Chapter 1
Betsy stood in the kitchen quietly humming to herself while flipping flapjacks for her beloved children while her husband David stood not more than two feet away making his pre-work coffee while listening to the morning news play on the radio.
She loved every moment of her family mornings, and hated the crazy disband that was always sure to follow after between school, sports, and work. The Eatons always had something going on.
“Traffic will be busy as usual day for downtown and the 102, so plan to try and leave early this morning if you wanna beat the morning rush hour. Up next we’ve got weather and trending with Dan.”
“That’s my cue.” Said David, as he sipped the last of his coffee and grabbed his briefcase, leaning in for a solid kiss from his wife.
“Bye honey.” Betsy responded returning his kiss before he leaned down to hug each of his children.
“Will you be able to make my baseball game tonight, dad?” Mike hesitantly asked, glancing at Ruth, his little sister.
“Yes, buddy, I’m going to try.” David hurriedly responded before dashing out the door, leaving Mike with a disappointed look.
“Don’t worry honey, I’m sure he’ll make it.” Betsy reassured him as she set his flapjacks down in front of him.
“He almost never makes it.” He sighed, grabbing his fork to poke at his plate.
“He will this time, I’m sure of it.” Betsy responded, as she turned the radio back up.
“We have reports coming in now of what looks to be a riot spreading through downtown Morento, police are advising to stay inside, and lock your doors until further notice as it is spreading throughout the city.”
“Oh, David.” Gasped Betsy, picking up the phone to call her husband.
“Come on...Pick up!” She huffed in frustration.
“You’ve reached David Eaton, I’m not here right now-” She hung up rushing over to lock her front and back doors.
“Mommy?” Ruth asked looking over worriedly with her brother.
“No school today guys, why don’t you go up to your rooms and play, mommy will come see you in a few minutes.”
“Okay...” They responded in unison, each going upstairs.
Betsy continued going around closing the blinds before pausing at a figure in the yard. Carefully, she slid behind the wall, and peeked out at the figure.
He stood tall almost drunkenly, as he swayed back and forth in her yard, with what sounded like small groans coming from within him.
“Oh, David.” She sighed again, her heart skipping a beat. She began to flip the last few blinds closed until...
The figure, it saw her, he was looking right at her! She felt her breath leave her body as she met his eyes, the color completely drained from his face in a jaundiced form. A low grow ensued as he began to stumble his way up the yard, towards Betsy.
She swallowed hard shutting the curtains, leaning against the wall, she didn’t know what to do...
“Mom?” Mike called, coming downstairs around the corner.
“I told you to stay in your room!” She whispered. Hearing another low growl outside, closer this time...She could feel her chest tightening with his every nearing step.
“I’m scared.” He insisted.
“I promise you, there’s nothing to be scared-”
Just then, a loud crash came slamming through the window, as the figure began to claw and growl, attempting to fight his way inside.
“GO TO YOUR ROOM!” She yelled, peeling away from the wall, and running to the kitchen to grab a knife.
Michael ran up the stares as quickly as he could, slamming his door behind him, and locking it. Leaving his mother downstairs to deal with the monster, or so he thought as he didn’t realize the monster had lost self-interest in his mother, and was clambering up the stairs, straight for him.
Betsy reeled back around the corner knife in hand, she locked eyes with the ferocious man now stumbling up the stairs, raising the knife she landed it square in his back causing him to let out an even louder growl. Arching his back and throwing himself backwards, he sent both himself and Betsy tumbling down the stairs.
Landing on top of her, he began to claw at the precious pearls encased around her neck. She struggled trying to reach for the knife, still stuck in his back behind her, just beyond reach.
It was a pure panic between the two of them, her hands shook violently as she willed herself to grab his jaw forcefully with her hand to pry his oozing mouth away from her neck. Reaching around with her other hand, she finally gripped hold of the knife, and ripped it away only to thrust it back into the side of his neck.
He roared, leaning up, as she let out a grunt, continuing to stab him in the head, over and over, until he slumped onto her. Letting out a cry, she rolled out from under his now dead body. She was covered head to toe in blood, sweat, and guts. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she dropped the knife and scooted away to grip the banister sobbing.
Not seconds later she heard another set of foot steps begin to thud slowly towards the window followed by a lowly growl...
