~~ CHAPTER TWO ~~

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Sheba and I make our way back into the thick dark forest, and head back on our way to base. The trees are tall and dense, forming an excellent place to both hide and survive. There were still animals in the forest that I would kill if it came to that, squirrels mostly, but there is the occasional deer or large bird that would come into play.

I look back to the person I was, quiet and relaxed, and also kinda lazy. I never saw myself as being this person, stealthy, hunter, survivalist, murderer. I can't help but feel like I should miss the days where I didn't have a care in the world but I don't, I was weak and now I am strong. I am strong enough to stay alive and unseen for two years, with nothing but my own hard work and skill to keep me alive, so no, I don't think I could miss it. These days its kill or be killed, there's a sickening simplicity to it, before it all began there was only fake trust and money hungry murderers willing to do anything to make a quick buck. I don't have to worry about trusting anyone out here; it's just me and Sheba against them, both dead and living.

I jump across a few rocks erect from the rushing water of a small stream, making my way to the other side. I wouldn't have to hunt tonight because what I found would be enough to last me about three days, if a kept to my rations. I eat once a day, at night to keep me warm as I slept. I didn't feel hunger anymore it seemed, I guess it's been so long since I could just walk to the fridge and grab something, and I have learned to never take something as simple as food for granted again.

Around fourteen months ago the VIRF went bust and it exploded. I never knew why, I just remember finding my way too it and seeing it completely eradicated. I was trying to find it for sanctuary and to help with the research. I'm no scientist, but I had come across something very peculiar during my travels. I was bitten by one of the dead and thought I was going to die, because once you got bitten you were out, game over, do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars. But I didn't die, I became very sick yeah, but I never died. I was immune to the virus. I wanted to offer my blood to the scientists for a cure but I guess I was too late.

I stand behind one of the trees on the seven foot deep ledge that held an old road and jumped from the ground grabbing one of the stronger branches it held and swung myself over the crevice and onto the middle of the road. It was getting darker and darker as the minutes ticked by. There was an aerie, smoky fog rolling through the trees and past me as I made my way along the road forwards and only looking back when I heard a noise. It sounded like people. I jumped for the tree line closely, and silently followed by Sheba and slid behind a tree.

Three men appeared from the fog. I could hardly see their faces but one of them looked familiar. There was one guy holding a machete with dirty blond hair and what looked to be a prosthetic right leg, it looked home made too. Another had dark black hair and was flicking a pocket knife in and out of its hold. The last had dark brown hair and an old blue hat, he didn't seem to be carrying a weapon. I could kill them, it would be easy, but I didn't see the point in wasting energy. The direction they were heading in led to a small town, it was over run, I had found it a few weeks back when I was looking for material. I wouldn't have to waist my energy because the dead would kill them for me.

I slowed my breathing as the approached the tree I was waiting behind, and they walked past laughing about something. I hadn't laughed in a long time, never found the need, it was just unnecessary. They pasted and I watched them disappear back into the fog, voices echoing through the trees. If they kept up the laughing the dead would find them for sure.

I slip back onto the road and continue along trying to keep my distance from the trio of men and after a while I glide down a slope and into a denser part of the forest, this is where I found shelter.

We creep through and I see a rope. I followed it with my eyes to the wooden platform high up in the trees. I had built it not too long ago. That was another thing I didn't think I could do before all this, carpentry, I mean me? No way, but I guess you find out a lot about yourself when it really matters.

I secure my backpack to the bottom of the rope and take a firm grasp on it with both hands, pulling myself up the rope fifteen meters in the air. Sheba sits patiently at the bottom as I drag myself up and over the platform and drag the rope up after myself. I fashioned a small pulley platform out of sticks and leaves tied together in a way that I could lower it for her and I could pull her up here with me. I would have to do this every morning and every night, but I didn't mind, it made me stronger. The smaller platform was covered in leaves and sticks so it didn't stand out if someone were to see it. It would just look like a tuft of leaves against the trees.

I had heaved Sheba up about half way when I heard her growl quietly. I looked out and followed her gaze until my eyes rested on two of the men I had seen earlier running through the trees towards us. Sheba sunk down into the leaves to remain unseen and I lowered my head to stay un-noticed. Where was the other guy? They flew down the hill, it was the blonde one and the man with the charcoal black hair, they were running from a small group of dead. It was five against two, and I could already see the outcome. The blond man tripped and slid along the littered forest floor and came to a halt just before hitting his head against a rock. He threw his head around to look back; the dead were gaining and fast. He screamed for help as he heaved himself up limping to the other man who had stopped and held out the machete that the blond one was holding before. He lunged forward slicing through the head of one of them and kicking down another plunging the blade through its skull. I don't know what came over me but I drew my hand fashioned bow and launched an arrow through the skull of another creeping up beside him. The blond man was being held against a tree. He had been bitten, I could tell. The black haired man threw his blade at one causing it to sink to the ground, and as he walked towards the other I fired another arrow towards the last one making him jump back and look around.

"Are you okay?" The black haired boy asks the other. He shakes his head and looks to the out stretched hand of his companion. "I'm done."He whimpered. They were right below us so I could hear everything. "Felix, you will be fine." The darker one said to the other on the ground. "No Mark, I'm not." He responded looking down. Felix and Mark? At least I had names now. Felix reached under his coat pulling out a small hand gun and looking to Mark. "You have to do this." He whispered, I could only just hear him. "No, no, you are going to be alright, you will be fine." Mark replied grabbing for the gun that was pointed at Felix's head. They began to fight for possession of the gun until I heard a slight bang. I see Felix, the blond one, slump to the ground once again, dead. Mark drops the gun and falls to his knees. I guess he's just lucky that the gun had a silencer or dead would have been all over this place within minutes.

I secure the rope holding Sheba to a branch and grab my knife. I cling to a nearby branch and throw myself to another tree making next to no sound and fall to the ground with a slight thud. Mark turns around and sees me with fear in his eyes. I rush at him throwing him against a tree and holding my knife to his throat.

He looks me up and down but I see something else in his eyes. "Who are ye" I ask abruptly sinking my knife a little closer to his jugular. She freezes when he hears my voice. "I said," I lean in closer, "who are you!"

He looks into my eyes for a moment and I notice something familiar, that name, and that hair, wait..

"Mark?"

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