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I pulled into my drive way, shutting off my car I turned to James "We will stay here for the night, and tomorrow we will head south. I want to keep at least one gun with us, but leave the rest out here." I set my belt in the back seat, and removed my 9mm, checking to make sure the safety was on. I took a deep breath preparing myself for what I might find. "You know...she might not be your mum anymore..." James was looking sympathetically at my realization that I might have to kill my own mother. I took another deep breath then stepped out of the car.
I took the safety off my gun, and headed towards the house. As we walked up I noticed the front door to my house was open. My heart began to sink at this sight, there is no way one of the neighbors didn't at least try to get in. "Mum?" I called in through the screen door. "Do you want me to go..." James started but stopped as mum staggered into the kitchen. In her hands was the mangles form of one of her little black dogs, she had a strip of furry skin hanging from her mouth. As if losing interest in her little snack she dropped the little body with a wet plop. She took one step towards us I raised my gun with shaking hands, tears began welling in my eyes. I started to choke up as she took another step towards us. I pointed the gun at her head closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. I heard the splatter of mum's brains on the cupboards behind her, and her her body fall to the floor. I turned and pushed my face into James's chest allowing the tears to flow freely. He ushered me into the house locking the front door behind us. He led me to the living room, where the mangled body of mum's other dog lay. "Ch-Chilli?" I called my dog uncertain as to what I would find. But Chilli never came. "Who is Chilli?" James asked picking up my gun from the living room table. "She's my dog, I am going to go look outside for her." I got up wiping my tear stained face. James nodded and followed me to the back door. "Chilli?" I called again looking around the back yard. I saw a grey figure in the farthest corner of the yard. I heard her cry a little when I started walking towards her. As I got closer I noticed the bite mark on her back, she was shaking and whimpering. I began to cry again as I fell to my knees. How could this happen? "Do you think dogs can contract the virus?" James was looking at my poor Chilli with sympathy and fear. "I don't know." I whispered, Chilli was licking my hands and wagging her tail feebly. Her whole body stiffened for a moment and she exhaled a long sigh as if to say goodbye. I stepped back slightly waiting to see if she would come back. We waited for 10 minutes before we gave up on the idea of a zombified Chilli. I grabbed a shovel and began to dig a hole. I was not going to just leave my family like this. James also found a shovel and helped me dig 4 holes. I placed Chilli in the second biggest hole making sure to put her favorite toy with her. Then I placed mum's two dogs in their own little graves. Last James and I drug my mother out on her favorite rug. I crossed my mothers arms and put pennies on her eyes. I shrugged at James saying "I just want her to be at peace." He nodded stepped back for a moment to give me a few moments. I have never really prayed to any God, or any idea of higher power. I call myself pagan, but in all reality, I worship myself. I had no idea what to say, if there was a God, why would this be happening? A notion entered my head for a moment, that maybe we are being punished. Maybe this truly the end of the world.