The wind had settled overnight, any flooding draining down the driveway and leaving a sodden mess behind. The sun no longer broke through the constant thick clouds blocking the light and heat the earth so desperately depended on.

Xandria's scream of "Phoebe!" came from upstairs as she entered her daughter's bedroom. Xandria knew her daughter would never stray far from her bed in the morning. "Celeste...wake up! Where's your sister?"

"I don't know, momma," Celeste said meekly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Babe, what the fuck are you screaming for?" David asked, exiting the Master suite and stretching his stiff joints.

"Phoebe...she's not in bed," Xandria cried. "Pheebs!" she called again, louder this time. "Honey, this isn't funny. Phoebe!"

No answer.

"Phoebe, if you're hiding, come out now," David called out. Again...no answer. "It's okay, baby...she's around here somewhere."

"Dad?" Gabby piped up, storming from her bedroom. "The fucks going on?"

Xandria turned to her daughter, fear in her eyes. "We can't find Phoebe," she said, her voice shaky.

Gabby's eyes widened and she looked at her father. "What do we do?" she asked, panicked.

David took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and think rationally. "We need to split up and search the house," he said, his voice firm.

Xandria's heart pounded against her chest wall. "I'll check her room and the closets," she said, her voice a forced calm. "Gabby, you go check the garage and living room. Look under and inside everything. And David, you check the basement."

David headed towards the basement, descending the spiral staircase and peering into the darkness. The main room was silent, the only sound coming from his heavy breathing. He switched on the light and scanned the room, his heart pounding in his chest.

There was no sign of Phoebe.

Room by room was checked and he noticed something glinting in the corner of the bar. He walked over to the object, picked it up, and held it to the light. It was a silver pendant shaped like a star. He stared at it for a moment. It didn't belong to anyone in their family that he knew of.

"Phoebe," he whispered, his voice choked with tears. "Where are you?"

He held the pendant, feeling a familiar tug on his heartstrings. It was as if his daughter was calling out to him, urging him to keep searching. He gripped the pendant tightly, determined to find his missing daughter. His eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on the shadowy corners.

He heard a rustling sound behind him. He turned quickly, ready to defend himself, but it was only Xandria holding a flashlight. "Did you find her?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

David shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "No, not yet," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Xandria reached out and touched his shoulder, her eyes filled with sympathy. "We'll find her," she said shakily. "We just have t--what's that?"

"What? Oh!" He held up the pendant. "New jewelry?"

"It's not mine. Gabby! Gabrielle!"

Gabby hurried down the stairs. "What? I'm here! I'm here!"

David showed her the necklace. "Is this yours?" Gabby looked at it closely and shook her head. "You're sure?" His daughter nodded vigorously. He glanced nervously at his wife and exhaled sharply. "What are the chances someone can get in here?"

"DAD!" Colton called from upstairs. David and Xandria stormed up the stairs with Gabby close behind. They found Colton standing by the patio door, looking at the darkening sky. "What is it, Colton?" David asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

Colton turned around, his eyes wide with fear. "There's someone out there," he said. "I saw them in the yard, watching the house. This was by the door and it was cracked open a little." He held up a pink blanket.

David and Xandria exchanged a look, both feeling a surge of panic. "Are you sure?" David asked, his voice sharp.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm sure. They were just standing there, staring at me." Colton said with a nod, his voice trembling.

Xandria's hand flew to her mouth, feeling a surge of fear for her daughter. "We have to find her," she said, frantic. "Phoebe's in danger of getting sick."

David gripped the pendant tightly in his hand. "We will find her," he said firmly. "Colton, you and Gabby stay inside. Lock the doors and don't let anyone in. I'll check out the back of the house."

"I'm coming too," Xandria replied.

"No, you're not...you're staying right here with the kids," said David with a shake of his head. "I'll handle this."

"No, I need to come with--"

David inhaled audibly and sighed. "This isn't up for discussion, Alexandria."

"Don't you take that tone with me, David Rashbaum," Xandria snarled at her husband.

His voice was firm, his eyes unwavering. "You are to stay here with Gabby and Colton. I'm going out to find Phoebe. And I want you all to stay here and safe until I return."

Torn between anguish and desperation, Xandria attempted to plead with David to let her go with him, her maternal instincts warring against his protective resolve. "I'm her damned mother!" she snapped, her voice laced with fury.

"And you're my fuckin' wife," David growled, his tone commanding and unwavering. "You'll stay here and watch the kids. You hear me, woman? Not one step outside this house."

Xandria stared at him, her eyes burning with anger. "You're not the boss of me, David," she hissed, her words laced with venom. "I have a right to go out and look for my daughter."

David took a deep breath, trying to control his rising temper. "Listen to me, Alexandria," he said, his voice low and measured, but the commanding menace behind his words was clear. "Phoebe is in danger. We don't know who took her or what they wanted, or if she just wandered off. And I'm sure as fuck not gonna let my wife out in that hell." He took her face in his hands and forced her to look him in the eye. "Stay here...look after the kids. For me."

Xandria felt a surge of emotions, anger, and fear battling for dominance. She wanted to fight, to defy her husband's orders, but deep down, she knew he was right. She took a deep, shaky breath and nodded slowly, tears prickling in her eyes.

"Fine," she whispered, her voice breaking. "For you."

David released her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Thank you," he said softly. "I promise you, I'll bring Phoebe home safe and sound. You got my back?"

"Yes, I do," she said firmly. "You better come back, David. Or else."

David gave her a tight hug, feeling grateful for her support. "I will," he promised. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Kids...listen to her." She helped him don a mask, hat, and scarf to protect himself. He grabbed his rifle and opened the door.

As he stepped outside, he felt a sudden chill in the air. The smell of rain lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of decay and rot. The world was now harsh and unforgiving, with no reprieve in sight.

His footfalls left prints in the fallen ash like a sickly-looking snow. David looked back momentarily and saw Xandria positioned just inside the door with her gun. She gave him a determined nod before he turned his back and began his search.

"Phoebe?!" he yelled out.

The yard was quiet and empty, with no sign of life apart from the occasional bird call in the distance. He scanned the trees and bushes, his eyes searching for any sign of movement. Nearby, a steady flow of water in the creek splashed about the rocks, something that would have made him stop and appreciate not so long ago.

"Phoebe!"

His heart pounded in his chest as he thought about his daughter, all alone in this terrible world. A trail of blood led up to the barn, one of the doors broken open. His stomach flipped, terrified at what he'd see.

He hesitated for the space of a heartbeat, then peered inside and saw the ripped-apart corpse of their family pig.

Next to the pig...David gagged and bile rose in his throat. Two people around the same age, in their late 40s or early 50s, lay in the bales of hay. Their bodies were twisted and mangled, their faces unrecognizable. Their clothes were tattered and covered in blood and grime.

David swallowed hard, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. He quickly averted his eyes, unable to bear the sight of the gruesome scene in front of him. Flies hovered around the corpses and the stench was unbearable.

He checked all the stalls. All the animals lay curled up, long dead from lack of food and water. Unable to hold in his sick, he ripped down the mask and emptied the contents of his stomach on the barn floor.

"Goddamnit," he muttered to himself, readjusting his mask and slamming the barn door shut. He leaned against it and breathed in relief that, at the very least, his daughter hadn't been in there.

The trees swayed in the breeze, casting eerie shadows across the ground. The sound of birds chirping and rustling leaves seemed unnaturally loud, and David found himself on edge, his senses on high alert.

A twig snapped behind him and David spun around, his heart pounding. He caught a glimpse of a figure darting between the trees, but before he could react, they were gone, swallowed up by the darkness.

David stood still, waiting for any sign of movement. His breath came quick and shallow. He strained his ears, trying to listen for any sound that would give away the location of the mysterious figure.

Suddenly, he heard a faint cry in the distance.

The faint and distant cry echoed through the forest, sending a shiver down David's spine. He knew it belonged to his daughter. He took off running, following the sound through the thicket and brambles.

"Phoebe!" The cry grew louder. "Phoebe!"

"Daddy! Help...."

A figure huddled by a small fire, trembling in fear. It was his daughter, Phoebe, her blonde hair tangled and dirty, her clothes torn and filthy. She looked up at him with wide eyes, her chest heaving with sobs and choking coughs from the ash and cold.

"Phoebe," he breathed, his voice choked with emotion. "Oh my god...what are you doing out here?" David rushed to her, wrapping his arms and coat around the frail child.

"I...I was hiding," she stammered, her voice weak and hoarse. Phoebe let out a dry, heaving cough, shivering against her Dad. "Someone came in and I ran." She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice cracking with fear.

"NO!" David spun around and saw a woman running at them through the trees. "She's mine! You took my daughter. I take yours in return!"

"Daddy! Watch out!"

A knife caught David's hand and he swore, taking off for the house. The woman charged after him, her wild hair flying behind her. David desperately tried to outpace her but felt her presence gaining on him.

The world seemed to move in slow motion. The trees seemed to blur past him, and the ground felt like it was made of sand. He could hear Phoebe's cries, mingled with the woman's shouts, echoing through the forest.

David reached the forest's edge and saw the house in the distance. He picked up his pace, his lungs burning with the dirty air as he sprinted towards safety. The woman was right behind him, her footsteps echoing across the ground.

There was a searing pain in his thigh and he stumbled to the ground. Phoebe fell out of his jacket and rolled along the mud. "Phoebe, can you run? Run to the house, baby."

"I...." The sound came out raspy as the child struggled to breathe. He looked back and saw the woman standing over him, her wild eyes glinting with malice.

"Xandria!" David shouted.

She pounced on him and raised the knife above her head, ready to strike. David reached up and grabbed at the woman's throat, throwing her off and pinning her to the ground. The knife fell from her hands and skidded a few feet.

"Who the fuck are you!"

"You killed my daughter! She's mine!" The woman continued screaming and clawing at David.

His hands tightened around her windpipe. "No, she's mine," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "And you're not going anywhere." He could feel the rage coursing through his veins, and he squeezed harder, desperate to quiet her. The woman's eyes went wide, and she struggled to breathe, her body thrashing against David's.

Xandria emerged from the trees, her gun aimed directly at the woman's head. She coldly pulled the trigger. David wearily, painfully rose off the ground and took the gun from his wife, freeing up her hands to scoop up their ill daughter.

"Go go!" David threw his jacket over the little girl and rose to his feet to follow his wife back to the house, limping and watching for other intruders.

Both parents did their best to shield the sick girl as they ran towards the house, Colton and Gabby standing in the doorway. Edit stood next to them, barking loudly. David collapsed inside the house, and Colton slammed the door shut to ensure the locks were engaged.

His wife knelt next to him, cradling Phoebe in her arms. She looked up at David with a worried expression. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and concerned.

"Bitch caught me in the leg."

Xandria shook her head, still cradling Phoebe close to her chest. "Gabby! Colton!" she called out, her voice steady and calm. "I need to get Phoebe in a warm bath and clean her up. Get her some medicine. Can you make it up the stairs?"

"Yeah...right behind you," David said.

"Yeah, Mom?" Colton asked, walking in with Gabby.

"Can you help your Daddy with his ashy clothes and get him upstairs?" Xandria asked, gently rocking Phoebe in her arms.

"Sure, Mom," Colton said with a determined nod and walked over to David, helping him to his feet.

The weight of exhaustion weighed down on him. The adrenaline had worn off and the pain from his wound was becoming more and more noticeable.

He took a deep breath and gripped the railing, trying to muster the strength to make it up the stairs. He felt Colton's hand on his shoulder, lending him support as they slowly climbed. The stairs creaked under their weight, and David felt sweat trickling down his back.

Once in the Master bedroom, he collapsed onto the bed, feeling exhausted and drained. "Gabs," David panted. "Go...go check on Lily and Celeste."

Colton remained to help David. They peeled ashen, dirty, and bloodied clothes from his body. David hissed when his pants were lowered. The gash on his leg pulsed with blood grotesquely.

"Shit," Colton recoiled and ran for a towel. He pressed it to David's wound.

"Jesus Christ...fuckin' bitch," David complained. He pulled off his hat and his hair fell in curly floofs. "Go grab your Mom's bag and the bag in the twin's room. Your mom will need it."

Colton left to find the two bags and David listened to Xandria talking in the master bath. She was singing and Phoebe would laugh or sing along. The music was a welcomed sound.

"Everything okay, baby?!" He called out.

"Almost done," she yelled back. He heard the tub being drained and the shower turned on. Colton finally came back with the bags and promised to keep an eye on his sisters.

"Thanks, bud." With that, Colton left and Xandria carried out a freshly bathed Phoebe wrapped in a towel. "Look at my pretty princess."

"I'm the only princess, Daddy," Phoebe said confidently and sat on the bed. "Daddy got a booboo?"

Xandria turned on the overhead light and helped David up. She turned on the TV for the child with a firm, "Stay here and watch cartoons, baby. I need to help Daddy."

David winced as Xandria helped him sit down on the edge of the tub, leg resting against the side and his wound throbbing.

"Babe, I'm not gonna lie...this is gonna fucking hurt," Xandria said bluntly.

"Yeah, I know," David replied. "Just do it."

"Here...hold on." Xandria ran from the bathroom and returned with a whiskey bottle. "Shoot some."

"Shit...don't need to tell me twice," he laughed and took four large gulps of the warm liquid. Even when she used the gentle shower setting, his pain receptors were sufficiently blocked. Streaks of crimson and grime stained the tub.

After thoroughly cleaning and drying, she pulled a first aid kit from the bag and began to sew up his leg wound. Her hands were gentle and efficient, and he felt a sense of relief as she tended to his injury.

Xandria looked up at him with a small smile, her eyes filled with compassion. "You're gonna need to take it easy," she said softly. "Did she get you anywhere else?" David lifted his hand to show her a deep slice to the thumb area.

"Got me there too," he groaned as the dressing was wrapped around his leg wound.

She frowned and took out a bottle of antiseptic. "Alright, let's get these cleaned up." She gently poured some of the liquid over the wounds and cleaned them, removing any dirt and debris. The smell of alcohol and disinfectant filled the air.

David's breath quickened as he felt the antiseptic sting his wounds. He gritted his teeth and groaned, trying to suppress the pain. Xandria leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his cheek.

"It's okay, babe," she whispered. "Just breathe." She gently kissed his cheek, and he let out a small sigh, grateful for the comfort.

Her fingers gently caressed his skin, soothing the pain. Her soft and comforting touch and he felt grateful for her presence. She sewed up his smaller wound and dressed it in the same fashion as his leg.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"Going out there for her. For risking your life to save ours." Xandria smiled at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "You're my hero, David."

David felt a rush of warmth as he looked at her. "You're my hero, too," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "You're everything to me. Which is why I couldn't take the chance of losing you out there alone."

Xandria's eyes softened and she leaned in to kiss him, her soft lips pressing against his. "How about we get you cleaned up too?"

She checked the bedroom and Phoebe was lying down, curled up and laughing at the TV. She grabbed a pair of shorts and a towel, setting to work on her husband.

David closed his eyes, feeling the warm water and Xandria's touch. He let himself sink into the sensations, forgetting about his pain and exhaustion for a moment. The water cascaded down his body, washing away the grime and sweat. He felt relaxed, almost weightless, as Xandria's hands gently massaged his muscles.

"Feeling better?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.

"Yeah, I feel a lot better," he said softly and dreamily.

Xandria rinsed the soap from his hair and stepped out of the shower, handing him a towel. "You look much better," she said with a smile.

David nodded, feeling a sense of relief. His wounds were still painful, but he felt comforted by Xandria's presence and care. He dried himself off and put on the shorts, grateful for the chance to rest and recover.

He sat on the bed and watched as Xandria helped Phoebe into a pull-up. She was hooked up to her nebulizer and underwent treatment while Xandria went downstairs to cook something quick for dinner.

David watched his daughter with a soft smile, her condition a constant worry for them. She looked up at him, her big blue eyes filled with love and trust.

"Daddy, are you okay?" she muffled into the mask, her voice soft and gentle.

David tried to put on a brave face for her. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Just need some rest," he said, giving her a small smile.

"Who was that lady?" the child asked, curling up into her Dad's side. David put an arm around her and held his daughter.

"I don't know, princess," he said, "We didn't know her."

"She was scary," she said, her voice small. "But you saved me."

David looked down at his daughter, his heart filled with love. "Yes, I did," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'll always keep you safe, no matter what."

Phoebe looked up at him with big blue eyes and a smile on her lips. "I love you, Daddy."

David's heart swelled as he looked at his daughter. "I love you, too," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

The smell of hot food filled the air. Xandria returned to the room, carrying a tray with three bowls and a warm blanket. She set the tray on the nightstand and draped the blanket over David and Phoebe.

"I hope this will make you feel better," she said with a small smile.

"Maccy cheese!" Phoebe exclaimed and promptly fell into a coughing fit.

David quickly reached over to soothe her, feeling her small body tremble. Xandria handed her a cup of water and slowly the coughing subsided. The couple looked at each other with the same grim expression.