Chapter One: Day 4
It seemed as though the once hectic city streets had just paused, like everything around me had stopped. Life seemed to be an hour glass frozen in time. Nothing moved but the scraps of paper struck by the very little wind that blew. I was alone. Stuck in this city I once thought would be the greatest thing that I ever experienced. The lights were once so bright, the people so head strong and determined. It seemed like all of that just disappeared, no warning, just gone.
I may have thought things were different, like this was the beginning to my new life, a successful life. I looked out the window of my NYC apartment down onto the abandoned street. Nothing. No movement or sound. Not even the sound of cries for help from below. Maybe things had changed me, maybe I wasn't as human as I thought. Maybe humanity didn't matter anymore.
I glanced away from the window and went back to my room. I walked to my closet, something that used to be a joy to me. My clothes, as beautiful as I thought they once were it didn't even matter, the just hung there lifeless next to my wall of designer shoes. Again nothing seemed important. I pulled things of the hangers and ripped shoes off my shelf. I grabbed anything that had a flat sole. My louiboutines didn't seem to fit that quota. It was a quick process of ripping clothes down and stuffing them into my suitcase.
I walked to my vanity and grabbed my wallet; my license fell from the leather fold and clattered to the ground. I looked at my picture for a moment. Emily Joans. That was me, as much as I tried to remember that I was that person and I still existed it still struck some tiny cord in my chest. I felt pain. Considering the fact that I was one of the lucky few who survived the horrible attacks of the walkers, I shouldn't feel pain at all. I should feel joy, but for some reason joy seemed as far away as home. Home. The very thought of home sent chills up my spine. I needed to be there, to be with my family.
I zipped my suitcase shut and grabbed the only backpack I owned from behind the bed. I stuffed it with food and water. Anything I had in my apartment that I could use. My cell phone was dead and the power was out. I had no means of communication. I had to think hard. I grabbed the gun from the top shelf of my closet. I had never used it and didn't intend too. My boss thought it was a smart thing to own considering the amount of designer clothes I had in my closet. Thinking of my job made me smile, it was the dream come true for me. I was just starting out after college as an employee in the fashion closets. It was every girls dream unfortunately it was cut short for me.
I shook the memories of life from my head and jammed the gun into my belt loop. I shoved the bullets into the backpack for easy access. It was time to go, I had spent four long days hiding away from the havock of the streets below. Now it was time to face it. It was time to face the hell I had been avoiding. It was time for me to go home.