Chapter 1
PROLOGUE
The first attack happened in 2014. When the news still used words like “containment” and “temporary”.
I was fifteen when the first attack happened. Too young to save anyone. Old enough to run and survive on my own.
The world used to be a safe space for human life to exist. There’s still human life but, it’s in the verge of extinction.
It’s lost in the waves of growls and screams of those who wouldn’t survive in this world. People brought knives and guns to actually survive this world that collapses in between our hands.
“I’m such a coward”
Tears run down my cheeks. I saw my best friend cover for me.
“Go” he says “Don’t think about me”
I look back. He was a great guy, he didn’t deserve it. I deserve to die and not him.
I stopped and look back one more time, I saw a glimpse of him got bitten by this stupid, fucking creature.
I looked away and run.
Regretted the second I ran away from him because he’s always there for me, he used to call my name like it mattered. Like saying Trevor meant I was still alive. He’s the only one I have as a family and my parents died during the first attack in 2014.
Now, I’m truly alone....
That decision I made three years ago, was the worst decision I ever made, living him suffer alone. I can’t change the past.
That nightmare never left my mind and it was a constant reminder of how much of a coward I am.
Three years later...
New York City, 2017.
Chapter 1
I’m eighteen now, three years of running and moving constantly has carved the kid out of me, leaving something fragile behind.
The world made sure that I grew up faster than I’m supposed to.
I have to teach myself how to use the bow, I found it in a nearby apartment. The tenants died out of hunger and it was just bone that still visible from them.
The city that never sleeps is finally asleep, the city is clearly abandoned and unkempt. Wild bushes grow everywhere, car abandoned in the street of New York, and glass from the old building scattered across the ground.
CRUNCH....
I slowly turned my head and locked eye contact with the Runner. I quickly grabbed my arrow from the bag on my shoulders
I pulled the string tight
I aim for its head.
I have to hit it before it runs.
Seconds counted. I waited too long, and it ran towards me.
I missed it....
I froze and this never happened to me before.
I tell myself to move. To stop freezing. Come on, Trevor. Don’t do this again. You’re better than this man.
It runs really fast and I got jumped by the Runner.
I hold its head up so, I didn’t get bit by the Runner.
I reach down my pants to get the knife....
Stab it on its head....
Again on its neck....
SHRIEK......
and it dies on top of me.
I removed its body and I lay down on the asphalt.
I cried, my second almost death moment after that three years. I nearly died.
“Don’t” a voice said.
Hesitant but, not loud enough to attract zombies.
My breath catches....
“Don’t move” the voice said, a bit firmer now.
I felt something cold being pressed against the back of my head.
“Okay,” I said carefully. “I’ll put my bow down. You put your weapon down too.”
Whoever is behind me isn’t lowering their weapon.
I kept my eyes forward, towards the window of the building in front of me.
In the reflection....
I noticed that the voice was from a girl. Young. Her hands were shaking. The weapon still raised.
“I’ll go away,” I said calmly. “Just... lower your weapon.”
“I’m not a threat,” I added, steadying my voice. “My name’s Trevor.”
“Mack, what are you doing?”
Another voice — male, a little older.
Maybe my age.
I didn’t move.
His voice was calm, low.
“Mack, let me handle him.”
I still felt the weapon pressed against my skull.
“Hold still,” Mack said, firmly.
Then, the guy stepped into my line of sight.
“This area is watched,” he said “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t say anything.
“That’s what I thought,” Mack said, pressing the weapon harder against my skull.
My jaw clenched. One wrong move and this could be it. I’m done.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, hesitantly. “Runners aren’t the worst thing here”
Mack’s grip tightened.
“Don’t talk,” she whispered.
Then I heard it.
A low, gurgling growl rolled through the streets of New York.
Not loud.
Not human.
“What’s that?” I whispered.
Mack shushed me. “You’ll see.”
Then, I saw them.
Shadows moving in the distance.
All heading south.
Toward Central Park.
Toward the sound.
Regular zombies.
Runners.
That voice was calling them.
“Jenkin, what should we do?” Mack asked, her hand still tight on her weapon.
“We should go,”his eyes flicking toward the crowd of zombies.
“We... you mean.... him too?” Mack asked, confused, glancing between Jenkin and me.
“Don’t be like that, little girl.” Jenkin said, looking at her playfully.
Mack scowled, her eyebrows lowering. “I’m not a little girl!”
“Sure you’re not,” Jenkin teased, giving her a light nudge.
His gaze lingered on me for a long moment, unreadable. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah. He’s coming with us—for now.”
Two Runners noticed us and started charging towards us.
One of them leapt towards Mack.
She went down hard, the Runner landing on top of her.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
I pulled out my knife. Plunged it into the creature’s head. Over and over.
Jenkin dealt with the other Runner with swift, practiced moves.
“Let’s go,” he demanded, urgency in his voice.
We all just ran.
Finally, I found another human being after three years of surviving alone. My chest tightened — hope and fear twisting together.
I don’t know where they were taking me,
but I followed anyway.
