Chapter One
The buzzing of an alarm rang throughout the small dorm room. Kassie woke up from her sleep, covering her ears to the blaring noise. Her roommate was nowhere to be seen. She opened the door to the hallway, noticing the hallways littered with bloody foot prints and scattered chunks of what appeared to be flesh. Kassie felt her dinner and bile coming up her throat. As she leaned against the wall throwing up, doors began opening, making the same reaction appear out of other people. Just then, the hallway was being stormed and invaded by men and women dressed in riot gear and wearing masks. Each of them grabbed a teenager standing in their doorway. Kassie was grabbed from behind by a muscular man, causing her to shriek and fight back.
"Ma'am, you need to quit fighting. We are evacuating your dorm building. There has been a fatal outbreak throughout your campus. Please, go into your room and dress in comfortable clothes. Pack a bag worth of clothes to last you a week. Make sure to bring along all necessities. You have five minutes to do this," he said, placing her in her dorm room once again. She grabbed a large duffel bag and placed all of her clothes inside. She put on her pair of skinny jeans and sweater she wore the day before. Grabbing her phone and charger off of her desk last minute, the military man came back in to escort her out. Other boys and girls her age were being led out of the building in the same dismay and confusion as her. They were hurdled like cattle into the lobby of the building. From the windows, Kassie could see large green military jeeps backing up to the door. As the first one was right up against the automatic sliding door, kids were being directed into the back of it. The man who originally grabbed Kassie was right behind her.
"Excuse me, would you mind explain what is happening? What went on here during the night? You said this is a fatal outbreak? Are we all in danger or infected already?" she asked, thinking up one question after another. He lowered himself down to her shorter stature, whispering to her.
"I shouldn't say anything to you, but you don't appear to be the type to start a riot. As of right now, everyone entering this van is perfectly healthy. You would know if you were infected, because you would have already died. This disease is bringing the dead back to life. There isn't much more information than that available. Keep quiet about this though and protect yourself as needed. Now, get in the van and listen to what the sergeant has to say," he finished, helping her up into the vehicle. Fear imbedded into her mind, nervously falling into the seat she was lead to. Everything around her went silent, her nerves went numb, and all emotion fell from her internal processing. She held her duffle bag close to her, grasping onto the last item she recognized as part of her now ending peaceful existence.
"Alright, listen up," a man briskly said, knocking Kassie from her trance," you are being transported into a safe zone outside of Atlanta. Here you will receive food, water, and shelter from what is going on around you outside. This is not just a plague within your college campus; this is quickly becoming a national threat. There will be no communication to the public. The federal government is attempting to handle this is the most calm way possible. Please hand over all cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other communication devices. Those denying this will be reprimanded once arriving to the facility," announced the sergeant at the front of the vehicle. Kassie's mind began twisting, knowing she had to come up with an excuse to keep her phone on her. As the officer collecting phones came to her, she shook her head no.
"I left my phone sitting on my nightstand in my dorm room," she said as calm as possible. He looked at her, determining whether to question it or not. He slowly walked away, keeping his eye on her. She sighed internally; relieved she kept her connection to the outside world. The jeep puttered along the road, shifting from one side to another. The smell of burning flesh and death seeped into the hold. Kassie's stomach churned; her nausea was being caused by the intense odor. Several people around her were given plastic bags to get sick into. Kassie brought her knees to her chest, keeping to herself and throwing herself back into her trance. It felt as though hours went by, bopping back and forth on the hard seat. After what in reality had only been around forty five minutes, all of the suited soldiers ran up to the front of the jeep. An abrupt stop sent each of the young adults lurching forward, complaining and asking about what was happening. The same soldier that Kassie recognized from the dorms ran past her. He peered through the doors, only opening them a bit. He shut them against after only moments and locked it tight.
"Listen here; our jeep is too large to get through the debris on the road ways. There are many abandoned cars and other things in the way. We are going to trek by foot to the main highway. The road is open enough here to be able to get another jeep through. This is going to be about a three mile walk. It shouldn't take us long to get there. We are armed and prepared for any of the walking dead out there. Keep calm and orderly exit the van. Stay together and do not wander off. This is of vital importance," he finished, opening the doors. Kassie was one of the first to exit, shielding her eyes from the bright light. All around her, there were abandoned cars, small fires, and dead bodies littering the travel ways. Her jaw hit the ground, seeing the hell and infection quickly invading and reshaping her world. Her mind traveled back to her family she had back in Indiana. Before anyone could notice, she shoved these memories back, concentrating on the task at hand. The military personnel began to lead the group on through the road. People who knew each other clutched together, keeping each other's backs covered. Some of them sobbed into each other shoulders, cracking from the stress and pressures. Not even one mile into the journey, screams erupted from a set of girls.
"Help me help me!" shrieked a female voice, sprinting from the scene. A girl was sprawled on the ground underneath a bloodied and rotting figure. The formerly alive man was biting into the stomach of the defenseless woman. Her scream slowly faded away, signifying her dying moments. Just as the zombie creature stood, two dozen more crept from the wooded area. Kassie's heart rate instantly increased and adrenaline soared through her veins. Without any other thought, Kassie ran away from the group. Her duffel bag bounced off her side as her legs carried her quickly from the walking dead. The screams and gun shots were being left behind Kassie; her tears streaming down her face from guilt and abandonment. She continued running, knowing going back would mean meeting her own demise.