A/N: This is a short story idea that I have had for a while now. At the most it will be two or three chapters and is my take on a zombie apocalypse. Though I avoid using the word Zombie as a way to sort of feel original though not really I guess. On with the show.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, sadness.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Mexican ;p

(Friday, May 14th, 2021)

Racing through the back alleys and narrow corridors in the once bustling city of Los Angeles, Hiccup spared what few precious seconds he had and glanced back. Those precious few seconds felt like an eternity had gone by when he remembered Astrid wasn't right behind him.

"Shit." Hiccup huffed to himself as he took a sharp turn toward the main road.

Taking cover behind a dumpster Hiccup inched his way around the dumpster to scope out the scene. He didn't know what he was expecting, maybe just the tiny bit of hope that he refused to let go of told that just maybe the street would be empty. Reality loved coming round and smacking him in the face though and as softly as he could muster while inching back behind the dumpster, he sighed out despondently. The street was filled with Snatchers.

Snatchers, of all the ways the world could have come to an end it should be no surprise that humans were at the core of the issue. Trying to test some new Bioweapon, the Berserker Corporation had overlooked vital safety protocols in the name of progress and profit. No one knows for sure how it happened, all people know is that the date April 26th used to be associated with the Chernobyl disaster. Now it would be remembered, for the day the world ended.

It didn't take long for the Virus to spread. A massive explosion, caused by a safety oversight tossed the Virus high into the atmosphere, getting carried along Prevailing winds and swept across the United States. The public panicked, as anyone would and tried to flee the country before they could find out what the Virus did and before the country was sealed off. What fool's hysteria and panic make of a person.

The Snatcher Virus or SV swept across the Globe like tidal wave. Nothing stopped it, once it infected someone they were doomed. The Virus didn't stay in the atmosphere long, a blessing if it could be called that. Now the only way to get infected was by physical contact with someone that already had the Virus. Though getting that close to someone who has the Virus usually means you are already dead.

The Berserker Corp. succeeded in creating a new Bioweapon they just didn't bother telling anyone what it did to person or to animals. Once the SV got into your system a person has about one hour left to enjoy what little they can of their life. SV attacks the nervous system sending muscle spasms and seizure like convulsions through the victim. The victim's skin turns a sickly yellow and green, sores begin to open all over their body, eating away at the flesh. The Victim loses their mind and becomes a slave to the Virus with one single purpose, spread the Virus.

Now you would think that because the SV eats away at the muscle tissue that eventually a Snatcher wouldn't be able to walk, but the Virus is smart. It knows just when to stop so that the victim can be of use and be able to transfer it to the next unwillingly soul it comes across.

The name Snatcher caught on quickly and spread just as fast as the Virus. Victims under control of the SV no longer feel pain or much of anything for that matter. Since they don't feel pain, they can't tell when a muscle is pulled, or a bone is broken and as a result they can run and fight long after a normal person would have passed out from pain. Snatchers would do just what the name implies, come out of seemingly nowhere at inhuman speeds and snatch people away from each other, even if you were standing right next to them. The horrifying screams and garbled pleas for mercy from the victims always shocked onlookers, long enough for the other Snatchers to pick them off and send everyone into a frenzy, those that were left anyway.

Humanity is stubborn though, stubborn and violent. They fought back, of course they did, but they also fought with each other. Bandit groups soon formed killing and raiding those who had little or nothing to survive just so they could survive themselves. Survivor colonies formed people trying to band together to outlast the end of the world. Some colonies were more like cults than anything, others ran rampant with corruption, it was hard to tell which was worse.

Hiccup and Astrid had escaped from a colony that was a cult in disguise. When they tried to expose the leader, they were expelled and chased out. Now living among the streets and making temporary hide outs wherever they could and never staying in one place, they were just trying to escape the Los Angeles and get away from the massive population to the less populated areas of California.

Everything was going well, as well as it could be, they had been gathering supplies for the long journey and just getting ready to leave the abandoned sporting goods store. When the end of the world happens virtually over night things tend to get left behind in the panic. A bandit party stumbled on them and demanded their supplies in exchange for their lives. Hiccup and Astrid refused vehemently, a fight ensued and through all the racket no one heard the group of Snatchers enter the store until it was too late.

The bandits were snatched up, the speed and strength of the Snatchers ripping them off Hiccup and Astrid with such force that some of their arms were ripped off and clung to their clothes in a death grip. Peeling them off and making a run for it, the blood curdling screams and nightmare inducing howls was the anthem of their escape.

Bursting out of the store, the sound of gunfire, inhuman screams, coupled with blood, gore, and body parts strewn across the ground greeted them. The bandits inside had come with friends though most of them were in pieces now. Making a run for it before they could be spotted Hiccup and Astrid thought they had gotten away until a howl echoed by dozens more filled the air. Sparing a glance back they could see that a Snatcher had spotted them and alerted the others, now they were chasing them.

"Shit! Split up and meet back at the hideout. If one of us gets there first wait an hour, if the other isn't there by the end of that time, you know what to do." Hiccup shouted to Astrid.

"I'm not leaving without you Hiccup. You know the deal." Astrid shouted back.

"We go everywhere together, I know." Hiccup relented.

"Alright, I'll see you back at the hideout." Hiccup smiled at her.

Nodding in agreement they split up just as the road turned into a four-way intersection. This wasn't the first time they had to ditch a group of Snatchers and they had gotten rather good at it. Something was different about this group though. They seemed almost, smarter somehow. Cutting Hiccup off at certain points, forcing him to make up a new route on the fly, he could hear them used different types of screams and howls, like they were communicating. Hiccup's heart rate and his fear went through the roof, he didn't know if he or Astrid would make it now.

That was three hours ago. He had managed to ditch the Snatchers and got a few kills as well; specks of blood dotted his clothes but nothing serious was seen after a quick once over. He would have to take a closer look back at the hideout and after his adrenaline wore off. Now all he had to do was sneak across the street to their hideout on the third floor of the office building across the street, meet up with Astrid, he should know by now that she won't leave without him, and get the hell out of here.

From his hiding place behind the dumpster Hiccup snuck a peak from out behind it again in order to formulate a plan. Pained groans came from behind him, eyes widened Hiccup slowly turned around to see what was coming down the alley. The groans became louder and louder, he could hear things getting kicked as they were stumbled over, a hand gripped the corner of the building and flexed its fingers. The color of the hand sent a paralyzing fear through Hiccup, if a Snatcher had wandered down this alley it was game over for him, where there was one Snatcher there was more.

The groans stopped for a moment and the softest of whispers met Hiccup's ears. It was so soft that Hiccup wasn't sure he actually heard it, until the voice repeated itself.

"Help me." It whispered.

"Who is there?" Hiccup whispered back.

The hand pulled on the wall and a man covered in bite marks appeared from around the corner. Hiccup's blood ran cold, this man was infected and would soon join the hordes of Snatchers.

"Get out of here man, I can't help you. Not anymore." Hiccup said in a resigned voice.

"You have to help me, please!" The man exclaimed, his voice rising with fear.

"Keep your voice down or you will kill us both." Hiccup shushed the man, keeping his voice low.

The man lunged forward grabbing Hiccup, pleading with his eyes for Hiccup to help. Hiccup could see in the man's eyes as the SV began to take hold, the blood vessels were changing color, his skin was turning, and muscle spasms began to take hold. There was only one thing that would help this man.

"I'm sorry sir." Hiccup whispered as he unsheathed his knife.

"NO!" The man screamed before a howl escaped from his throat.

Hiccup tried to push him off, but the man's grip remained firm. Hiccup thrusted his knife up into the man's chest as he pushed back against the frenzied struggle. The infected man started clawing and biting at Hiccup, his mind turning over to the SV. Hiccup used his knife as leverage and rolled to the side throwing the newly formed Snatcher into the wall. The sound alerted the Snatchers on the road and Hiccup knew he had to leave and fast.

Taking off down the alley Hiccup ran a few blocks over and peered out from behind a building to see that the Snatchers had abandoned the street to investigate the dying Snatcher. Taking advantage of the situation. Hiccup ran with all his might across the street and back tracked through the alleys to the officer building where his and Astrid's hideout was. Seeing that the fire escape ladder was hanging down Hiccup knew that Astrid must be there already and lowered it for him. climbing up as quickly and quietly as he could Hiccup raised the ladder and stepped through the window into the hideout.

Looking around he could see Astrid sitting against the wall and peering out the window to the street below. Finally able to breath a sigh of relief Hiccup allowed himself to relax, they had made.

"Astrid I'm so glad to see you. Come on we got to get everything packed up and ready to move. We don't have much time." Hiccup said softly as he began to pack supplies off the shelves.

Astrid had smiled and turned her head to look at Hiccup as he bounced around the hideout. Only for her smile to fade and her eyes to widen. She stood up and slowly walked over to Hiccup. She grabbed his arm gently stopping him from his frantic task.

"Astrid what is it? I'm glad to see you too but we have to get moving." Hiccup said with a hurried voice.

"Hiccup…look." Astrid whispered, resignation coating her voice.

Astrid lifted Hiccup's arm up and turned it so he could see the outer part of his forearm. Hiccup's eyes widened as his arm was slowly turned to reveal the perfect outline of a bite mark. Hiccup had been infected with the SV.

A/N: So did I forget to mention that there will be major character death in this? Sorry if that is not your cup of tea but I wanted to do something a little different here. Don't hate me too much, chapter two going up next Friday. I'll be hiding out until then, please leave a review so I can see when it is safe to come out.

Published 07/16/2021