Mattie withdrew her head from the window and stared through wide eyes at Jacob. She opened her mouth. Closed it. [i]He's alive.[/i] Opened it and drew in a deep breath. "My brother," she said flatly. "I'm talking to my brother." Her heart was going at a thousand beats per minute. He was alive! Was he okay? Where had he been for all that time? How had he found them? Mind abuzz, she rushed passed Jacob and toward the front door, which by now was alive with frantic banging.  

She flung it open without a moment of hesitation, which she knew would give Jacob time to stop her, and stared out at a gaunt face that stared back. "Darrin," she whispered. "You're alive. You found me." 

"What are you doing here?" shot back a rough voice. Even dripping with suspicion, he was music to Mattie's ears. He looked past her at...whoa. He blinked back horror. Someone writhing with fever and missing an arm. That was [i]not[/i] good. "Mattie you have to get out of here," he growled. "It's dangerous here." 

"It's worse outside," retorted Mattie, pulling her sibling through the door and shutting it, much to his anger. "There are zombies and flying poopy diapers." 

"You're not funny."