A knock on the door. The back door. I walked to it and peeked through the side of the curtain. Ella was standing there. Her shoulder length hair was a wet mess and sticking to her face. I opened the door and she stepped inside. Right behind her was Eric. He ran to me and hugged my legs tight.

"Everyone was gone Claire. Everyone. The windows of the school all broken. A few dead bodies. I ran to my grandparents with Eric. No one. My sister's house. No one. My Uncle's. Not a person anywhere. No one for us. We have no where else to go." She began crying.

"You're here aren't you. You had somewhere to go. It lead you back. So this must be where you are meant to be for now. Have you been walking around since you left?"

"Yeah," she mumbled. 

I looked at Eric. Sweat had hardened his hair. "Christ Ella. It's been 8 hours since you left." Eric small eyes found mine. He was pale. I could feel his smile body swaying as he grabbed my legs tighter. I lifted him into my arms and ran to the bathroom. Ella followed, sobbing still. Luke and his sister, Emily, looked up from the couch in our direction. No time to explain. I ran up the stairs, turned on the water, and put in the plug. I striped Eric's small body from his soaked clothes. I placed his body down in the water. He mumbled something but I couldn't hear him. His eyes went wide when I dipped his head under the cold water. He sat up and drank the water from the tub. He looked so fragile. I watched the life slowly come back into his baby blue eyes. His blond hair dripped water droplets down his tiny face. 

"You feeling better Eric," I asked him slowly.

"I hungry."

I told Ella to watch him for a while as I ran downstairs to grab some crackers, peanut butter, and a glass of milk. When I got back up stairs Ella had taken Eric from the tub and was drying him off. He shivered. After she had him dressed I handed her the food and told her to head to my room. She listened without hesitation. I walked downstairs to the kitchen and sat at the table with my head down.

"Hey," a voice said from behind me.

I jumped, alomst tipping my chair backwards.

He laughed. "Sorry."

Chris. "I'm sure. Where's Sarah?"

"She is taking a nap in your parents ro..," he paused. "Are you alright?" His green eyes went wide.

"Yeah," I said, looking down at my clothes. I was dipping water on the floor. No. I was sweating. I felt it now. "I'm just hot I guess." My hair was coming out of my pony tail and sticking to my cheeks.

"Have some oreos with me," he said.

I couldn't tell if he was asking me or telling me. Until he grabbed my hand and dragged me back down to the chair I was sitting in and mumbled, "Stay." He grabbed two glasses, poured some milk, and layed the cookies in between us. "You only had half a pancake dismorning. Nothing to drink. I'm starting to think you are dehydrated. Which I know my thinking is right because you are pale and sweating like crazy. So eating these is not a choice. You will or I will force you." He smiled. His top teeth were perfect. His bottom were a little crooked. His teeth were white. I wished mine were that white. He had a nice smile. Cute really. Why did I just think that?

After awhile I started to feel better. Though I felt dirty from sweating like a pig. Chris must have noticed my change of health because he got up and left me alone. I stood and cleaned up our glasses. I put the cookies back in the cabinet and headed to the downstairs bathroom. I took a quick shower. My phone buzzed. My phone? I looked around the bathroom. On the back of the sink sat my phone. Blinking its little green message light. I picked it up and unlocked it.

Uncle Curtis

Claire. They are coming your way. Warn everyone. Hide.

-3 days ago-

Another message.

Uncle Curtis

Message me when you get this.

-3 minutes ago-

The soldiers must have had hit Florida first. Uncle Curtis tried to warn me. My family could have survived. Why did I leave my phone in the bathroom that night? Stupid me. A silent tear slid down my cheek.

I hit reply. Quickly I typed out a message.

Uncle curtis. I was too late. Mom and Dad are dead. So is Daytona. I am alone. Well not alone. There is other kids here with me. I'm scared.

Sent.

Buzz. Buzz.

Uncle Curtis

I'm sorry C. I'll come for you as soon as I can. Be Strong Girl. Teach those other kids to shoot like you. And don't be afraid. This is just the beginning.

-30 seconds ago-

My phone buzzed and shut off. Dead. Like a million people.

I opened the bathroom door and walked out. Against the wall laid my 243 where i had left it by the door. I grabbed it. Only deciding to put it back. I climped the stairs to my parents room. In the dresser I found my dads pistol. Teach those kids to shoot like you. Dad always said I was good. I doubted that I could teach someone else though. I flipped the gun in my hands. Then I loaded it and headed outside to the back yard. Dad had a target set up last year. It was just a piece of paper on a board. It had three rings. I had to change the paper a lot last year. I was always out her wasting bullets. Dad didn't seem to care though. He smiled at me as I hit my target everytime. I'd laugh and say that I'd kill any zombie that came my way. The thought made me stop in my tracks. I wished he were here. Not laying in the dumbster down the street with mom. I shuttered and pushed the thought away.

I raised my arm and looked down the barrel. Hello Target. I smiled and pulled the trigger. Bullseye. 

"Nice," Luke said smiling from the doorway. "I bet you I can hit your exact mark."

I shrugged. "Yeah, okay." And rolled my eyes.

His lips pulled up at the corners. "Can I show you?"

I looked at my fathers gun. Then back at Luke. I held it out to him. He walked over. Aimed. Fired.

He was about 3 inches to the left of my shot. I knew he couldn't do. But I hoped that maybe he could. One less person I'd have to teach. Atleast he knew how to shoot though. I smiled. Chris came running out the back door. Grabbing the gun from Luke.

"What are.." He looked at the target. "They hear you and they will find us."

I looked up from the ground. "No Chris, they won't. They're gone for now. I got a text message from my Uncle Curtis. I figure that they won't be back down this way for a few days. They are following up the coast. They are hitting every state. They hit Florida a day before they hit us. They have a lot of states to go if they started at Florida."

"What makes you think that they started at Florida Claire? What if we were one of the last states and they are closer than you think?" He aimed the hand gun and shot. He hit right where I had. His body relaxed for a moment. Then anger filled his eyes. "We have other people inside that we need to protect and between the three of us out here, only two have good aim. I know my sister can't shoot. Ella more than likely can't. She can fight though. That's good. Eric and Emily are small. Eric is too young to be useful. So let's try not to attrack people our direction. Okay?" He looked at Luke. "Don't be so stupid." Then he met my stare with blazing green eyes and walked off.

Luke said something. I couldn't really hear him. Something like 'where is he going' or 'the birds are humming.' I have no idea. I was staring at the target. How did he do that? His parents were against guns. How did he learn to shoot that good?

"It was luck," Luke said as if answering my thought.

He had to be right. I know that Chris could have never held a gun before now. His parents just wouldn't allow it. I turned to walk back in the house and ran face first into Sarah.

"You pissed him off," she frowned.

"I... I guess I did."

She looked off in his direction. I looked at her. She didn't look worried that he was walking off alone. Why? "He has a great shot," she spoke while looking at the target.

Were these people reading my minds. I seriously need to know.

"It wasn't luck," she answered.

She must have heard Luke's comment. Or she was still reading my mind. Luke stared at her. His freckles multiplied in the sun. My jaw dropped at her words. Not luck.

"What is wrong with you C," she laughed.

"What?" I blinked.

"If you keep your mouth like that bugs are going to find a new home."

"Shut up," I locked eyes with her.

"Chill C. I'm just picking." Then she looked at Lucas. "You really think that was luck?"

"Maybe," he said gritting his teeth. They weren't as perfect as Chris's.

"He practiced for years. That sure wasn't luck. You're just jealous. He showed you up. He always does." She pointed her pretty grey stare at Luke.

Luke looked at his feet for a moment and then walked into the house. Sarah turned on her heel and followed. I turned back to the target. Awe struck.

                                                                    *                  *                 *

I sat on the living room floor watching my phone charge. It was almost done so I knew I had been staring at it for a good few hours. If I could have been watching tv I would have. We didn't have a tv though. My parents always said that we didn't really need one. The back door opened and I stood. Christopher walked into the living room and handed me my dad's gun.

"I'm sorry," he said. Then continued walking.

I grabbed his arm. "You're sorry?"

"Yes," he sighed. "I should not have gotten mad. It was stupid. I just wanted to make sure we were all safe. Then you were out there firing a gun. I should have just explained not to do that. And there was Luke. He always had to be there. I don't get it. I don't understand. But since he has walked into that broken window and you said he could stay..." He looked at his hands. His knuckles were bloody. "I just get so mad when I see him near you. I don't trust him."

I lifted his head so he was looking at me. "It doesn't matter. It's okay. I forgive you. But only because you have a nice shot."

He smiled for a moment. "A nice shot," he repeated.

"A great shot," I corrected.

He smiled. That smile had to be the prettiest smile in the world. "Yours is better. You marked the spot making it easier for me." He laughed.

"Yeah. I'm sure that was the case. Anyway, now that you're back I'm going to bed." I began walking away.

"You waited up for me," he asked.