The constant screams and growling from outside Mr. Jerry Crimson's house were piercing and filled with desperation. Jacob trembled even in his subconscious. Tears rolled down his pale eyes as he stared faintly at the door. The noise echoed in Aguilera's ears, mingling with the pounding of her heart.
With a deep breath, Mr. Larry heaved himself out of the chair, his hands shaking slightly as they clutched the handles of the seat. "Don't do this!" He screamed between trembling lips. "Let her go. Take me to your wife instead."
Mr. Jerry scowled. His eyes, glazed and unyielding, fixated on the robe holding his wife-his infected wife. His lips twitched into a smile that terrified Mr. Larry.
"My wife is starving. She's been starving for days. I've waited patiently for you to arrive after the last family...no, I can't lose my wife. Just like Aguilera, my wife is my world. Don't worry," he added with a grin that didn't reach his haunted eyes, "I won't let her die. I promise you."
No.
Mr. Jerry's words froze the room. Aguilera's dad watched blankly as Mr. Jerry untied the rope, his trembling hands and legs betraying his last words. "There's no guarantee anyone will make it out alive," he muttered, almost as if convincing himself. I can't let the little one die though.
I have to do something. I can't let my AG die in such a cruel way. But what can I do now? Grandpa Larry pondered, his old, battered frame trembling as he struggled to get up. He leaned on the table for support, his wounded arm throbbing with pain.
He staggered forward, driving his fists into Mr. Jerry's abdomen. As Mr. Jerry tumbled, Mr. Larry snatched the end of the rope holding Jerry's wife and fastened it around his waist.
On the other side of the room, Aguilera awoke with a pounding headache. Her voice quivered, confusion swirling in her swollen eyes as she instinctively backed away.
The infected woman, Mr. Jerry's wife, lunged with forceful speed, her arms clawing at the air. Her mouth hung open, blood dripping from each side.
"Dad!" Aguilera cried out in fear, swinging a chair at the infected woman. The impact sent her staggering back but she barely paused. She growled in agitation at Aguilera.
"AG!" Mr. Larry bellowed, "I won't let you die!"
Mr. Jerry, conscious of his defeat, jumped to his feet. He punched the old man in the face then clawed at Mr. Larry's injured arm, sinking his nails into the wound. Mr. Larry howled in pain, nearly losing his grip.
"Let go of the rope, Mister. I don't want to do this." Jerry threatened, shoving a 5-inch knife at him. "Don't make me a murderer, Mr."
"Then don't." Mr. Larry pleaded faintly. He pulled the rope back but was pulled to the door again. It was an endless struggle between him and the infected lady behind the door. Her determination to get Aguilera was stronger than anything Larry had ever seen. "That lady is not your wife. She's dead." He added, hoping to talk some sense into Jerry. "Feeding others to her won't bring her back. You have to let her go."
"Shut up!" Jerry roared, his grief slowly turning into fury. "She got infected because of your grandson. If she hadn't gone to that ridiculous birthday party, she'd still be alive! You don't understand anything -she's all I have left!"
"This means, you want us all dead. You were never going to spare my daughter."
"An eye for an eye right?" He grinned maniacally.
"Son of a dimwit! How could you even think of something so evil?"
"I'm done talking." Jerry launched at Grandpa Larry, and the two men crashed into a desperate brawl.
Meanwhile, in a separate corner of the room, Jacob stirred, rubbing his sleepy eyes. The sight of the chaos and the growling coming from outside shook him back to reality. He cried with a sharp voice, asking for his mother and sister.
Grandpa Larry, hands firmly around Jerry's neck, stared at his grandchild. His heart arched at the fear in Jacob's voice.
Jerry tilted his head to look at Jacob and then back at the old man. Before Jacob could signal to his grandfather about Jerry's intentions, Jerry lifted his head with force and smashed it against Grandpa Larry's forehead.
He untied the rope and left it with a sarcastic and victorious laugh. "I win!"
"No!"
"Grandpa, where's Mom? She said she wouldn't leave me so why isn't she here? Grandpa, is Uncle Jerry a bad man?"
Grandpa Larry fumbled for the right words to comfort the child but he found none. He pulled Jacob close to his chest, gave him a tight hug then whispered in his ears, "Run. The moment I open that door, you run as fast as you can to that black car. Do you understand me? Uncle Jerry is a bad man. He's done terrible things."
"But Grandpa..."
"This isn't a time for buts, boy!" Grandpa Larry snapped, softening when Jacob's lips quivered. "I promise..." He fought back his tears. "I promise to bring your Mom and Hannah along. But you have to trust me. Go! Don't stop... Please don't stop, child."
"Do you hear that?" Mr. Jerry giggled excitedly. "Silence. There's no noise." Mr. Larry and Jacob glared at him angrily. "She must be dead already," Mr. Jerry muttered, pulling his ear away from the door and unbolting it. Hardly had he stepped in when his wife pounced on him.
"Aguilera!" he screamed. "AG.... help! Help!"
Aguilera darted out of the room, panting heavily. She grabbed Jacob into a tight hug, then seized her father's hand, preparing to flee. "Dad! I'm so happy you're alive. I was so scared."
"I was terrified too." Grandpa Larry wheezed. "I didn't know what to tell Jacob."
"I'm okay now." Aguilera winced. "We have to leave now!" she urged.
Jacob nodded excitedly while Mr. Larry kept mute. He looked ahead to see Mr. Jerry struggling beneath his infected wife. Suddenly, he pulled his hand away and exhaled heavily. "Here's my friend's address," he said, slipping her a piece of paper. "Don't stop until you get there. I'll catch up."
"Is this a joke, Dad? I didn't make it out here just to hear you tease me about something so hurtful. I'm not leaving without you. No!" Aguilera protested, her voice croaking with tears. "Don't make me lose another one, Dad."
"Baby, it's me!" Mr. Jerry shouted as he struggled to push his infected wife away. He had just broken free when she latched onto his legs again, clawing at him. "Don't do this, Mi Vida! We love each other."
"Mr. Larry isn't a bad man. He's in love," Aguilera's father said, raising his voice in a threatening manner. "Get out of here quickly. I promise I'll follow as soon as I save him."
"But, Dad—"
"AG, you have to leave," Mr. Larry cut her off, gripping her shoulders firmly. "It's not just about Mr. Jerry. Someone needs to stay behind and buy you enough time to escape. This door won't stand tall for long. Sooner or later those demons would find their way in here." As if on cue, the living dead outside began slamming their bodies against the door, their guttural growls echoing in the room. One shook the door handle as if trying to open the door and Jacob quivered. "AG, please go."
Aguilera wiped her swollen eyes and stuttered, "I understand. I do, but does it have to be you?" When Mr. Larry nodded silently, she accepted her defeat with a gentle shrug. "Ok. I get you. If you don't show up in the next hour, I'm coming back here. I don't care what happens to me. If you love me as you claim, you'd better stay alive—otherwise, Jacob will grow up without a mother."
He scowled, then threw her a warm, fatherly smile. After going over his plan one last time and making sure she understood everything, Mr. Larry grabbed Mr. Jerry's gun, pulled the doorknob, and fired a round at the walking corpses clawing toward them.
As per the plan, she grabbed Jacob's hand and bolted out of the house, the sound of gunfire echoing behind her.
Jacob continued to look over his shoulder, hoping his grandfather would show up as he did. "Grandpa's coming with us, right? He's bringing sister, right?"
Aguilera bit her lip, glancing back at the house as blood, bullets, and shadows of the infected pressed against the windows.
She shoved Jacob into the black car and locked the door. Just as she started the engine, a scream pierced the air—it was her father. Aguilera froze, her hands trembled on the steering wheel.
"Mum, go back! Grandpa needs us!" Jacob cried, wriggling his legs in protest.
Aguilera flipped the tiny piece of paper her father had given her. There was something written in bold. "Don't look back until Jacob's safe. I love you always, My AG." She squeezed the paper between her fingers, her teeth gritting. Jacob's voice came through again but this time, Aguilera slammed her fists on the dashboard and then unlocked the door and sat in the driver's seat. She pressed her foot down on the gas pedal, speeding away into the next street, tears streaming down her face. I just chose my son over my father. I'm so sorry, dad. She increased the speed of the car, refusing to look back or give in to her guilt.