Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

            Mitch stood in front of the gate in the courtyard, looking out into the woods, his arms crossed. He had his classic resting bitch face — as one of the older kids called it — expression.

            His gaze lingered on the dense forest ahead, scanning for any signs of danger… Those dead things could show up at any moment and he wanted to be ready. Try and kill one if he could.

            Everything had just started to set in. They were truly alone to survive this disaster. All the adults except for Ms. Martin left… It was just the kids now.

            Some of the kids’ parents came to get them, but not many. 

            Actually thinking about it, maybe only three kids had their parents show up.

            Only three.

            There were over thirty kids at the school. Yet only three got to go home with their families.

            And his dad was not one of them… he probably wasn’t going to be able to come and get him. He might even be dead…

            Mitch wanted nothing more than to just go home. 

            Before he could spiral further into his thoughts, he felt a little pair of hands grab on his jacket to get his attention. It was Willy.

           “Oh, hey,” he looked down at the kid, noticing how the poor kid had been crying and was shaking, “do you, uh… do you need something?”

           Mitch was an only child, but Willy had always seemed to follow him around like a lost duckling… and he didn’t mind that at all.

            “Are we going to die?” he asked, his voice wavering, barely above a whisper… he held onto Mitch’s jacket tightly. The poor kid seemed terrified. “All the big people are gone…”

            That broke his heart into a million pieces. “No, no, we’re not, they— they, uh… we’re not going to die,” he chewed on the inside of his lip, “They, uh… I’ll keep you safe, okay? We don’t need the adults, you got me!”

            “Daddy said that, but he didn’t… he let Mommy hurt me.”

            If possible, his heart broke even more, and he knelt down to look at Willy directly in the eyes. “Well, I’m not like your daddy. I’m a lot smarter and nicer.”

            “You’re not nice,” he pouted, sticking his bottom lip out.

            Well damn… 

            “I, uh… okay? I mean, I’m not always the nicest, but I’m still nicer than your dad…” Mitch was definitely taken aback by Willy’s comment. He scratched the back of his head. “Uh… I’m more like my own daddy, I promise! I want to help you,” he sighed.

             How was he supposed to do this? He was only eight-years-old… but he felt this need to protect the little boy.

            Willy had been through too much already. He deserved protection.

            “Really…?”

            “Mhm. Pinky promise!” Mitch held out his pinky for the other. 

            He hesitated for a moment, but then latched his own tiny pink into Mitch’s and smiled before jumping into the other’s arms and hugging him.

            … This was Mitch’s duty now. His number one priority. Nothing else mattered.

            Protect Willy.