An apocalyptic love

Chapter 1 (pre-story)

I wake up from a loud sound coming from downstairs. I sit up, stretch myself and look around in my little room. It's the same room as always, besides the fact that there's a  ''Happy Birthday, 8 years!'' sign hanging over my door, which my mom put there yesterday.

We celebrated my 8th birthday the whole day.

My mom, my dad, my little sister (who was 2 years younger than me), my big brother (he was 13) and me, - Kayla. My older sister didn't live with us anymore. She was 20. She sadly couldn't come, because the flight would've taken 6 hours. We lived on the edge of a big city. Our family had many friends, but alot of them lived far away or didn't have anytime for me. Most of other people didn't like me. It's the same today. I seem cold and heartless to people. Well, if you meet someone who is alive these days.

As soon as I'm a little bit more awake I get out of bed. I feel the cold floor pressing against my feet. I'm not one of those weird people who wear socks to bed. But, oh well, who is ? I slowly walk to my room door and listen to the sounds. I try to hear something, what could be the cause of what woke me up. - Voices or steps. Just something. Nothing. I open the door slowly, making as little noise as possible. Suddenly there's a loud scream, which makes my heart jump. I hesitate, but then slowly walk along the long corridor, which connects my room and the top of the stairs, on tip toes. Where are those noises coming from ? Now there's a deep growling too. Wild animals ? A dog with rabies ? Many horrible thoughts cross my mind as I walk down the stairs.

''Hello? Mum ?''

I finally arrive at the end of the stairs and look to the right, when suddenly, something grabs my leg and drags me across the living room. The growling is now exactly next to me. I scream for help panicking. I somehow manage to kick the stranger down of me, but then I see it, - it isn't a stranger, it's my father. But he doesn't really look like him- He looks horrible. His skin is pale, his eyes are only a white abyss and his mouth and chin are full of blood. I scream, when he tries to grab me again, but before he actually can grab my foot, somebody takes my hand and pulls me back. I turn around and see his face and am glad to see that it's Chris, my big brother.

''What is happening ? Why did daddy attack me ? Why does he look like that?'', I ask him, while my voice is rolling over its self

''Kayla, listen, I'm so sorry. I don't even know it myself. It's complicated, Oh my god. Please stay here until I come back to get you, don't move, don't make a sound! '' he tells me, pointing to our big kitchen table that we ran to. I don't answer.

''Do you understand?'', he asks intensely.. ''Kayla !'' he shouts.

''Yeah... yes, I think so.'', I say quietly.

He hesitates, but then nods, stands up straight and runs into the livingroom again. I hear a lock opening, but I don't know which one it is. I jump, when I hear bullets being shot from the room next to me. Silence.

''CHRIS!'', I scream. ''CHRI- !'' I cry when my brother comes in with a big weapon in his hand. ''Chris!'', I shout, while tears run down my face.

He gives me a quick hug and then pushes me away from him sofly.

''Sorry, Kayla, but we have to leave. Now!'.

''What's with the others ? Who did you shoot at?''.

''I'll tell you later, okay?'', he says. ''But we have to leave immediately !'', he finishes his sentence. ''But I'm not going without them...'', I whine.

''They're waiting outside!'', he says after thoughtfully biting his lip.

He takes my hand and pulls me with him. When we run past the living room, he tries to cover my eyes. But it's too late. I already saw it. I already saw my parents and my little sister laying on the floor, covered in blood, looking like my dad looked like before. I squeal in shock as we run out of the building. Out of the place. Out of the streets where infected people are wandering around, slowly attacking other living human beings.