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Survivors of the Z’s- Graham Jackson, 30/07/2016, Nottingham, UK

We shouted
He turned
We drove faster 
And we shouted again
   “Kid, over here!”
The decision was made to save this kid from these things. 
The infected- grotesque- beings that were now threatening our way of life.
Our freedom
What once was a world where
You could say 
The grass was greener on the other side. 
NOW
The grass was getting darker and the roots were dying.
   “Please, help me!” He begged
   “Come on, hurry!”
They were close. I got out the car and got behind him as he pelted toward the car.
   “Dad, what are you doing?!”
   “Get him in the car!”
I was out of my mind. 
Most probably
I was drawn into saving the kids life that I didn’t think of what the outcome was going to be.
The outcome…
DEATH?
Maybe
SURVIVING?
But, surviving by just the skin of my teeth and with a few more mental scars.
YES
That was always going to be the answer from now on. Life was now limited.
Limited from chances
Limited from life 
A blink of a bloody eye with a cannibals teeth lurking. Lurking in the grey skies.
   “If something happens to me, get out of here!”
   “That is not going to happen!”
There were two of them and they were coming in fast. Storming toward me with their violent bellows. Two young men. Both looked like they would cause me some damage. I Clenched my fists hard and gazed at them harder. My muscles got ready and my mind quickened. Rummaging through every image that I wanted the outcome to be. 
ME
Standing over them with my life still intact.
   “You’ve got this old man,” I said
With the kid in the car and me standing in front. No way were these disgusting fucking creatures getting anywhere near my family or that kid.
   I looked back and Evelyn gazed at me, “get in the damn car!”
It was too late. I was already within their reach.
OR 
Were they in my reach?
I put my fists up and clattered one right in the face. The noise was like thunder. The clatter was sickening. It’s vile body dropped to the floor and I quickly turned to the next one. It through itself at me. Its heavy load made me fall and now it was on top of me. 
   “Shit,” I said
Now I was thinking. She was fucking right. I should’ve got into the damn car. I grabbed hold of its throat
With both hands
My old bones and limbs squirmed crazily and my mind was hastily drawing up a plan of desperate action.
   “Dad!” I heard
   “Get out of here!”
   “No, I’m not leaving you!”
   “Go, now!”
I heard the car take off and I breathed in and out. Realising I was now 
POSSIBLY
On my own
It’s bleeding eyes dripped onto my face and it’s mouth dripped blood on to my shirt. I could feel its gaze tormenting my body and mind into submission. I could see the animalistic path it was on. 
The death
The chaos
The lives that were going to be destroyed or had been.
I shook out the image and quickly moved my face left and right trying to escape the dripping blood from its eyes. I clenched my hands tighter and felt the bones in its neck. 
Tighter
And 
Tighter
It’s voice was more of a choking sound now and then it snapped within my grasp. It’s full weight fell on top of me. I quickly rolled it off with a wince. My bones like old metal. 
Rusty
Struggling to cope
I quickly got up on to my feet
   “Argh,” I moaned and
I got ready for the other one, but ready I wasn’t. It was already there. Right in front of my eyes. 
I was weary
Trying to regain my strength
   “Bring it,” I gasped
It came at me 
A few feet away
BANG!
I looked on in shock as I saw my daughter knock it flying up into the air.
   She opened the door, “get in!”
I did what I was told and moved my arse. I looked and it was getting up. 
   “Hurry!”
I was in and we were away. I looked in the mirror and watched it getting smaller and smaller into the distance. It was still running, but it wasn’t going to catch up. 
   “Don’t do that again, please,” she said   
   “I’m sorry,” I gasped, “I thought I could take them”
   “You could’ve been killed and then what?” She asked, “I need you here, with me, not out there acting like a hero”
   “I will always try and protect you and the kids, always and that’s not going to change”
   “Can I at least get a thank you?”
   “Thanks, you saved my ass, I love you Evelyn”
   “I love you too dad”
   “Thank you for saving me,” I heard
I looked in the mirror and saw the boy looking at me. He looked tough for his age. Rough around the edges. His hair was scruffy and his eyes looked like they had a few pages to turn. He was young, but he wasn’t.
   “No problem kid,” I said
I was about to ask for his name 
   “Before you ask, my names Preston and I’m twelve”
   His confidence made me smile, “Hi Preston, I’m Graham, this is my daughter Evelyn and these are my granddaughters, Katelyn and Michelle”
   He smiled, “nice to meet you all”