You're My Zombie Apocalypse Survival Plan

I. Outbreak

"Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger." -Thucydides

Melanie's POV

This is how we live now, with the constant burn of the sun on our backs and the profuse stench of rotting flesh in the air. We don't complain anymore, running, scavenging and killing, are considered necessary tasks these days. We've adapted to this amoral world as best we can, we do what is required for our survival at all costs, but we still cling to our humanity. We protect each other, offer our services and respect one another, which is what has kept us alive and even thriving so far. If we stay strong and united we can make it through this... right?

"Hello? Are you even listening?" I was pulled from my thoughts by my friend Adison tapping my forehead as if to see if anyone was conscious in there. I looked up at my group, all sitting around a rusted table that was covered in maps of the nearby city. The withered maps were smudged with circles marking possible locations to loot for supplies and X's over buildings we had already stripped clean. They were all staring at me, waiting for me to respond, all except for Cole. Cole's eyes seemed permanently fixed on Jillian as she slept on a small cot in the corner of the room, wheezing with every shallow breath.

"Yeah, sorry... Where were we?" I asked turning my attention back to the decrepit maps.

"Jillian needs Albuterol, it's a selective sympathomimetic bronchodilator, it'll relax her bronchial muscles and make it easier for her to inhale and exhale," Travis stated. Travis was a medical student before the outbreak, he could be an ass sometimes, but I was more than grateful to have him around, he'd saved several lives on countless occasions and was the sole reason Jillian was still breathing.

"We can only hope to get that stuff at one of two places, the CVS near the old movie theatre or St. Jude's Children's hospital that's at the other side of the city." Adison said, pointing to two circles on a large map. The hospital would be more useful, we could look for the inhaler medicine for Jillian and also grab anything else we could use for future medical problems, but it was an obvious place to loot for medicine, it's very likely that it's been stripped clean. The CVS was a lot closer and more inconspicuous, but in a more dangerous part of the city that is absolutely crawling with infected.

"Let's hit up both places and double the chances of us finding what Jillian needs." Cole said, still watching her as if she would shatter into a billion pieces with a single cough.

"And double the chances of getting killed or infected," Travis scoffed, "Yeah great idea, genius." Cole and Travis were constantly at each other's throats, fighting over nothing like children. They claim they simply dislike each other, but I honestly think it's because they're too similar to coexist in such a tight space like our little hideout. Cole's face snapped away from Jillian to glare at Travis.

"You're a doctor, you should want what's best for her" Cole's face contorted with a cocktail of anger and confusion. Travis had been trying to get Jillian up on her feet so she could contribute to the group, but he cared more about himself than anyone

"I'm not a doctor, I'm barely a medical student, but I still have a brain, and I don't think getting some medicine for a someone who isn't going to get better, is worth risking our strongest chances for survival." Travis stated coldly. Before I could speak up to change the subject and relieve the tension in the small room, Cole had leaped across the rusty table, sending the maps sailing across the room, slowly floating to the ground. Travis is a quick thinker but Cole's reflexes were much faster. Cole's fist collided with Travis' lower abdomen, causing a winded groan to escape his lungs. He doubled over, cradling his stomach. In one swift movement, Cole raised his arm and brought his elbow down hard on Travis' arched back with an almost hollow sounding thud. It was usually up to me to break them up, but I stayed silent. Cole acted so fast I wouldn't have been able to stop him, but I didn't disapprove of his actions, Travis deserves to be knocked on his ass every once in awhile. Cole placed his foot on Travis' shoulder and kicked forward with incredible force, causing him to fly backwards. Cole put one knee down onto Travis' ribs, with most of his wait judging by the pain on Travis' face, he wrapped his massive hands around Travis' neck with deadly intent. Things were getting out of hand.