chapter 10

I woke up with Case by my side and a awoke to buy quite Carmen in her arms. "Hey guys" I greeted them. Casey smile at me and Carmen let out a small laugh. This small kid was a weird one but then again everything that has been happening was so crazy that Carmen seem normal. I got up from the bed and my back popped. It felt good. I rubbed the tiredness from my eyes. I went to the window to look outside the sun was setting and I knew was dangerous outside with Casey and Carmen." Ok Casey I'm going to find some more supplies and bring them here and fill our bags ok." I said to her. She nodded and I went to the door checking for any sounds on the other side. It was all clear and I slowly open the door and went outside. I close the door and heard Casey move the chair to block to door. I went down the hall towards the stairwell. This hospital had a café on the first floor. The stairwell was quiet and I made my way down, then all of a sudden, the door opens. I make my way up the stairs and tried to get back to the second fall door but I was too late. I immediately jump back and tried to make myself as small as possible and hide. I didn't know what was going to happen but I just slowly moved up the stairs out of view. Reaching the top of the third floor I saw the person who came into view. It was Jack. "Jack!" I said. He turned to me with a smile on his face. "Haley oh shit I thought you were gone," he said to me. I went downstairs and pulled him into a tight hug. I never thought I miss this guy as much as I do now. "why are you here" he asked me. "I wanted to find my family and instead I find a kid and a newborn," I told him. "Oh, thank god I thought they were all gone, I miss your brother so much I can't wait to see him," Jack said.

I looked at him. He was here to find my brother the love of his life. Fuck. How could I tell him he isn't with us anymore? That he was gone. Damn it! I hate bringing bad news to people. I have to tell him, I have to show him what happens to my brother to his lover. The man who he would have spent the rest of his life with. How could I tell him that I killed him? That my brother and the man he fell in love with wasn't alive when I find him. That he was this thing. This monster. How could I tell him this?

"Listen, Jack, before I take you to my brother I need help finding some more food and water so we can all leave together and get out the city," I said to him. "alright cool sounds like a plan but I beat you to it I find what was left which wasn't a lot I got about seven water bottles some cans of soda and some canned foods," Jack said. I just smile at him. "alright well I find a room with the kid and baby I was telling you about let's stay there until morning then um I have to tell you something" I told him. "Aright whatever you say, Haley," he said. "Alright let's just sleep on it and we really need to talk," I said to him. He didn't say anything in return. He just followed my lead. I reach the room and said 'on your side' and heard Casey moving the chair blocking the door. She opens the door and I smile at her. Carmen was in the bed and Casey went back to the bed to watch over her. I still just smile at her with the way she is with Carmen. I just hope that Carmen survives this. I shook the thought out of my head and went to Jack. "So how have you and been these past few days?" I ask him. "Oh well you know, killing those things, looking for my lover, and trying to get out of here alive," he said with a cheeky smile on his face.

I just looked at him and smile. This guy, always cracking jokes trying to make light of the situation. It was not ten at night and Casey and Carmen were asleep and Jack was knock out in the chair. I guess I should sleep soon, we have a long day tomorrow and I was worry Carmen might not make thought the day. But I also had to show Jack what happened to my family. I don't know how he would react to seeing my brother on the floor but I will show him last. I mean who was I to do that to Jack but at the same time I wanted to keep the girls safe and I don't know what would happen if he lost it.

I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't put these girls at risk, even if Jack and I are friends. Partners on the force and soon to be my brother-in-law. I couldn't put Casey and Carmen at risk. I went to bed knowing that I had a choice to make if things went south.

Soon sleep took me away from this reality and sent me to another where life was normal but I know that as soon as I wake up I will be greeted by hell.

I woke up to the sound of soft crying. I got up and walked over to the bed to find Carmen crying. "What's wrong kid you hungry, you need a change" I cooed. I felt her diaper and felt that she indeed needed to be changed. So, I pick her up and took her to the bathroom to clean her up. I put on her the counter. "Okay I can do this, I can change this diaper, I am a cop, I can do anything, I took down the dead, so I can change this diaper," I give myself a perp talk. As I continue to prepare for what I was about to do. I took a deep breath in and undid her diaper. The smell was so strong that I couldn't do it and throw up. "Why Carmen why," I said. And I continue to throw up I got ahold of myself and prepare to whip when my hand touched her mess. I wanted to scream and run but I couldn't because I've been cover in blood and I've killed growlers and tickers. So how can this be worst than anything I've done the past few days. I still push through.

After ten minutes of gauging and crying from the smell, Carmen was clean and in a new diaper. I never wanted to change another diaper again for the rest of my life. I mean for Christ's sake I am a cop and I kill some of the undead including my own family but I would not like to change another diaper again. Maybe I can just push it to Casey and Jack. A few minutes later Jack and Casey were up, I was still holding Carmen then Casey spoke up, "why do you look so pale?" she asks me. "I changed her diaper and some got on me and I throw up twice changing her," I told her. Casey started to laugh. "that's not funny Casey," I said to her. She still laughs and Jack woke up. "what so funny?" he questions. "Haley is" was all Casey said. What I went thought was not funny and I don't ever want to go through it again but I know I will because I promise Carmen I would be there for her. I pouted and turn away when Carmen started giggling. "it's all your fault," I said to her and she continues to giggle. I handed her to Casey when Jack walked up to me. "let's find your brother, my lover yeah" he said to me. I stop and look at him. "Casey, we are going out," I said and when left the room.

"Look, Jack, I got something to tell you," I said to him. He looks at me as if he already knew what I was going to tell him. "my mother was bitten first and turn that's all I know but then I saw my father he was bitten and he killed himself to protect me and Greg, Greg was bitten and growling and I uh kill him," I said in a small sounding voice. I didn't know what Jack would do but I hope he wouldn't go crazy. "Let me see them," was all he said. I told him to follow me and I show him my father first, I removed the black stain sheet I put over him and saw my father, Jack kneel muttering to himself. Then I went to where my mother lied and show him. He showed the same respect as he did was my father. Then the last one, the one that was his one. I pulled back my brother's sheet and Jack fell to his knees. He shook trying to hold back a cry. I went to him and held him tight. I wouldn't let him go thinking this alone. He had me even though I was the one who did it. He held onto me as if he life depending on it. It was like I was the thing keeping from drowning in pain and sadness.

I was going to be here for him. After some time we went back to the room and pack up our things to leave the hospital. I mean we stayed here for three days and it was crawling with the undead and it was only a matter of time before they came to us. After packing up and making sure we had everything we needed, I took Carmen from Casey and put her in a baby harness, Casey took her bag and Jack grabs his gear. We slowly made our way out of the hospital and out into the open. Outside the sun was bright and high in the sky. I was worried that Carmen and Casey would get heatstroke. I kept Casey close to me and let Jack take point as we started to move. Whenever we held a yell or gunfire we would stop and find cover. I was worry that Carmen was going to cry but she didn't. She was calm and the only time she ever made a noise was for a bottle or when she went to the bathroom. Which was a lot of the time for a newborn? I was started to get worried about her health. Shit. Or maybe I could just be worrying for nothing because I never took care of a newborn before.

A few hours later we were somewhere in Bentwood's heights. Then Jack suddenly stops. "Jack what did you stop?" I ask him. "That house there, the soft baby blue one there, with the stone fence, that was the house we were going to buy," he said to me. He turns to me and I saw the tears in his eyes. "Jack" was all I said then he pulls out his M9 and place it on his right temple. "Jack wait think about this Greg wouldn't want this for you, please don't do this," I said to him.

"I can't live without him," was all he said and started to cry harder. "Jack places Greg would want you to live," and he started to shake his head and crying harder. "I-I can't," he said. And pull the trigger. He falls limply to the ground. "Casey grabbed what you can and the gun and give it to me," I said to her and started picking up his bag adding to my load. We got what we could carry and move away from the house and Jack's lifeless body. Damn it! How could he do this? I mean I get it but the look in his eyes, I'll never forget that. I grab Casey's hand and we started moving west again. We stop for a break for water and some food. Carmen was napping I just smile at her, wondering how this kid can just sleep through most of the day without a care in the world. I look over to Casey and saw her just relaxing like she didn't just witness someone kill homes. I have to talk to her and make sure she is ok sometime soon. After a few more minutes of rest, Casey and I got up and started walking again. It was quiet but that didn't mean we were safe. Then I heard something coming from the brushes next to us. I put Casey behind me and held Carmen closer to my body. The noise kept getting closer and closer.

Then a dog pokes its head out of the brushes. It was a German shepherd. The dog came up to us and just look up to me. The dog had a collar on. So, she was around people and trained but why was she here. On second thought I don't want to know why she is here. I held out my hand and she came to it and started licking it. "Hey calm down what's your name," I said to here and look at her tag. It said Artemis. "Well looks like you with us now Artemis" she wigs her tail and goes over to Casey. I got to stop taking in people was all I thought when I heard gunfire.