Chapter one

Past

Scientists were working on a miracle cure that could possibly destroy any terminal illness known to man. They have tested the new drug on rats and chimps but not on humans. This would be the first human trial thus far. Thousands of terminal ill people are waiting in line for their one shot to being free of their chains linking them with death. The line of people took eight weeks to fulfill. Within two days all those people got even sicker than what they were. Scientists said it was a normal reaction of the drug.

The drug attacks the ailing cells and destroys it by eating through it and regenerating the dead cells the illness have destroyed. The so called miracle was supposed to work within two days but instead of killing the illnesses it killed the people and turned them into mindless flesh-eating zombies. What took a year to complete and save us killed human kind in six months. People turned on their own friends and families and turned them into zombies. The streets was chaos, it was like living in hell for the survivors. Neither scientists nor the army officials could stop the death spreading in the darkness of this evil. Every day was a constant threat.

Present

It is dark and very quiet in this big city. There are no lights, no cars driving around and no people around. Our home is like a ghost planet. The few of us that weren't infected live in fear at night and day. Within six months all seven continents were removed from all life.

The virus regenerated the cells of the dead and now the undead haunts the streets desperate to quench their most basic need. They hunt the survivors to feed.

The virus was supposed to be a cure for cancer and every other life threatening natural illness you can imagine. We call it regencell.

If the undead bites you once, you die within forty eight hours and turn into one of them. I on the other hand have been infected but lived to see another day. The virus changed me into something else.

Somehow it made me stronger, almost superhuman. We found a way to give it to all the survivors without killing them.

We used my own blood to come up with an antivirus for those who are infected and not dead yet. It turns out that our blood group is immune to the effects of regencell. We call ourselves the a-negs.

I am a twenty nine year old female and lost my whole family to the virus. I have my family's blood on my own hands. At one time i thought that i was the only survivor. I saved all the others from being eaten alive. I always go out on my own to check for more survivors.

I was walking along the street, my dual pistols in its holsters and grenades clipped on my belt, my shotgun and my sniper rifle slung over my shoulders and my hunting knife stuck in my ankle holster. I wore my usual loose hanging blue denim and hiking boots with my torn almost see-through red t-shirt.

I heard a car crashing and screaming from the north about ten blocks ahead of me. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me. The buildings flashed past me in a blink of an eye. My blood was pumping through my veins. I could feel the heat of adrenalin surge from my core. I could hear a woman screaming and the undead growling. I could hear rushed footsteps coming my way from around the corner of the street.

I stood still listening, lit a smoke and then a slender woman about my age, height and size ran into my arms with fear in her eyes. She had shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes. She wore tight blue jeans with a loose hanging t-shirt with takies on her feet.

'Calm down miss. You are safe now.' I said trying to keep her still in my arms.

She relaxed and looked into my eyes when she heard my voice.

'They are after me, they want to eat me.' She said in a voice trembling with fear.

I pushed her behind me and peeked around the corner. The zombies were chasing her down the street. I took one grenade from my belt pulled the pin and through the grenade in the zombie's direction. I pinned the woman against the wall and covered her with my body. The grenade flew through the air landing in the middle of the croud and blew most of them to bits.

'We have to run.' I said grabbing her hand, dragging her along to my safe house.

'Where are you taking me?' She asked trying to keep up with me.

'I'm taking you somewhere safe.' I said looking behind us.

A few zombies that survived the blast from the grenade were catching up with us. She looked back shocked.

'Keep running girl.' I told her grabbing my pistols from my sides.

'Don't worry, I'm running.' The woman said running even faster.

I stopped and turned around to face the zombies chasing us. I shot a few of them between the eyes making them fall to the ground totally lifeless. I turned around and caught up to the woman grabbing her hand and dragging her around the next corner with me. I ran into a building lifting a big steel door and dropping the door closed behind us.

'We're safe in here.' I said looking at her in admiration.

'Thank you for saving my life back there.' She said trying to catch her breath.

'No problem. What were you doing out there by yourself?' I asked walking past her up the stairs.

'I was looking for someone that i know lives in this area.' She said following me up the stairs.

'Oh, who is that? I could be able to help you. I know everyone that's left alive.' I said looking back at her.

We reached the top of the stairs and walked through a door leading to a penthouse on the very last floor. As i let the woman in i locked the door and slid a steel door closed and locked the latches.

'I am looking for a person named Charlie. I was told that this person can help me with a problem we have.' The woman said looking around at my place.

I went to the balcony, swiped my rifle from my back and stood on one knee.

I looked through the scope for the last few zombies that were chasing us. I saw them outside my place banging on the big steel door and shot each one of them between the eyes. The last bullet seemed to go in slow motion when it left the barrel. I watched it cut through the air like a knife, penetrating the last zombie in the left eye digging its way through the back of the skull into the ground. The zombie flopped backwards onto its back like a rag doll.

'Well, you just found Charlie. What's this problem you have?' I said sticking my hand out towards her in greeting.

'You are Charlie? I am sorry but i was expecting someone a bit more... Brute, no offence of course.' She said looking me up and down shaking my hand.

'Yeah well, what you see is what you get and... None taken of course. So who are you if i may ask?' I said as i just smiled at the woman.

'Oh sorry, my name is Angela.' She said returning a smile.

That moment we shook hands i felt a spark between us. We looked into each other's eyes for what seemed to be an eternity. It felt like i was swimming in her eyes.

'You look like you could use a good meal Angela, how long have you been traveling?' I asked as i released her hand and walked towards the kitchen.

'Please, i could eat a horse. I have been traveling for about a week now looking for you.' She said taking a seat at the kitchen table.

Digging in the cupboards i found two tins of spaghetti and meatballs and opened the tins. I emptied the contents into a pan on the gas stove to heat up the food. I dished it into two plates and sat at the table. We sat in silence eating our meal before she explained her situation to me.

'Where i come from the zombies seemed to have gotten smarter. They kidnapped my family. I think they are being controlled by a scientist that lives in the hospital. He has been doing something to the few survivors. The problem is that the kidnapped people don't come back alive. He mutates them in some way. A friend of yours sent me here to find you before he was taken too. His name is Johnny.' Angela said as i made us some coffee.

'Oh Johnny, what have you gotten yourself into this time? I can say that i believe you because i noticed a change in zombies here as well. There is a whole group of us that are immune to the virus. I am infected but instead of killing me, the virus made me stronger, super speed, super strength and i use more of my brain than normal. All my senses are stronger than normal. My body somehow moulded the virus to its own advantage.' I said handing her a cup of coffee.

'You are infected?' She asked me surprised, with her mouth gaping open.

'Don't worry girl, i don't bite. As you can see, i eat what you eat and i talk.' I told her pointing to the empty tins.

She then stood up taking my hands in her own looking deep into my green eyes.

'Will you please help us?' She asked me with a tear welling up in her eyes.

'Sure i will help you. We can leave tomorrow. I need to gather some supplies first.' I said to her.

Angela through her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a hug. I put my hands on her waist; i didn't know what to do at that moment. She released her arms and brought them down slowly to my chest looking into my eyes then she moved away from me blushing.

'I'm sorry, i get carried away sometimes.' She said lowering her face so i wouldn't see her face as red as my t-shirt.

'It's alright girl.' I said grabbing my weapons.

'Where are you going now?' She asked me looking at the weapons.

'I'm going shopping for the trip.' I said walking to the balcony looking over the railing for any trouble.

'So you are just going to leave me here?' She asked looking very fragile at that moment.

'You will be safe here. Okay well, how are you with guns?' I asked her.

'I'm a crack shot with any weapon, my grandfather taught me to shoot.' She said looking at me with her hands on her waist.

'Okay then, take these.' I said handing her my pistols in their holsters strapped on a belt.

I walked over to my closet and came out with two small machine guns and strapped it in my shoulder holster over my shoulders. I walked to the door and slid the steel door open. Angela walked past me through the door with a smile. I slid the door closed again and followed her down the stairs to the big steel door.

I then slid a small eye height slide open and looked through it. There was nothing in site. The zombies that i shot earlier were still lying on the ground lifeless. The smell of death and rot lingered in the air. I bent down and lifted the big steel door.

********************

Angela was standing next to Charlie by the door admiring her muscles as she lifted the door without breaking a sweat. Angela could feel a familiar tingle inside of her as she walked past Charlie underneath the door. She felt the same tingle when they shook hands earlier and when she hugged Charlie out of excitement.

For some reason she was attracted to this woman that she doesn't even know at all, she just meat Charlie an hour ago. Could she be falling for Charlie? She asked herself blushing crimson.

Angela thought back to her husband she had lost to the virus. She still loves him, even though he was a beater and tried to eat her.

********************

I stood there watching Angela think to herself while looking around in all directions with her hands on both pistols. She was ready for anything. Angela looked like a woman that lost everyone she had loved. She has a wedding ring on her left hand and a locket around her neck. Angela also looked like she was getting a bit weak.

I dropped the steel door lifting one right next to it. I walked in and started a vehicle. It is a hummer that the army used. I found it abandoned next to a road and turned it into an armoured vehicle fit for killing zombies.

I drove the vehicle out of its hiding place and stopped to close the door. When i got back in Angela was already in the passenger seat. As we drove along we asked each other all sorts of questions to get to know each other better.

'So you married?' I asked Angela.

She looked at me then at the ring on her finger. Her face suddenly turned sad.

'I used to be.' She said looking out the three inch thick windows.

'What happened to him?' I asked her.

'He tried to eat me after a night out with the men two days after he was bitten. He said it was nothing, that some old lady bit him.' Angela now looked at me with great sadness in her eyes as she told me the story.

Past

Bill got home drunk as usual then sat in his chair while waiting for his dinner. Angela went to the kitchen to heat up his dinner. When Angela turned around in the kitchen with his dinner in her hands he was behind her grabbing at her with his hands. At first she thought he was in one of his bad moods again then she saw the look on his face. He was pale and had a blank look on his face. He was dead but walking.

Angela watched the news that afternoon and then just in case put a hammer were she could get to it easily. He tried to bite her then she grabbed at the hammer and smashed his head in. Her five and a half year old daughter was up stairs sleeping through all the commotion. Before morning broke Angela had cleaned up the mess and removed the body from the house into the back of the car in the garage. Angela just told her daughter that her father never came back home the night before.

Present

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to open old wounds.' I said with regret and sorrow in my voice.

'No it's alright. He beat me to a pulp every night after drinking so honestly i was happy to get rid of him.' Angela smiled lightly at me.

'So what is your story, why are you alone Charlie?' She asked me.

'I killed my whole family bashing their heads in with a baseball bat. ' I told her driving slowly through the zombies crowding the streets.

Angela looked at me as if i was crazy. I took a deep breath then remembered back to that day.

Past

My family were all out for the day. I wasn't feeling well so i stayed at home. They never saw the news that morning so they didn't know about the outbreak. When i got up the next morning the house was quiet. I went down stairs from my room and walked into the kitchen to find them all dead on the floor. My instincts kicked in then i backed off away from them.

I grabbed the baseball bat from the closet and walked through the house. I found nothing and when i got back to the kitchen they all stood there dripping of blood. My brother came at me first then bit me. I killed my brother and my father and step mother. My birth mother died when my brother and i was very young.

Present

I parked the vehicle in a parking lot outside a supermarket. There weren't a lot of zombies around. Most of them didn't even notice us when we stopped.

'After that you started to notice the changes in you.' Angela said opening the door without looking if the coast was clear.

'Yes it was. Since then i have been trying to save as many people as i could, using my abilities.' I said to her walking around the vehicle.

Just as i came around the corner of the vehicle i grabbed my shotgun and shot a zombie straight into a wall. It was inches away from Angela sitting inside the vehicle with her one foot hanging out the door.

Angela heard the blast and almost snapped her neck sticking her head out of the vehicle.

'Damn that was close. Thank you Charlie.' She said as she got out and looked at the zombie and the splatter of lumpy old blood on the wall.

'My pleasure, can you please be a little more careful next time?' I said grabbing a shopping trolley.

Angela followed me into the supermarket walking slowly through the zombies standing around the parking lot. We were both being very careful collecting stuff we needed from the shelves. I could hear dragging sounds down one of the isles.

'Get this stuff to the hummer quickly.' I said pushing the trolley and Angela toward the door.

'We stick together; i am not leaving you in here alone.' She spat back at me.

'I'm not staying here alone. That is one thing i am not going to fight now.' I said looking behind us.

Angela looked behind her and saw a huge zombie dragging a sledge hammer. She shoved the stuff in the back of the hummer and got in the front. This zombie is very slow so i decided to run to the cigarette counter and get me some smokes and matches. Angela was in the driver seat keeping the engine running.

I grabbed smokes and matches and headed for the door. Angela reversed the hummer to the door. The zombie stood right in front of me lifting the sledge hammer into the air.

There wasn't much space to pass on the side of the zombie so i slid through in between its legs and summer salted to my feet behind it. The back door of the hummer was open.

I dove into the back of the hummer slamming the door behind me. The zombie swung its hammer and missed me by an inch. Just as we drove off we looked back at the zombie with its hammer. We spun away spewing dirt into the zombie's eyes.

Its hammer hit the floor creating a whole the size of its own head. I stopped at a gas station and looked at Angela. We stared at each other for a moment then started laughing. We were laughing out of pure rush running through our veins. I got out and kept watch while Angela filled the tank and a few drums with diesel.

We went back to my place and settled in for the night. I sealed all the windows and doors for our safety. Angela walked with me while i did my rounds through the building.

As we walked through the dark hallways Angela held onto my right arm.

'Angela, could you please loosen your grip on my arm? I'm going to need it.' I asked her smiling.

'Sorry Charlie, after everything that's happened I'm a bit paranoid.' She answered me while letting go of my arm.

We took our time walking through the building back to my flat after i started the generator. I enjoyed listening to the silence of the place except for the growling of the generator. We talked about everything that happened to us in our lives so far.

We got back into the penthouse locking the door behind us. I made us dinner, got a bottle of wine out the pantry and put the heater on. The penthouse got very cold at night.

'You can take my bed after dinner; i will sleep on the couch.' I said to Angela drinking down the last sip of wine in my glass.

'I don't want to be a bother; i don't mind sleeping on the couch.' Angela said pushing half of her food aside.

'What's wrong Angela; you aren't eating much?' I asked as i left my own food.

'I'm just worried and tired of fighting all the time.' Angela said standing up and walking over to the couch.

I sat at the table for a moment then stood up from my seat grabbing the wine bottle and sat next to her on the couch. I poured us each another glass of wine and put the bottle on the floor.

'I'm just as tired and worried about all this. I actually find myself thinking sometimes about how everything would have turned out if they didn't invent Regencell.' I said taking a sip of my wine.

'I have been through a lot in my life but that is nothing compared to this. I wish there was a way we could get rid of the zombies once and for all.' Angela said taking a sip of her wine.

'There is a way. I have been working on something using my blood; a cure if you could call it that. The only problem is that i don't think the zombies will survive it. The people that are alive might just be the only hope left for our planet.' I said to Angela.

'What job were you doing before this outbreak Charlie? You seem to know quite a lot about this virus.' Angela asked me looking at me. I looked at her then crossed my legs onto the couch.

'I am one of the scientists that worked on this drug. Before they made it public i found something in the drug that proved that it was not ready to be administered. They didn't listen to me. Before all this happened they fired me and since then i have been working on a new one to protect the survivors. I tested it and it worked like a charm.' I said looking away from her in shame. Angela grasped my chin with her right hand and turned my face toward her.
'You tried your best to stop them. There is nothing else you could have done to prevent this.' Angela said releasing my chin while fainting.

'When have you been bitten?' i slapped Angela awake checking her symptoms.

'How did you know i was bitten? I didn't tell you that.' Angela looked at me surprised.

'I saw your bite mark at the supermarket earlier today. What's your blood type?' I asked Angela standing up and walking over to the closet opening a small case with injections in it.

'I'm o positive. I was bitten by one of those zombies chasing me before i ran into you.' Angela said turning toward me and watching me intently.

I took an injection out that read char.blood put it on the table next to her and took my belt off wrapping it around her arm. I removed the plastic covering the needle, searched for a vein on Angela's arm.

I injected the clear liquid into her veins. I sat next to Angela as the mixture made her fall asleep with her head on my lap. I sat there the whole night with one pistol in my hand watching her for any signs of turning zombie on my ass.

The next morning early Angela put two cups of coffee on the table then put her hand on my leg to wake me up. I opened my eyes immediately pointing the gun at her.

'Don't shoot Charlie; I'm okay the drug worked.' Angela said sticking her hands up in the air.

'Fuck woman, don't do that. I could have killed you and why didn't you tell me that you were bitten?' I said to her dropping the pistol on the couch with my other hand over my eyes.

'I'm sorry Charlie i thought that you would kill me. I just made us some coffee.' Angela said lowering her arms.

'No, i wouldn't have killed you. If you told me earlier i could have given you the shot before. I don't even know what it will do to you at this point because you already started to change.' I said going to the closet to get an empty injection.

'What are you going to do with that now?' Angela asked me confused.

'I need to draw some of your blood and test it in my lab.' I said tying my belt around her arm again.

I searched for a vein and stuck the needle in her arm. I then drew the blood and withdrew the injection from her arm.

She removed my belt from her arm and pressed a cotton ball on the little hole in her arm.

I walked over to a closed door across from my bedroom. Angela followed me into the room. It was my lab. There were tables placed neatly against the walls of the room. Glass jars, tubes in stands and equipment covered the tables.

I injected some of Angela's blood onto a small glass plate and covered it with another. I put it under my microscope and switched on a screen connected to it. I focused the microscope and watched the screen. On the screen the mixture i gave Angela the night before was busy covering the "zombie" cells in her blood.

After showing Angela what the "zombie" cells, my cells and normal cells looked like i explained to her what i put in the mixture i gave her. I separated my white blood cells from my red blood cells. I combined my white blood cells with the healing properties used in regencell and came up with a cure for regencell; so to speak. It only worked on people who has been infected but not dead yet.

Angela exited the room and made us both each a hot cup of coffee. As she was busy in the kitchen i watched the screen again and noticed her blood cells changing like mine did. I looked through the microscope to see for myself. Somehow my blood cells were strengthening Angela's cells and morphing the "zombie" cells like my blood did. Her body accepted my white blood cells as its own and is using it to change her body.

I switched everything off so she wouldn't see. I didn't want her to worry about this at this point. I will just have to keep a close eye on her for the next couple of days.

We finished our coffee, packed some clean clothes and were on the road headed to Angela's home town. We drove all day long and it got very late. It was starting to get dark. I pulled the vehicle into a clearing a few feet from the road.

'I don't know about you girl but i need some sleep and something to eat.' I said climbing over the seat into the back of the hummer and started going through the stuff we got from the supermarket.

'What was that thing back at the supermarket yesterday?' Angela asked me turning my way in her seat.

'I don't know but i could have sworn i killed it before.' I said turning with soft drinks and crisps in my hands.

I got onto the roof of the hummer through the sunroof. Put the stuff down and stuck my head down the sunroof.

'Are you coming up?' I asked Angela hanging upside down.

'Sure I'll be right up.' Angela answered me smiling.

We were lying on the roof looking at the stars while enjoying our snack.

'Did you have anyone in your life before all this started?' Angela asked me.

'Yes i did. We were about to get married when she was killed in a car accident a year ago.' I said remembering the most horrific day in my life.

'Oh i am so sorry Charlie.' Angela said as she sat up.

'Don't be sorry girl; she was sick when she was killed. I think she would have chosen a quick way out anyway. We have to get inside the hummer to get some sleep before we go on with our journey.' I said while crawling back inside through the sunroof.

I reclined the backrest of the back seat to turn it into a double bed. We laid there in silence till we fell asleep. I woke up the next morning early to find Angela's left arm draped over my chest and her left leg draped over my legs. I laid there for long time thinking about my beautiful fiancé before she died. I still love her, sometimes i can feel her around me or i can smell her favourite perfume.

Angela stirred next to me and opened her eyes slowly. She looked into my eyes and smiled. When her vision cleared she saw that she was holding me. She spun around onto her back removing her arm and leg with a blush.

'Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hold on to you Charlie.' Angela said sitting up.

'Don't worry about it Angela. I actually miss being held like that.' I said as i sat up too, smiling at her blushing.

I got in the driver's seat and started the hummer. We had a long way to travel. After an hour of driving we came into a small town. There was no-one to be seen anywhere but i could sense danger lurking.

'I could do with a steaming cup of coffee.' I said looking around.

'I agree on that. Maybe we can find a small coffee shop or something.' Angela said to me as she looked around.

We found a small coffee shop at the end of the main road.

I pulled up and grabbed my machine guns while Angela grabbed the pistols. We got out of the vehicle and walked towards the shop.

'You wait here while i check it out.' I said going inside.

I walked around cautiously and silent. I heard something in the back and checked it out with both machine guns pointing straight ahead ready for action. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as i moved closer to the back door. Gripping cold hard steel in my right hand i lowered the gun in my left hand and opened the back door. As i opened it a cat jumped out from a shelf and ran past me.

Hearing a shot go off behind me, i turned around in a spin pointing my gun. A zombie dropped to the floor right in front of me. Keeping my eyes on the door ahead i saw Angela standing there with both pistols pointing my way.

'You just saved my life. I owe you one.' I said still frozen.

'Nope, i owe you two. You saved my life three times.' Angela said walking towards the counter.

Angela scratched around behind it, put two cups on top of it and boiled water on a big gas stove. She put sugar and instant coffee in the cups.

'It looks like you did this kind of job before.' I said sitting down on the other side of the counter.

'I used to have my own coffee shop before all this happened.' She retorted.

'Can i ask you a personal question Angela?'

'Sure ask away Charlie.'

'What made you stay with a dead beat woman beater?'

'I tried to get away lots of times and every single time he found me. When i fell pregnant i gave up trying to leave him for the safety of my child. She is thirteen now.' Angela said sitting down next to me.

'You fell pregnant?' I asked her before thinking that it might be the wrong question at the moment.

'Yes i did. My daughter is backing home waiting for me. She is twelve years old now.' Angela said with a smile growing on her face.

'You must be very proud of her?' I said taking a sip of my coffee.

'Oh yes i am, considering the current situation, she has been a very strong girl.' Angela said before taking a sip of her hot coffee.

********************

Back home in Ravens Rest a young girl was missing her mom terribly. She didn't know what to do to keep her busy.

Before Angela left, Sarah has been spending time at her teacher's house in the afternoons. Sarah spent every single day there.

Sarah spent her days indoors, in the safety of her own home while Angela was out traveling looking for someone to help the town out of certain danger. People were disappearing one after the other. The story going around was that one of the town's folk was helping this 'mad scientist' to kidnap people for his experiments.

Sarah didn't like the old lady looking after her while mom was gone. The old lady always disappears at night when Sarah is supposed to be sleeping. Sarah can't seem to shake this feeling that her life is in danger with this old lady hanging around her home.

The one night Sarah got up from bed to go to the toilet and saw the old lady talking to that creepy doctor from the hospital. Sarah didn't say anything about it. She was too afraid to mention it.

At the hospital mark is working on a new strain of the virus. He is trying to create a strain that will make his subjects stronger but give him total control over them. He wants to be in command over his own army of super humans. Every attempt so far has been futile. Every strain he developed thus far has failed.

The virus still kills his subjects and brings them back as zombies. His wife is helping him collect people to test on and his grandson is trying to train them for battle which has been absolutely useless.

Unknowing to mark, Johnny wants nothing to do with his grandfather's plans to rule the world. He called on someone he trusts to stop him. Someone strong enough to stop mark.

He has seen this person in action and knows that if his grandfather gets his hands on this person's blood this planet will be doomed. Unfortunately that is a chance Johnny will have to risk to save the lives of the last remaining people that inhabit the earth.

Charlie has saved Johnny's life from a whole group of zombies and didn't even get a scratch. She was quick and stronger than anyone he has ever meat before.

Chapter two

After raiding the stores for more supplies for our trip, Angela and i continued on our journey. We stopped in every town along our journey looking for any survivors.

We arrived in a small one-horse town in the middle of nowhere. It was too quiet for my liking. Nothing could be heard, not even animals. Standing outside our vehicle i could feel a cool breeze blowing on my skin.

'I don't like this one bit Angela. It is way too quiet here.' I said feeling the hairs on my neck stand up.

'I don't like it either Charlie.' Angela answered me walking around the vehicle to my side.

My senses suddenly picked up a threat. All around us i could feel someone watching us. I looked around at the small buildings, next to them in the alleys and on the roofs. People appeared on the roofs with weapons in their hands. A small group of people came out of a church towards the two of us. All my senses was alert, i could hear their heartbeats and smell their fear. I could feel what these people were thinking.

'Be ready for anything.' I said looking at Angela then turned my attention to the group walking toward us.

'You two ladies must be lost.' An older woman said standing still right in front of me.

'Oh, we are just passing through ma'am. We just stopped to stretch our legs a bit.' I answered the woman.

The woman was old and frail looking. I could see that she was in charge of this little town and its handful of survivors. The others looked like they were afraid of this woman.

'Why don't you ladies stay here?' She said with a sly grin growing on her wrinkled face.

'Thank you ma'am, but we really have to keep moving.' Angela answered taking my hand in her own.

Angela's eyes had fear in them. She felt what i felt at that moment.

'Oh no my dear, that was not a request. You aren't ever leaving this town again. Boys, grab them!' She yelled to the men that were standing behind her.

'Yes boss.' The men answered her all at the same time.

'Angela, get in the hummer now!' I ordered her.

Without a word Angela got in the driver's seat and locked the doors. The three men surrounded me. More people came running out from the buildings and attacked the vehicle. The old woman took a few steps back giving the men space to take me down.

Angela locked inside the vehicle stuck her pistols out from shooting holes in the doors and shot off a few rounds making the people scatter, then come back toward the vehicle one at a time. Angela opened the sunroof and stuck the top half of her body out shooting at the people running to the hummer with their guns in hand.

I stood watching the men around me with my senses on full alert mode. One man through a punch my way while another swung his leg up in a kick from behind me. I ducked for the punch i through a punch into his ribs breaking them and blocked the kick from behind me. I swung a kick in a spin around me taking out the other two guys. I grabbed my machine guns from my shoulders and pointed one toward the old woman and the other one toward the other people.

The old woman stretched her arms out toward me in a screaming attack. I shot her in the head with three rounds at once. I got on top of the hummer's roof and jumped in through the sunroof with the top half of my body sticking out pointing my guns toward the men lying on the ground.

The three men got to their feet and tried to grab me. I shot at them turning them into sives. A big pool of blood appeared on the ground where they fell. The old woman ran towards me with her hands stretched out in a frantic attack. I gave her one hard look and shot her. She flew backwards through the air onto her back. The other people started gunning for me.

Angela ducked inside the vehicle dodging gunfire. I clambered onto the roof of the hummer jumping in through the sunroof. I stuck my torso out and opened fire on the people. A few of them dropped to the floor while others ducked for cover.

'Get us the fuck out of here Angela!' I said with guns blazing while dodging bullets from the roofs.

'Hold on to something.' She said starting the vehicle and spinning away.

I dropped down onto the back seat looking behind us. The old woman stood up dusting herself off. The people i shot got up again and gathered around the old woman.

'How could those people still be alive? I shot them all in the head.' I asked getting into the front passenger seat.

'I don't know Charlie but i think i know who they are.' Angela answered.

'Who are they?' I asked her in shock and disbelief.

'They are some kind of cult. Apparently they were infected but they believe that god spared them because of a sacrifice they made. I only realised that they were the cult i heard of because of the church.' Angela said looking at the road while talking.

'Yes, i saw the markings on the church doors. Damn that was close. I really hope someone else doesn't go through that town.' I said trying to relax.

'Didn't you pass through this town looking for me?' I asked Angela.

'No i didn't, i took a different road up ahead. I didn't know you can fight like that?' Angela said looking at me for a split second.

'I didn't either. I felt something else back there. I felt as if i could feel that they were infected. I knew they were infected before they revealed themselves. I knew every move those men were going to make before they made it.' I tolled Angela looking out the window.

'It sounds to me like you are getting stronger. Your body is discovering all of its... Hum powers... When there is danger around.' Angela said making a mental note of my abilities.

'Yes I've noticed, i don't really know what i am capable of right now. I have researched all of this when i first realised that I'm getting stronger.' I said breathing hard.

'If i could use a hundred present of my brain my powers would be limitless for example; telekinesis, telepathy and astral projection. This is a scientists dream come true.' I explained to Angela waving my hands around in excitement for the possibilities.

'So you mean to tell me that you could move things with your mind, kill someone just by looking at them, read people's minds and maybe use OOBE to your advantage?' Angela asked me looking very puzzled.

'Exactly Angela, science is my hobby. I didn't just study medicines; my favourite part of science was the human body; the brain specifically.'

'Do you also think that it would be possible that you can't die, like maybe you can heal yourself?' Angela asked me with a look i have never seen before.

'Are you maybe a tad worried about me?' I asked Angela trying to keep a straight face.

It was dark already. Angela blushed crimson as she spotted a clearing next to the road and pulled off. I looked at her puzzled as she got out the vehicle. Angela stood in front of the vehicle in the lights. I smiled to myself, got out of the vehicle and stood next to her.

'So my suspicion is correct then? You have developed feelings for me.' I asked her crossing my arms looking her straight in the eyes.

'I don't know how to tell you this Charlie. I am so confused right now.' Angela couldn't look me in the eyes.

'Tell me what Angela?' I knew what she was going to say at that point.

'Yes i have developed feelings for you Charlie. I didn't mean for this to happen. I don't know why i feel this way about you but i love you Charlie.' Angela looked down at her feet after she said the last four words almost as a whisper.

I uncrossed my arms, put my hands on her shoulders and gave her a hug. I held her close to my body feeling her warmth.

'I love you too Angela.' I released her when she lifted her head. Angela looked into my eyes.

'You really mean that Charlie?' Angela asked me not knowing whether to smile or cry.

'Is this proof enough?' I said as i cupped her face in my hands and kissed her both gently and hungry at the same time.

I felt Angela melt into my arms. My knees felt weak. Kissing her felt like fireworks going off in my body. Angela separated her lips for my tongue; our tongues probed each other's mouths.

When we broke our kiss we stood there looking into each other's eyes. I got lost in a sea of blue. We felt totally right for each other.

*********************

Angela stood there looking into Charlie's green eyes. Her body felt like it was on fire just because of that one kiss. She never expected Charlie to feel the same as she did. They both have lost someone and now they have found each other. Angela never thought that she would ever fall in love again. The love she felt for Charlie was stronger then what she felt for her late husband. At this point she has noticed that she never really loved him in the first place.

*********************

'Wow that was the best kiss i have ever had in my whole life.' Angela said smiling at me.

'That never happened to me before. I could have sworn i heard fireworks. Can i do that again?' I said with a blank look on my face.

I put my hands on Angela's hips pulling her closer into me. Angela put her arms around my neck then pressed her lips against mine. I slid my hands over her hips under her shirt feeling her soft skin. Angela let out a soft moan into my mouth. I brought my hands to a Holt on her lower back.
We broke the kiss then i turned us both so i would sit on the hood of the hummer with my legs hanging over the bulbar. Angela got up over me, crossed her legs behind my back and her arms around my neck. I put my hands underneath Angela's shirt and slid them slowly up towards her breasts as we kissed again. Angela moaned in my mouth and broke the kiss.

'Charlie i never did anything with a woman before, i wouldn't know what to do first.' Angela said looking at me with a sparkle in her eyes.

'Well you are doing a great job so far. It's quite easy really; you just do what you like any man to do to you.' I said grinning wide.

'That would be a bit tricky. Bill was my first and we never really experimented.' Angela said very shy at that moment.

'Then i guess i will have to teach you. Did you at least like the kiss?' I asked her trying to make her relax.

'I might be able to tell you if you kiss me again.' Angela said tilting her head slightly to the right grinning at me.

'You mean like this?' I asked pressing my lips to hers with my left hand behind her neck.

This kiss felt so sensual and sexy. I couldn't help myself when i slid my right hand down her back to her hips, down to her thigh and rubbing her inner thigh with my thumb a bit too close to her mound.

Angela broke the kiss and let out a soft deep sigh tilting her head back. I opened my eyes, stopped moving my thumb and saw total ecstasy on her sweet face. Angela opened her eyes bringing her head forward in a kiss while cupping my face in her hands.

'I guess i am a homosexual now. You know Charlie; i didn't even feel for my idiot of a late husband what i feel for you.' Angela said to me as she untangled her legs from behind my back, bringing them to the side of my legs sitting on her heels.

Instead of answering Angela on that i lay down on my back and pulled her with me kissing her gently on her full luscious lips.

'How did you know that i feel something for you Charlie?' Angela asked me lying on top of me supporting herself with her hands pressed against the bonnet next to my head.

'You told me the other night while you were sleeping with your head on my lap before we left my place.' I answered her truthfully.

'How did i tell you if i was sleeping?' Angela looked at me puzzled.

'You talk in your sleep. I spent that whole night listening to you.' I said watching her blush again.

'Oh i totally forgot about that. I'm so sorry Charlie.' Angela apologised.

'Why do you keep apologising for everything Angela?' I asked her as she sat up over me resting her hands on my abdomen.

'Force of habit i guess Charlie. I'm so used to apologising it actually sickens and scares me.' Angela tried to smile but she couldn't.

Angela started crying, leaned forward and pressed her face against my chest. I sat up wrapping her in my arms.

'Angela i will never hurt you like bill hurt you. If he was still alive i would have beaten the crap out of him for beating such a beautiful prize like you and by prize i mean that you are one special catch of a woman to have. It just pisses me off to know that there are people like him who would choose to ruin what they have rather than to protect it with their lives.' I said as i brushed a string of hair behind Angela's ear.

Angela placed her hand over my hand, closed her eyes and kept it there as if she were savouring my touch.

'I know you won't hurt me Charlie. I could see on the first day i meat you that you won't hurt or destroy what you have. I just hope that my daughter will love you as much as i do? She is a tough young girl.' Angela said to me opening her eyes.

Angela got off of me and sat next to me smiling.

'I am sure that we will get along just fine. It might take her a bit of time to get used to me and trust me considering what she has been through with her father beating you.' I said getting off of the bonnet.

Angela sat closer to the edge with her legs hanging off of the side of the bonnet. I stood in front of her between her legs, put my hands on her hips and lifted her off onto her feet. Keeping my hands on her hips i planted a kiss on Angela's lips.

'It is getting very late, i guess we should have something to eat and get some sleep before we move on tomorrow morning. We have at least two days of traveling left to do.' I said taking Angela's hand in mine and leading her to the back passenger door.

'Yes your right, it is getting rather late.' Angela answered.

We got inside set our bed and got something out the back to eat. After dinner we spent a few more hours talking about her daughter and what bill did to them. What she told me about him just made my blood boil in my veins. It always made me so mad when i heard about men abusing their wives and children or vice versa. Men and woman like that did not deserve to breath never mind having what they had.

We both fell asleep in each other's arms just enjoying the warm friendly touch we had to offer.

*********************

Walking into an old beaten up hospital i looked around and listened for any signs of life. I can only hear screaming and growling in the dusty hallways and rooms. I am walking as if floating. I am looking for someone, someone that is very important to me. Fighting my way through zombies i stood still in front of two big white swinging doors that lead to an operating room.

I can hear my heart beating in my ears, my pulses are racing, my breathing is accelerated, the hairs on my neck are rising to the occasion and all my senses are on full alert. I can sense an evil behind those doors with the person... No... People i am looking for. They are in terrible danger. I started breaking into a cold sweat as i pushed through the doors.

A bright white light is shining in my eyes. I lift my hand over my face to block out the light. While my eyes are adjusting to the light i can hear a woman and a daughter calling out to me, their voices sound very familiar to me. It is Angela and her daughter. Lowering my hand i can see a man standing next to them. Angela and her daughter are each tied to a gurney with leather straps.

I know this man; he is one of the scientists that worked with me on regencell. His name is mark. I am looking around the room to see if i can use anything as a weapon. I see a pink backpack lying on the floor next to me. There is a name on it; it reads 'Sarah'.

*******************

Angela was preparing breakfast and coffee on a small gas stove we took from the coffee shop when she heard me yell something in my sleep. She ran to the vehicle and tried to wake me up. Shaking me and calling my name i suddenly sat up.

'Sarah!' I yelled opening my eyes.

I dropped down onto my back. Angela stuck her head in through the open door over my head.

'Relax... You just had a bad dream Charlie.' Angela said trying to calm me down.

I was covered in a cold sweat with my blood pumping through my veins out of anger.

'No Angela this was no dream, it felt so real.' I said sitting up and getting out of the vehicle.

Angela handed me a cup of coffee and breakfast on a paper plate. I downed my coffee not even worrying about the heat and ate as much as i could. The dream really bugged me.

'Angela what is your daughter's name?' I asked her trying not to look so concerned.

'Her name is Sarah. Why are you asking?' Angela said knowing very well that she never told me her daughter's name and that i yelled out her name as i woke up.

'It's the dream i had. It's really bugging me. You never told me her name before. I know who that scientist is and what he is doing in that hospital. That was no dream i had, that was a premonition.' I said standing up and walking from one side to the other thinking about everything i saw.

'A premonition?' Angela asked me confused.

'Yes, you are going to think that i am crazy when i tell you about it.' I said boiling more water.

I made us each another cup of coffee and explained my 'dream' to Angela. She couldn't believe that i knew exactly what the hospital looks like. I also explained to her what Sarah looks like. I have never been at that hospital before and Angela never showed me a photo of Sarah.

'Okay, i don't think that you're crazy at all. I have seen a lot of weird things in the last few months that surprised me. This doesn't surprise me one bit.' Angela said keeping a straight face looking up at me.

I stood still in front her and pulled her to her feet. I twisted my arms around her waist in a hug. Angela stood still for a moment and wrapped her arms around my neck.

'I promise that i won't let anything happen to you or Sarah. I know it's a difficult promise to keep but i am going to keep this one.' I said looking into Angela's blue eyes.

'You don't have to promise me anything Charlie. I know that you would take good care of us both no matter what. You proved that to me last night.' Angela said kissing me gently on the lips.

We cleared up our supplies and packed it all in the back of the hummer. I let Angela drive for a bit while i sat on the back seat meditating with my legs crossed, eyes closed and my arms resting on my legs. I could feel everything that was going on in my body and around me.

I locked all the noise from around me out my mind and concentrated on my body. I couldn't hear anything anymore; there was only my breathing and heartbeat. It sounded like an in-tune rhythm. Slowly breathing i concentrated harder on my brain. I seemed to be floating my way all kinds of weird looking tunnels. There was electricity flowing all around me in the walls, floor and roof of the tunnels.

I was inside my own brain. I followed a narrow stretch of tunnel leading to a part of my brain i never used before; it looked like a big round room. It was pumping with energy. I came to a holt and uncrossed my legs to stand on my feet. There was someone standing in the middle of this room. I walked closer to that person. She turned around to face me; i was facing myself. She was different; stronger than i could ever be. Her eyes turned into a glowing white light and she stretched her hand out to me.

I stretched my hand out flat against hers. I felt electricity flowing from her to me through our fingertips. She disappeared into dust right in front of my eyes. She was inside of me flowing like electricity; an unknown power never explored by anyone before.

I opened my eyes looking straight into the rear-view mirror into Angela's eyes. She stepped on the breaks bringing the hummer to a screeching holt and turned in the seat facing me.

'What's happening to you Charlie?' Angela asked me turning the rear-view mirror so i could see.

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my eyes glowing bright white and i was floating in the air a few inches up from the seat.

'Angela, i do believe that i just unlocked all of my powers through meditating. I wish you could experience this. This is so amazing.' i said to Angela relaxing.

'I can see it Charlie but i can hardly believe it. You are floating.' Angela sat there with her mouth gaping just staring at me.

'Let's see if i can get a hang of these powers.' I said taking a deep breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Closing my eyes i concentrated on relaxing my body. My body felt like an overloaded breaker. My heartbeat and pulses slowed down and i could feel the energy subsiding. I opened my eyes to look at Angela; she saw the light in my eyes fading smaller and smaller into my pupils till she could only see my green eyes again. My body plonked down onto the seat with my legs waving in the air and my head hitting the inside panel of the back left passenger door.

'Well, that is one thing i have to get used to.' I said smiling at the pain in my head.

'Next time when you do that could you please wait until we are standing still? Preferably somewhere safe outside of the hummer. You scared the living hell out of me back there. I almost crashed into a tree.' Angela asked me relaxing into the seat.

'Ooh, I'm sorry Angela. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I always meditate when i think about something, this time something else happened to me. I had to face myself and unlocked all my powers in the process. That was just way too weird.' I said sitting up rubbing my head.

Without saying a word Angela started the vehicle and drove off with a spin. I climbed over to the front passenger seat and reclined the backrest. That little episode drained all the energy from me. I felt tired and helpless at that moment. I was sitting there watching the world go by then i looked at Angela and put my hand on her leg. Angela just smiled at my hand then returned her eyes to the road.

I woke up i short while later alone in the car. I got out and saw that Angela stopped in a town. Angela was nowhere to be seen. There were a big pile of zombies lying in front of a supermarket. I grabbed my shotgun and walked towards the pile of death. The wounds on the bodies were fresh. I stepped around the pile and into the supermarket. I heard a trolley being wheeled down the aisles.

'Why didn't you wake me up?' I asked Angela yawning with my arms stretched out over my head.

Angela shot around in surprise pointing her pistols at me.

'Sorry girl, i didn't mean to scare you. I saw your handy work outside the door.' I said to Angela grabbing a pack of crisps from the shelf next to me.

'You looked so peaceful i didn't want to wake you. God you really know how to get me in a flat spin, don't you Charlie? After the episode in the car i just needed to blow off some steam.' She said throwing stuff in the trolley.

'Hah, if that is how you blow off some steam i will think twice in the future about scaring you. By the way, i see your bite mark has healed very nicely.' I pointed to her shoulder blade while taking a bite of a chip.

'Yes i noticed this morning. It healed very quickly; quicker than what it normally takes me to heal. Do you think i could be changing like you did?' She asked me stopping the trolley and turning around.

'It could be girl. I healed just as quick when i was bitten but i also think you healing so quick is because i injected you with my white blood cells and a few other stuff.' I said following her through the aisles.

On our way to the door i stopped and walked over to the cigarette counter grabbing a few cartons of smokes and a few lighters. I turned around with my arms full looking at Angela.

'Really Charlie, you can just as well grab a few cartons of menthol for me.' She said with a smirk.

'Sure thing babe, let me just throw this in the trolley.' I said tossing the cartons in the trolley and turning back to the counter.

I grabbed a smaller trolley on my way there and filled it up with more cartons for both of us and grabbed all the packets of bulk matches off the shelf.

'Do you think this would be enough to last us for a few months?' I turned around with the trolley in a spin.

'Yes i think that would definitely be enough Charlie.'

We went back to the car and emptied the two full trollies into the back of the vehicle. After i closed the back door i grabbed Angela and gave her a kiss.

'I don't know about you girl but i could do with a hot shower. Maybe we can look for a hotel somewhere or an empty house? I saw that this town still has power for some reason.' I said letting go of her and getting into the driver's seat.

Angela got in on the other side and checked in the cabriole for my map booklet. She flew through the pages stopping at a street map of this town. She followed the roads on the map with her fingers.

'Okay there is a hotel left on the next block; it's situated right on a T-junction.' She said to me lifting her eyes from the booklet.

'Sweet, let's go shower.' I said starting the hummer.

At the next block i turned left and drove right through the gate to the hotel. I pulled up right at the lobby to get a key for any of the rooms.

Angela and i both got out of the hummer and locked the doors. With our weapons ready we walked into the hotel hand in hand.

The place looked deserted and dusty. The smell of rot and death filled the air. There were a few eaten bodies lying around and the place was painted red with blood. My senses picked up on something. I looked around in the corners of the lobby and saw that the cameras were still working and following our every move.

'We've got someone watching us Angela.' I said nodding at the cameras.

'Yes i saw them when we entered at the door Charlie. I will get the key while you check it out. I will wait here for you.' Angela said walking over to the counter, got a key and waited for me.

Behind the counter i saw a door with security written on it. I watched the cameras around us and noticed that neither one of them can turn toward that door. I looked at the wall next to the door and noticed an air vent leading toward the security room. I opened the vent and crawled inside being very quiet.

Angela walked back toward the counter and stood behind it.

Angela crouched down to one knee behind the counter in front of the security office's door. I leopard crawled through the vent finding a grid panel that dropped right into the room. I lay still for a while checking it out. A guy was standing up from his chair from in front of the cameras grabbed a gun and walked to the door.

The man stood next to the door getting ready to open it. I silently open the grid and left it hanging on its hinges. I waited for the guy to stand in front of the door with his back to me. I quietly dropped down and snuck up behind him. Just as he opened the door pointing his gun at Angela i grabbed him from behind making him drop his weapon out of fear.

'We mean you no harm man. We just need a room to rest for a while then we will be on our way.' I said still keeping my arm around his neck and my machine gun pointing to his lower back.

'No problem at all, you ladies can take as long as you'd like.' He said shaking in my arms.

'Who are you and are you alone here?' Angela asked him.

'My name is Kenny. I used to work here in security. Now i just spend my days here killing zombies. I live in the first room around the corner on ground level. There are a few of us here trying to fix this place up for any survivors passing through.' He said as i let him go.

'Where are your friends then?' I asked him walking past him through the door.

'They are all out for building supplies. They will be back in about ten minutes. I was left here to guard the hotel.' He said picking up his gun.

Angela and i looked at each other and held hands. The guy looked sincere but he also looked like we couldn't trust him.

'Well we are just passing through and will be leaving in an hour. We just need a place to shower.' Angela said lifting up her hand showing him the key.

'Sure thing, be my guests. I will let the others know not to disturb you ladies.' Kenny said just as more people walked in through the doors.

'Oh look James; we finally have our first guests.' A woman said to a man standing next to her.

'Hi ladies, my name is James, this is my wife char main and these are our children Charles, Raymond and Jane.' He said pointing to everyone.

'Hi there, my name is Charlie and this is my girl Angela.' I said putting my arm around Angela's shoulders.

'As our first guests i think that you can stay for free considering the condition the place is in. As you can see we are still clearing it out and fixing it up.' Charmaine said walking toward the counter to put down a few things in her hands.

'Thank you very much char main, we will only be staying for an hour or so. We still have a long way to travel.' Angela said checking the room number on the key in her hands.

'No problem at all, you just call us if you need anything.' She said looking at the two of us.

'Jane will lead you to your room and if you want Charles and Raymond will wash your vehicle for you.' James said pointing to the hummer in front of the lobby.
'Thank you very much, i would appreciate it and i would like to pay for our stay if you don't mind. I do have some cash on me.' I said trying to be nice.

Angela just looked at me funny and grabbed my hand following Jane up the stairs.

'What? I was just trying to be nice, i like these people. They are being so friendly to us.' I said smiling.

James and char main just laughed at me. The boys were checking out the two of us in a hungry manly manner. I would guess them to be in their late teens and their sister maybe in her early twenties.

While they went on with their own business we followed Jane up the stairs to the second floor.

'So Jane, how long have you guys been busy with this place?' Angela asked her out of curiosity.

'Oh we have been busy here for about a week now. We want it to be a safe haven for travellers like you. Those zombies in the lobby were from last night's attack. The lights lure them here, so we are trying to get the electric fence running again.' She said walking through a door to the second floor.

'That's very courageous of you and your family to do this.' i said looking around the hallway.

'Yes well, we want to turn this whole town into a safe haven. There is everything here any person would need to make a living. What is the number on your room key?' Jane asked turning her head.

Angela looked at the tag on the key.

'It says number fourteen.' Angela replied.

'This is it, you will see that we have already cleaned and fixed every room in the hotel. The phone lines do work so if you need anything just give us a call. We will be busy fixing up the lobby today.' She said turning around toward the stairs.

'Thank you Jane.' I said watching her leave.

Angela opened the door to our room and smacked me on my arm.

'Ouch! What was that for?' I asked rubbing my arm.

'That was for checking her out.' Angela said smiling at me.

'At least i didn't touch; i know that i already have the most perfect woman in my life.' I said trying to sweet talk my way out of trouble.

'You are such a sweet talker, you know that?' Angela said wrapping her arms around my neck kissing me while dragging me into the room and kicking the door closed behind us.

We spent the next half hour just washing off in the shower in turns. It felt like everything we faced the past few days flowed down the drain like dirt. The next twenty minutes we were talking about the next route to take from here while getting dressed.

Chapter three

It was already dark outside. Angela and i walked out the room down the hall toward the stairs when we heard gun shots from the lobby. We both looked at each other and prepared our weapons. We rushed through the door and down the stairs. We slowed down at the bottom of the stairs into a battle between human and zombie. Raising our guns we shot at the zombies helping the family that was so nice to us.

One by one the zombies fell to the floor. The family and Kenny stopped what they were doing and watched us. Angela and i walked side by side toward the lobby door shooting down every zombie that we could see. Just outside the door i noticed zombies clambering all over my hummer. Angela was shooting at zombies coming in from our sides.

'Oh no you don't, get off my hummer you scums.' I said shooting each of them in the head.

When we stopped firing all the zombies was down; neither one moving an inch.

'That was fun. Can we do that again?' Angela said turning toward me.

We turned around to find the whole family and Kenny standing at the door watching the two of us with their jaws gaping.

'My girl, I'll do that again with you by my side any day.' I said kissing her on the lips.

'It looked like you guys could have used some help?' Angela and i said at the same time seeing the look on their faces.

'Wow! Dad can we marry these woman?' The two boys exclaimed jaws still gaping.

'No you may not.' James said smiling.

'Thank you for the help girls.' Charmaine said not knowing what else to do but stare at our handy work.

'Yes thank you very much.' Jane said stepping forward, cocking her shotgun and shooting a zombie that came running from the other side of the hummer.

Angela and i just ducked pointing our guns at it as it fell to the ground right in front of us.

It grabbed my right ankle then Angela and i stuck our guns to its head and shot its head clean off. The zombie laid there lifeless. Angela and i both stood up looking at the dents we shot in the armour of the hummer.

'At least it's armoured. Can you remember if we closed the sunroof Charlie?' Angela said scratching her head.

'I can't remember, no. I will check quickly.' I said getting onto the bonnet.

'It's open; I'll just pop my head in there.' I said standing on the roof looking down at the gaping dark whole staring back at me.

'Are you nuts Charlie? Give me the car keys so i can open the door.' She said standing with her hands on her hips.

I dug in my one pocket for the keys and tossed it down to her. Angela caught the keys in mid-air and unlocked the door.

'On three.' She said watching me.

'One. Two. Three.' I said.

As i popped my head down the sunroof and Angela opened the door, something grabbed me from beneath my head. I felt around feeling my hands grip around a throat. I gripped as hard as i could and got up to my feet dragging a zombie with me. I stood on the roof holding a zombie over the edge of the roof. Angela scanned the inside of the hummer and found nothing more.

I stood there for a few seconds holding this monster in mid-air just looking at it. At that moment what could have happened if we didn't check the vehicle ran through my mind. This evil cannibalistic thing could have killed one of us. I lifted up my other hand pointing a machine gun between its eyes and pulled the trigger.

Angela closed the sunroof and removed her head from the vehicle.

'Are you okay Charlie?' She asked me watching me still holding the body in my hand.

'Yes I'm okay girl.' I said snapping out of my trance and dropping the body to the ground.

As i got off the roof Angela walked over to the family still frozen in awe.

'Are you guys alright? Anyone get hurt?' She asked them resting her pistols in their holsters.

I stood next to her and waited for them to answer her.

'Sure we are all alright. You two ladies sure seem to know what you are doing and you sure are very strong for such a small woman?' James asked nodding his head toward me.

'Yeah well we have learnt a lot in the last few days and i do body building. Keeps me fit and on my toes, you know.' I said not wanting to scare them with me being infected.

'Body building, oh i get it now. Yes a person has to keep themselves fit. I think the last six months has taught us all a lot about surviving.' Charmaine said trying to take in what she saw.

'Well folks, we really have to be on our way now. Thanks for everything.' Angela said shaking their hands and went to the vehicle.

'Yes thank you for everything. I'm sure that we will see each other again one day.' I said shaking their hands as well then turning toward the vehicle.

'Yes and thank you for the help. Please do come visit us again?' James said waving at us as we drove off.

'My gosh girl, i forgot for a moment there about not scaring people with my powers.' I said looking back at them in the rear-view mirror as the boys was mimicking our movements.

'Yes that was way to close baby.' Angela said looking out the window and putting her hand on my leg while i drove.

'Girl, can i ask you a question?' I said looking at her briefly.

'Sure baby, ask away.' She said turning her head toward me.

'Why do i get the feeling that you knew there was a zombie in the vehicle?' I asked her with a quizzical look on my face.

'Because i did know baby, i saw it happen when we came down the stairs from our room.' Angela said to me without registering what she just had said.

I sat for moment thinking about the stairs. There was no why she could have seen anything or anyone near the hummer from anywhere on the stairs. Angela was developing powers like i did. That is why she is looking so ill all of a sudden. The same thing happened to me when my powers first started developing. It drains your energy at first but once the powers settle into your body and your body gets used to it you get stronger.

I stopped the vehicle next to the road and crawled through to the back to look for two milo chocolate bars a sneaked into the trolley without Angela noticing. I grabbed them and went back to my seat and driving off.

'Would you like a snack girl?' I asked her handing her a chocolate.

'Thank you baby. I don't know what's wrong with me all of a sudden. I just feel so drained of all my energy.' She said opening the wrapper and taking a bite of the chocolate bar.

'I know what you're feeling right now girl. I felt the same way when i started to change into what i am now.' I said dropping her a hint and opening my chocolate bar.

Back at the hotel when we saw the fight between the living and the dead; everything seemed to go in slow motion for me. I shot every single one of them once in the head without missing one shot and i noticed the same happen to Angela.

'Would you like to have the other half of my chocolate?' I asked her handing her my last piece.

When she didn't answer me i looked at her and saw that she was fast asleep, which i expected to happen. I enclosed the last bit of my chocolate in the wrapper and put it in the cabriole. I then leaned over Angela, pulled her seatbelt over her and reclined the back rest. I stuck my arm behind my seat, grabbed a blanket from the back seat and covered Angela with it.

I spent the rest of the night through to the next morning driving. I decided to pull off next to the road to rest.

I was busy heating water on the small gas stove and preparing two cups for coffee when i heard a yell from the vehicle. Instincts racing to the surface i grabbed my guns over my shoulder turning to the vehicle. I opened the passenger door just to find Angela with a blank look on her face.

'Baby what did you say to me last night before i fell asleep?' Angela asked me turning in the seat to look at me.

'I said that i felt the same way when i started to change.' I answered her pulling my guns back over my shoulders.

'Change into what precisely?' She asked sounding very urgent.

'Change into what i am now, why?' I said.

'Did you know that i was going to develop powers like you have?' She asked me getting out of the vehicle.

'No i didn't know that you were going to change. Remember i created an anti-virus using my own blood to save people from certain death.' I said turning to put the boiling water off.

I stood there pouring the water into the cups then stirring the coffee.

'Oh good, for a moment there i was beginning to think that the anti-virus you created didn't work.' She said sitting down on the ground trying to think.

I handed her a cup of coffee and sat next to her taking a sip of my coffee. I just put my cup down to light a cigarette when a group of zombies came rushing toward us from the trees in front of us. Next i knew Angela shot to her feet after putting her coffee down.

'Not now, can't you freaks see i am thinking?' She said with anger in her eyes pushing her right hand forward toward them and blasting them back into the trees with an invisible force.

Angela stood there frozen for a while then grabbed her pistols from her sides and shot each of them in the head before i could even get to my feet.

'Don't overdo it girl.' I said standing next to her taking a drag from my cigarette.

Angela turned to me not knowing what just happened. I helped her sit down and handed her, her coffee.

I stood up going to the vehicle grabbing the chocolate in the cabriole and handing it to her.

'Here girl, you are going to need this in a few seconds.' I said sitting down taking my coffee in my hand.

'What just happened?' She finally asked me after drinking all of her coffee and scoffing the chocolate.

'That my dear Angela was telekinesis. Your emotions caused you to have an outbreak of pure energy.' I said finishing my coffee throwing my cigarette butt away.

'I think i need a smoke Charlie.' She said digging in her pants pocket for her smokes and lighting one.

'My girl, all you have to do is relax and try to focus your thoughts on your powers. I am going to teach you how to meditate right now.' I said facing her while crossing my legs and resting my arms on my legs.

'You are going to teach me now.' She said rather than asking.

'Yes, so cross your legs relax your arms and take a deep breath. Finish your smoke first.' I said taking a deep breath.

'Okay so what am i supposed to do after this?' Angela asked throwing her cigarette butt and doing what i said.

'Now you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. That will slow your heart rate. Now you got to close your eyes, concentrate and listen to my voice. You have to try and visualise everything i tell you. If it will be easier for you, you can hold my hands then i will show you.' I said to Angela as she did what i said.

Angela and i sat there facing each other crossed legged, arms resting on our legs, eyes closed and taking deep breaths.

'Visualise yourself walking on a road. There is no-one anywhere to bother you. You are safe and relaxed. The road you are walking on is leading you to your brain.' I sat there watching Angela intently.

Angela tried to concentrate on this road but she couldn't so she grabbed my hands in hers. She wanted me to show her. I closed my eyes and visualised myself walking next to Angela on her road to freedom from herself.

Angela was lost inside her own mind. I appeared next to her on her road. She looked at me in confusion and question. I just stuck out my hand toward her. I spoke to her not even moving my lips.

"Angela just relax and trust me. I will never put you in harm's way. Take my hand." I said to her standing next to her.

"I do trust you Charlie. I just don't want to do this alone." She answered me using her minds voice as well.

"I will go with you as far as i can." I said as Angela took my hand.

I walked with Angela to the end of her road into a tunnel filled with electricity. We were both floating now with our legs crossed. She still held my hand.

"What is this place?" Angela asked me looking around.

"This my dear... is your brain." I said looking at her.

Angela and i held still in front of a huge round room just like i did. She saw someone standing in the middle of this room. It was calling to her.

"Angela i can't go in there with you. This is a piece of the road you have to do on your own." I said releasing her hand.

Angela released my hand just looking at me unsure of what is going to happen to her.

"Everything is going to be okay. I will wait here for you."

Angela looked in front of her at this person calling to her. The person turned around just as Angela stood still behind her. Angela was now facing herself. What happened to me happened to Angela exactly the same way.

I stood there watching as their hands touched and suddenly a bright light burst from both of them consuming them. Angela walked alone out of the light toward me. She took my hand and followed me on the road back.

Angela and i opened our eyes and found ourselves floating several feet from the ground. We looked into each other's white glowing eyes, still holding each other's hands. We straightened our legs and lowered to the ground to our feet.

'Wow Charlie, this feels so amazing.' Angela said as the white light in our eyes disappeared into our pupils.

'Yes it is. It didn't take you as long as it took me though, which is a good thing.' I said wrapping my arms around her.

'I can feel the power flowing inside of me Charlie. It is like having electricity in my veins.' She said kissing me hard with hunger on my lips.

'Do you know what you just faced in there?' I asked her out of curiosity.

'I faced myself.' She said hugging me tightly against her body.

'Yes, that was all your fears manifested into a representative of yourself. You just turned your worst fears into your greatest weapon.' I said still holding her.

'I don't feel any fear anymore, i feel great; better than i ever felt before.' She said breaking the hug.

'I'm happy you feel better now. Guess what my love?' I asked her packing everything back in the hummer.

'What is it Charlie?' she asked me following me to the back of the vehicle.

I locked up the back, grabbed her hand and lead her to the front of the hummer facing the town a few miles in front of us.

'You get to see Sarah sooner than you think. I took a short cut through a few farms last night while you were sleeping, saving us a whole day of traveling.' I said releasing her hand.

'Oh you sure are the most amazing woman i have ever meat.' Angela said throwing her arms around my neck pulling me into a kiss.

'Oh it was nothing. I just love to see you happy.' I said kissing her again.

'You are so sweet, you know that? You drove through the whole night just for me. I love you Charlie.' She said putting her hand on my check.

'I love you too Angela.' It felt so good saying those words.

She dragged me to the door on the passenger side and opened the door.

'You can relax for a while. I will drive the rest of the way.' She said holding her hand out helping me into the hummer.

'Oh you are such a gentleman.' I said in a girlish manner grabbing her hand.

Angela just laughed and walked around to the driver's side. She got in started the hummer and spun off with a speed in a hurry to see her daughter.

In twenty minutes we were in a small town named Ravens Rest. It was barricaded all around with cement barriers. There were men standing at every entrance of the town carrying machine guns.

The town still seemed empty.

'Welcome to Ravens Rest baby.' Angela said driving slowly through the town to the other end.

'It looks like this town was pretty well off before people started disappearing.' I said looking at the few people watching us.

'We all tried our best to protect the town and its people. We were doing fine until that doctor arrived, our people just started disappearing. We tried getting them back but failed.' Angela drove even slower passing the hospital.

The hospital looked abandoned. It had electric fence all around it sectioning it off from the whole town. The grounds were full of zombies. I saw a silhouette of a man standing at a huge office window overlooking the hospital grounds.

'What are you thinking mark?' I asked mumbling to myself.

'What did you say Charlie?' Angela asked me.

'Remember i told you before that i know who this guy is?' I asked her.

'Yes i remember. You also said that you know what he is doing but you never said what it is or what his name is.' Angela said diving away from the hospital toward the suburbs.

'His name is mark; he worked with me on this so called cure. He is also the one that got me fired before i could stop them from injecting everyone with this poison.' I said with anger in my voice.

'Okay so he is accountable for ruining all of our lives.' Angela said pulling into a driveway of a neat little house.

'He is trying to create his own army of super soldiers. The madness went straight to his fucking head, if you ask me.' I said crunching my hands into fists.

'Well, we will get him later. Right now i want you to meet my daughter.' Angel said getting out of the hummer.

I followed Angela to the front door of the house. As soon as she opened the door a petite young girl jumped into her embrace crying and kissing her mom all over her face.

I stood there admiring their love for each other. I suddenly missed hugging my own mother like that. A short old lady came out of the kitchen to greet Angela. She stopped when she saw me. She looked me up and down then shrugged.
'Hi Angela, you are finally home. I was beginning to worry about you.' She said hugging Angela.

'Hi misses 'j'. Thank you very much for looking after Sarah for me. If you ever need anything just ask.' Angela said to her.

'Thank you my dear and it was no problem at all.' She answered.

'You must be this Charlie person my Johnny was talking about?' She asked sticking her hand out toward me.

'Yes i am, you know Johnny ma'am?' i asked frowning while shaking her hand.

'He is my grandson. He told me all about you even about you saving his life three months ago.' She said releasing my hand and walking out the door.

'I hope it was all good things he said about me.' I said as Angela grabbed my hand and dragged me to the kitchen.

Misses 'j' left the house and walked across the road to her own little house, leaving us on our own. For some reason i didn't trust the old woman.

'Charlie this is Sarah. Sarah this is mom's friend Charlie.' She said pointing to each of us.

'Hi Sarah, it is very nice to finally meat you.' I said bending down while sticking my hand out to shake hers.

'Hi Charlie. Isn't that a man's name?' She asked me shaking my hand.

'Why yes it is, you are a smart girl. My real name is Charlene. Charlie is just easier for everyone to use.' I said standing up-right.

'So Charlene would you like anything to drink or eat?' Angela asked me as if she just meat me for the first time.

'Hahaha, yes please, anything you have is fine.' I said sitting down at the kitchen table.

Angela opened the fridge and found two beers. Sarah stood next to me looking at me intently. Angela walked over to me handing me one beer. Our hands brushed as i took the bottle from her sending a jolt of energy through both of our bodies. She sat down across me and took a sip of her beer looking into my eyes. As i took a sip of my beer Sarah asked me a question in her most innocent voice.

'Are you my mom's girlfriend?' Sarah asked me still standing there looking at me.

I chocked on my beer leaving me breathless and gasping for air. Angela burst out laughing nodding for Sarah to sit on the chair next to her.

'Sarah, do you like Charlie?' Angela asked her.

'Yes i do like her mom. She is gorgeous.' Sarah sounded so grown-up at that point.

'Well, then yes, Charlie is my girlfriend.' Angela said hugging Sarah.

I took a sip of my beer again trying to forget about the burning in my throat. Angela just sat there watching what Sarah was doing.

Sarah looked me straight in the eyes and put her hands on my shoulders.

'If you hurt my mom i will bite you like i bit my dad on his calf.' She said looking at me with seriousness on her face.

Angela sat there giggling at what she heard. She never thought that Sarah could be so brave. Her daughter was growing up to quickly.

'I promise i will never hurt your mom. I love her too much to hurt her like that.' I said looking Sarah in her eyes.

Angela sat there smiling at us. The next moment Sarah wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug. I just put my arms around her body and looked at Angela. Angela just shrugged and took a sip of her beer.

'Sarah, do you really have to be so hard on Charlie?' Angela asked Sarah as she broke the hug and got off my lap.

'Yes i have to be mom. I have to protect you from getting hurt again.' Sarah said to her mom sitting on her own chair at the table.

'I know my baby, but you don't have to protect mom any more. That job now falls to Charlie. She is going to protect both of us from the monsters.' Angela said to Sarah stretching her arm over the table to hold Sarah's hand.

I sat there listening to the two of them talking while i finished my beer. Angela and Sarah is all i have ever wanted. All i ever wanted was a loving woman and a loving daughter in my life. I wanted to start my own family when my fiancé died. Angela gave me this in less than five days. I love Angela and i didn't even know Sarah that well but i already loved her as my own. Smiling at the thought i looked up at them both. They looked so happy together.

Angela turned her gaze at me from Sarah and smiled. She is so beautiful. Her hair waved in slow motion when she looked at me. Her smile highlighted her whole face. She looked so young at that point. Just looking at her made me fall in love with her all over again.

'Charlie can you tuck me in bed after my bath?' Sarah asked me waiting for an answer.

'Sure i can Sarah. That is if your mom will let me.' I said looking at Angela.

'I don't have a problem with it at all.' Angela said looking at the clock on the kitchen wall.

'It is time for your bath anyway.' Angela said taking Sarah by the hand and leading her to the bathroom.

While they were gone i looked inside the fridge for something to eat. Looking at the basin i noticed that Sarah already had dinner. I took out a box of frozen fish and a few things for a salad.

I steamed the fish on the stove with lemon and butter and prepared a Greek salad. I set the table and dished up three plates of food, just in case Sarah was still hungry.

I turned around to find Angela standing at the kitchen door watching me.

'I hope you don't mind me making us some dinner.' I said laying the plates on the table.

'I don't mind one bit, it smells very good.' Angela said walking toward me.

Angela wrapped her arms around my neck while i wrapped my arms around her waist. I kissed each other gently and softly.

'That is so gorse.' We heard Sarah say from the door.

We just smiled at each other and broke our embrace.

'Are you hungry Sarah?' I asked her pointing to her chair.

She ran to the table and sat down immediately starting to eat. I held a chair out for Angela. As she sat down i pushed the chair in softly. I then walked around the table to my seat.

We all sat in silence enjoying our dinner. After we the much deserved meal i went with Sarah to her room after she brushed her teeth. Her room was decorated in pink princesses. She pulled the covers open and jumped on to the bed watching me. I walked closer pulled the covers over her and sat next to her.

'Can you please read me a story Charlie?' She asked pointing to her story book on her bedside table.

I opened the book and started reading from where the bookmark was placed in the middle of Cinderella. I read a few pages and looked up at Sarah when i heard snoring. She was fast asleep smiling at her dreams. This thirteen year old girl really melted into my heart.

I got up turned the light off leaving the door open leaving a bit of light shining into the room from the bathroom. As i walked to the kitchen i heard water boiling on the stove. I got into the kitchen to find Angela making coffee for the two of us.

'Sarah is fast asleep.' I said standing behind Angela.

'Thank you Charlie. I really didn't expect her to warm up to you so quickly. After what her father did to us she actually distanced herself from strangers and men.' Angela said turning around with two cups in her hands.

She handed me one cup and walked to the lounge. I sat down on a two seater couch putting my coffee down on the table next to me. Angela put her coffee down on the other side table and sat next to me. She cuddled into my side then pulled my arm around her.

*****************

Angela felt so safe in Charlie's arms. She never felt like this before and seeing how Sarah accepted Charlie was just priceless. She never thought Sarah would ever accept seeing her mom with another person, let alone another woman.

Charlie made her feel like a real woman, like a woman should feel. Angela never even thought that she would find someone so special in her life. She felt special, safe and at home with Charlie here.

******************

We sat in the half darkened lounge with a little light shining in from the kitchen. I could feel Angela's breathing against my body. I could feel her warmth against my body. Her breathing got slower and deeper. She was sound asleep in my arms. I sat there for a moment drinking my coffee.

I couldn't stop myself thinking about the premonition i had. It scared me to think that i could lose what i just gained.

After finishing my coffee i picked Angela up carrying her to her room. I put the light on with my elbow and set her gently down on the bed closing her with a blanket. When i turned around she grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the bed. I landed half on top of her looking into her eyes.

'Where do you think you're going?' Angela asked me smiling.

'I thought you were asleep? I was going to sleep on the couch so Sarah wouldn't be uncomfortable.' I said to her in a whisper.

'Yes i was but you aren't sleeping on the couch. You don't have to.' Angela said giving me a sly smile.

'Are you sure Angela? I mean i don't want to upset Sarah or you.' I said in a low soft whisper.

'I'm sure, don't worry about Sarah she is a sound sleeper. She won't even wake up during an atom bomb blast.' Angela said to me.

'Okay well, i guess sleeping on a bed for once would do me wonders.' I said with half of my body still on top of Angela.

Angela let go of my hand then wrapped her arms around my waist. She pulled me in for a kiss then hugged me.

'I want to make love to you Charlie.' Angela whispered in my ear.

Angela looked at me with sparkling eyes and a smile growing on her lips. I didn't know what to say, i was stunned.

I leaned in to kiss Angela then she took my left hand and placed it on her waist lifting her shirt slightly. I could feel her soft skin under my hand. I slipped my hand up under her shirt feeling for her breasts. Angela undid her pants then undid mine. She slipped my pants off over my hips. I stood on my knees and removed her pants slowly. I tossed it onto the floor then pulled mine off and tossed those.

Angela sat up removing her shirt then removing mine tossing both our shirts at the same time. She was hungry for love and so was i. I stood there on my knees taking in her body with my eyes and licking my lips. Angela lay down on her back again and gestured with her finger for me to come closer. I lay on top of her kissing her on the lips.

I woke up the next morning with the sun shining on my face through the window. I turned onto my side facing where Angela slept. Her side was empty. I could smell breakfast and coffee coming from the kitchen. I got up, got dressed and walked through to the kitchen.

Sarah and Angela were sitting at the kitchen table. Sarah sat on her chair and saw me coming in. Angela sat with her back to me. Sarah saw me coming in and i put my finger to my mouth showing her to be quiet. Angela was reading an old newspaper.

I walked softly up behind Angela. As i lifted my hands to wrap my arms around her in a hug she turned around facing me.

'Don't you even think about scaring me Charlie? This daughter of mine already gave me a fright this morning.' She said smiling at me.

'Oh that's no fare. How did you know i was behind you?' I asked her trying to put an innocent smile on my face.

'Let's just say that I've got a sixth since.' Angela winked at me.

'Morning baby, did you sleep alright?' Angela asked standing up and kissing me in front of Sarah.

'Morning my love, i had a wonderful night thank you and the sleep was just as wonderful.' I said giving her another kiss.

'Oh yes it was, i haven't had that much fun in a long time.' Angela said smiling at the thought.

'Morning Sarah, how did you sleep last night?' I asked her taking a seat at the table.

'Morning Charlie, i had a dream about princesses and ponies.' Sarah said taking a sip of her fruit juice.

'That's good, so you beat me to scaring your mom this morning, huh? What did you do?' I asked Sarah while looking at Angela.

'I did what you wanted to do Charlie. She was sitting here reading then i snuck up on her and scared her. Mom jumped higher than the table.' Sarah said laughing.

Sarah and i both laughed at that image. Angela faced us with a mock cross face.

'Are the two of you already ganging up on me?' She asked us putting two cups of coffee on the table and put her hands on her hips.

Sarah and i looked at each other than at Angela.

'Yes.' We both said at the same time breaking into laughter.

Angela lifted her hands into two claws walking toward Sarah.

'Okay that got you time with the tickler.' Angela said to Sarah.

'No mom, not the tickler. Charlie, please save me?' Sarah jumped up from her chair standing behind me laughing like crazy.

'Oh Charlie can't help you. She is just as ticklish as you are.' Angela said walking closer in laughter.

'Sarah what do you say? Shall we try and run?' I asked her standing up from the chair with her in my arms.

'Yes Charlie run, run. Mom's going to catch us.' Sarah said looking at her mom then stuffing her face into my neck.

Angela was too quick for me to get past her. She tickled me until i dropped to my knees. Sarah stood on her feet and looked at her mom then at me. She winked at her mom then both of them started to tickle me. I landed flat on my back pulling both of them down with me. We were all rolling on the floor tickling each other till we hurt with laughter.

'Hey that's no fare. You should be on my side.' I said to Sarah tickling her and Angela; pinning them on the floor.

Neither of them could get a word out, they were laughing too much. It gave me great pleasure seeing them both so happy. Then suddenly there was a knock on the door. We all froze.

'Who is it?' Angela asked trying to catch her breath.

'It's me my dear; misses 'j'.' The old woman answered from the door.

Just then Sarah got up to her feet, leaped into my arms and hid her face in my shoulder. I thought it was really weird for her to act that way because of an old woman. I saw the look on Angela's face. I just shrugged and looked at Sarah.

'I will open the door.' Angela said getting up from the floor.

'Okay, i will just keep Sarah busy.' I said standing up with Sarah's hand in mine and sat at the table.

Angela walked to the door to see what misses 'j' wanted. I looked at Sarah and rubbed her back with my one hand.

'Don't let her take me too.' Sarah said looking up at me.

I stood up placing on the chair and bending down to my knees. Sarah looked so scared when she looked into my eyes. I put my hands on her shoulders.

'What did you see Sarah?' I asked her in a whisper.

'I saw misses 'j' talking to that creepy doctor from the hospital. They were talking about taking people away.' She whispered to me so no-one else would hear.

'Did she see you watching them Sarah?' I asked her whipping her long blond hair behind her ears.

'No she doesn't know.' Sarah said looking at her hands on her lap.

'Don't worry kiddo; i won't let anyone take you away. That is a promise. Now, if misses 'j' comes in with mom you must pretend that you don't know anything okay?' I said wrapping her into a hug.

Sarah's body melted away in my arms. This girl is smarter than any other child i know. Angela walked into the kitchen door alone.

'What was that about my love?' I asked her as she sat at the table.

'Oh, she just wanted to warn me that more people disappeared last night. What's wrong with Sarah?' She said taking a sip of her now cold coffee.

'I will tell you later when she is not around. She told me now why she did that. Right now i think little Sarah should eat something before she goes to play in her room.' I said heating up our breakfast and making hot coffee.

Chapter four

After breakfast Sarah went to her room to keep herself busy.

Angela and i sat outside on the front porch swing holding hands and talking about Sarah.

'So what exactly happened in the kitchen earlier?' Angela asked me with concern in her eyes.

'Well Sarah saw misses 'j' talks to mark the other night. She heard them talk about taking people away. That is why Sarah is so afraid of her. She is afraid misses 'j' will take her away.' I said to Angela.

'Well, i never really trusted her fully anyway. I just asked her to look after Sarah because she was the only available person. She does look a little dodgy though.' Angela said with regret.

'That settles it then. I am going to patrol the town with the other guys tomorrow night.' I said looking over the street at all the other houses i could see.

'Okay, so what are you going to do today Charlie?' Angela asked out of curiosity.

'I don't really know yet, i need to find Johnny. I have to find a way into that hospital without being seen. I also need to get some spare ammunition for my guns.' I said rubbing my hands up over my face into my hair.

'You look a bit frustrated baby.' Angela said standing up from my side and sitting on my lap.

'I am a bit frustrated. Life has become so difficult and then you get people like mark who just don't give a damn about other people. I wish he and whoever is helping him would die of old age already and hurry up at it to. There are some of us that do want to live in peace.' I said tilting my head back to rest on the backrest of the porch swing.

'I get the feeling that's not the only thing frustrating you Charlie.' Angela said to me placing her hands on my face making me look at her.

'How do you know me so well woman? Yes, there is something else bugging me. I...' i froze for a second thinking of a way to say it.

Angela just looked into my eyes listening to what i had to say. I think at moment Angela knew exactly what i was going to say to her. As i swam in her blue eyes she just had this knowing smile on her luscious lips.

'It's about the premonition i had about you and Sarah. I don't think that i will be the same person i am now if something were to happen to the two of you. The real I won't survive losing you. I don't know what i can do to prevent that premonition from coming true.' I said putting my hands on Angela's hips.

'Baby somehow i knew you were going to say that. I love you so very much Charlie. I believe that we will all survive this. I believe in you and that is what i think you should do as well. You need to believe in yourself just as Sarah and i do. Sarah has grown so attached to you and she has only known you for half a day. You also need to believe in the two of us, especially in me as a mother. You won't ever lose the two of us and we won't lose you. That i promise you.' Angela said to me as she got to her feet and took my hands in hers.

'Come with me, i need to show you something.' Angela led me into the house through the kitchen into the pantry.

'What are you doing Angela?' I asked her more confused than a demon in heaven.

'You'll see in a minute.' Angela said moving a shelf out of the way to reveal a hidden basement door.

Angela switched on a light and led me down the stairs. She stood still on the last step to let me pass her. I couldn't believe my eyes after i passed her. It was like walking into a military storage facility. I saw weapons and ammunition on the one side all packed neatly. On the other side i saw cameo clothes and next to that i saw gear like straps, backpacks, camping gear and then knives. I stood there speechless then turned around and faced her.

'Where did you get all of this stuff Angela?' I asked her with my jaw gaping.

'My grandfather had his own shop; after he died he left his shop to me. I had it all moved here in secret. Not even Sarah knows about the basement. You have everything here that you can think of; from weapons and ammunition to gear and clothes. Help yourself, baby.' Angela said walking toward me.

'You mean that i can use anything of my choosing?' I asked her surprised.

'Yip, my grandfather and i shared a love for weapons; i sure would like to have someone to share that love with now that he is gone. This is all ours.' Angela said standing now right in front of me with her hands on my hips.
I stood there still speechless looking around then it me, what she was actually saying.

'Girl, are you saying what i think you are saying? You want me to stay here with you and Sarah.' I asked leaning against a table.

'I am asking you to marry me... Charlene.' Angela said standing between my legs wrapping her arms around my neck.

Angela stuck her one hand in a pocket of her pants and removed it revealing a white gold men's ring with a little black stone in the middle. She looked me in the eyes as she put the ring on my left hand ring finger.

'I... Wow... Good god woman do you have any idea what you do to me. For truly the first time in my life i am happy.' I said giving Angela a kiss.

'It was my grandfather's wedding ring. I have been saving it for the day i truly have met my one true love. I know now that my one true love is you Charlie.' Angela said kissing me.

I looked Angela in the eye and grabbed for a chain around my neck. Hanging on it was my mother's wedding ring and my late fiancé's engagement ring. I took off my mother's ring and placed it on Angela's left hand ring finger. It was a thin platinum ring with a thin ruby in it.

'This was my birth mothers wedding ring. My father gave it to me when i turned sixteen. Yes i will marry you Angela.'

Angela and i stood there embraced in each other's arms for a while, almost forgetting about the war we are facing. We went upstairs, closed the basement and checked up on Sarah in her room. Sarah fell asleep while drawing a picture of the three of us having a picnic in a park by the looks of it. We looked a bit closer at the drawing and saw rings on Angela's and my fingers. She is a very good artist.

'Do you know what my love; i think Sarah knows something about our future we don't know yet. She has a gift. I saw when i talked to her this morning. I put my hands on her shoulders and suddenly i caught a glimpse of the future as if she wanted me to see it.' I whispered in Angela's ear before picking Sarah up from the floor and putting her on her bed.

'I know she has the gift of seeing the future. She is the one that told me that i will bring my true love home during a war between the living and the dead a year ago. I didn't want to believe her but then i met you.' Angela said sitting next to Sarah on the bed while i sat on Sarah's other side.

We sat there just looking at Sarah then got up and went to the kitchen hand in hand. We needed to figure out how we were going to stop mark and we needed a lot of help to do it.

Angela stayed at home while i went to talk to the town's folk that were left. I made sure that misses 'j' wasn't told of anything we all planned. The plans were set and already in motion. Those that were strong enough were getting themselves ready for one epic battle. The weaker of us would stay at a safe place of my choice looking after the children.

One of the men i talked to, told me about a bunker built under the town. It was big enough to fit all the towns' people in it and it was stocked with food and water for at least a month. He took me down there to check it out before we continued with our plans. The bunker was built after the first tornado hit this little town ten years ago and has never even been used once. No-one knows about the bunker except for the one person asked to keep it stocked.

On my walk back home i was checking out the perimeter around the hospital being careful not to be seen. I knew Johnny was in that hospital still alive. I knew mark and misses 'j' is his grandparents. I know that he wasn't the person that they wanted him to be; the people that they are.

Walking up the street away from the hospital i could feel that someone was following me. I kept to my normal walking speed. Instead of turning right at the next block i turned left leading this person away from my family. In front of me i saw an open field covered with grass as tall as i am and a wall all around it with a rusty black gate. I slipped in through the gate quickly and stood behind the wall waiting with my knife in my hand. As a man walked through the gate i grabbed him from behind shoving him into the wall with my knife at his throat.

'Charlie it's me Johnny.' He said with a raspy voice.

'Johnny what the hell is you doing?' I asked releasing him.

'I had to speak to you; i slipped away through a sewer tunnel.' He said grasping at his throat.

'What is mark up to in that hospital Johnny?' I asked him crossing my arms.

'This goes much higher than you think. There are world leaders involved in this. He is working for them. If you take him out, you take away their only scientist but he also has his own agenda. He has sent an assassin to kill those leaders. He knows about your blood. He is going to use your blood for his army and himself. You can get into the hospital unseen through the tunnel i use to get out.' Johnny gave me a piece of paper with the location of the tunnel.

'Thank you Johnny. Be careful back there. He will kill you if he suspects anything.' I said walking out the gate leaving Johnny to his own mercy.

I walked home on my own time with my hands in my pockets thinking about everything that has happened in the last six days. I was so tired of fighting. I just want this all to stop. After what Johnny told me a few minutes ago, i don't think that this death is ever going to stop. Not if we all stand together and stop it ourselves.

It was turning dark all around me. I looked up and noticed that i have passed the house two blocks ago. I was so stuck in my own thoughts that i didn't even pay attention. I turned around and walked back toward the house looking at my feet. I suddenly saw someone's feet in front of me and looked up startled by this person.

'Oh good evening misses 'j'.' I said to her removing my hands from my pockets feeling a slight since of danger creeping up on me.

'Good evening my dear. What are you doing out so late?' She asked noticing my guns over my shoulders.

'Oh i was just patrolling the streets ma'am.' I looked her in the eyes lying to her.

I scratched at my lower back feeling the machine pistol i took off the table in the basement before i left earlier. It was safely nestled in a strap around my waist. No-one could really notice the gun because it was hidden in the nook of my back. One of the many perks of having a back formed like my mother's was. I could stand with my back flat against a wall and still fit my whole fist between the wall and my back.

I revealed my empty hand noticing that she was watching my hands like a hawk.

'That's good my dear, someone has to keep us all safe.' She said to me standing aside.

'Yes misses 'j', i believe that this is a time for us all to stand together and fight this evil.' I said walking past her.

'That is very true my dear. Have a great evening and send my greetings to Angela and Sarah for me.' She said looking at me as i passed her.

'I will misses 'j'. Have a great evening.' I said watching the road in front of me.

I could feel the evil grin growing on the woman's face behind me. I turned my head her way, she wasn't there anymore. I stopped and looked around then spotted her on the other side of the road walking the same direction to her house. She was walking on the dark side of the street when the lights came on. Walking in the light on my side watching her i could have sworn that she changed shape in the dark. Maybe my eyes were just playing tricks on me.

Then i remembered the other woman from a few days ago charging me and still living after i shot her in the head. The virus changed some people into something else. They looked normal and could talk like normal but they weren't normal at all.

As i walked into the gate up to the front door Angela stood by the door waiting for me with her arms crossed and her face looking serious.

'Do you have any idea what time it is Charlie?' Angela asked me with her serious face suddenly turning to worry.

'I'm sorry sweetie. I was trying to organise a few things then i ran into a couple of people on my way home.' I said wrapping my arms around her waist.

Angela wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into the house kicking the door closed behind us. Pushing me against the door she kissed me with a farce hunger.

'Sarah is sleeping. She already had her bath and her dinner.' Angela said to me between kisses.

I picked Angela up in one sweep. She wrapped her legs around my waist. I walked to the bedroom with her in my arms trying to see where i am going with her kissing my face all over. I played her gently down on the bed kissing her with intense urgency. She still had her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck. I could feel her body heat getting warmer against my own.

I could feel my own body warm up. I started undoing Angela's shirt buttons and the button and zipper of her jeans. I reached around my back and felt that she had no shoes on her feet. She started giggling when i felt her feet. Angela looked me in the eyes and pulled my shirt off over my head then undid my jeans. I stood up kicking off my boots and picked her up into my arms.

I walked with her in my arms to the shower looking into her eyes. I pushed her against the wall next to the shower kissing her. I stuck my arm in the shower feeling around for the nobs and let the water run for a bit to get warm.

'Charlie what are you doing?' Angela asked me confused.

'Sweetie i haven't had a decant shower in almost a day. I want to be clean when i make love to you.' I said kissing her while taking off her shirt.

I stood there for a moment admiring Angela in just her open jeans and her red lace bra. She looked so good i couldn't help but lick my lips.

Angela just smiled and bent down taking off my jeans in a slow movement without breaking our stare. I looked into Angela's eyes noticing a devilish smile on her lips. She traced her eyes down my body taking in all of me then held her eyes exactly where she wanted them to be.

She stood on her knees and slipped off my panties. She looked at my mound licking her lips. The visual of her just made me even hungrier for her. I looked up at the ceiling then without warning she gave me one long lick over my slit making me lean forward against the wall.

Angela got to her feet in between my arms looking into my eyes with a grin.

'Sweetie i am going to get you for that.' I said dropping to my knees taking off her jeans in one quick move.

Angela wasn't wearing any underwear under her jeans. I stood up slowly kissing my way up her body. I looked her in the eyes while putting my arms around her to undo her bra. I slid my hands from her shoulders down her arms to her hands and led her into the shower.

The hot clear beads of water rolled down our bodies. Angela stepped forward pinning me in a corner of the shower. The cold shower wall caused my nipples to erect. Angela stood against me with our nipples rubbing together. We embraced each other kissing vigorously. The steam started to make us feel light headed so we spent the next few minutes just washing each other off. It was hard for both of us not to be sensual, soft and sexy at it. After washing each other we continued our pleasure adventure in the bed.

At seven in the morning i played in bed with Angela resting half on top of me and her head on my shoulder. Sarah was awake watching her DVD cartoons. Angela was fast asleep, so i placed a pillow in my place and got dressed. I decided to treat her with a breakfast in bed. Sarah and i prepared everything and took it through to her just as she sat up in bed putting a shirt on.

We all sat on the bed talking, laughing and tickling Sarah till she couldn't take anymore. We spent the whole day together having fun like a family should. This was the one thing all three of us wanted the most in life.

It got dark and late. The darkness outside fell like a blanket over the town. Misses 'j' was nowhere to be found. Everyone else has spent the day moving the weaker of us into the bunker for safety. Angela and i arrived with Sarah walking between us holding our hands. The woman looking after the kids offered to look after Sarah for us. Angela was coming with me and the others to infiltrate the hospital.

We all watched as one man locked up the bunker then left. We walked in the sewer to where we would climb up a ladder just outside the hospital. I stopped and listened. The others stopped behind me.

'Something's wrong guys, listen.' I said staring up at the manhole cover.

It sounded like the zombies were let out of the hospital grounds. I looked back down the sewer in the direction we came from.

'Right guys i want five of you to go back to the bunker and stand guard. The rest of us will continue from here.' I said with an uneasy feeling growing in my core.

The men talked under one another and five of them went back. The others looked at Angela and me. I climbed the ladder to the top lifting the manhole cover just a little bit. I looked out underneath it seeing that my instincts were correct.

I slide the cover aside and climbed out pulling my machine guns out of my shoulder holster. While the others got out one for one i kept the area around us clear from zombies shooting at them as they came closer.

After we all were out the sewer i heard a loud bang down the sewer coming from the bunkers side. I turned and stuck my head down the whole and looked the way of the blast. Something came my way in the darkness. It was zombies i unclipped a grenade from my belt and through it down the whole.

'Fire in the hole!' I shouted at the others while i jumped over Angela covering her from the blast.

I lifted myself off of Angela looking around franticly. The others got to their feet and moved forward to the hospital. Suddenly a big ugly slimy thing jumped out of the sewer with Sarah in its claws.

'Charlie that thing has Sarah!' Angela shouted pointing at it.

'I see that Angela. Let's go get her back.' I said grabbing her hand.

I left her hand as we ran through the zombies dodging claws and teeth and shooting at them. We made a path right through them with the other guys following in our steps close behind us. Angela suddenly screamed next to me. That same big creature that had Sarah grabbed Angela and headed into the hospital.

I stood there stunned and frozen. I stood exactly where i stood as in the premonition. I could feel the heat rise in me from my core. My face and ears flushed red with anger. I reloaded my guns and walked forward shooting every zombie in my way in the head. The speed of my hands matched the speed of my machine guns firing off the rounds.

Everything around me slowed to slow-motion. I watched as every one of my bullets hit a zombie between the eyes. I stood still in front of the hospital doors looking around me at the zombies on the ground and the men that were still busy shooting at a few more crowding around them.

I walked through the doors and then down the corridor. I was following the path that i saw in the premonition. I stuck my guns in the holsters and removed the pistol from behind my back. I felt something behind me. Without a warning i ducked and turned at the same time facing the creature that took Sarah and Angela from me.

I shot off a few rounds at it causing its head to explode. The body flopped to the ground and turned into an old woman's body. It was misses 'j'. She was the creature. She was the one taking the people from the town. I turned around and walked in through two big white doors without stopping.

I saw Angela and Sarah tied to gurneys as i saw before. Mark was standing between them with injections in his hands; one pointing to Angela and one to Sarah.

'Mark, it's been a long time.' I said as he turned around to face me.

'Charlene. Yes it has been a long time. What are you doing here?' He asked me screwing his eyes.

'I am here to stop you, what else? Give it up mark, you are finished.' I said to him putting my gun away.

'How exactly are you going to stop me Charlene? You and what army?' He asked laughing at me.

Mark stepped toward me away from Angela and Sarah. I concentrated on telekinesis. Without him noticing and still talking to me i was untying Angela and Sarah. They slipped out the other door without him noticing that they were gone.

'Oh mark, you are so predictable. I am my army.' I said to him.

'That sounds like a challenge daughter.' He said mocking me.

*******************

While i faced mark Angela led Sarah with her to the boiler room of the hospital. She had explosives with her that mark never saw on her. She placed the explosives and ran outside with Sarah close behind. Angela knew that i would be fine on my own. She was still worried and very much eager to go back in for me.

********************

I backed away from him slowly. I started floating in the air, my eyes glowed a bright white. Mark backed off from me smiling. I could since that he was getting ready to change into something himself. I looked at a table full of scalpels and made the blades fly at his head. He dodged a few blades but was to slow for all of it.

Three blades struck him in between the eyes. His head started to change into the same kind of slimy ugly creature his wife was. I made all my weapons float next to me armed and ready for him. All my weapons fired off at the same time killing him in one quick move.

His body dropped to the floor lifeless like Jell-O. I returned all my weapons to their holsters and walked out the door. Angela and Sarah were waiting outside for me. I ran up to them and grabbed them both.

'We should go sweetie. This is going to be one big blast.' I said taking Angela by one hand and Sarah's hand with my other.

'I would run if i were you guys. This hospital is going to blow any minute now.' I said running past them with Sarah in my arm and my other tugging Angela along.

We all ran as far as we could and dove into a ditch just as the explosion went off. Covering Angela and Sarah with my body i felt the heat of flames soaring over the ditch. My backside almost caught fire and then the flames drew back toward the hospital taking the heat with it. It burned everything in its path.

We raised our heads out from the ditch looking at the hospital. It was engulfed in huge flames of orange, red and blue-green. The walls crumbled under the heat. Watching the flames burn was like watching a monster eating everything it could get its hands on.

'Is there another way into the bunker?' I asked the men getting out of the ditch.

I held my hand for Angela and Sarah to climb out.

'Yes there is another way in. There is another entrance in the library hidden behind the history shelf.' The one man told me as they all got out.

'Well, we need to get there now. I have a bad feeling.' I said taking Sarah into my arms and grabbing Angela by one hand and ran toward the library.

We all ran as fast as our feet could carry us. Angela and i got there first; a few minutes ahead of the men following us. We went into the library and scanned the area. It was clear of any danger. We walked between the shelves looking for the history section.

'Charlie i found it.' Angela said calling to me.

'I'm coming babe.' I replied looking for her.

The men came in the door and walked straight toward us.

'Angela you stay here with Sarah. I don't think she should see whatever is going on down there. Keep your guns close just in case.' I said plucking my shotgun from my back.

The men and i went down only to find that everyone is gone. The bunker was empty. The other door was smashed open. That must have been the explosion i heard earlier.

One of the five men i sent earlier laid at the open door. He was still moving. We all ran toward him.

'What happened here Sammy?' One of the men next to me asked him.
'That bitch, she came from behind us just as we got here. She changed into some creature; the one that has been seen taking our people. She smashed the door open and only took Angela's little one. I was hurt trying to get little Sarah back. The other men took the women and children to another place for safety. They are all at the school hall.' He said taking a deep breath and died looking at me.

He has lost a lot of blood trying to save Sarah from those monsters clutches. I felt sorry for his family though. He was a brave man. I dug in my back pocket and pulled out my father's purple heart that i always kept on me for luck. I looked at it and placed it in the man's shirt pocket.

'It was my father's medal. You deserved it Sammy.' I said closing his eyes with my fingers.

The other men just looked at me in surprise and watched me leave the bunker through the door we came in. Just as i came through the door and stood in front of Angela and Sarah i hugged them both tightly in my arms.

'What's wrong Charlie?' Angela asked me with concern.

'One of the men that tried to save Sarah from that creature just died after he explained what had happened.' I said hugging Sarah even tighter.

I let them both go then we went to the school hall to look for the other woman and children. We arrived there just after the other men did. The woman and children were all just shaken because of what they saw in the bunker. After having a few drinks with the grown-ups the three of us went home and passed out on the couch.

The next day the men and i cleaned up the streets from all the zombies lying around and burned the bodies. I helped the town build itself up again. Come to think of it we never saw Johnny after that again. He just disappeared without a trace.

Chapter five

One year later

Ravens Rest and the town with the hotel became two of the well-known towns where anyone could be safe. The two towns grew in population and size. Everyone went along with their daily chores and jobs as normal. The two towns basically set up their own new government. Dealing with trading, income and so forth; whatever governments did.

I was sitting at the kitchen table with Angela and Sarah having breakfast. There was an urgent knock on the door. Sarah got up to get the door. She was fourteen now and growing up to be just as beautiful as her mother.

'Charlie it's for you.' Sarah said from the kitchen door.

'Show them in girl.' I said standing up anyway.

Just as i got to the door mike from the pub walked into me. He stepped back out of breath then tried to speak.

'Sorry to bother you Charlie but we have a problem at the pub. It's a man that says he knows you. He is very badly hurt. He doesn't want to speak to anyone else but you.' Mike said standing up-right.

'Alright I'm coming.' I said looking at Angela.

'Go babe, we will be fine.' Angela said sounding concerned.

I drove with mike to the pub in his pick-up truck. When we arrived at the pub i got out and walked in. I found Johnny lying on a long couch wounded badly. It didn't look like he was going to make it.

'Johnny what have you done to yourself this time?' I asked him crouching next to the couch.

'I just came from your home city Charlie. Things are really bad there. All the people you had saved are gone. You know the people i told you about the last time i saw you?' Johnny said between weak breaths.

'Yes i remember. What about them?' I asked him very sceptic.

'They are continuing with my grandfather's plans. Your whole city is a zombie army base now. They are planning to take out the two towns you have saved and helped build.' Johnny closed his eyes while coughing in pain.

'Johnny why did you take off the last time i saw you?' I asked him.

'I took off because i didn't want to have anything to do with my grandfather's plans.' He said looking at me.

'And why is that Johnny?' I asked him one final question.

'Because a certain woman; whom has saved my life once, taught me to be a biter person.' Johnny said smiling at me then let out one last breath while closing his eyes.

I stood up looking around the pub. Everyone that was there heard every word of what we spoke.

'Can someone please help me get him out of here?' I asked at no-one in particular.

Mike and two other men helped me carry Johnny to the cemetery where we had a big stone slab laid down earlier to burn our dead so they won't turn and come back. We placed Johnny gently on the stone slab and stood back as i set him on fire.

It was a primitive method but it worked at keeping this town safe. We were still busy building a crematorium next to the church.

I turned around and walked with the other three men back to the pub. Mike had offered me one drink which i refused then i walked back home.

Angela and Sarah were sitting in the kitchen waiting for me to come back. When i walked in the kitchen, they immediately knew that something was wrong.

'It was Johnny. He has been in my home city all this time. He died telling me that the people i have saved there are now zombies and that the city has been turned into a zombie army base. They are planning to take over the two towns we have saved and who know where after that.' I explained to them both while i was taking a seat at the table.

'It sounds to me like we have a job to do Charlie.' Sarah said excited.

'Yes it does sound like it, doesn't it? What do you say sweetie? Shall we take down these people once and for all?' I asked her looking into her eyes and taking her hand in mine.

'Yes please mom? You and Charlie have trained me so well in the last few months after i was bitten and then saved me. This would give me a chance to test my skills. Oh pretty please mom?' Sarah said taking Angela's other hand in her own.

Angela just looked at the two of us and dropped her head looking at the table. She was thinking about everything we have all been through because of people that are filled with greed and a hunger for power. She looked up at the two of us.

'Oh alright then, i have been starving for some excitement anyway. I feel the need to kick some butt.' Angela said smiling at us.

'Right then we have to get ready. Sarah, remember to wear something that won't restrict your movements and take a sweater or jacket with you. Angela, you and i will get ready quickly then we can all check our weapons together.' I said standing up from the table.

Sarah went to her room while Angela and i went to our room. Sarah has grown into a strong woman since she was bitten. I also believe that she is stronger than Angela and i put together because of her pure heart.

Past

After saving Angela and Sarah yesterday we all walked into town hand in hand to check out the damage from our battle the day before. As we came around the corner the hospital came into our view. Angela and i each took a pistol before we left the house just in case.

We walked past the hospital slowly while observing the scene. We let go of Sarah's hands and left her to stand behind us. We held our guns up to be ready for anything. Two zombies crawled out from the rubble and charged at us.

Angela and i just looked at them and shot them in their heads. Sarah suddenly screamed behind us. We turned around in spin and saw a zombie grabbing at her right arm from behind a thick tree. Angela and i each walked around a side of the tree and shot at the zombie at the same time.

Sarah fell to the ground. Her arm was bleeding. The damn zombie had bit her. Her right arm was too close to her heart. She could die at any second with the virus spreading so quickly. I scooped her into my arms and ran toward the house as quick as i could. Angela was right by my side. We got in the house then i put Sarah on the kitchen table.

'Sweetie, keep her calm while i go get the serum quickly. I have to inject it directly in her heart.' I said running to the basement where i stored my serum in a small bar fridge i had in my hummer.

'Alright Charlie, just hurry up please?' Angela said trying to stay calm as well.

I came running up the stairs of the basement already pulling the plastic cover of the injection. Angela lifted Sarah's shirt up just as Sarah started shaking uncontrolingly.

'The virus has already reached her heart.' I said stabbing the injection into Sarah's heart through her chest plate that protected her heart.

I removed the injection and watched Sarah's vital signs.

'Is she going to be okay baby?' Angela asked me walking from side to side in the kitchen.

I left Sarah's side and took Angela into my arms. Angela tried to push me away but i pulled her tighter into my arms. I held her close to me with her hands resting on my chest. Angela started crying and hid her face in my shoulder.

'She is going to be fine sweetie. I caught her heart just in time. We will just have to watch her for the next day or two.' I said putting my one hand on the back of Angela's head.

'I hope your right Charlie, i can't lose her. Besides you, Sarah is my everything. If she dies i will lose a big part of me.' Angela said sobbing on my shirt.

'I know sweetie. I believe that she will be just fine. We have to get her wound cleaned quickly before it grows septic.' I said as Angela lifted her head and looked into my eyes.

When Angela looked into my eyes she knew that Sarah would be okay. She knew that i knew exactly what i was talking about.

I knew that if Sarah died, Angela would never be the same again. Angela would go on a rampage and use her powers for revenge. I don't want that kind of life for her. So i took Sarah up to her bed and sat by her side the whole night through. Angela came in now and then checking up on us. The next morning i woke up on one side of Sarah and Angela on the other side.

Sarah was sitting up between us with our arms draped over her legs. She was looking at the wound on her arm. I sat up tapping Angela on the arm. She sat up as well looked at me then back at Sarah. In front of our eyes Sarah's wound healed in three seconds.

'Look mom, look Charlie, i healed my wound.' She said laughing with glee.

Angela just shot forward wrapping Sarah in her arms i watched them for a second then wrapped my arms around both of them.

Present

After getting dressed in our best clothes fit for fighting we all grabbed as much weapons as we could carry and packed it in the back of the hummer.

Angela and Sarah packed snacks and drinks for the trip while i went to fill up the tank. On the way back home i stopped at the pub and bought a six pack of beers. Before i even stopped the vehicle in the driveway Angela and Sarah were in and ready. We left just before noon.

'I got us each two beers for the trip. I thought we might need it to relax.' I said looking at Sarah on the mirror while reversing out the driveway.

'Charlie you know that i don't drink and why, also I'm too young to drink.' Sarah said to me screwing her eyes.

'I know honey but trust me; you are going to need it when we get there. It will help to calm your nerves.' I said as we drove past the barricade leaving town.

The people we drove past already knew where the three of us were going. They all had a suspicion of our powers but left it at that because they knew we weren't a danger to them. They actually enjoyed having someone so strong to protect the town.

After traveling for hours with no end, my lower back and legs started to hurt from all the sitting. I looked over at Angela who was resting her head against the window. Sarah was fast asleep in the back seat. Turning her head toward me Angela glared at me with her stunning blue eyes and smiled.

'Why don't we take a short rest baby? You look spent from the driving.' Angela suggested.

'Yeah, that sounds like a wonderful idea.' I said pulling the hummer into a clearing away from prying eyes.

I climbed out the hummer looking around to make sure the area was clear from danger. After that i went back to the hummer.

'This looks like a good spot to rest for a while. We could camp here for the night or we could continue in a bit to the hotel.' I said opening the passenger door for Angela.

I held my hand out to help Angela out the hummer. Angela took my hand smilingly and jumped out into my arms. I set Angela down onto her feet, standing with her back against the door pulling me into a tight hug with her hands on my hips.

'I don't think i would ever get used to your beautiful blue eyes. Every time i look at you i fall in love all over again baby.' I said before planting a kiss on her lips.

'I can never get used to having a woman like you in my life Charlie. I'm a lucky woman to have such a loving and gentle person to take care of me.' Angela said smiling then kissing me again.

'You two are so adorable together.' Sarah said sticking her head out the window grinning from ear to ear.

Angela just turned around and placed a kiss on Sarah's forehead.

'Gross mom you are going to infect me with your adorableness.' Sarah said wiping her forehead with a smile.

At that moment Angela and i looked at each other than both grabbed Sarah kissing her all over her face. Sarah was giggling uncontrollably while trying to wipe off her face.

'Now you're just as adorable as we are.' I said stepping back laughing.

'Hey! Are you saying that i wasn't adorable before?' Sarah said laughingly getting out the hummer to stretch her legs.

'You were cute. Now you are cute and adorable.' Angela said embracing Sarah into a hug.

I left them alone letting them spend a few minutes of mother-daughter time together. I was sitting on a huge rock staring out over a valley watching the sunset. Angela and Sarah walked over to me hand in hand. I never had a chance to spend such time with my own mother. My stepmother was a good person but it wasn't the same to me. We didn't have that natural bond that Angela and Sarah have. Although Sarah is not my birth child, i do love her like she is my own. I will do anything to keep both her and Angela safe, even if it meant putting them in danger to ensure they would have a bright future. Together the three of us could stop this army and its rulers.

'What are you thinking about baby?' Angela asked sitting next to me putting her hand on my leg.

'I was just thinking about my birth mother and about you and Sarah. I miss her so much.' I said putting my hand on Angela's leg.

'Oh baby, we will get through this together. Don't worry so much.' Angela said kissing me on the cheek.

'I know babe. I'm just worrying about you and Sarah. I don't know if any one of us is ready for this. We won the battle but this is a war we are going to. There will be a lot more danger to face in that city. I'm talking about more zombies, people with guns and more higher-up people involved in this.' I said looking into her eyes.

'I think we are ready Charlie. All three of us have been training to use our powers more efficiently and we got a lot stronger. I am definitely ready for this.' Sarah said kneeling behind me wrapping her arms around my neck.

'You really think so Sarah?' I asked turning my head slightly to see her face.

'Yes, i do Charlie.' She answered me.

'So, what do you two say we get going? We have a long trip to cover and maybe we can get a few friends to join us?' Angela said standing up.

'Yes, let's get going.' I said getting to my feet.

We stopped in the next town at the hotel just past eight that night. Our friends were very happy to see us. Unfortunately there was no time for pleasantries. We had a job to do and Angela and i had some unfinished business we had to take care of in the next town.

The town grew in population since we were there last. Some of the people volunteered to help us. During the night there, some people of Ravens Rest arrived. Mike was among those few with other men i recognised. They wanted to help us finish this once and for all. We all spent the night working on a plan to get into the city and then on the best way to destroy it. We left the next morning early after gathering supplies and vehicles. The rest left about an hour after we did; which was enough time for Angela, Sarah and i to take care of a certain cult.

We arrived in the small town and stopped the vehicle in the middle of the street where everyone could see us. Angela and i got out the hummer first then Sarah followed. A familiar old face walked out of the church toward us all alone. Angela watched the roofs and the alleys next to the buildings. Sarah got onto the roof of the hummer to get a better view over everything and everyone.

'Back again i see and with one more person.' The old lady said looking up at Sarah on the roof.

'We came back to settle some unfinished business.' I said looking her straight in the eyes challenging her.

'Oh, neither of you will make it out of here alive dear. No-one ever has.' She said to me grinning widely.

'Then you don't know us at all lady.' Angela said with a mocking smile.

'I do know that all three of you are infected as i am.' The old lady said.

'Yes well, that's only the half of it.' I said walking over to the back of the hummer.

I opened the back and scratched around inside. Lifting a secret panel i opened a long slender box containing a pair of swords my father gave me when i turned eighteen. I trained with them for years and became an expert with them. I removed them from the box and closed the back of the hummer again. I then stood next to Angela with the blades of the swords leaning on my shoulders. The grips felt good in my hands after neglecting them for almost three years.

People around us started revealing themselves from their cover. The old lady stepped back and turned into some kind of freakish creature difficult to describe. She looked kind of like an octopus. She had a long neck with long arms stretching to maybe five or six feet. Some of the other people stepped forward and did the same while others pulled out their weapons pointing them at us.

Angela removed her pistols from her sides and Sarah dove into the hummer through the sunroof and popped her torso out with machine guns in her hands. The old lady and i engaged in a one on one battle when the others started attacking Angela and Sarah. They were both too quick for the attackers. The attackers fell to the ground one by one. Angela didn't even use cover she summersaulted all over the place dodging the bullets and claws coming her way.

The old lady clawed at me several times. I dodged a few and took a few. I used my swords to block her claws and then i launched an all-out attack on her. I sliced her here and there making her squeal and grown in pain.

Sarah jumped out of the hummer through the sunroof in one leap without using her hands as leverage and landed next to the hummer on her feet while shooting at creatures and shooters to cover her mother's back.

I kicked the old lady in the jaw using a double spin kick. She fell over backwards when she regained focus i had both my blades at her throat. She turned into her human form then swallowed hard. I could see the lump in her throat as she looked up at me. Angela and Sarah stood next to me after they have defeated the other attackers.

'You wouldn't kill an old lady, would you?' She tried softening us up by using a guilt trip.

'No, i wouldn't but i would kill a monster when i see one. You look like a monster to me.' I said pressing the tips of my blades softly into her throat.

'You will never hurt innocent people again lady.' Angela said pointing her guns at the woman.

Sarah stood behind us looking over at the bodies of the others just to make sure none of them got back up. The old lady suddenly turned back into her monstrous form trying to fight me off. I crossed my arms then brought them back to their original sides slicing off the woman's head.

The woman withered and shrivelled into her human form; lifeless. We made sure that everyone else was actually dead by shooting them in their heads. A few of the shooters bodies turned into zombies but we were too quick for them.
After we burned all the bodies we waited for a few extra minutes for the others to arrive. When they arrived we all left together toward the city.

We now had a small army of our own traveling close to one another in our vehicles for safety. Everyone was nervous and knew exactly what to do. I laid down plans of the city the night before and explained what Johnny told me and where to get in the city. Everyone had their own special task to do according to their skills. We had plumbers, electricians, veterans, builders and much more between us. We could use their skills to stop and destroy this evil.

The next few days we all made turns to drive to get there earlier than we decided. After days of torturous traveling we finally arrived at the city. We parked our vehicles well out of sight and continued on foot. I could hardly believe that this was once my home; Archa City. It is built along a shore line. The city was once a beautiful place. It looked much like a prison now. Only a year has passed and the city has changed so much.

There are walls of concrete surrounding the whole city. The walls are at least ten feet high and thick enough for a passage to be built into it. Barbed wire surrounds the top of the wall on the outside and inside with a guards path in between. Men in military gear walked along the top of the walls armed with weapons.

'Right people, there is a sewer entrance to the north and to the south side of the city. I think it would be better if we split up from here into groups. Angela and Sarah will lead one group in and i will lead the other group. Stay alert and watch each other's backs. We don't know what horror we could face in there.' I said looking at the faces of the crowd in front of me.

We split into two equal sized groups and moved on to our positions. Angela, Sarah and i waited for everyone to get a head start.

'Be careful in there, both of you. I will meet you in the centre of the city in two hours.' I said giving Angela a passionate kiss then giving Sarah a tight squeeze.

'We will be careful baby. You be careful as well.' Angela said wrapping her arms around me.

Angela's arms felt like a vice gripping me, never wanting to let go of me. When Angela released her grip she stepped back after placing one gentle kiss on my lips. She turned around and started walking toward the group. Sarah stood in front of me with tears in her eyes. I was not prepared for what she said next. Those were the words that brought me back alive.

'Charlie i want you to know something.' Sarah said taking my hands into hers.

'What is it Sarah?' I asked with concern.

'I... you... if you were a man you would have been the best father ever. You are an even better mother. I love you... mom.' Sarah said to me wrapping her tiny arms around my chest.

'Oh, i love you to Sarah. I'm proud to be your father and mother. I love you as if you are my own. We will see each other again. I promise.' I said placing a kiss on Sarah's forehead while tears welled up in my eyes.

Sarah ran to catch up with Angela then i turned around catching up with my team. I knew it was a difficult promise to make but it was one i intended to keep. I knew that we will lose a few good people in there but i knew for a fact that my two girls and i will come out of this alive.

We stood in front of the sewer entrance staring into a dark abyss at the unknown, the warm old smell of death and rot wafting up our nostrils. As we entered the sewer we could feel the heat of a year and half's decay on our skins. It was like walking into an incubation chamber filled with rotting dead bodies. The group split into teams of three members as we reached manholes with ladders leading up to the streets of the city. Eventually i was the only one left.

Traveling in the sewer alone my senses were on extra alert mode. I could feel, hear, see and smell everything around me. I reached my destination and followed the ladder up to the manhole cover lifting it just enough to have a look around.

It was quiet and dark as far as i could see. I could hear growling not far from where i am. I pushed the cover to the side and climbed out of the sewer. It seems like i was in an alley. I was just around the corner of the city's government office where i know all the leading members were safely tucked away from harm.

Six of our people were surrounding the city planting explosives along the wall while the other teams of three were planting more explosives along the major buildings in the city. It took me an hour to get through the sewer unnoticed while proceeding to my destination. The others will leave the city the way we came in while Angela and Sarah will meet me on the other side of the government's office. I had to get to them unseen.

As i continued on my route i planted explosives. We are going to blow up this whole city as soon as my girls and i are safely outside the city walls.

Three armed guards are standing outside the back of the building. I can sense that Angela and Sarah are close. I can feel and hear them. I slowly crouched behind empty wooden crates closer to the three guards. One of them hears something on the opposite side of where i am. My instincts kicked into overdrive when i saw Angela and Sarah peeking over a dustbin.

I leaped from my cover and took out one guard closer to me by breaking his neck. The guard walking toward Angela and Sarah turned to me. He lifted his weapon to fire at me then Angela kicked him in the back with her knee breaking his spine.

The lonesome guard was about to fire at Angela and me when Sarah snuck up from behind him and sliced his throat with a knife i trained her with.

'Good job my girls.' I said hugging them in my arms.

'That was way too close for comfort.' Angela said looking at Sarah and me.

'Yeah, let's get out of here. I placed a few explosives on the other side of the building.' I said grabbing Angela and Sarah's hands into mine.

'We placed explosives on that side.' Sarah said running along with Angela and me.

We could feel that we lost a few members of our team that ran into zombies along the way. The rest of them were working their way back outside the city through zombies and gunfire.

Mike was among them fighting with all he had in him. The men around him were bruised, bloody and tired. They stuck close together in the sewer covering each other's backs while more of the volunteers joined them from different manholes from above. Feeling exhausted, they reached the entrance we used. They couldn't see us so waited a few more minutes that seemed to stretch into forever.

The three of us found ourselves trapped ahead by zombies. Behind us more men with weapons gathered pointing their weapons at us while shouting at us to surrender. We stopped in our tracks looking at each other. The zombies in front of us were edging closer to us, slowly with bruised, beaten and bleeding corpses smelling like rotting death. This was the moment we were training for. This was the moment we could really see what we could do. The three of us concentrated on the guards.

All of the guards started dropping their weapons, screaming of pain and agony as blood started seeping out their eyes, ears and mouths. They dropped to the ground dead like Ebola victims. We then turned our attention to the zombies while plucking our weapons from our bodies and fired our way through the walking dead. There are hundreds of them.

'There is a flood tunnel that leads to the ocean at the east side of the city. If we can get there we can get out of this city before we blow it.' I shouted over the loud gunshots.

'I agree, but with all this zombies we won't have enough ammunition to fight our way through. I suggest we find a place to hide out for a while, somewhere we can get ammunition.' Angela shouted back at me.

'Moms!' Sarah shouted at us.

'Yes dear.' Both Angela and i answered at the same time.

We briefly looked at each other with a smile them returned our attention at the zombies crowding closer and closer; the two of us shifting our gaze at Sarah.

'What about Charlie's flat here in the city?' Sarah suggested while she fired at zombies coming from our right side.

'Sarah, you're a genius. Follow me.' I said running to our left taking a shortcut through the alleys.

We ran as fast as lightning dodging debris and lifeless bodies. We fired at zombies here and there clearing our path. I felt the wind waving through my hair and over my skin as we ran. It felt cool, like an icy breath blowing against my skin causing goose bumps to rise from my skin.

After running what seemed like miles of squares we reached my flat. Our ammunition is very low and there is a big crowd of zombies standing in the street. We needed to get past them without wasting our ammunition.

'I've got a plan. The three of us can sense that we are infected, right?' I asked looking at Angela and Sarah.

'Yes, why?' Angela asked confused.

'I get what you're thinking mommy. I think it's a brilliant idea.' Sarah said looking at me surprised.

'Sarah, are you in my head again?' I asked her raising an eyebrow.

'Yes. Sorry mommy.' She answered smiling at me.

'Will the two of you please tell me what the idea is?' Angela asked even more confused.

'We have to act like zombies to get past them unnoticed. We don't have enough ammo' to take them all out.' I said taking a deep breath.

'Okay so how exactly do we do that?' Angela said looking over at the zombies.

'Is anyone up for a bit of role-play?' Sarah said grinning.

We watched the zombies carefully taking notes in our heads. They walked slowly either slouching or dragging their bodies while growling and humming with a rough voice. We looked at each other.

'Are you sure this will work baby?' Angela asked me with worry written all over her face.

'Yes, I'm sure it will. I did it before.' I answered her.

'Let's get going then.' Sarah said copying the zombies.

I took the lead with Angela and Sarah following close in my footsteps. We moved slowly and carefully through the zombies. The zombies weren't even looking our way. They were ignoring us as if we were part of their crowd. When we reached the entrance to my building i lifted the big steel door to let Angela and Sarah through. I slowly and softly let the door slide closed without attracting the zombie's attention.

'It worked. I can't believe it worked.' Angela said smiling.

'Of course it worked mom.' Sarah said hugging her mother.

'Let's get more ammunition so we can get out of this soon to be rubble pile.' I said walking up the stairs with Angela and Sarah behind me.

As we climbed the stairs in silence i started to get this feeling that something was off.

'It's too quiet in here. Something is wrong.' I said stopping in my tracks waving for Angela and Sarah to stop.

I listened carefully, i heard something growling and clambering up the stairs in one of the other apartments. I looked at Angela and Sarah who apparently heard it to. We edged closer and softly up the stairs toward the noise. It suddenly fell silent when we stood in front of the door to the apartment.

'Give me your ammo' and get up to my apartment then lock yourselves in. I will be there shortly.' I whispered to Angela and Sarah.

Just at that moment this huge ugly creature crashed through the closed door spreading splinters of wood everywhere.

'Go!' I shouted at them now.

Angela and Sarah turned and ran up the stairs hand in hand. I heard the door up stairs slide open then closed again. I stood there staring at this beast trying to make out what it is or was. It looked at me drooling long strings of slimy saliva to the floor. This beast is just the same height as me. It looks like some kind of mix between a wolf, bear and dragon. It has a smooth hairless dark coloured skin with some kind of slime oozing out of its pores and has teeth the size of my fingers. It has no eyes but was looking straight at me.

'I get it. You use your hearing to pick up vibrations, much like a sonar sense to see me.' I said to no-one in particular.

I moved slowly putting full ammo' clips in my machine guns while checking this beast out. It is following my every move. The beast charged at me without warning. I dodged a swiping of its claw by rolling to the left then kicked up at its mouth dislocating its jaw. The beast swiped at me again, furious because of the pain pulsating in its jaw. I dodged its claw summersaulting over the beasts head.

Out of nowhere its tail hit me against the wall. I dropped to my knees in pain then aimed my weapons at it and fired at the beasts head. The beast tried to dodge the bullets shooting from my guns but failed miserably.

It fell to the floor kicking its legs as the life faded from its body. I raised myself to my feet using the wall as a guide. I stood there watching this creature intently. It started burning and melting into a pool of sludge. What the hell was this creature? I have never seen such a thing in my whole life.

I climbed the stairs slowly using the railing to keep me from falling over. The pain i felt was so intense. Standing in front of my door trying to stay upright i knocked on the door. It slides open slowly.

I could only see two eyes peeking through. The door slide open then all i could see were four hands grabbing toward me.

Angela and Sarah carried Charlie to the couch gently laying her down on her back. Angela tore Charlie's shirt open and what she saw was one gaping slice over her abdomen.

'Sarah, look in the closet for the first aid kit! I saw one there the last time i was here.' Angela ordered Sarah in a panic.

Sarah rushed to the closet to see if she could find a first aid kit. Sarah pulled out a box with a cross on the front and carried it to Angela. Angela opened it looking through everything for bandages and something to clean the wound with. Sarah went to fetch a bowl of water and set it on the coffee table next to her kneeling mother. Angela cleaned the wound, stitched Charlie up then wrapped the bandage tightly around her waist.

When i woke up, i could smell food being prepared and hear could Angela and Sarah talking in the kitchen.

'Mom, do you think she will be alright?' Sarah asked Angela trying not to cry.

Before Angela could answer, i answered Sarah's question for her.

'I will be just fine.' I said sitting up with great difficulty.

Sarah and Angela rushed toward me and each sat on either side of me.

'How are you feeling baby?' Angela asked concerned.

'I feel great. I don't have any pain anymore. What happened?' I said putting an arm around each of my girls.

'You fainted when we opened the door. You have a huge slice on your abdomen. I did what i could but you do need a doctor.' Angela said putting her head on my shoulder.

'What was that creature mommy?' Sarah asked me.

'I have no idea but it was neither human nor animal. I have never seen such a beast in my life. After i killed it, it just melted into a pool of sludge.' I answered Sarah.

'Well, whatever it was there has to be more of it out there.' Angela said while standing up to check on the food.

'How long was i out cold?' I asked Sarah still sitting next to me.

'You were out for about two hours. We decided to stay here for a while until you are strong enough before we move on. Mom and i already packed a backpack full with ammunition. We also contacted the others on a two way radio on a secure line and said that we will catch up to them later. They left an ago.' Sarah said handing me another shirt she got out my cupboard earlier.

'Thank you my dear. At least i have the detonator for the explosives on me. Otherwise we would have been toast already. What is mom cooking?' I said slowly standing up to put the shirt on.

'Mom's cooking pasta. It's quick and easy to make.' Sarah said looking over at her mother.

Angela looked behind her at Sarah and Charlie. Watching Sarah and Charlie together, seeing them so happy with each other made Angela's heart jump for joy. Charlie stood up after taking a shirt from Sarah. She looked so stunning in her bra and pants. Angela could feel the heat radiating from her core as she admired Charlie's toned and perfectly sculpted body. The bandage around Charlie's waist just added a sense of determination to Charlie, which Angela admired greatly.

Angela watched as Charlie lifted her arms making every muscle almost pop out toward Angela. Angela gasped and smiled at Charlie. The sight of Charlie standing almost half naked made her knees weak. Angela imagined Charlie's strong but gentle hands roaming her body, slowly and tenderly while kissing her all over. Angela felt very disappointed when Charlie's shirt dropped covering her torso.

Feeling Angela's eyes on me i looked at her blushing. I could see what she was thinking written in her eyes.

'Mom, your making me blushes with what you're thinking at the moment.' Sarah suddenly said randomly not knowing where to hide her face.

'Sarah? Then what are you doing in my head?' Angela asked laughing at Sarah.

'I can't help it mom. It's still one thing i need to learn control over.' Sarah said hiding behind a pillow.

'Well then, this conversation is getting a bit too personal and heated, don't you think? Let's just rather finish up and work on a plan to get out of here.' I said walking over to the kitchen.

We ate in haste, a hurry to get out of the city and blow it to smithereens. After eating i went to my old room to pack a few of my things. I would never see this place ever again. I stood next to my vanity looking at a photograph of my mother and another of my father standing next to my stepmother with my brother and me in front. I grabbed the two photographs and shoved it in my backpack.

'Right girls, are you ready to leave?' I asked Angela and Sarah throwing the backpack over my shoulder.

'Yes baby, we are ready when you are.' Angela said grabbing the backpack with the ammunition in it.

'Charlie? I took the liberty of packing the papers of your work and some samples into a briefcase with your laptop. I figured you would want to work on something back home.' Sarah said raising the briefcase to prove her statement.

'Hum... yes, thank you Sarah. I haven't even thought of that.' I said walking over to her planting a kiss on her forehead.

We gathered whatever else we needed then left heading down the stairs to the lobby. Angela and Sarah stood ready with weapons while i headed for the steel door.

'Are you two ready to run?' I asked before lifting the door.

Angela and Sarah looked at each other then back at me each gathering a deep breath. I turned toward the door took a deep breath and lifted the door. I ignored the pain shooting through my whole body from my abdomen. Angela and Sarah walked carefully past me and waited for me while watching the hundreds of zombies standing around the street.

As i joined them the zombies all looked up at us. There seemed to be a moment of silence as if they were contemplating whether to attack us or not. One of them growled then they all started rushing toward us clawing, growling and snarling.

'I think we've been made girls. This would be a perfect time to... run!' I said as we started running toward the tunnel leading to the ocean.

Angela and Sarah were close on my heels following me with zombies close on our tails. We ran as fast as we could; the buildings, debris and half eaten rotting bodies passing us in a flash. Zombies came from our sides out of the buildings we have passed joining the growing crowd that were after us.

I saw a mob of zombies in front of us coming our way possibly to investigate the commotion. The zombies in this city seemed to travel faster and acted smarter than normal. I haven't even noticed until now.

With the zombies in front of us and behind us closing in on us i knew we had to take another route. I saw two buildings, maybe one foot from each other. We could get onto of the roof by jumping vice versa against the walls.
'Through here.' I said taking a sharp left into an alley.

I stopped and looked up then without using my hands i jumped up against one wall using it as leverage to kick myself up against the other wall and did the same. Angela and Sarah watched me for a few seconds and did the same as i was doing. I landed on the roof to my right and waited for Angela and Sarah to join me. I looked down and saw Sarah sliding down while Angela grabbed the ledge of the roof and pulled herself up to safety. Angela looked down at Sarah.

'Wait here and keep watch. I will get her.' I said jumping two stories down landing on my feet.

I looked up and raised my arms catching Sarah.

'You okay kiddo?' I asked her.

'Yes, I'm okay Charlie. My foot slipped.' She answered while i set her down.

The zombies were entering the alley to many at a time making them fall over each other.

'Get on my back and hold on sweetie.' I said bending down a little while watching the zombies ahead of me.

Sarah got onto my back locking her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.

Chapter six

I stood up straight and measured our wait together by bending my knees a few times.

'Here we go. Hold on tight.' I said kicking myself upward from wall to wall with shorter steps for more momentum.

I could feel fingernails just grazing my ankle as i leaped for the other wall. Angela was watching with her pistols in her hands shooting at zombies that seemed to get to close to grabbing at my legs or feet. I grabbed the ledge of the roof to let Sarah climb up over me.

'Climb up over me Sarah.' I said as Angela leaned down to grab Sarah's hands.

Angela helped Sarah up then grabbed my one hand as i slipped. I hung there for a few seconds noticing that my hand was slipping out of her hand.

Angela was lying on her stomach trying to hold on to Charlie. She wasn't going to lose the woman she loved, not now, not ever. Sarah stood nearby still shocked from her fall.

'Sarah? Dig in the back pack for a grenade.' I shouted trying to grab on the ledge with my other hand.

'Okay, hold on.' Sarah said while opening the backpack on her mother's back and grabbing a grenade.

'I got it.' She answered.

'Okay now pull the pin and throw it down to the zombies.' I said looking up at Angela.

At that moment Angela knew exactly what i was thinking of doing. The grenade fell to the ground and exploded creating a blast traveling through the whole narrow alley. The zombies blew all over the place in pieces.

'No Charlie, i am not letting you go.' Angela said trying to adjust her grip on my hand.

'Angela, listen to me. Follow the rooftops until you get to the wall i will be following on the ground. I will be fine. You and Sarah will be safe on the rooftops. I will meet you at the tunnel. I promise. As soon as i land on the ground throw down a few ammunition cartridges.' I said.

Angela and i looked into each other's eyes. We knew that we will see each other again. She knew that i always kept my promises. Sarah dug around in the backpack again for cartridges then closed the backpack. Angela opened her hand releasing me. I landed on my feet looking at more zombies coming into the alley. I looked up at Angela and Sarah then Sarah dropped down two cartridges.

I caught each one in a hand and stuck them in my belt then grabbed my machine pistols from my belt. As i started shooting i was walking backward into a gate at the other end of the alley.

Angela and Sarah started firing down from the roof to give me time to get over the gate. I clambered over the gate then checked both sides of this street for zombies. The zombies behind me were trapped behind the gate but not for long. The hinges were rusted and rotting with age.

Angela and Sarah walked along the roof watching me. I started running toward the beach. I looked up at the roves on my right seeing that my girls were following my lead while leaping over alleys in between the buildings. We started running faster and faster. I shot at zombies popping out here and there in front of me to clear my path. The buildings were passing us barely noticeable. They were just blurry structures in the corners of my eyes.

Twenty industrial squares with five or six buildings on it passed us in ten minutes. I came to a screeching Holt at the wall separating us from freedom. Angela and Sarah stood on the corner of the last building's roof then jumped off landing on their feet. Walking over to me they looked in the direction we came from. The zombies were about ten blocks away from us and closing in fast. Looking at me again Angela walked into my arms throwing her arms around my neck.

'Don't you ever do that to me again? Next time i will personally kick your ass.' Angela said as she smacked me on my chest.

'Oh trust me babe. I will never do that again.' I said kissing her on the lips while rubbing my chest.

In front of us was a huge flood gate covering the entrance of the tunnel in the ground. Next to the gate was a small building where i guessed the controls to open the gate were.

'I will open the gate while you two go through and wait for me. I need to do something to lock the gate behind us. I am not going to let these zombies follow us outside.' I said looking at the zombies closing in on us.

'Oh no, i am not leaving you behind. We are coming with you.' Angela said grabbing Sarah's and my hands in hers.

We walked into the small building and checked out the controls. There were switches, nobs and levers everywhere. I noticed a lever with the words open written onto of it and close written below it.

'Right, this should be the gate switch.' I said pushing on the lever to test it.

The gate opened then i got an idea. I walked up behind Angela then dug in the backpack for another grenade. I pluck Sarah's belt from her waist then strapped the grenade to the top of lever. I looked around then noticed a roll of wire on a table in a corner. I picked it up and handed it to Angela then took the tip of the wire in my fingertips.

'Okay, you two walk to the gate and unroll the wire on the way. Once you are at the gate i will tie this end to the pin of the grenade then meet you at the gate and pull the pin. The blast of the grenade should push the lever back to the closed position.' I explained my idea.

Angela and Sarah left for the gate leaving me alone with my thoughts. Angela and Sarah were watching the zombies edging closer. They were one block away from us. Seeing that my girls were safely at the gate i tied the end of the wire to the pin then ran for the gate. As i reached the gate Angela pulled on the wire to remove the pin from the grenade.

We turned around and ran for the beach through the tunnel. We heard the blast then a few seconds later the gate close behind us. It worked, the gate was closed. The zombies were trapped in the city. A few feet ahead of us i could see the beach and i could hear the waves crashing onto the beach. We walked into the night sky. It was fool moon. The tide was coming in making the waves seem alive as it edged closer and closer to the city with each wave.

Angela, Sarah and i ran to a safe distance on the beach; about ten miles away. I dug in my pants pocket for the detonator.

'Well then, here goes nothing.' I said pressing the button to set off the explosives.

We sat down on the beach watching as the city blew up. Each charge we set blew in sequence. It looked almost like fireworks. A huge mushroom cloud formed high in the sky then sent a wave of dust outward followed by a shock wave. Angela and Sarah dove to the ground hiding their faces while i covered them with my body.

A gust of wind travelled over our bodies almost lifting us off the ground into different directions from each other. The blast dissipated then we lifted our heads to look at the damage done. The city fell to the ground crumbling into flames as if hell was swallowing it. The walls kept most of the blast contained within the perimeter of the city walls. It probably saved us from a much bigger blast.

We got to our feet and walked to the hummer hand in hand. We felt free. Is this what freedom feels like? Is this what peace feels like? I just wish this feeling could last forever. There will be more zombies; unless i can come up with a way to improve my anti-virus and administer it to the whole world's survivors at once. Luckily Sarah thought of grabbing my laptop. All my research is on it and it would help a lot.

We took our sweet time to get back to Ravens Rest. We just decided to enjoy the scenery while we travelled. We camped along the road every night enjoying the bright shining stars in the clear sky. We arrived home a week and three days after our mission. Everyone welcomed us back with open arms and smiles of happiness. We mourned the few that were lost then started rebuilding the hospital using its rubble. The first ever recycled hospital.

One year later

I took up an office and lab in the hospital where i could do my work. I used to be a medical practitioner and surgeon before i started working on medicines. I used my abilities to find out exactly what was wrong with my patients. I didn't lose even one of them. I trained more people to be doctors so i would be able to spend more time during the day on the anti-virus and nights at home with my family.

I was busy standing in my lab looking through the lenses of my microscope when Angela and Sarah walked in.

'Hi baby. What are you doing?' Angela asked me standing still behind me while wrapping her arms around my waist.

'Oh, i can't seem to get the anti-virus right. It still keeps changing the other blood samples into superhuman. I used your blood, Sarah's blood and my blood as a basis.' I said frustrated.

'Well, have you only been using the white blood cells or the other cells as well?' Sarah asked me.

Sarah has been spending a lot of time nosing through medical books she found hidden in a dark and musty corner of the library. She knew just about everything there is to know about the human body and medicines just as i knew.

I took a deep breath and thought about it for a few seconds rubbing my temples. Then it hit me. I was only using white blood cells i should try using red blood cells as well. I looked up at Sarah in surprise and held my arm out to her. She walked into my arms.

'Sarah you are a genius. White blood cells are like an army; they always fight. Red blood cells are the peace keepers, the civilians. It could work.' I said hugging her tightly.

Angela wrapped us both in her arms.

'I'm proud of both of you. You know that but before you continue with your mission, why don't we go have lunch at the pub?' Angela said kissing us both on the forehead.

'Good idea. I can't work on an empty stomach. Maybe Sarah can help me finish this when we're done eating?' I said looking down at her.

'Oh, i will be happy to help you.' Sarah said releasing me then literally jumping for joy.

'Let's go before i eat my equipment.' I said smiling.

We walked over to the pub talking about anything we could think of. Mike greeted us with a smile and a wave as soon as we entered the door. We took our seats at a table in the corner. Mike walked over to us and took our orders.

'Hi ladies. How's the research going?' He asked looking at me.

'It's going good mike. My girls just dragged me away for a brake.' I said smiling.

'Hey, you have been working very hard on that research for six months, you need a break.' Angela said slapping me on the arm.

'Ouch!' I exclaimed laughing.

'That is so true Angela. What can i get you ladies?' He asked laughing.

'The usual for me mike, a beer and a toasties sandwich.' I answered.

Angela and Sarah ordered cola and toasted sandwiches.

'Coming right up.' Mike said turning around.

We had our lunch then walked back to the hospital to finish. I couldn't wait to see if Sarah's idea would work. On arrival i handed Sarah a white lab coat on put my own one on. Angela sat in the corner reading a book while Sarah and i went to work.

Sarah drew a little of her blood and set it aside on a peitry dish. I went to the fridge and sample of normal blood out with a sample of infected blood and put it on the table. Sarah took a little bit of those samples and placed each sample on a separate peitry dish. I took her blood sample and separated the white blood cells from the red blood cells with a special machine.

Sarah then took the uninfected blood sample and put it under the microscope. Sarah then took a sample of my previous anti-virus, placed a drop of it on another peitry dish, looked at it under another microscope and then injected a little of her separated red blood cells into it. The anti-virus started changing colour.

'I think it is ready mommy.' Sarah said putting it aside.

'Okay let's test it against the infected blood.' I said placing the infected blood sample under the microscope she was using.

Sarah took the drop into an injection and handed it to me. I then injected it into the infected blood. The anti-virus ate through the virus cells changing the cells into normal.

The infected blood i used was six months old. The anti-virus brought the dead cells back to life without changing it into superhuman cells like ours is.

'Yes! It is actually working! This is a six month old sample. I need to test it on a fresh sample next.' I shouted in joy.

Angela startled by my shouting jumped to her feet dropping her book closed on the floor. Sarah ran into her arms.

'It worked mom. The anti-virus is finally ready.' Sarah said.

'Would the anti-virus work on us?' Angela asked looking at me.

'There is only one way to find out. We have to test it on samples of our blood.' I said with a sigh of relief.

Before we tested the anti-virus on our blood i tested it on a freshly infected blood sample. It worked. I then tried the normal uninfected blood we placed under the microscope earlier, injected it with the anti-virus. I then injected it with a sample of the virus. The anti-virus fought off the virus leaving the normal blood unharmed.

Each of us gave a sample of our blood. We just needed a drop, so we pricked our fingers and each placed the drop on a separate peitry dish. I placed Angela's under the microscope and then injected it with the anti-virus. Her blood changed from superhuman to normal. Sarah's blood did the same as did mine.

We next made more of the anti-virus and injected ourselves. We could feel the anti-virus working its magic on our blood racing through our veins. We felt a bit weak for a while but strengthened after half an hour.

I felt normal again, we felt normal again. We have been waiting for this day to come for so long.

'We need to think of a way to get this anti-virus all over the world.' Angela said after a moment of silence.

'I agree babe. You know what? I sure am going to miss being superhuman but i am happy to be normal again.' I said as i took off my lab coat hanging it up.

'It was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?' Sarah said removing her lab coat.

'Yes it was sweetie. Let's go home and relax for the rest of the day.' Angela said taking Sarah's lab coat from her and hanging it up by mine.

We spent the rest of the day in the lounge watching old movies, sitting on the floor. I thought about using the radio station to broadcast that we have a valid and tested anti-virus. Wouldn't that draw unwanted attention our way? Would there be someone else out there that would want to destroy our new found freedom?

'Maybe we can somehow use the weather to spread the anti-virus.' I said out loud without noticing.

'What did you say baby?' Angela asked me with questioning look.

'I was just thinking about how we could spread the anti-virus without drawing unwanted attention to the town. Maybe we could use the weather to spread it somehow.' I explained my thoughts.

'It could possibly work. We don't know if there are more people out there that would think of the anti-virus as a threat to their plans.' Angela said.

'Exactly. We need someone familiar with weather and machinery.' I said staring at the TV.

'I might know someone.' Sarah said out of the blue.

Angela and i looked over at her in anticipation. Sarah just looked at us in silence.

'Well? Who is it?' Angela asked.

'It's my geography teacher. She used to be the weather anchor for the news. She just lives on the same street as us, two blocks over.' Sarah replied.

'Okay, so what are we waiting for?' Angela asked standing up from the floor.

'Don't you think it's a bit late babe?' I asked checking my watch.

'No, she is always up till late.' Sarah said standing up.

'Okay then, let's go see her.' I said lifting myself up to the couch.

'You two go ahead, i will catch up in a second.' I said walking to the kitchen.

Before we left hospital i grabbed a few tubes of the anti-virus just in case we might need it for someone. I grabbed one tube with an injection and headed out the door to catch up to Angela and Sarah. We walked the two blocks and entered the yard of a humble little house. I could smell freshly cut grass and fragrant flowers from a garden we passed. Before we could knock on the door it opened. In front of us stood a young woman maybe in her late teens, long blond curly hair, brown eyes, tanned skin and tall slender body. Angela and i are in our early thirties, this young woman didn't look at all like an expert of weather.

'Hi miss tailor. May we speak to you for a moment?' Sarah said sounding very nervous.

'Hi Sarah, sure come on in.' miss tailor said standing aside.

I could hardly believe my eyes. This woman is about the same age as Angela and me. What could she possibly know?

'Hi i am Angela, Sarah's mother and this is Charlie, my wife.' Angela said shaking the woman's hand.

'I am Janet. Please... grab a seat?' She said shaking my hand.

'Miss tailor, we have a little mission that we would like you to help us with.' Sarah said taking a seat.

'I am so sorry. I was expecting someone a bit...' i started to say then Janet stopped me.

'Older and wiser?' She asked with a mock.

'Yes, kind of.' I said blushing crimson.

'Charlie? What are you doing?' Angela asked me.

'No Angela, it's quite alright. I'm used to it by now.' Janet said taking a deep breath before continuing.

'I finished my whole school curriculum in five years and after that i graduated university in one year earning my honours top of my classes. I worked for the news for a year then started teaching geography here in Ravens Rest at the age of sixteen. I assure you whatever you want to know or do i can help just as much as any old fart can. I am eighteen now.' Janet sat down next to Sarah with a smile noticing the stunned looks on Angela and my faces.

'I told you so. Miss Taylor is the best i know.' Sarah said.

'Why thank you Sarah and please call me Janet. I doubt that we will ever have a school again. So what can i do for you?' Janet said grinning wide.

Before we started telling her what we wanted to do, we explained to her what happened thus far. We talked for at least three hours and told our stories.

'So you see. We want to know if there is a way to use the weather to spread the anti-virus without attracting unwanted attention to the town and without anyone noticing a thing.' I said relaxing a bit more.

'Sarah why don't you go fetches us all something to drink in the kitchen while i think a bit? You know where everything is.' Janet asked Sarah tapping Sarah on her leg.

'Sure Janet, no problem.' Sarah answered and headed for the kitchen.

Janet stood up and walked over to her desk looking for something. She stood still midway and turned around to face Angela and me.

'There is a way but it's a long shot at the least. We need rain to accomplish this and we haven't had rain in about three months.' Janet said then turned around again.
'Can i ask you a question Janet?' Angela asked her standing up from her seat next to Charlie.

'Sure ask away.' Janet said grabbing a page off the desk then turning.

'How is it that Sarah knows her way around your house so well?' Angela asked.

'Well, she has been visiting me every day except for the time she went with you to Archa City. She told me that she was afraid of the old lady looking after her. So i let her come here during the day and i gave her my number for emergencies.' Janet explained sensing that Angela felt a bit tense.

'Okay, i see. She just needed a friend, i guess.' Angela walked over to the kitchen to help Sarah.

Janet and i watched Angela walked away then looked at each other.

'Sorry about that. Angela is a bit over protective over Sarah. They have been through a lot together and apart.' I explained to Janet.

'No need to explain. I understand completely. I lost my own son to this virus and it looks like i might be losing my mother. She has been very ill lately. Having Sarah here actually helped me.' Janet said with sadness showing on her face.

'Well, i haven't tested the anti-virus on other ailments yet but this could be the perfect opportunity to test it. That is if you are willing to do so, of course. I did derive it from the original formula. It cured a six month old virus infected sample in front of our very eyes. At that stage of rigour, blood would be impossible to selvedge but this worked.' I offered my assistance watching her reaction.

Angela and Sarah stepped into the lounge with four drinks. I could see on their faces that they had a serious talk in the kitchen. Sarah's eyes were red and puffy. Instead of asking if they were okay i just my mouth shut, not wanted to cause a fight. Angela set the drinks on the table in the centre of the lounge and sat down. She was watching Sarah sit down next to Janet on her previous spot. I could feel the tension between my girls.

'That is a very kind offer, thank you Charlie but i would rather you test that formula first before you try it on my mother, no offence meant.' Janet said lowering her face looking at her hands on her lap.

'Of course. That wouldn't be a problem at all. All we have to do is take your mother in and do a few tests to see what is wrong then we can go from there.' I said taking a drink.

'Okay so what is this way you were talking about earlier Janet?' Angela asked trying not to sound upset.

'I did some research a while ago about a machine that senses when it will rain. It is successful and it is up there right now. It is sort of like a miniature satellite; the only difference is that it travels with in the atmosphere above the clouds normal level. Its systems are directly linked to the global weather service and my laptop. I'm the only person reasonable for monitoring it.' Janet explained herself then took a sip of her drink.

'Is there a way to get it down and program it to release the anti-virus when it rains?' I asked Janet.

'Yes there is. It has a manual piloting program which allows me to bring it down for repairs if needed. I can fly it from my laptop. It will take about a day to get here. If i start flying it back tonight it could be here by tomorrow night the same time.' Janet said faking a yawn then stretched her arms out.

Janet couldn't take the tension anymore. Angela's mood was very upsetting. Janet didn't mean any harm. Janet just liked having Sarah around. Sarah being with her has actually taken her mind off of little Jason.

'Okay then we will leave you to it. I will fetch your mother early tomorrow morning to see if i can help her. In the meantime i will leave this vile and injection with you just in case.' I said standing up leaving the vile on the table.

'How do i administer it if she dies and turns during the night?' Janet asked looking at the injection.

'You inject it directly into her heart through her chest plate.' I said holding my hand toward Angela to help her up.

'Good night Janet.' Sarah said with a shaky voice giving Janet a hug.

'Good night Sarah.' Janet replied.

Sarah walked to the door while Angela and i said good night to Janet. As we walked out the door Janet closed it with a slam which startled Angela. Sarah was out the gate already.

'Sarah, wait for us?' Angela asked her frustrated.

'Babe let her go. Let her cool down.' I said taking Angela's hand in mine.

'What happened in there, Charlie?' Angela asked me.

'Janet lost her son to the virus and her mother is sick. She told me that Sarah being there every day is actually helping her, consoling her in a way. I guess Sarah just filled an empty space in her heart. Why did you get so offensive in there?'

I watched Angela's face. Her face turned from anger to remorse. She didn't even take the time in there to learn Janet's story. Angela never was like this before.

'I thought that something inappropriate was going on between them. Sarah is still so young.' Angela said letting her head rest on my shoulder.

'I know Sarah is young but i really don't think that anything is going on between them. If Sarah were to fall for a woman would you hold it against her?' I asked Angela then kissed her hand.

Angela thought about it for a minute then lifted her head and looked straight into my eyes while stopping.

'If i did that, i would be worse than zombies eating their own family. I would be happy for Sarah if she met someone she could spend the rest of her life with whether it's a man or woman. I guess i should have paid more attention back there.' Angela said before kissing me on the lips.

We continued our walk home then settled in for the night. Before coming to bed Angela went to talk to Sarah. Angela knocked on her door.

'Come in.' Sarah said snickering.

Angela opened the door then sat on the bed next to Sarah.

'I'm sorry sweetie; i shouldn't have gone off like i did. I just hate it when i find out that there is something about you i don't know.' Angela said lowering her face in shame.

'Mom i would have told you if i thought it was important. I wouldn't put myself in danger. You know that.' Sarah said sitting up in her bed.

'You are growing up so quickly. I feel as if i am missing out on your life. One of these days you won't be my little girl any more. You are becoming a young woman but i can't let go of you. Can i ask you a question without you getting angry or embarrassed?' Angela asked not knowing where to look.

'Sure mom, ask me anything.' Sarah leaned back against the headboard.

Angela took a deep breath then relaxed a bit.

'Do you like, like Janet?' Angela asked feeling a red hot blush creeping onto her face.

Sarah sat there in silence for a few seconds as if to think about an appropriate answer. Sarah felt something for Janet but didn't know what she could call the feeling. Like was not the exact word she was looking for. Sarah knows that she never felt this way before. She doesn't even know if Janet is feeling the same as she is. Sarah has noticed a mixed signal coming from Janet but never really thought much of it.

'I wouldn't exactly use the word like but i do feel something for Janet. I wouldn't act on the feeling just yet because I'm still too young and i don't really know what to call the feeling i have for her. I don't even know if she feels the same i do. For the moment i am just happy to have a friend. I never had friends.' Sarah said releasing a breath she didn't realise she was holding.

Sarah sounded so grown up at that moment. Angela just took Sarah into her arms and gave her daughter a tight squeeze.

'My sweetie; that was the best explanation of love i have ever heard. You are old enough to act on your feelings i won't stand in your way, which means i have three years left to keep you all to myself.' Angela said kissing Sarah on the forehead then went to bed.

Chapter seven

The next morning we all woke up early. After breakfast we took the hummer to Janet's. On arrival Sarah was out of the vehicle first before i could stop. Sarah knocked on the door only to see that the door was slightly open.

'Moms, something is wrong!' Sarah said rushing inside.

'Sarah, wait before you...' Angela barely had time to finish the sentence.

The two of us rushed inside to find Sarah in the lounge holding Janet's head in her lap and Janet's mother face down on the kitchen floor.

'You look at Janet. I will take a look at Janet's mother.' I said walking over to the old female slowly.

'She is going to be fine mom. I guess she was knocked out while fighting off her mother. See the blood on the side of the table and the gash in her head?' Sarah was very observant of her surroundings in the lounge.

'And it looks like she used the anti-virus Charlie left for her. The empty tube is on the coffee table.' Angela noted.

I stood close to Janet's mother in the kitchen then saw her move. The old woman stood up slowly onto her knees then to her feet. She froze when she saw me.

'Who are you dear?' She asked me confused.

'I am a friend of Janet, ma'am. How are you feeling?' I asked out of curiosity when i saw the injection still lodged in her chest.

'I feel very well, thank you dear.' The distraught old woman said taking a seat at the kitchen table.

She saw the injection and stared at it for a few minutes trying to recall the previous night's movements. When she pulled it out, she suddenly had the look of remembrance on her face.

'I remember what happened. I died then tried to eat my Janet.' She said looking up at me with tears in her eyes.

Just then Sarah walked into the kitchen grabbing a mixing bowl with water in it and a new cloth out of the cupboard with the first aid kit.

'Good morning misses Taylor. How are you today?' Sarah said looking at her confused then her face changed when she saw the empty injection.

'Good morning Sarah. I feel fit as a fiddle this morning. I guess i have this lady to thank for it?' She said looking at me.

'Yes ma'am, Charlie and i developed that anti-virus Janet used.' Sarah said leaving the kitchen with her hands full.

'Let's go see to my daughter, shall we?' Misses Taylor stood up from the table.

Misses Taylor hooked her arm in with mine for support. We walked slowly to the lounge. We found Janet lying on the couch with her head on Sarah's lap and Angela sitting on the coffee table. They already treated her head wound and were keeping a wet cloth on her forehead to break a slight fever.

Janet's eyes fluttered open looking straight into Sarah's eyes. A small smile tugged on her lips then she tried to sit up. Sarah held her down.

'Careful Janet, you hit your head on the table. Just relax for a bit.' Sarah said stroking Janet's hair with her hand.

'Are you alright Janet?' Misses Taylor asked concerned.

Janet shot up to her feet forgetting about the pain and leaped into her mother's arms. She held on to her mother for a long moment.

'I thought i lost you mom.' Janet said snickering.

'You will never lose me my child. Even in death i will always be with you.' Misses Taylor said holding Janet's face in her hands.

'Oh my god the weather satellite, i totally forgot about it.' Janet ran over to the laptop sitting on her desk. She sat down and pressed buttons on the keyboard like crazy.

'I started flying it back down last night. Then this morning when i heard noises i put it on autopilot.' Janet said.

'Well, would you ladies like anything to drink? Then you can tell me what is going on here.' Misses Taylor said confused.

'Sure ma'am, why don't we go to the kitchen to talk?' Angela said taking my hand leading me to the kitchen while following Misses Taylor.

I got the impression that Angela wanted us to leave Sarah and Janet alone for a bit. Angela looked back at Sarah and winked at her. Sarah new exactly what her mother was doing and so did i. I just went with the flow.

Sarah sat on the couch for a few more seconds then stood up and walked over to Janet while grabbing a chair. Sarah set the chair down next to Janet then sat down watching the screen of the laptop. Both girls could feel a tension building between them. They stole glances at each other in silence. Both Janet and Sarah wanted to say something but couldn't decide on who should start speaking.

Janet thought that what she wanted to say would scare Sarah away. This girl next to her was so young, yet so grown up. Sarah is more grown up for her age then what other children her own age are. Janet felt love for Sarah but not just normal friendship love. Janet felt true love for this young girl, no not girl, woman. Janet is in love with Sarah. Janet knew how she felt when she opened her eyes just now looking into Sarah's eyes.

'I...' both of them started talking at the same time.

Janet and Sarah started laughing then fell into silence again just looking at each other. Sarah couldn't take this anymore. She had to say her say even if she would lose a friend by doing so.

'There is something i have to say to you Janet.' Sarah said taking a deep breath.

'Okay, I'm listening.' Janet said giving all her attention to Sarah.

'The past few days i spent with you i have noticed that i might... i don't know how to say this... i have never felt this way... i have never felt these kinds of feelings for anyone before. I... am in love with... you Janet.' Sarah lowered her face expecting Janet to say the total opposite.

Janet sat there surprised at what she heard. She could see a blush taking over Sarah's face, even though the young woman tried to hide it.

'Sarah you don't have to hide your feelings for me.' Janet said taking Sarah's chin in her hands lifting her face so Janet could see her eyes before she continues speaking. 'I am in love with you too. I was just afraid that i would scare you away if i said anything of that sort to a young woman like you.'

Sarah felt a smile tug at her lips and a tear gather in the corner of her eye.

'You could never scare me away Janet, not even if you were a zombie.' Sarah said smiling at the sparkle in Janet's eyes.

'You have been so helpful and supportive the last year; i gathered that you might have developed feelings for me. I have to.' Janet said taking a deep breath.

'I am sensing a 'but' here.' Sarah said with sadness growing on her face.

'Please don't be sad Sarah? You are still so young. I was just about to suggest that we wait. At least until you are old enough. I wouldn't want your mother or Charlie on my case.' Janet said letting go of Sarah's chin.

Sarah stared down at her hands on her lap for a moment remembering what her mother said to her the night before. Looking up at Janet with a new found confidence Sarah took a deep breath.

'I would gladly wait three years to be with you. That time could just be what we need to get to know each other better. Until then...' Sarah didn't finish her sentence instead she took Janet's face gently into her hands then leaned forward and placed a kiss on Janet's lips.

Janet gently placed one hand behind Sarah's head and the other on her waist. Sarah wrapped her arms around Janet's neck. Their kiss seemed to last an eternity. Fireworks went off. Janet broke the kiss when she heard a beeping from her laptop.

'Wow, if a kiss from you is that amazing i would wait forever for another one.' Janet said smiling at Sarah blushing.

'I think you better check what the problem on your laptop is.' Sarah said looking at the screen.

Janet blushed crimson then looked at the screen.

'Oh my god, the autopilot failed. I will have to guide it manually. This might take a while.' Janet pressed a button on the keyboard then used the direction keys and mouse to guide the satellite to a stabilised position.

'Sarah, could you please look in my bedroom for my other laptop? I think it would be on my dressing table and there should be a double usb cable next to it.' Janet asked Sarah smiling lightly.

'No problem, i will be right back.' Sarah said heading to the bedroom.

Sarah stepped into Janet's bedroom for the first time. Janet's bedroom was very modern yet stylish. Sarah felt warm and cool at the same time.

Janet's bedding is white with roses all over it which set a romantic feeling to the room. All the furniture was made of mahogany. A base with matching headboard and bedside cabinets, a matching wardrobe in the corner and then the dressing table with a stool which also matched.

Sarah walked over to the dressing table and picked up the laptop and cable. She noticed a photo frame face down next to the laptop and set it right. It was a photograph of little Jason. It was the last photo ever taken of him on his second birthday two months before he died. That was more than a year ago.

Sarah remembers Janet telling her that Jason died in his sleep, sometime in the night. Jason had a bad heart. The next morning Janet found him eating their cat. He then turned around and attacked Janet. She couldn't do anything else but smack him hard at the back of his head to protect her. The hit to his head killed him instantly by rupturing his cerebellum.

When Sarah came over the first time for help with something, Sarah found Janet in the backyard busy burning little Jason's body. Sarah just happened to be here and tried her best to console Janet. Since then they have become best friends.

Sarah turned toward the door to find Angela standing in the door way. Angela had a knowing look on her face. Laptop and cable in hand Sarah walked toward her mother.

'Is that Janet's son?' Angela asked with a sad look on her face.

'Yes that is Jason. He turned two, two months before he died. It's a very sad story.' Sarah said looking back at the photo.

'I can't even imagine how Janet must be feeling. I almost lost you once luckily Charlie was there.' Angela said wrapping her arms around Sarah.

'I am happy that Charlie was there mom. There is still so much i want to do with my life.' Sarah said.

'I know sweetie. What's that laptop for?' Angela asked.

'Janet needs it for the satellite.' Sarah said walking past her mother. Angela just followed Sarah.

'Here's the other laptop Janet.' Sarah said placing it next to the other.

'Thank you Sarah.' Janet said taking the usb cable from Sarah.

Their fingers brushed gently against each other making a shiver run up both of their spines. Angela just stood behind them smiling. Janet and Sarah looked deeply into each other's eyes then Sarah smiled and let go of the cable. Janet connected the two laptops with the cable. Janet waited for it to start up; she then typed something on the first laptop which made a view of a camera pop up on the screen of the second laptop.

'Okay Sarah, sit down then type on the command prompt 'view history'. It will show you a list of recordings with dates and times next to it.' Janet said typing something on the first laptop.

'Okay... done. What's next?' Sarah said typing just as fast as Janet.

'Chose the recording for the last hour when the autopilot failed.' Janet said looking up at Sarah quickly.

'I got it.' The screen showed something crashing into the satellite.

'Wait, what was that?' Janet asked in frustration.

Sarah used the mouse to rewind the recording and slow down the ratio.

'It looks like a bird. It crashed into the satellite. I guess it damaged the box which controls the autopilot.' Sarah said sighing.

'Oh well, i can only fix it when i have the satellite on the ground. No use crying over spilt milk.' Janet retorted.

Angela stood there thinking about something. She then went to the kitchen to talk to Charlie who was busy listening to Misses Taylor explaining what had happened to Jason.

Angela stood in the door way listening. She started crying without her noticing. When she noticed, she dried her tears then sat next to Charlie at the table. Both Charlie and misses Taylor were crying and drying there tears. Then both looked at Angela.
'I have an idea baby. I think you and i should get back to the hospital and prepare enough of the anti-virus for the satellite before it gets here. Sarah and Janet are busy guiding it down manually.' Angela said.

'I think it's a brilliant idea. We will have to make a stronger dose that can be diluted with the rain water.' I said looking at Angela then returned my attention to misses Taylor. 'Misses Taylor would you mind coming in to the hospital with me tomorrow? I would just like to do some tests to see if there are any ailments hiding in your body. If i am correct the anti-virus should have removed anything of that sort by now.'

'I would be happy to my dear. I was diagnosed with brain cancer three years ago. I didn't want to use that other quack's so called cure. I knew i recognised you from somewhere. I was there at your office listening to you complain about it not being ready then heard them fire you. So when you left, i left.' Misses Taylor smiled widely.

'I had no idea anyone heard that. I should have gone to the newspapers with this.' I still felt a bit guilty about it.

'Don't blame yourself dear. You have been doing your best since then to fix their mistake and by the looks of things you are doing a great job at it.' The words misses Taylor spoke gave me new hope.

'I guess we should get going babe. We just have to tell Janet about the plan first. Maybe Janet and Sarah should come with us?' I said standing up from the table.

'I guess so. The autopilot of the satellite was damaged in mid-air by a crashing bird. Janet said she can only fix it on the ground so i think she can land it at the hospital then fix it there while we're busy with the anti-virus.'

'Good idea.'

Angela and i went to the lounge area to talk to Janet and Sarah. We found them hard at work on the laptops. Janet was guiding the satellite on one laptop while Sarah was navigating from the other laptop using the camera on screen to see where they were guiding the satellite.

I leaned toward Angela to whisper in her ear. 'They look so cute together, don't you think?'

Angela looked at me surprised. 'How did you know that there is something between them?'

'I can see it on their faces babe and in the way they steel glances at each other every few seconds.' I said looking at them smiling.

Without Janet and Sarah noticing Angela and me in the lounge they stole glances once more. They caught each other's gaze and held it there for a few seconds.

I pretended to clear my throat, which made both of them jump in their seats. They looked at the two of us then both blushed crimson.

'How is the satellite doing?' I asked them while walking over.

'Hum... it's a bit difficult to guide it with a damaged autopilot box but we are getting there. I bypassed that box to feed all power to the manual box.' Janet said clearing her throat.

Sarah looked up at Angela still shocked at their sudden presence in the lounge.

'Don't you think that it would be easier if we do all this work at the hospital? We can land it there in the parking lot where you can fix it. Angela and i will prepare the anti-virus and a delivery system for it.' I said leaning on Janet's desk.

'You know what? That does sound like a good idea. I will need the open space to land and fix it anyway. We have got the satellite on a steady coarse heading to this area, but we will have to move quickly.' Janet said standing up from her seat gathering the laptops.

'Sarah, whatever you do don't close the laptops. Keep them open. I need to gather my tools so we can leave.' Janet said while heading to her bedroom.

I helped Sarah take the laptops to the hummer then headed back in the house to the kitchen. Angela went to Janet's room. She found Janet looking at the photograph of Jason.

'Janet?' Angela said to get her attention.

Janet spun around with tears in her eyes. She hasn't looked at that photograph in a long time. Looking up at Angela, Janet dried her eyes.

'Yes?' Janet said with a shaky voice.

'I am very sorry about last night. I don't know what came over me. I should have been more considerate.' Angela said in an apologetic tone.

'Hum... no it's alright. I understand you were just looking out for Sarah. That's what mothers do. It's our curse and gift.' Janet said sniffing.

'Yes i know exactly what you mean by that.' Angela walked over to Janet and gave her a hug.

Stepping back from Angela, Janet looked at her quizzically.

'I take it you know about Sarah and me?' Janet asked almost in a whisper.

Angela cocked her head to the side raising an eyebrow. 'Of course i know. She told me last night that she has feelings for you. I encouraged her to do something about it. I will never keep Sarah away from friends. She never had friends.'

'I would just like you to know that i would never hurt her in any way and i would never touch her inappropriately while under age. I told her that i will wait and she agreed.' Janet said picking up her toolkit.

'I figured that much. I wasn't worried about Sarah or you doing anything. I was more worried about her getting hurt but i can see that you are an honest and caring person. I can also see that you are an old fashioned woman that would keep her word. Sarah is fifteen; i think she is old enough to do as she pleases. I won't stand in the way of her being happy.'

After a moment of silence Angela and Janet walked to the kitchen.

'Mom, will you be alright here by yourself?' Janet asked her with a concerned look.

'Yes i will be fine my girl. You go ant take care of your business.' Misses Taylor said while busy in the kitchen.

'Okay then i will see you later tonight.' Janet said planting a kiss on her mother's cheek.

Janet left the house with Angela and me following. It turns out that misses Taylor had Janet when she was in her mid-thirties, which would explain the age difference between them. Janet really was her miracle baby. Janet had Jason just after she turned sixteen. Janet was raped by a burglar and couldn't get it over her heart to terminate the pregnancy. She fell in love with the baby growing inside her. At the time the police were busy protecting the town from zombies, so they never found the burglar.

We were all talking about what to do on our short drive to the hospital. Janet and Sarah were sitting in the back watching the progress of the satellite. I pulled into the parking lot close to the entrance. Angela and i went inside while Sarah and Janet stayed outside guiding the satellite.

Inside my lab i got work on the anti-virus making a stronger dose while Angela made a delivery system using the plans of the satellite Janet gave her as a guide line. Once back in the air the satellite will release concentrated amounts of the anti-virus when it senses rain. The concentrated amounts will allow the whole earth to receive the anti-virus.

The dose of the anti-virus i am working on is thicker.

Twelve hours has passed since we got busy working. We were all growing tired and exhausted. After finishing the delivery system Angela went to get us all some food and something to drink.

I sat outside with the anti-virus and delivery system in my hands. I was sitting in the back of the hummer with my legs hanging out. Janet and Sarah sat next to me busy on the laptops as usual.

'How is your head feeling Janet?' Sarah asked her looking very concerned.

'Oh, it's not that bad. I just have a throbbing headache. Nothing an aspirin can't fix. It could have been worse if you weren't there.' Janet said smiling lightly at Sarah.

The satellite was a few thousand feet away now. Angela is on her way back with food and drinks. I couldn't help but think about; if all this didn't happen... would i have met Angela? Would i have remained alone for the rest of my life? Would i have found my happiness? I think these are questions we all ask ourselves. Things happen for a reason and we learn to deal with it in our own way. Man's destiny is set by their own hands by what they do. The earth has faced a lot through human cruelty through the years. Still the earth will live longer than any human being will.

The four of us spent the rest of the late afternoon just waiting for this day to end. We grew tired as the satellites distance grew closer and closer. A beeping sound resonated from the laptops sitting in the back of the hummer. The four of us were standing nearby talking about life and its possibilities. Janet and Sarah rushed to the laptops.

'The satellite is here.' Janet said looking up at the night sky.

A small flickering light flashed its arrival a few feet away from us. Janet guided the small satellite gently down to a steady landing in the parking lot. Sarah then grabbed Janet's toolkit with Janet following to repair the auto pilot and program the metre wide satellite to disperse the anti-virus.

Angela and i carried the delivery system with the anti-virus in it over and placed it inside the satellite. We then stepped back and left Sarah and Janet to finish their repairing.

After a while Sarah returned to the laptops leaving Janet to finish up. Janet joined her in a few minutes then started the satellites engines.

'Okay guys, this is it. It will take the satellite much less time to reach its destination on take-off then when landing. So step back. I'm switching the boosters on.' Janet said while typing a command on her laptop.

The satellite started lifting up from the ground slow at first then shot straight up in the air with more speed. We all stood there watching as the flames disappeared into the darkness.

'Once it reaches its appropriate level the engine will switch off by itself. After that the rest would be up to mother nature.' Janet explained.

'Okay, so that is it. Now we wait.' Angela said turning toward the three of us.

'Yip, the satellite sends rain alerts to my laptop so we will know when it's going to rain.'

Over the next few days the sky grew darker and darker with rain clouds. Within a month it had rained all over the earth so far. The anti-virus had worked. Listening to reports over the radio station, the people thought of it as a miracle because the rain was dark purple in colour. The purple rain cured all the infected victims of the virus and cured sick people of their ailments, which i proved by doing tests with misses Taylor. Three weeks before. No-one except for the five of us knew that Sarah and i came up with the anti-virus.

There were also reports of groups trying to release the virus again but failed because of our formula. After three more years Sarah and Janet moved in together happier than ever before. Misses Taylor eventually died of old age. Angela and i lived happily together for the rest of our days. As for the rest of the earth's population... who knows?

I have imagined this disaster as being a dark tunnel in which all of humanity was trapped of our own doing. The survivors travelled through that dark place by standing together to the very end eventually reaching...

The light at the end of the tunnel.