Author's Note: I do not own any characters except for my OC.

WILDFLOWER
_

PROLOGUE
_

Three minutes.

All it took was three minutes for her life to completely transform. She was sitting on the edge of the bath, her toes skimming the cold tiles beneath her, and her eyes staring intently at the test that rested on the vanity table. Her eyes moved away from the test and into the mirror opposite her. She stared at her reflection. She looked tired – there was no denying that. Her hair, long and auburn, trailed down her back and brushed against her thighs. Fear rattled against her chest and she tried to calm her breathing.

She thought about how it would change her life. And there was no doubting just how much it would change every aspect of her life. Her mind raced as the timer sounded, signalling the end of her not so long wait. She hesitated, her eyes moving back towards the test. She thought about that night. Taking a deep breath, she reached over and took the stick in her hand. She brought it closer towards her and closed her eyes for a moment.

When she reopened them, she exhaled.

Positive.

She was pregnant. And then her whole world came crashing down around her.

The small bump was her only comfort.

There were days where she would forget, just for a moment - and then she'd feel a little kick and be reminded that she was not alone. The world was different to the one she was used to, and she understood the dangers the new world brought. In the shortest spaces of time, reality had become abstruse and all sense of normality had all but fallen away by the roadside, or disintegrating like a photograph caught on fire.

The fight to stay alive was the most important part of everyone's daily routine. And it had quickly become hers. It was a scary situation to be in, and she had thought about opting out.

The bump was her second chance.

But what terrified her the most was it was never going to stay that way.

She had to have a plan. She needed a plan.

The city had been destroyed; houses had been looted and burned down; the streets were covered with the dead; the roads were a cemetery of abandoned vehicles; and the entire world had become the playground for monsters to creep out of the shadows and make it their own. She understood that staying in the city was a bad decision, but she had no other choice. Her apartment was her safe haven; a place where she knew she was safe, and she had the security of being on the top floor with the view of the city all around her.

She'd seen the destruction, she'd seen the torment the dead were causing on the city, and she saw the loss of lives all from above. She felt safe where she was, and with her ever growing stomach, she had so much to consider. Leaving the city was her only option, but was it too much to leave the city now? Had she made the mistake of not leaving the city when the government told her and everyone else to make their way to Fort Benning?

She packed and repacked a bag. She was so torn on what to bring knowing that she may never return to her apartment ever again. It was a scary thought – was she okay leaving everything she knew behind? Even though it was the best decision, or at least it would be in the future for the child growing in her stomach, she was scared. Petrified, even.

And then she'd heard it.

A radio message calling for all survivors remaining in the city to travel to the CDC for the army to take them to Fort Benning. It was her only chance to find some sort of salvation when the new world was dangerous and scary for someone who wasn't prepared for this new chapter in their life.

She had wondered if it was the right decision. And deep down, she acknowledged that it was the best for her child. Everything she did now revolved around her child.

The streets were surprisingly quiet and empty.

She hesitated once she stepped out onto the street and breathed in deeply. The stench was overwhelming. She felt sick. She placed her hand tenderly over her swollen stomach and took another deep breath before she began her journey across the city. It was a gamble. And she was scared.

She clutched the kitchen knife tightly in her hand. She hoped that she was able to get across the city without capturing the attention of the dead. She had no idea what the first thing to do was, and she cursed silently.

It wasn't as if there were training grounds to learn the basics of staying alive in a world where the dead walked and hunted down the living.

She remained silent, aware of every part of her body. She controlled her breathing, she ensured her footsteps were light, and she made sure she stayed as far away from the dead as physically possible.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention came into view, and it was at that moment that the dead could be seen. They were scattered around the area, with most sitting down and leaning against barricades. She took a deep breath and traipsed towards the door.

The door was metal; heavy and sturdy. She was expecting more people, with army trucks and soldiers outside. But there was nothing except the dead. Panic rose within her and she waited, hoping the doors would open. Except they remained shut, and she stepped backwards, her eyes stinging with tears.

She'd made a mistake. The dead were picking up her scent and were advancing towards her. She had to get out of there and go back to her apartment before it was too late. She turned away, defeated.

Then the blinding light came from behind her and she turned to look, a hand moving up to shield her eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Hope. Safety. Opportunity.

"You have three seconds to enter this building before the doors close."

She ran inside.

Author's Note: Hello! Thank you taking the time out to read this - it means a lot. I hope the prologue wasn't too brief and you found it intriguing. Please leave a comment, I'd love to know what you think of this so far.