DISCLAIMER: Rachel Caine owns Morganville Vampires, not I.

Chapter 2

CLAIRE'S POV:

It had been weeks since I had seen any other life. It's like there isn't another soul out here. I have no idea where I am, all I know is I'm in the USA, which isn't very helpful.

I'm in a hilled area, plenty of greenary. It looks like the virus never got here, like it was all just a dream... or a nightmare. How much I wish it was just a horrible nightmare, but no, the virus did happen, the dead are walking and I am alone. I look out around a lake, scanning the area. It seems peaceful here... but the dead could easily hide in a place like this.

Arcadia. The safe hold. It sounds like a place in Iceland or the Antartic. Why am I trying to even get there? What good will it do? It doesn't matter if I die, I'd just be like everyone else. 'No' I thought 'I have to get to Arcadia so the group didn't die for nothing'.

My group. Survivors. All dead- Probably. My parents died early on when the virus started. About the 4th month. They told me to keep running and be safe. After about a week I found them. My group.

-FLASHBACK-

I've been walking about this damn dusty road for a week. Don't know why. My parents are dead and I'm probably next. Then I see it. In the distance. It's like a hut, or a shack. Railings for a roof and wooden walls. Crap. Do I keep going? The dead could be in there. Oh well. Got nothing to loose, if I die I can join my parents.

5 minutes later I was standing about not sure what to do. Should I knock? Or just-
"Hello?" I heard. Slowly lifting my gaze upwards I came face to face with a black haired girl with kind eyes. "Are you infected?"
"No" I whispered. My water supply was dangerously low, so I only used it when I really needed it.
"What?"
"No" I rasped louder.
"Prove it" What? I was talking isn't that enough? Oh well. Quick, what approach should I have? Be innocent and sweet, or hard and issolated. I'll choose the latter.
"Your wasting my time" I said louder then I did before. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Well sorry about that. Just checking you won't eat me"
"Who says I won't? Not seen any fresh meat in a while" I joked. Shock filled her face and she stepped a tiny step back into the doorframe. How could she be afraid of me? I'm 16! The only weapon I have on show is in my hand and it's a damn baseball bat! "Kidding!" I squeaked.
"Oh..." Relief covered her face and she let out a sigh "Not funny! I was worried then" She gave me a grin. In the 40 seconds that I had known this girl I kind of liked her. Better not get too attached, you can't trust a stranger. "So kid, what's your name?"
"I'm not a kid. My name is Claire" I stood tall. She grin got even bigger. She raised a hand and pointed at herself.
"Eve" Her hand dropped to be by her side "You hungry?"

-END OF FLASHBACK-

There was more like Eve, 5 others, but Eve was my favourite. My best friend. After she let me in we talked about ourselves and ate some food. Her group were very trusting, too trusting really. When we were fed we showed our weapons. They had the basics. Few knifes, crowbars, bats and one gun- a pistol. However when I showed mine, to say they were impressed was an understatement. The fact that I had more weapons then all of they put together impressed them but also the fact that I could use it all. My parents loved me, and did what they could to keep me safe. It took awhile for me to trust them, but when I did I gave them some of my precious weapons.

I don't know where they are now; could be alive, injured, dead or even in the walking dead army. Guess I'll never know. Not since we got seperated.

-FLASHBACK-

"I don't feel good about this" I said for the fourth time.
"Oh come on! it's quicker this way!" Eve moaned. We were debating whether to go around the forrest which would take longer, but be safer or go through it which would be shorter but have more of a chance of someone munching on you.
"Eve, I really think we should just go around"
"Fine... We'll do a show of hands!" She grinned "Okay, who wants to go the long way around?" I raised my hand. Then Parker raised his. Parker became my best guy friend from the start. "Who wants to go the short way?" Eve, Cameron, James, Lauren and Rose raised their arms. 2 against 5.

"So it's settled, right?" Eve prodded. We didn't really have a leader, It was kind of unspoken but me and Eve were. A different person for different times. I was good with strategy, but Eve being, stubborn just wouldn't listen this time.
"Fine but if we die, it's on you"

-END OF FLASHBACK-

How much I wish I never said that. Eve would of blamed herself for what happened. When we were about half way through the forrest about 45 of those zombies attacked us. Normally we could of handled it but we weren't prepared. All scattered about, and the dead people came from every direction. I tried to save them but they ran. Weren't very big fighters. I stayed behind to kill off what I could but it got to much. I ended up running in the opposite direction. When I finally came out of the forrest I couldn't find the rest. All I know is that out of the 6, 1 is already dead. Rose. The quiet one. On my journey I found her, walking around. Dead of course, but brought back. I put the bullet through her head. She was religious, so I sent a silent prayer for her when I buried her. I didn't believe in God, but she did so I prayed anyway. It also seemed the right thing to do, to bury her because she was my friend.

That happened under 3 weeks ago. I assume if Rose died, then so did the rest.

I lifted myself to my feet. No time to mope around. I shuffled my weapon holdster on my back to a more comfortable position and straightened up my clothes. I've been wearing these for awhile. An American eagle brown tank top, a brown short sleeved top underneath, a long tan coat, brown leggings, brown-green shorts on top, ilet belts, brown boots and a tan headscarf. I've been going North for the three weeks that I have been seperated. Might aswell continue...

Thoughts?

R&R Please:)

-Molly^.^