A Road Less Traveled.

3 Years

3 years. That's how far into the end of the world."What do you think the world is like outside of Westward"? I asked my brother, Danny. I know that I ask this question a lot, but I was hoping to get a different response each time I asked.

"Nothing for us to worry about", He responded as usually. It was true. Outside the walls of Westward, I knew that there was a world filled with the dead who roam around. We call them 'the infected'. That is what is out there. One day a virus spread across the world that brought people that were once dead, back to life. The difference is that they are not who they are before. They are flesh eating monsters that with one bite, a person will die and come back to life. That is if you don't destroy the brain.

Where we are is safe. It is a military base sanctuary. When the dead arose three years ago when I was only thirteen, my father who was a military soldier brought us here. When we got here we thought to wait it out. Eventually, the dead took over and it is now all about survival. My father taught us how to protect ourselves against the dead, but in the sanctuary, there is no reason to protect ourselves. We were safe.

"Why do you want to know what's out there so badly? It is safe here, and what is out there, is not safe", He looked at me with knitted eyebrows. Danny was only one year older than me, but acted so much more mature, yet I wondered if he was too comfortable sometimes

"Because dad is out there. He is protecting us, and I just hope that whatever is taking him so long to get back, is not something dangerous". I put my head down and sighed.

Danny put the comic book in his hand down and walked over to me. "He's going to be fine. You just need to get out of this room. Why don't you go hang with some of the girls in the Public wing. They might get your mind off of worrying for a bit".

I groaned and stood up. Danny always wanted me try and forget what was going on outside the base. He wanted me to hang out with the other kids and be normal. But dad always taught me to keep my guard up and never get too comfortable. So, even though dad is not here, I will keep my training up and never get too comfortable. Although, making a friend or two wouldn't be so bad.

Danny threw me my jacket and we walked out our room. I saw the military line up on the wall, and patrolling the streets. The people were walking around talking and laughing with one another. The kids played in the streets, while their parents talked about nothing. I walked down the street and toward the Public wing where most of the teens hung out.

"Just remember to get back by curfew, and don't get into any trouble", He told me patting my back. He turned and walked toward a group of his friends.

As I got closer I saw the girls sitting there. They were sitting at a circular table snickering about something. They seemed to not be worried about anything. A part of me wished i could just walk over there and be normal like them. I wanted to not worry about my father out there fighting the infected. I wanted to not constantly be thinking of what the world has become outside of Westward Base, and be filled with fun opposed to curiosity. I wanted to be in the moment, and talk with the teenage girls amongst me here, but most of them either did not care what was outside and simply ignored it, or secluded themselves completely.

I went to walk over to the girls with a sigh. I saw them look up at me, some with friendly faces, and others with no emotion at all. I gave a small half smile. "Uhhh... hey guys", I spoke standing awkwardly at the end of the table.

"Hi Rainy. What's up"? One of the nicer girls smiled at me. Her name was Taylor, I think? I couldn't quite remember, considering I wasn't really apart of their scene.

"Nothing much. I just came to say hi", I explained. The table grew in an awkward silence. What do I say? I noticed all of their eyes on me and suddenly decided that this was not a good idea.