Just a Little Hope

I know I say this a lot, but this time I actually meant it instead of it just being an empty phrase. "I'm tired." I was truly tired; exhausted even. Why, you ask? Because ever since it happened and they started appearing, I've been on the run. I didn't exercise so running for my life took a lot out of me.
Though, I hadn't seen one of them for a while now. Maybe they're gone? I doubt it. I was glad I at least had Mocha with me though. I had found her about two weeks prior, scavenging through someone's trash. She was scruffed up, dirty, and smelt horrid, but once I cleaned her up, she had a nice mocha color to her, and not knowing her name, I decided that's what I'd call her. I figured she could keep me company since it's better than being alone.
It's been about two months since everything. Those things are fast, which makes it ten times scarier; not that just seeing them isn't scary enough. I think I've almost had a heart attack a few times. Just imagine: You're sitting in class, just like any other day, doodling on the corner of your paper, when all of a sudden you hear an announcement, "All staff and students please report to the front parking lot. I repeat, all staff and students report to the front parking lot. Quickly."
As you're walking outside in confusion, you hear the screeching of police sirens and ambulances, and to make matters worse, a long drawn out howl that could only belong to a tornado siren. Panic settling in, you witness everything unfold as staff and students run all around you while you listen to their screams. Confusion, dread, panic, fear. All of these emotions while you stand there, frozen. Too horrified by all of the sounds to move an inch. You didn't think it could get any worse until someone, or something, was charging straight towards you. They looked sick but were moving fast. Every step they took closer to you, you could tell they weren't human. Their mold colored flesh, sunken eyes, shredded clothes; all of it was so unsettling it sent chills down your spine. That was the start of it.
I want to go back to when my mom made me pancakes for breakfast. Back to when I'd meet up with my friend just to sit in silence together because that's what made us happy. Silence. There's more silence than ever now, but not the peaceful silence you'd get on a Saturday afternoon. When I was younger, people used to ask me, "What superpower would you want to have?" and I would always tell them I couldn't choose. I think if I could have any superpower in the world now, I'd want the ability to travel back in time.

"Lex! You're gonna be late!" Mom was rushing me again.
"I'm coming!" I hope she heard me from down the stairs. I was in a rush but I took a bit of time to study the pictures surrounding my mirror. Each one holding a memory I'd never want to forget. Birthdays, road trips, holidays; all of that is fun but even better with a friend.
"Alexa!!"
I got lost in my thoughts again. I should hurry downstairs. Grabbing my bag off the floor, I rushed down the stairs, almost tripping on the way down. This always happens when you rush. I knew that, which is why I don't like rushing.
"Kay, I'm done." Now it's time to go–
"Wait a minute," Mom said right as I was about to leave. Didn't you say I was going to be late?
"Haa… What?" I was starting to get antsy. I don't like people talking to me when I'm trying to leave.
"I wanted you to know I might not be home when you get back. Since I missed work the other day, I might volunteer to stay overtime. Also, I want you to wear this." She held out something small and shiny.
"What's this?" I took it from her to examine it closer. It was a golden, heart-shaped locket.
"Here." She snatched it from me, popped it open, and showed me a tiny picture of what looked to be two babies sitting together.
"Who're they?"
"It's you and Vanah!"
"Oh..." I took the locket back, taking one last look at the picture before closing it. "Okay." Mom being shorter than me, I bent down a bit so she could put the locket around my neck. I'm not much of a jewelry person but if it makes Mom happy–
"Look at you~"
"Ugh.. okay, I'm gonna be late." Leaving it at that, I rushed out the door to the smell of freshly mowed grass and a beautiful day waiting for me. Or so I thought.

Hearing a familiar high pitched sound, I was snapped out of my thoughts to Mocha crouching down beside me, hair raised, intensely staring in front of us. Every fiber in my body was hoping it wasn't of them. As far as we've walked, we ended up smack dab in the middle of Nashville, Tennessee. Mom used to take me here quite often when I was younger so I knew the layout of the place pretty well, if not like the back of my hand.
Stop reminiscing about the past. Right. I needed to find out what Mocha was whining at. My heart beat was picking up, I could almost hear it. Budump, badump, badump. I was dreading what I was about to see. Scanning the area in front of us, all I saw was trashed cars. Some overturned, some covered in vegetation, and one over to the left had one of them stuck in the driver's seat, unable to move. None of them really caught my eye until I spotted a sky blue Volkswagen Beetle. Although, the one I was looking at wasn't quite as pristine. None of these cars were. They were all wrecked, rusted, and had claw marks all over them. One could only assume what happened here.
Didn't you just say not to get lost in thought? You could die here. I knew that. And I knew I needed to protect Mocha. I've gotten attached to her, so much that I'd risk anything to make sure she was safe. She was still whining at the entity in front of us but I still couldn't point out what she was seeing. We need to move. My head hurts. I needed to find headache medicine, fast. My head was pounding, it felt like my brain was trying to come out of my skull. You're wasting time. We needed to move.
"What is it girl?" I crouched down and tried whispering to Mocha, trying not to make much noise in case it was one of them. It was especially quiet now, making it feel like I could hear my own blood flowing. Maybe if I hold my breath and close my eyes it will go away. No. I was too scared to look away from the cars, too scared of what could come out from behind them when I'm not looking.
Slowly. "Come on Mocha..." I slowly picked her up, being as quiet as possible. Now I have to tiptoe around these cars. I didn't trust trying to walk through them so my safest bet was going around. Each step now felt like I had 50 pound weights attached to my ankles. Quietly.. I was trying not to breathe loud enough to be heard.
I was almost around the cars but I still didn't see anything. Just a few more steps and I can put Mocha down. Just a few– Oh no. No no no. I kicked something. A can? It was so loud. I was too scared to turn around. Frozen. Mocha was still whining and now looking behind us. I didn't want to put her down, not yet. This is it, you're done for. Did now have to be the time I had a mental breakdown? After everything I've been through, why now?
I was getting caught up in my thoughts again. I'd definitely get hurt if I kept this up. Turn around. I needed to look behind me and see what Mocha was whining at. Maybe it's just a squirrel? Impossible. I hadn't seen another animal besides Mocha since it happened. Maybe it's a human. I doubt that but it could be a possibility. I needed to stop standing here. Turn around. Finally getting up the courage to look behind me, I slowly turned to see… "Mom..?" No. That is not my mom, not anymore.
I never wanted to see her, it, like this. As much as I wanted to believe that the thing standing in front of me was my mother, it's just not possible. If it were her, she'd say, "GASP! Alexa, I can't believe it's really you!!" with a huge, bright smile on her face, but this thing was just standing there, cold, lifeless, hungry. Hungry? Yeah, hungry. Why? Because it's one of them. Meaning, it's a bloodthirsty monster. Always hungry, looking for prey; and in this situation, I happened to be the meaty feast that this thing desired.
Enough wasting time. I needed to move as fast as possible in any direction and find a safe place to hide. That's exactly what I did. As fast as my legs would carry me with a dog in my arms, which isn't as fast as I'd hoped. Faster. I was running as fast as I could. I didn't want it to end like this. Anywhere you can hide, go there. Now was not the time to diddle dally around. I said, as I was running for my life.
There! A conveniently placed pharmacy. There was no time to check if any of them were inside. I just needed in there, now. And with that, I proceeded to push on a pull open door, almost breaking the glass. Probably not, but that's what it felt like before I got inside where it was safe. At least I hoped it was. After managing to get inside, I could finally put Mocha down and give my arms some rest. I was still startled when that thing came running into the door. You can't push on a pull open door. Luckily, it couldn't pull it open.
I skimmed over the pharmacy to make sure nothing was in there with me besides Mocha. I quickly began looking for some medicine. There. I spotted a bottle of Ibuprofen. This seemed to be the only bottle left, lucky me. Now, I needed water. I was parched. I'm sure Mocha was dying for a drink too. Does this pharmacy not sell water? I started to get annoyed. Maybe behind the counter? I'd never been behind the counter at a pharmacy. It was like a whole new world. Oh! I knew it. They had a whole case of water behind the counter. Mocha and I needed as much hydration as we could get.
"Here Mocha," I waved for her to come to me. The only thing I could find for a bowl were some disposable cups. Being as thirsty as I was, I downed a full bottle of water in no time. Mocha was patiently waiting for me to give her water, and those puppy dog eyes, I couldn't help but stop drinking and give her some too. I filled up at least three of the cups and unsurprisingly, Mocha drank every last drop. "Good," I praised her as I stroked her head. "Alright," I spoke softly to Mocha as I layed down beside her, petting her back as she got comfortable. "Rest up, girl."
I made sure that my locket was still around my neck before trying to fall asleep. We're getting close. Hopefully, after all this time, I'll be able to see her soon.