Apocalypse

New friends

"This way!" Calls Avi, a 15 year old girl with brown hair and dark pink dyed tips. Her eyes are a light amber gold and she looks as if she knows how to defend herself, which she does. "Hurry up! In here!" She waves her arms directing her friends Trixy and Danny into an abandoned office building and quickly shuts the door, zombies snarling and growling as they try to get in. "Is everyone here? Everyone ok?" Avi turns to look at her friends, who are out of breath from all of their running.

"All good..." Danny, a 16 year old boy with thick black hair and slightly darker skin, huffs as he's catching his breath. He turns to his cousin, a 15 year old girl with skin and hair like Danny. "What about you trix?"

"I'm ok.. just let me catch my breath.."

"You know if you had worked out more during PE, you wouldn't have this problem so much." Avi teased, a slight grin on her face as her friend gives her a slight glare.

"So now what? Zombies are blocking every exit, and there's no way we can cut through all of them before getting bit." Danny chimes in. Danny was Avi's best friend since 3rd grade and he'd always acted like the father when she'd get in a pickle, try to find a solution.

"We climb. See if we can reach someone from the upper floors." Avi brought up.

"Avi, it's been 2 years and we haven't been able to get through to anyone." Trixy mentioned.

"It's that or get eaten. Take your pick, Trix." Avi shot back. Trixy wanted to speak, but figured it best not to pick a fight and stood silent. "Let's go." Avi directed, walking up the stairs.

They didn't find anything on floors 2-6, but on the way to floor seven, they found the stairs destroyed and missing some pieces. Avi placed her gun on her hip and backed up, hoping to get a running start. She leapt at the last minute, making the landing.

"Come on slow pokes."

Danny does the same, mimicking avi's actions as he leaps, and just like Avi he makes the landing. Trixy, however, stands there for a while, as if scared to move. She takes a deep breath and slowly moves back. She jumps, but too early, and her foot slides out as she lands.

"I got ya Trixy!" Avi calls as she grabs her arm, pulling her back onto her footing.

"Oh my god you saved my life!" Trixy exclaims, shocked at what had just happened.

The three continue moving up the stairs and find what seems like an odd assortment of desks and tables. Avi looks to her friends, tilting her head slightly before carefully and quietly taking out her handgun. They were not the only survivors here. A gunshot rings out and misses just next to them. Avi and the others duck for cover, and Trixy catches a glimpse of their attacker. A young girl around their age with long blond hair in two ponytails is holding a gun and firing at them.

"Avi it's just a kid! She's scared!"

"Hold your fire!" Avi calls out, and everything grows silent. They rise from their hiding places and lower their guns, but the girl doesn't. "We're not here to hurt you. It's ok." She says calmly, putting away her weapon as she steps closer. Getting a better look at her, she can see green eyes and some freckles on her face. She doesn't look harmed or injured like the rest of them do. "I'm Avi, and these are my friends Trixy and Danny. What's your name?" Avi asks with a reassuring smile.

"Bella..." The girl says quietly, lowering her weapon and putting it away. She motions them to her little setup of chairs and desks and a little boy is waiting there. He doesn't look to be older than 11, and he looks similar to Bella. "This is my little brother, Isaac." Bella says, this time slightly louder.

"How long have you been stuck here?" Danny asked.

"Since it started. We were here with our dad when we heard the sirens. Our dad had gone to the bathroom and forgot about us in the evacuation, but we don't think he made it out of the building..."

"That's awful." Trixy chimed in. "How did you survive?"

"I'd go down to the cafeteria or we'd go to the store to find food during the day, then come back here to hideout."

"So you broke up those stairs?" Avi asked, impressed by this girl.

"Yep. You'd be surprised how much damage an emergency axe can do." She chuckled slightly.

"Bella, why don't you come with us? It would get you out of this building, and we could help keep you safe." Danny brings up, and to his surprise, Avi doesn't shut him down.

Bella contemplates it, silent for a while before speaking again. "We'd love to."

The conversation is cut short by the sound of a helicopter rudder outside. "It's a helicopter. Come on, let's go!" Avi calls as they bolt up the stairs, but Trixy stops at the sound of growling and groaning behind her.

"They got in!"

"Let's move it!" Danny yells, the five friends racing up to the stairs to the roof, where the helicopter is waiting for them.

"Everyone in!" Avi directs, helping them up one by one, until they reach an issue.

"There's only room for one more..." Danny looks to his best friend. "I'll stay..."

"No, no you are going. You have family on that helicopter and I'm not letting Trixy lose you too. I'm staying."

"Avi-"

"This is not up for debate. Take care of them, cause I know you will."

Danny stands there for a moment, before pulling her into an embrace. "I'm gonna miss you..."

"I know..." The sentimental moment is cut off when zombies break through the door, rushing towards them. Without hesitation, the two friends reach for their guns and start firing, but theirs too many. One of the pilots jumps out to help, but is caught by a zombie. He cries out in pain and it sinks it's teeth into him and he starts to writhe in pain.

"Go! Go! Go!" Danny yells at the top of his lungs as the other pilot starts taking off.

Bella and Trixy lower a ladder for the two, and Avi reaches for it, grabbing it and holding on as Danny follows. Safe and away from the zombies, they climb the ladder into the helicopter. The two friends catch their breath and embrace once more, glad that their all still together at least, and thankful to still be alive. But it doesn't last long when they cross over a forest. The pilot runs into a tree, unable to see in the dark, and the rudder is hit. The helicopter is going down. Avi, Bella, Trixy, and Danny hold on for dear life in their seats and Isaac clings to his sister from his seat. There's a loud crash, and the helicopter hits the ground at full force, the front and the rudder completely destroyed.