Run Away

Chapter 1

'My name is Tara Norman, I'm 19 years old. I graduated from Kingsport High School last year. My town was attacked by zombies this morning and I lost my mother. Currently, I am in a government facility.' I said to myself pacing the plain colored room.

*flashback*

I drove down the road, listening to the radio, the wind blowing in my face. I pulled into my driveway and got out. "Hey Mom, I'm home!" I called as I made my way into our living room. It's just me and my mom. My dad left when I was 5 and my Mom works more than the average person. I've worked my job since I was 16. "Honey we need to talk." She said, standing from the couch. Her face was filled with seriousness and worry. She looked like she had aged ten years within the last hour. I nodded, curious as to what she was about to say. She opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a loud crashing sound coming from the window. Glass shattered to the ground into a million pieces.

I looked up to see a...zombie? I thought zombies weren't real. I'd only seen them in movies. "Mom run!" I yelled. We sprinted to the front door. I pulled on the metal handle, but it wouldn't budge. They were on the other side. "Come on, to the back door!" She yelled. We ran to the other door just to be met with the same predicament. "Tara to the basement!" Once we had made it to the door that lead to our basement, I pulled it open and began to make my way down the steps. I turned around to see that Mom was still standing in the doorway, staring at me. "Come on, Mom, we have to go." I said. "I can't, Tara, I'll hold you back." She said, her voice cracking.

"What? No, y-you won't." I replied, my voice fading.

"Tara, listen to me, call this number." She handed me a white piece of paper that had black writing on it.
"No, Mom, you can't, stop it." I pleaded. Tears fell fast down my face.

"I love you, so much." She replied, grabbing my face. Her face was covered in tears was well. Before I could stop her, she backed away and shut the door. It felt like a pile of bricks had fallen on me as I screamed for her.

I debated opening the door and dragging her back into the basement, but I knew not to, she wouldn't want me to. Remembering her instructions, I made my way down the rest of the staircase and into the basement. It was like a guest suite, including a little living area, a guest bedroom, and a bathroom. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I clicked the power button. A white charger appeared at the bottom of the screen showing that it was dead. After scanning the room, I spotted the white land-line and made my way over to it. I looked down at the white paper and began to dial the number written on it.

"Hello, this is the United States Government Services, how may we help you?" A male voice asked.

The United States Government? Why does my Mom want me to call them and how does she have their number? Questions filled my mind. I cleared my throat before speaking.

"M-My name is Tara Norman, I live in Kingsport, we have just been attacked by zombies, my Mother didn't make it and she told me to call this number."

There was some shuffling through the phone before they spoke back to me.

"Yes Miss Norman, we're sending a troupe to Kingsport now. Stay where you are." They said. I hung up and laid the phone back on its holder. I sat on the floor, thinking things over in my head. Tears began to form in my eyes. I was never gonna see my Mother again, the person who had been their for me every time I needed her. I would never see her again. Hugging my legs close to me, I buried my head and began to cry.

A couple minuets later, I looked up when I heard the sounds of guns firing and the trampling of feet above me. The door squeaked open. "Is there anyone down here?" Another voice called.

"Down here!" I called, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

The sound of shoes stepping on the steps was heard. I stood from my seat as a man came into sight. He was dressed in a military uniform and he had orangish-red hair, blue eyes, light skin. He looked to be in his mid-forties. "Tara Norman?" He asked. I replied with a nod. "Okay, everything is gonna be fine. I'll escort you out.: He said with a sad smile.

The moment I stepped out of the basement I regretted it. The house was a complete wreck. Everything was smashed, torn. Glass was spread everywhere. It made me sick to my stomach. The place I had grown up in, was gone.

More peopled dressed in either military garb or government uniforms were everywhere, disposing of zombies or cleaning up debris.

"Are you alright?" The man asked me as we made our way out of the house. I replied with a small nod. "Well, we're going to escort you to the government base."

"Okay." I croaked out, looking at him. He gave me a sympathetic look. We both made our way to one of the special, government cars. Once I had gotten into the car, we began to pull out onto the road. Soon, Kingsport was out of sight. Goodbye, Kingsport.

*End Of Flashback*

I looked around the room, inspecting it all. It had a few couches, a chair, a book shelf, and a couple dressers, nothing special. The walls were white. The door opened and the man from before appeared. "Tara-"

Kelli Berglund as Tara Norman

*New*

Here is the official edited version of Chapter 1.