No Escape

A Dangerous Awakening

I woke up to the soft hum of the RV's engine, my head nestled against Luke's shoulder. The sunlight streamed through the tinted windows, casting a warm glow around us. I blinked against the light, taking a moment to relish the peacefulness that enveloped me. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through my hair, a tender gesture that sent warmth through me.

Suddenly, he stirred, breaking the tranquility. "Bulletproof," he muttered, his expression shifting to something more serious as he glanced outside. "We're going to need that."

"Why do we need bulletproof windows, Luke?" I asked, my heart racing with confusion.

He took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto mine, and the gravity of his words weighed heavily in the air. "You should know—I work for the CIA. I've been watching you, Alice." His voice softened, almost regretful. "I almost got kicked off for... for being with you. That old lady in that house? She wasn't your grandmother."

I furrowed my brow, disbelief washing over me. "Who was she then?"

"Donna," he replied, his tone darkening. "She's part of the inner league against the government. Your grandmother is safe in our facility. You were part of an experiment, and so was I. We're the only survivors."

My mind reeled, scrambling to process his words. "Wait, what? An experiment?"

"Yeah, mostly you," he continued, his eyes narrowing. "The experiment caused me to be bipolar. You came out perfectly fine." He paused, studying my reaction. "Now for the facts that might scare you. You'll undergo CIA training. They'll use you to create a cure with your blood."

I felt the weight of his words settle in my stomach, but I reached out, holding his hand. "I do like you, you know that, right?"

"I know," he murmured, a small smile breaking through the tension. It felt like a lifeline in a turbulent sea.

As sleep began to pull me under again, I felt comforted by his presence, the flicker of hope igniting within me.

The next morning, the smell of takeout food roused me from my dreams. I sat up, groggy but curious, and found Luke perched on the edge of the table, a bag of McDonald's in his hands. "Okay with MikkiD's?" he announced with a grin, the playfulness in his voice easing the tension of the previous night.

"If that's all you got, sure," I replied, moving over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I pulled him into a hug. I pressed a soft kiss against his cheek, feeling a rush of warmth at the familiarity.

He gave me a strange look, as if the memory of last night was still hazy in his mind. "So, how did you sleep last night?"

"I slept pretty well," I said, settling next to him. "Had a dream about the future. Haven't had those in a while."

"Yeah? Good, I guess. How did you know it was the future if you haven't had one in so long?"

"Well, it's part of my abilities," I started, but a sudden loud noise cut through the moment, jolting us both.

"They're here already! Great! C'mon, Alice!" Luke shouted, urgency lacing his tone as he pulled me outside.

"Wait, who's here?" I asked, my pulse quickening.

As we stepped out of the RV, I spotted a guy and a girl, both a few years older than me. The guy wore bright clothing that seemed to clash in an amusing way, while the girl donned a stylish ensemble that looked custom-made.

"Commander Vick! I've brought her!" Luke yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Ah, there's my wife," the man named Vick proclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.

I choked back my surprise, my eyes widening. "Excuse me? Vick, right? Where do you get off calling me your wife? I've never even met you!"

Before I could finish, Luke shoved a roll in my mouth. "Go along with it. I'm supposed to kill him if he tries anything," he whispered urgently.

I nodded, forcing a smile around the bread. "He just knows I love rolls. Thank you, Luke. But what makes you think you can just walk in here like this?"

Luke smirked, and for a moment, I felt a spark of mischief. But inside, I felt the weight of my circumstances pressing down on me.

Luke and Vick launched into a conversation, and I tried to focus on their words, but my mind raced. My heart felt heavy with the truth of my reality: a life filled with danger, secrets, and an uncertain future.

Finally, Luke turned back to me, his eyes serious. "Alright, here's the plan. Vick is letting you ride with me to DC, where we're going to kill him. I gave him a head start by thirty minutes, so we have time."

I let out a nervous laugh, trying to mask my anxiety. "No, I can't just go along with this! Apparently, I'm a married woman now!"

Luke's eyes danced with amusement, and he leaned closer, brushing his lips against my cheek. "I promise, he'll never please you like that for that long."

I laughed, the tension easing as I felt a connection between us. The dangerous world outside faded away for a moment, and all I could focus on was Luke and the way he made me feel alive.

But reality crashed back in as we sped through the crowd of zombies, my heart racing. I caught glimpses of the people we'd once known, their faces twisted in despair. A wave of sorrow washed over me as I watched them—demons in human bodies, remnants of the lives they once lived.

As we reached a parking lot, Luke abruptly stopped the RV. "We might be able to save some people at the mall," he said, his voice firm. "I know it's risky, but we can't leave them."

My heart raced with excitement and dread. "Alright, let's do it."

He rummaged through the back of the RV, pulling out a stash of weapons—guns, daggers, and enough gear to make a small army. "We're going in. Stick close to me," he instructed, his tone brooking no argument.

As we approached the mall, I could feel the tension in the air. The front doors creaked open slowly, and I prepared for anything. But just as we stepped inside, a figure darted towards us, panic etched across her face.

"Thank God help has arrived!" she shouted, collapsing before us.

I rushed to her side, my heart racing. She was hurt, but not by zombies—she'd been attacked by something worse. "It's okay, we're here to help," I said, trying to reassure her.

"Thank you for coming back," a man with hazel eyes added, his voice shaking with urgency.

"Don't thank him yet. They probably passed us and said we have to go back for some stupid reason," grumbled another guy, his black hair streaked with red.

"Jake, cut it out!" the woman snapped. "Lissa here is obviously attracted to you in some way."

Luke's expression darkened, and I couldn't help but smile at the playful banter. It felt strangely comforting amidst the chaos.

"I'm psychic, that's all," Jake declared. "I knew you'd come. But we need to get out of here before it's too late."

I looked over at a boy, no older than eighteen, who sat silently in the corner. His platinum blond hair and green eyes held a deep sadness, but there was something familiar about him. I approached cautiously. "Hey, I like your shirt. I have one just like it, but mine's a v-neck," I said softly.

He glanced up, a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Thanks," he whispered, barely audible.

"I know this world feels crummy right now, but we'll get through it together," I said, trying to convey my understanding. "I'm Alice. What's your name?"

"Call me Silent," he replied, managing a small smile.

Luke moved in closer, ready to take action. "Anyone else here so we can leave as quickly as I make these vehicles safe to drive?"

"No, not really," Lissa answered. "We've lost so many."

Determined, Luke began gathering supplies from the nearby stores, chainsaws and blades in hand. The tension built as we prepared to make our escape. But just as everything seemed to be falling into place, a loud noise echoed through the mall, freezing us in place.