"That's not going to happen, alright?" Alice kept rubbing his shoulder, and leaned over to place her cheek to the top of his soft hair. "I won't let that happen to you, I promise. It won't happen to either of us." Alice reached up with her other hand and tilted his chin up so that he would look at her, and she gave his chin a soft pinch and smiled. Her thumb came up to wipe his tears away.

"We're headed west, to the coast. I heard there's a place there where everyone has boats and live on the water. The undead, even if they come out they just sink to the bottom of the ocean and rot down there. They can't swim. They've made lives for themselves, and there's other kids too. You can make new friends."

Alice wiped his other cheek clear of tears. "And your mom, she probably headed that way too. Maybe she's even waiting for you there."