What Used to Be Human

Chapter 1

     We've been walking for ten miles. It was getting dark and we still had to find a place to stay at. We could have gone farther if Vera didn't ask for so many breaks. We had to stop about ten times. No exaggeration either. It's pretty obvious Vera didn't exercise much when the zombies didn't invade. You could tell she was spoiled as a kid.

"Ara" She complained. She held down the last A in a whiney voice. 

"What?" I turned my head and stared at her dragging along behind me. 

"Can't we take a breeeaaak?" I shook my head and started walking backwards. 

"We already stopped  ten times, Vera" I said.

"But why can't we just take a small break? I'm so tired" Once again I said no. We were burning precious daylight and we couldn't afford to waste any time if we wanted to get to find shelter. 

     Finally just as it was going to turn to night, we found an abandoned house. 

"Alright," Cage says. "Who wants to check it out first?" They both eyed me as if they already decided. 

"Sissies.." I mutter under my breath as I walk in the house. 

"I HEARD THAT!" Cage yells to me. I roll my eyes and continued in the house. It can't be too bad. On the outside, the paint was only chipped and the roof of the porch had a small hole in it. The mailbox in front of the dried up lawn was bent forward from the heat of the desert. The second story window to the right was smashed and...smeared with blood? This couldn't be too good. I walked into the dark house and took one look back at my friends. Maybe this was a bad idea. They should come with me in case i get jumped or something.

     "Shouldn't we go in as a group?" I question them. Cage thinks this through as if it weren't obvious enough if something lurking in there tried killing me, they'd be out here with no way finding out if I was ok. Plus it's better to travel in groups.

"Alright" Cage says. "I think it's a good idea to stay in a group" 

"But!!!" Vera cries frantically. "What is something is in there and kills us?!" I shrug my shoulders.

"Then we'll die" I say. Her lower lip trembles and I can't help but laugh. "Dude, calm down" I say. "I'm not going to let us die after how far we've gone" She nods but still looks a little hesitant. Together we walk in the house. I take out my long knife and hold it the offense position. Vera holds her gun so hard her knuckles are white.  Cage gets the baseball bat that was hanging out of his backpack. Slowly we scale the house. 

"We should split up" Cage says. "We'll save time" 

"NO!" Vera says. "That's a terrible idea!!!" She looks like she's on the edge of crying now.

"Vera," I say. "You'll stay with me then" She relaxes a little bit but is still on edge. Right then my heart swells with love for her. She used to be really relaxed and chill, but still bratty. That was before she saw zombies attack and eat her best friend live. Ever since then she's been terrified of even small shrubs. 

     Cage and I agreed he'd take the bottom story and me and Vera would take the top. I walked up the steps with Vera following close behind me. When we arrived at the top it was dark. That was when i heard a creak. Vera sucked in her breath and looked at me. I motioned for her to be quiet. We stayed quiet for a little while and heard a scratching noise coming from our left. I pointed with my head that we were going to the bedroom on the left. She nodded with confidence even though in the dark I could still see the fear in her eyes.   

     As silently as we could, we approached the bedroom on the left. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could make out a figure of a bed and drawer. I saw Vera open her mouth to say something, but I cupped my hand on her mouth. There was that scratching again! It was coming from the closet by the bed. I motioned for her to get behind me. She did as I asked.