December 18, 2009
12:53 A.M.
Day of infection

   Very few seconds were wasted on introductions and pleasantries. The four young adults had decided the best chance for survival in this living hell was to stick together and find a safe place to wait it out. Felix and Roxanne had already thought of such a place, and had come to the sporting goods store for the same reason Tony and Mick had.
    "Alright," Felix spoke up, tucking a hockey stick under his arm while using his free hands to check what little ammunition he had left in the handgun he carried,"the plan is to head to a shopping center that's only a few miles down the road from here. It has a basement there that's used for storage, but it should be a good enough hiding place for us. Any questions?" There was one, from Mick.
    "Yea, how do we know that place is safe?" Mick asked, having to yell over the noise of the commotion that was going on outside. "I bet you anything that other people have the same idea as you right now. There WILL be other people there, and for all we know they're maniacs shooting at anything that looks like it's alive."
    "Look, you don't have to come." Felix looked at him with the slightest glint of panic in his eyes.
    He needs us.
    The thought somewhat surprised Tony at first, but he realized it was logical. In this hellhole they weren't likely to find people who weren't just out to save their own ass or rob you of your's.
    "Guys," Roxanne spoke up for the first time since their meeting,"look, we don't have time for this! We have to be reasonable. None of us are gonna last very long on our own."She turned to face Tony.
    "If you guys have a better plan, fine, we'll come with you. But if not, then let's get moving already, because this is most certainly NOT a safe place." She picked up a crowbar that was hidden under the counter. She gave a few experimental swings, obviously pleased as she took it and walked toward the door.
    "Mick," Tony said, looking at his companion,"most of the streetlights are gone. It's gonna be pretty dark out there. You up for this?" Mick glanced at Tony, then at Felix (who had a look of puzzlement on his face) then at the ground. Tony could see the real reason Mick didn't want to go out there. At night, the streetlights were usually on and working just fine. But this particular night (technically morning)  happened to be the one that there was a power outage for miles, disabling the lights. Mick had a fear of the dark. Unfortunately for him, this also happened to be the night that Beelzebub decided he would make a trip up here to the realm of mortals. Mick sighed.
    "Tony, so help me, if you go anywhere farther than five feet away from me, I'm going to kick your ass." Tony smiled, Felix relaxed, and Roxanne looked out the window. The shrill cry of a girl was heard. The shrill cry of a child. Shivers flew up through each of their spines.
    "Guys," she said, "Let's go. Like, now." None of them argued. They walked out into the darkness, underestimating exactly how long this darkness would last.


December 22, 2009
6:57 P.M.
4 Days after infection

    "Dammit Tony, hurry the hell up!" Mick screamed at his friend as he pulled the trigger again, the blast of the shotgun sending another one of the monsters to the ground with only half a face.
    "We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't lost the damn keys!" Felix shouted, barely able to be heard over the sound of their guns firing and the shrieks of the once-humans that were swarming toward them. Tony tried his hardest ignore the noise, focusing on remembering which wires he was supposed to put together to start the car. He could barely think over the nearby sound of Felix's two pistols firing one after the other in a deadly rhythm.
   The sounds were all just barely overpowered by the sound of the engine roaring to life.
    "It's working!" Tony signaled to the others. "Everyone get in! Mick, get in the driver's seat" Tony scooted over to the passenger seat of the blue sedan. Roxanne and Felix quickly piled in the backseat, Roxanne still providing covering fire through the window. Mick was the last one in, firing off a few more shots, then jumping in the driver's seat. He slammed the door so hard a faint crack appeared on the window. Mick practically slammed his foot against the gas pedal, the tires screeching against the pavement. Mick cheered as the car bursted forward, leaving the creatures behind them. Roxanne laughed, joining in the cheering.
    "Where are we going?" Mick asked, looking at Tony. Tony shrugged, looking back at Felix, who usually had a plan, even if they didn't always go over so well. He returned his look and faced outside the window thoughtfully.
   "Well," he began, still looking out the window, "we've got no food, since we lost our bag while trying to escape, so we should probably make that our first priority. I'd say a WalMart. There's food there, and possibly a safe place to hide." Mick nodded to himself. It was the best plan they had for the time being.
    "Whatever." Mick sighed. "As long as there's no zombies when we get there." Tony stiffened. That was the first time anyone had used that word to identify those...things. Yet he couldn't deny it. That's what they were.
    They're zombies...