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Another random story inspired by the prompt.

Story warning: mild language.

[Hey honey, I know I said that I could make it back by 8, but something came up at the lab, and the boss wants all hands on deck. Take care of the kids, I love you guys.]

His eyes darted around the room, looking for anything that was salvageable. It was clear that the area had been abandoned some time ago, the infection almost completely covering the walls. Avoiding the larger masses, he crossed into a room that smelled slightly cleaner than the rest and discovered to his delight that the technology hadn’t been damaged too significantly.

[I know that I promised to spend more time at home this year, but we’re so close to a break through, I can feel it. Take care of the kids, I’ll be back when I can]

Taking several deep breaths to bring his heart rate back to normal, he stopped in front of the main terminal. He couldn’t let his emotions run too high and wake the others again. His fingers hesitated just over the keyboard, knowing that if he screwed up this time, he could kiss any chance at escape goodbye.

[Some of the others are starting to act strangely, I know that we’re on to something, but they’ve locked down the main exits. I’m worried about you guys. Please call me back when you get this message…. sigh… I love you guys]

Carefully securing the most intact cables, he gingerly booted up the computer system and watched in quiet excitement as the screens flickered to life.

[I found a way out, I’m coming home, please be okay. I miss you guys… If I don’t make it, I need you to know that I love you]

The files were nothing he wouldn’t have expected from a lab like this one, but it would be good enough to aid in his escape of this labyrinth. With the data secured in his wrist and a plan of escape brewing in his mind, one of his eyes suddenly picked up on a strange flicker from one of the dying monitors. It felt greedy to try for something more, but he was feeling adventurous today. The files were encrypted, but it was easy enough to break through.

[Dear, where are you? You said that you’d be back by now,the kids are worried about you. I don’t know what’s going on, but the sky is acting really weird, and Tom started acting strangely… Please call me back when you can.]

His fingers froze, and his heart jumped a bit, the voice striking a cord in the back of his mind. Where had he heard it before?

[I can’t wait for you anymore, the kids… they’ve started to get sick, and the neighbors all left last week.]

Why did she sound so afraid? His skin began to crawl as his eyes darted to the main terminal again. Lurching forward in barely controlled steps, his fingers began to fly across the keys.

[I tried John, I really did… I don’t know if you’re still alive, but I know that you wouldn’t have left us like this unless you had no other choice. I love you.]

His fists landed against the table, triggering a wave of alarms as his heart rate began to fluctuate, overloading the computer. They had blocked the messages, every bloody message that he had sent. A flood of rage rushed through his veins as all of his memories began to condense, ripping him away from the hive.

His finger deftly landed against the keyboard, forwarding the messages. For all he knew, they were dead, but if there was even a chance they might reach Ruth and the kids, he needed them to know that the thought of them had kept him sane. They needed to know that he loved them. John ripped the cables from his arms and ran for the exit as the chittering of the other husks started to echo through the halls.

….

[John?]