"Hey, you!" David instinctively shouted as he watched the monstrous dog approach his mother.
His voice successfully captured the attention of the creature, causing it to halt in its tracks and turn in his direction.
David had no initial plans to attract the monster's attention; he acted on instinct.
The creation of the fiery spear in his hands and his loud shout were all subconscious actions.
Even throwing the fire spear was a spontaneous act, and David hadn't yet fully comprehended the fact that he had managed to create it.
Before the monster dog could fully turn to face David, the fiery spear had already reached its abdomen and exploded upon contact.
The explosion sent the monster dog hurtling in another direction, causing a series of smaller explosions as it crashed into the forest trees.
The power of the fiery spear was akin to a small missile, incredibly powerful.
Anna was in a daze from the sudden turn of events.
She swiftly turned to look in the direction of her son's voice and was astonished to see David and her husband running toward her location.
David reached her first, and it was only then that she snapped out of the shock of almost being attacked by the oversized monster dog to find her family by her side.
"Mom!" David immediately called out to his mother the moment he reached her location.
David bent down to hug Anna, who was still on the ground, and she immediately burst into tears as she entered his embrace.
Anna was undoubtedly a strong woman and an even stronger mother.
When her family needed her the most, Anna always rose to the challenge and handled the situation with her best efforts. However, today was by far the most difficult situation she had ever faced.
Ordinary people would have broken down already, but Anna was prepared to sacrifice her life for her family.
It was only after Anna saw them again that her brave façade collapsed, and she transformed back into a worried and scared mother, deeply concerned for her family's well-being.
It was only when Malachi arrived by her side that she regained her composure and urgently spoke.
"We need to leave here, Malachi," Anna said in haste, allowing her son to help her to her feet.
Anna didn't notice how effortlessly David did so, as if she had the body of a child.
"We need to leave before that thing gets back up!" Anna stated, holding the wrists of the two men in her family.
"It's already too late for that, babe," Malachi said as he dragged Anna to stand behind him, fixing his gaze on the monster dog, which had managed to get back on its feet and was trying to regain its bearings.
"It's all my fault," Anna muttered silently, thinking that Malachi and David wouldn't hear her.
Unbeknownst to her, her voice was indeed barely audible, however, it sounded like whispers to both Malachi and David.
Anna was overwhelmed by self-blame, convinced that something bad was about to happen because of her.
Anna couldn't fathom how her husband and son could possibly last against the monster dog.
The only reason she had survived so far was due to her ability to use the forest trees to her advantage when the monster still couldn't see well, but even then, there were countless times when it had almost caught her.
At that moment, a realisation struck Anna.
What was that fiery object that hit the monster dog?
"Mom, please go back and meet Mia while Dad and I handle this," David said, another fire spear materialising beside him.
David didn't understand how he was doing this, but after the first time, he felt like he could do it again.
The fact that he could somehow project flames from his body scared David more than it excited him.
Like any other boy, David had once wished to have powers, but there was a stark difference between wishing for it and actually having them.
Despite his fear, the adrenaline coursing through David's veins allowed him to focus on the situation at hand.
Seeing the fire spear materialising next to David, Anna was left stunned and speechless.
Anna couldn't comprehend what was happening.
What's happening?
How can my son produce flames?
Perhaps I'm seeing things.
The world had become increasingly strange and surreal that Anna almost didn't know what was what again.
Rubbing her eyes a little, Anna opened them again to confirm that she had indeed seen correctly: her son was controlling fire.
However, contrary to what one might expect, Anna felt no fear towards her son but extreme concern for him as various thoughts coursed through her mind.
It was at this moment that Malachi spoke.
"Anna, listen to what our son is saying and return," Malachi began, but before he could finish what he was saying, Anna interrupted him.
"I'm not going anywhere! I'll stay here with you!" Anna immediately refuted both Malachi and her son.
To this, David's heart sank.
Even though he could somehow project flames, the ferocious appearance of the monster dog gave David little confidence in his newfound power.
"Anna," Malachi called out softly.
"Go back and meet Mia, please. I promise we'll be back soon." Malachi stated as he turned to look Anna in the eye.
Seeing her husband's red irises, Anna's body weakened.
That wasn't the original colour.
When David quickly turned to glance at her too, Anna noticed his red irises as well.
It seemed like David wasn't the only one to have changed in her family.
Even though they didn't wake up as zombies, it seemed they still changed.
Anna, on the other hand, knew she was about as normal as before.
Staying here with her family wasn't going to help them, and she might even become a burden, which was worse.
With tears streaming down her eyes, Anna used both her hands to grab Malachi's face, pulling his head closer to her to give him a kiss on the lips. After doing this, she quickly did the same for David, planting a kiss on his forehead.
"Both of you better come back safe!" Anna stated with a shaking voice.
After receiving solemn nods from her husband and son, who smiled at her, Anna turned back and immediately started running in the direction of the filling station.
Anna still had tears in her eyes, and they only became heavier as she returned.
As she ran, Anna wondered if her husband and son would fare well on their own and if she'd ever get to see them again.
"You guys better not die on me, or I'll make you die again!" Anna shouted in a low voice as she navigated through the forest to meet her daughter back at the filling station.