Life during the apocalypse

1

Dia's POV:

It has been months since the zombie apocalypse started. At first, it was just a normal day. My twin brother and I were chilling, playing video games, while Dad watched the news on his phone, and Mom was in the kitchen making dinner. Being a 19-year-old girl and spending time with my brother was fun, but those carefree moments didn't last.

"Oh come on Thorn, how are you better at Super Smash Bros than me?" I asked playfully annoyed, "Well, dear little sis it's simple. I'm better than you." Thorn flashed a mischievous grin as he selected his next character, confident in his skills, waggling his controller taunting.

I rolled my eyes, determined not to let him get under my skin. "We'll see about that," I retorted, narrowing my focus on the screen. The familiar music filled the room as the battle commenced, our button-mashing and shouts of triumph echoing through the house.

Despite my brother's boastful claims, I refused to go down without a fight. "It doesn't matter if you're better than me, I will beat you," I said as I picked a different character than the last round.

Thorn chuckled, accepting the challenge with a playful gleam in his eyes. "Oh, I like the confidence, sis. But don't get too cocky. I'll still be the one standing victorious at the end."

As the match began anew, we both focused intently, our competitive spirits driving us to outmaneuver and outplay each other. With each well-timed combo and strategic move, the tension in the room mounted, as did the laughter and camaraderie.

After five more rounds, I finally beat him, I finally beat my brother. "Ha, in your face. I finally beat you, and used a zero suit Samus." I smiled, Thorn's eyes widened in mock astonishment, a grin spreading across his face. "You may have won the battle Dia, but you haven't won the war. Next time I will be you."

I couldn't help but beam with pride, relishing the sweet taste of victory after countless rounds of intense competition. "Thanks, Thorn. But don't think I'll go easy on you anymore," I replied, my competitive spirit reignited by his challenge.

Thorn chuckled, a twinkle of determination in his eyes. "Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less. But just wait, Dia, not to mention this was one out of 10 rounds that you've beaten me. Next time, and still be the one standing triumphant," he declared, his competitive fire burning brightly.

The first signs of trouble came when news broke about some scientists turning into zombies. We brushed it off as some hoax or isolated incident. "Looks like people are trying to scare us with a talk about zombies and another so-called portion of the earth of global warming," my dad said a bit out loud

"They're never going to learn that global warming is fake," I said still playing with my brother Then things escalated rapidly. The president himself turned into a zombie. The president wasn't exactly my favorite person, but I had bigger problems than politics at that moment. "Oh, shoot." What Dad?" my brother asked "I was wrong, the zombie stuff is real."

The virus was spreading fast, leaving little time for anyone to find safety. My family and I were desperately trying to reach a secure location. Thankfully, Thorn, my brother, had taught me how to handle a gun, and Dad had imparted his survival skills for living in the wild.

For a while, we managed to stay one step ahead of the infected, but our luck couldn't hold out forever. After weeks of struggling to survive, Mom fell victim to the virus. "MOM!" I cried out, trying to rush to her side, but Dad held me back, knowing it was too late. "Don't Dia, she's infected." My dad said Thorn grabbed my arm, pulling me away as we fled, leaving behind the person who had always been our rock.

That day, we lost not just our mom, but a piece of ourselves. It's a memory I wish I could erase, but it's a reminder of the harsh reality we face in this new world. "We have to go back Thorn, we have to help Mom." "Dia, it's too late Mom... Mom is gone."

As we raced away from the horror of losing Mom, Dad managed to catch up to us. But he wasn't the same. The virus had taken hold of him too, twisting him into something unrecognizable. It dawned on us that he must have been infected while doing the unthinkable - ending the life of his wife, who had turned into a zombie.

Seeing Dad in that state was a gut-wrenching realization of just how merciless this world had become. We had lost not just one, but both of our parents in the cruelest of ways. My heart shattered as I looked into his eyes, once full of love and warmth, now clouded by the darkness of the infection. "No, no not Dad," I mumbled under my breath. Thorn and I exchanged a glance, knowing what had to be done to survive.

Thorn's silent agreement weighed heavy on my heart as I nodded in understanding. I was the one with the gun I was the one who had to kill the man that loved me since birth. I gripped the gun tightly, knowing what I had to do. It was a burden no one should ever have to bear - to take the life of their father. But in this merciless world, survival often means making the hardest choices.

With tears blurring my vision, I steadied my aim and pulled the trigger, ending my father's suffering. "I'm sorry Dad." The gunshot echoed through the desolate landscape, a stark reminder of the brutal reality we faced. As I watched his body fall I couldn't help it, I couldn't help but cry.

Memories flooded my brain. "Here Dia, let me show you how to navigate without a map or a compass. Show me your little dance princess" My Dad's words echoed all the good memories I had I started to cry.