Living in Before

Prologue

I remember when he killed that little girl.

The car slowed to a stop as the sun shone through the tall trees. When I looked at him, he replied simply.

"Fuel's gone."

We grabbed a couple gas cans from the trunk and searched for the valuable. Dirty cars on the road were abandoned. Makeshift tents wove between them like stitches and little messages were written across the dusted windshields. After refueling our car, he pulled me down to crouch with him. He ignored my questions and pointed at a blonde head moving slowly through the car windows. When I peered under a nearby truck, small feet encased in fluffy slippers shuffled past. We followed the child, hoping they wouldn't be startled by our presence.

"Little girl," he called as we revealed ourselves, voice filled with hope, "Don't be afraid, okay? I'm a policeman... Little girl?"

She stopped. Her fingers, dainty and small, twitched as a soft growl emitted from her throat. Diseased eyes entrapped me when she faced us. One was blind and the other was yellow. Her rotten teeth bared through a hole in her cheek. Her pink pajamas were bloody where she had been stabbed, over and over. I swallowed thickly as I noticed the bite mark on the soft skin of her pale arm, showing us it was too late. The little girl was infected.

Hearing the clicking of his pistol, I panicked. As the little girl neared, he ushered me behind him and aimed. It only took a second to pull the trigger. Her head snapped back, the bullet disappearing within. The crack of her skull against the asphalt was loud compared to the continuous chirping of crickets. His hand shook violently, weapon threatening to fall from his grasp. Only the two of us stood alive within miles of plain.

We were looking for our families, to no avail. For now, we have each other.

"We'll find them," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the dead body, "We have to, Rick."