Eradication

END

The wind blew by my face. A leaf fell and hit my cheek and then the floor. I knew I needed to open my eyes, but I let them stay shut for just a moment. I tried to remember my old life, everything good in it, and stay in that moment. I tried to pretend that I was in my bed, not the dirt. That there was a pillow under my head, not a pile of leaves.

Then I heard a noise.

My eyes shot open. I turned around and saw something that I had grown used to seeing. He was dead of course, his eyes were that silky white color and his skin was a harsh and faded gray. His clothes were torn and his right hand was cut off, only veins and skin hung from his wrist. He growled, hungry, as they always were. I grabbed my knife and stabbed him in the head, letting his body hit the ground. I didn't even stand to stare at him, pray over them, like I used to. I had grown used to killing.

I grabbed my small pack of things, and continued on my way. I found berries and a squirrel – a good breakfast. I gave thanks and then dug in. My stomach was so loud, not a good thing for the Dead to hear. They were attracted to the noise. But I couldn't find a good dinner the night before, so I had to sleep on the almost empty stomach.

Then I continued on. I kept my knife in my hand and walked as quietly as I could, trying to hear them from far off so I could prepare myself. But everything was quiet. I could hear the birds overhead – somehow they had survived unlike the rest of us. I wonder if they knew the kind of the world they were now living in. Did they realize the sound of cars, yelling children, and all the other noises had stopped?

I heard a twig snap behind me. I tensed up. The hairs on my arms stood up and I gripped my knife tighter. The Dead one would be upon me soon. But, actually, it couldn't be a Dead. They always made a guttural sound, but this time it was quiet. So, I changed my attack plan. It was either an animal or another human. A shiver went down my spine. Humans had proven to be almost worse than a Dead. I already had enough experience with the horrible acts they had taken up in the name of survival. I had been an experiment for them too. Another evil may have entered the world, but the same evils would always remain.

Whatever it was touched me. I spun around, gripping the limb that poked me. It was human. The soft skin told me that much. I moved the arm behind his back and put my knife up to his neck. He let out a grunt.

"What do you want?" I hadn't spoken in days, so the sound that came out of my mouth made me look even more menacing. I knew I hadn't showered in weeks and I was covered in dirt.

The man didn't speak.

Another branch cracked and I looked up. There were three of them. One a girl, the others were boys. One had his hands up. He was taller than the others, with a long beard and pale blue eyes.

"Don't kill him please, Andy."

My heart started racing. He looked familiar, but I wasn't sure.

"Andreanna. Look at me." The other male spoke. His voice calmed me. Something foreign to me these days.

His eyes, muddy and light brown, were familiar. I knew those eyes. I looked down at the man I was holding. A familiar afro. I let him go immediately.

"Noah." I said quietly.

The man with the brown eyes smirked. "You look horrible."

For the first time in a long time, I smiled and let out a laugh.