It was dark and cold that night. I walked with her, trying to just stay awake a little longer, until we found a safe room to spend the night in. Suddenly, a Hunter leaped in front of us, and pounced on me. His sharp claws dug into my sides and his teeth tore at my neck. She fired her gun; it was too late. The dead Hunter rolled off me, and everything went black.

…

What was going on? I couldn't see, couldn't hear; was I dreaming? It didn't feel like sleep, it wasn't peaceful or comforting. It was like I couldn't control my body…my voice… what was happening? I couldn't think straight. I was lost in thought, lost in my own mind. I had to get up.

Legs…those are what make you walk. Or was it arms? Hands. Hands and feet. No, that's not right! Hmm, why can't I remember? This is so frustrating.

Suddenly the simplest tasks were confusing and hard. I couldn't remember how to form words. I couldn't remember how to get up and walk. What was going on? My skin was hot with infection, but I didn't feel sick.

What? Why am I so warm? I was doing fine just a moment ago! I better get to a doctor! If only I could remember…

I started to crawl around on my hands and feet in the rain. I pulled my sweatshirt hood down over my face so I didn't get too wet.

I'm starving. I need to get food. See a doctor. Why do I need to see a doctor again?

Just then, I heard her voice. Then I lost control.

What's happening to me? Why can't I control myself? No, it can't be- I found myself in the air, and shortly after, landing on the girl. Who is she? I know her. I know her scent. Her scent… everything smells so different; so strong. I still can't see, but my hearing and sense of smell have tripled, if not more! Why? What's this on my hands? Is that…blood? It's warm and smells so… What's going on? What am I? What am I…

Was I an animal? No, I was human. I can't remember! Somebody tell me what's going on! I can't talk. No. Growl. This isn't right…none of this is right! I'm not an animal! No! I speak! Please, somebody help me…

Ah! My neck! It's bleeding. This girl, who is she? I know her eyes…those terrified eyes…why was she so scared? They're looking at me…I can see now? Yes, I can see. She's bleeding…

Why was she hurt? What happened to her? Why am I covered in- her blood? Did I- Did I do this? Why would I do this? This is wrong! Isn't it? Right and wrong…what do they mean? I'm not supposed to do wrong…right? I wish somebody would help me! Can anybody just tell me what was going on? I can't control myself…I'm so hungry. This girl…she's weak. Survival of the fittest! Right? Or was that…wrong? No! I'm not an animal, this is a person! A living person! I won't kill her! And I definitely won't…eat her. Why did I even think that? That's disgusting! I can't control myself…

Her blood…it's on my hands. Now there's more. She's bleeding more. I'm doing this to her? Why? Her neck. It's exposed. Yes, this is my meal. No! No! My voice? I can hear it now. Those eyes looking at me…sad, tortured, hurt, eyes. They almost look disappointed… They can hear me, too? Yes, this girl can hear me! I'm speaking…what was I saying? No? I don't understand. I can't do this anymore. I have to pull away. She said my name. My name…

The moment the girl said my name, I leapt away. My name…what was it again? Ashley. My name was Ashley. I left that strange girl that I once knew behind me. I wasn't me anymore. I was something else. I was an animal. Once she was far behind, I started to feel sick. Hungry. Suddenly, my head jerked back and my nose sniffed the soft breeze, smelling the prickly scent of dead. My chest rose as I took in a long breath, and let it out in a long noise. It was a noise that sent chills down even my own back, a sound of pure pain. A call for help, for my brothers and sisters. A howl.

…

"I'll be okay," she said as Anna looked at her worriedly from across the room. Christina was still shaking from being out in the cold rain. She was wrapped up in two thick blankets in the corner of the room. When she found the safe room, she told them all what happened. How her teammate was attacked by a Hunter. "I killed the Hunter before it could get me, but it was too late for her. It bit her, but I didn't know how badly. So I brought her into the nearest building and found an Infected-free room. I barricaded the door, and got her warmed up. That's when she went unconscious. After a few minutes, she woke up. Then something weird happened. She crawled across the floor and didn't even glance at me. She just kept walking until…she growled! And then she turned around and pounced on me! She scratched me and ripped me up pretty bad, and then she went for the neck. When I said her name, it was like she snapped out of it! Then she went into attack mode again and just ran off! She broke right through the door and everything! That thing…it killed her. She's dead! She's a freaking zombie!" Christina exclaimed and began to cry.

"Listen. Christina…I'm sorry. I really am. But there's something that we all knew was coming." Christian said as he took out his gun. "She got you."

Just then, Anna jumped up and grabbed the gun out of his hands. Sienna screamed, "No! Are you crazy!? I can't believe you!" Christina hid her face and cried harder. Sienna continued on. "The virus is only contagious if you get it a certain way. You can't get unless…" Christina sat up and pulled the blanket off of her.

"No. She didn't… she didn't bite me."

Christian looked so guilty. "I'm sorry…this whole thing is just getting me so panicky! I can't take it!" he yelled. Everyone was on edge, but now that they lost one of their own it was terrible. One of them had died. They weren't invincible, no matter how much they had thought that before. And Ashley proved it.

…

A bunny hopped by me into a bush. It was small and cute, with its little whiskers and its fluffy tail. But something came over me, I couldn't control it. I lunged at the bush, using my strong legs to push me off of the ground and into the air. I soared towards the bush, landed, and came out holding the rabbit between my teeth with pride. I had a nice meal, and then continued walking. I thought about that girl I attacked; I knew her but I didn't know how. She was so familiar, but I didn't remember meeting her. It was so confusing. I got tired and settled down to rest in a dry alleyway behind an old building. As I drifted to sleep, memories pounded in my head.

"C'mon Ash! Let's go! The movie starts in ten minutes! Hurry!" It was that girl again. I laughed and ran along…Was she my friend? Maybe…but what was her name? I don't remember. I don't remember anything! Why? What happened? I don't know…

Suddenly, a noise woke me up. There was something on me…a blanket. I slowly opened my eyes to find something sniffing at my face. I shrieked in surprise, the noise sounding all too animal like. I was different, almost dog like. The thing that was sniffing my face was another creature, dog like, and jumped back as soon as a shrieked. It was cowering in a corner now, whimpering and shaking. I walked towards it and sniffed it carefully. It tilted its head and gave me a curious look, then touched my arm. A deep growl rumbled in its throat, but somehow I knew it didn't have any bad intensions. It was a more scared and curious growl than a mean one. I backed away and gave the creature its space. As a backed away, it pushed its face forward towards me and sniffed cautiously. Then it leapt up into the air over me. It was gone, and I went back to sleep.

…

It was the first one I saw… a female Hunter. A female of my kind. She was sleeping softly, her breathing light and regular. She never stirred; I even wondered if she was alive at first. When I got closer, I saw her breathing; her breath even showed as mist because of how cold it was. She wouldn't survive if she stayed in the cold now that it was raining heavier. I pounced down at her, careful not to wake her. I took the blanket out of my backpack and covered her; it was thick enough to keep her warm and dry for at least a few hours. She smelled like humans, I got closer to inspect. She screamed so loud I jumped backwards and landed in the corner, shaking. Afterwards I felt stupid, showing my weakness like that. Especially in front of a female! She sniffed me and let me touch her arm. Her skin was cooler than mine; she wasn't completely like me yet. She still had a lot of human in her. I jumped away, disappearing in darkness.