No Escape

Echoes of the Past

I wandered through the empty streets, the eerie silence pressing in around me. It felt too quiet, almost like the calm before a storm. My thoughts drifted to my classmates—the ones I wouldn't bat an eye at if they crawled back to life as the undead. Then there were my friends and my crush, who was currently dating someone I wouldn't hesitate to take down, alive or not.

It wasn't just jealousy driving me; she was using him to get to Todd Briley, the captain of the chess team. I'd seen Todd roaming the streets, his eyes vacant and wild. When I pulled the trigger, it was for survival—and honestly, for the thrill of it.

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of him—Luke. Instinctively, I aimed my pistol at him, ready for a confrontation.

"Still alive, I see," he said, his tone a mix of surprise and something darker. He yanked me closer, his grip firm. "Doesn't surprise me."

With my gun trained on his forehead, I shot back, "Easy there. Juliana would be furious with you, you know."

Luke's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "I killed her!" he blurted out, the intensity of his words sending a chill down my spine. "You think I did it to get to you? Nah! She ditched me, convinced she could handle herself. Three minutes later, she was a zombie. I put her down without a second thought. She wasn't Juliana anymore—she was just a monster. El Diablo found her a body with no soul, just like the rest. One shot to the head, and then another to make sure it was over. Apart, we're dead, but together, we can take this undead town back. Are you in?"

I hesitated for a heartbeat, feeling the weight of his gaze. Impatience danced in his eyes, pushing me to respond. "Yeah, I'm in."

He needed me. Without my instincts, he'd be lost. I had this strange ability to feel things—maybe even see a glimpse of what was to come. My grandmother said it was a gift, one I'd need more than I could imagine. She was still alive, but not for long. I had to check on her—had to make sure she was okay.