Angel

10 minutes earlier, Jen had watched the TV news as the horrifying outbreak was catching up with the rest of the city. She lived some way from the coast, only a few miles from where the damaged tanker had let out its “confidential” cargo onto the local beach.

She had been already packing to leave the house, but was waiting for her husband to get back. He was usually out of town a lot, leaving Jen with her with her 10 year old son Mark and 5 year old daughter Polka. She didn’t mind really, for her kids were her own personal angels, the time spent with them was enjoyable. But now, she was fearing the worst, ‘the apocalypse’ she thought to herself. She wouldn’t say anything to the kids yet, not until they were already safe. She just told them ‘bad things would happen‘ if they were to stay and that Dad would be home soon too and everything would be fine.

She got a call not long after from her sister who lived closer in towards the harbour town where the horror originated. It was the most frightening call she had ever received from her sister who talked hysterically down the phone line warning her. They would be there soon. They had already attacked her sister’s town, turning it upside down, sprinting down the streets screaming and murdering anyone they could find. Any they were smart and they could talk. Well enough coerce some people out of their makeshift shelters, using their eerily calm voices in stark contrast to their ferocity and bloodlust. You were smart to ignore them, but they were smart too. Many even retained bits of their memories or knowledge. Sure they could be called zombies due to their rotting flesh and open wounds, but they were so much more aware. Very were dangerous indeed.

After the call, Jen grabbed her kids and took them downstairs to where the bags were packed and ready. She forgot one last suitcase and ran upstairs to lug it down. She looked out the window in a short flicker of paranoia, then she saw them. Not far off, the screams faint but audible, they were heading down the main street. Jens legs froze, her thoughts scattered, then to shake her out of it, she heard a crash. They had arrived. Fast, much too fast. Her legs moved her as fast as they could down the stairs, all the while she yelled “MARK GET POLKA OUT OF THERE NOW!! GO TO THE CAR!! LOCK IT AND HIDE!!” she made it down the stairs. “But mom why-” Mark started. “GO NOW!!” she yelled and the kids were out the front door. She watched out the window to see them get into the car an disappeared from sight.

She found the source of the sound. One of them was in the kitchen, the broken glass everywhere. Blood leaking from its eyes. The on the creature skin was white, but still incredibly dirty and bloody. Wounds and cuts everywhere. She made the short distance to the kitchen door and shut it. The monster arriving at it just after she did, slamming so hard against it the frame sounded like it was going to come off. Locking it for whatever short time it would stay locked, she looked around the living room. She had grabbed the iron poker from the fireplace and held it firm. She would protect her kids, even if she would eventually become one of them, she would protect them with her life.

Jen saw a hole rip through the door, a hand flailing for the door knob, dirtying up the door with its blood from its cuts and gashes. This action alone frightened her and she realized that they were indeed smart and that nowhere would be safe enough from them. The door swung, but as it did, Jen rushed almost blindly into the bloody humanoid figure, she lunged, the poker jabbing straight into its right eye. She pushed the stunned enemy and it landed with a thud on the kitchen floor. Jen was rushing with adrenaline, she would never even think she’d ever be remotely this violent, but she had the only reason she needed. Protecting her kids. Having them grow up. Knowing that they might live out to see the world become normal again. Even just to survive this ordeal and she would be happy.

She followed up her attack by jumping and landing, both feet, onto the monster’s chest. His ribs caved and the bloody, rotted contents of his chest spilled out across her once-clean kitchen floor. Mark came running in through the front door, covered in blood, tears washing down the red on his face on his face. He stumbled as he let the words out. “Mom!. . they . .got in . .” She ran over to Mark and grabbed him before he collapsed and looked him in the face, he was pale and his eyes were dark. ‘Oh god‘ she thought, ‘what if..’ Then Jen looked up. “Polka!” she cried to herself. Standing up and looking out the front window, the car was empty, the doors were open but she couldn’t see her daughter. She got up to go outside. It was only then that she saw Polka standing in the doorway.

It was the most crushing thing she had ever seen. Her angel, her Polka, in the dress she had gotten for her 5th birthday, stained and soaked in blood. Crimson streaking from her eyes, skin paler than chalk and eyes a deep black. The little girl was turning into on of them, all the while she stared at her mothers horrified face, wrinkled with a pain so deep that Jen collapsed to the ground. She had given up. Where was her husband she thought. What will she do now? Kill herself. That was the only option now. But could she do that to her kids? She didn’t know anymore. She was lost.

The army jeep came screeching down the road and skidded to a halt. A man jumped out and dashed towards the front door. He passed the bloodied car with panic increasing with each step. He saw that the front was open, he stood in the doorway and looked in. The scene he saw he would never forget. His family, now nothing more than rotting shells sitting together in the living room. Polka was in Jens lap and she was trying her best to sing to her mother, but her voice was hagged and croaky, although Jen did not seem to mind in the slightest. The furniture was stained rouge and it seemed that they were unaware of his presence. Jen had succumbed. She had realized death would have only taken her away from her darlings. Even if she wasn’t truly alive, she was still there for her kids. Her love, her strongest emotion, remained despite the fact she was indeed no longer human.

Sam had met the survivor group on the way home, they had warned him, but they decided to escort him back to get his family and bring them to the military garrison in the area. He stared in for a time, it was the story of his life, he wasn’t there for them, but still they were happy, his wife always taking care of them while he was away. It dawned on him now and he felt a weight so heavy, he only had one option left. He told the jeep to leave and never come back. They argued with him but to no avail. He could not let them know.Once they had left he turned back and walked toward the house. Images of the human family he left behind going through is head. ‘Never again’ he thought to himself…