I've been sitting in my room for the last hour, staring at my screen trying to connect to the internet. The Wi-Fi symbol on my laptop keeps blinking on and off, taunting me with the promise of a connection that never comes. I've tried resetting my computer, but nothing has worked.
This is beyond frustrating.
The router is in the kitchen, and maybe there's something wrong with it. I get up from my desk, and slowly walk through my silent house, listening to the echo of my footsteps. The stairs creak as I step down each one, and I can hear the sound of my breathing as I make my way to the kitchen.
I peek in and find my mother standing there stirring a pot of soup on the stove.
I can see steam rising from the pot, and vegetables floating in a rich broth. The aroma is tantalizing. Just the sight of it is enough to make my mouth water. I never could resist my mother's cooking.
"Hey, Mom," I say, stepping inside the kitchen.
"Hey, Kayla," she replies, smiling warmly.
"What's cooking?"
"It's a vegetable soup recipe I've been wanting to try out."
"It smells amazing," I say as I inhale the delicious scent once more.
"I made enough for two bowls. Do you want some honey?
I nod enthusiastically.
"Just give me a second."
I find the router embedded in a pile of cords and cables. I try unplugging it and plugging it back in, but that doesn't work either.
"Mom I think there's something wrong with the router."
"I'll ask your dad to have a look at it when he gets home," she said giving me a bowl of delicious soup.
I knew that my father wouldn't have the time to fix the router. He has been swamped with work lately and always seemed to be preoccupied with something.
My mom and I made ourselves comfortable on the couch, trying to decide what to watch on the TV. We had planned on watching our favorite show together but the internet had gone out, so we were out of options.
I remembered that I had a DVD of my favorite movie in my room. I jumped up to grab it, eager to show it to my mom.
We popped the DVD in and settled back onto the couch. I snuggled into a blanket while my mom fluffed up the pillow behind her back.
As I was sitting on the couch with my mom, I had an eerie feeling that someone was watching us. I tried to push the thought out of my mind, but the feeling wouldn't go away.
I shift in my seat, feeling uneasy and restless. It's unsettling, and my heart rate accelerates. I take a deep breath and walk towards the window, hoping to find nothing amiss.
As I peer out, I see nothing at first - just the usual sights of the quiet street. But then, my eyes catch a dark figure standing at the end of the street. It's too far away to make out any details, but the posture seems menacing like it's watching me intently. A shiver runs down my spine, and the hair on my arms stands on end.
"Mom someone's watching us," I said watching the dark figure.
"What? Where?" She asked looking around frantically then her eyes set on the figure.
My heart races in my chest as my eyes focus on the figure at the end of the street. He was walking before, but now he's sprinting full force towards the window. The sight makes me feel uneasy and my mind races with all the possible scenarios that could happen.
I can see the man's features take shape as he gets closer, and the sight is terrifying. His face contorts with rage, and his eyes look like they are set on fire.
I stand frozen in front of the window, staring in horror as I watch the man sprinting towards us. My heart races in my chest as I try to make sense of what's happening. Why is he running towards our house?
Suddenly, I feel a strong tug on my arm as my mom pulls me away from the window as glass shatters.
As I looked on in horror, I saw the zombie attack my mother with blinding speed. It happened so fast that I barely had time to react.
I could see its arms reach forward, long fingers curling like talons as it grabbed onto my mother's shoulders. She stumbled backward, her hands reaching out to try and push the creature away. But it was too strong, too determined.
I felt like I was watching this all in slow motion as if my brain couldn't process what was happening fast enough. The zombie pulled my mother closer sinking his teeth into her neck.
I saw my mom's frantic expression as she looked at me, mouthing the words "Run, Kayla!" She looked scared, desperate even. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. For a second, I was unsure of what to do next. But then, I saw the danger in front of me as he ripped her neck into pieces.
I ran up the stairs. Each step feels like an eternity, but I push myself to go faster. My only thought is to get to my parent's bedroom and lock the door.
I finally reach the top of the stairs and sprint down the hall towards their room. My breathing is heavy. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through me as I reach for the door handle and quickly shut the door behind me.
As I turn the lock, my hands shake with fear.
I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my pounding heart. I feel trapped and alone, but at least I'm safe for now. I hug myself tightly.
I was sitting in the corner of the room, huddled up and clutching my knees tightly to my chest. The silence of the house was overwhelming, and the only sound I could hear was the beating of my own heart. I had barricaded myself in the room, hoping that I would be safe from the creature that had invaded my home.
But then I heard it.