Alison ran from the pack of wild zombies hot on her trail. She silently panicked as the sounds of snapping jaws and undead growls rang out through the night. The exit to the shopping mall was only a few feet away. Her ankle suddenly gave way and there was a sickening snapping noise.

"Ahh!"

Alison fell to the ground, expecting any second now, to be a zombie buffet. Then suddenly, two strong hands were grabbing her underneath her arms and pulling her up, and quickly into the mall. The doors slammed and were quickly bolted shut. The zombies on the other side banged on it furiously.

"Looks like you twisted your ankle," said the man who wore a pair of rugged, stained jeans and a black button up collared shirt.

"Yeah, thanks for noticing, man. Don't know what I'd have done without you," Alison replied.

"You'd have died. That's what you'd have done," said the man with a slight hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"I'm Gideon, by the way."

"Alison."

Gideon helped Alison back to her feet and they walked deeper into the Springlake Shopping Mall. They settled in the food court where a group of 4 other people had been sitting and talking. Two guys and two ladies. They looked as though they'd been here for a little while. Miserable, and with a hint of hopelessness in each of their eyes'.

"Guys, this is Alison. She was the one making all the racket outside."

The redheaded female looked up just then and met Alison's gaze.

"Did you see him out there? Did you see Doug?"

Alison frowned as she sat down slowly at a table.

"I'm sorry. Who's Doug?"

Gideon shook his head, looking from the redheaded woman then back to Alison again.

"Susan, Doug's gone. You know he isn't coming back," said the blond haired man sitting next to Susan.

"But he might still be alive. I mean, we never saw him die. You know?"

"Yes, and he hasn't returned either. It's been three days. You've got to let it go."

"How dare you tell me what to do, Joseph. I'll do whatever the fuck I want to do. Right now, I want to be away from all of you!"

Susan rises from her seat in the food court and storms off in the direction of a women's clothing boutique, disappearing inside.

Alison looked at Gideon.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine. Joseph, Kelly, David, this is Alison."

Both Joseph and David half smiled at Alison and Kelly gave a little wave.

"Welcome to Hell," David replied dryly.

Susan wiped the tears from her eyes as she sat on the floor of the boutique with her legs brought up to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. There were no overhead lights on but the store was dimly lit with backup lights that gave off an eerie, cold glow. As Susan sat there, thinking to herself, the silence was broken by the sound of something falling over in the back part of the store.

"Who's there?!"

There was no reply.

Rising slowly to her feet, Susan called out again. Still no reply. The lights begin to flicker now, going off completely after a few times. A scream escaped her throat and she froze from fear. Her legs would not move. She could hear shuffling around and the sound of everyone's voices talking loudly in the food court, Gideon calling out to her.

"Help! I'm in the boutique! Guys!?"

The lights flickered back on just then and Gideon appeared at the entrance to the Boutique.

"Susan, come on we have to get out of here!"

Before she could even think, something grabbed her from behind, knocking Susan to the floor and began clawing at her flesh. Then there were two more zombies. They all pulled at her, tearing off pieces of her body like a rag-doll. It all happened so quick she didn't even have the time to utter a single cry for help. Gideon stood in the doorway, his mouth hung open in horror as he watched his friend being eaten alive.