Katherin Hassan-Clarke and Esther Quinn, young lovers living on the coast of Riga, Latvia, face the terrifying realisation that their home is no longer safe when a deadly zombie pathogen ravages Eastern Europe. Fleeing their home before they are for...
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"Are you ready?" Katherin asked. She hefted the backpack on her shoulders. It was brimmed with clothes and canned foods, torches and sanitary items. Anything that would help them survive once they were far from the safety of their home.
They had decided that taking their car wasn't an option, even if it was quicker. The engine was too loud. If the zombies were outside, they'd surely be alerted of their presence.
Everyone would know where they were running to. Some may try to hijack the car to escape themselves. It was much safer to walk along the empty streets.
The port was empty. Katherin jogged down the lines, staring in horror as she realised that the boat had already left. Ttod's boat was just a blip in the distance; his custom painted ship stark contrast to the ocean. Had everyone just left without them? Esther slumped her shoulders in defeat. They'd just risked their lives. Their friends had just left without them.
"Sorry we're late, where is everyone-"
Raven appeared through the thick mist. Her blonde hair was greasy and limp, and there were black rings underneath her eyes. Jaxx wasn't much better. His shaved hair was overgrown in patches, duller than it was before. They had run out of food and water days ago. It wasn't surprising that they looked so dishevelled.
Katherin stood. There was nothing to say. The boat was gone, but at least they weren't alone. It was selfish to say. Katherin cursed herself for thinking so egoistically. The four of them were in danger now, more so than before. But at least they had each other.
"The boat?" Raven whispered.
"It's that dot in the distance," Katherin responded dryly.
She pointed in the direction of the boat, not that Raven and Jaxx would need any assistance.
The daisies that Morgana had painted on the side were still clearly visible. Hadn't she used glow in the dark paint? Katherin faintly remembered buying the paint on monthly date day.
She and Esther had thought it would be used to paint Morgana's new portrait at university, but she had other ideas. Katherin didn't even think Ttod had known until his fishing trip a month later. He loved it, though. It made his boat stand out amongst the others. Besides, people were offering him thousands of dollars for the boat, just so they could boast to their friends about the flowers.
"We thought you'd all left without us," Esther continued softly.
"What? No, it can't be. Morgana is still coming. Ttod wouldn't leave without her."
Katherin glanced at Esther. It was a valid point. Ttod wouldn't leave without taking his girlfriend with him, right?
An uneasy feeling settled in Katherin's gut. What if it wasn't Ttod commanding the ship?
Plenty of other citizens had attempted to escape, and a boat was a treasured item. They could have taken Ttod and forced him to turn the boat from the docks. Yes, that seemed right. Ttod wouldn't abandon them. They'd been friends for years. Since they were kids.
