STAY (Completed)

Chapter 1

KEITH

I jolted awake. Sweat beaded my forehead. My dark damp hair clung to my slick skin like a leech.

Panting I brushed my hair back with my hand and attempted to calm my breathing by counting. My hand clenched into a fist at my side as my nightmare replayed over and over behind my eyes.

Shiro.

He was out there somewhere, and I was going to find him.

He isn't dead. I know it, and feel it.

My brother was out there when everything came to an end leaving me alone. He never came back. After weeks of waiting for his return and hiding in our little shack of a home, I decided it was time to find him.

I knew he had been summoned to Garrison and serve to protect society when the world started to go to shit.

That is where I will find him.

Sitting up on the musty old mattress that was now my bed, I stretched and looked about the empty space.

I found this old abandoned warehouse and made it my base of operations of sorts, staying on the second floor above where the staircase had collapsed.

It would be harder for them to find me and reach me here.

It's not like they can climb.

Reaching for my backpack, I pulled out my map of the city, and noted all of the places, streets and possibilities I had crossed off. Searching for any other living human, was a challenge in and of itself. Scanning the map realizing I had covered most of the city, my lips pursed together in debate.

"I'm gonna have to search farther today." I murmured as the sun began to rise outside of the broken window beside me.

Selecting a route that had a little thinner herd of them, I shoved the map into my backpack. Eating some canned goods from my small supply before tugging my black hoodie over my head, I used my black bandana that hung loose around my neck to cover the lower half of my face. The fabric held its place over my sharp nose.

Slinging my backpack over my shoulder I left my sanctuary. I leapt from the staircase to the first floor and walked through the long dark hall toward the entrance.

I stopped in the doorway to make sure the coast was clear before stepping outside. Walking down the street my eyes were peeled for any sign of them lurking around.

I didn't see them often. The herds kept to the center of the city. Only a few stragglers managed to come out this far.

It's only a matter of time before the masses moved on. Dead or not, they need to eat.

I followed the length of the train tracks as a guide to lead me to my destination to the next town over. Passing my last checkpoint I ventured into unexplored territory.

Walking down a secluded road, I heard a strange sound and ducked beneath the nearest doorway and peered around the corner of the brick wall. The noise came from an abandoned building across the street.

It could be human.

It could be one of the dead.

I pursed my lips in debate.

Ah dammit.

I slowly made my way across the street toward the building. Before entering I reached behind me into my backpack and retrieved a flare.

I lit the red flare and used it to light my way. The animalistic sounds were growing louder.

Yanking my dagger off of my belt and holding it tight in my free hand I shrugged out of my backpack and placed it on the floor against a mold covered wall. I took a deep breath before peering around the corner.