Broken hope

The two boys appeared quite small compared to the monsters right behind them.

Just like ants.

While Jamie and Jake positioned themself at the back of the car, ready to grab them at any time, they soon realised it wouldn't be enough.

The zombies were too fast.

They wouldn't even have the time to reach for the boys, they would be attacked immediatly.

Kyle got out of his seat and went to help them.

Jamie and Kyle had new roles now.

They needed to slow the monsters, giving enough time to get the boys in safety.

Nora saw they were missing someone to help one of the kids, so she placed herself next to Kyle.

He looked at her trying to stabilise herself, a bit sceptical.

"You don't have balance in a moving car, and you won't be strong enough to carry one of them."

"But I can't replace someone else, I don't know how to shoot or drive a car. Do you have a better idea ?"

He stopped staring at her and chose to focus on the task at hand.

"If you fell, we won't save you."

"Got it."

When Millie saw her sister go with the others, she thought she could help too, but there wasn't any place left.

She would be a burden.

She suddenly heard the sharp cry of a baby, and her gaze directed itself to the source.

The usually asleep little Shawn was awoken by the monsters outside and was completely scared.

Daisy was a mother for only a few days, but she had done a lot of babysitting in her teenage years in the neighborhood.

Her experience kicked in, and with soft but swift movement, she gave him a soother and rocked carefully her newborn son in her arms.

Even though Shawn was still crying, his voice started to drop little by little while his mom was humming calmly.

Everyone had their own role in the rescue.

Except her, Millie.

For the first time in her life, she felt overcome by a strong emotion like never before.

Powerlessness.

Her face showed a bitter smile.

The only thing she could do was to watch what was happening without interfering and making everything worse.

Even if she knew it, it didn't make it easier for her to accept.

So useless.

Her attention was caught back to the ongoing rescue, and her face paled at the sight of the scene.

How long can a child run without getting out of breath? How long can he outrun a huge group of adults like this?

Adults who didn't seem to feel any fatigue or pain.

The two boys were obviously using up their physical reserves. The adrenaline was starting to run out, and their strength would soon wane. The gap between them and the monsters was already starting to narrow very noticeably.

Time was running out.

The little boy stared at the car, and only at it. Even the fear on his face couldn't hide his determination.

His will to live.

But the teenager next to him was in a different situation.

His face, instead of blushing from the strain, grew paler.

Livid, with a sweaty face, he was the one who suffered the most in these efforts.

His body wasn't going to last long.

The teen seemed to know that too, and he frequently watched the progress of the zombies behind him.

They were only a few feet behind them and were approaching dangerously, their hands stretched out like claws to catch them and bring them towards their doom.

Jake glanced at Jamie, gripping his gun a little tighter.

He breathed in before addressing the boys, trying to reassure them even though he was pretty sure they couldn't hear him.

However, seeing him get into firing position, it wasn't hard to guess what he meant.

Keep running and ignore the shots.

The shots began with the suddenness of thunder, and the deafening din rivalled the screams of the zombies.

The two young people continued on their way without stopping, the adrenaline preventing them from stopping at the slightest surprise.

A new gap, however small, was created again between the monsters and the children, who were getting closer and closer to the car.

Nora and Kyle held out their hands in anticipation, ready to catch them both in flight.

As she got into position, Nora realised that she was much less stable than she had anticipated. She looked around, trying to grab onto something when she felt a hand grab her trousers. She turned her head and met her sister's gaze, herself clinging like a koala to the car seat.

"It's better this way, isn't it? "

Nora nodded and Millie answered with a smile, relieved.

The helplessness she had felt earlier was still here, but it did not prevent a new decision from being made.

I want to be stronger and stop being a burden.

This is my first step.

Clinging to this new determination, she focused on the children's progress.

They were very close to the car.

The young boy was already starting to reach out, and it was easy to see the hope in his eyes.

But this hope did not last long.

Suddenly, the teenager beside him fell.

In just a second, the horde of zombies were already upon him.

Even if the policemen wanted to react, it was too late for him, as soon as his body hit the ground.

The ten-year-old boy saw the movement out of the corner of the eye and attempted to turn his head in his direction, but Kyle was quicker.

He grabbed the boy's outstretched hand firmly and pulled him to him.

Nora helped him to catch the living bundle, and with their momentum, all three of them ended up on their backs.

Without further thought, Jamie and Jake closed the doors, and immediately the car sped off down the road, fleeing the cruel scene behind them.