BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP

Incoming Emergency Broadcast: Worldwide lockdown in place. The government no longer has it under control. They call them T̴̫̿̐h̴̖̚͝e̶̟͋ ̸̲̉I̵͈̺̐n̷̢̞̐̊f̴̨̠͆ë̶̬̘́c̴̨͈̈́̉ṭ̸̥̏e̸͖͌̒d̶̢͗̑. We don't know much about them, besides the fact they are extremely hostile. Stay indoors and close your curtains. Keep noise to a minimum, they will break in. If you've started puking up blood, it's too late for you. You're only hope is-. . .what?. . .here?. . .no. . .NO!!

BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP

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It's been years since we learned of the viruses presence, if it could even be called that. I remember getting news of it, I was 16, it was a Thursday after school so I was home alone. An emergency broadcast was televised, saying to stay indoors and that a lockdown was being put into place. I thought it was some joke but then the news lady screamed, a blur went in front of the camera, and it beeped turning off. The blob looked like an alien but I also knew it was live television, no way it was special effects, so I jumped to my feet, shut off anything that could make noise and locked myself in the basement with only my phone set on silent. I texted my parents and Nick and even his parents. Nick responded quickly, his parents soon after as they work from home, my parents I didn't get an answer from quickly.

One hour...

Two hours...

Still no response.

I heard the basement door creak open and was ready to die. Ready to get ripped apart, eaten, shredded, what it was that those things do. When I saw Mr. Cullen's face though, tears formed in my eyes, both from relief and sadness. I jumped to my feet and ran to him, hugging him.

"It's alright my boy, let's get you to our place, let your parents know what happened."

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Not even a few months after that day Nick lost his parents too. He were scared but we knew what to do. Mr. Cullen said that if anything happened that there are supplies in the basement, it's easier to leave in the night so run then.

And we did.

We ran, backpacks full of survival food and first aid shit.

We ran until we couldn't until we were coughing, even then we pushed each other further. We didn't fucking stop till we got to the old railroad far, far away from town. We pulled open one of the carts doors just enough to squeeze in and we climbed in and sat down. We caught our breaths and then cried. the stereotype of "boys shouldn't cry" it's the end of the fucking world Karen, grow. Up.

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We had it...okay. We survived. For about three years. We were coming back from a supply run, the snow crunching under out feet as we followed the tracks. I started to hear Nick coughing behind me so I stopped and turned to look at him, "you alright man? Come on we got to keep going. I told you, you should've grabbed that damned inhaler from the pharmacy we stole." Unlike usual though he didn't give a smile and a strained chuckle, he vomited. The fleshly fallen snow sunk in and turned crimson.

B̸̺̏̽͐͝ͅļ̴̹͉̈́͜ő̷̧͚̃͑̋o̷̖͠d̶̳̀̚.̵̨̠͎̒̿̚͠. Fucking ḃ̵̝̎͛̚ḻ̵̿͋̇ǒ̸̠̕͠ơ̵̙̮̪͛͘d̴͍̬̒̈̉͝ͅ.̷̪̣̦̒̋̓.

"Shit," my heart dropped and I hurried to his side. "Nick, is this why-"

"Go," it strained between coughs and he collapsed, blood coming out of his nose now from the force, frosted tears falling to the crimson snow now too. "Please."

"Nick I can't without you," I went to reach out to him but he smacked my hand as he gripped his shirt.

"Just go! I can't hurt you! Please!"

Tears welled up in my own eyes but I swallowed down any chocked sob threatening me and I ran. I ran back to the train car. Rushing past the sounds of Echos calling out for their next meal, hoping that I get closer. I throw my pack into the car as I reach it, hopping in, and slamming the door shut. My breathing evens out and I collapsed, tears welling up in my eyes once more and I screamed out in anguish.

Safe to say I didn't sleep that night.

Or any night soon to come.

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Two more years past, I'm twenty one...at least I think I am. Haven't seen a human in a long while, maybe that's for the best. At this point they're probably infected, just like... . I shake my head to disperse any thought and I grip the pocket watch that's in my hand before shoving it into my pocket. The city is infested with Climbers and Crawlers, not safe. The forest is better, only Echos, stay out of arms reach and you're fine. Stay away from rivers and you're great, Swimmers are no fucking joke.

I grunt as I shift my backpack, grip tightening on my barbed wire wrapped bat, can never be too safe. Though when a humanoid figure stumbles into view ahead of me onto the track, I pause. Not skin and bone. Normal proportions. A human? A not infected human? No. Too far to tell and I'd rather not get close enough. When they look to me though it seems I won't have much of a choice.