Thinking back to the radio transmission, its spread through biting? So this is seriously like some God-dammned zombie movie or comic.

I shake my head. I wonder how many people must be traveling up the Mississippi, and looting every house in their path. I've lived in Mississippi all my life, and this is the first time I'm contemplating moving. Up north, even. My mother is from Illanois, I wonder if I could stay with my aunt...

I'm broken from my thoughts from knocking upstairs. I grab a melee knife, and head up. I'm not willing to accept strangers.

I peek through the curtains and see about two people. They look at the window and point, I step back. I open the door, and am met with a pistol. A 10 mm glock, to be exact. I slam the door shut, the automatic lock system taking place. I back up, and put my hands to my sides, slowly reaching for the knife.

All I can focus on is the man at the door, panic coursing through my veins.

Thankfully, the door was still shut. And locked. Old habits die hard, after all.

After being in the marines for all those years, you learn to keep weary of everyone, everything.

And that's not something you just lose.

So what if I have a door that locks after it shuts everytime, its kept me safe more times than I can count.

"PLEASE! I JUST WANT MY DAUGHTER SAFE!"

Fuck. This decision could get me fucking killed, but that's a little girl.

I slowly open the door, only for the man to slam into me and shut the door, attempting to find a lock.

However, it's already locked.

"Wheres the lock, dammnit where's the lock?!"

"Its already locked, mister. May I so kindly suggest you change your tone before I throw your ass out."

"O-oh, yeah right. Mary, are you okay?"

"Y-yeah papa.."

The two hug, and I just sit awkwardly. I'm just not that great in social situations such as this, especially when it means I need to comfort another human being.

"Alright, enough funny business. Are either of you bit?"

The man begins to shake, and he pales.

"One of you are bit, aren't you? I knew I was bein a damn fool letting your ass in here! Just a danger to myself!"

"P-please no, neither of u-us are bit!"

I snatch up the little girl, doing a full body scan only to come up with nothing. I quickly put her down, and tackle the older man.

I rip his shirt off, and on his forearm is a very angry lookin bite mark.

"Why'd you lie to me, mister? You was going to die either way. I woulda let the girl in and you coulda went to rot elsewhere."

"P-please! I- I might not turn! W-we'll never know until it happens!"

"Well you're right. But that don't mean you're gonna live to see it happen. Say what you gotta to the youngin, then we're headed out back."

"A-alright, mary come here baby.."

The little girl walks to her father, tears littering her beautiful emerald eyes. Her sobs become much more violent, and her discomfort is becoming obvious.

"Listen baby, I need you to stay with ms..."

"Anna."
"Ms. Anna. Shes going to take care of you for a long time. She'll keep you safe. I love you baby. Don't give her a hard time, and remember. I'll always love, and be with you."

"O-okay papa..I love you..."

"I love you too..."

"Alright, times up bud. Let's get going. I'll make it quick and painless for ya."

"Thank you... for taking in mary. Her full name is Marilynn Elain Baker. Her birthday is March 16, please take care of her..."

"Yeah sure, whatever. Let's get this over with, you're already turning green."

"O-ok...give her my glock when I'm gone."

And those were his last words.

I grabbed mary, and dug a hole in the backyard. Just because I barely knew this man doesn't mean he deserves to be left there to rot.

So we had a funeral. Y'know, it's hilarious that everyone used to make fun of me for gardening. But I think it's a peaceful sport, and it comes in handy. In my case, it's the rose Bush I had.

Mary picked the most beautiful rose she could find, which was hard. I kept them nice and pruned, trimmed of thorns and all of that crap. And she set it on her pa's grave as I made a cross.

It was probably one of the most heart wrenching things I'd seen in a while.
That little girl sitting there, crying.

Makes me wish feeling came that easy to me.

But not everyone is so fortunate, are they now?