Shameless

Prologue

- The beginning -

A loud screech broke me out of my day dream. I quickly looked over to see the milk the new trainee left heat on the coffee machine was overflowing everywhere. I muttered a quick 'fuck' before rushing over turning off the steamer and looking at the mess everywhere.

"Long day?" I heard someone laugh from behind me. Brilliant someone had seen the nightmare and I was now definitely embarrassed.

"Yeah you know how the trainee's can be" I looked at the man quickly before recognising him. "Officer Marks, how are we?"

Marks was a regular in the cafe. The man was sweet and always polite to the people who worked here, often starting short conversations with me about my day or other random things. He'd usually come in before his shifts began, a few times he'd come with other officers. The thought of one of his fellow officers made a slight frown form on my face. Marks had told me how his coworker had become ill with the new flu that was going around and he hadn't been heard from in a few weeks.

"How many times do I have to ask ya to call me Owen?" He smiled again.

"I know just feels proper professional to call you that. Anyways, the usual I'm guessing." I turned to start making his drink. Every time he came he ordered the same thing. No matter what time of day, always a black coffee. I'd asked him if he would like to try anything else but I still couldn't complain as it was nice and simple to make.

"You going to the hospital again?" I asked making conversation. Since word got round that more people were getting sick with this mysterious new illness, people were volunteering as much as they could to help, including Owen.

"Yeah gunna see if they've got any updates on whats going on. Don't ever really tell me much." He said as I passed him the coffee

"I'm sure it'll be okay. There's always new illnesses going round but they find cures. Just stay hopeful." I tried to reassure him but I could see the worry still etched on his face. He went to pass me the money but I simply just shook my head "On the house"

He said a quick goodbye before making his way out the shop. I felt for the man. It was known how close him and the other sick officer had been, some described them to even be like brothers. So not knowing what was happening to someone you cared so much for, I just couldn't imagine it.

I was quickly snapped out my thoughts when the milk steamer began screeching again.

"Again milly. Seriously"

-

The day was slowly coming to an end as the sun tried to fight against the darkness of the moon. I slowly walked along the street daydreaming about nothing.

As I walked I noticed a change in the atmosphere. Something felt off, wrong even. I carried on walking, quicking my pace. Time went on and as it did things kept getting weirder, the feeling in my gut growing to tell me something was wrong. Soon a man ran past me, worry written all over his face. Two seconds later another person ran past, then another, and another. In the matter of seconds things had erupted.

The city erupted. Screams filled the air. People ran in chaos trying to get away from something I couldn't work out. People flew past in their cars, suitcases packed on top. Some were driving like maniacs causing one car to collide with another, both quickly erupting into flames.

I started running too. I didn't know why but it was like my instincts had kicked in that I needed to follow everyone else.

I came up to a tv shop which caught my attention. The news was playing on every single one I could see from outside the window. I stood there frozen, in shook from what I was watching. Clips of people ripping eachother apart shone bright on the screen. Other clips of the army shooting people down played. People running crazy trying to escape the massacre. A man came in the broadcast sharing advice to get to the cities as quickly as possible, to some sort of safe haven they'd set up. I was fine then right? Atlanta is safe. 

I stood there for a few more minutes not believing what I was seeing.

What the fuck is going on.

I turned again, walking fast, trying not to crash into people as I did. I need to get out of the city. Even though they said it was safe, something didn't feel right about being here. I began to run down the street, towards what looked to be a group of military and police officers. There was a crowd infront of me doing the same, shouting and screaming to the military for help.

Again the gut feeling hit me, this isnt right. I slowed down, looking up at the military and officer. Then I realised how they were slowly raising their guns towards the people begging for help. Within seconds the air erupted with the sounds of their gunshots, the bodies of people dropping like dominos. I ran, jumping to take cover behind a pillar of a building.

The shots ran through my ears along with the screams of people trying desperatly to escape the massacre. The whole thing was exactly like what i'd watched on the tv moments before. 

Everything fell silent. I looked from behind the pillar to see them lowering their guns again, while looking at the graveyard of bodies they had made.

Now groans filled the air. I looked to another street where more people emerged from behind buildings. These people were different. No screaming. No cries for help. They werent running fast.

The soldiers were quick to raise their guns again, shooting at the new people. Even with them being shot they werent falling fast. More and more of them joined the herd that marched towards the army. The soldiers werent quick enough. There wasnt enough of them.

No matter how many bullets, unless it was in the head they werent dropping. People started to launch at the army men, ripping them apart. Screams erupted the air again as the military began to be eaten alive.

Officers were being dragged down from there horses and I found my chance. One horse got loose and began towards me. I jumped from behind the pillar in line with the horse causing it to slow, quickly grabbing the reigns. I threw myself up and into the saddle, before she took off again. She ran fast through the streets, dodging people and what looked to be the undead as she went.

I looked up to see planes and helicopters flying lowly above. As I did an explosion erupted sending a ringing through my ears. Then another and another, soon there was dozens of explosions, and the night was brightened as the sky lightened with the burning flames.

They were bombing us.

I gave the horse another kick, trying hard to make sure I escaped the falling bombs.

She ran through the streets as fast as she could make herself. I looked down each street for a way out. It hadn't been long since I moved to the city and I still definetly did not know my way around.

Then I spotted him. A boy stood at the side of the street, fumbling with a gun in his hands, obviosuly not knowing how to work it. I looked ahead to see one of the undead heading straight towards him. He was desperate. Fuck sakes. I pulled the reigns turning the horse in his directions.

"Pass me the gun!" I shouted at him but he didnt looked convinced "It's either you pass me it or you die"

He listened quickly passing me the gun. I aimed forward shooting, straight in the head. I turned back to him and the look of fear was covering his face. He must be around my age, circular glasses which were dusty from the explosions. Fucking hell. I cant leave him.

"You know a way out the city?" I asked and he nodded, so I extended my hand out to him which he gladly took "Hold the gun. You see the street we need to go down you shout. You see a bomb coming, you shout. You see anyone of those undead things you shout and hand me the gun. Got it?"

"Got it." He nodded "Start with straight ahead here then second left."

I followed what he told me starting off. As we went  past the person or whatever it was now that I'd shot caught my eye. I looked down as we rode past and my face dropped. Officer Marks.

Owen.