As my shift neared its end, I began to pack up my stuff.
The ER had been busier than normal. There had been dozens of people coming in with dangerous fevers, and even some with bite wounds. But the odd part was that the bites had been inflicted by humans, and the bitten ones were more ill than anyone I had ever seen in my ten months of being an emergency room nurse. The only reason I had gotten off work was because my friend Jillian, who was also a nurse, came in to get a shift because her sister was among the large crowd of patients.
Right when I walked outside, my iPhone quacked, indicating a text. I hurried to my grey Subaru, carelessly throwing my bag in back and getting into the front seat and closing the door, making the car go dark; just the way I liked it.
I pulled out my phone, smiling when the message was from Glenn.
Im gonna b homel8r 2nite, Joe got sik and needs me 2 watch te place.
I smiled slightly at the text. Glenn was aware of the fact that when people substituted numbers as words and misspelled, it drove me crazy. My thumbs glided across the keyboard, typing my response.
Okay. Just be careful. The ER is full of sick and bitten people, and I don't need you in there too.
I set my phone on my knee and pulled out of the full parking lot, trying to avoid hitting the people heading to the hospital doors. Whatever was making everyone so sick must have been pretty serious to put them in the hospital. My phone quacked once more, and I quickly looked down at the screen.
Ill b fine bby dont worry, i luv u and ill b back sooner than u think 3
When I got caught in a small traffic jam by the main road, I responded and tossed my phone into the passenger seat.
Awe, I love you too! 3 3 3
When the traffic ceased, I drove back to the apartment that I shared with Glenn. It wasn't one of those cheap ones, either. My family had inherited some money from my grandfather's passing a year back, and he left me a profit that I was able to use to but it. I was forever grateful for it, too.
The parking area for the tenants was the opposite of the hospital. Instead of cars everywhere, there were only six or seven. Considering that there were over one hundred tenants, I assumed everyone had loved ones in the ER.
I kept my bag of work items in the car and pocketed my phone, making my way up four flights of stairs until I reached room 47D; our current living space.
I flipped the lights on, filling the darkness with brightness. My night shift had really worn me out, which I contributed to the fact that I slipped into a tank top, plaid pajama bottoms, and UGGS rather than the traditional t-shirt and jeans.
Drowsily, I flopped on the couch and turned the television on. The channel that was on was airing some sort of horror movie. People looked like zombies and were attacking bystanders. With a yawn, I tuned it to the news broadcasting channel, only to be met with the same gory scene. As I went through every station, I realized that the same thing was everywhere.
But instead of it being some sort of cheesy horror movie, it was real.
Glenn, oh my god! Are you seeing what's on tv?!
Mere seconds after viewing the footage from the heart of Atlanta of the zombie-like people attacking each other, I phoned my parents and told them how much I loved and cared for them. They lived down in Conneticut, and I knew they were worried. The things that were taking place in Atlanta must not have spread yet, if it was even going to.
After that I texted Glenn and ran to our bedroom, Grabbing my pink backpack from the closet and stuffing it with clothes, a few water bottles, and photos of my family and Glenn. I also made room for my old sock monkey, which had been around since I was born.
I tore off my pajama bottoms and hastily pulled on black skinny jeans with my UGGS, adding a white sweatshirt over my tank top. Glenn responded a few minutes after.
Nat, u need to get to he middle of atlanta! the tv just said theres a safe zone there. im just getting in the car and i promise ill meet u there. i luv u, and plz dont forget it!
I held back the tears that threatened to fall and grabbed my bag, practically sprinting down to my car. On the way down, I spotted one of the building tenants, Jolie Blakesmith, wandering the hall. When she turned, I ran faster than I ever had.
There had been blood splattered on her face, and a chunk of flesh had been taken from her neck.
The bites... they caused the victim to change.
Once I reached the safety of the car, I put the backpack on my lap in case I had to make a quick exit and dialed Glenn's number. If anything went wrong, I wanted to hear his sweet, loving voice one last time.
It only took one ring for him to answer.
"Nat? Where are you?" His voice filled my ears and eased my nerves a bit, even if it was full of fear and concern.
"I-I'm in the car now.. I'll be at the safe zone in a few minutes!"
I could hear the screams in the background of his voice as he spoke. "Natalie, I love you... I know I don't say it enough, but it's been true for a very long time!"
A large lump formed in my throat, which I failed to get rid of. "Glenn... I love you too!" That was all I managed to squeeze out before I sobbed into the phone.
"Nat, don't cry. I'm coming back for you, and... safe... please... you..."
The line went static before going dead.
"Glenn? Hello?! Glenn..."
I put my phone down and sobbed against the steering wheel. He said he was coming back for me, but we both knew it was too dangerous. If a bunch of the things that were attacking people on televison found me, it would be a matter of time before they would succeed in biting into me as well.
Reluctantly, I pulled out of the parking lot and sped off into the city, my eyes peeled for the safe zone. The screams got louder and louder as I approached the center of Atlanta, and helicopters overhead dropped large cylinder shaped objects a mile or two away from where I was.
The shake of the ground and familiar heat of flames gave away what was happening.
I grabbed my phone and pulled on my backpack before abandoning the car, heading away from Atlanta. Whatever they had said about this 'safe zone' was a lie. Helicopters dropping bombs on Atlanta was NOT anywhere near safe!
I wasn't sure where I was headed, but wherever I went didn't matter as long as I located Glenn and got to an actual safe place.
This is an intro to what happened in the beginning.
The bold and italicised wording represented the text messages between Glenn and Natalie. And speaking of them, in this fanfic Maggie and Glenn DO NOT get together, and there are NO feelings between the two except for friendship feelings, if that makes sense. I'll update this story whenever I can, but there won't be any strict updating schedule. Whenever I get around to it will be when it gets updated.