"Ahhh!" screams Eric in pain.
"Nooo!" screams Abby in horror.
Abby sits stunned, unsure of what to do. It had started out as just a normal morning, well normal for Abby, meaning having breakfast with Eric then meeting up with her parents for zombie meal planning. Eric and Abby would sit side by side, Eric checking police records for criminals living in the area, Abby cleaning the weapons from the previous hunt, while Joel and Eric discuss the pros and cons of each potential meal option, and Sheila and Abby smiling at each other over Abby's happiness at her long time coming relationship with Eric. It hadn't even been a month since Abby had snuck into Eric's room and crawled into bed with Eric that first night after finally coming to terms with her feelings after seeing Eric willing to sacrifice his own life in order for Abby to run, his statement distracting the zombie long enough for Abby to stab him, where he dropped dead to the floor beside his friend. The two then cleaned up in silence still stunned and shaky after what had just happened. Both decided to turn in early that night, Abby looking out her window just to make sure Eric made it home, even though it was just next door. It was that night that the nightmares started, always a little different but always ending the same way. That zombie killing Eric because she wasn't quick enough, and then Sheila being framed for the murder and being dragged away. They'd comforted each other every night after that, sometimes at Eric's house sometimes hers, always curled up together watching videos on Eric's computer until the pair fell asleep. Her parents were only okay with it because they trusted Eric, and because they had heard Abby's screams during nightmares, something only Eric could snap her out of, all while they could only watch, feeling guilty that they are the ones that left the pair home alone that day when those zombies forced entrance into the house. Eric was Abby's lifeline, the only one Abby could believe when he said it would be okay, and for Sheila and Joel he was the rock, the voice of reason for the entire family when they were all freaking out.
Now Eric's life was in danger, and she needed to be the one with cool calm and collected head. She had a difficult choice in front of her, if she hits the gas and tries to run over Jerry she risks hitting and killing Eric but if she doesn't she may just see her first real boyfriend get ripped apart and eaten right in front of her. However before she has the chance to make her choice, Sheila slams the ax into Jerry's head, killing him instantly. As Jerry collapses, he lets go of Eric and his corpse hits the ground. Eric remains standing for a second before staggering a few steps and collapsing onto his side.
"Eric!" cries Abby as she gets over the shock and jumps out of the car and sprints towards the collapsed Eric and her mom. Once Abby reaches Eric, Sheila drops the unconscious Joel's ax and goes to check on Joel and try to bring her husband back into consciousness. "Eric, Eric! Please speak to me! Say something, anything!" cries, Abby. Eric's eyes flutter open as Abby grasps his hand.
"Ugh, what happened?" moans Eric as he regains consciousness and opens his eyes. "Abby, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" asks Eric as he looks into Abby's tear-stained eyes.
"Because of you, you big dork," says Abby with a pained chuckle. "You got hurt protecting me, and it's all my fault!" cries Abby as the tears fall once again.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry, but I don't regret what I did," says Eric weakly. Sheila and Joel appear and they rush over to Eric and Abby.
"What happened here?" says a stunned Sheila.
"It's Eric, he got hurt saving me...that man, he wanted to kill me and...and...Eric he, he distracted him while I ran. But then that monster bit him and it's all my fault!" cries Abby hysterically.
"Baby it's not your fault, and none of us blame you, it's Jerry's fault," says Sheila comfortingly.
"Did you say he was bitten?" asks Joel quietly.
"Yeah...on my shoulder…it severed my jugular..." gasps out Eric. Sheila and Joel look at each other before Joel pulls down the collar of Eric's shirt, revealing a bloody bite mark on Eric's shoulder.
"Oh no," says Sheila.
"Hey, kid you're going to be okay," says Joel attempting to comfort Eric.
" Sheila, if I don't survive this, please, tell my mom I'm sorry. You were like a second mom to me, and her friend, so I think it would be better for her to hear it from you" mutters Eric.
"Of course honey," says Sheila calmly, trying to hold back the tears.
"And Joel …" gasps eric.
"Yeah kid?" says Joel somberly.
"You were like the dad I never had, and thank you for that," says Eric, smiling weakly.
"Anytime, kid. It was a pleasure," says Joel with a strained smile, trying to hold back the tears.
"Joel," whispers Eric.
"Yeah Eric?" murmurs Joel.
"I almost forgot there's a box on my bookshelf with four letters…everything is said inside them, I had written them in case something like this ever happened to me." breathes out Eric.
"Eric, don't say that, you're going to be okay." sobs Abby as she clings to his hand like it's a lifeline. Eric's hand goes slack, and as his vision fades to black all he can hear is Abby's pained scream.