Chapter 1

Running. In the end that always seems to be the only option that there is. Running from the dead. Running from the living. Running had become a sort of second nature to her as if it was something as simple as breathing. After all she has seen and all that she has gone through, even breathing was getting harder and harder for her to do. The heaviness in her chest as it would rise and fall was starting to seem like a chore each day that passed. Another day would come looking for food or a safe place to sleep along with an even stronger feeling of giving up would drag along with it. The desire to cease to exist in this world has grown with no end in sight to tend it back.

Where am I? How far am I from home now?

She sat down under a large tree so she can try to grab her bearings. A memory of a life gone slowly begins to creep into her mind. A hot cup of coffee in her favorite red mug. A long shower laced with the scent of strawberries and magnolias. A large, soft bed too spacious to be empty. The loneliness that she felt even with him in the same room as her.

Stop.

She quickly hushed the thoughts away and tried to focus. After rummaging through her worn leather satchel she found an old traveler's map that was beginning to fray at the edges from exposure to the elements and near constant use. She pulled the last remaining piece of a protein bar from its wrapper and realized it could very well be her last meal.

Damn, I would do anything to have real food again.

The stale pieces of granola stuck to her teeth and were hardly satisfying to the empty pang felt in her stomach. She glossed over the map and gathered that she should be just about thirty or so miles south of Washington D.C. Her heart felt a pain as she remembered how her older brother had traveled there for a senior trip in high school and of how much he loved it there. She never cared to visit it for herself but fate seemed to have drove her there anyway.

Stop.

She noticed her hands trembling as she held the map. The lack of food, water, and sleep were quickly catching up to her with no end in sight.

I need to find water.

It was going on day two without any water and she felt she was going insane. She felt as if there was a presence watching her every move. Sometimes it was a rustle of leaves from bushes a few yards away. Sometimes it was even a hushed whisper. She was sure she was beginning to suffer from the effects of exposure and dehydration and couldn't have thought of a worse way to die. After all her life of shit. Right when she was about to stand up and put a stop to the life that was draining her of her own self and gain control of her future, the world fell. The dead rose. There was nothing left to do but run.

There was still light left in the day and realized she needed to keep moving. She shoved the map back into her bag and willed herself to get off the ground and get back on the road. Her knees shook as she rose from the shade of the tree and had to balance herself against the trunk. Suddenly, she saw the leaves shaking from a group of bushes a few yards away.

"Stay away!" She demanded as she unsheathed a hunting knife from her belt. She began to question if everything she thought she was imagining was real. She didn't know what was real anymore. Still, she erred on the side of caution and tried to appear stronger than she was.

A tall man appeared with his hands held up in a way that showed her he meant no harm. He looked clean. He wore a plaid flannel with cargos and she couldn't help but notice he was freshly shaved and his hair was kempt.

"I mean you no harm, I can help you," He was slowly walking towards her and each step he took closer she took one step away from him. He stopped in his tracks and slowly pulled a backpack around and dropped it on the ground. He kicked it over to her.

"There is food and water in that bag, it is yours. I can take you somewhere safe, like before."

She slowly knelt down without moving her eyes away from him. She slowly unzipped the bag and counted four bottles of water amongst various canned food items, dried meats and even a medical pouch.

"I've been following you the past couple.." He was interrupted by a sudden shove backwards. She had her forearm locked underneath his chin and had him pinned to the trunk of the tree. "What do you mean you have been following me?! Who are you and what the hell do you want!" She growled in anger at the stranger.

He could feel how weak she was and was able to easily push her off of him without causing her any harm. "Please, look in the bag, there are pictures, photos of our settlement. There are walls, food, water. There is security. We will not harm you…" He pleaded with her to look for herself. She grabbed up the bag and emptied its contents on the ground and located a clear bag with photos. He was telling the truth. Walls. People. Houses.

What do I do? What if this isn't real?

The strange man spoke again, "My name is Aaron. I am pleased to make you acquaintance." He extended his hand and she eyed it cautiously. She looked down at her own hands and realized they were covered in a mixture of dirt, sweat, and who knows what else. She lightly grabbed his hand to except his gesture. "My name .. my name is Alex… Alex."