Alex lowered his weapon and looked quite confused. It was quiet so I spoke up. "Excuse me but what are you people doing in my house?!" Ryan chuckled shaking his head. "We were just gathering supplies and moving on with the rest of our group" Logan went into the living room and emptied his bag on the coffee table. He had a few cans of food a lot of bags of chips and some medical supplies a long with a needle and a spool of thread. "This is all I could find around here. I didn't want to go to far since this area isn't actually cleared" "that's fine, Shelly needs that thread so we should be good" Alex stepped forward. "What do you mean group? What has been going on around here?" Ryan walked to the window and opened the curtains. "Down town is a lot worse than the neighborhoods and most of the people have left. The world has turned into a place of survival of the fittest" I took another look at the houses but what caught my eye was an elderly woman limping our way down the street. "Oh my gosh guys she's injured" I ignored the yells of protest behind me as I barreled out of the house. "Ma'am are you ok? What happened?" She didn't say anything but slightly picked up pace. As I got closer I noticed that she had dried blood around her mouth and it sounded like she was growling. "What are you doing?!" I stopped a few feet away. She lunged at me causing me to shrink back and raise my arms in front of my face but the only thing that hit me was a cold fluid that had followed a bang. Red is what I saw when I opened my eyes; it was blood from the old lady that was now sprawled on the asphalt. I couldn't move or speak the only thing I could do was allow my stomach to empty itself right then and there. I heard Alex's voice but it sounded muffled and unclear so he picked me up like a small child. He wrapped my legs around his waist having his hand at my back and under my thigh to keep me from falling. He didn't care about my arms; they were completely limp on either side of me but my eyes stayed glued on that lady's now motionless body. They killed her... everyone is okay with it... how do you just kill someone?
I refuse to move from the corner of the couch. Logan tried to get me to drink something but I don't acknowledge him. I just sit still in my little ball replaying the scene over and over. Alex grabs my face and makes me stare at him. "Logan said that what happened to that lady is the virus. It makes you die but then come back to life but as long as they don't bite you you're fine" It felt like the room was filled with water. Everything seemed fuzzy and distorted. "Come on Evan, don't shut down. We have to get back remember?" I speak softly, " Gabe has a fever. He needs medicine" "that's right shorty" The room is getting darker which means it will be night soon and mom is worrying. When I pull out my phone Logan speaks up. "Nothing works anymore. Radio signals, internet, cell towers the whole electric grid is down" My legs felt weak as I stood but I forced myself up. "We have to get back to my mom" Ryan took a few steps joining us. "You guys can join up with us, it's actually safer to be in numbers" They headed out the door with us close behind. I jumped in the truck a long with Alex. "They are in a cabin in the mountains. Do you guys need a ride?" "we have a car it's around the corner" Ryan threw his head in the direction then pulled a map out of his pocket. "One of ours is injured so we can't really move just yet so I have our location marked on here. You should grab your things and head for us immediately" Alex took it from him and started the engine. "Alright hopefully you'll be easy to find" They waved us off as we sped down the street. I hope mom and Gabe are alright, and I hope mom doesn't kill us for taking so long.
"The town is in shambles pretty much everyone has abandoned it and for good reason" Alex was in the living room persuading my mom to leave the cabin so we can meet up with Ryan's group. "Are you sure that's the best option? I just want to make sure that we will be safe" After he told her what happened to me they made me lay in bed while they talked it out. "What is happening out there isn't natural and the more people we are with the more people we have for protection" My mother's silence indicated she was thinking hard about the decision. "Alright, we'll do it. I'll go get Gabe" Footsteps came toward my room but they were to heavy to be my mom. "Hey you alright?" I nodded to Alex in the door way. "We're going to leave soon. Everything is packed up and your mom is getting everything into the cars" Getting off the bed, my legs wobble slightly but I steady myself. "We should hurry it's already dark now and we don't want to make them wait on us forever" He hurries to my side and grabs my arm. "You should just take it easy I know you're still shaken up about earlier" I look at his hand then face. "why aren't you?" "I am just, I'm used to staying calm in crazy situations and if I freak out I can't help you" A small smile reaches my lips. "Let's go"
