A vicious scream rang in my ears, shaking me out of my trance. "I wonder how long this house will hold", I thought. "Hopefully, 2 days before I rethink a new place to move to". The scraping against the walls intensified. These zombies sure were hungry, as I was probably the last one alive. "How many were there?" I pondered. 1...2...3..4....I counted and counted. At least they didn't figure out how to get in.......yet. I was doomed. One way or another, I'd die from these creatures, just as my friends did. Tears swelled up in my eyes, putting me back into my trance. I ignored the moans of the fiends and remembered the times I spent with my friends, Jacob, Tyler, Elaine, and Diamond. Jacob & Tyler were my family's neighbors' sons. They were both so athletic, it was unimaginable that they died to these horrid creatures. We'd always play soccer in the park, right near this house, when we were younger. Unfortunately, that park is where the zombies have made their home. Elaine was the person who smiled through everything she faced. She was the last of my friends to die, mostly because of her rich optimism despite the approaching end of humanity. And Diamond...I had never told her this, of course, but she was the love of my life. Smart, beautiful, passionate—she had it all. She was my peace, yet also my pain. The tears streamed down cheeks—a feeling I hadn't experienced in years. She was my backbone, the one I swore to protect until the very end, yet she was the first to die. I was a failure. What's the point? Why should I continue? Why am I even alive now? As the frenzy of thoughts overwhelmed my mind, the sounds outside suddenly stopped and broke me out of my trance once again. W-why is it so quiet.. The clock ticked, in sync with my heartbeat—which I could hear with clarity now. My palms grew sweaty and I grabbed the gun laying on the ground beside me. Something just didn't feel right.
Just then, the lamp beside me lit up and my mind fell into disarray. This lamp was a reminder of my friendship with Diamond. If I touched the lamp, hers would temporarily light up. And, if she touched hers, my lamp would light up. "No, no, this cannot be happening. I must be dreaming", I thought as I stared blankly at the soft glow. Diamond is dead. I saw it with my own eyes...
The lamp started to flicker, in a pattern. Morse code? I waited a few seconds. "I... am" I figured. Suddenly, I heard scraping against the wooden boards downstairs. Here it goes again.
Agonized, I reluctantly turned away from the lamp as it continued flickering. If she's alive, I won't know what she's trying to say. But for now, I've got survive. I grabbed my equipment and crept downstairs, ready to face my predator.
