No Escape

Drive to Survive

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a crimson hue over the desolate streets as I stepped outside. The world had been turned upside down—cars lay abandoned, some with doors flung wide open, as if their drivers had fled in a panic. A chilling wind swept through the air, carrying with it the distant, haunting moans of the undead. The atmosphere felt heavy, thick with despair, and yet I felt an undeniable surge of determination.

"Before we do anything, we have to get to my grandmother," I urged, glancing back at the grim reality of my neighborhood.

Luke's eyes sparkled with reckless excitement, cutting through the gloom. "Let's take one of my cars—the Hummer. It's decked out with chainsaws on the sides."

"Sure, let's go!" I replied, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "No time for chit-chat. We need to move."

As we slipped out of my house, the rusted garage door creaked open, revealing Luke's prized Hummer. It loomed large and menacing, its modifications promising a brutal efficiency against the horde outside. I could see shadows flitting in the corners of my vision—zombies prowling, waiting for a chance to strike.

We plunged into the chaos, the night illuminated only by the flickering streetlights that struggled to stay lit. As we drove through the eerie streets, the sound of shattering glass and distant screams filled the air. We engaged in grotesque battles, Luke not hesitating to fire at a zombie that resembled my ex, his cheating girlfriend trailing close behind. It didn't matter if they were undead or not; he shot without hesitation, his determination palpable.

"Do you ever notice how clueless guys can be?" he grumbled as he blasted another zombie. "It's like they can't see how you feel. You make those googly eyes at them every day, and they just... ignore you!"

I couldn't help but smirk at his protectiveness. "You're kind of intense about this, aren't you?"

"Intense? Try furious. And it's not just about them. It's you! I don't get how they can't see how amazing you are."

"Amazing? Please." I rolled my eyes, but warmth spread through me. Did he even realize he was my first?

"Alice! Focus!" He snapped, pulling me back to reality. "I think we should take the Hummer to my dad's job and grab the tank. What do you think?"

"Yeah... sure. That sounds good," I replied, my mind racing. Was he still into me? He was undeniably hot—sexy, even. Just looking at him made my heart race.

"Are you getting in or what?" Luke asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "I swear I've asked you like eight times now."

"Uh... yeah, sorry. I almost forgot," I said, feeling a bit sheepish.

"Almost forgot? Are you out of your mind? There's a zombie mob out there, and you just space out? Get in the damn car!" His irritation stung, making it clear he was all business now.

I jumped into the spacious Hummer, the leather seats cool against my skin. Luke gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white as we sped through the throngs of zombies. The engine roared, drowning out the haunting moans that filled the air. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, the way his hair fell across his face, illuminated by the dim dashboard lights.

"Crap!" he shouted suddenly, making my heart skip a beat.

"What's wrong?" I asked, anxiety creeping in. Was he going to lash out at me?

"I forgot my meds!" He looked panicked, and I could see the turmoil in his eyes.

"Meds? For what?" I shouted, my heart racing as I glanced out the window at the chaos we were barreling through. How had I missed this? Oh right—soundproof windows. I turned back to Luke, who looked like he was wrestling with demons. "Wait, what do you mean by meds?"

"I'm bipolar," he admitted, finally addressing my earlier question. It explained a lot about our past.

"The weird thing is," he continued, his voice shaky, "the pills help me feel—but sometimes they make me feel too much. I can't always control my emotions, and it leads to... complications."

Was that why we had slept together? Because he couldn't manage his feelings?

I thought out loud, "So, we had sex because you forgot to take your pills?"

"No!" He seemed taken aback, realizing I had said that out loud. "I was prescribed pills to help manage my emotions." He paused, looking genuinely remorseful. "I'm sorry for not telling you. I respect you, and I would never lie to you."

Just then, my eyes caught sight of a sign in the distance: "HELP NEEDED. REAL HUMANS INSIDE! PLEASE HELP!!!" My heart raced, and I shouted, "Luke! Look at that sign! We have to save them!"

"How, Alice? How are we supposed to save them? We just passed it, and they're going to eat us—not in the fun way!" His voice rose with frustration, and I could see the tension building in his jaw. "I didn't mean to yell, but seriously, why would you want to save them? They could be dangerous! Can we just get to your grandmother first?"

"Fine, okay," I relented, softening my tone. "She means more to me than some strangers."

As we barreled down the road, the tension hung thick in the air. The weight of our choices pressed down on me as the world outside devolved into chaos. But within that terrifying reality, the bond between us solidified, forged in fire and fear, and I knew that no matter what happened next, we had to face it together.