It's been twenty-four months and I have lost so much, my ma', my friends, my home, everything. The only company I keep is Sheba, my black German Sheppard. I assume she's pure breed with a beautiful thick black coat and extraordinary eyes; they're a crystal blue. I've had her since she was just a pup, found her in the streets alone and left to die. I always wondered who could leave such a beautiful creature behind, especially in a time like this, but I guess in a way it also made sense; she was another mouth to feed, but only being me, I didn't mind. Plus I needed her to keep me sane.
Twenty-four months, seven-hundred and thirty days, seventeen-thousand five-hundred and twenty hours. That's how long ago it began, the outbreak. Today marks the two year anniversary. I honestly didn't think that I would be able to keep up with dates and time but I have, it makes me feel connected to humanity, unlike some things.
On Wednesday the ninth of April two-thousand and fourteen, at exactly seven o'clock pm is when the entire word, my world, fell to shit. There was an urgent news broadcast pulling me from my computer screen; I remember the headlines so clearly, I can still find the precise visual moment in my mind. 'Virus escaped VIRF' the Viral Infection Research Facility. The slightly scruffy looking man in a sloppy fitted suit jacket watches me from my television screen, spilling out words that made my heart race.
"There has been an urgent notice for everyone to stay indoors and keep to themselves. A deadly virus has escaped the VIRF scientific research tower and has been labelled deadly. Common early symptoms include cramps and nausea, followed by aches and pains in the body and finally revealing a devastating fever that results in patient death. There is no current cure available and everyone is recommended to isolate themselves as soon as symptoms appear." The man spoke with severity in his voice causing me to feel a little sick. There was fear in his eyes, clearly present in his voice as well. "Work is beginning in the VIRF for a cure and people will be notified of any other updates." He was halfway through saying something about the government sending out supplies to people when my power cut out. I was left in the dark with nothing but the light on my laptop illuminating my face and the small area around me. "Sean!" My ma called from another room, "Powers out ma', I'll go see what's going on alright? Stay here!" I shouted back to her through the walls.
I stumble through the living room fiddling with a jammed draw that held an emergency flashlight. I had to wriggle the handle and bang my fist against the side and top until it shifted and pulled free, revealing the flashlight and a photo frame I had put in there a few months ago. The frame held a picture of ma and I when I was around twelve years old. I forced the draw shut again and tripped towards the front door.
The weather was starting to heat up but tonight there was a chill filling the air, causing my arms to bear goose-bumps as I closed the door and turned out facing the charcoal night. I flick the flashlight on causing it to illuminate the porch in front of me and the steps not far ahead. I make my way around the house reaching the power box and opening the small tin door. I flicked the main switch off and on a few times but nothing. The power meter wasn't showing anything either so I assumed there must have been a problem with the cables. My eyes follow the light as it brightens the wall and the cable line leading away from the power box and I hear a small buzz. Walking closer to the sound I noticed that the line had been severed, but by what? Who would cut our power and why? The line seemed torn and I bent down taking a closer look. There was a slight spark every now and again but there was something else. On the rubber tube holding the cable against the wall there was a smear of red. Had someone cut themselves doing this? I shine the flashlight around looking through the trees until I saw someone crouched in a bush bent over and facing the other direction. I couldn't see what they were doing.
"Hey! Who's there?" I called towards them causing them to almost flinch a little. They were putting their hands to their mouth. What on earth were they doing? I see them shift a little turning towards me and I shine the light from their hands to their face. I stand motionless as I see the pale skin mixed with smeared red and clouded eyes. They were a few meter into the bushes and down by his feet I saw something else. This person was eating my cat!
"Sean? What's going on?" A familiar voice sounded from around the corner. Ma came into view and I shone the light from the man to her unable to speak. She had her hands on her hips and waited patiently for my reply but I was still shocked by what I had just seen. That man, he looked, inhuman. A few moments later something else comes into view behind her and I am once again shocked. One second she was giving me a look to say 'answer me' and the next it was a look to say 'help', but I couldn't, I couldn't even look away let alone rush to her aid. The man who had devoured my cat had her against the ground and had torn a large chunk of flesh from her neck with his, teeth.
"no, no no no no no no, Ma No!" I screamed grabbing at a shovel propped against the wall. I ran forwards swiping at the figure with it and sliced through his cheek, severing it from him, but he seemed unfazed. I hit him again but he was still alive, or was he? I swung one last time slicing through the neck hearing a shattering sound of bone and flesh being ripped apart and a head tumbled to the side of the slumped, lifeless body. I drop down beside her and hold my hand over her wound, blood pouring from my finger creases. She looked me in the eye's, hers filled with fear and breathing heavily. "It's okay." I repeat over and over to her, "You'll be okay." I whisper as her eyes slowly shut and I feel her lack of heart beat.
I never came across many people out here. The ones I did find either wanted to kill me or eat me. I guess they are kind of the same thing, except being killed usually just meant a quick shot to the head by a human being; being eaten was made an option by the people that, weren't, so human. I would just jump from building to building most of the time, staying up high and out of sight. A few years back I had been really into watching those parkour videos that people would post on YouTube but I never really saw myself as someone who could do it. Parkour has literally saved my life on more than just a couple of occasions. I could execute it well enough to keep myself out of trouble, be fast, be unseen and keep myself alive. I had started building jumping around a year ago and I have been able to get around much quicker because they never seem to be on the roof. There was one occasion where one had been locked on the roof and had died. It must have turned up there and I almost died myself trying to kill it.
By 'it' you may have guessed already, I am referring to none other than, Zombies. I didn't like the word myself; it just didn't seem real enough to say, so I simply call them dead. Long story short, turns out that the virus doesn't just end at the fatality of the human, I mean they are dead, but something about the virus brings them back. They are never the same once brought back though, as I found out the hard way.
Sheba and I had just finished clearing out a store. It had been looted before but by the looks of the job they did, they had to get out of there quickly. There was still plenty of food and drink there if you looked hard enough. I was surprised though, we are two years in and there is still food lying around.
We plodded along the street silently, not even footsteps could be heard. I had trained myself a little while back to walk like this because even the slightest sound could attract dead. They responded to sound and smell mostly, so I had to be careful. We reached a bus in the middle of the street and Sheba and I made our way on top of it. The bus was barricading the doors to a windowless store. By windowless I mean there were no windows on the bottom. The second story had a few broken ones. I grasped a hold of the railing and pulled myself up and into the dark room. Sheba jumped up after me. She was quite a big dog; I wasn't expecting it to be honest. When I found her she was so small, cowering next to her mother's and brother's dead bodies.
I knew this place was empty, because this was the way we got into the city to start with. We made our way towards a flight of stairs and began the climb fast and silently, getting back onto the roof.
YOU ARE READING
Hunter and the Hunted (Septiplier)
Fanfiction(Septiplier) Twenty-four months, seven-hundred and thirty days, seventeen-thousand five-hundred and twenty hours. That's how long ago it began, the outbreak. Today marks the two year anniversary. I honestly didn't think that I would be able to keep...
