No Escape

Shattered Illusions

As the Hummer barreled down the empty roads, I drifted in and out of sleep, cocooned in the soft embrace of the plush seat. The chaos outside faded into a dull roar, and I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving Luke to navigate this nightmare alone. When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself in a warmly lit room adorned with family photos and pastel wallpaper—my grandmother's haven amidst the apocalypse.

Under the covers, I hesitated before looking down. I was wearing a lovely nightgown that felt like a soft whisper against my skin, a stark contrast to the jeans and tank top that lay forgotten on the floor. Just then, my grandmother Jenny appeared in the doorway, her expression a mix of love and concern.

"Sweetheart, please tell me you have clothes on! Your body has grown so much since the last time I saw you," she said, her voice both teasing and warm. "And that boy out there? He's quite the catch. You should keep him around—just don't tell your parents what happened last night."

Her gaze shifted, and suddenly, her demeanor changed. Tears welled in her eyes as she began to mumble words I couldn't quite catch. "I should've seen this coming," she whispered, breaking my heart. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her it wasn't her fault, but deep down, I knew the truth—we could have seen it if we'd just looked harder.

After a moment, she guided me downstairs, where the aroma of fresh coffee and something sweet wafted through the air. It felt oddly comforting, like a slice of normalcy in this upside-down world. The kitchen was filled with sunlight pouring through the windows, illuminating the cozy space and the homemade breakfast spread on the table: golden Belgian waffles, perfectly fried eggs, and crispy bacon—my absolute favorite. I couldn't fathom where she had found this food during a zombie apocalypse.

"Alright, Alice," Jenny began, her voice steady but heavy with emotion. "I should have told you this sooner. When you were born, your parents had to send reports on your development. They weren't trusted as parents, and they agreed to an experiment to enhance your abilities."

"What are you saying?" My voice rose in anger, disbelief flooding my senses. "That I'm just some kind of science experiment? That all my training was for someone else's benefit?"

"Calm down, Alice! It's not like that," she urged, her eyes pleading. "Your parents loved you very much. They just needed help—money to take care of you. The government offered it in exchange for your participation." Her expression darkened. "The experiment was flawed, and a guard got infected. You know what happened next."

Stunned, I felt a wave of fear wash over me. Was I responsible for this? Maybe the chaos would have happened regardless, but the weight of guilt threatened to crush me. I glanced at Luke, my anchor in this storm, realizing how much I needed him. My grandmother's love felt like a heavy burden I wasn't sure I deserved.

"Hey!" Luke called from the balcony, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. "Get over here, Alice!"

I walked to him, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. It felt comforting, a small refuge in the chaos. "Look at that sky," he said, glancing up. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"What?" I asked, entranced by the way his dark green eyes sparkled in the light.

"You know what else is beautiful?" he said, leaning closer. Before I could process what was happening, he kissed me—a soft, electric connection that made my heart race. "Wait... we can't do this here! My grandmother is right there!" I blurted out, panic rising in my chest.

"You're right," he said, and a pang of disappointment pierced my heart. I wanted that reckless abandon—the part of him that didn't care about the consequences. "How about we go into the bedroom?" he suggested, and my heart leaped at the idea.

I nodded, and he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me through the doorway. His lips brushed mine again, sending butterflies flitting in my stomach. The kiss deepened as he trailed soft kisses down my neck, making my skin tingle.

Suddenly, a loud bang jolted us. We jumped apart, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A streak of red smeared against the door. My heart raced as we rushed to unlock it, only to find my grandmother lying lifeless on the floor. My breath caught in my throat as tears streamed down my face.

"No!" I cried, kneeling beside her, feeling utterly helpless. Luke reached for my hand, pulling me to my feet and zipping up my jacket. "We have to go now!" he shouted, urgency lacing his voice.

We sprinted to the garage, where my grandmother's RV sat waiting, a bittersweet reminder of our camping trips together. I felt like a wilted flower, emotions overflowing. Luke quickly hooked up his Hummer, clearing away some of the blood from the chainsaws attached to the side.

He pressed a button, and the Hummer roared to life, then grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the RV. The world outside felt chaotic and dark, but together, we would face whatever came next. As the engines revved, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the road ahead.

"We'll figure this out," Luke said, squeezing my hand. I looked into his eyes, feeling the strength of his promise.

And just like that, we were off, hurtling into the unknown, determined to find a way to survive.