The wind howled through the ruined streets as the monsters closed in. Thea struggled to stand, her body battered and bleeding, but she refused to give in. The family she had just rescued stood behind her, huddled together in fear. The parents held their child close, their eyes wide with terror as the grotesque creatures circled.
Thea's breath came in ragged gasps, her hands trembling
Suddenly, the creatures lunged. Thea braced herself for the end.
But then, in a blur of motion, Uncle Mike appeared. He charged in with his spear, his face grim and determined. Without hesitation, he threw himself between Thea and the monsters, driving his weapon into the chest of the nearest creature. It let out a guttural scream before collapsing.
"Thea, get out of here! Now!" Uncle Mike shouted, not taking his eyes off the advancing horde.
Thea's eyes widened in shock. "Uncle Mike! No, I can't leave you—"
"You have to," he interrupted, his voice firm despite the chaos. "Take them and go. I'll hold them off."
He swung his spear again, swiftly taking down another creature. Blood splattered across the ground, but the monsters kept coming.
Thea hesitated, torn between staying to fight and obeying her uncle. She knew she wasn't strong enough to win, but the thought of leaving him behind was unbearable.
"Thea, listen to me!" Uncle Mike turned to her, his expression stern. "If you don't leave now, they'll kill you—and that family. I'm not letting that happen. You have to live."
Tears welled in Thea's eyes as she nodded, realizing he wasn't going to let her argue. She turned to the family, grabbing the child's hand.
"Come on… we need to go," she said, her voice breaking.
As she led them away, she cast one last look over her shoulder. Uncle Mike stood tall, his spear at the ready, surrounded by monsters. He was fighting for her—for them. As much as it tore her apart to leave him, she knew it was what he wanted.
"Stay safe, Thea…" Uncle Mike whispered to himself.
He fought with everything he had, his body moving on pure instinct. But there were too many. A sharp pain shot through his side as one of the creatures struck him, but he didn't stop. His only thought was to give Thea and the family time to escape.
Another blow came, then another. Uncle Mike grunted in pain, refusing to fall. He swung his spear wildly, determination burning in his eyes. But finally, his body gave out, collapsing to the ground as the monsters closed in.
---
Thea's heart pounded in her chest as she ran through the streets, leading the family toward the evacuation area. Her vision blurred from exhaustion and pain, the wound on her side throbbing with every step. Uncle Mike's desperate words echoed in her mind: "Run! Get help!" She couldn't fail him now.
As she turned a corner near the hospital, she noticed someone sitting on a bench just outside, her head lowered in deep thought. It was Lily. Thea slowed, panting heavily, and rushed toward her.
"Lily!" she called, her voice hoarse.
Lily looked up in surprise. "Thea? What happened?" She immediately stood, her eyes widening as she saw Thea's disheveled appearance and the blood-soaked bandage peeking from under her shirt.
"Where's Michael? I need to find him!" Thea asked urgently, grabbing Lily's arm.
"He's inside," Lily replied, pointing toward the hospital. "He's been hurt, but he's okay."
Thea exhaled in relief but quickly shook her head. "There's no time to explain. Uncle Mike—he's still fighting! We need to help him! He's in danger."
Lily's eyes widened at the mention of Uncle Mike. "I'll go," she said firmly. "You stay here, Thea. You're hurt—don't push yourself further. I'll find help."
"I need to see my brother first. Where is his room?"
Lily hesitated, glancing at the hospital doors, then back at Thea's pale face. "It's on the second floor. I'll show you."
Without wasting time, the two hurried into the hospital. Thea pushed through her pain as they reached the elevator. Once on the second floor, Lily pointed to Michael's room. "That's him. Go in, I'll be back soon."
"Be careful," Thea whispered as she placed her hand on Lily's arm. "Please… bring Uncle Mike back."
Lily nodded with determination. "I'll do my best. Stay with Michael."
---
Lily sprinted through the village, her heart pounding. The fires burned in the distance, and the screams grew louder. She prayed she wasn't too late—that Uncle Mike was still alive.
As she reached the outskirts of the village, her eyes were drawn to a motionless figure on the ground, covered in blood. Her heart sank as she recognized who it was.
"No… Uncle Mike…" Lily whispered, fear rising in her chest.
She rushed to him, dropping to her knees beside his body. His clothes were torn, his face pale, blood pooling beneath him. Tears filled her eyes as she grasped his hand.
"Uncle Mike! Please, no… hang on, just hang on!"
His eyes fluttered open, weak but focused on her. He managed a small, pained smile.
"Lily… you made it…" he rasped.
Lily choked back a sob, gripping his hand tightly. "We can get help! Just hold on!"
Uncle Mike shook his head weakly. "No… it's too late."
Lily's heart sank. "No, don't say that… we need you…"
"I need you to do something for me," he whispered.
Lily nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Anything."
"Take care of Michael and Thea. They need you now more than ever."
"I will," she promised, her voice trembling. "I'll look after them. I swear."
Uncle Mike's grip weakened, his eyes slowly closing. "Don't leave Michael. Protect him at all costs…"
Lily's hands shook. "I promise."
With one final breath, Uncle Mike was gone.
Lily collapsed beside him, sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of his sacrifice and the responsibility he had entrusted her with overwhelmed her.
Back at the hospital, Michael sat beside Thea, his mind racing with worry. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Lily entered, her face pale, eyes red from crying. In her hand, she held a letter.
"Lily… what happened?" Michael asked, dread settling in his chest.
"It's Uncle Mike… he didn't make it," Lily said, her voice trembling.
Michael's world shattered.
Silence filled the room as Michael stared at Lily, the words not fully sinking in.
Michael: "No… no, that can't be. It's a lie, right? Right? Lily, it's a lie, isn't it?"
Lily: "I'm sorry, Michael, But before he passed, he told me something: that you should become stronger for Thea and protect her at all costs."
The sky was a dull gray, and the air was thick with the weight of sorrow. Michael and Thea sat on the edge of their bed, their eyes red and puffy from crying. Michael clutched a faded photograph of Uncle Mike, the image capturing a moment of laughter and warmth.
"I can't believe he's gone," Michael whispered, his voice breaking. "He always said he would protect us."
Thea's small frame trembled as she tried to stifle her sobs. "He promised… he promised he would always be there for us," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "What are we going to do without him?"
Michael pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "We have to be strong. He wouldn't want us to give up. He fought for us, Thea. We have to remember that."
"But I miss him!" Thea cried, burying her face in Michael's shoulder. "I don't want to be alone."
Michael stroked her hair gently, feeling the ache in his chest grow heavier. "You're not alone, Thea. We have each other, and we'll make Uncle Mike proud. We have to keep going… for him."
Both Michael and Thea lay on the bed, crying for the loss of their Uncle Mike—the man who had become a father figure to them after their parents died years ago.
They stayed like that for a while, letting their grief flow freely. Each sob echoed the heartache they felt deep within. Uncle Mike had been their protector, their guiding light. Now, that light was gone, leaving only darkness behind.
---
Days later, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm light over the small cemetery. The ground was freshly turned, and three graves stood side by side, a solemn reminder of their loss.
Michael and Thea knelt before the headstones, their hearts heavy. Each grave bore the names of their loved ones, a poignant reminder of the family they had lost.
Liliana D. Grayson
Emmett Nathaniel G. Grayson
Mike Carter G. Grayson
Michael placed a hand on Uncle Mike's headstone, tracing the engraved name with trembling fingers. "I'm so sorry, Uncle Mike. We'll never forget you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Thea laid a bouquet of flowers at the base of the grave, her small hands shaking. "You were the best uncle. I wish… I wish we could have one more day together," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Michael felt tears stream down his face again, a mix of anger and despair. "I promise, I will do everything I can to make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain. We'll be strong, just like you taught us."
They knelt there for a long time, sharing their grief and finding comfort in the memories of the man who had loved them fiercely. The warmth of the sun slowly seeped into their bones, a gentle reminder that while Uncle Mike was gone, his love would always remain, guiding them as they faced the uncertain future ahead.