The city was far behind me and I was roaming in the nearby forest. The naked trees did not provide any shelter and I just couldn't cover up my footprints which became visible in the snow. The first two days went by without any action. It got a bit distressing that nothing happens. Of course, I did not fall for it.

If not the silencer, the frost kills me. I was shivering in my sleeping bag, but I could not set fire.

On the third day, I woke up for a terrible headache. My stomach was growling, like a wild animal. It was clearly a wakeup call for all my enemies.

And I had thought before that I will be okay without food for a week. Of course not...since nobody informed my abdomen nor my tenant about it.

If I starve, my tenant does as well.

I tried not to think of it. There is no point in attaching to something that is not yours in the end.

Hunger was not the worst feeling that I had, thirst is much worse, worse than summer time. Empty bottles everywhere, but I had the other option, snow.

The temptation was great and I had moments that I stuffed it in my mouth till I entirely froze. I was worried about getting pneumonia if I continue this; it was very hard to stop. In these weak moments, I was just like a toddler, nothing close to a grown woman. I was very far from an sensible grown-up.

A sensible grown-up does not just fall in love with the enemy.

After a long march, I was getting out of the forest, when I spotted a little town.

It gave me a little headache.

Giving a chance to this place was far too dangerous, but I had no other chance, just like before.

It took me half a day to approach it.

Typical suburb area with boring and lifeless parts. If I manage to refill my ammunitions, I will have no word against this, after all.

The closer I got, the more paranoid I became and I was constantly ready to escape.

Houses were totally deserted and everything was covered with car wrecks. But it was still cleaner than a bigger city.

That was a bit disturbing. Of course, it is the best place to look for a shelter, because it attracts fewer visitors.

It was snowing heavily, which provided a better shelter than the clear sky, yet it was just perfect weather to be hunted down.

Almost night time and I still couldn't find any night shelter or food. I also suffered from strong headache and nausea.

I was so deep into desperation that I failed to see the person standing at the end of the street.

30 meters away from me, staring right at me in total silence.

I was constantly prepared till this point, but now I stood there empty-headed.

If I run, he kills me. If I stay, he kills me.

It cannot be a simple man, because in that way, he must be dead by now. I had no weapons in his hands. As I was thinking silently, he made a decision.

He set off towards me.

He was not particularly in a hurry, just took slow steps. His face was radiant from calmness, like he has nothing to lose.

Damn.

-Hi! -he said, when he was just some meters away from me.
-Hi! -I replied inconveniently. Then he started to smile, which made things worse.

-What brought you here? -he looked at me with curious eyes. This is not the question I expected. It did not fit the situation.

I truly wanted to shout in his face. It is the end of the world and he is walking out here totally cool in a deserted residential community place. It did not match.

- Don't you feel cold? - I replied. I did not even focus on the fact that he only wore a long-sleeved pullover. I took a look at him and started to shiver.

He started to laugh.

- No way, this is the best weather ever.

- If you say so - I noted. - I do not feel so warm.

- Well...you can join me. We will be safe at my place and I can give you some food as well. You must be very hungry. But don't be afraid, I am a decent man.

Yepp, looks like poor innocence.

As I carefully assessed my situation, I was sure that it was a trap. A man does not behave like this. They rather shoot a moving target, no matter it is friend or foe. It is easier to contemplate over a dead body.

He was too friendly, way too friendly. He did not convince me with that.

- I do not even know my name. - I desperately tried to gain some time to come up with an idea, when I was blown away by his pleasant odour. It was nothing like a wild animal hiding and escaping. On the other hand, I was 100% stinky and dirty. In contrast, he was unexceptionally tidy.

- Riley. Riley Turner - he answered.

Very attractive, like an angel on Earth. The melting snow tinted hid hair and his eyes were hazel-like - from the prettier type. I was wondering why it does not match. He has no weapon - okay, there are some who are capable of killing people without a gun. I saw it with my own eyes in Wonderland.

- I am Hailey - I whispered.
- This is great! Now we know each other and you don't have to worry! - he kept trying.

He used such tone that it was more than clear that I do have to worry.

- I might accept the invitation today, but I need to set off tomorrow.

This was rather begging than a clear statement of my intentions.

- Of course, Hailey - he smiled at me. - I am very glad that I'll have somebody to talk to, because it was so boring alone. Nobody crossed my path for weeks - he complained, while we walked back to his 'shelter'.

- You are lucky that I was around here.

I tried to relieve stress with my sense of humour, but it did not work well. I was too terrified and he took my words very seriously.

-Luck indeed. You cannot imagine how boring it is to be alone all day. I really like to have conversations and I am also good at listening. - he tried to convince me, while he was constantly keeping the eye contact.

- Tell me something about yourself!

- What are you interested in?

- Just the usual things I would ask from every survivor - I answered in a wondering way. - How did you survive the attacks?

- We are here! - He pointed to a house in front of us. He did not even hear my question and he also followed me tightly.

- The door is open, just enter! - he ordered me and I obeyed.

As soon as we entered, he locked to door - and put the keys in his pocket as he invited me inside.

The fire was burning widely in the fireplace, but I was still shivering.

- Sit down! - he pointed at the sofa.

- Can I get some drink?
- Of course. What would you like to drink? - he used his kind and pleasant voice again, but I did not care at all. He locked me in his apartment and acted like a crazy. Maybe he was one.

- The water will do, I know that there not much to choose these times - and you yet not answered my question. You said yourself that you liked to talk - I reminded him.

- Yeah, that's right! - he admitted and handed over a cup of water.

- Get comfy Hailey, you can have no harm here!
When saying out the last words, he started to smile like a psychopath. I did not dare to move even a little.

- See how lame little lie it is? You can have no harm, everything will be okay. Only fools believe it, but everyone did.

- Like I did...
- Yeah, you as well - he added.

- How did I survive the attacks? - he asked back. - It was quite hard.

He started to get into a long story as he was walking up and down in the room.

- It was hard to wake up and even harder to pretend that I am something that I am really not. But it was not hard to kill my family and everyone else, who survived the virus.

He was so objective, without any feelings in his voice, that I was horrified.

- After I cleaned the area and everything became very boring. I did not have anything to do, but cleaning up those unfortunate ones, who crossed this area. But it is not enough.

- How many people did you kill, Riley? - I asked reluctantly.
- I don't know exactly. After a certain amount, there is no point in counting - he answered happily.

- Will you kill me as well?

- Yeah - he answered without hesitation, then he sat next to me. - But not now. I want to know all your secrets first.

- I may not want to answer every question - I whispered.

- Don't worry, sooner or later, you will not be able to hide your secrets. I have my methods to make other people talk. And we also have all the time of the world.

I started to cry like a child, which he accepted with a satisfied smile.

He was really like an angel. An angel from hell.