One step, two step, three hoof, four dead: small town, big brother

Thunk, I opened the cabinet containing several personal objects. I sifted through the junk before grabbing a bulky pistol like weapon, a taser gun. It was a gift from my uncle during my birthday, but it caused a ton of grief to be directed at him from my Dad. I rarely used it but I had a feeling it would be used a lot in the coming days.

I then jogged over to the closet in my parents bedroom and grabbed the key from above the door frame and unlocked the gun cabinet. I really don't want to use any of these but precautions needed to be made if we're to survive out there. I grabbed the single revolver from the pistol holder, a .38 special. It was my Dads first gun, but it wasn't his last. There was three other pistols and a carbine. The only other thing in there was a bag filled with ammo. I grabbed the bag and one of the nine millimeter pistols before closing it back up. I jammed the key in my pocket, just in case I needed to get something from there later.

I groaned as I realized that Dad never bought any holsters for any of his guns. We're going to have to stop by the local gun store if I'm going to have these things on my person. I walked back out to the hallway before realizing that I was rather famished, and I'm probably not the only one. I poke my head into the living room and asked, "You hungry?"

She nodded and meekly said, "Yes...A PB an' J, please...."

I nodded and jogged into the kitchen and started slathering a slice of bread with peanut butter when I heard something that made my blood run cold. CLEE, THUMP.... NO, NO, NONONONONONO- "NO!"

I sprinted into the living room to a disgusting sight that made me almost puke. A pegusas was deep throating my sister with its fucking tongue tentacles. I grabbed the .38 and fired, hoping to high Hell my aim was true. BOOM, splat, I... I killed it.... I guess all those stories lied, eh? I don't feel any remorse, none actually. I guess he was right when he said...I looked up to hear my sister was chocking on the now dead tentacles.

I started panicking as I grabbed the tentacles with a towel from the coffee table and threw them onto the body. I wiped her face clean with cloth, but it only made the blood smear across her face. I hefted her onto my shoulder and ran to the bathroom. When I got there I grabbed a wash cloth and plunged it into the now running tap. I cleaned her face again, but with better results this time.

After a minute of rinsing the blood off of her I saw the blood on my hands. I panicked at first but then something odd happened. The blood just, refused, to stay on my hand. Even when I cupped it, it practically leaped out of my hand and into the drain. While I was pondering Annabelle apparently had woken up after blacking out. She was shivering and crying even harder. I picked her up bridle style and walked towards her room and said, "Get changed, pack lightly, and grab your sandwich in the kitchen, I'm goin' to see if I can find the keys to the van, alright?"

She sniffed and quietly sobbed, "I'm sorry..."

I cringed at what she said before hugging her as tightly as I could without breaking her, "It's fine it's not your fault. We're heading to Middens, we'll be able to see Mommy, Daddy, and your big Sissy. Won't that be nice? To have all of us together..."

She nodded before heading back into her room while jogged towards Dads study. It's the only place that he could actually have any peace. We were always told to stay out, but from what Dad has said, the van keys should be there. I moved to turn the knob when it abruptly stopped, locked. I didn't have the key to his study, but did I really care? No, no I didn't. I backed up all the way to the kitchen and charged the sturdy door and slammed my shoulder into it. creak, BAM! Ow... I really should've thought this through better, but I'm through.

I looked at the book filled room before alighting on the desk in the middle of the room. I walked up to it before pulling out each before spotting an open safe on the floor. I frowned before opening the safe all the way and looking in. There was mostly papers, probably important documents. But the most surprising thing was the finely polished trench knife sitting underneath the familiar van keys with a note sitting atop of both of them.

I grabbed the letter and opened the letter to see,

Dear David,
It's me, Gary. Don't ask, I know you'll have a lot of questions, but you need to get M.L. immediately. You'll see your Dad's message on his workstation. I need to hurry or neither of us is going to make it. Stay with your sister and make sure to keep her safe, or we're both doomed. Don't ask, but I can see IT. Don't ask how I know, or how I'm able to do what I do, but know this. Our time is coming to a close, but I'm afraid I can't make it. You'll make it if you follow the trail, but whatever you do, avoid the temple.

With hope, Gary

What? Lantern doesn't have any temples, at least the last time I checked we didn't. Whatever, when he says to avoid it, I'll most likely run into it. I grab the knife and keys and stuff them in the ammo bag before running to the kitchen. Annabelle was munching on her sandwich when I burst in. She didn't even look up, just sat there before managing a small, "Hi..."

I nod in her direction before grabbing one of the large coolers from the laundry room and dumped a bags worth of ice in it before placing lunch meat, cheese, and other refrigerated stuff. I ran outside and unlocked the van before placing it in the back. I sprinted back inside and grabbed an entire liter of root beer and shoved it next to the ice before grabbing two reusable cups from the kitchen along with about ten water bottles. I looked around for anything else before remembering to grab the extra batteries for the taser.

I grabbed the batteries and scrambled to get to the front door. I stopped for a micro second and ran back towards the kitchen to grab Annabelle, but she was gone. I nodded before running back out and found Annabelle strapping herself in on the passenger side. I looked around before remembering my bike. I just hefted the heavy thing and gently placed it next to the food. I had to place the back seats down to fit the bike in, but it fit.

I ran towards the drivers seat and yanked it open before climbing in. The van was an old KIA, but it worked fine. I shoved the key in and turned them, but nothing happened. I panicked for second before groaning in frustration at the fact that I had been turning it the wrong way. When the engine sputtered to life I backed out and set out towards the beginning of cemetery hill.

The ride down cemetery hill wasn't bad, if anything it was actually pretty calm. I rolled my eyes at the thought of cemetery hill being calming. Annabelle was clutching at my side the entire way down. I stopped at an intersection before taking a left. I really didn't bother with any of the rules. Why? Well, it's an apocalyptic world right this second, so the rules weren't very high on my list of concerns. I just strolled down Kapowsin ave. and kept my cool.

I looked at my sister who had stopped clutching at my side in favor of complaining about how her back was itchy, but her back showed no sign of any growths, so I wasn't worried about that right this second. She just squirmed a little bit more before falling asleep. I sighed a bit before turning my eyes back towards the road. There wasn't a living soul around, just me, my sister, and the van. I started humming a little tune before a ear shattering screech broke my concentration.

I stopped and looked out the windows, but there wasn't anybody. But that means-! KREESH! I stared slack-jawed at the hooves piercing the roof before grabbing the closest thing, me. I yelled as I was pulled into the sky with a pair of horse like hooves clutching my armpits. I started screaming bloody murder as the van started shrinking till I assumed we were about fifteen feet above the ground. Fun fact about me, I absolutely hate heights. After screaming for a minute or two I was flipped to see the oddest mouth trying to kiss me, er, well, trying to anyway. The mouth was split in the jaw, allowing more room for the tentacles to move.

After a minute of the flying thing mashing its tongues on my mask it gave up and looked at my face more clearly. What I saw could only be related to an almost adorable pony. It tilted it's head before saying, "Why no accept gift?"

...What!? These things can talk!? I twisted trying to get of its grip, heights or not, there's no way I'm staying here! After a minute of thrashing I looked back at the 'pony', only to see it smirking. I could feel my anger beginning to boil over before I chuckled. It grew a confused face before it squawked out, "What so funny?"

I just laughed at its expression before digging my hand into my pocket and clutching at a certain bulky object. I stopped laughing for a second before leaning in close with the 'pony'. "Do you know why you shouldn't mess with me?"

The dumb-ass shook its head before saying, "Why?"

I pulled out the taser and pushed it into the chest of the quadruped. I kept staring it in the face before calmly saying, "This is why." And I fired point blank. KZZZZT There was no sound except the taser going off. Sure, I felt it, but not as badly as the 'pony'. I could see wisps of smoke curling off its mane as it shook in nerve wracking pain. I just laughed as we fell. I felt...dizzy for some reason, but I could see the ground coming up to meet me. I let out one more chuckle before impacting on the pavement.

I groan as I felt a headache starting to wind down, but not fast enough. I just sat there for a minute feeling the nice, cool, and refreshing washcloth running over my head...System emergency protocol 092341 in last phase...What? I opened my eyes to see the nice clear autumn sky before suddenly hearing a steadily growing crackling sound. When the sound reached its apex nothing happened it jus-Kzzzt! FUCK!

I rolled around for a few more seconds before picking my shaking body off the ground. I looked around me to see one body on the ground next to me. It was the body of the pony thing that tried to do that hentai shit with me being the subject. I shuddered at the thought of them reaching down my throat and infecting me. That was wrong in so many ways.

I looked at the van still sitting fifteen feet away from me. I limped on over to see Annabelle sleeping a quiet as a baby. She really must have been tired if she slept through all of that. I looked at the crooked body of a pony before getting in the van. I checked my mental map and took a right to come straight into one of those underground parking lots before parking in between two other trucks.

I yawned as I felt myself drifting off into the world known for its dreams, the mind scape. I smiled as my mind drifted more, and more, and peeked an eye at Annabelle before muttering, "You can't be the only one who gets some sleep...."