Chapter 1. The Start of the End
There was a time when their family was once happy, all smiles and giggles till the apocalypse ripped it away from them in a matter of hours. She could remember the day it all started as if it had just happened seconds ago and it went something like this.
Daisy sat in bed, her eyes fixated on the window adjacent to her while she watched the tree branches clank against it. Every few moments a gust of wind would blow-by and a handful of crisp autumn leaves would stick against the dewy window. The sight caused Daisy to sigh as she watched the drab weather unfold in front of her.
“Daisy, hun, you wanna come eat breakfast, it ain’t gonna stay hot forever,” Her mother chimed while standing in the doorway, her hands were placed firmly on her hips and her eyes scanned the messy room. Clothes lay on every piece of furniture and toys and art pads seeped out from underneath the bed like a forming black hole. Surely Julie would have to clean this up on her next day off.
“Yes, momma, but look outside it’s all wet and windy,” Daisy had groaned out with, her pointer finger aimed towards the window, and her head cocked to the side as she took in her mother’s outfit. Julie was clad in starched tan pants, a bland collared shirt that boldly stated sheriff on the left side and a badge and holster dangling from her hip. “You’re going to work, you said you’d stay home.” Daisy had continued out with, she seemed so heartbroken and let down, but there wasn’t much her mom could do. Daisy was turning 10 today, the concept of work and being on call didn’t quite click for her yet and Julie, Daisy’s mother, almost felt like she didn’t deserve those mom of the year mugs.
“Hon, I know how bad you want me here, I wish I could tell them no, but that dang walkie won’t shut up.” Julie attempted to explain, her arms snaking around Daisy when she reached the end of the scratched up iron barred bed. The young mother wasted no time in picking up the small pouting girl beneath her while leaving her face covered in small red lip marks “You, little miss, just need to focus on your pancakes downstairs and we can figure everything out from there,” She added with while placing her squirming daughter back on the bed.
Daisy for a brief second debated on saying something in response but when she saw the vague outline of the walkie in her mothers front pocket she swiftly reached for it and bolted out of the room. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the game Daisy was playing, it was her version of keep away and most of the time she won, but not today. Julie tossed her hair into a messy pony and followed after the little girl, she listened closely to the sounds of the radio static and when she turned the corner of the dimly lit hall there she was, a short scrawny ten year old shoving pancakes into her mouth, sticky syrup all over her hands and freckled, kiss stained cheeks.
“Thank you ma,” Daisy had chirped out, her small syrupy hands wiping her face as it only worsened the situation. Next to her sat the annoying walkie that did nothing but ruin plans, it released a series of high pitch squeaks causing Daisy to shudder and drop her pancakes.
Krrch. “There’s too many, we need backup! H-he just bit a man” Krrch
“Understood Smith, we need a 10-5 for all nearby officers” Krcch
“What’s going on mom,” Questioned Daisy from behind the thick marble counter, Julie wasn’t entirely sure how to answer her daughter’s question but she knew she needed to change the topic and quick. Taking a few steps she reached the kitchen and threw random drawers open till finally, a large manilla envelope caught her attention, the number ten was scattered on the front in a variety of colors; it was the gift Daryl and Julie wanted for her when she was deemed old enough.
“Don’t you worry about it sweet pea, here, your daddy and I wanted you to have this for your birthday, you’re a big girl now and big girls deserve meaningful gifts like this,” Julie explained in a soft voice, her hands tucked strands of hair behind Daisy’s ears and she was hoping her daughter would enjoy the contents inside. Gently, Daisy grabbed the envelope and popped it open, she fumbled with the sticky flap for a moment and soon she had a hand inside.
“Pictures,” She questioned with a raised eyebrow; Daisy was never an ungrateful kid, she could get a pair of socks and be the happiest girl ever, but pictures with a meaning? That she didn’t understand. Slowly, she pulled the wad of photos out and instantaneously a large smile was on her face. “Oh my gosh look it’s me and daddy and you’re there too,” She beamed while jumping up and down.
“Yeah honey, we took that when you had just turned a year old, why don’t you look at the others,” Her mother addressed in a warm voice as Daisy eagerly flipped through the photos and giggled every now and then. Some of the photos were sweet, consisting of Daryl cuddling his daughter, giving her a bath for the first time and rocking her to sleep and the others were, well, questionable. Scattered between the sweet photos were some gems, a photo of Daryl running around in a tiara and tutu with Daisy chasing after him and another where Daryl had dressed up as spiderman just to prove to his sick little Daisy, all wired up in the hospital that he, in fact, was a superhero.
Daisy wasn’t sure what to say to her mother who stood inches away from her with the largest of smiles on her face, but when the Walkie sounded off once more she knew it was best to just keep quiet.
Krrch “This is a 10-33 I repeat a 10-33” Krrch “Officer Woods report”
Without thinking Julie nudged her daughter out of the way and reached for the walkie, her fingers trembling while she pressed down on the side button.
“Yes chief, gonna need a 10-20, will be in pursuit shortly.” Krrch.
Julie sat the walkie back down on the counter, her hands reaching for the remote while she flipped through the channels for the news. ‘Country-wide martial law, seek safety’ was on multiple flashing banners, the anchorman seemed to be panicking and the big screen behind him showed scenes of humans biting other humans, tearing the flesh from the bone. Daisy watched in fear as the scene unfolded before her, her small form trembling as she dropped the bundle of photos on the ground.
Fear and nothing but fear coursed through Daisy’s veins as she looked up at her mother with wide eyes that glistened with tears. She wanted desperately to pick up the pictures her father helped put together but all she could think of was a million and one questions. “M-ma that’s what the walkie was talking about, wasn’t it? Are we gonna get dad? What about Uncle Merle or what about the house--” Daisy was about to add onto her list of questions, but when her mother placed a firm hand on her shoulder she almost instantly forgot about all the what if’s.
“Honey just go pack, please"
