The Awakening

2. Not The Only One.

I wake to tormented screams, someone must have ventured into the forrest. I haven't seen another person here in months. Most of those who survived the virus fled the city to head for the countryside. Wait, I think I hear two people. Where is it coming from? I jump up from my bed and search the forest for the source of the screams. There they are, I see them but they're across the river, they're surrounded by The Infected. I need to help them. I climb down my tree and grab the knife I have become reliant on these past months. I run towards the river, I should be able to make that jump if I jump onto the rock in the middle. Without hesitation I jump onto the large rock in the centre of the lake missing slightly, I regain my balance and continue across to the other side of the river, landing behind some of The Infected. I stick my knife into the skull of one of The Infected as it is about to bite into the terrified girl who could not be older than 14. The impact of the blade going through The Infected's skull makes a crunch as it cracks in two. The girl stares in horror, she was in shock she thought this time she was going to die for sure.

The girl had been lucky so far, she wasn't the best fighter luckily however, her brother had managed to protect her so far. Despite this they both knew it was only a matter of time until she became one of The Infected, it was hard work looking after two people at once. You could see in his eyes that he was thankful that someone had saved his sisters life, however he felt that it should never have got that far he should have protected her better. What if no one was there to save his sister, he would have had no one left, his little sister was all he had. The virus had taken everyone and everything with its arrival. When his mother and brother had contracted the virus he promised them on their deathbeds that he would protect her at all costs.

As The Infected falls to the ground, I look round to see six more infected humans surrounding us. I jump into action and immediately attack the nearest target. Another one falls to the ground, one after the other, thud after thud.

I walk over to the unharmed but shaken teens with my defences up, they may be alive but that doesn't mean they are harmless. My hand remains on the handle of my knife after I place it back into its leather pouch, for now. "How did you let yourself get surrounded?" I say questioning the pair. The older boy steps in front of the girl defensively and I pull out my knife ready to retaliate. "We were fine, I had it under control" The boy snaps. "Yeah looked like it" I reply sarcastically. "Why did you help us, what do you want?" The boy asks with a confused look.

Unsure what to say to the boy I quickly change the subject. "So where are the rest of you hiding?" "We have a camp not far from here, there's about 15 of us, where's the rest of you?" The boy quickly replies to my question. That's strange I haven't heard any other people around I think to myself. "How old are you both?" I reply not wanting to tell them I'm alone. "I'm 17 and my sister is 14" "Oh, this is your sister, I thought you both looked alike" "Yes" The boy replies sharply. "Well we should be going back to our group now" "Okay" I reply as I return to the other side of the river the same route I came.

When I know the boy and girl are no longer looking in my direction I quickly climb a tree high enough to watch where they are heading. The boy and girl seem to be heading to a little camp they have set up on the ground which could only accommodate two. "They're alone" I whisper to myself. They must have been wary about telling me it's only them, they must see my as a threat, I think to myself. I want to return to my home but I can't just leave them alone they won't last much longer.

My conscience overpowers my sense to do what is right for me, they might be dangerous but they just seem scared. It might be good to have some company. If not for a little while. Yes, I should help them. I climb down the tree and head to where I remember their camp is, constantly checking to see if any of The Infected are around. The forest is usually quite safe it is small and surrounded by a fence however, sometimes The Infected get through gaps in the fence and venture in. That must have been how the boy and girl got surrounded. I should also check the fence tomorrow and patch up any gaps I find to stop more getting in.