Survive

“A question I got asked a lot was ‘Where were you when this all began?’ It’s a fair question. Curiosity gets the better of everyone and they want to know how your day went from good to bad or bad to worse.

“I was coming home from the mall that first day. It was a Saturday and I’d just gotten finished shopping for my moms’ birthday. I’d been saving up to buy her this really expensive watch she’d been eyeing for a while. I figured it would be a welcome surprise, considering her birthday week hadn’t been going as planned.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll explain it when you’re older. Let’s just say that my dad wasn’t being a very loving husband.

“While I was driving, someone ahead of me suddenly drifted and swerved right into another vehicle, pushing it into the concrete barrier on the highway. Of course, all of the cars around them started to stop, including me. Smoke was coming up from the hood of the first car, and for a moment, nothing seemed to move.

“The driver of the car right in front of me got out his phone against his ear. I assume he was calling the police, but I can’t say for sure. While he was talking, he made his way over to the two cars, opening the passenger door to the first car. In a matter of seconds, the driver had lunged out of the car and right on top of the man.”

“That was the first one you ever saw?”

“Yes. And it wasn’t hesitant to tear into the man. Blood was pooling onto the concrete and I could hear the woman in the car beside me screaming. I guess out of pure terror. Her screaming drew the things attention and it made a beeline for her car. She started to roll up her window, but the thing had gotten its’ arm in and started clawing at her.

“I was in shock for what felt like ages. I hadn’t moved, not to get out of the car or to even leave the scene. I wasn’t sure what to think.

“Suddenly, the man from before, the one who had tried to help? He was getting up. At first, I thought maybe he had survived the attack. But when I saw the blackened veins crawling up his neck and the white eyes, I knew he had become whatever the other man was.

“I believe it was at that moment when chaos had finally broken free. Tires screeching, screaming, people abandoning their cars due to the traffic jam.

“I didn’t wait around after that. I didn’t feel like I was driving, but I managed to push the car in front of me out of the way and get through. The perk of being right behind the accident.

“Once I’d gotten away from the scene, everything still seemed...peaceful. I managed to grab my phone and dial 9-1-1, but I kept getting the dial tone, no matter how many times I tried. And if your parents taught you anything about that number, it should always work in emergencies. That’s what it’s for.

“I tried a few times after that, and when it still didn’t work, I gave up. I tried calling my mom next, but I couldn’t get through to her, either. It was at this point that panic had begun to set in. I had no idea what was going on and not being able to get ahold of anybody wasn’t helping.

“Now my dumbass was too-”

“Swear.”

“What?”

“You said a swear.”

“...Right. I’m sorry. Now, I was too busy paying attention to my phone to notice that I was coming up to an intersection and that there was another car also approaching the light. Because of my negligence, the other car slammed into my side and my car went in a completely different direction than I had wanted it to. The phone had fallen from my hand and I was too dazed to look for it.

“The driver of the other car was screaming and hollering, which is what caught my attention first. He was swearing at me, something about not paying attention, which I wasn’t, but that’s not the point.

“I didn’t want to get out of the car, because I knew that something bad was going on and, to be honest, I was too afraid. This man was so busy screaming and, at this point, pulling on my door handle to get me out, that he didn’t see the thing coming up behind him. But I did.

“Now, even though he was yelling at me and upset with me, I tried to warn him that something was behind him. But he didn’t listen to me and it had its teeth sunk into his throat seconds later. I remember screaming and slipping out on the passenger side, doing my best to ignore his screaming as I ran. I wasn’t far from home now and I had just wanted to see my mom.

“When I got home, everything seemed okay. None of the neighbors were outside, but I didn’t see any of their cars, either. I assume they left, but I don’t know. My moms’ car, however, was still sitting in the driveway, so I knew she had to at least be home.

“I forgot her present in the car and just ran inside. Thinking back on it, I don’t think I grabbed my purse or anything. I just grabbed the keys.

“In the living room, I could hear the tv playing and I could smell the breakfast she had cooked while I was gone...”

“Dessie?”

“Huh? Oh...yes. Sorry...I remember approaching the kitchen. I could hear something...wet. I think time slowed down, then. My heart sank into my stomach as I entered the doorway. The first thing I noticed was the backdoor being open. My mother liked to keep it open while she cooked. The second thing I noticed was the blood on the floor.”

“Was your mom-”

“Yes. I guess it had snuck in through the backdoor and gotten to her before I could. It’s a blur after that. I remember grabbing a knife from the counter and just attacking it. I don’t know how many times I stabbed it, but I can promise you it was dead by the time I was done with it. I don’t even remember what the killing blow was. I didn’t stop until its face was unrecognizable.

“After that, I held my mother and I cried until my throat was hoarse. I could hear the emergency broadcast starting in the living room, but I didn’t tune into it. My mother was gone, and I had no idea where my dad was or if he was even alive.

“Hours later, she was buried in the backyard, along with the stranger who’d attacked her. The doors were locked and barricaded and I sat on the couch and just watched the news. It took a few days of screaming and not doing anything before I finally found the strength to just leave the room.

“I grabbed my old school bag because I was terrible at getting rid of things I didn’t think I needed, and I packed it with all of the water bottles, canned goods, and a few other things would fit. Was it heavy at first? Yes, but I didn’t care at the time. I just knew I was leaving home and I didn’t know when I would find anything else again.

“Now, lucky for me, my mother had a garden in the backyard. She didn’t plant all of the seeds during the year, so she still had some for cucumbers, tomatoes, and a few others that I was able to snag. I still have them in my bag. I just don’t know when we’ll be able to settle down somewhere to use them.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but a cucumber sounds so good right now.”

“It’s even better with Italian dressing. I’ll try to find some for you soon. We’ll try it one day, I promise. After that-”

A twig suddenly snapped nearby, shutting Desdemona up. She quickly ushered the children inside of the tent, placing her finger over her lips before zipping it up. Grabbing her pistol, she stood in front of the opening and held it up, aiming in the direction of the sound.

A figure soon appeared, and Dessie placed her hand on the trigger, aiming straight for the head. She’d had a good bit of practice in the past year, and she didn’t intend to miss.