The Touch of Infection

Chapter 1: He could break her in half

Aliens took over the world, brought a disease, turning the humans into zombies. Not only did humans now have Zombies to deal with but aliens as well for developing a taste for their flesh.

And humans, after all, are not always the helpful kind, killing even their own or they got in their way. Steal from me I'll take your head! And for two long years that has been the world, she's lived in.

Carisa had been alone for some time now. Having been only sixteen when this all started it became second nature to survive. She'd seen people die in the most hideous of ways she didn't wish upon her worst enemy.

Hearing the growling of zombies who ran after her she sprinted, trying to lose them between the trees as she'd learned. Even if zombies weren't the only thing to worry about there were people out there who'd steal from her and kill her if they got the chance. And the very rare beasts who'd she'd only heard from in story's was the aliens.

People said they were taller than any man with four arms ready to tear you apart and a hideous face to match. Four eyes so you couldn't hide and fangs to eat your guts out. Of course, they weren't seen by many, at least not many that survived.

Losing the zombies behind her she began to slowly walk through the forest listening to the sounds around her. The sound of munching so close to her she could touch it before she saw the beast of stories. Munching on a corpse it's back to her as his tail slammed against the floor, in the panic she snapped a branch under her.

The alien turning slowly to face her... what was supposed to be hideous? He had blue skin, odd to say the least. Its eyes being purple all looking at her, and hair that cascaded around his body. The blood dripping from his mouth onto his chest.

She didn't know what she was doing until she found herself closer to him, his whole figure looming over her. The only word to describe the creature to pop in her head being, beauty. Her hand reaching up unconsciously until pressing against his cheek.

No words came from her mouth, she couldn't remember how to speak, or when it even was the last time she did. The growls of zombies snapping her back the reality of the situation. He was supposed to be a man-eating beast and she was prey.

She had to go because if he didn't eat her those zombies would not hesitate to do so. Beginning to walk away she only got a glimpse of his eyes following her. Watching as she walked away.

She didn't know why the reason was as to why he let her live, didn't they kill on sight? And she got so close, she could live and tell the tale... live... no, she could only survive. She didn't think too much about it noticing the zombies getting close, and began running.

Unknown to her he continued to stare at her with his own questions in mind. Didn't people normally scream, run away... he was curious now. She didn't scream, she wasn't scared... she was... so warm. So delicate and small he could break her in half no problem.

Running she couldn't seem to lose the zombies behind her and a few new ones joined in even. Looking at the trees around her she needed to spot one she could climb quickly. Unless there was a giant hoard of them they couldn't get her.

"They can't follow me." She told herself in a cracked voice while climbing the tree as fast as she could. Feeling one of them grace her foot it only made her climb all that much faster. If only she had been a little closer to the ground she would have been grabbed and devoured in seconds.

Getting at a decent hight she looked down to see them clawing at the tree. Great another night to spend cooked up in a tree. They wouldn't give up on trying to get her at least till morning. And given the last couple of weeks, her supplies were drained.

Having only a piece of rope to tie herself in the tree, a water bottle nearly empty. Some small bags to keep food dry... the only problem is there was none. No food whatsoever, no weapon... she was stuck there for at least till morning. In the very least she had one thing to kill time, a book to read while those things continued to have her trapped.

She didn't want to think about the problems. Not now that it would be winter soon, that she had no food and soon no water... she just wanted to forget her worries. Drinking the last bit of water and tying herself to the tree. At least the tree wasn't too small, proving a bit comfortable at least.

The growls below her even louder than before, they wanted her to come down, bite into her, and make her just like them. She hated to spend the night on trees but it was where she found herself most. Recollecting memories that haunted her dreams. Memories that happened in a place just like this.

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Thank you to everyone who's decided to read this! I'm actually working on editing this story heavily. But for now I'd love whatever feedback for this current version. For anyone wondering this story actually has multiple endings, I couldn't pick one so made a couple.

Going to be posting the rewrite of this whole story on my Ko-fi. You can read it for free if you're interested.