(Season 2) Chapter 1 (Not safe)

Chapter 1: Not Safe

Ethan Warren

March, 2023

10 months after outbreak

Minnesota

Season 2

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There are too many of them!" Khai yelled, "And there's still more coming!" We were surrounded by the dead. Fighting for our lives to protect this home. But there were too many. We were low on ammo, people, and hope.

"Amy!" Leah yelled as complete fear filled her voice. Khai, Amy, Leah, Dallen, and Rudi all fought on the front lawn, but now Amy was bit and Leah was crying. The situation was dire, and despair began to consume us. The relentless horde of zombies seemed unstoppable, and our chances of survival were dwindling rapidly. I didn't want to give up; I didn't want us to lose this place, but I couldn't just stand here on the roof and let everyone else die.

"Come on, Leah, we have to get inside," Dallen said as he tried to pull her to her feet. Leah resisted, her sobs growing louder as she clung to Amy's lifeless body. Dallen's urgency was understandable, but the overwhelming grief paralyzed Leah, making it difficult for her to move. The weight of our desperate situation hung heavy in the air, and time was running out.

"But what about Amy?" Leah choked out between sobs, her voice filled with anguish. Dallen's grip tightened on her arm as he looked at Amy's lifeless body, his own eyes welling up with tears. "We can't save her now," he whispered, his voice cracking.

With tears in her eyes and the dead right behind her, Leah put a gun to her sister's head. Leah's heart shattered as she pulled the trigger, knowing that it was the only way to spare Amy from further pain.

They all got back inside, and Aiden, Lucas, and I got down from the rooftop. They all turned to me for answers, but I didn't have any. I stood there, my mind blank and my heart heavy with grief. The weight of their expectant gazes only added to the overwhelming sense of helplessness that consumed me. I wished I could offer them some solace or explanation, but in that moment, all I could do was share in their sorrow and silently mourn the loss of our dear friend.

"We have to get out of here," Khai said. "We can't stay here."

"And how do you suppose we leave?" Aiden asked with a blank expression.

"We fight our way out," Leah suggested, tears drying on her face. Dallen comforted her; he held her close so she wouldn't do anything she might regret. She didn't turn to me for reassurance; I know she blames me for Amy's death. I blame myself too.

"Pack your bags and get as much as you can. We leave before they start breaking the doors down." I said as I stared at the floor, I couldn't bring myself to look at the people I'd failed yet again.

Everyone but Dallen and Leah got to work almost immediately. They packed everything they could. Now it was time for the hard part.

"Stay together, kill anything in our way, and most importantly, don't get bit. I said that last thing while looking directly at Leah, who just looked away as hatred filled her tired eyes. I knew Leah blamed me for the situation we were in, and her resentment was palpable. But there was no time to dwell on it. We had to focus on survival and finding a way out of this nightmare.

I opened the door while looking the dead in the eyes. Khai killed the first one who stepped foot into our former home. We stayed by each other's sides. We made a path through the dead and ran as quickly as we could after we got past the hoard. Adrenaline surged through my veins as we sprinted through the desolate streets, our hearts pounding in our chests. The sound of growls and moans echoed behind us, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked just inches away.

We were homeless yet again—eight kids with nothing more than a high school education, an asshole who could turn on us at any second, a pregnant woman who was now nine months in, and someone who's never said a word to me.

We used to have everything; now we have nothing, and as I stared at the road as we drove to God knows where, I cried. The tears streamed down my face, mixing with the dirt and grime that covered my cheeks. It felt like a cruel joke, the way life had stripped away everything we once held dear. But amidst the despair, a flicker of determination ignited within me. I vowed to fight for a better future for myself and for this makeshift family.