I open my eyes to blinding light. I blink furiously, trying to clear my vision. Finally the white clears and I realise I'm not in the hospital. I'm at home.

I'm back in my perfect room in our old house in the suburbs. White walls with a hint of blue. I stand up and look at my vintage-style white metal-frame bed with the small blue fairy lights strung round the ends. Yes. I was home. A large grin spreads over my face.

"Mum! Dad! Tim!" I turn and run along the landing and go into Tim's room. Perfect shade of green with cars dotted around. But no Tim. "Mum? Dad?" I walk into Mum and Dads' study. Empty, dust covers the wood and shelves. I continue my sweep of the upstairs. My parent's room is untouched and looks like it hasn't been slept in in weeks. I decide to search downstairs but it's much the same. Empty, a thin layer of dust covering the surfaces. I lean against the counter in the kitchen and stare straight ahead of me. Something is wrong. But what? I drum my fingers on the granite surface as I think. Then it slaps me in the face. Every window is boarded up. But where was the light coming from? Every light was off. I experiment by flicking a switch. Nothing happens. I huff out a breath and try and figure out what the hell is going on.

Growl

I freeze. I can handle suddenly appearing in my house. I can handle the entire house being empty and that it seems empty for weeks. I can even handle the mysterious light that shouldn't exist. But the thing I can't handle is that growl and the stomach churning fact that we don't have an animal. I run towards my only option. The front door. I rip it open to a searing hot sun. I shield my eyes. I gaze around. The street is full. Shadows and figures slump around in the glare. But their not alive.

I gasp. The small amount of air makes a noise that can only be compared to a small mouse squeaking, but it's enough. Each of the deads' head snaps round and they begin to charge. I have the urge to scream, but I swallow it and turn back and slam the door. I sprint upstairs. My panic turns my legs to jelly and walking becomes difficult, never mind sprinting but I manage to stumble into my room, barricading the door. I back away until I hit my head on the wall. I slide down to the floor as I watch the door begins to jump. I shake uncontrollably as the growls get louder and louder. At a desperate thump the door comes off it's top hinge. I close my eyes.

"Please." A larger thump makes me cry in fear. "Please. Please. I don't want to die." I'm on the floor now, eyes still shut, fear still shaking through my entire body. I continue my mad whispers and curl into the ball as the door is smashed in and a bony hand comes round my arm.


"Abbey?" I scream and push away, falling off the bed as I do so. I ignore the throbbing and push along the slippery tiles on my hands. No. I don't trust them. I can't trust them. Fiona casts a wary look to Alex. He walks forward.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I shriek and try and get up. I push up on my legs and then fall straight back down again. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" I'm still screaming and I can feel my voice cracking.

"Nothing. We haven't touched you." Alex backs away.

"You killed him." I hiss at him. "He was all I had left and you fucking killed him." I'm crying into the floor now, unable to get up. Fiona comes over and helps me up but I'm too weak to resist. She rests be back onto the bed and I just stare at the ceiling.

"Rest. We'll be back in an hour or so." I don't respond. I simply close my eyes and pretend to be dead. After a while I feel numb. I can't feel anything, not the pain in my joints, the emptiness in my stomach, not even the sheets beneath me. All I can do is hear.

"How did you know what it was?" It's Fiona's voice, lowered but not low enough.

"I recognised the colour. It's a type of cleaning fluid that's been banned almost everywhere for a while now. It was used in research centres everywhere to disinfect surfaces and instruments. It kills everything. Any virus, bacteria, good or bad, one drop of that stuff kills it all. Then the health problems became apparent, people losing their skin because of the toxins. So it was banned. I thought it would work to kill the virus. His heart was beating so fast it would be in his blood stream in a matter of seconds but his body was too weak to handle it."

"So you know it'll work on Abbey?" I tense at my name.

"I think. But after what just happened I'm not so sure. She didn't know who we were, she was calling out for her parents, wondering around. Then she screams and runs back and then suddenly she knows who we are again."

"I think we better ask her." What? Did I black out or something? Was I sleep walking?

"On the other hand. I've seen this happen before. I think we should just go ahead with it." No. Definitely not, and what did he mean? 'I've seen this happen before?' He couldn't be talking about Dad, so who?

"I guess you're right. I mean she couldn't even stand and I don't like the colour her skin is going. She could change." No. I'm not going to change.

"I'll get the syringe then."

"I think it's for the best."

"No." I sit up and stare at them. Their just opposite me, sat around a small table. "You can't..." I can barely talk. They glance at each other. "Please. Can you just help..." I fall back. My eyes seal shut. I can't move. I can't speak. I'm just encased in black. Muffled voices try and break through but I can't hear.

"Abbey? Can you hear me?" I try and reply but nothing happens.

"I'm going to have to get it. I don't think there's another option." No. Please no. Not like this. I don't want to go like this. Trapped, alone in the dark. Is this how Dad felt when I grabbed the syringe and passed it to Alex?

"Shit get something to hold her down. She's thrashing so much I can't hold her myself." If I was thrashing I couldn't feel it. I was still for all I knew. I try and make one desperate leap, like that first day back in the hotel before I was nearly shot. Nothing happens. As I feel a small stab in my wrist I realise. There's nothing I can do to stop it. I'm going to die.