“That’s all of it,” Viola grunted as she heaved two suitcases towards me.
“You needed two cases?” I laughed, hardly believing my eyes. She checked the kids weren’t looking and then stuck her finger up at me.
“Just wait until you have kids, Mar, you’re in for a shock,” she teased. “So where are you parked?”
“Yeah, about that… we’re not taking my car,” I shrugged, as she raised an eyebrow.
“But my car is old. And it’s tiny,” she complained, pulling a face at me.
“Mhm, and my car is stolen,” I informed her.
He jaw dropped, “What?”
I motioned for her to come closer and made sure the kids weren’t listening.
“Some crazy guy jumped in front of it, and I didn’t stop in time,” I began, watching Viola’s mouth open even wider. “I got out to check if he was ok. I mean, I don’t know if I did it to him or what, but he looked weird as fuck, Vi.”
“Jesus, Marina! You hit someone with your car? And you didn’t call the police?” Viola’s eyes were as wide as her mouth. Talk about gawping.
“Hey, have you seen it out there? I don’t think the police are bothered anymore. Anyway,” I continued, “that’s not even the worst of it. Whilst I was checking if he was ok, some asshole got in my car and just fucking drove over him, cool as you like.”
“Was he ok?” Viola asked, hand over her gaping mouth.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I kind of ran away at that point.”
“Marina!” she scolded, “What’s the matter with you?”
“Viola, you go out there and tell me you’re not terrified to stand in the street for more than 5 seconds, even if you've just murdered someone. Speaking of which, can we please get out of here?” I pleaded, grabbing one of the cases from her. She relented and called Hallie over.
“Hal, we have to stay at Auntie Marina’s for a while, ok? Now can you help me out by getting your sisters shoes on?” she asked her eldest, gently. Hallie nodded and set off to get Esther ready to go.

Viola went from room to room doing a last minute check. She finally joined us by the door and looked at me nervously.
“Ok, ready to go,” she croaked, giving my hand a frightened squeeze.
“We’ll be fine,” I reassured her. “We just get ourselves to the car and then we drive to my place. We don’t stop, we don’t help anyone, nothing. We just go straight there. Got it?”
“Got it,” she repeated, grabbing a case in one hand and Esther’s hand in the other. I pulled the door open wide and stepped out into the hallway. I hadn’t been prepared for the body that slammed into me, knocking me to the floor.
“What the fuck?” I gasped, scrabbling to get upright again, looking for my attacked. “Miles?”
He was at my side, his eyes wild and bloodshot. He leapt at me again, but I was ready this time and gave him a massive push as he approached me, sending him toppling backwards.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shouted, panicking as he got up and came for me again. We ended up in an odd tangle, him trying to get closer and me trying to move away. Viola was in the doorway screeching his name but he paid no attention, his eyes locked on to me as he clawed at me in a frenzy. We stumbled about a bit as we tussled, no one really having the upper hand, but finally I managed to give him an almighty shove. He tumbled back, hitting his head against the pointed corner of the hallway.
“Now!” I called to Viola, as Miles rolled on the floor in a daze. We each grabbed a case and a child and we legged it down the stairs. There was no way we were waiting for the elevator; Miles was quickly regaining his senses.

We dashed out to her car, strapping the kids in as quickly as possible and throwing the cases into the trunk. I scrambled to get into the passenger side as Viola practically launched herself into the driver’s seat. She turned the key and accelerated as soon as the car sputtered into life.
“Take as many back roads as possible,” I garbled, trying to function through my adrenaline overload.
“What the fuck was that?” Viola gasped, her breathing ragged with terror. “What was wrong with him?! Is that what the virus does? Are you ok?”
“Viola, stop with the questions. Just drive,” I commanded, trying to comprehend the situation. I turned to the back of the car to try and comfort the girls, who were both crying hysterically.
"It's okay," I hushed in my calmest voice.
“Oh my God…” Viola trailed off, causing me to whip back to the front to see what she was looking at.
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered, my eyes widening at the sight before us.

Amazingly, I managed to nod off whilst tied to a chair. I guess 10 hours of walking will do that to you. I don’t know how long I’d been sleeping, but there was a hint of sunlight creeping through the window when I woke. My whole body ached and I was desperate to stretch out. A small snort came from the bed in the corner behind me and I craned my neck around to try and see who was in here with me. It wasn’t anyone I’d met yet, which would make it either Brian or Johnny. I didn’t care which, I was just glad it wasn’t Shadows. I didn’t want to meet him again for the rest of my natural life. The body stirred slightly but didn’t wake, leaving me sitting awkwardly as I waited. My feet were in excruciating pain. I flexed my toes slightly and felt the skin underneath crack. I let out a sharp gasp and bit my lip, trying not to cry out at the pain. I wasn’t quiet enough though, my noise breaking the man’s slumber. With a yawn, he rolled over and stretched out as much as he could. My God, I was so jealous of him at that moment that it hurt.
His deep brown eyes connected with mine and he blinked a few times.
“’Sup?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
“What’s up?” I repeated back, narrowing my eyes. “What’s up is that I’ve been tied to a chair for twelve hours. I’m desperate to move my fucking legs and see my niece, and then get the hell away from you lot.”
“Oh great, so you’re a bitch,” he groaned, rolling back over and pulling the blankets over his head.
“Hey, come back,” I demanded, trying to use the weight of my body to shift the chair around to face him, a centimeter at a time. I softened my voice, “Please?”
He pulled the blanket back down slightly, letting only his handsome chocolate eyes peep out, and raised an eyebrow.
“What?” his displeased voice came from underneath the blanket.
“Please, I just want to move my arms a little,” I pleaded, giving him my best puppy eyes. He stared at me for a moment, clearly considering this. Eventually he sat up; the blanket fell, exposing his bare torso and tattooed arms. Holy crap. I haven’t seen a topless guy for a while and despite the circumstances, I’m almost drooling right now.
“Like what you see?” he smirked, totally catching me checking him out. I flicked my eyes away for a second, blushing slightly.
“My arms?” I persisted, changing the subject. He swung his legs out of the bed – thank God he was clothed from the waist down, it might have killed me otherwise – and strolled over to me. He crouched in front of me, looking up into my eyes. I swallowed and tried to calm my breathing. When he spoke, his voice was silky.
“If you run, I promise you’ll regret it.”
Wow. He even made a threat sound pleasant. This guy was dangerously hypnotising, and I bet he knew it. I could only nod, not trusting myself to open my mouth.
His hands were gentle as he worked at the ropes behind me. As soon as they dropped away, I pulled my arms back around in front of me with a sigh of relief. I rubbed at the red ligature marks on my wrists as the tattooed man reappeared in front of me.
“Better?” he asked, running a hand through his hair. He reached down and grabbed a t-shirt. My concentration greatly improved as soon as he’d pulled it over his head.
“Thank you,” I nodded, still massaging my wrists.
“So, Marina,” he caught me off guard with my name. News obviously travelled fast. “You look healthy.”
“Uhh, what?” I asked, squinting at him.
“No scratches or bites, no fever, eyes look good,” he checked off on his fingers as he reeled off his list, peering at me.
“Oh, right. Yeah, I’m clear. I could have told you that last night,” I replied, moving my fingers up to work my aching neck.
“I mean, we had to be sure. Saw you have a good scrap with that biter outside, didn’t want you potentially infecting the rest of us,” he shrugged, cracking the window open. I shivered as the cool morning air washed over me.
“You saw that?”
“Yep. Saw you stealing from our town too,” he answered, a smile playing across his lips.
“You did?” I asked, flatly. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed them.
“Christ, you are unobservant. How have you even survived?” he questioned, laughing incredulously. I pursed my lips, slightly offended.
“I think I did a pretty good job up until last night,” I retorted. I stretched my arms upwards, relishing the feeling of my muscles finally being able to extend. “So, which one are you?”
He smirked, “The one who just untied you, and apparently you’re still not impressed with me.”
I scoffed, “I hope I didn’t wound your delicate ego.”
“Is that any way to speak to your rescuer?” he grinned, crouching down and getting to work untying my ankles.
“Thank you. May I know your name, oh brave knight?” I teased, stretching my legs out as soon as they were free. I stood, extending every limb as far away from my body as I could manage. God, that felt unbelievably good.
“I am Sir Brian,” he announced, bowing low.
“Why, Sir Brian, how could I ever repay you for saving me?” I quipped, as he straightened back out to his normal height.
“Your gratitude is but enough, m’lady,” he replied, dryly.
Ok, enough messing about, Marina. I rolled my shoulders and neck, before jumping into business, “So-”
“She’s in the next room. Go and see her,” he waved me away, then called after me, darkly, “Don’t forget what I said about running…”

I burst into the room, looking frantically for Hallie. She was sleeping peacefully in a bed. Or she had been, until I’d bashed the door down. She sat up with a start, but laid back down upon seeing me.
“Oh, Auntie Maz,” she yawned, “how’s it going?”
“What?” I exploded, “what do you mean ‘how’s it going’? Are you ok? Have they hurt you?”
Her brow furrowed, “I’m fine, they’ve been really nice to me. Are you feeling ok?”
“They didn’t tie you up?” I stuttered, feeling relieved and put out in equal measures.
“They tied you up because they weren’t sure if you’d been scratched, idiot,” she sassed, rolling her eyes.
“Hey, watch the attitude,” I scolded, narrowing my eyes. Eleven years old and already acting like a damn teenager.
She pulled the blankets back up to her chin, “Can I go back to sleep now? It’s like, the crack of dawn. Some of us like to rest.”
“Sure,” I shrugged, trying to process everything. So, Hallie had been fine all along. Enjoying herself, in fact. I'd spent the whole night worrying for nothing. Those assholes. I stepped out of her room, closing the door gently behind me, and hobbled back to the room I’d been held captive in, wincing with each step.
“Hey,” Brian greeted me as I limped in. “Happy now?”
“I guess,” I grumbled. I gestured to the bed, which was calling me in such a way that I couldn’t ignore it. “May I?”
“Knock yourself out,” he laughed. “I’ll go and tell Shadows that you’re up and about.”
Well, if there was ever a way to ruin my day, even given our current apocalyptic situation, Brian had just found it. Thanks, Brian.

Notes

Can we get a 'Fucking Brian' in here? Just kidding. No one could ever replace our dislike for Adam.