just don't give up. You were right about gettin' the hell outta here. I don't wanna wait around 'till those guys make it up the stairs."

"Me too. We'll find a way out pretty soon, though." Luke turned to Chris. "Hey. Don't worry, kiddo. It'll be okay."

Chris nodded, but didn't respond.

After a while, Caitlin opened the door and sat down next to Linda, signaling to Luke that he should go talk to their father.

(O) Open door

Luke took a deep breath and entered his father's room. John looked peaceful for the first time in years, like he knew that he could finally get some rest after what Luke knew had been an undoubtedly difficult life for him. Growing up in poverty to harsh parents, it certainly hadn't been easy for John to make a name for himself and find remote success. He definitely understood the value of hard work, and how challenging life could be at times.

"Hey, son. I guess this is it." John's pale lips curled into the most genuine of smiles Luke had ever seen before.

"Y-yeah. It is." Luke sat down at his father's bedside. He took the glass of water and let John drink, to clear his throat.

"I really don't got much to say, Luke. I just 'ppreciate you... makin' sure that you'll look out for your m-mother and your sister. I know it's a gonna be a tough responsibility, and it sure as hell ain't ever gonna be easy... 'specially given the circumstances." John seemed so different now than from when Luke had last seen him two years ago. He was calm and humble on his deathbed.

| Don't worry; I'll keep them safe. |

| I know it'll be hard, but I'll do my best. |

| I'm not sure if I'm ready. |

| … |

"I know that it'll be hard, but I'll do my best to keep 'em safe," Luke reassured.

(?) John appreciates that.

"Trust me, son... I know you'll do everythin' in your power to protect 'em. I already told ya this yesterday, but that's just the burden we carry as men. To keep the people close to us safe and sound. And sometimes, that just means there ain't time to think about ourselves," John explained. "I know that somethin's changin', and it's in times like these that you realize what's really important to you, son. For me, that was keepin' all three of you safe. I just hope you'll continue with that... I know your mother and sister are gonna insist that they're fine, but you gotta make sure they know that you'll always be there for 'em."

"I understand, dad. I'll try my best, no doubt about it." Luke smiled.

"Ya told me that already." John tried his best to laugh for what would be the last time.

"Is there... anythin' else you need?" Luke asked.

John sighed. "Luke, I know that somethin' in the world's changin', and it ain't gonna be pretty. I know that it would break your mother or your sister for me to ask 'em this, and I wouldn't ask you to do this either if things were different right now, but I'd appreciate it if you helped me out one last time. I'm real tired... I'd do it myself, but I can't e-even feel anythin' or move my bones anymore... Do you get what I'm sayin'?"

"Yeah… I do." Luke didn't know if he could really bring himself to do this. But he felt obligated to fulfill his father's final request.

John craned his head to the left, and Luke could hear his weakened bones cracking. "See that lever right there? All you gotta do is turn it up a bit…"

[ ACCEPT ]

[ REFUSE ]

"All… all right." Luke didn't really know what else to say. But he was strong enough to prevent himself from showing any sign of hesitation or weakness in front of his dying father, if only to reassure John that he would be capable of taking care of his family once he was gone. He pulled up the lever like John had told him to, and sat back down, waiting for what his father's last words would be.

"T-thanks, son. For what it's worth, I'm sorry." John coughed.

"There ain't nothin' to be sorry for, dad."

"Just… take care of them, all right? I love you, Luke… And I... I know I d-didn't make it clear back then... but I'm actually real proud of you for chasin' after the things ya dreamt about 'n wanted."

"Yeah... I love you too."

And he closed his eyes.