The sun's rays and the cold air wake me up. Still inside the van, laying on my back. I prop myself on my elbow, forgetting that there are 2 raiders in the front seats. But judging by the city noise outside, I'm guessing that I won't need them. I swiftly stab their necks with a knife I found to loot their corpses. The bags and supplies in the van would last me for about a month. But a week is all I need to save Clara and kill Edmund. Yet I still don't even know where I am. A small town, filled with people and the streets lined with shops. It all seems very melancholy, as I can't spot a well built house anywhere. Shacks made out of metal, wood and fences is what I can see from the van's window. "I'm not here for sight-seeing," I think stupidly as I put on the raiders bag. "I'm in a hurry." With caution, I open the van door with the bodies under the seats. I walk outside and join the crowd, looking suspicious as the blood stains my clothes. Where on Earth could I find Clara? Only those who trade for slaves would know. The commotion outside makes it hard for me to concentrate, combined with the headache from Edmund. I curiously peep over the crowd and gasp at the sight of people getting sold.

"All right, all right," the trader yells. "We got some fine deals today. 50 for the man to my right. And 100 for the young girl to my left.

No.

Its Clara.

Her face peeps up, and her eyes lock with mine. Suddenly, my heart skips a beat. The look on her face..astonished..desperate. Its all I can see before she gets dragged away by the neck. I don't divert her gaze, running towards her while pushing the crowd away from me.

"Clara!," I scream desperately.

"Kev-agg!"

I can barely hear her gagged cry for help beneath the wild cheers of the crowd. What was a simple scream turns into a loud, shout for my loved one.

"CLARA!," I scream with my arm outstretched towards her.

"Stop," a security guard says. "Only slaves and personnel are permitted beyond this point."

In one motion, I stab the guard in the neck and run towards Clara. My eyes start to water as three more guards wrestle me to the ground. Everything now seems like a blur. Like I want to die. But instead i rip the guards off of me and start running to no-where. What I can see through my blurred vision is a forest surrounded by signs that I can't quite read. But I don't care anymore. What's the point if Clara's not around?
Clara...
Al this time I've been running away from her..
But why now? I don't have the energy or the strength to rescue Clara.

Thump!

i run into a zombie that I proceed to stab multiple times to relieve my anger. I collapse onto the forest floor along with the zombie and start crying. A mixture of blood, sweat and more blood start pouring the ground, with some tears as well. I wish Clara was here. None of this would've happened if this wasn't for me.

"Clara...," I cry on the ground. "Where are you...?"

"Mei...where are you?"

I continue to walk with the gag on my mouth. He must have put it on after he saw me crying out for Mei. I don't know what to do anymore. I saw Mei get beaten to the ground, right before we parted. Which is why I need to save him. I strangle the guard using the handcuff chains while ramming him into another guard. The man chokes and gags for air, before he slowly starts to die. I strip him of his keys and gun, un-handcuff myself and start running with my gun in hand.

"What the-"

The mans words gets reduced to a cough, thanks to the work of my knife. I drag him around the corner and make my way towards the exit. And for once, I see daylight, blinding my vision for a second. No more distractions. Lets find Mei.

I sneak around the crowd and into the forest. This, I think, was where Mei ran off to, screaming for me. A forest, in a ruined town, in the apocalypse. What a place for two children. I spot blood trails towards the path, probably the work of Mei. As I get closer, I hear crying and sniffing getting louder as I walk.
Oh no.
Mei is crying and sweating, leaned against a tree while pulling the trigger on an empty gun. Towards him.

"MEI!," I yell happily while hugging him.

"Leave me alone!," Mei screams. "Whats the point of living anymore?"

"Mei...its me..Clara," I say while holding him.

"Clara, Pearl, Ivan..I've lost so many people...it's my fault now..," he cries as he pulls his hair.

"Mei," I say. "Can you please look at me?"

He looks up and I kiss him passionately.

"W-Who are you?," he stutters as he breaks away from the kiss.

"I'm Clara," I say. "Who are you?"

"I'm...I'm..I don't know," Mei says. "I feel like I lost someone today. A close companion."

"Who did you lose?," I ask.

"Clara..Pearl..who knows anymore."

"Maybe he's been hit in the head," I think.

"Come on, let's get you to a safe place," I say as I help him to his feet.

"Thanks, but who are you?," Mei says.

"I'm Clara, and you're Mei."