The rain thrums hard against the metal roller door, interrupted only by a hiss of releasing air pressure as my knife punctures the top of the aluminium can. Baked beans again. The smell causes the pit of my stomach to churn with nausea. It's hard to remember that there ever was a time when I actually enjoyed them. A time before the world went to hell. Before canned foods became my main source of sustenance. Food was only for fuel now. There was no enjoyment to be taken from it anymore, only energy. I wolf down the contents of the can as quickly as I can manage and then wash it down with some water. One good thing about the rain at least, was that there would be no shortage of water for the next few days. Not that I need enough for a few days now, I only need enough for one. One more day. I feel the anxious and excited energy bubble in my chest. Grabbing my bag I reach in and pull out a plastic pouch which is tightly sealed, as to remain water tight. Inside the bag is a postcard. It is a little hard to see, but I manage as I hold it up to the moonlight that shines through the window. Luckily It is a full moon tonight. "We are here, find us!” The words look hastily scribbled in large red marker across the back. The message sits on top of the original writing on the postcard. General sentiments like "Wish you were here," "We miss you!" and "Flynn caught a fish today, he wants you to know that it was a really big one!" I smile, remembering the picture that was eventually shown to me of Flynn and his fish, which was ultimately, quite tiny. But he was so proud. The front of the postcard shows a picturesque image of a mountain range with "Fallview Mountains" printed in the bottom left. My wife and I had purchased a little cabin up in those exact mountains, right by a lake and a river that flowed with fresh spring water. We had been taking Flynn there at least once every year since he was only 2 years old. She must have taken him there when everything began happening. I can only hope that they made it. I tuck the postcard away beside the other watertight bag that contains all the photographs I could find in the house. I want to keep them safe, I know my wife probably felt sick about having to leave them. I was just glad she found time to leave the postcard for me, and that she had the foresight to weigh it down on the kitchen table, so it was still there when I got home. I was out of town for work when the Vacants showed up for the first time. After that, things descended into pure death and chaos. It took me a month and a half to get back home, only travelling during daylight made things take longer, but it was the safest way. It allowed better vision for us humans, and it seemed to hinder their vision a little in turn. There was no using cars anymore either, it only attracted the creatures and brought them out in droves. Plus most cars couldn't outpace them anyway, the best thing to do was to stay quiet and lay low. And now here I am, another 3 months of travel and finally only a day out from the cabin. I am taking shelter in the auto shop side of a convenience and gas store, the only one for miles. CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The sound of large metal shelves falling to the floor rings through the air. I instantly leap to my feet. Shit shit shit! My brain struggles to do anything but panic for a moment. That has to be a Vacant, they were too large to be able to move around the cramped store shelves without knocking anything over. The panic wanes and survival kicks in. This is why I chose this spot in the building after all. Leaving my belongings on the ground I hoist myself up onto the bracket of the workshops inbuilt car hoist and into the car that sits there, climbing through the back door that I left open earlier. I climb onto the back seat causing the hoist to creak slightly, pulling the car door closed as quietly as I possibly can. I lay back out of sight, just in time for the sound of splitting wood and broken hinges, as the door to the auto shop bursts open. Then I hear it. The sound is like a guttural clicking, emanating up from the depths of the creature. It sounds almost wet. No matter how many times I hear It, there is just no getting used to it. It makes my skin crawl and the hairs on my body stand to attention. I watch the window, trying to slow my breath and remain calm. ————————————— The vacant left not long after it had gotten there, but I still found no sleep. I stayed in the car until I eventually saw day breaking. It was time to get going. Stay quiet and lay low. After a few hours of travelling on back dirt roads, and off them, I finally see it, the wooden logs of the cabin. Fear suddenly grips me, what if they never made it, what if they didn't even get out of the city. Either way, I need to know. I swallow the fear and push forwards until I see something that makes my heart swell with hope. Our car, it is here! Then, two figures round the corner of the cabin, stopping in their tracks as they see me. My eyes begin to blur with tears and I feel my chest starting to rack with sobs as I hear something that a part of me thought I might never hear again. "Daddy!!!"