Chapter 1 - New World, New Faces

It was only a matter of time before we had to evacuate that run down town. The acid rain was taking its toll on the buildings and not to mention the 20 missing people in the last month alone. A group of almost 200 people went east to try and reach New Charlotte, but there's a high chance they wont make it. The terrain is too broken up to cross by foot. That's why dad told us to head south instead to try and reach New Atlanta. If only he was here with us.

"Ejay you feeling alright?"

"Never better. We should be getting close now right mom?"

"Yeah we should be able to see the settlement soon. Hopefully they got our message and are waiting for us." Mom replied.

Maybe it's a good thing the others decided to go elsewhere. To many mouths to feed and they might not accept us in. Out of our group of 40 only 4 of us are under twenty years old, meaning they will probably see the majority of us as capable workers. Mom and the other adults are going to have to prove their usefulness to stay in the city. As for my brother and I...

"Ejay, mom, look. We're here"

"Lj you ready? I hear this city has over 12,000 people living here."

"Doesn't matter to me how much people are here. If they cant make me better then they're a distraction."

"Hmph, all I care for right now is some shelter. We've been walking for days without end." I responded.

"You're just lazy. At this rate you'll never become a searcher."

Apparently larger cities have certain people that leave the city on their own. These people explore abandoned cities, landmarks and are even trained to kill the infected. These people go by "searchers" and that's what my brother Lj strives to become. His goal is to kill as many of the infected as possible before he dies. He has his motives but me however, it was one of the last things my dad told me to do before leaving. He left the town five months ago in search of something and hasn't returned. I feel as if he wants me to find him.

When we arrived to the main entrance we were greeted by six heavily armed men. One of which introduced himself as Captain Nash.

"Good day everyone I am Andrew Nash the captain of the city's guard unit and its nice to see you all made it here unharmed. I thought there were more of you living out there though."

"Yes there were," my mom replied. "but there was a small disagreement and the others chose to go elsewhere."

"Hopefully they're safe wherever they're going." Nash responded. "Now we do need to have a full body and equipment check so let's get this done quickly. We're going to do those that are under 18 first, after we're done they will follow Lieutenant Smith into the city to get registered in. Don't worry they wont be away from you all for long, adults will be right after them as soon as the search is done."

"Ejay, Lj, watch out for each other until we're done." My mom said as we walked off through the gate.

The other two with us was a quiet girl named Khiara and a not so quiet, overly carefree guy named Akiel. Honestly I don't think he understands how grey the fate of humanity is. Or maybe he does, and that's why he doesn't care about anything.

In the city was a lot busier than I had imagined. From buildings being fortified to kids playing on a park. I wonder if some people have just accepted this as normality.

"So Lt. Smith what type of training does one have to do to become a searcher?" Lj asked breaking the groups silence.

"A searcher huh, seems like your more than well prepared to die early." Replied the Lieutenant.

"And so what if I am? I didn't ask you that, I asked how do I become a one."

"Alright kid listen. Every month they appoint about 20 new searchers. On average only 6 out of that 20 live to see the following month. So unless you really are looking to become another number in the statistics, try help out some other way."

"November 1st is day after tomorrow." Says Lj with a grin. "Ejay we could be on the move by December."

"One month is gonna blow by faster than we think." I replied "But of course I'm not letting you do this on your own."

"Something is wrong with you kids." Exclaimed the lieutenant.

After we got registered me, Lj, Khiara and Keily were told to check out the school. The school has to one of the largest buildings in the city. Its divided into different sections but the only section we were interested in is the "specialist section". In this section is where we could find people our age training to become searchers, guards, analyst and several other unique professions.

"So Khiara, I doubt being a searcher is something your interested in. What are you gonna do here?" I asked.

"Well I don't think I'm cut out for any type of specialist. I might just pursue something regular to do in the city" She replied.

"This city is only going to be here for so much longer." Keily exclaimed." Why contribute to something that wont exist soon."

"You should watch what your saying before someone in this city knock your head off your shoulders." Said some girl listening to us.

"I wanna see someone try it." Replied Keily. "Who even are you?"

"Call me the girl that's gonna knock your head off if you keep talking 'bout my home."

"Alright alright calm down." I said as I jumped in. "He doesn't mean any bad intentions I'm sure. Could I ask what your name is?"

"Angie Nash" she says while still staring down Keily.

"Nash as in the captain of the guards?" Khiara asked.

"Yeah that's my dad, why?"

As soon as she asked a haunting siren began to wail through the city. Echoing through the streets and buildings causing everyone to freeze. As soon as everybody froze two seconds later they all began running for shelter.

"What's the siren for!?" Lj asked trying to speak over it.

"That's the siren for an approaching sandstorm!" Replied Angie also yelling. "We need to get in shelter now! Come, inside the school!"

I haven't seen a sandstorm since I was 6. The town we were in was far enough from the closest desert that we didn't had to worry about them. And any that made it that far were pretty small. I guess it's different here. As we're running through the halls people are closing and concealing windows. Adults are directing kids to the center of the building and some are yelling "West side, west side!"

"Don't get lost stay close, I'm taking you newbies to meet some of the others!" Yelled Angie as she sprints through the halls.

We turned a corner where people were still closing windows and I just happened to get a glance of the outside. I stood frozen, staring. A wall of dust completely covering the sky and stretching so far off on both sides that I couldn't see the end. I was shocked watching this beast consuming everything in front of it and it's coming directly our way.