The Last Hope

Chapter Four: The Last Hope

Anna held the baseball bat tightly, her knuckles white with the pressure. Her eyes were red from crying, her body trembling with fear as the door continued to bang and shake violently. Her heart raced, the sound of pounding fists against the door echoing in her ears.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shut out the reality of what was happening. It felt like a nightmare—a nightmare that wouldn't end. A nightmare she was going to stock in forever.

Bang.

The door rattled again, even harder this time. Anna staggered back, her breath catching in her throat. Her entire body screamed in panic. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. All she could do was hold the bat and hope that somehow, she would be able to survive.

The door creaked as it slowly pushed open, revealing the face of her mother standing on the other side.

Anna froze.

Her mother's eyes were black—completely black. Her face was contorted into a look of horror, a twisted version of the woman Anna had known and loved for so many years. Her lips pulled back in a grotesque snarl, and her body moved toward Anna in jerky, unnatural motions.

"Mom?" Anna whispered, her voice cracking with disbelief. She reached out slowly, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. "Are you okay?"

But the response that came was anything but comforting.

Her mother didn't speak. Instead, she let out a low, guttural growl and charged at Anna with terrifying speed. Anna barely had time to react, but she instinctively swung the bat at her mother.

The force of the hit sent her mother tumbling down the stairs, her body rolling and crashing to the floor with a sickening thud. Anna stood there, stunned, breathing heavily. She could hardly believe what had just happened.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then, her mother slowly got up, her body stiff and unnatural as she faced Anna. Her eyes were still black, her mouth twisted into that same terrifying snarl.

Anna could barely stand to look at her anymore.

Her mother ran again, but Anna was ready this time. She raised the bat and swung it with all her strength, hitting her mother over and over again, refusing to stop until her mother fell motionless to the floor.

Anna's heart pounded in her chest, and tears streamed down her face as she collapsed beside her mother. She sat there for what felt like hours, sobbing uncontrollably.

What had happened to her mother? What has happened to the world? What is really going on?

---

The house was empty now. Her mother was gone.

Anna wiped the tears from her face, though the sadness still gripped her heart. The silence in the house was deafening. There was no food, no safety, nothing left but the remnants of the life she had known. She couldn't stay here forever. She had to leave. She had to find food.

But before she could do anything, she needed to gather herself.

She made her way to the bathroom, the cool tiles underfoot offering little comfort. She looked into the mirror, her red-rimmed eyes staring back at her. The reflection of a girl who no longer recognized herself stared back. Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and her face was pale from the trauma she had endured.

She didn't have time to mourn. Not yet.

With a shaky breath, Anna stripped off her clothes and climbed into the shower, the hot water pouring down her body like a brief escape from the nightmare she just escaped.

After she finished, she dressed quickly in a hoodie and grabbed the baseball bat once more.

She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she had to move.

---

Anna stepped cautiously toward the door, her heart still racing. The world outside was unfamiliar, terrifying. She wasn't sure what she would find. She held the bat tightly in her hands, her fingers gripping it like a lifeline as she took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The street outside was quiet. Anna could see figures moving in the distance, their forms slow and inhuman. They walked with jerky, unnatural steps, their eyes empty, their skin pale and drawn. Some of them were chasing humans, and Anna could hear their desperate cries.

She quickly ducked behind a car, her breath shallow as she tried to remain hidden.

Stay calm, stay hidden. She repeated it like a mantra.

Her legs were shaking, her body trembling with fear. But she had no choice—she had to keep moving.

As she crouched behind the car, she accidentally stepped on a tin can, the noise echoing in the stillness. Her eyes widened in panic as she quickly turned and saw them—the inhumans—all staring in her direction.

Anna didn't wait to see if they would come for her. She turned and ran, her feet pounding against the pavement as her breath came in ragged gasps. Her heart beat faster as she heard their footsteps behind her, closing in with every passing second.

She turned down a narrow alley, her legs burning as she tried to escape. But just as she thought she might lose them, she slipped on the wet ground, falling hard.

She cursed under her breath, but quickly got up, forcing herself to keep running.

Then, just as she thought she might be caught, a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Her breath hitched as she turned to see a young man standing there, his glasses glinting in the moonlight.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice calm despite the chaos surrounding them.

Anna blinked, confused. "Who are you?" she asked, but the words caught in her throat.

"I'm just trying to survive," the man said, pulling her toward a small house. The door creaked as he opened it, motioning for her to come inside.

As soon as they were inside, he shut the door behind them, securing it.

Anna stood there still clutching the bat. She looked at him, her fear starting to subside. "What's going on? What's happening to everyone?"

The man glanced at her and then began to take off his jacket. "You should be glad you weren't bitten," he said, his tone serious. "I don't know if you've seen it, but the virus—it's spreading fast."

Anna nodded slowly. "Is there a cure?"

He looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "No, but I'm working on something. I'm trying to find a way to slow it down."

He moved to a nearby table where a man and woman were lying, unconscious. He took a syringe and inserted it into the woman's arm, drawing out blood. Anna watched, wide-eyed, as he transferred it into a vial.

"Are you a doctor?" Anna asked, her voice trembling.