The Infection Control Center, Protecting Your Life Since Before the Before

I lived behind the Great Wall, which you think would be protected completely. No criminals.

But down in the South Side, any sort of thieving or such, which there is a lot of, results in a little contest of worthiness in the Pits.

The Pits are basically a 15-foot deep hole in the ground, 30-feet wide, and they just throw you in with a zombie or two.

Of course, you can volunteer to go into the Pits- my dad has been doing it professionally for a long time now.

He hasn't told anyone else, but before they built the Wall and some sort of government came back to what used-to-be-the-USA-but-is-now-Kale, he was bitten without ever turning.

He makes me lock him in his room at night and lock the front door, just in case he ever does turn.

But I doubt he ever will.

I work at the Pits, cleaning zombie's cages and preparing contestants.

It was an easy job, I never used to deal with zombies.

But I was promoted to taking zombies in and out of their cages, transporting them to the Pit to fight.

It was scary at first, but I got good at it in time.

But accidentally letting even one loose is not to be forgiven.

Since I knew how to handle zombies, they weren't going to bother with the Pit.

They were sending me over the Wall- and right now, I was sitting in a holding room with a few unlucky others and my dad, crying.

"I don't wanna go." I whispered.

"No one can take back your mistake- people died, Hanna." my dad moved my bangs from my face. My long dark hair was in it's usual French-braided-pigtails.

"Mistake, daddy. Mistake." I whispered again, pulling away from him.

His jaw tightened. "I tried. They wouldn't let me go with you, not the best fighter South Side." he tried to pull me close.

"the best fighter should've been protecting his daughter." I walked to the other bench and straightened my shirt- one of my favorites, it went off my shoulder slightly and I wore it when I handled zombies. My gloves were dark brown with blood stains, and my shorts were just Jean shorts. My shoes were made of the same material as my gloves- and also blood-spattered.

"get in there, damn kids." a guard shoved someone inside the holding cell. "you two are late as hell."

My heart lifted when I saw Brant- we had known each other since he started working at the Pits, working the refreshment stand. He had longish blonde hair and gray-green eyes, and he was two years older than me.

With him was his twin, who was his polar opposite. Black hair and eyes, and he looked like a beanpole.

"into the car." the guard pushed down on my head so I didn't hit it as he shoved everyone into a car.

There were five of us, Brant and his twin, me, and two other guys who looked about ready to throw us to the zombies.

Once we reached the gate to the Beyond, we were given bats or clubs, and a gun with three bullets in it. "I think you know what that's for." the guards chuckled, trying to find humor in their sad job.

They pushed us out of the car and I stood as close to Brant as I could, not wanting to be by the men who were ready to kill me and take my weapons.

"Alright, OPEN!" one guard shouted, pointing his gun at the entrance.

There weren't any zombies at all in front of the gate, so one of the guys stepped forwards and checked both sides.

It was safe, so he started running for the highway. His friend quickly followed.

I was next. I looked both ways and deemed it safe enough, and hesitantly walked out towards the highway. There was only one road, and I wasn't going to stray until I reached ICC. ICC was on the west side of the country, a place where you were basically free, excluding the fact you had to serve on the army for four years.

"Hanna!" Brant and his twin caught up to me. "can we travel together?" he smiled.

"I'd love to." I blushed. "what's his name?" I gestured to the dark haired boy who was with us.

"that's Johnnycake. Like the old, old book, The Insiders? I don't know, our mom was a librarian in the Before." Brant looked around as we ran for the road.

We ran for a while before anyone said anything.

"there's a car over there. Maybe we can use it." Johnny's voice was deep.

"do you know how to drive?" I asked, my throat dry.

"the old arcade taught me how to, there's a video game..." I looked at Johnny and he ran for the car.

Brant and I were quick to follow.

When we caught up to Johnny, he was staring at the car. "what's wrong?" Brant asked, looking around and under the car.

"try looking in. There's a little... Err... Problem."

I looked in and a red eyed girl stared back. Her fingers were chewed off and so was half her left arm. She tried to hit the glass to get at us, no blood coming from any wounds.

"we'll do this fast. I'll shoot her, then we get in and go. No waiting, got it?" Brant ordered. We got into position. "ready... Set... In!" Brant shot the girl and I dragged her still moving body from the car. I opened the back door and got in as Johnny started the car and did whatever you do to drive.

Brant let out a shaky laugh and I wiped my hands on the seat.

Everything had been a blur. I had only just been in Kale. I had just been within the safety of that wall. It was so demented, leaving us out here to somehow make it to ICC or die.

But there were small colonies, small towns, still living, almost untouched by the infection. They had killed anything trying to get in, killed any infected, just to keep their little towns alive.

How stupid... I thought. Just pick a damn side to hide behind... I almost shit myself at a little girl zombie.

I didn't think I'd live long outside the wall.