The Flame in The Dark

Ted hugged Emmy tightly as he began to cry, I looked over at him and frowned. I didn't want to cry in front of everyone, Emmy didn't deserve this; but we all knew the impending doom that awaits her in a few hours or so depending on how quickly she will turn.

Dani turned on her flashlight and looked around. "We can't waste any time. We must find a way to break through that door as quietly as possible. Or maybe we could find another exit. But that way will be blocked for a long time. I rather not wait here." She sighed; Dak nodded in agreement. "Maybe the biter had a key."  He aimed his flashlight towards one of the biters that Dani killed with her bow.

I went over to Emmy, I kneeled. "Hey…" I looked at Ted. "Stick with Dani and Dak, okay?" Ted looked at me and frowned. "B-but Ted's mom!" I rested a hand on his small shoulder. "I'll keep an eye on her for you."

I gave him a reassuring smile; Ted wiped the tears from his eyes and cheeks and went over to Dani and Dak. "Hey Ted." Dani gave him a soft smile, she wanted to be as nice as she possibly can because she knows how it feels to watch their own parents die.

Ted looked up at Dani. "Hey..." he tried to smile, she frowned and patted Ted. "It'll be okay." She lied. Dak went over to Dani and Ted. "I found a screwdriver." Dak snickered as he shined the flashlight around the place, he suddenly raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" Dani looked at him. "I see something behind that shelf." Dak went over and grabbed onto the edge with his hands and pulled it back, revealing a door. "This may be our way out!" He snickered.

Emmy winced; she touched the bite wound on her shoulder. "This hurts like a bitch." I sat down, leaning next to Emmy. "I know it does." I looked at her. She looked at me and frowned. "Please take care of Ted when I die." She smiled.

Emmy was shaken up; I could tell in the dark. She was anxious that she was now leaving Ted all on his own. I grabbed one of her hands with my hands and clenched it. "I promise, I'll protect him as if he is my own." I smiled.

Emmy coughed. "I know you will, you're a good kid." I smiled. "You should rest." I looked around. "But what if I turn?" She looked down. "I'll take care of it then." I pulled out my dual blades and rested them right next to me. "I'm getting my last rest I guess." She joked. "It doesn't look like there is anything comfy to rest on."

I looked at her. "Just rest your head on my lap and close your eyes, it'll be more efficient." I gave her a small smile and she nodded and laid down slowly, resting her head on my lap. Soon enough she fell asleep quickly.

I smiled and patted her, I then looked up. Tears formed in my eyes, and I gritted my teeth together. The tears rolled down my cheeks, some landed on Emmy. Luckily, she didn't wake up. "God dammit." my voice croaked, and I wiped the tears away from my face.

Dak grabbed the doorknob and twisted it so that it would open. He shined the flashlight around the room, it was an office room meant for the manager; or so it seemed like it.

Jug kicked a rock as they made it to the haven. "Are you worried about them?" Aria asked, looking back at Jug, her hair swaying. "Yeah…" he sighed.

"Trust the process, they will be alright." Bandy smiled. "Cody and Aya survived the toughest shit at the very beginning, Cody will survive this. Like we said. He will do everything in his power to try and keep everyone alive." Finn nodded and fiddled with his glasses; the shades were blue.

Bandy went over to the doors, there were two guards and there were homemade barricades with spikes at the front of them, a couple of biters were stuck in them as they tried to grab at the two.

Ash looked at the biters. "As mindless as ever." He sighed. Evelyn hugged Ash's arm tightly, Ash looked down at her. "Are you good?" He tilted his head, she nodded. "They're scary." She whimpered.

Stalker went over to the biters and pulled out his knife, Andrew soon followed. Andrew grabbed the biter and pulled it off of the spikes; he quickly kicked it down and jabbed his knife into the biter's head. Stalker did the same but instead he stabbed it right away. "Dash, Harper. Thanks for being on patrol for today."

Harper, straight blond hair with bangs, had a tense face knowing that biters are becoming more and more common after a couple years of rarely seeing them in the city. They have begun to wonder why they are being drawn into the city again. Her bright red eyes glistened in the sunset, she had tribal marks in the form of stripes on both sides of her face, running from just above the eyes to the bottom of the cheeks which marks her combat skills. Though she was anxious due to the increase she greeted them with a smile. "Hey Bandy!" She smiled, she had dog ears and a tail.

"Hey Harper." He smiled, and then looked at Dash, who had long black hair, it slightly revealed his smile. His hollow amber eyes. He didn't have tribal marks like Harper as it wasn't his type of way to show he was a warrior. "Hey." Dash opened the door. "I will get two others to take your place. You guys deserve a break!" He smiled as they nodded and followed him. The others soon followed Bandy, Maverick, and Finn. "This looks so cool." Alice smiled, standing besides Andrew who looked at her and smiled.

Bandy spun around. "Enjoy your stay! Harper and Dash will assign you guys’ places to sleep!" Ash smiled. "Thank you."

Annabelle rested a hand on her chest. "Dani… stay safe." She whispered to herself.

Dak went inside of the room, there were spider webs covering some of the corners, there were some webs that were strayed across the room, though they were moving due to the broken window, though the window was too small for anyone to get through.

"I think we will be okay." Dak smiled and turned around; his eyes widened as a biter came out of a corner that was out of their view.

Dani's eyes widened as she ran towards Dak to help him, however she froze at the sight. The biter was covered in spider webs, it tackled Dak to the ground, and he was about to kick it off, but he froze as soon as it opened its mouth spiders crawled out. He cried out and kicked the biter's legs. A spider slowly landed on Dak's cheek. He knew the type of spider, a fucking brown recluse, one of the deadliest in all of America.

Dak felt pain on his cheek, he was being bitten by the spider. He was fucked, he thought to himself. Then a crowbar collided with the biter's skull, which sent spiders and brain matter all over the ground. Blood dribbled down the crowbar, Dak swiped the spider off his face and slammed it with his hand, killing it. He was going to die without treatment. He looked over and saw just Dani still standing there in absolute terror, now we know who fears spiders, out of everything in the world now; not the things that eat you alive, but small little arachnid.

I ran over with Emmy as soon as I heard the ruckus, my eyes widened and so did Emmy's.