Mommy, Run! Daddy's Coming After Us

"Child..."

The blood-soaked man gasped for breath as he crawled toward me on trembling, skeletal hands. Blood ran from a wound on his forehead. With great difficulty, his lips moved:

"D...don't... be... afraid... child."

I took a step back in disgust. This was a sight people in the city had long since grown used to, but something about this one seemed strange. I fought back the urge to vomit the thick soup I'd had for lunch and watched his eyes, trying to figure out what he was saying.

He seemed to be at death's door, without even enough strength left to crawl toward me. He lay on the ground, panting heavily for a while, then spoke in a hoarse, muddled voice:

"We are... you... will soon join us... don't be afraid, child."

"You will save us... all of us... don't... be afraid... don't..."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.