Survive: The Walking Apocalypse - Part 3 *EDITED*

I'm panicking. I know I am. I can feel the panic welling up inside of me. My breaths are coming in so fast, I worry I might hyperventilate. Sweat stains my shirt and drips from my hair, exhaustion settling in. My eyes dart back and forth, frightened by all they see. Panicked and afraid of all that is around me, I rush through town, street after street. If I continue on like this, I'm going to get my sister and I killed, but I can't control myself.

I collapse against the side of a tree, panting heavily as I try to catch my breath. The area is a lot calmer now, but the sound of yells and ear-piercing screams can still be
heard in the distance.

I carefully place Lucy onto the ground and wipe the sweat from my brow. She stands nervously, hopping from one foot to the other. Her hands clutch the bottom of her plain, green shirt, knotting it around her fingers. A sudden scream is carried on an echo and Lucy shrieks with fright, huddles behind me and holds tightly onto the leg of my jeans. My hand instinctively moves to hold the side of her head, patting it soothingly. A few of the roaming monsters turn their heads in our direction, but none show any sign of investigating further. I sigh with relief. Too close.

I prop the baseball bat in my hand against the tree and crouch down. I turn Lucy to face me. Her eyes are red and swollen from crying and her golden hair is unruly with frizz and dampened by blood, sweat and tears. I doubt I look much better.

I offer her a small, reassuring smile and kiss her forehead. She doesn't say anything. She simply smiles back and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug. I hug her back, stroking her hair. "How are you feeling, Lucy?"

She sniffs and mumbles quietly into my shoulder, "scared."

I sigh and tighten my arms around her. "Me too. But I'll get us somewhere safe, real soon," I let her go, lean back and cup her face, "I promise."

She stares back at me with the sweetest smile. It makes me want to hug her again. I lean in to do just that, but suddenly, her smile disappears. A scowl forms on her face, eyes drifting past me, and she moves her mouth as if to say something, but nothing comes out.

I frown. "What's wrong?"

She screams in reply, falling backwards and pointing behind me. I spin so fast that I lose my balance and fall with her. Blinded by the sun, all I see is a looming silhouette standing over us, the sound of wheezing and guttural groans growing louder the more Lucy screams.

I jump to my feet, grab the bat and push the monster back with the end of it. It moans in protest, arms swinging clumsily. I pull the bat away for a split second and use all my strength to drive the point of it back into the monster's chest. It shows no sign of pain, but the force of the blow sends it sprawling back over its own feet.

I glance behind me, back at Lucy, and freeze at what I see. My mind empties and all I can do is stare. At least a dozen figures are limping in our direction, attracted by my sister's screams. I turn and scoop Lucy back into my arms, hushing her as I do.

She shakes uncontrollably, hiding her face in my chest again. I hug her to me and look for an escape.

I feel the panic within me taking over, wrestling with my self-control, but I keep it down as best I can.

Another monster quickly approaches, lunging for me. I dodge to the side, almost falling in the process, and break into a run. A few more try to grab me, but most are too slow to react as I sprint past. I dive onto the front of a car and climb over it, jumping off the end and over the head of another monster. Panic is soon replaced by adrenaline as I race down the crowded road, but the fear never leaves me.

I run with no place in mind, but I realise something I should have much earlier. The direction I have been heading in this entire time leads further into town. I curse under my breath, blaming my panicked flight. It's too late to turn back now and I'd rather not run back in the direction of the group currently shuffling after us. There's also the herd to consider. It walked past our house in the opposite direction, out of town. I'd only be trailing directly behind it. A dozen of these freaks is bad enough, running into a small army of them would spell certain death. I guess the best thing to do would be to just keep running until I reach the other side of town.

Then a thought hits me so sudden, I stop in my tracks.

Uncle Raymond.

Of course. He owns a big house at the far end of town. He had called and warned my parents about the incoming herd. It had passed by his house, with only a few stragglers straying behind, or so he said.

I bet he's still alive. He's a crazy old man, he has to be. He's probably laughing in the face of these monsters right now, guzzling down beer and playing with Benji, his dog. The thought almost makes me laugh myself. There's also the fact that he owns a rifle from when he used to go hunting. That's far better than running around unarmed in a monster infested town like I am now.

It is then that I feel it. Growing steadily the more that I run in the direction of his house. I openly grin as I jog down the road, Lucy peering up at me with confusion. I glance down and turn my grin on her. She probably thinks I'm going crazy, but I don't care. I can feel the faint emotion bubbling up inside of me, chasing away all of the fear and panic.

It is hope.