Regime Reconcile Recollection.

Master Barrier

Four years since the outbreak of this "zombie disease", more monsters, ghouls, and strange beings have come to be; living alongside the last of the human population. The climate has become eratic and colder than ever in some areas, while other areas can be too hot for survival. Certain monsters can only live in certain weather and terrain conditions, therefore allowing barriers to be built to keep the surviving humans safe and able to live "normal" lives. Stevie, now eighteen, is residing in a large apartment complex outside of a barrier with a young man who she'd ran into in the beginning of her survival; Keven Jackson, who also went to highschool with her. However they had never conversed until then, now they are inseperable. Neither of them, nor any other survivors can explain this sudden outbreak, but many are trying/have tried. Many survivors have grouped together and have become determined on figuring out the origin of these vicious, undead, creatures that come in many shapes and sizes. Yet the pair haven't met another survivor yet.

Stevie placed her mug of water in the old, rusty microwave and set the timer. Every morning she got up, poured a glass of water, warmed it up and poured in coffee mix. She huffed, gazing out the window at the rainy atmosphere. Every day was the same, precipitation, rain, and more precipitation. But that didn't stop the undead.  

"Keven." She said plainly, hearing his footsteps behind her in the near empty room. "We need to make a run toward the barrier soon. I swear these Leds are catching on to our hiding spot."

When Keven didn't respond she turned around, he was sitting on the floor cross-legged, staring intensely at his cellphone. The thing was messed up, a third of the screen not even useable, and buttons were missing that prevent it from being put on silent or vibrate. The internet worked (barely) due to a lucky wifi connection being close to their apartment. 

"What?" He asked, late, finally looking up from his phone but still seemingly distracted. She always wondered what he used it for, since there was no "calling" or "texting". And the internet access was limited.

"I said we need to get going. The leds are catching on." Stevie repeated, cautiously peering out the window at the few stupid Leds across the street. These kind of "zombies" weren't a threat, the level ones, because they were unable to hear, smell, or see. All they're really good for is grunting and groaning. "Well of course they are." Keven stood up and tucked his phone away in his sweatpants pocket. "We leave far too often for food and water. I know we're trying to reach the barrier alive and escape this hellhole but we've gotta be more careful." The blonde boy rolled up his sleeves, revealing large crimson red, fresh wounds that had been clumsily stitched up on both arms. Along with many scars. He liked to remind Stevie of the many close-calls they'd had against the zombies, just to get her fired up, and to listen.

"I'm sorry." She muttered, playing with her blood-stained pocket knif e. She didn't want to argue with him again, so she decided to go out alone. "I'll go by myself."

Keven chuckled at her stubborness, watching her yank open the swollen shut window, breaking the screen, and swinging a over the window sill. She looked back to her friend, giving him a look that asked, 'coming?' Keven rolled his eyes and reluctantly followed; snatching his hockey sticks weapon on the way out. 

The pair crept out into the polluted, outside world. Broken down cars, ripped up cement and silent roads as far as their eyes could see. And then in the near distance; stood the barrier. Stevie personally compared it to the Great Wall of China for it's appearance and size. After stocking their knapsacks with as much food and water as possible, the two headed in the barrier's direction. Keven was quieter than usual on their walk, and the silence was just plain eerie. She could hear monsters in the distance. Yes, not zombies, monsters. These particular monsters are known as "Savages," wicked beasts that are all uniquely horrifying in their own ways. They don't appear human-like but just a deformed and ugly creature. Stevie had never seen one, only heard of them and heard their demonic cries.  

"Ya' hear that." Keven mumbled, tightening his grip on his weapon; two hockey sticks bound together with tape. Stevie only nodded before a ripple of fear shot up her spine when the savage roared again, causing the ground to quake.

"Run." Was all he could gasp out before the monster rounded the corner of the remains of a once tall skyscraper. "Stevie, let's go, c'mon!" 

Stevie couldn't move, heck, she could hardly breathe let alone request to run or her ears to hear Keven's desperate pleas for her to run. He didn't want to stay there, at the hands of a menacing demon, but he also didn't want to leave his companion behind. She could only stare into the bleeding red eyes of the Savage. Imagine a 8 foot tall black figure, it's body elongated and limbs that are much too long and lanky. The figure has completely beat red eyes, pitch black rotting skin that could be compared to a crumpled up peice of paper being scorched by a flame. It's teeth rivaled that of a sharks, dripping with saliva at the smell of a fresh human soul; that's what stared back at Stevie, eager to devour her essence.  

"Fuck, dude." Keven grit his teeth and jumped to his friend's rescue, jabbing into the creature's shoulder with the sharpened edge of the hockey stick. It shrieked with pain, lashing out at Keven with it's claws, but only succeeding in leaving a row of slits across his left cheek. He knew from past experience that a Savage could only die from a strike to the brain or heart, and he knew Stevie would have this knowledge as well. So he launched his weapon quickly at the beast's body, and speared it into it's side, gesturing a thumbs up to Stevie. She shook off her fear and while Keven's distraction had the monster's attention, she knifed it stright through the chest. With a roar, the Savage fell and the pair saw quick blasts of blue light shoot from it's body; human souls. What remained was a dead carcass, a layer of burned skin lying on the pavement. 

Stevie clenched the material of clothing over her chest and let everything settle in. She wasn't prepared for Keven's reaction, she knew he could be a major douchebag and all, just the look in his eyes, she knew he was angry.

"Nice one. You tryna get us killed." He narrowed his eyes and roughly wiped the blood on his cheek, smearing it downwards and leaving a stain on his palm. "If you had just ran-" 

"If we ran, that thing would have surely finished us. Besides, I was scared Keven. I've never even seen something like that before." She tucked the knife away in her knapsack, feeling a little dejected. It was a cruel world, and even her closest ally could make her feel like absolute shit. Stevie couldn't help wondering what would have become of her if Keven had gotten his soul drained out because of her. He merely shook off his frustration and walked on ahead; every now and then touching his wounded face or stopping to check on her since she was walking a few lengths behind. 

After an hour of walking, zombie dodging, and all that good stuff, they reached the end. The barrier was there in plain veiw; a rugged cobble road leading to the one and only entrance in the whole wall.

"Finally made it." Keven smiled, picking up the pace and ignoring the tough jabs of the rocks beneath the soles of his feet.

"Wait, Kev, look!" Stevie grabbed the excited young man's shirt collar, stopping him in his tracks. On the corner of the city's exit, there was a small little house; a cottage. It wasn't ordinary, it appeared like a hideout of some sort. All four visable windows boarded and nailed up with minor damage as if something tried to force it's way in. A run down car parked in front and there was traces of smoking puffing from the caged chimney. 

"There's people in there." Stevie took one step closer before being tugged at.

"No. We made it to our escape. We're not risking it." Keven attempted to drag his comrade alongside him, but she was fiestier about this than he'd thought she'd ever be.

"We're leaving them, what if they're surviv-" 

"-Stop it. If they were actually one of us they wouldn't be living right next to the barrier's exit. Use your head." Keven mockingly tapped his index finger against the side of Stevie's head, poking her repeatedly until she swatted away his hand. He began walking again and she reluctantly followed; only taking one over-the-shoulder peek at the mysterious home. Afterall, Keven was right. Freedom was right around the corner, that is, if what was beyond the barrier, was really their "promise land."