The Awakening

1.The Final Coffee Run.

I reached for my favourite blend of coffee, it was hidden at the very back of the draw underneath what was the coffee maker."I'm amazed nobody found it. its been hidden here for eight months" A surprised expression spreads across my face. I open the packet and the familiar smell tickles my nose. "I never thought I'd miss coffee so much" I chuckle to myself. I wait for the water to heat up on the small fire I lit about 40 minutes ago. I need to hurry up but I don't want to leave the familiarity of this space I spent most evenings in after school.

I take my freshly made cup of coffee through to the front of the coffee shop, this time I didn't have to struggle through crowds of people. I sat down in my favourite seat at my favourite table where I spent most of my work breaks. The table is in the centre of the room but next to the wall on the left. I love this seat because I can see the smiles of all the people talking to dear friends, well loved, its not like that anymore. The room is empty and the silence is deafening. I miss the sounds of joy and laughter, friendship at its finest. The occasional argument, but mostly I miss the sound of life. People didn't realise how lucky they were back before the devastation of the deadly virus. I used to have to fight for this seat, but not now, I wish I did.

My mind quickly snaps back into reality as a sharp, scraping sound echoes in my ears. I look up in horror and a distorted face stares right at me. The only thing separating us is a stool that had been knocked sideways. I stumble to my feet as I quickly scan the room to plan my escape route. As I stumble to my feet I trip and fall. While picking myself off the ground I notice the destruction left behind from the day the virus hit and remember the panic that filled the city. I run towards the door and quickly pull it open. As I step backwards I feel a sharp, shooting pain hurtle down my leg which causes me to yell out in pain. This attracts more attention from unwanted eyes that belong to The Infected. I look down at my leg and see a small piece of glass sticking out of a small wound. I pull it out and drop it on the ground.

Quickly abandoning the coffee shop leaving the door open, I begin to race down the narrow streets trying to retrace my steps, one wrong move could prove fatal. I need to get to the edge of the city, and fast its too dangerous here. Why does it seem to take so much longer when you're trying to be quick? I know this city well so it wasn't too hard finding the coffee shop, but trying to find a way out is proving tricky. All of a sudden I spot a gap in the fence, If I can just get past that one Infected I can get through, come on I can make it, I've took on worse than them. I make a dart for the gap jumping around The Infected. They reach out to grab me but they're too slow, luckily.

I place a wooden panel back over the gap, that should keep them out of the forest, if not for a little while. I quickly scan the forest to make sure it is clear, I don't think any of The Infected got through the gap. I continue into the forest looking for what I now call my home. It's a small tree house I made, well I say tree house, its more like two pieces of wood nailed to the tree, but it keeps me off the ground and it's somewhere I can get some rest.

It is about a five minute walk back home but it feels like longer when i'm so exhausted. I reach my home and climb the branches. It's been a long day, I should really get some sleep.