The growls were the only sound that accompanied her as she trudged alongside her undead posse. It had been days since her revenge on the two survivors that took her family's lives and she hadn't had many encounters with a living body.
That was the best part of walking with the dead. She didn't have to face anything that required her to think. Required her to feel. It was easier to survive if one didn't have to feel.
She could feel herself grow colder everyday, but the need to stunt the growth decreased with every passing day as well. If she let the agony have its way, she wouldn't be able to function. She couldn't afford that. Not now, at least.
She pushed her hair from her face and cringed at the matted locks glued together by the viscera of a few unlucky Geeks. She was sure she was grotesque but she couldn't allow herself to think about it. She was alive and they weren't. That's all that mattered now.
The Geeks came in all shapes and sizes, some were familiar shapes and sizes. Without realizing what she was doing, she always inspected the Geeks she came across. Just in case. One day she feared that she was going to come across one that had a name she loved and that would be the end of her. She had already seen some friends and family die right in front of her, but how would she react to seeing an undead loved one stumble into her vision?
No. The pain was too real. She shoved it back in its box and continued on.
Where she was going, she didn't know. She just followed her pack until they were startled by something with a heartbeat and better personal hygiene. The Geeks had it easy. They lived to eat and eat and there was no filling the void. They didn't have to worry about human feelings or pain. They didn't fear that they were running into the wrong people or watching loved ones die right in front of them.
Sometimes, Emaley envied them. Sometimes, she imagined walking with the Geeks as a Geek. It would be easy. All she would have to do is just wash away some of the guts on her t-shirt.
It would be easier. What else did she have to live for anyway? If her mother and father were alive now, they would be scared of her. They wouldn't want anything to do with her. Carl, Rick, Lori, none of them would welcome her with open arms. Matter of fact, they would be trying to destroy her with the rest of the Geeks.
She'd be making their lives easier if she just did it. She roamed the woods of Georgia without a purpose besides living another day. Before, she thought she was making those she lost proud, but would they really? If they were with her now, they'd be terrified of her. What was she thinking? Was this really the right way?
"I protected you from the bullies and now you're worse than them...You're a killer, Em. You deserve to die like one."
The voice came from her right. There he was...Carl. He was propped up against one of the trees and there was nothing but pure hatred in his ice blue eyes. He was nothing like the little boy she cared deeply for.
"You're worse than the people I've thrown in jail, Emaley. Why would I let you sleep under the same roof as my family?"
Rick was here now. In that same, old uniform that Emaley always remembered him in. His wide-brimmed hat shaded his eyes, but she could still see that they were narrowed at her. They threatened her to make a sound, to take a step towards them, and his fingers hovered over the pistol at his hip. He looked...eager. He'd be ridding the world of scum by taking her out.
Lori stood at his side, Carl in tow behind her, and she protected the both of them from her. She looked...terrified. Disgusted. Ashamed. Her hazel, doe-like eyes stared at her like she was a wild panther ready to tear into them.
"I should've listened to what the others were telling me. You were a mistake."
Her mother appeared on the other side of Rick and Lori; her cheeks were stained with tears and she held a gun in her hand. Ready to turn on her.
Emaley forced her eyes closed and kept pushing.
They aren't real...They're dead. They aren't real. They're dead, she thought as she followed the crowd of Geeks.
They were always there, reminding her of her sins. She ignored them. They would go away...eventually.
Opening her eyes again, she spotted an old barn to the right through the trees. Time to split from the group for a while.
She was running low on supplies, still, and really needed to hit the jackpot. She usually lost, but she guessed that was to be suspected of gambling.
She continued to walk with the cluster of the dead for a little while longer until she reached a clearing. Carefully walking across the space in the middle, she rushed past one lollygagger and slowly headed towards the barn.
She watched her feet as she stalked through the grass, leaves, and sticks. Heel-toe, heel-toe, heel-toe. Colby's trick. She learned daily from her past mistakes. It was best to be quiet. It was the only way to avoid confrontation with the undead and the living.
The living were just as dangerous. Colby was right, people were not to be trusted. She was better off on her own, defending herself. It was safer that way and she knew she would stay alive that way.
She approached the door to the old barn and pounded a fist on the door and waited. Whether they answered by growl, words, or gunfire, she was going to find out who was currently taking up residence. There were very few places anymore that were just empty.
There was no response. She pounded again and waited some more.
Still no answer.
She wrapped a grimy hand around the handle and tugged. It creaked and opened at her command. Someone left it unlocked. Somebody could be nearby or it was totally abandoned. She hoped for the latter option. Either way, she was coming in.
The air was stagnant and musty, but it didn't look as untouched as it should have. An old workbench was dusted off and a few duffel bags were put there in the place of tools. A pair of worn down kid's sneakers were kicked underneath the workbench along with a few stuffed animals and another small pack.
Her sad, deep gray eyes surveyed her surroundings with a sense of unease. Someone had taken up residency here recently and Emaley had no intentions of sticking around long enough to say hello to new neighbors. She just needed their stuff.
Slowly, she made her way to the mountain of supplies and listened carefully to any audio clues of any visitors outside. When she finally approached the table, Emaley saw a stack of old pictures - someone's family photos. Picking them up with a grimy hand, Emaley quickly looked through the first few pictures on the stack. An all-around average family smiled at the camera and two small children ran around gathering eggs in their backyard. They were happy, carefree, something that felt like a million years ago.
The grime and entrails leftover on her fingers smudged the beloved pictures and Emaley put them down before she could do even more damage. After all, the pictures were about to be the last thing this family had left. If they were still alive, that is.
She moved on from the pictures and opened up the first duffel bag she saw. It wasn't filled to the brim, but it would do. Plenty of canned goods to last her weeks. There were even a few boxes of crackers and two bags of chips. How had this family been so lucky?
The other duffel contained nearly half a case of bottled water. Emaley scoffed at the pure irony. Someone had obviously hoarded on the supplies and was sitting pretty at the end of the world. Someone hadn't learned that sharing was caring, apparently.
Opening her empty bag, Emaley began to stuff as much food into her pack from the first duffel that would fit. She was obviously going to be carrying the rest, but that was a burden she was willing to carry if it meant that she survived a little while longer.
Emaley threw the duffel of waters over her shoulder and was starting to grow through one of the other bags that contained clothes in a disparity of sizes, styles, and colors when she heard the old bar door creak.
She spun around, whipping the gun she took out of its holster, and aimed at her visitor.
It was just one man, his hands held up at his sides in surrender, and he stood at the door, his breathing deep and shallow.
"You...You're just a kid…" He breathed out in between deep breaths, his eyes bulging in shock.
Emaley decided not to say anything. She was tired of explaining herself. Standing up out of the squat she was in, she took a step closer towards the man and realized he was the man from the pictures. Well, one question was answered; they were definitely alive.
The man looked her up and down and realized that she had one of his duffels on her shoulder. "You're...that's mine, kid. My family needs that stuff. We won't survive without it."
Emaley noted the obvious desperation in his eyes and the shakiness of his hands. "They won't survive anyway. You're better off on your own."
The man visibly softened and his arms drooped slightly. " You're wrong. The only way we make it is together. People need people. Kids need their parents, they need somebody. I love my wife...I love my kids...and if they don't survive, I couldn't live with myself."
She felt the sincerity in his words and, for a split second, she seriously considered putting her gun away, but she remembered Colby's words, his distrust, and squared her shoulders. "This world isn't about family anymore. It's about survival. My uncle always said nature would correct itself and another evolution would come to weed us out and he was right. It's survival of the fittest and there's no room for weakness anymore."
The man took a tentative step closer and raised his arms as he did so. "You're scared and lost...I can't imagine what you've been through...but….my family and I, we could help you. Hell, we could probably use someone like you to show us how to get things done...but we could be a family. We could help you...I promise, we would help you…."
Emaley's heart raced in her chest. Colby's words rang in her ears. Never trust...no matter what they said or how it looked, never trust. Her family was gone and Colby said not to trust people that wanted to be family...She promised him he wouldn't trust...She promised.
Emaley gulped back her fear and the tears began well in her eyes and cocked her gun. "I'm sorry...I already promised…"
Before the man could respond or react, Emaley pulled the trigger and watched the man fall to the ground, clutching his chest. His groans filled the air and his sobs echoed as she took the extra duffel bag, threw it over the other shoulder, and looped her arms back through her bag. It was time to go.
Stepping over his wailing body, the man grabbed her ankle and attempted to pull her back. He was weak and she was forced to walk through the puddle of blood streaming steadily out of his body.
"Please...don't….Please don't let...my family die…" Tears streamed down his agonized face. He wasn't attacking her, matter of fact, his grip was already weakening. He was just a desperate man that loved his wife and children more than anything else in the world. His kids were lucky…
Emaley yanked her leg out of his grasp and straightened the bags on her shoulder. "They're already dead…"
She ignored his strained pleas as she made her way out of the barn and shut the door behind her, securing the dying man inside with his beloved family photos.
It had been hours since Jason left with the others for the run and she tried to do anything to keep her mind occupied. Jamie, Billy, and Caleb had their schoolwork to keep them busy, but she had to find whatever task was available. Daniel kept her busy in the garden for a while until she ended up throwing up her breakfast and was sent to rest for a while.
Now, she had another agenda in mind. She had been resting for a while and even managed to get a good nap in when she woke up with a growling stomach. That was a common feeling, but it was the thought that ran through her mind when she woke up that had her on edge. The one thing she craved more than anything else that was being served up for lunch in the cafeteria.
Pickles.
She remembered what she told Daniel almost a week before and almost cried at the revelation. She wanted pickles so bad she could taste them and she only liked pickles when she was pregnant. She's always hated pickles with a fiery passion ever since she was a kid. When she got pregnant the first time with Chase, she knew something was up earlier than she normally would have if it wasn't for the sheer fact that she was lusting after the one thing she deemed her sworn enemy.
How he did it, she wasn't sure, but Daniel had managed to make sure the infirmary was well-stocked with pregnancy tests. She remembered the story about how some of the men raided a nearby pharmacy during their first few days here and basically threw all of their inventory into the back of a truck. They didn't care what they picked up, they just wanted to know that they had whatever they needed.
The box of pregnancy tests had gone unopened, though, and now Jenni was forced with no other option but being the first victim to desperately open the package. She had wished that Jason would be there with her so it wouldn't feel so awkward, but she didn't have a choice. She needed to know now. Besides, she told her husband that she'd have news waiting for him when he got home.
Pulling her long, dark brown hair up into a ponytail to get it off her neck, she picked herself off the ground and scrambled out of her tent. The infirmary was made from the last building standing after the fairgrounds were shut down and used to serve as bathrooms and a dining area. It seemed the perfect place for medical procedures, patients, and privacy. That's definitely what she needed a lot of right now.
The summer sun beat down on her exposed shoulders as she made her way across the field. She could hear the sound of the smaller children laughing as they all played together during their recreational time while the older kids were eating lunch with the others. She spotted Jamie's book propped open at one of the tables and Billy's little voice as he talked with some of the other boys his age. All three were too busy being enamored by their new life and friends to notice their mother finally emerging from her tent and Jenni was just fine with that.
Jenni still hadn't told Caleb or Billy about the possibility of a new baby and she had no plans of doing so until she knew for sure. Jamie was chomping on the bit. Her opinion seemed to change with the hour. One minute she was thrilled about the possibility of a new baby and ran the names she had picked out over with her, then the next, she was reminding her of how dangerous and stupid it was to have a screaming, fussy newborn around Corpses. The less she knew about her current mission the better.
She didn't factor Daniel into the equation, though.
"Jenni!" Daniel jumped up from where he sat loading magazines and started to jog over to where she was. Jenni ignored the stink eye she received from Rebecca and kept moving forward as Daniel came up to her side. "Hey, you feel better?"
Jenni mustered up the best friendly smile she could flash at him as she hugged herself. She inwardly cringed at the sweat building on her skin, but was thankful for the tank top that helped her from overheating. "Yeah, much better. I was just, uh, heading to the infirmary."
Daniel grabbed her arm, bringing her to a stop. "Are you okay? Did you hurt something? Because I can get Becca or someone else to do the hard stuff out there with me if it's too much for you and-"
Jenni scoffed and waved him off. "No, no, it's not that. I'm just...checking up on things and figured now was as good a time as any. Don't have to worry about Jason freaking out."
Realization flashed across his features and Jenni cursed herself for her choice of words. "You're gonna go find out, aren't you?"
Jenni took a step closer and put a hand on his shoulder. Daniel's breath caught in the back of his throat at her touch and she narrowed her eyes at him, but shook it off. "Daniel, please. I need this to be kept quiet. At least until I'm good and ready, okay? It could very well be a no...and with the world getting worse every day, there's still options to consider."
Daniel's breath grew shallow and a wild panic grew in his eyes. "Options…? Jenni...you can't be serious...After everything? I mean, this place is secure...we have families being built here...There's nothing to consider!"
Jenni bit back her anger and took a deep breath. "Daniel, this baby is mine and Jason's. Whatever happens is up to us, okay? Look, I appreciate everything you're trying to do, but you have to remember that, okay?"
Daniel frantically reached out and grabbed her by her arms, pulling her closer to him. "You know there's a baby there….You know you're pregnant, don't you? You called it a baby, you want this!"
"Daniel, you need to stop…" She warned, looking at the side eyes she was given. She didn't blame them. Daniel was putting them in a very intimate, awkward position.
"You're scared...you're scared and you're closing yourself off...Jason's ignored you ever since you got here and you feel alone and now you're scared you made a mistake," Jenni gulped at his intensity and shivered when she felt his thumb begin to caress the sweaty skin of her arm, "but you don't have to worry here. We can keep you safe. You, Jamie, Billy...Caleb...Even Jason...we can keep you safe, Jenni. I can keep you safe."
Jamie peered over her book and looked ready to run to her rescue, but Jenni shook her head and peeled Daniel's hands off of her. "I can keep myself safe, Daniel. Like I said, I appreciate everything you've done and I understand you care, but my family is my responsibility. It's mine and Jason's. We created this family just like we possibly created this baby. We'll work everything out, okay? Just...just be my supportive friend...on the sidelines."
Daniel seemed to come back to Earth and shrank within himself, frantically looking for a place to run and hide. He just nodded stiffly and took a step back. "Just...let me know...if I need to drop some pickles off…"
Jenni let out a deep breath and nodded once, dismissing him. The suspicion seemed to settle some as he made his way back to his station and picked up the magazine he was working on, giving Rebecca a bright smile like nothing had happened. She silently thanked him for her opportunity and continued on to the infirmary.
When she got there, she slammed the door behind her and thanked whatever god was listening for the privacy of four walls. She just had to get through today. The first step was the hardest, but it paved the way for the rest of the journey. She was almost done with the first step.
"Can I help you?"
Jenni groaned at the annoying voice and did her best to contain her anger at the mention of her presence. "Is it just you here?"
Amber cocked a brow at her and flicked her hair behind her shoulder. "Yeah. Jase left me in charge."
Pure hatred boiled in the pit of her stomach at the sight of her smug grin after the pet name she gave Jason left her lips. "Can you just help me so I can get back to work?"
Amber rolled her eyes and stood up straight, squaring her shoulders. "What do you want?"
Jenni gulped and closed the gap between them just in case she wasn't as alone as she thought. "I...I need a pregnancy test." She whispered once she got within hearing range.
Amber fought back a laugh, but couldn't hide the snort. "You need a pregnancy test?"
"Yes, Amber. I do. Because I'm a married woman and Jason and I have sex frequently, so I make it a habit to make sure he didn't get me pregnant again." Jenni knew it wasn't the complete truth, but if it made Amber feel even an ounce of jealousy then it was enough for her. The last time she had sex was when Jason first gave her the proposition about trying for a baby. Even before that, before the world turned, it had been a while. It was honestly common for them to go weeks upon weeks without hardly spending time with each other let alone being intimate.
Amber curled her lip in disgust, but finally complied. "Fine. Follow me."
Jenni made a face and rolled her eyes as soon as Amber turned and led her to a storage room off the side. Amber reached up and flicked the light on as Jenni shut the door behind them and watched her search through the labeled buckets on the shelves. After what felt like an eternity, she pulled down one off of the shelf just above her and slapped it down onto the table beside her.
"There. Take your pick."
Jenni rummaged through the bucket of tests that ranged in different types and brands. She saw a few of the cheap, drugstore tests that she used before, but she was used to immediately going to the doctor for a more accurate reading.
"Which one is more accurate?" She asked, peeling her eyes away from the sea of boxes and looked up at Amber.
Amber sighed and fished out a bulky box. "Probably this one. It actually says pregnant or not pregnant unlike the others and it can detect the pregnancy hormones earlier than the rest...Because, you know, lines and colors may just be too advanced for slow types…"
Jenni glared at her and ripped it out of Amber's hand. "Just show me to the bathroom."
Amber gave her a disgusted look. "How about you go back to wherever you came from and find a bush to piss on? We have limited sources here, Jennifer, and we don't open the bathroom to just anyone."
Jenni couldn't hold back her anger any longer. "And how about you shit and fall on it, Amber?"
Amber looked genuinely taken back by Jenni's comment, but shook it off. "Fine...It's over there. Just...throw your shit in the trash and get the hell out when you're done."
Jenni followed Amber's finger and nodded once. "Gladly." She turned and flung the door open in front of her, letting it slam back shut. She felt like her skin was on fire and all she really wanted to do was go back and rip all that hair she kept flicking around off her scalp. Jenni wasn't a stranger to characters like Amber, matter of fact, she was raised around women like her, but she couldn't stand it. She usually had more tact than that, but she had had enough.
Amber was right about one thing, she was the only one here. She was grateful for that. The long trek to the only bathroom was just one she needed to calm her raging spirit before a whole other spirit stepped in.
She thought about what Daniel said outside. She was scared. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. Everything about this place felt too good. If there was anything she was confident of, it was the disillusionment of peace. When she left her father's house to pursue her own life with Chase and their unborn baby, everything felt right. She confidently told everyone she ran into that she finally was living her happily ever after that she deserved for so long. Then she lost that baby.
Feeling the explicit pain in her back and abdomen as the blood ran down her legs, Jenni felt all her hopes and dreams and expectations die with her unborn child. She had never felt so lost and heartbroken as she did during that time of her young life. She couldn't stand the thought of not having a child and dragged Chase aside any time she could to get pregnant again. Her pain and loss blinded her and she knew it was wrong for her to think she could replace the baby she lost.
She was still blessed with a healthy pregnancy the next time around and she remembered the absolute euphoria when her baby came into the world. She remembered the feeling of completion and purpose coursing through her veins when the doctor held her tiny, squalling miracle up for her to see and placed her on her chest. Her Emaley. The one that made her a mommy.
Everything seemed to be perfect, they even had another child. Benjamin. Her heart heaved in her chest as the image of her perfect little boy laying stiff in his crib plagued her mind. Losing Ben taught her that nothing is perfect and life would never be what she dreamed it would as a child. There was no fairytale ending waiting for her or anyone. She just had to learn how to survive somehow even during all the shitty turns life handed her.
Now, the world had ended and, in a moment of vulnerability, actually agreed to bring another life into it. This world was ugly and full of pain. More Corpses seem to appear by the dozens every day. It was getting harder and harder to just survive with every week that passed. She couldn't even guarantee Caleb's survival or Jamie or Billy's...or even her own. She couldn't guarantee that this entire community would last the rest of the day. How could she ask that for a baby?
The only thing that kept her going was the fact that Jason wanted this. He wanted hope. He wanted to believe for the future and this baby would be the hope for the future. For the first time in a long time, Jenni prayed she was wrong.
Jenni finally made it to the bathroom and quickly slinked in and shut the door behind her. Her moment of truth. She'd rather rip the band-aid off instead of peeling it back carefully. She wanted her answer and wanted to move on.
Flipping the box over, she read the instructions carefully before ripping the box open. "Well...it's now or never…" She said through a sigh and unbuttoned her jeans.
After finishing her business, she put the cover on the end and waited the three minutes it told her it would take. In that moment of time, she tried to think about what she was going to do no matter the answer. She knew that, in the end, she would love her child more than life itself. She didn't doubt that for a second. She also knew she already had three children in her care with the dead rising to eat the living and another child missing in the midst of all of it.
What was she thinking even trying to bring another one into the world when she already had enough on her plate? Maybe it would be for the best if it was negative. They'd have their answer, they'd wait it out, and see later on down the road if it was something they still wanted. This could all just be one, big pointless scare and she could focus all her strength on Caleb, Jamie, and Billy.
On the other hand, Jason wanted this more than everything in the world...Even before the turn, Jason had been wanting to expand their little family. He wanted a little girl of his own so bad he could practically taste it. He'd be thrilled with another son, as well, but she knew he'd be secretly disappointed. Caleb would absolutely adore a new baby and it would bring so much joy to her family. Unless something awful changed, their new home was secure. They could make it work.
But did she want this? What if she was pregnant and something horrible happened later on in her pregnancy? What kind of risk would she be to herself and the entire community? Is that the life she was willing to live for a small bundle of hope?
Knowing the three minutes were up, Jenni forced herself to turn around and look at the test she had laid on the counter. It was the moment of truth and she couldn't delay it any longer.
"Come on, Jennifer. Just look and get it over with," She whispered to herself, pushing the stray hair out of her eyes and spun around before she could talk herself out of it again.
Jenni felt her heart drop to her stomach and tears filled her eyes. Fear, sorrow, horror, anxiety, and joy washed over her in one crashing wave and almost knocked her off her feet.
Pregnant
Daniel was right. She was scared. Her hands shook as she hugged herself and blinked the tears away. Jason would be thrilled and would convince her of what a miracle this would be, but all she felt was fear. The future was unknown and treacherous. What would happen to her? To the baby?
Unable to cope with the anxiety clawing its way up her throat and threatening to make her scream, she bolted out of the bathroom and barreled through the exit. To her surprise, Daniel was waiting for her and quickly caught her as she stumbled out of the infirmary.
"Jenni! Jenni, are you okay?"
Her chest rose and fell with her deep breaths and she didn't even care that Daniel was embracing her. She had a lot more on her mind than an inappropriate touch right now.
"I'm pregnant…"
A smile ghosted Daniel's lips and Jenni saw a memory flash across his features. Joy, then sorrow. As if answering his own silent question, Daniel nodded once and let go of Jenni, turning to make his way over to the station he was manning earlier.
"Wh...What are you...Where are you going?" Jenni asked a little breathlessly. Daniel was a man on a mission and he strode with a deep sense of purpose.
Daniel was quiet for a moment as he gathered up a couple of magazines into his pocket and checked the gun in his holster. When Jenni called out his name again, he finally looked up and let out a breath.
"I'm gonna get Jason, Jen. I can't let...He needs to be here. He doesn't need to be out there anymore...I can't sit by and watch another father get ripped away from their child. It happened to me, it happened to...it happened to my brother…" Daniel paused as his voice hitched with emotion, "And I sure as hell ain't gonna sit around and watch it happen to you. To Caleb...to this baby…"
For a moment, Jenni was able to think about anything other than the life that was now in her womb. She remembered the sound of Daniel's cries as security drug him away from the hospital. The absolute sorrow and loss she felt reverberating inside those four walls. She knew that feeling all too well, but because of all this? During all this? She didn't want to imagine.
Daniel continued when he realized Jenni wasn't going to say anything. "They're a few hours, but I know where they're headed. I'll take one of the cars and head out and find them. It'll take some convincing because my brother will definitely be pissed, but I'll figure out a way."
Jenni nodded and allowed herself to breathe. Daniel gave her a parting nod in return and turned to make his exit.
"Daniel…"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face her again. He felt his heart quiver in his chest looking at her. Standing in all of her 5'2" glory, she looked so vulnerable and fragile. Her limbs shook weakly as she hugged herself, her dark brown hair falling into her big, piercing brown eyes. He almost felt ashamed leaving her here by herself, but he knew she was a lot tougher than she looked. She was stronger than what she thought.
"Thank you…" She finally breathed out as a tear won the battle and slivered down her full cheeks.
He could hardly stand the sight of her anymore. He nodded again and turned, focusing on his newfound mission and what he was going to say to bring Jason back home.
Emaley perched herself up in a tree not far from the barn she had slithered out of but a couple of hours ago. She wanted to see if the man was telling the truth. Correction, she had to know if he was telling the truth. If she shot and killed an innocent man….
She pushed the thought from her mind and dug her hand into the bag of chips again, funneling a handful into her mouth. She had taken one of the bottles of water to wash the guts and dirt from her hands before she dug into her recently discovered treasure. Normally, the flavor of chips wasn't her favorite, but right now it tasted like pure Heaven on Earth.
She even managed to find a shirt or two that she could make fit. She was afraid the women's jeans may still be a tad too long even for her long, lanky legs, but she figured she could find a way to make them work, too. She didn't have the luxury of just running to the mall and finding some new clothes anymore. And she was growing at a faster rate than she wanted to admit.
She wondered about her mother as she munched on her chips and waited for the man's family to show up. How did she die? Was she alone? Did she even try to find her? Did she even make it long enough to hear her voicemail? Did she think about her as she died? Did she cry her name in agony? Did she even miss her…?
Emaley growled as she felt a tear begin to run down her cheek. No, she was stronger than that. She was done crying. Her family was dead and gone. Crying certainly wasn't going to bring them back, so there was no use for it anymore. She was tired of crying.
"C'mon, honey! Let's go see if Daddy made it back to our new home, yet."
Emaley heard the honey-sweet voice before she saw who it belonged to. She heard the crunching of leaves as two pairs of feet crunched their way through the woods. She heard the sound of higher pitched, tiny voices as the woman led them to the barn. She ducked into the tree branch she was perched on when they finally came into view.
The woman was tall and skinny, long, pretty blonde hair swished down her back and her hips swayed with every step. She had a kind face and cradled a toddler on her hip as she hummed a merry tune to the two children in her keep. Probably in hopes of keeping their mind off of what was happening and making them believe it was all just a fun camping trip.
Emaley scoffed. She was just as delusional as her husband.
They grew closer to the barn and Emaley could see that one child was a boy and the other a girl. The girl was cuddled close to her mother's chest and the boy wildly clicked at the leaves and sticks in his path. He reminded her of Caleb...
Emaley forced the lump in her throat down and watched the family pull the barn down open and turn to shut it. The man was telling the truth, Emaley had her proof. He was sincere and possibly just wanted to help her. She felt the remorse kicking and screaming its way to her heart, but she kept it at bay. She could channel it elsewhere later.
Emaley rolled up the bag of chips and tucked it away into the duffel balancing on two, closeby branches when she heard the scream. The woman obviously found her dead husband. She needed to get out of here, her scream would draw attention that she didn't quite feel like having.
When the screams multiplied, though, and was followed by the sound of growling, she was frozen. The woman's scream was accompanied by the cries of the two small children and Emaley shook with the realization.
She killed the man, he turned, and now he was attacking and killing his family...She killed an entire family...Two small children. Panic set in and Emaley frantically snatched the duffel from the branches and made her descent down the tree to run far, far away from this place and hopefully forget the sounds she was hearing now.
Even as she ran, the screams didn't lessen. The children got louder as their father turned on them and Emaley scratched at her ears in a desperate attempt to silence the sound.
She killed them...She lost her family, hated the men that took them from her, and now she was the same…
She was a murderer, too.
