Chapter Three
Five months had passed since Robin returned to King County, Georgia. The return of Robin Grimes certainly had many in King County talking for several weeks. Of course her name was turned to mud years ago, but that didn't stop Lori from having her fun, crapping on it even more. After the first day she visited Rick, Lori and Shane had managed to stop her from visiting her brother with the threat of being arrested. And while the idea of Shane trying to arrest her kept her amused for hours, she couldn't be bothered playing games with them. So, while Lori and Shane would look in on Rick during the visiting hours, Robin- accompanied by Alex- would sneak in after visiting hours to sat with Rick the rest of the night, Robin lost in her own mind and Alex reading 'The Hobbit' to his uncle.
Then the news reports started.
After hearing them on the radio they kept in the cabin, Robin immediately pulled Alex out of school. His mother knew something and she wasn't telling him about it. Something that never happens with them. They don't keep secrets from each other.
Alex was currently lying on his bed, reading his a new book from Dr. Moon, when he noticed something. There was no noise coming from the living room. For the past two weeks, his mother had been hunched over the radio religiously, barely speaking. But now there was nothing.
Quickly leaving his room, Alex walked into the living room and found his mother staring into nothingness. 'Mom?' he called. For a moment Alex didn't think she was going to answer when she suddenly sprang to her feet and dashed into her own bedroom.
Alex walked over to the radio and turned is on, furrowing his eyebrows at the static on every channel he tried. Rushing into his mother's room, he saw her gathering clothes.
'Somethin's happenin'. Isn't it?' He asked needlessly.
Robin paused before sitting down on her bed, Alex sitting next to her. 'You've heard the news, right. About the dead coming back and biting people. Things are going to get worse. I can feel it in my gut. I want you to pack. Your clothes, all the food, water... Any necessities you can think of.' Robin explained softly. Alex didn't move, staring at Robin with fear in his eyes. 'Quickly, Alex.' she urged.
Alex left to do as she ordered.
Alex packed all his clothes, some books-including comics, because they were something he and his cousin loved. He paused as he stood next to his bed before dropping and looking under it. He pulled out a shoe box and packed that as well. Quickly grabbing the photograph of him and his mother on the bedside table he left his room.
Throwing everything into the bed of the pickup, they got into the cab of the pickup and set off, Alex looking back at their cabin.
'Where are we going?' Alex asked, his voice wavering.
'I'm not going anywhere without your uncle. We need to get him out of the hospital and find somewhere safe. Maybe meet up with Lori and your cousin.'. Robin replied, keeping a calm head.
They pulled up a street away from the hospital and were about to get out of the pickup, when the sound of guns and screaming echoed throughout the street. Ordering Alex to stay in the pickup, Robin jumped out of the pickup and ran in the direction of the hospital, pulling a shiny Colt Revolver from the waistband of the jeans. Hiding behind a car, Robin saw military vehicles parked around the hospital and soldiers pouring out of the vehicles and into the hospital, shooting anything that moved. The screams of civilians filling the area.
Pursing her lips, she reluctantly turned back, running to the pickup.
'Mom? What's wrong? What's going on?' Alex quickly asked.
'A change of plans. We need to get to your uncle's house.' was all she said.
Arriving in front of her brother's house, she saw Shane's Tuscon outside. Alex and Robin ran up to the house and entered with a quick knock.
They were greeted with Shane pointing a gun at them and Lori and Carl in hysterics. Shane was spattered with blood.
'Put the gun down, Walsh.' Robin said, sounding annoyed. Alex walked over to Carl and put his arm around the younger boy's shoulder and guided him away from the adults.
'What the Hell are you doin' 'ere' Shane demanded. That seemed a common question for Robin recently.
'Shockingly, making sure you are all okay.' she replied sardonically.
'We don't need you' Lori spat, throwing clothes into a duffel bag.
'Hell is raining down on us and you're bein' dramatic. Get a bit of perspective, Lori.' Robin droned. 'I need you to get what you need and then we will go somewhere safe. I can then circle back round and dig Rick out of the shit pile that has become Harrison Memorial.' Robin explained, rolling her eyes when Lori packed make-up.
'Rick's dead.' Lori said coldly, discretely looking to make sure the boys didn't hear the conversation.
Robin couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter 'Rick ain't dead.' she said dismissively.
Lori glared at Robin, 'Shane was at the hospital, he couldn't hear Rick's heart. Rick is gone.'
Robin sighed in annoyance and rolled her head from side to side 'If Rick was dead, I would feel it.'
Lori scoffed. Shane suddenly grabbed Robin tightly around her biceps and pulled her into a different room 'Listen, I was there when the Army open fired at the hospital, killing doctors and patients. Rick is dead. I wont let you upset Lori any more than you already have. Now do everyone a favour. Leave. Or I will make you.'
Robin and Shane stared each other down for several seconds before Robin cracked a smirk and replied sarcastically, 'You're adorable.' She shrugged his hand off and walked back in to the living room where Lori was still packing. Carl and Alex back in the room also.
'Y'know what, the time for your disapproval of me is over. Rick would want me to get you and Carl to safety. I know some places we can go-'
'I'm not goin' anywhere with you. We are goin' with Shane. The emergency broardcasts said that there is a Safe-Zone in Atlanta. We are goin there.' Lori said.
'The same place everyone else is goin? The roads will be backed up, you won't get anywhere close to the city.'
'What the Hell can you do? You're a secretary to someone else's secretary. You think you can keep me and my son safe? You're a absentee mother.' She hissed.
Silence.
'Now, Carl, come on. Put your things in Shane's car.' Carl timidly walked out of the house. 'You as well, Alex. You're coming with us.' Lori said.
More silence.
Robin slowly turned her head towards Lori. 'What did you just say?' she asked, calm as ever.
'I'm taking Alex with us.' Lori said holding her hand out towards Alex.
Alex was looking on in disbelief. 'I'm not goin' with you. I'm stayin' with mom.'
'Alex, honey. You're too young to know what's happening. You'll be safe with me and Shane. You can hang out with Carl all the time.' Lori said, as if talking to a toddler.
Alex scoffed 'And you think you know what's goin on?'
Lori smiled softly at Alex but all he saw was someone patronising him. Lori held Alex's wrist and started tugging him towards the door. When he started to struggle, Shane stepped forward to help, but the click of a gun froze everyone in the room.
With her Revolver aimed and her face blank, Robin spoke softly 'A few months ago I had to make a decision.' Robin paused, thinking before gazing back over at Lori and Shane. 'If you don't let go of my son, I will kill you.' She said calmly.
They immediately let go of Alex and Shane quickly pulled Lori behind him and ushered her out of the house, leaving Robin and Alex alone. Moments later, the squeal of Shane's car tyres sounded.
'You look tired, Alex. Go get a nap. I... need to do something.' Robin murmured. Alex ran to Robin and hugged her.
'What was the decision you had to make, mom?' Alex asked quietly after a moment
Robin gazed down at her son and placed a kiss on his forehead. 'It was more of a choice. You or my duty. Easiest choice I ever made.'
Alex smiled and went upstairs to sleep in Carl's room.
Robin sat down on the couch, running a hand through her short hair. After several minutes, Robin stood up and began searching the around for a pen and some paper.
Sitting down at the kitchen table Robin began to write.