Life after Death

Chapter 1

Buzz.....buzz.....buzz......

I sat up groggily, tapping the dismiss button on my alarm clock.
4:30 am

Sighing, I stood up. Almost immediately, my spine and pretty much everything else cracked. I stiffly walked over and nudged my roommate, Naomi, with my foot. She groaned in protest.

"Come on Naomi, do you seriously want to get in trouble for sleeping in...we have second watch, remember?"

That got her moving. Soon we were both dressed in our normal watch clothes and headed down for breakfast.

"So...how'd you sleep?"

Naomi asked, trying to make conversation. I nodded my head, physically saying 'good'. I knew Naomi meant well, but she couldn't seem to get it through her head that I didn't like to talk much. She was all happy-go-lucky...despite the fact that we're four months into an apocalypse. Walking into the breakfast room, we both walked around the walls, getting whatever they had left (which wasn't much) and we headed upstairs to the watchtower.

~

So I should probably explain the area we're in. We are still in the city...I know that seems stupid. Everyone who was alive left, heading towards the country hoping it would be better. We stayed though. Why? Because it's easier to salvage supplies and weapons here. We only have two small shops we control anyway, the rest is underground. The group I've joined is called 'The Minors'. We mostly live underground in the sewer system and only go above for watch and when we go for salvage missions. Training, eating, sleeping, and planning go on beneath the surface. It sounds dangerous with the dark tunnels but we only go so far. We barred up the tunnels we don't use and always keep a ten-man look out for the zombies who wander in somehow. For an apocalypse, we all seem to have it down. And I mean everyone. We have communication with two other groups. The Olympians, and The Riders. Which means we have radio communication with the groups who set out in other directions.

We never bothered with communicating with the government for help, since the whole world had gone to hell already.

---------------------------------------------------------

As Naomi and I emerged into the second floor of an old general store, the other two watchmen, Sasha and Washington, passed by us.

"There's nothing really to worry about out there,"

Sasha said,

"Just one or two of those creeps walking around."

I nodded. Naomi raised and eyebrow and said,

"Still...you can never be too careful."

Washington only shrugged, and flipped his gun onto his back. As the two left, Naomi and I stood watch.

It. Was. The most boring thing ever!

But still, we could only watch as we stood sentury. My mind began to wonder...which is the worst thing you could do at a time like this. I started thinking about my brother...my mom...my dad. Everything was gone.

I remember walking past my school when we first had to clear this area. It was like the building itself was mocking me.

Saying that it would still stand, but not how it used to.

I hadn't even realized that Naomi was talking to me, till she hit me upside the head.

"OW!"

I yelped as I stepped back.

"What the hell was that for?!"

I asked, a little pissed.

"Well...you weren't paying attention to what I asked."

"And what exactly did you ask?"

"I asked, 'have you thought about leaving?'"

I looked at my friend with shock.

"Leave...? Why would I leave...?"

I mean, yeah, the Minors could be asshats sometimes...but where else could I go?

I looked at Naomi and said,

"Why? Have you thought about leaving?"

"Sometimes...I mean, if I try hard enough and actually plan it, I could book it to Amherst and find a Rider scout...I hear they're better at taking care of people."

"Only because their group is about fifty people at most! We have almost two hundred people to take care of."

I scoffed at her. Yes, Naomi probably could make it as as a Rider...but they lived dangerously. They used horses and walked everywhere and they have little to no weaponry. The horses were hard to take care due to medication and protection from the undead, and their weapons included about ten guns and the rest were hand made. I had seen them once, about four months ago. I asked them why they choose that lifestyle, the scout replied "too much noise." Then, carried on his way. They only let the physically fit in. They couldn't (wouldn't) accept people who would drag them down.

That's what the Olympians were for. They took in the old and weak, along with others who would rather watch than fight. They were guardians. The Olympians lived in the northern areas, in the mountains with caves and hunted birds and milked Mountain goats. Not really, but they might as well considering their "down-to-earth" style. Seriously, how could a bunch of mountain living elderly survive this long?!

I continued my watch, but God was I tired...so tired.

'How much sleep did I get?..."

My last thought drifted through my head as I rested my body up against a window pane. The drowsiness taking over. Soon I found myself falling asleep...

Which was one of the worse mistakes I've ever made...