"I'm telling you, man! It's true!" Matthew takes a seat among the fire. "You believe any gossip you hear." Matthew sits around a campfire with his two other friends. He and his friends are on a weekend camping trip, much to Matthew's displeasure. The trees drip water off the leaves from a light shower that had rained earlier. It was late and very dark with nothing but the flame of the fire as a source of light. "No Matt, I swear, she really said that." His other friend sitting off at the side chuckles. "Greg, the last time you told Matt a girl liked him, he asked her out and she shut him down. I wouldn't trust you either." Greg waves his hand dismissively. "Ah, you don't know what you're talking about, Brad. I'm telling you, Matt, she practically spelled it out." Matt can't help but grin at his friend's unhealthy addiction to gossip. Gossip and drama run into the routes of high school. Matt and his friends are seniors, the school year has just started.
"Well, as much as I'm enjoying this chat, I think ima check in for the night. I'll see you both in the morning." Brad gets up and heads into his solo tent. He was always a loner, even among friends. Following his lead, Matt and Greg retreat into their shared tent and lay down to sleep. As they sleep Matt wakes up multiple times. He never had an easy time falling asleep, especially away from home. Just as he starts to fall back asleep, the front of the tent begins to rustle. Being startled from his peace, he sits up.
"Greg, I think an animal is at our tent." he says as he shakes Greg awake. Greg sits up and they both see the rustling continue. "You must be tired man, that's a person. Hold on Brad!" He shouts as he sits up to let Brad in. He unzips the opening from one side to the other and in a moment the night's peace is jolted. A deformed human figure leaps into the tent, making an unsettling noise as it lunges towards them. The two of them scream, scattering to crawl out of the tent. As Matt crawls towards the exit, Greg is pounced on. The creature rips into him with teeth of a beast as blood pours all over the tent floor. Matt stares on horror, seeing his friend devoured as he screams. He scurries out of the tent and enters the cold night atmosphere. Just as he does, Brad bolts out of his tent opposite side of where the fire had been burning.
"What's going on?!" Brad yells over as Greg's screams continue in the tent. Before Matt can muster an answer, two more of the deformed beings approach. "Run!" Matt yells, as he runs into the woods. He looks back momentarily to see the two things attacking Brad. Matt keeps running. He sprints throughout the dark, panting and sweating. Eventually he spots an opening and runs through the bushes. Expecting to see the regular view of his home city, he is astonished. His city has screams roaring through the air as small fires spread through the street. Matt stares, seemingly watching the whole world crumble around him. He can do nothing but yell. He does not know what he yells, but it's all he can do.
8 MONTHS LATER
Matt opens his eyes, inviting the sight of sunlight. He slept in the woods for the second week in a row, shelter is rare. Besides, the woods are safer. The city is overrun. The breeze is considerably cold for Virginia, at least around this time of year. Matt sits up, rubbing his eyes. He draws out his revolver pistol, he was lucky enough to find one off a dead cop. People need forearms nowadays in order to survive. Walkers, there is no official term but "walkers" is one Matt has heard, are an extinction event. If the human race wants to survive, they will have to fight. Matt, however, has been alone since the start of this new world. Day by day he has nothing to do but survive. He stands up and stretches. After gathering his thoughts he sets out in his regular direction. His goal is only to find a safe place to stay. He wanders the woods, searching for anything to aid his survival when a sudden scream erupts from the distance. Is that...a woman? He charges off in the direction of the scream.
He bursts out of bushes to see a girl getting chased by two walkers. "Hey!" Matt yells out, getting the attention of both the girl and the walkers. The walkers turn around then come towards Matt, and he draws his pistol. He aims for their heads and fires twice. It's done. Two clean headshots is all it took. He approaches the girl with caution, she is very startled. "Hey, are you okay?" He inquires reaching out a hand. She shakes it. "Yes, thank you. Thanks so much." Matt observes her. She has blonde hair put into a ponytail and seems slightly intimidated. "Don't you have any sort of weapon?" She shakes her head. "No, I've just been very lucky." Matt is taken back. How could she have survived all this time without a weapon.
"So you haven't had any sort of protection?" She stands in silence for a moment before answering. "I never said that." She responds, not blinking. Matt finds it best to not pursue this topic. "What's your name?" She seems to lower her guard. "Amy, my name is Amy. What's yours?" Matt holsters his gun. "Matt, nice to meet you Amy. How old are you exactly?" She stands for moment, almost is if she had to remember. "18." Matt smiles. "So am I. I went to the high school in the city." Amy smiles at this revelation. " So did I. How come we never saw each other before?" Matt shrugs. "So, what's your plan?" Amy's smile shifts into a concerned look. "I truly don't know." Matt hesitates for a moment. Does he really want to say this? He's been alone for so long. "Well if you want to come with me, I'm just looking for a safe place." She slowly nods. "Okay. Thanks, I don't really have anywhere else to go." Matt nods before drawing his gun once again. He continues walking and Amy reluctantly follows behind. The two of them traverse further into the woods, not knowing where it will take them.