Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

You have three new messages.

Cooper Lennox sat frozen against his leather couch, blue eyes staring blankly at the TV in front of him. Blood was stained on his hands, which were shaking uncontrollably, and a small black phone buzzed with a new voice message.

He brought his hands to his face and massaged his eyelids, blood instantly making red streaks on his tan skin. Drops of sweat slowly fell from his forehead, creating tiny wet dots on the fabric. It seems he was crying. Eyes all puffy and clothes soaked.

But he hadn't cried one bit. Even after his friends ushered him away from the scene that seemed to come straight out of a horror movie. Or even after they left and the suspense of their life status had suddenly caused him to worry when they didn't come back.

The trembling hadn't been from terror or shock. It was purely a genetic he was stuck with.

Cooper shakily lifted himself up and stumbled forward, glassy eyes darting around in search for his black duffel bag. The furniture around him seemed to double and he had to hold out his hand to guide himself. When he reached the bag, he quickly unzipped it, his quivering fingers finding it hard to get a good grasp on the zip.

Inside lay his medkit; something he always carries around ever since he received one in med-school. Next to the medkit was a small black case. Cooper grabbed and unzipped the black pack, a stock of syringes sat lined up neatly along with two bottles of clear liquid. Cool air was quick to greet him, which meant his medicine was still cold and good to use.

Hands desperately grabbed a syringe and one of the bottles. He then opened the bottle, almost dropping it between his damp fingers, and stuck the needle in the clear liquid. He pulled up on the knob and the capsule attached to the syringe slowly started to fill in match to the clear liquid in the bottle.

When the syringe got full, he pulled out the needle and lifted up his shirt. Despite being drenched in sweat, his skin was cool. The shakiness, cold sweats, and blurry vision wasn't a good sign. He kept from taking his medicine for two days, awaiting the arrival of his prescription from doctors. They normally wouldn't take so long, in fact, a few hours at most, but the strike of the virus had them busy.

Cooper grabbed at the skin near his belly button and slowly stabbed the needle into his fat. The stinging feeling was nothing new and something he could easily ignore.

15 minutes and I'll feel better… just last 15 minutes…

He put down the syringe and capped the bottle, not bothering to put everything back into place until the wave had passed.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Five new messages.

He drew out a long sigh, the eerie playback of a robotic voice echoed continuously from the small black phone. Cooper reluctantly let go of his aid and abandoned the case laid out on the table, slowly traveling back to where he sat. He lifted the phone and sat on the couch with an 'oof'.

He then pressed on a button before the creepy robotic voice came back.

"Message number one; recorded at 1:32 PM," a stern female voice replaced the phone's and Cooper instantly recognized it, "Angel here. I know you haven't got your meds yet, but we need you at the hospital,"

Sirens wailed in the background and she drew a long sigh through the speaker, "as soon as possible. People are sick and it's spreading faster than doctors can handle. You're trained in the field- or at least training in the field- and we can use an extra hand. If things get worse, the hospital might be put under a code black," the last two words left shivers down his spine. California hospitals rarely had code black, in fact, this would be the first in fifty years.

"It's serious, Cooper. We could use your help."

Then her voice was gone, replaced by a sudden silence.

"Would you like to hear that message again?"

Cooper pressed another button, declining the robotic girl's offer and clicked to listen to the second.

"Message number two; recorded at 3:22 PM,"

"Hey, man," a male voice echoed through the phone, low but oddly calm despite the sirens in the background. It was one of his friends; a special someone he just started getting around to.

"It's Matthew. Things are getting rough over here and though your help would be much appreciated- and your presence," Cooper felt his face warm a bit at his sudden charm but the feeling quickly faded at his next words.

"But you can't come back. It's too dangerous. We don't know what this is. The virus… it's bringing people back," a frustrated sigh could be heard from the other end, "I don't know. I'll try to update you, but you can't be here. Keep up with the news. I'll talk to you later."

"Would you like to hear-"

But he simply rejected, quickly moving onto the next message.

"Message number three; recorded at 5:15 PM,"

"Matthew, again," he sounded tired, "still don't know what this is. We were told CDC was checking it out and we'd be updated every hour. For now, all I have to tell you is that I was right. They're coming back, Coop. It's like the undead is rising," he then chuckled wearily, "I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. I'll update you as soon as I can. And for once, pick up the phone. You got me worried…"

"Would you like-"

He skipped over her again, immediately moving to the next message. His heart beat faster and the anticipation of Matthew's messages only made his wave even worse.

"Message number four; recorded at 7:35 PM,"

"You gotta leave, man… they're coming back. They're all coming back!" Pounding could be heard and Matthew's nervous breaths were loud through the phone. "Shhh, you have to stay quiet, Angel. Nick, help calm her down,"

Cooper was surprised by Matthew's sudden take in leadership despite the horrifying situation they seemed to be stuck in.

"Coop, you have to get out of California. And if you can't leave, lock the doors, close the blinds because they're coming. They smell your blood; they hear your every breath. And Coop, don't get bit."

The message cut again and it felt like his heart was going to beat right out of his chest. He didn't want to hear the last message because he knew that it'd be something terrifying. He hesitated before clicking for the last message.

"Message number five; recorded at 9:05 PM,"

That was only five minutes ago…

Crying could be heard over the line. It belonged to Matthew, deep and broken. He sniffled, "I don't know if you're still there. Hell, you probably never were. But if you get this message, I just wanted to let you know that I loved you," he chuckled raspily which slowly turned into a sob, "I still do, even in my last moments. I declined the date because I didn't want anybody to know I was gay. But, dammit Cooper, you grew on me. If I could re-do everything between us, I would. I would shout my love for you to the top of my lungs. And the things I'd do… just to get one last moment with you… but that can't happen because I'm dying, Coop. I was bitten a couple of hours ago," he whimpered, "he was just a kid… and I couldn't do anything to protect myself," another sob before he recuperated, swallowing air deeply, "and now everyone in this room is going to die. Their blood will be on my hands. And before I die, I wanted to say this to you. I hope you're still out there Cooper. Stay safe, keep moving, and stay alive,"

Cooper's breath hitched and his fingers tightened around the phone until his knuckles were white. Tears he didn't even know were there had fallen and stained his face with a sticky feeling. He was losing the one man he truly loved. The one man who could instantly make him feel worthy with a glance. The one man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And once he lost him, he knew that all of what made himself would suddenly disappear.

"I love you."

The line cut and he was gone.

=X=

Raeann couldn't feel any smaller. She sat trembling in the driver's seat of her red truck, flinching at every fist that came pounding on the window. Her hands were caked in blood and smeared up to her elbow. Cheeks were tear-stained and her body slowly rocked. It looked as if she just went mental.

The key sat in the ignition and she hadn't bothered to start the car. Her deep blue eyes continued to stare vacantly into the dark. It's only been two hours since she got out of work and she took the woman's warning into heed. Raeann gathered her family and planned to get out of town before things could get worse, but it was much too late.

Now she was alone; cradling herself in the dark of night. The street poles were the only thing that provided light for her since she hadn't turned on the truck. Partly for fear of unwanted attention and because she was genuinely in shock. The lights created a more sinister look as infected gradually limped past them.

There weren't as many infected crowded near her vehicle since most had dispersed an hour after she got in. There were obviously more vulnerable people to get to instead of a girl who locked herself in a truck.

Raeann drew in a deep breath and hesitantly turned her head towards the window; one of the first movements she made since locking herself in.

The window was dirty with prints and blood was smudged in shapes of hands and fingers. She allowed herself to relax when she saw that no infected stood at her window. They all had wandered off in search for easier prey. Then she reluctantly turned her head to glance at the front of her house.

Three bodies were barely visible in the dark of night. But it wasn't only the dark that made it hard to see them; their features weren't even noticeable. Pieces of flesh were missing and bone appeared under pale skin. They were practically gone in terms of flesh.

Tears brimmed her eyes again and she quickly looked away, sucking in a breath that broke as a sob replaced it.

You can't stay here… You can't stay here knowing that they died here.

She felt the familiar feeling of tears dripping down her eyes to her cheeks. She reached for the key, vision blurred by frustrating tears.

Push yourself forward. You can't stay here.

The truck came to life with a roar, lights flickering on to illuminate her surroundings. Infected abruptly stopped in their steps, snapping their heads toward the truck. Her heart sped up slightly and she frantically put the car in reverse before putting full throttle on the gas pedal. The truck jerked back and her head hit the seat hard.

Infected neared her car, some even landing their fingers on the windows. She pushed up on the lever, putting it into drive, and stomped on the gas pedal. The truck sped down the street and if the dead weren't walking, she would have definitely got in trouble with the law.

She glanced at the time on her dashboard as she sped forward, her truck practically flying as it crashed against dead obstacles. It was 10:00; the time where her and her family would cuddle up in the living room for a movie.

Keep moving...

Raeann stole a reluctant glimpse into the rearview mirror and caught sight of the three figures lying motionless in the grass. One had a small child in her arms, both limp and sprawled awkwardly on each other. The last one was a couple of inches away, an arm stretched to reach the others.

Raeann looked away and shook her head, focusing her eyes on the road.

Just keep moving…

=X=

"Here's to luck," Noah announced, throwing an arm up with drink in hand, "without it, we wouldn't be here."

Red liquid tossed back and forth like waves in his cup, some splattering onto the table as he brought it to his mouth.

The rest of the table held up their cups that matched in color. Except Charlie who chose to have soda instead of wine; a route she took in sake of her young age and her sobriety.

Noah's lips puckered at the taste and he set the glass down harshly on the table, "phew!" He whistled. "That shit gets tangier with every sip."

Lucas took a shot without complaining, but the purse of his lips showed that it was as tangy as Noah said it was. He decided it'd be okay to drink tonight; his daughter was sleeping in the cabin next door and he knew she was safe. However, he wanted to stay mentally intact; Amity's never seen him drunk and Lucas was known to get aggressive when he was.

Saffron sipped quietly despite the conversation that sparked between the three men and shared an awkward silence with Charlie who sat two chairs across from her.

"So, you said you have a son?" Lucas asked, chocolate brown eyes dilated in interest as he turned to Jimmy.

The blond nodded, "yep. He's 12. He fell asleep waiting for us, so you'll have to meet him tomorrow," he explained and the slightest smile poked at his lips, "he's a good kid."

Lucas settled into his seat, his shoulders once tense now relaxed, "that's good. My daughter has trouble making friends, ever since-" he paused and frowned, a sigh escaping his pursed lips, "ever since her mother died,"

The table had gone quiet and Lucas reached for the wine bottle, pouring the liquid until the glass was nearly full.

"Well, Brian can relate," Jimmy said, his voice suddenly sounding tired and low as he took the wine bottle from Lucas and refilled his own glass.

The two clanked glasses together. Lucas gulped down the alcohol in one swallow and placed the glass back on the table, going for the wine bottle again to refill.

"Welcome to the dead wives club," Noah snorted, his eyes already glassy. He's obviously already had a couple of drinks to make him tipsy and the topic only stressed him out. "Never had any kids… didn't get the chance to. Too busy serving in the military to pay attention to my wife. I don't regret those years, but I wish I spent more time with her."

The men turned their heads towards him, and Lucas swallowed another shot before speaking, "how many years did you serve?" He asked, trying to redirect the topic to something less morbid.

"Ten," he replied. "Until my leg was blown off and replaced with this bad boy," he lifted his leg onto the table and slammed it down. Then he pulled away his pant leg to reveal a plastic prosthetic.

Lucas' brows raised in shock. He hadn't noticed since his slackers were covering his legs and assumed the limp was from age or an old injury.

"That had to hurt like hell," Lucas remarked. "Both physically and spiritually."

Noah nodded, "it did," he agreed. "Longest 8 months of my life, but Ivy was there through it all."

"That's the beauty in love… you'd always be there for each other," Jimmy said, staring at his cup as if his mind was elsewhere.

"I served six years, three of them in Afghanistan. I was originally suppose to serve eight, but I had to come home early after my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Went back a year later," Lucas explained, grabbing the wine bottle.

Noah stared at him curiously and his furrowed brows showed that he was slight confused, "why'd you go back? Your wife had cancer…"

He took another shot, "she was sleeping with another man."

"What about your daughter?" Charlie piped up, right hand on her chin and the left tapping out of boredom on the table, "you just left her to deal?"

Hostility could be heard in her voice, like she had known what Amity felt.

Lucas shook his head, a little too much, "I shouldn't have left… if that's the one thing I regret most in my life, it's leaving her to deal with her dying mother. I just felt…betrayed."

"You have to push those feeling aside, man," Noah slurred, holding up his glass slightly. He'd been taking shots since Lucas had started talking, and his lack of sobriety became noticeable.

He swallowed thickly, setting down his cup and pushing it away like he lost his appetite, "thank you for the drinks," he said, and stood up, his legs pushing the chair back as he abruptly lifted himself. "I'll see you all in the morning."

He began to walk towards the door and when he opened it, he was greeted with the chilling wind of winter.

"You've got work to do tomorrow, Lucas," Noah said, wavering his cup up in a signal of goodbye.

Lucas nodded before walking out into the bitter cold and closing the door behind him. It was then he noticed his sobriety change. His peripheral vision was blurred, and he had a little trouble walking to his cabin. He walked slowly along the stoned path that lead to his cabin.

Crickets chirped in the dark of the night and an owl could be heard from the distance. It was a typical winter night.

When he reached the door, he inserted a key Noah gave him into the lock and turned the knob. The cabin was dark, except for a single lit candle that sat in the hallway between two rooms. The main room shared the likes between a kitchen and a living room. A TV sat near the window to the right of the room along with three green fabric couches that were neatly set to make a square around the TV. A polished wooden table sat clear in the middle. To his left, a dining table surrounded by polished wood countertops and cabinets. A wall separated the main room from a hallway where doors would lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom.

This would might as well have been a small house instead of a cabin.

He took off his shoes, setting them neatly by the door. He didn't bother to change into any comfortable clothes to sleep because he had none.

Lucas quietly sauntered into the hallway and reached for the knob to Amity's bedroom door.

He winced at the creaking sound the door made, and peaked his head around the corner of a red painted to wall to see if Amity shifted. She hadn't moved. She slept soundlessly and peacefully, the only movement made was the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

Lucas quietly moved forward until he was nearly inches away from his daughter. He smiled at the sight of her delicate face, her naturally pale skin had darkened under the sky of the night and her small body curled against the wool blanket in protection of the cold.

Lucas reached forward and gently moved a stray piece of hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"Good night, baby girl."

Wanted to end it on a somewhat peaceful note...? Honestly, it kinda' feels unfinished. I had writer's block, so I'm sorry to disappoint those who were expecting better.

Is Cooper going to completely shut down? Where's Raeann headed? What kind of work is Lucas going to be assigned to? Who the hell is this killer and is he going to be back? All questions will be answered soon enough, so be sure to watch out for the next couple of chapters.

Feedback is much appreciated!

Any questions, concerns, or ideas for your OCs, please PM me!