Julie P.O.V.

I feel like a total coward but I can't stay with R anymore. He ate Perry!

I know that it isn't his fault, it's not like he can help it, but I don't know how I can face him again. Things will be awkward beyond repair now, so it's probably best that I leave. Besides, Nora and my dad are probably worried sick about me.

I looked over at R lying on the floor, eyes closed, and wondered whether or not I should say goodbye to him before I leave. Part of me, a very big part, didn't want to leave at all. This part wanted me to say goodbye, in hopes that he would convince me to stay. One look into those beautiful steely grey eyes is all it would take and I knew it. So I did what I thought was best. I decided to disappear.

I put on my now dry clothes and quietly slipped out onto the street, gun in hand. It was a ghost town, the only people currently inhabiting it being myself and R, so why I was armed and acutely aware of my surroundings I didn't know.

I paced the sidewalk, unsure of my next move. Every fiber of my being wanted to turn around, go back into the house, and curl up in bed again. But I couldn't do that…could I?

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a shriek and felt something collide with me, snapping me back to reality. I looked at my attacker and realized that it was a zombie. I cussed under my breath. This was just perfect.

I tried to wriggle free of her grasp to no avail and raised my gun as much as I could, trying to aim for her head. Unfortunately, I could only raise my gun enough to aim at her stomach. I pulled the trigger anyway, firing a bullet into her stomach, and causing her to stumble backwards temporarily. I used her temporary disorientation to my advantage, raising my gun, aiming it at her head. I was ready to fire when she lunged at me again, pinning me to the ground. I was trapped. I wanted to shoot her, but during the collision, I had dropped my gun. I wriggled defenselessly under the dead weight of the zombie, incapable of defending myself. This was it.

R P.O.V.

I had to tell Julie!

I looked over at the bed, expecting to see her still curled up, fast asleep, but instead I saw an empty bed, sheets crumpled and tossed to the side. Where was she? Where did she go?

In a panic, I got up and stumbled around the house trying to find her. When I had searched the whole house, I went outside as quickly as I could to continue my search. It was then that I noticed Julie in a struggle with one of us, the personal trainer from the airport, and her gun a few feet away from her. She needed help and fast! I stumbled as quickly as my feet would carry me. I had to get to Julie, to save her before…

Julie P.O.V.

The zombie grabbed my wrist and bit down into my flesh, causing me to scream in pain. Why I screamed I didn't know. The place was deserted and nobody would hear my cries anyway. Except maybe R.

R. The only guy, zombie or otherwise, who has ever made me feel truly protected and safe. I remembered the day I first met him. I had found it weird that he had saved me, had not eaten me, but there was something about him that was just so…genuine and endearing. I remembered his eyes, pleading with me not to go, when I had tried to escape from the airport, and how he had placed his hand on my chest above my heart to show his sympathy for my unhappiness. I wished he was here now…

R P.O.V.

I was torn from my internal monologue upon hearing Julie scream. I ran closer to where she was now sprawled out on the pavement and could see teeth marks on her wrist. She had been bitten. What was I supposed to do now? If I don't get rid of the intruder she'll eat Julie's brains and I'll lose her forever, but if I was to get rid of her, Julie would turn into a monster like me. It's really a lose-lose situation but for me, the choice was an easy one.

I picked up Julie's gun, aiming it at the zombie's head from behind and with some difficulty, pulled the trigger. I saw the zombie go limp and caught her before she could collapse on top of Julie, laying her on the pavement. I hated being the one to take her life, but I knew I had no choice. I dropped to my knees at Julie's side and grabbed her hand. She looked terrified.

"It's ok. I'm h-here. Keep you s-safe" I encouraged, squeezing her hand.

She smiled at me, tears falling down her cheeks. I couldn't help but smile back and gaze into her blue eyes which almost immediately changed to a steely grey colour.

The transformation had begun.