"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥."
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In the year of 2734, no one suspected that the dead would rule the world.
With millions infected after the first...
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The autumn night was cold, announcing the beginning of the end of summer. I didn't think much of it. There wasn't a vacation I was sad about leaving. There wasn't school waiting that brought all the unwanted stress. There weren't football games and romance filling the air to which everyone was excited about.
Instead, what I thought about was how I was going to survive.
I regretted leaving Ground Zero with Chase. What was I thinking, an amateur trainer leaving in the middle of the night and entering the Infected's territory?
I wasn't thinking. All I wanted to do was prove myself.
There is no way of proving yourself if you are dead.
"You are good at running, I'll give you that."
Chase broke the silence, entering the living room of the cabin. It was an empty, old but cozy looking place. The coffee table had a single rose to which all of its petals had fallen around its slender vase. The windows, one in the front at which I was sitting by were covered by the white, long curtains that seemed to be the only thing left in full piece. The wooden walls were covered in shattered pictures of the family that used to be here. A mother and two kids that didn't seem older than my sisters.
I wondered if the family was alive. Did they find the Miracles, just like my family did? Or did they die trying?
"Honestly, Aliana," he began and I wanted to leave this first constructed building we came across and find somewhere to stay alone. "You not giving me some snarky, immature comeback is kind of concerning."
We managed to lose the herd of the Infected but I stayed muted ever since we found this cabin. All I wanted to do was go back. It was only a matter of time before they sensed us again. We were sitting here, signing our deaths.
"I messed up, okay?" He admitted, the words spoken much harder than intended. I kept my eyes on the window, observing any kind of movement. I could sense the sudden remorse in his tone.
I felt him shifting towards me but I only wished for him to leave me alone. Why would he suddenly care if all he did was make my time at Ground Zero miserable?
"We're stuck here because of me. It was reckless and stupid. But you can't ignore me if you want both of us to get out of here. It would be extremely stupid on your side."
"If anyone is stupid it's you Chase," I snapped, turning to look at him. The words came out harsh, cold, angry. "Why bring me here when I can barely fight?"
Hot fury flashed across his dark eyes and I shifted back into the window. He towered above me, holding back his words I was sure would hurt me. I realized I overstepped my boundaries with him yet again.
"How are we going to get back?" I whispered, resolving to another tactic. Chase liked to be in control, in power, looked up to. If I acted smaller, afraid, vulnerable he might forget my outburst.
