Chapter Eleven: Shattered Walls, Broken Hearts

Warning: Attempted sexual assault.

Day One

Alison was startled awake from a deep sleep when her father burst into her room in a panic. The light from the hall filled her small room, hurting her eyes. Squinting, she looked up at her father. "Daddy?" Alison asked sleepily, her voice soft and unsure as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

Before Alison had a chance to fully wake up, her father, Michael, scooped her up into his arms, holding her closed as he wrapped her blanket around her. "We need to go, sweetie." Michael said hurriedly. His tone was urgent, desperate, and Alison could sense that something terrible must be happening for her father to be this way. Her father was always calm, peaceful. He never raised his voice or showed panic before tonight.

In a swift motion, he reached for his daughter's stuffed rabbit, and tucked it under Alison's arms. With safely in her arms, he rushed out of the house. He moved quickly through the hallway, pushing Alison's head down as he exited the house. "Don't look sweetie." Micheal said as he tried to get his daughter to the car as fast as possible.

Alison peeked through the small gap in the blanket that covered her head, trying to make sense of the terrifying images she saw. An ambulance lay turned on its side, its sirens blaring loudly. Police cars were spread across the road, their light flashing brightly against the night sky. A barricade stood firmly at the entrance to the trailer park where she and her father lived, blocking anyone from entering or leaving. Panic washed over Alison as she noticed the bodies laying on the ground. Her heart raced within her chest as she saw monsters, horrifying monsters over the bodies. They ripped the flesh from the bodies and devoured it, their movements brutal and savage.

"Daddy!" Alison screamed in fear. The sounds of chaos were all around her, but she could only see the horrors through the small crack of her blanket. The blanket was the only thing protecting her from the nightmares that were unfolding. All Alison could do was cry out to the one person who made her feel safe, her father.

"Don't look honey, close your eyes." Micheal said as he gently pushed his daughter's head down. He hurried towards his car. A worn-out 1976 Ford Pinto, it was rusted beyond repair and only worked sixty percent of the time but it was the only thing they could afford. He reached the driver's side and yanked the door open, taking a quick glance back to make sure nobody was making their way up behind them. He pushed the front seat forward and placed his daughter in the back. "Everything is going to be alright, I'm gonna get us out of here." Micheal reassured, fastening his daughter's seatbelt.

Alison screamed, pointing just above her dads shoulder, her eyes wide. Behind him, one of the monsters moved silently, creeping closer towards her dad. Micheal was quick to turn around, grabbing the being by the shirt and sending him to the ground with on swift movement. He slammed it with the car door several times until it stopped moving. Breathless, Micheal got into the front seat. His hands trembled as he fumbled with the keys, desperately trying to get the vehicle started. He inserted the key into the ignition, turning it repeatedly, but the engine stalled each time. "Come on, come on, work damn it, work!" He shouted in frustration, all while repeatedly pumping the gas pedal.

The fear for his daughter pushed him to keep trying. After what felt like an eternity, the engine roared to life. With a surge of relief, Micheal hit the gas and drove off. He barrelled through the barricade, determined to get his daughter to safety.

Day Five

Alison sat on a mattress that her father had placed on the floor for her, absentmindedly fiddling with ears. She twisted and turned its floppy ears, lost in thought. Her father had managed to get them out of the trailer park that night and they were currently held up in someone's abandoned house. Her father had stapled old blankets to the windows, and nailed planks of wood to the door, reinforcing it in hopes of keeping the danger outside. "Will we ever be able to go back home?" Alison asked softly, keeping her voice low so the monsters outside wouldn't hear her.

"What are you talking about?" Micheal asked, shifting his body on the mattress until he was half laying down. He looked up at his daughter, a smile growing on his face.

"Of course we're going home. As soon as all of this is over, we're going home," he reached up and tucked some of Alison's hair gently behind her ear, "The trailer park wasn't really home anyways."

"What do you mean?" Alison asked confused.

"Home isn't a place. It's made up of the people we care about. As long as we are together, we can turn any place into our home," Micheal explained, "Now, finish your dinner." He said softly as he pushed the can of tuna towards his daughter.

"But you haven't eaten anything. Aren't you hungry?" Alison asked.

Micheal let out a small smile, trying to reassure her, "No, I'm not hungry tonight." He said, though his stomach growled softly, a reminder that he was starving but he wouldn't eat, not until his daughter had her fill for the night.

Day Sixty-two

"What a pretty young thing." A man spoke, his voice low and unsettling as he stepped closer to Alison. His hood concealed much of his face, casting shadowers that made him look even more menacing then he already was. A tattoo of a spider could be seen just below his right eye and dark webbing spread across his neck. Alison felt a chill run down her spine, holding her rabbit close to her as the man continued to approach her.

"Tell me little one, are you a screamer? You look like a screamer, I like it when they scream." The man said with a smile, showing his decaying teeth.

"Tell me, little one, tell me." the man said, his voice smooth. He took another step forward, his eyes locked onto her. "Who would leave a pretty thing like you all alone out here? There are dangerous men lurking around. You shouldn't be alone." The man smiled as he reached out his hand, about to touch the girl when a man's voice could be heard behind him.

"She's not alone." Micheal said, his tone of voice equally as terrifying as the look on his face. He swung his fist hard at the man's jaw before pushing the man back, slamming him against the car. "Alison, run! Run! I will find you! Run and don't stop running, I will come for you!" Micheal yelled.

Alison did as she was told without hesitation, taking off into the forest, her feet pounding against the ground hard. The trees towered above her as she moved deeper into the woods. Branches brushed against her arms and cheeks, cutting her skin, but she paid little mind to the pain as she kept running.

The man let out a harsh laugh, a sound filled with malice. He locked eyes with the man, "First I'm gonna kill you," he said with a chilling calmness, then I'm gonna go after her." he threatened.

"I won't let you hurt her!" Micheal shouted angrily. His eyes burning with rage as he grabbed the tire iron from the roof of the car. He swung it hard, aiming for the man's head. The impact was brutal, and the man fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Micheal didn't hesitate. He stepped over the man, his heart pounding. He brought the tire iron down again and again with all of his strength. "I won't let you hurt her!" He yelled as blood splattered across his face.

Day One-hundred and seven

Alison lay back against the fluffy pillow, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. For months, she has not slept in a real bed. She had grown used to the hard ground or the makeshift places her dad would make for her to sleep in. Now, as the soft blankets envelop her, she thought about how nice this place was. As she sank deeper into the bed, her eyelids became heavy, the softness and warmth making her feel safe for the first time in a long time. She turned her head towards her father. "Is this going to be our new home?" Alison asked, her voice heavy with sleep.

Her father smiled warmly as he gently tucked the blankets around his daughter, he brought up to rest at her head. "Yes, this is going to be our new home." Micheal replied, leaning down and kissing the top of her head. "We'll be safe here," He promised, "Now, I believe a little girl and a little rabbit needs to get to sleep and in the morning I will have a plate of pancakes waiting for you." Micheal explained with a smile.

"Pancakes? Really?" Alison asked, her face lighting up with a smile that has long since disappeared.

"Yes, pancakes, with extra syrup," Micheal chuckled, "Now, it's time for you to go to sleep, I will watch over you till morning." Micheal said.

Day One-hundred and Thirty-four

Alison looked at the wrapped box sitting on the table in front of her, a sense of curiosity bubbling up inside of her. The wrappings were her favourite colour, purple and sitting on top was a sparkly pink bow. "For me?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation as her fingers inched towards the present.

"Of course it's for you. Did you really think I would forget your birthday?" Micheal asked as he leaned forward and pushed the present closer to Alison "Go on, open it." He encouraged.

Alison's smile widened as she eagerly reached for the box and quickly tore off the wrapping paper, sending it to the ground as she opened the box to reveal a beautiful golden locket nestled inside. "What's this?" Alison asked as she pulled the locket from the box.

Micheal reached for the locket, taking it from Alison. With a soft click, he opened the locket to reveal a cherished photo inside, a photo of the two of them. "With this locket I will always be with you." Micheal explained as he wrapped the necklace around his daughter's neck and clasped it shut. "No matter what happens, we will always be together." He promised.

Alison brought her hand up and gently touched the locket. "I love it," she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy, "I will never take it off, never. Thank you, dad." Alison said, giving her dad a big hug.

Day One-hundred and eighty-eight

"Remember what I told you. Strong stance with your feet shoulder-width part. Your hand should be positioned high on the grip of the gun, ensuring a firm hold. Focus your eyes on the target, take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger." Micheal explained as he showed his daughter the right way to handle a gun, "You can do it, just focus on the target."

Alison closed her eyes, taking a moment to steady her nerves. When she opened her eyes again, she focused intently on the small tin can that her father had set up for her. She inhaled deeply, holding it for several seconds. Then, slowly, she exhaled and pulled the trigger. The loud snap startled her slightly, breaking the stillness of the field. Looking up, disappointment washed over her as she saw that the tin can was untouched. "I'm sorry, I'm no good with this." Alison said with frustration as she took a step back.

"Don't be like that. You will get the hang of it. You just need to practice. Everyone struggles at first." Micheal explained, offering up a warm smile. "Come on, let's try again together. I know you can do it. Just take a deep breath and focus." Micheal encouraged his daughter, holding out his arm for her to step closer.

"Why do I need to learn how to shoot? I thought you said we were safe?" Alison asked, her brow furrowed with confusion.

"We are safe, I promise you, we are safe at GreenHill. But I want you to learn how to protect yourself in case anything were to happen. I need you to learn how to protect yourself." Micheal explained, his tone serious. "I need you to learn this. Do it for me, I need to know that you will be safe." Micheal needed to make sure that his daughter would be safe. The world was unpredictable and even though he would do anything to protect his daughter he couldn't be sure that he would always be there. He needed to know that she would be okay on her own, if it ever came to that.

Alison pressed her lips together for a moment, thinking. After taking a breath, she nodded. "Alright, I'll keep practicing." Alison said, stepping back up and raising her gun, adjusting her stance slightly.

"That's my girl." Micheal praised, proud of his daughter. "Just like before. Focus on your target, take a deep breath and shoot. You can do it." He encouraged.

Day Two-hundred and nine

Micheal sat down next to his daughter, offering up a small smile before taking out a small journal from his jacket pocket. He had chosen one he knew his daughter would like. It was elegant, wrapped in a soft fabric and decorated with small flowers and leaves in gentle muted shades. "I have a project that the two of us are going to do. We are gonna make a list of things we can do to help us survive," he explained as he pulled out a pen, using his mouth to take the cap off, "a guide for this new world."

Micheal began writing, the pen scratching against the paper as he wrote down the first rule. "Rule number one: when in doubt, know your way out. Never enter a building if you don't know the way out. Rule number two: double-knot your shoes," he paused for a moment to emphasize the point, "I don't want you tripping over your laces." With the first two rules written out he turned to his daughter. "What do you think our third rule should be?" He asked, tapping the pen on the paper.

Alison pressed her lips together, deep in thought. A small hum escaped her as she considered her dads question. Her gaze drifted around the room, her eyes finally landing on the Swiss Army knife that her father had secured to his belt. "Um…always carry a Swiss Army knife?" Alison suggested, uncertain if that was a good answer.

Micheal smiled. "That's a good one. Always carry a Swiss Army knife." Micheal repeated as he wrote it down as rule number three. Making a mental note of finding his daughter a Swiss Army knife that she could carry around with her.

For the next hour, Alison and her father sat together, brainstorming a set of straightforward rules that would help them survive. Micheal put down the rules. Minimize noise, knowing any noise would attract the dead. Other rules they came up with were, adapt and improvise, keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, and keep alert. And the most important rule, no place is safe, just safer. Micheal hoped that these rules, along with the several other rules they came up with would keep his daughter alive.

Day One thousand, three hundred and sixty-five

Panic swept through the community of GreenHill as the dead broke down their walls. Alison was in the middle of her daily chores, guiding Juliet, one of the horses, back to the stables when one of their walls suddenly came crashing to the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, and the once peaceful community of GreenHill plunged into chaos. People screamed, running in all directions in hopes of getting to safety, making it harder to see what was happening.

Juliet began to panic. The horse reared up on its hind legs, letting out a loud neigh that echoed through the chaos. In that instant, Alison lost control. With a powerful thud, Juliet's hoof came down hard beside Alison's head, knocking her to the ground in a daze. She watched with double vision as the horse bolted away, joining the frantic rush of the people.

"Juliet!" Alison shouted. She raised her hand to her head, feeling the warm trickle of blood running from her temple. A wave of pain washed over her as she moaned, pushing herself onto her knees and stumbling up to her feet. Just as she was about to steady herself, an arm wrapped itself around her front as one of the dead took hold of her. Alison let out a scream as she twisted herself in an effort to get free but only managed to fall back into the ground with the Creep on top of her. "Help!" Alison screamed as she did her best to keep the Creep at bay by pressing her arm against its chest.

Micheal acted quickly. He grabbed the Creep off his daughter, yanking it away and throwing the creature to the ground. He pulled out his knife, ready to fight the five other Creeps that were making their way towards them, ready to give his daughter the time she needed to get to her feet.

In one swift motion, he raised his blade high and struck down one of the Creeps. The creature fell to the ground. Without hesitation, he swung the blade again, cutting through the air and taking out another Creep, with it collapsing like the first one. He felt his heart race as more of the dead came forward. One of them grabbed his arm, gripping tightly and pulling him off balance. This gave the opportunity for another Creep to reach out for him. As he leaned back to escape its grasp, he became vulnerable. In that moment, the last Creep lunged at him, sinking its teeth into his neck and taking a chuck of flash. He let out a scream as he fell to his knees.

"Dad!" Alison screamed, her voice filled with horror. She was frozen, unable to grasp what was happening before her eyes. Her father was surrounded, outnumbered. She felt a cold wave of terror wash over her. Tears streamed down her face as she watched helplessly as the dead surrounded her father, tearing him apart, ripping his flash piece but piece.

Micheal screamed out in pain. He had always known this day would come, the day he had to leave his daughter behind, still, he had hoped that it wouldn't come so soon. She was still a child, she still believed in fairy tales and magic. It broke him to think that she would have to face this world without him. As the pain coursed through him, he realized just how unfair the world was. His little girl was still so pure, untouched by the darkness of the world. Without him by her side he feared what might become of his little girl, she didn't deserve this life.

"Alison!" Micheal cried, his voice strained as he fought through the pain, "Run!…run!" Micheal screamed, desperation clear in his voice as one of the creatures took hold of his head and sank its teeth into his neck, ripping out his jugular. He gasped for breath, his life draining from him. The world around him faded, the last thing he saw being his daughter.

Alison's scream pierced through the air, watching for one final moment as her father was torn apart as if he was a zebra trapped within a pack of lions. The image burning into her memory forever. With adrenaline surging though her, she pulled herself up to her feet and ran, finding safety in the branches of a nearby tree. She witnessed the destruction of her home. The people who she came to love and care for, were suddenly gone. Alison felt her world collapse around her. Everything she had known, the people she had loved, her family, all of it was gone.

Day One thousand, three hundred and sixty-six

Alison was numb, she couldn't feel anything. Hours passed as she was forced to listen to the screams of family, her friends. The screams still echoed in her head as the sun slowly started to come up. The herd tore down the walls that once protected GreenHill. The stable lay in ruins, reduced to splinters of wood. The medical tents lay flattened in the dirt and blood.

Alison was exhausted. She witnessed the destruction of her home and was powerless to do anything about it. It felt as if time had frozen while her world crumbled at her feet and all that was left was silence.

She slowly made her way down from the tree, stepping over the bodies of her loved ones. Oliver, the old man that she would play chess with. Emma, the woman who still had hope that her husband was out there alive somewhere. It was a horror she could not fully grasp. Each step felt heavy, as if she was walking under water.

She made her way to the trailer that her and her dad shared. The door creaked open as she stumbled her way inside. Closing the door, she headed straight to her bed and collapsed. All she wanted was to sleep. Sleep was the only thing that would take her away from this nightmare and when she opened her eyes again she would see her dad. He would be shaking her awake, telling her that she had slept long enough and that it was time to get up and this nightmare would be over.

Day One thousand, three hundred and sixty-nine

Alison stood quietly at her father's grave, overwhelmed with emotions as memoires of the attack rushed back, each one sharper than the last. "You said we were safe, that we were protected. You promised me that you would always be there." She paused, swallowing hard as she wiped the tears from her face. "I'm leaving. There's nothing for me here, and I doubt I'll be coming back." Alison sucked in a heavy breath as she looked down at the grave, "I guess this is goodbye."

As silence surrounded her, Alison thought about her father, how she would never see him again, or hear his voice. She would never be hugged again, she would never hear another stupid dad joke again. She took another moment to collect herself before speaking. "You were a good dad." Alison said softly before placing her hand on the grave that she had built, a simple cross made out of the broken pieces of wood from the stable.

Alison tossed her bag onto her bed, angrily unzipping it and tossing a few pairs of clothes inside. After her clothes, she reached for her journal. She flipped through the pages, seeing every rule her and her dad had written down over the years before tossing it into the bag. After throwing everything she wanted taken into the bag, she made sure to grab , her beloved stuffed bunny. She couldn't leave without taking him.

Alison made a quick visit to their armoury. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on a revolver and a compact sidearm beside it. She picked up the guns, stuffing them into her bag along with the appropriate bullets. On the wall, her gaze shifted to a shiny machete. Pulling it from the wall, she sliced through the air, liking the feeling of it. She grabbed the holster and attached it to her belt before grabbing an assortment of small blades.

Alison made her way to the main gate, stepping over the fallen metal pieces and bites of rubble and worst of all, the bodies. She knew she wouldn't be able to bury everyone. She dug a grave for her father and regrettably left everyone else to rot. She took a moment to look back at her home, the place that once offered her comfort and warmth. Now, all she saw was pain. With a deep breath, Alison turned away.