.・゜-: ✧☾　☽✧ :-゜・.

𝐏 𝐑 𝐄 𝐎 𝐔 𝐓 𝐁 𝐑 𝐄 𝐀 𝐊

𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐈

𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐈 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐁𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒. It was the third time this week. He always had a hard time falling asleep at night, so the tables in the classrooms had become his new bed.

He knew how his father was going to react.

As soon as he stepped through the slightly broken door to his house he was hit with a strong stench of smoke and alcohol. Nothing that surprised him. He took off his jeans jacket and dirty Jordan's. It had taken him nine hours of work at the local grocery store all summer to save up money for them.

"Hi, honey!" His mother greeted him, a little too loud. Levi had hoped that he would be able to sneak up to his room without his father noticing him. "I just got off the phone with your teacher, he said that you weren't feeling well. How are you?"

"I just need to rest for a bit," Levi said.

"Alright, I made some cookies for you when you wake up." She smiled.

"Thanks, mom." Levi returned her smile before he began to walk to the stairs. The sound of the ongoing football game played from the TV in the living room where his father sat with a cigarette in one hand and a cookie in the other.
You don't need to eat any more of those, you're so fat, you're ass is probably marked on the sofa. Levi thought.

"So, you're home early, again." His father said not taking his eyes off the television.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't feeling good so the teacher sent me home." Levi shrugged. "I think I'm just gonna go take a nap.."

"You know what I think? I think you were too tired and bored to bother to go to school."

"Michel.." Levi's mother tried.

"Pathetic piece of shit." His father muttered.

As Levi began to walk up the stairs, he heard his father shout his rage freely at the TV as the commentator announced 20-4 to the Atlanta Falcons.

"Levi!" His younger sister, Astrid, said as she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Hi, there, Star!" He chuckled as he fell to the ground along with his sister. "Easy there, tiger."

"Come on, I have to show you something!" Astrid grabbed his hand and led him to her room. Toys and drawings were scattered across the floor.

"Shit!" Levi cussed as he stepped on a piece of Lego.

"Hey, watch youw language!" Astrid pointed a finger in his face. She was still practicing pronouncing the letter 'r'.

"Sorry, sorry."

"Look!" Astrid smiled proudly as she lifted a drawing for Levi to see. On the paper, four stick figures were drawn. A male rounder one with brown hair, a female one with two red lines forming a bright smile, a brunette boy, and a short girl. They all stood on a grass-covered ground. Behind them, a bright blue color formed a sky, spotted with white clouds and a big shiny yellow circle in the middle. Large pink letters formed the words my family, the Jacob's."

"Wow, Star! It's beautiful!" Levi smiled.

"I thought you might want to hang it in youw woom." Astrid smiled.

"Exactly what I was thinking. See, great minds think alike."

Levi and Astrid walked to Levi's room and hung the drawing on the picture-covered wall above his bed.

"Wow,"

"It's so pwetty!" Astrid exclaimed, admiring her own art.

"Alright, I have to study now."

"No! Why?!"

"Because I'm failing three classes." Levi looked at his sister, meeting her confused expression. "Failing means, not good."

"Meh!" Astrid crossed her arms and scrunched her nose angrily. "You nevew play with me anymowe."

"Sure I do!" Said Levi.

"No, no one evew wants to play with me." her gaze fell to the ground.

"Hey, come on, that's not true. I tell you what, tomorrow, you and me for the whole day."

"Weally!?" Astrid expression lit up.

"We can go get some ice cream and maybe go to the library. Borrow some books. Then buy grab some snacks, watch a movie."

"Oh! Oh! Can we watch Bawbie, the faiwy one!" Astrid said excitedly.

"We've watched that one like a billion times." Levi groaned.

"Oh! I know! Those supewhewo movies!"

"Avengers?"

"Yes!"

"Sure, sounds like a deal." He smiled.

A couple of hours passed. Levi laid on his bed, his head resting on one of his biology books. A spine-tingling scream filled the air. Levi hurried out of his bed, his eyes were still groggy from the nap. He rushed into Astrid's room, finding the pink and yellow room empty.

He hurried downstairs, where the sound had come from. His father stood with the phone in his hands, shouting at whatever poor persons who sat on the other line. Levi's mother and sister sat huddled in the corner, as tears came streaming down Astrid's face.

Levi's gaze was carried around the room. "What the hell happened?"

His mother opened her mouth, trying to form words but they were all stranded in her throat. Instead, she lifted her finger and pointed to one of the windows. Levi squinted, trying to see what was hiding in the dark outside. Figures roamed the streets, limping and groaning.

"What is that?"

"I'll tell you what the hell it is! It's someone pulling some sort of sick prank! Yeah, you hear that! I figured you out!" His father shouted, looking around at the ceiling, searching for any hidden cameras.

"Keep your voice down." Levi's mother whispered.

"Mom, what happened? What did you see?" Levi kneeled down to his mother's height.

"Mrs Turner ran.. ran up to our window.. and.. and.." she sobbed. "There was blood everywhere, and... then something or.. or someone grabbed her and.. they..." she broke down.

"Breaking news," the woman on the TV spoke. "A global virus has struck the world. Within hours, it has spread across America and it continues spreading through Europe, and Asia, and scientists fear that it will continue spreading to the whole world. They say it travels through a bite or the water. We recommend everyone to lock all doors and windows or get out of the large city's. "

"Kids, pack a small bag, quick!"

Levi rushed to his room, shoving random objects into a duffel bag. Clothes, pictures, a small Spider-Man action figure, and Astrid's drawing. He then hurried into the car along with the other members of his family.

"Where are we going? Mom? Dad? What's happening?" Astrid sobbed frightened sobs. She sat in her brother's arms, in the backseat, her eyes flashing around in horror.

"It'll be fine, just shut up and let me drive!" Their father roared stressfully. Just as he turned the car key a palm banged the window followed by a groaning sound. A child. His eyes were dull and grey, without any sign of life in them. His face was pale and spotted with dirt and blood. His clothes had been torn apart, revealing scratches trailing up his arms and legs.
The boy violently punched the class, causing the Jacob's family to scream loudly. Levi's eyes prickled with tears as he moved himself and Astrid to the other side of the car.

"Drive!" Their mother shouted.

And so he did. He began speeding through their neighborhood, passing scattered bodies and puddles of blood. Astrid sobbed into her big brother's chest.

"I know, don't look." He held her tight. "Where are we going, dad?"

"I don't know, alright! Maybe go to your parent's place, outside the city." He said to his wife.

"Oh, shit!" Levi's mother exclaimed.
Levi followed her gaze, looking out over the chaos on the highway. Cars were scattered everywhere, frightened faces and families clinging onto each other.

"Get the fuck out of the way people!" Their father yelled, honking the car horn.

"Michael, stop! Just turn around!"

Then, a loud bang rattled the ground beneath them and the sky lit up. A large black cloud covered the horizon over the city. Levi's home, had been blown up and was left in ashes.

"What the hell is going on?" Levi's mother says in a shrill voice.

Their heads spun around to the sound of a distant scream. That's when all hell broke loose. One of the infected had grabbed a woman and was now tearing her apart with its teeth. People ran in the other direction, screaming for help. More of those things appeared on the road, attacking the frightened people. The Jacob's family froze, staring at the chaos before them.

Levi pressed his sister's head into his chest as to prevented her from seeing the scene. "Mom, we have to go! Mom!" He shouted multiple times to gain her attention.

They swiftly unbuckled their car belts and hurried out of the car.
"Where do w-..." their father began screaming violently, in pain as one of the dead grabbed hold of his shoulder, digging it's teeth into his skin. Blood soaked his white shirt, gushing from the wound. Levi froze in horror. Then, a terrifying scream in agony came out of his mother's mouth as another infected bit her neck, blood staining Levi's face.

"Mommy!" Astrid cried.

Levi's heart flooded with grief and his lips parted. He wanted to scream, shout, cry. Instead, he picked Astrid up and ran. But instead of running in the direction that everyone else was, they headed into the dark forest by the highway. Levi carried his little sister as he ran as her short leg's couldn't keep up.

He ran and ran and ran until his legs couldn't carry him anymore. His knees met the muddy ground as he cried a low moan.

"Levi, what is happening?" Astrid sobbed. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and her whole body was trembling.

"We have to keep going." Levi said, forcing himself back up.

"But..." Levi grabbed his sister's hand and began forcing herself through the woods. They walked until the moon stood on it's high on the sky and the darkness around them consumed them.

"I'm tired." Astrid mumbled.

"Me too, Star. Just a little longer." Levi said.

After walking for a couple of more minutes a shriek echoed across the woods. All the air left Levi's lungs as he spun around swiftly. Astrid laid on the muddy ground, kicking her left foot repetitively at the walkers head. The dead crawled on the ground, holding her right foot in a tight grip. Astrid screamed and fought back.

Levi rushed forward, dropping everything on his mind. He wasn't tired anymore, he wasn't hungry, he was only scared. He couldn't let Astrid die.

The brunette boy's heart raced as he flew on top of the walker, grabbing it's arms and taring it off. They rolled over the ground, before Levi got on top. The dead fought violently, swinging its arms around and trying desperately to bite the boy. Levi had to act quickly. He grabbed a rock from next to him, jabbing it into the dead's head. Again and again and again. Until it's head was gone, left in a puddle of blood. He hurried to his feet, rushing to Astrid.
"Come on. We have to get out of the woods." He said, as he began to walk.

"Levi.."

"What is it, Star-" he said, turning to his sister.

A gloom overcame him as he stared at the bite wound on Astrid's leg. His heart twisted. He stared in silence as the words were too hard to utter. He shook his head multiple times, trying to make it all go away. A plaintive cry escaped his lips as his eyes pooled with tears.

"Oh, Star." He wept.

They had made it to a house, hidden by the trees. Astrid laid on the bed as Levi looted the house.

"Hey, look what I found!" Levi forced a smile, holding up the book he found. "Bridge to Terabithia."

"That one is sad." Astrid said before coughing.

"I know, but not at first." Levi placed a chair next to the girl's bed and began to read the story about Jesse Aarons. He read until the girl fell asleep, until the sun rose to it's high. Even after that. He read until his tongue was sore and dry. He read until it was impossible to keep his eyes open. He read until Astrid's eyes shut for the last time. Until her breathing and heart stopped.

He left Astrid in that house that day. He continued walking without anywhere to go. Just as he stepped out into the descending sun all the emotions he had pushed away to not scare Astrid came rushing back. As he began to cry his body hunched over as if carrying the weight of his unspoken grief on his shoulders. His clenched fists were only telltale sign of his silent struggle.

Just as Jesse Aarons, he lost his best friend.

_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____
𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟗 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝐭𝐡
𝟐.𝟒𝟒 𝐏𝐌
_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____

𝐀/𝐍

this chapter made me cry

this is the reason for why Levi was so protective and caring for Sophia bc he saw Astrid in her:(
Btw I didn't proofread this so it might suck🫡

thanks to the beautiful   grimesscn  for helping me pick Astrid fc! Love you all

Vote or kiss shane😛
l