|| Mature Topic: Death ||

  I run, that's all I do. I don't remember how long I've been running, but all I know is to do what mom told me, and that is run. So that's what I've been doing. I grip mom's bony, tanned hand as tight as my small, chubby fingers allow me too. My palm is sweaty, making it easier for my hand to slip out of hers. Nonetheless, I continue to grip her hand and run.

  Thump!

  Thump!
 
  Thump!

  The only sound I focus on is not the weird noises coming from the big-headed, green, scary monsters chasing us, but the thumping of my feet striking the ground. My feet are desperately trying to quickly carry my small body and keep up with mom's fast pace. I turn my head to the right just in time to see a small ball of green electricity hit one of the trees near us. It explodes upon impact, the oak tree blowing up into smithereens and a shriek of fear emits from my mouth. My arm flies up to shield my face from flying shards of dark brown wood. Mom tugs on my hand, silently telling me to run even faster. I take my arm away from my face, bring it back down to my side, and gaze ahead again. I continue to sprint through the never-ending forest, the scenery around us flying past in a blur of greens and browns.

  After what feels like hours, but my young mind knows is only minutes, I gaze over my shoulder. My eyes narrow in on the monsters that are gaining on us with each passing second. A whimper leaves my mouth and I face forward just in time to jump over a log. I leap over it, almost tripping on it and as soon as my feet touch the ground again I take off.

  "MOMMY, THE MONSTERS ARE GOING TO CATCH US!"  I scream, my high pitched voice full of fear like my body.

  "Don't worry Clem, we're almost to the barrier."  Mom softly reassures me, trying hard to keep the fear that lurks in her bloodstream from slithering out of her mouth and constricting the words she speaks.

  I allow her words to enter my head and swarm my brain like bees. Her words slowly sink in and demolish the fear that had a tight hold on me. Moments later the trees around us disappear, and a field replaces the forest on all sides. My eyes land on the red shield that marks each section and can stop the monsters from following us any further. The closer we get to it the more my smile grows. By the time we get feet away my smile is as big as the sun that shines brightly in the blue clouded sky, but before I can celebrate disaster strikes.

  Mom screams as she stumbles forward and my hand slips out of her grasp. She falls just on the other side of the red shield barrier. I trip over a small unnoticeable hole in the ground and land on my knees. I slide across the ground. The dry green grass drags across my knees, causing them to burn, and I stop right at her side. I hear my baby brother start crying, but all I can do is turn and stare over my shoulder. I watch in horror as the green monster holding weird shaped objects sprint towards us.

  When they reach the shield, instead of sprinting through it they dissolve into nothing upon touch. I let out a small whimper, my body violently shaking from fear and adrenaline. When all of the monsters have disappeared my eyes flicker to my mom. Our eyes meet and she gives me a weak smile. The smell of burning flesh enters my nostrils and I gag from the god-awful smell. I slap my hand over my nose and mouth as I try my hardest to not vomit. My brown eyes dart around as I try to find the source of the smell and soon my eyes land on my mom's stomach.

  She has a big, gaping hole in the middle of her stomach. The hole is glowing bright green and has green smoke lingering out of it. My stomach turns upon the sight I've just witnessed and I turn to my left as my breakfast soars up my esophagus. It exits my mouth, landing onto the grass and I wipe my mouth, grimacing at the aftertaste of stomach bile. I lift my head and turn towards her. I force myself to stare at her pain stricken face and not her stomach. Tears well up in my eyes and the adrenaline along with the fear in my body turns into sadness. My brother continues to wail, his cries becoming louder by the second. A tear slides down my cheek, followed by a dozen more and a sob escapes my mouth.

  "No, no, no!"  I cry out as the thought of what will happen next cram themselves into my mind.

  My hands shoot up, my fingers getting tangled in my hair and I tightly grip it. I silently beg the thoughts to leave but they only resist and stay.

  "It's okay Clem–

  "No, it's not! Mommy, please get up!"  I beg her, my hands leaving my messy hair.

  I reach out, my hands wrapping around her wrists. I try to pull her into a sitting position but I only fail as I'm far too weak.

  "I can't baby, mommy can't. I need you to take Jungkook and go so you can find someplace that's much safer than here."  She tells me, her voice becoming weaker with each sentence.

  I shake my head.  "I can't, you have to come with us. Please, just try to get up mommy!"

  "Clementine I can't... You have to go now and without me. I promise I'll be with daddy watching over you and Jungkook. You may not see us, but we'll be by your sides no matter what. Just promise me one thing."  She says, tears falling out of her eyes.

  "What is it?"  My voice cracks and my heart continues to shatter at the thought of having to leave my soon to be dead mom behind.

  "I need you to be strong for me and Kookie, Clem. I need you to take your brother, protect him and yourself. You have to survive the ANDGs for me. I want you to be strong, smart and I want you to do whatever you have to survive in this cruel world!"  She lets out a small sob as tears flow down her tanned face.

  I open my mouth to answer her, but all that comes out is a loud cry full of despair.

  "I love you! I love you both so much!"  She cries.

  "I love you too! Please don't leave me!"  I sob.

  "I'm sorry, Clem. I love you,"  She whispers.

  She exhales one last time. Her eyes flutter shut and her chest slowly falls. Realization sets in, completely shattering me.

  "NO! NO, WAKE UP! MOMMY WAKE UP!"  I whimper as I grip her shoulders with both of my hands.

  I use all of my strength and shake her limp body, hoping by doing it she'll open her eyes again. When she doesn't I let go and fall backwards on my butt. I loudly wail as all sounds around me become nothing but a mere buzz. Half an hour passes before my loud cries slowly die down before ceasing completely. My red, puffy face is covered in both dry and wet tears. My body slowly becomes numb and all emotions within me flee, leaving me emotionless.

  I sit there for who knows how much longer before I'm brought out of my numb state by a loud boom. I jump, all sounds including my brother's loud cries come back to me and my brown eyes go to the sky. In the middle of the sky now sits a red timer that's counting down. The timer tells me that I have a little less than two hours to recuperate before the disasters start up again. Mom's words start to echo in my head.

  I need you to be strong for me and Kookie.

  I promise we'll be watching over you.

  You may not see us, but we'll always be by your side no matter what.

  I'm sorry, Clem.

  I love you.

  I shake my head and wipe away my tears. I carefully pick my baby brother, Jungkook off of the ground from next to me. I rock him to sleep and when he finally falls into a deep slumber I gradually get to my feet.

  "I'm sorry mommy for not doing anything to prevent this. I love you and I'll be strong for not only you but for Jungkook also like you said to do."  I whisper.

  Once those words leave my mouth I stare down at my mom one last time. I divert my gaze after a second and sadly sigh. I slowly walk away from her lifeless body, and hopefully in the direction of someplace that's a little safer.

  "Clementine."

  I freeze when I hear her voice again. I turn around only to find mom now standing. She's wearing a long, white gown and is showing no signs that she had been previously hurt just minutes before.

  "Mommy,"  My eyebrows furrow in confusion as to how she's suddenly okay now.

  "Wake up."  She tells me.

  "W-Wake up?"  I stutter, confused by her words.

  "WAKE UP!"  She screams and lunges at me.

  That's when my eyes shoot open and a scream full of fear leaves my mouth.