The next morning, Tommy woke up to the sound of hushed voices in the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, glancing over at Sarah, who was still asleep beside him. His parents were talking quietly, their faces drawn with worry.
Tommy slipped out of his makeshift bed and crept towards the kitchen, trying to catch what they were saying.
“…can’t stay here,” his dad was saying. “It’s not safe. We need to get out of town.”
“But where will we go?” his mom asked, her voice trembling.
“The cabin,” his dad replied firmly. “It’s isolated, and we have supplies there. It’s our best chance.”
Tommy stepped into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
His parents turned to him, their faces softening with concern. “Tommy, we’ve decided it’s not safe to stay here,” his dad said. “We’re going to your grandparents’ cabin in the woods.”
Tommy felt a mix of fear and relief. The cabin was a safe haven, far from the chaos in town. “When are we leaving?”
“Today,” his mom said, her voice resolute. “We need to pack and be ready to leave as soon as possible.”
Tommy nodded and hurried back to the living room to wake Sarah. “Hey, we’re leaving. We’re going to my grandparents’ cabin.”
Sarah blinked awake, confusion giving way to understanding. “Okay. What do we need to do?”
“Help us pack,” Tommy said. “We need to get supplies and be ready to go quickly.”
The morning was a whirlwind of activity as Tommy and Sarah helped his parents gather essentials. They packed clothes, food, water, blankets, and anything else they thought might be useful. Tommy’s dad made sure they had flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit.
As they packed the car, Tommy glanced nervously down the street. The air was still and eerily quiet, but he could feel the tension hanging over the neighborhood. He saw a few people peeking out from their windows, their faces pale with fear.
“Almost ready,” his dad said, strapping a box of supplies onto the roof of the car. “Tommy, Sarah, get in the backseat and buckle up.”
They climbed into the car, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. Tommy’s mom got in the front passenger seat, turning to look at them. “We’re going to be okay,” she said, trying to sound reassuring. “We just need to stay together.”
Tommy nodded, holding Sarah’s hand as his dad started the car. They pulled out of the driveway, leaving their home behind. The streets were deserted, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by an eerie silence.
As they drove through the neighborhood, they saw signs of the chaos that had unfolded. Doors were left wide open, belongings scattered on lawns, and abandoned cars lined the streets. The town they had always known now seemed like a ghost town.
They turned onto a main road, heading towards the outskirts of town. Tommy glanced out the window and spotted a group of their neighbors running frantically down the street. Behind them, a horde of infected people—zombies—was closing in.
“Dad, look!” Tommy shouted, pointing.
His dad’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel. “Hold on, everyone,” he said, speeding up.
The sight of their neighbors being chased was like something out of a nightmare. The infected moved with a terrifying, relentless determination, their cold, empty eyes fixed on their prey.
“We have to help them!” Tommy’s mom cried, but Tommy’s dad shook his head.
“There’s nothing we can do,” he said grimly. “We have to keep moving.”
Tommy felt a pang of guilt as they sped past, but he knew his dad was right. They couldn’t stop; they had to keep going if they wanted to reach the cabin safely.
The drive out of town was tense and nerve-wracking. They saw more signs of chaos: overturned cars, broken windows, and small groups of people fleeing for their lives. The infection was spreading rapidly, and it seemed nowhere was safe.
Finally, they reached the edge of town and turned onto the narrow, winding road that led to the cabin. The forest loomed ahead, its dense trees offering a sense of refuge and isolation.
“We’re almost there,” Tommy’s dad said, his voice tight with tension. “Just a little further.”
The road grew rougher as they drove deeper into the woods. The dense canopy of trees closed in around them, casting long shadows across the path. Tommy kept a vigilant eye out the window, watching for any signs of movement.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the driveway leading to the cabin. Tommy’s dad slowed the car and turned onto the gravel path, the sound of the tires crunching on the stones the only noise breaking the silence.
“There it is,” his mom said, pointing ahead.
The cabin came into view, nestled among the trees. It was a simple, sturdy structure, built by Tommy’s grandparents years ago as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Now, it felt like a fortress, a safe haven in the midst of chaos.
Tommy’s dad parked the car, and they all got out, stretching their cramped limbs. He quickly unlocked the door, and they hurried inside, closing and locking it behind them.
The cabin was cool and quiet, the air filled with the scent of pine. Tommy felt a wave of relief wash over him. For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope.
“Let’s get settled,” his dad said, setting the boxes of supplies on the kitchen table. “We’ll need to make sure everything is secure and set up a watch rotation.”
Tommy and Sarah helped unpack, while his mom checked the pantry for additional supplies. The cabin had been stocked with non-perishable food and other essentials, a precaution his grandparents had always taken in case of emergencies.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the windows, they sat down together for a simple meal. The tension eased slightly, replaced by a sense of cautious optimism.
“We’ll be safe here,” Tommy’s dad said, his voice steady. “We just need to stay vigilant and take care of each other.”
Tommy nodded, feeling a surge of determination. They had made it this far, and they would do whatever it took to stay safe and protect each other. The world outside might be falling apart, but here, in the safety of the cabin, they had a chance.
As night fell, they set up a watch schedule, taking turns keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. Tommy and Sarah huddled together in their makeshift bed, drawing comfort from each other’s presence.
“We’re going to be okay,” Tommy whispered, squeezing Sarah’s hand.
Sarah nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. “Yeah, we’ll be okay.”
And so, as the darkness of the night settled over the cabin, they held onto the belief that they could face whatever came their way. Together, they would survive.