A/N: Hey. How's it going? I apologise, no time for chit chat.

So I was casually sitting around when the idea suddenly struck me. I am a big fan of the concept of a zombie apocalypses plus I love the fire and romance between Duncan and Courtney. So why not combine the both? A romance when the world's coming to its end… Just to clear something up, this chapter takes place far, far into the future. :P

Now without further ado I present to you… Lifeless.

Prologue:

It was cold; the air was crisp, and awakening. The trees stiff and frozen like. My breath looked as though I had just puffed on a cigar, and my lungs felt if they were to explode.

My entire being was knackered out so much that I feel like collapsing into the powdery, heavenly but ruthless beauty. Even my vision begins to fade, and my will to go on.

No, I have to keep going. My determination overwhelms my need for rest. I have to find her.

The fiery colours of the setting sun slowly melt into a moonlit, star studded canvas. Remarkably, the sky was clear, which proved to make the forest all the more shimmery; and red.

Snow was a sight from a picture, so perfectly layered by nature, no imperfections except for my own footsteps. The sky so bright it lit up the whole forest, and the stars provided twinkles to bounce off the snow and ice; except the cold wasn't so formidable.

Every part of my battered body is numb and stiff. Hell, if someone were to tear off my arm I'd feel nothing. I've become so accustomed to the bitter cold, it barely bothers me. That's the saddest part.

The crunch of my boots stepping upon the snow and panting echoes throughout the forest. Now I can barely move and the sky darkens by the minute. Moreover my vision is faint, and my head is spinning rapidly.

But she keeps appearing, before my eyes. That girl just made me feel so alive, conveniently in a world that felt so dead.

The fatigue has come too much to bear and fall into the nearest frost-ridden tree, gasping and wincing. I bob my head and remain for a while, trying to regain my strength to carry on. As much as I'd enjoy this suffering to end, have my life over and done with, I can't.

Although I've lost, I've also found. Her. And there's something inside of me nothing can't touch. Not this goddamn "apocalypse" poppycock, not anything that's crossed my path wishing nothing but the worst, anything that's knocked me down, persisting I stay down. It's hope. Simply, hope…

Without warning, my highly-trained ears pick up the faintest sound of other footsteps. I'm not alone.

I hissed. "Give me a fucking break." I frantically look around trying to discover the origin of the sound.

Then I spotted it.

Its eyes as sharp as a knife and stone-cold, burning with a fierce hunger, staring dead at me.

With its grey complexion that looks as sharp as steel; ears flicking for any sound. Swiftly, turning its head to encounter its prey, it takes small steps with pride and stealth from a distance. Fangs viciously dripped with saliva, deep growls formed within. With a snap of its head, brusque bite and a growl, I think "yep I'm toast".

Moreover, this guy has guy has friends. For which I can't see...

They've obviously surrounded me because that's how they function. In a cunning and clever fashion. Not to mention, powerful yet refined beasts of the forest, wolves.

I hear a howl, two howls. Gripping tightly on my hatchet, I realise I won't be able to hold them off. So the best course of action; is to run.

And I run. Despite being exhausted out of my wits, survival is of utmost importance. The same quote incessantly repeating, over and over. Got to survive. Got to make it out of this.

The wolves are hot on my tail and don't seem to be backing down anytime soon. I only catch glimpses of them as they dash in and out amongst the trees. I weave through the forest, slipping, sliding and twisting here and there. The path is clear now but hoary. With every ounce of strength left remaining, I keep going and scarcely pick up the pace.

But I feel as if I might actually die from exhaustion. After everything, this might be it. The end...

Suddenly I trip upon the yielding, bitter sleet. Rolling and spinning down I fall face first as there was a sudden steep knoll.

I scrunch the snow entwined in my hands with a gritty expression. Like greased lightning, I get back on my feet and maintain my course.

I sense they're inching closer towards me and panic. I don't even bother looking behind me as per my eyes narrowed and dead-focussed on what's in front. My breath is raspy and choppy, I don't even have the slightest idea how I'm still alive. Everything is nearly going black…

But from what I can only just perceive, there appears to be a vast, frozen-over lake not far from where I am. Unfortunately, it looks too big to evade so I have no other choice.

Nearer and nearer, I stumble upon the ice-covered lake but hesitate. It looks thin, and I'm certain it wouldn't be capable to sustain my weight.

I whip around, and there I see are the wolves. All three of them, looking determined as ever to rip me limb from limb. I was reluctant but I stepped upon the ice, and took another and another.

Soon enough, I was bolting and ripping through the ice with the wolves trailing close behind.

The lake vaguely cracks underneath my feet. And the spirited wolves light on their feet, hunting me down doesn't help the panic in my breath.

Then, disaster.

A strident crack, interconnecting with all the small cracks in a trice to make up one colossal flaw in the beauty of the solid, immaculate hoar frost.

The wolves whimper and flee in fright. But I'm too frozen in fear to move. Right in the centre of the lake with nowhere to turn, nowhere to salvage my survival.

I first realise what is happening by that cracking sound, it's the ice beneath my feet beginning to give way.

And then the world was vacating upwards and I crashed in contact with the icy lake. Then, I collapsed into a bitter darkness.