Not Unique

Login (Part 1)

A cold gust of wind blows over the rooftop, and red strings of hair rise and fall until a black band comes uptop and over, pulling it into a tight bun. The world is in its natural state. There are no humans. But it does not rejoice. Trees stay still, birds do not tweet any tune to the wind, and there are no humans. No humans, just beings that plague the ground. Some ball themselves up, some wander the streets aimlessly in the dead night. They are seeking but not finding.

The red-haired looks over her shoulder at the tiny bundle huddled in a corner whimpering small incoherent words. She shivers into the blanket, seeking warmth. 'We'll have to change our hair.'

Zylith had not slept. Sleeping was a weakness. The sun was still rising from the horizon but mindless humans still loitered the streets. The world was not indeed in its natural state as guttural screams of pain and terror tore from the throats of the walkers down below the convenience store's roof. Zylith kept away from the edge of the building to avoid getting into their sight. Now was not the place to be pale white with stark red hair.

This was Canada and the weather was not having it, the cold crept into her core and Zylith shivered as she rubbed her hands together, generating heat and then slapping her cheeks with enough force to wake her up.

"Hey," Zylith nudged Bliss. They had been friends for two years and Zylith had grown attached, not like she'd ever admit it. She looked at Bliss as if Bliss was the only reason she was *****; she worshipped the ground Bliss walked on.

"Hey, we gotta go while it's still dark" Zylith's voice rasped in the early morning a steam of white air coming out her mouth and her nose reddened.

"But those things...would see us" Bliss argued back as she wiggled into the blanket even more

"Well they'll see us even better when the sun is high up, we have a chance now" Zylith explained and just then a painful scream that sounded a far way sounded, causing Zylith to turn her head to the exact point the scream was coming from.

"Come on, let's go NOW" Zylith's face sterned, and her voice said she didn't want any more discussions.

Bliss lets out a grumble but complies and stands up to stretch.

"Pack up the bags and blankets" Zylith moves to the edge of the building with a scope in hand and places her eyes to look at the direction she had heard the very loud screech.

"Are we going to the radio tower? Do you even know where to go now?" Bliss rubs her eyes open. "Listen to me Zylith, can't we not just go-"

"No" Zylith deadpanned

"You're crazy to want to go back down. I'm not as smart as you but I'm not dumb enough to go back down. A helicopter could pass by if we wait long enough. Shouldn't we just stay up...above ground"

"Look, Bliss-"

"No, Zeel, I'm done. My mom must have a National helicopter with well-trained military men on their way to find me and I won't go down there just to-"

Zylith shakes her head and turns away as if trying to end the conversation.

"I'm not coming with" Bliss adamantly refuses. Zylith passes by her and straps a backpack out of the two on the smooth rooftop.

"I'm talking to you-" Bliss starts but is briskly pulled down by Zylith who places a finger on her lips telling her to keep quiet. Zylith doesn't talk and they stay there for a few seconds while Zylith tries to catch her breath. A scorching screech is heard in the distance but the power behind it is enough to be heard even from far. She reacts to the scream even before it reaches them.

"What's that ?" Bliss whispers with wide fearful eyes as she huddles beside Zylith. Her skin bursts with goosebumps around and she looks like a live chicken "When we go we run at full speed and we're going to keep quiet, understand?" Zylith not waiting for a reply crawls to where the almost packed bag is and brings out a coat and hands it to her friend.