He Promised

The couple had expected to hear more noise as they entered the workshop, but other than a few hammering sounds the place was quiet enough to alert their arrival.

- Look who came to give us the grace of his presence on this glorious morning. - Amanda said getting up from her chair.

- Good morning to you too, looks like you too made up. - The brother said delivering the food.

- It wasn't the only thing we did. - She replied with a smirk.

- Jesus Christ Amanda, really? - Ana said facepalming.

- Payback for what I had to witness that day. I still feel a burning sensation every time I close my eyes, you know?

- Still with the drama? - André asked smiling. - Anyway, how are things here? How long will it take?

- No time at all, it's done Amanda. - Murilo said putting the hammer aside.

- Thanks honey. Yours is also ready Ana - She said taking the new weapon from the table and showing it to the girl. - So? What do you think?

Before Ana could respond they heard a scream coming from outside and then Rodrigo opening the door.

- Walkers! A lot of them surrounded Gui and Isa inside the car!

- Better put these things to use then, let's go! - André said taking the hammer Murilo left on the table while Amanda took her weapon and the sketchbook stuffing it in her pants.

The four came across at least twenty of them, Danilo hitting one with a wooden stick. Amanda walked towards the nearest one and finally tested her weapon. An ax whose blade was made from a serrated saw with a quarter of it cut imitating a lumberjack's axe. The underside of the wood was sharpened if needed. The blade easily pierced the skull of the creature that fell dead to the ground. Ana swinged what was once a big wrench, and after having its bent parts cut and sanded for hours turned into an extremely sharp machete. Amanda took the mission of building the weapons seriously. Murilo used his bent iron bar while André hammered their heads, thanks to its strength it worked very well. Gradually they finished them all off and approached the car where Gui and Isa could just wait and look since they left their weapons inside. Within minutes the walkers were on the ground, Amanda and Ana being the ones who took down most.

- What do I think? I love it Amanda. - Ana said, panting a little and examining the object better. - What was that?

- A wrench, there was a giant one that I just sanded until it took shape.

- What the fuck? It looks like it came out of a video game. - Danilo said in wonder. - Why didn't you ask if I wanted one?

- Because if I asked everyone we would be here all week. - She said shaking the object in her hand, Gui and Isa approaching them.

- They came out of nowhere, thanks guys. - The guy with the glasses said. - Igor? You alright?

- …What? - The boy had hit a few and then just stopped, staring at the body of one on the ground. - Yes, I'm fine. Is nothing.

- Okay... We better hit the road, there might be more of them coming. - André suggested. - And you were right Da Vinci. You're an artist. - He aid imitating the gestures of his sister of the day before.

Everyone laughed and went to the car for what they hoped would be the last time.

—

At first ir seemed like a nice and quiet ride, but the huddle of cars and a few walkers forced them into detours that made them burn gasoline faster than it should.

- God, another truck up ahead! - Murilo warned from de back. - There's a car too, we'll have to push it to make room.

- How many cars have we pushed? My muscles are starting to hurt. - Danilo replied massaging his arms.

- What muscles?

- Very funny.

The car slowed down and stopped, allowing the two boys along with Gui to go down leaving Igor sitting there just looking at the landscape. Murilo went to the driver's window where André was.

- How is the gas?

- Low. Very low. We gotta take from one of these cars, we're not even close to the entrance of the town yet.

- At least we're almost out of the mountains, so we don't need to worry about these narrow roads.

- Need help? - Andrew offered.

- Yes! Please! - Danilo asked exaggeratedly.

- And I thought Amanda was the drama queen. - André said getting out of the car not fast enough to avoid being slapped by the youngest in the back seat.

While the boys worked on the car, the others talked.

- You know something I don't miss? My phone. Surprisingly. - Amanda commented.

- In the classroom that was the only thing I could think of. I never noticed that I was such a social media addict. - Ana said from the passenger seat.

- Seriously? The only time you weren't on your cell phone was when André was around. - Isa commented taking a laugh from everyone who were glad to see her friend a little happier.

- You had to see the day I introduced him to you. Sometimes, during dinner or even at the cinema, André would pick up the phone and never let go. He fell so hard for you. - Amanda said.

- As much as Murilo fell for you. - Ana replied. - He was desperate to see you again. Gui too.

- We're very lucky, aren't we? - Isa commented seeing the boys, now with free passage checking the cars for fuel.

- Yeah. Not as much as Rodrigo, he found true love. The camera's only need is to be protect from the rain. - Amanda said addressing the boy who, to the surprise of no one, was taking pictures of the landscape.

- I want to correct you, but you'll just laugh at me. - He said wiping his forehead. - But really, what I wouldn't give for a shower and a change of clothes.

- Your camera? - Isa suggested.

- Um, I'd rather stink for the rest of my life. - The casualness with which he said made the others laugh.

- We have a problem. - André said opening the door. - None of the cars have gas.

- None? How so? - Ana asked.

- There were five cars lined up out front, all dry. - Gui said putting his head inside. - Someone must have sucked it all up already.

- Do you think there will be more up front? - Amanda asked her brother.

- I don't know, but I hope so or we go to the port on foot. - He said getting into the car and, as soon as the others climbed, he started to drive.

They managed to drive out of the mountain and were close to the huge fish-shaped metal structure that marked the entrance to the city when the car began to slow down. In addition of being far from the port, they stopped at a place where several walkers roamed. André stepped on the accelerator trying to make the car continue, but it was in vain.

- What do we do? - Ana asked.

- The only thing we can do now. - The driver said taking the hammer and getting out of the car. - Let's make our way and run.

- Run where? - Murilo asked.

- Shit, let's follow the road and... - The truth was that André didn't have an answer, but for their sake he created one.- ... seek shelter in the nearest house. We have to be careful here in town.

Everyone followed the leader and drew their weapons to clear a path among the dead, but for every one who fell, two more appeared. They could barely take two steps without having to hit one in the head.

- There are too many of them! - Isa warned pulling the knife from the skull of one.

- What if we go for that one-

Amanda couldn't finish the sentence as the walker in front of her had his head blown off. They were so focused on keeping themselves alive that they didn't notice the two cars approaching. From them came down armed men who had no problem shooting the dead, all with shots to the head. The group kept low to get out of the line of fire, hoping they wouldn't be hit. Just as abrupt the shots started, they stopped, opening their eyes and raising their heads the former students saw all the dead on the floor and four armed men standing. André was the first to straighten up and thank them.

- Oh god, thank you so much. We- He tried to take a step but had a gun pointed at his face.

- Stop right there! Drop your weapons and raise your hands!

- This is not necessary Antonio.

That voice. It can't be... they heard wrong. Please let it be that they heard wrong.

- Do you know them sir?

- Of course. - The owner of the voice got out of the car and took off his glasses. A tall man with broad shoulders and grayish brown hair. - What father wouldn't know his own children.

Their body immediately started to shake, the air caught in their lungs. André didn't want to believe what he saw, he didn't want to believe that they'd bumped into the man he'd promised, promised they'd never see again.

- ...Dad? - His voice came out in a whisper, almost hoping the man would correct him that he wasn't who they thought he was.

But that was simply impossible.

- Good children to the house returns. - He said opening his arms as if expecting a warm hug.

That was the last thing they would do. Especially Amanda. The girl's first instinct was to run, but she was completely paralyzed with her body shaking so hard that her ax was swinging from side to side. Her wide eyes never left the man. She wanted it to be a dream. But it was real. The only person in the world she wanted to avoid, even wishing death, was right in front of her. If she could, she would scream. Even if she could, she knew it wouldn't do any good. It never had.