Mankind

Chapter One

-6 years later...

Back in the woods, in the foothills of Southern Ohio, is a town. It's walled off, and safe. Life here is somewhat normal, resembling times before the outbreak. Nestled in a serene forest near rivers and wildlife, it's the ideal place to live nowadays. O'Connor Valley; this is where Cassie and 500 other people call home.

The bitter cold of February has gripped O'Connor Valley, covering the ground in a blanket of powdery snow, but that hasn't stopped a town party from taking place at the community center. Twinkling lights are strung up on the bare trees surrounding it and inside the building is warm and cozy with folk music playing.

Cassie leans against the counter at the back of the room, sipping on hot cinnamon tea. Out dancing is her mother Joan, and her step-dad Ryan. They're laughing and having a good time but Cassie, she just wants to go back to sleep and dream of warmer days.

"What's eating you?" Her friend Jesse joins next to her. He's tall, with long black shaggy hair. His parents came from Korea on vacation just before the outbreak and got stuck in the States—some luck.

"I've got a date with my pillow and blanket," She takes a sip of her drink.

"We're on patrol duty tomorrow. You know that right?"

She sighs, "Shit. I forgot. Why'd you remind me? I wasn't going to set an alarm tonight."

Jesse smirks. "Sorry to burst your bubble. Bright and early, 5:30 AM."

" I know where you live, Jesse."

"Get out there and dance, Cassie. Shake your booty as the kids would say."

Cassie looks at him, eyebrows raised. "Yeah no. Not doing that."

"You are very boring." He nudges her playfully.

"Bite me, Jesse."

"Stop flirting with me."

Cassie shoots him a blank stare, conveying her annoyance, but beneath it all, there's a hint of fondness for her closest friend. Despite his irritating tendencies, she knows she'd do anything for him.

"Jess, I'm going to say this as your friend, your only friend. Fuck off."

"Fine, fine. See you in the morning. Set your alarm!" He shakes his head with a laugh before heading out.

Still, Cassie watches as Joan and Ryan embrace, holding each other close as a slower song starts. Happiness is carved into their faces, they smile like they've never known any other feeling besides love, and maybe after all this time, that is the only feeling they know.

Cassie can still remember the stories her mother used to tell her when she was young about how she and Ryan met and how O'Connor Valley came to be long ago. Cassie was only a year old, maybe almost two, when her mother ran into Ryan at a bookstore in the city. One of those stores with the escalator that leads up to a second overflowing floor of endless books. Her mother told her that it was like being in heaven. They hit it off and when the outbreak happened, she traveled down to Southern Ohio where his family owned almost 80 acres of land.

On this land were just a few houses, a camper, and some small cabins dotted throughout the forest. Work began quickly, people found refuge in their hideaway down a long dirt road, and began building a wall, then clearing land for houses. Eventually, O'Connor Valley became the place to go if you wanted safety, food, electricity, and shelter. Ryan's family, and her mother Joan founded this village-turned-town when all seemed hopeless in the world.

After what seemed like hours, Cassie finally decides it's time to leave but the party still rages on. Snow crunches under her boots and she shivers in the cold night air. She can't really understand why there's so many people out and about in the freezing cold. The only thing she can think of is it's better than sitting at home bored but right now the only thing that is on her mind is the comfort of her bed and the softness of her pillow. Ryan recently cleaned out a furniture store that hadn't been pillaged through at all. It was an absolute goldmine.