The first few days I was clean. My stomach still had food in it. There was plenty of water for the family that I had. My house still seemed like home, I felt safe, I didn't quite understand what it meant.
I am not like that anymore. I don't know where I am. I have been walking for what seems like hours. My stomach is empty and my throat is incredibly dry. All I have to wear is this vest that is too tight, soaking wet and has mud stains all over it. The sleeves had to be used as bandages to cover any cuts that I have so the infection doesn't get into it.
My arm is throbbing in pain from where I forcefully smashed into a tree trunk, being taken down by the current of a dirty river that wasn't available to drink from, I couldn't risk my health, not being by myself. My trousers are heavy from the water, so walking around is taking a long time.
All I see is tree after tree, I try my best not to make any noise as I step on the twigs below me. I see silhouettes of bodies in the distance that I'm desperately trying to avoid. The only weapon I have right now is an axe I found at a barn. It was far too late to even attempt to eat the animals, they had bite marks in them and their faces had dark green marks.
Quietly, I reach for my axe that's sticking out of my back pack. I hold it firmly in my blistered hands. My nails are blood stained. Suddenly, I hear a twig snap from behind me. I turn around quickly, my hair whipping me in the face, I don't have a chance to look, I swing my axe from above my head, down to the ground. I look up, my hair falling away from my face, nothing. Something grabs my shoulder and I pull away with force. I look up to see a boy, he looks like a healthy boy, no marks or scratches, he gives me a warm smile and spreads his hand out in front of me for me to shake. "Hi, my name's Carl."