Riley's POV
Jacob it's ok to take a bath together, we are in our swimsuits. He didn't look like he believed anything I'd been trying to tell him. We had been at the big house almost two weeks now. Originaly I had just come in to have a look since the roof looked like a promising place to camp. There was roof access from inside the house since there was a patio roof and at one time a small garden, there were still some peppers and tomatoes but the garden was in bad shape. The roof access was from a loft, the loft had a spiral staircase down into a office room with tons of built in shelves. When we came inside we raided the food and barricaded the door at the top of the spiral staircase. We had been on the roof since then and I couldn't take how bad we were starting to smell so I took down the barricade and swept the house for the dead. I was pleasantly surprised to find no one was in the house and the water was still on. Jacob was scared at first, over the past few weeks He had closed in on himself a lot not that I expected any different, no seven year old should see the things he had. I finally convinced him with a hot bath and the promise of raiding the huge pantry again.
I want my own bath! Fine I agreed and bathed him first then I made him brush his teeth and sit on the toilet and play with bath toys I found while I bathed in my swimsuit. Afterwards I searched the upstairs again and when I was satisfied I let him play in the room near the bathroom while I dried my hair and used tweezers and found a toothbrush to brush my teeth. I was afraid to look at myself before the bath but now I was alone in the bathroom and I finally looked in the mirror. It had been a shock to see my body so thin and the same shock again to look in the mirror and see my cheek and collarbone so pronounced. I tried not to cry as I plucked stray hairs, I softly sang a lullaby to myself as I brushed out my long hair. It was strange to see how it had grown in the month and a half since the emergency broadcasts, the red tips were now below my breasts. At least the clothes I found Jacob and myself were clean and looked brand new. When I was done cleaning up I smiled at my reflection and left the bathroom. I started walking back to the room when I realized I wasnt alone in the hallway. If it was dead it'd be trying to eat me already. I turned slowly to face a huge man dressed in all back with a shaved head and dark eyes. He had to be over six feet tall and twice my weight, he didn't make a move towards me just stared. I started running for the room before the thought even entered my mind. Instinct took over I slammed the door shut behind me and locked it. I grabbed Jacob and shoved him under the bed, he knew better than to protest. The huge guy had taken chase and was now trying to break the door down. I grabbed my throwing knives and stood my ground, unless I killed or incapacitated him quickly this was not going to be good for me.
As soon as he kicked the door in I threw the first knife it should have hit him in the eye killed him. He moved so fast I barely saw it, I didn't hesitate I reached for another knife. He was incredibly fast it was like a blur attacking me he had me by the neck and in the air before I lifted my arm. I wrapped my legs around him and used my arms to pull myself closer to him. It worked he was surprised and loosened his grip from my neck. I jerked my neck free and bashed my head into his nose as hard as I could, blood spurted everywhere. He dropped me and I pulled my gun from my waist, aimed and shot. Again he dodged the bullet, this time I was stunned it should have been a kill shot. He knocked the gun from my hand and had me by the neck and held me far away from his body. His smile was filled with hostility and his face was covered in blood from his nose. "Your coming with me" he said. He was chocking me out, I was starting to see black spots. I couldn't pass out he'd take me and leave Jake. I had fired the gun and the dead would be here soon. I raised both my arms in surrender and then started to tap his arm with one hand. He loosened his grip barely and I scraped out a sentence. I'm not alone! He pulled me in front of him his back to the wall where are they? he asked. I could breathe and talk again, it's my kid my son. I could feel him tense up, he thought I was lying. Come out kid! He yelled. He won't come for you I told him, he won't come unless I call. Call him then, the dead will have heard your shot they will be here soon. What are you going to do with us? I asked. It doesn't matter you have no choice, now call him.
Jacob come out, we're leaving now. He didn't immediately come out so I added, the dead will be here soon Jake we have to leave. I heard a rustling and saw the bed cover move as he crawled out. He was scared and I almost cried watching him eye the man holding me to him. Jacob was wearing new clean clothes I'd found in the house, jeans and a blue plaid shirt along with his black hiking boots. His light brown hair was sticking up, he hadn't combed it after his bath. He wore a belt that was to big I had cut extra holes in it so he could carry his knife on it.
Jakes grey eyes wandered from me to the man holding me, he rested his right hand on his knife handle and took a defensive stance.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. This is my son Jacob, we'll go with you willingly no trouble, just don't hurt him. When he didn't let go of me right away I waited a moment then added, You win let me go and I'll get our things we should go before to many of the dead make it inside.
He let me go I didn't look back at him I went to Jacob and knelt down. We are going with him, get your spear and make sure you have all your stuff in your backpack. He just looked at me. Go! I said. When Jacob started getting his things I packed up the rest of our things as fast as I could. It had already been ten minutes at least since I shot the gun. We'd be lucky to get far before they found us, maybe we could get away in the chaos. Jacob was already done when I stood up and took his hand. I finally looked at the man who was watching us pack. He was huge in all senses, he was six feet or more and wide. I could see the muscles on his arms and chest through his shirt. His head was shaved, he was handsome even though I didn't want to admit it. He had sharp features and deep green eyes. He hadn't said anything at all, when we started walking past him he stepped in front of us. I'll lead the way out he said.
I heard them as soon as we stepped into the hallway, the groaning the scraping of body parts being dragged. We weren't going to make it out of this house without a fight. As we got closer to the stairs the noises got louder, we rounded the corner before the stairs and the man stopped and I bumped into him. I peeked around him, the stairs were flooded at least twenty were in the house. He backed us up into the closest room and looked around. I looked around to there was a twin bed and a dresser the rest of the room had been ransacked things were strewn all over. I grabbed the mattress and dragged it to the door positioning it behind the door. Um that's not going to keep them out you know he said. Yes I know but it will slow them down so not as many can get in at one time. He looked worried but pulled out a machete.