Apocalypse

Monica's POV

They made it back to the others, Sofie in tow. Heather was still yelling about something, but it was clear it wasn't about the same thing as before. Mikhail's eyes flicked up in their direction as they got closer, but Heather didn't notice them, as her back was facing them.

"If they aren't back in the next thirty seconds, I'm going after them--whether you want me to or not!" she snapped at Mikhail, crossing her arms. "Wait--who made you think you were my boss anyway? If I want to go ahead and run into the forest and risk my life, then I will! It's my choice and you can't stop me!"

"Well, if you want to, then be my guest. You won't find them."

"Really? You don't think I could track them down?"

"Not so much that as the fact that they're walking over here right now..." Mikhail pointed in their direction and Heather turned around.

"Guys! Why did you just run away like that? Where did you go?"

"Um... wouldn't the better question to ask be: why the heck do they have a midget with them?" Mikhail's eyes were wide, like he was scared, disgusted, and shocked all at once at the sight of Sofie. "You multiplied!"

"Her name is Sofie and we're going to take care of her. Her sister," She gave Heather a look, hoping she'd understand, "left days ago and asked us to take care of her, remember?"

"Yes... I remember," Heather shared a sympathetic look with her. She knew Heather would understand.

"Is my memory failing me-- no that is not an option. I'm too smart. We haven't come across anyone! You've just all gone crazy!"

Heather elbowed Mikhail hard in the ribs which simply got her a look of annoyance. To probably just tick him off even more, Heather clapped him on the back several times.

"Obviously you're not too smart... You just forgot, Mikhail. Isn't that right?" She gave him a look, trying to help him understand we were lying. Then she faced the little girl, "Don't mind this guy, his memory is really bad, Sofie."

"It is not!" he looked back and forth between his friends with a look of betrayal.

"Anyway, we should start heading out," Heather said, getting back on track, "Mikhail, hand over some of your food now."

Mikhail, with a huff, did as Heather asked and then they set out, Sofie between her and David.

"Wait--" Sofie stopped and looked down at her stuffed animal in silence. they all watched her as she walked over to a near-by tree and rested her stuffed monkey against it. She pulled out a tiny notepad and a worn, short, pencil that was in the back pocket of her jeans. Sofie flipped through her notepad, skipping over lots of drawings until she found a blank page. She scribbled something on it and the ripped the page off, folding it before stuffing it underneath the monkey. She turned back to us, stuffing her notepad and pencil back in her pocket. "Okay, I'm ready,"

No one seemed to be able to say anything, so for many miles they walked in total silence. To try and break the unnerving silence, she looked down at  Sofie, asking the only thing she could think of to engage Sofie in any conversation.

"Did your monkey have a name?" She asked. Sofie looked up at her and then down again. She was silent for what felt like an eternity.

"Angel..." Sofie's hand flexed, and then she patted her arm, forgetting she wasn't holding anything anymore. "Sissy got it for me,"

"That was nice of her," She said, using a tone that she usually used with smaller children. "What is your sister's name?"

"Angeline," Sofie said simply.

"Oh? Almost like your monkey's name, huh?"

"Mhm," Sofie smiled.

She looked over at David and they shared a similar, sad look.

"I think it's a wonderful name, Sofie," David put in, looking down at her with a smile and Sofie, not seeming to think he was so scary anymore, returned it. She reached up to grab David's hand, completely taking David by surprise. It was a very sweet thing to see, especially in the world they lived in. She drank in the sight of David and Sofie as if she were dying of thirst, burning the image into her brain.

"If you get tired, I'll carry you on my back," David said to Sofie gently, "You just let me know, alright?"

"Okay!" Sofie's step had a bit of a skip in it, getting excited at the idea of getting a piggy-back ride. David grinned, his face aglow. She didn't doubt her face looked the same at that moment either. David looked up at her and they kept each others gaze for a full minute before she turned away, her face feeling as if it were on fire. She was barely aware that he continued to stare at her for a few more seconds before turning away too.

After several hours of non-stop walking, they came across an abandoned convenience store and gas station. No other buildings were in sight, and the majority voted to go inside and investigate. They found two of the undead, one was pinned under a fallen shelf and the other was standing at the front counter, as if it were awaiting service. Mikhail insisted on dealing with the one near the counter by himself and Heather dealt with the other.

Heather bent down out of reach from it, looking sadly down at the ghost of a person that once was. The zombies decaying hand was reaching for her, awful, guttural, and wanting growls coming from deep within it. It was an older teenage girl, unbelievably thin and fragile. She no doubt was once beautiful, with long, thick blonde locks, but what was left of her hair were now wisps and clinging to dear life in small patches on her head. Her face was sunken so deep you could see where every bone was in her face and body, and she had blood smeared across her mouth and was so pale... It almost looked as if she had no skin at all.

"I'm so sorry..." Heather whispered and with no more hesitation brought her hand down swiftly, stabbing the zombie in the forehead. As Heather stood back up, she and David released their hold on Sofie. They had covered Sofie's eyes and ears upon seeing the walkers, not wanting to frighten her more. "David, come with me to look around and gather some supplies. Mikhail, move the zombies outside and barricade the doors. Monica and Sofie-- you two get the blankets out and some food to eat. We'll rest here tonight."

Everyone set out to do their assigned tasks, and Sofie seemed happy to finally relax. She had taken Sofie to the corner and let her set up the two blankets, away from the sight of the zombies they had killed. She was going to take first watch, and David would most likely insist upon staying up with her. She looked over at Sofie, humming to herself. She saw David look over at her and she shared a small smile with him, knowing he had been watching Sofie too. She didn't need him to tell her anything. She knew what he wanted to say, it was written in his face, in his eyes.

I would do anything to protect you. Both of you.