The man whose name is James stood up, walked to his daughter and hugged her. While kneeling down bringing himself at the same level as her.
"Mommy is working now so she can't be with you while sleeping now."
James said while trying to keep a strong front in front of his daughter. But inside he was very anxious as well because of his wife absence.
"But mommy always tells me fairy tails when I can't sleep..."
The little girl face became a little teary. Clearly missing her mother. And James couldn't stand the sad face of her. So he offered a deal.
"How about instead of your mother, I'll tell the fairy tale today!"
Hearing the generous offer the she started to consider it. While she was thinking, James picked her up and brought the girl into her little pink bed.
"Okay, but you have to tell me about Little Red Riding-hood!"
She finally agreed to the deal.
"Your wish is my order princess!"
James joked but after seeing the adorable pouting face of her daughter, he opened the book of little red riding-hood and started to read the story.
"Once upon a time there was a little girl..."
While he was telling the tale of the girl, the big bad wolf and the hunter, her daughter's eyes at first were opened widely, listening. But as the story progress her big watery eyes started to get smaller and smaller. Until her eyes were fully closed.
"...and she happily lived ever after!"
After finishing with the story James looked up from the book. And seeing his sleeping daughter he smiled, put down the book and covered her with the blanket.
"Good night Emily! Have sweet dreams!"
He kissed her on the forehead and silently walked to the door. And after a last glance he closed it after himself.
.
.
.
"What should I do know?!"
James slumped down on the couch again, still not believing in the surreal situation.
He fished out his phone from his pocket and tried to reach his wife again. But she didn't reply which worried him but he didn't want to believe that his wife got hurt or something. Instead he came up with excuses why not she is not picking up her phone. Like, her phone is broken or something. After the sixth phone call he gave up and instead went online untill he still could.
It was a mess, people asking for help, crazy conspiracy theories, situation reports, zombie killing videos etc. Everything what you can imagine! Even some crazy people appeared who didn't shy away from posting disgusting videos of their crimes now that the government can't enforce the law. But James still was able to get a few important information.
First and foremost the infection is acting just like zombie viruses in movies. You get infected if you get bitten by an infected or maybe body fluids are enough but it is not tested (duh). The infected just like zombies, their seeing is bad, they only react to voices and smell but their sense of smell is not the best. They are hard to kill, for now the only proven method is by injuring their brain. And since they have unkillable body they probably have unlimited stamina. And they love fresh meat.
"Luckily they move slowly for some reason."
Second thing that was important, is just how fastly the virus spread, it was so fast that nobody knows which was the first incident of the virus.
Having enough from the crazy place call internet James looked up from his phone and looked around in the cozy living room, not too sure what to do. He always had some food stored so he and Emily don't have to worry about living necessities for a few weeks. But he couldn't sit at home while worrying about his wife.
'No, I have to find her!'
He became more determinated after looking at a picture of a gorgeous woman with blonde hair and blue eyes just like Emily's, on the wall.
'She should have been still at work when this shit started!'
While thinking about what he should do, he stood up and walked to the window and looked out.
The view was terrifying and unbelievable just like a bad nightmare. The normally bustling city of Meonbriel, now was filled by scared shouts of people, gun fire, explosion, and car alarms instead of the voice's of cars and people.
[A/n: Obviously the places and characters in the novel are all fiction!]
It was a horrific mess! In some places the city was on fire and streets were full with crawling infected. Plus the city was painted in blood red by the descending sun making it eerie and out of the world.
He could even see a few zombies eating the inside of an unfortunate man a few blocks away.
"It is just like the zombie apocalypses in films!"
James wasn't that scared by the sight since he seen much worse in the past. But he was still anxious.
'It's dangerous to go out at night! And somebody have to keep Emily safe!'
He thought after looking at clock on the wall. Showing that only around a half an hour left until sunset.
'I can't go after her now... I should clear this block first for our safety.'
James was a typical guy who once once sets his mind on something, he won't stop until he does it.
So he started to arm himself, first he put on a thick layer of clothes even if it can't protect fully against bites it was still better then nothing.
'Haha, watching a lot of zombie movies in the past, now at least worth something'
He mused in his head while grabbing the biggest kitchen knife he could get. Even though he still needs to test the capabilities of the infected since he is not sure how good their sense is or how strong they are.
'I should have hidden a few more weapons!'
When, James was digging trough his tools looking for good weapons, he remembered back to when his pregnant wife forced him to sell all of his 'toys' due to their coming children.
"Ouch!"
He woken up from his daydreaming by the sudden pain. Looking at the blood trickling down from a small cut on his finger, he smiled broadly.
"Haha, it seems I forgot one of them!"
He started to dig trough the pile again, but now more carefully. And after a few seconds, he grabbed something and raised it high up.
"Haha, finally found something good!"
It was an all black tactical tomahawk with one side is an axe the other is a spike. Its edges were so sharp, it could even cut someone's hand cleanly.
"From now on your name is Zombie Annihilator 2000!"
James likes to give names to his weapons and forming a 'bond' with them.
Now armored and fully armed, he walked to the entrance door.
*Huff*
And after a big sip of air he slightly opened it.