I stood in front of the broken-down mall considering my options. On one hand, it had been a while since I had changed my clothes and it was starting to get cold as it was late October. On the other hand, it was really dark in that building and I was almost deathly afraid of the dark, just like every other human on this earth. I look at my watch and check how long I had till dusk when I needed to find shelter. It was only 1:48, plenty of time to search and get out before anyone knew I was there. Making up my mind I take a breath and head into the dark halls of the mall, hoping I wouldn’t run into any trouble today. I flick on my flashlight and head to the closest clothing store I could find. I walk in but the racks and shelves were almost completely empty. Everything had been picked over and what was left had been ripped and trashed. Looks like I’m going deeper in. Greeeeat. I think to myself walking to the left of the open court in the center of the mall.

As I pass a shop I see a flash of movement and jump back ready with the machete I had learned long ago to always carry. I flash my light in the direction I saw the movement come from but I immediately calm when I realize it's just my reflection in a mirror. I stop for a moment looking at my shabby appearance, 3 years living in the end of the world will do that to you. I was ok looking, I suppose, for guy standards of the previous world. I was tall and lean probably around 6 foot. I had choppy light brown hair that I cut myself when it began to hang in my eyes, and tannish skin from being in the sun so much. Looking at my dirty face I laugh at how ironic it was that the biggest problem I had before the world ended was my Heterochromia, two different colored eyes, one green and one amber. I used to be called an alien because of it. At that moment I wished I was, then maybe I could fly into space away from this madness that had become my life. I turn from the mirror and head into a shop that looked like it had a decent amount of clothing.

I eventually found what I was looking for. A new pair of jeans, a black long sleeve shirt, a warm dark brown jacket, and warm socks. I needed these colors to blend in and go unnoticed by any curious eyes that might be watching. I finish changing and slip on my hiking boots; careful to cover up the shiny unicorn necklace that hung around my neck before I forgot. My sister would go ballistic if anything happened to it. The hair on the back of my neck rises and I suddenly get the feeling I am being watched. Looking around slowly I make sure my flashlight reaches every inch of the shop. The beem stops on what looked to be someone’s attempt to make a bed out of clothes. I cautiously approach intently listening for any movement. On the pile of clothes I only find  a phone and a portable solar charger attached to it. I smile at the find and pick it up putting them in my bag, glad to no longer have to search for batteries for my flashlights.

Suddenly there was a crash at the back of the shop and I jump, swinging on instinct with my machete. I make contact with something and a warm liquid splashes across my face. I look to see what I had hit, but to my surprise it was just a large black crow. It had probably knocked over whatever it was perched on when it took off. Walking to the back I wondered what it was doing there in the first place. That was my first mistake. 

The smell hits me as soon as I enter the back room, rotting stinking flesh is what I recognize it to be. My eyes begin to water and I cover my face with my sleeve looking around for the source of the smell. That was my second mistake. My flashlight stops on the rotting carcass of a man ripped to shreds, dried blood splashed on the walls and ceiling. Looking around I realize I was wrong, it wasn’t just one man but many bodies ripped and strewn about. I gag and run out coughing. I should be used to it by now. I find that exact scene everywhere I go, but it will never be something I can look at without utter horror. It's what the shadows do; They don’t ever eat who they kill, they simply rip them to shreds and move on, killing anyone they find on sight. It's like they do it simply for the enjoyment of it; enjoyment of hearing flesh being ripped apart and the screams as their victims struggling in pain.

I back out, picking up the dead crow as I walk out of the shop. Not wanting to disrespect the dead by leaving a rotting bird along with them. I shut the metal pull-down door to the shop creating a makeshift tomb for the people lost in this godforsaken place.  As I come out of the mall I get lost in thought not paying attention to my surroundings. A beeping sound sets my heart in a gallop and I look down at my watch, my stomach sinks the instant I see it. It was 6:00. Was I really in there for over four hours?! How could I let this happen? I panic looking at the sun that was already so close to touching the edge of the horizon. I only had 45 minutes before sunset, I was at least an hour walk from my safe point, and it would take at least 10 minutes to completely secure it for the night. I begin to jog, panic rising in the back of my mind as I think about the possibility of not making it back in time. GOD MILES YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT! This mistake is going to be the end of you. I scold myself as I try to find a place that looked like it could be a good makeshift shelter. 

5, 10, 20 minutes go by and the sun begins to dip below the horizon between the buildings. I picked up speed frantically looking for a place, but everything either had too many windows or would take too long to break into and board up again. 30 minutes go by and I’m on the verge of a panic attack. That was the least of my problems though. 40 minutes go by, I’m running out of energy and light; The last sliver of sun slips down and out of sight. I stop running, catching my breath. I watch the darkness slowly consume the world around me as the last day I would probably ever see fades away. I stand their heart pounding from running and adrenaline from fear, I roar out the loudest cry I could muster, not wanting my last moments alive to be spent in silent terror waiting to be torn to shreds. 

I ready my machete, if I was going down, I was going down swinging. I think about the important things in my life that I loved, my life before the world decided to eliminate all humans. I think about my sister, my mom, and singing to oldies with them while we cooked and danced around in the kitchen. I think about my friends I had who I would never see again, heck I even thought about school. I look up to the sky. How ironic, I think to myself. The first time I see stars in the last three years is the last time I’ll ever see them again. I chuckle to myself letting a tear roll down my cheek as I rub the unicorn necklace tucked safely under my shirt. see you soon mom, I’ll finally get to hug you again Bree.

Just as I resign myself to fighting till death, however short that would be, I hear a metal door slam open from behind me. I spin around ready for anything to come charging at me, but instead I see a little girl standing in the doorway and beckoning me inside. A wave of overwhelming relief washes over me, but is quickly snatched away by the echoing screech of a shadow standing just over 200 yards away. I had never seen one of these things and the sight of this creature chilled me to the bone. I don’t waste any time and sprint to the open door just 30 yards from where I stood. glancing over my eyes widen in terror as I realize the shadow had covered a distance of over 100 yards, in the time it had taken me to do 15. My heart pounding, my arms and legs pumping as fast as they could, I reach the last five yards. Jumping I roll into the doorway, but not before I felt the burning sensation of a slash across my arm. The girl jumps to shut the door as the momentum of the shadow carries it past the doorway giving us precious seconds. I yell at her to move and slam into the door just as the shadow hurls itself into the other side attempting to get in. I could feel its fiery breath against the top of my head, its body mass clearly doubled mine. Even with these odds I pushed with all my might and got it within an inch of closing, but I wasn’t strong enough. Just as I feel like I’m going to lose I hear a high-pitched scream and the little girl throws herself against the door with all her might. It was just enough to get the door shut and locked.

I slid down the door breathing heavily as the last bit of my strength drained from my body. I sit listening to the creature scratch and slam against the door. The girl got up and limped over to the door locking the deadbolts making sure the thing would not get in. I finally get a chance to look at her, but the sight of her was a surprise. She looked to be around 9, but she was so skinny and malnourished she couldn’t have been more than 40 lbs. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes with freckles covering her light skin. She stood there in clothes far too big for her and no shoes at all. I opened my mouth to thank her, not forgetting my manners just as my mom had taught me, but her image began to sway back and forth. She spoke but her voice sounded far away. “You don’t look so good Mr. you're bleeding a whole lot.” I looked down to my left arm and sure enough, a giant gash almost 5 inches long gushed blood, my jacket had done little to protect me. Ha-ha it got me. It won’t get to rip me to shreds, but it killed me. I put my head against the door and closed my eyes, willing the dark at the edge of my visions to take over.