Run, keep running and never give up

I ran. Ran as fast as I could. I don’t know where I was running or why I still haven’t fallen to the ground. My legs hurt. They really do, but I couldn’t stop running. They were bruised, but I still did not care because something or someone was running after me, it’s dark outside and i feel shivers running down my spine. It was heavy raining that I couldn’t see anything, it was too dark in the forest. The lighting stroke and some stuff were visible but not much. I heard one, no two, no…maybe more screams. They’re following me, running to catch and torture again. No, no! I won’t let that happen!

Suddenly I heard gun shots and I fell to the wet ground.

When I woke up I was confused to be laying on a soft mattress. I looked to my right and saw a camping fire. It was so shiny and warmed me up. All of a sudden I heard someone clearing their throat.

“You’re awake, half dead thing?” They asked with low chuckles. Sounds like a man to me.

I looked up at the person and winced as I realized I had band aids wrapped around my bruises and cuts. “Who are you? Did I got kidnapped again? Where am I?”

The man looked at me with a questioning look and answered, “Who I am? I’m an officer. Kennedy Brown.”

He paused and then asked, “What’s your name, poor thing? Had fun running from ‘zombies’?” He asked with a smirk and chuckled as he pronounced ‘zombies’ in a playful manner.

My eyes widened. Zombies? Did he really say it or did I hear it wrong? “Zombies? I was kidnapped for God knows how long! This is not funny!”

He raised an eyebrow and scoffed. “Jokes? Kidnapped? Woman, this world went down 4 years ago. How did you not know about zombies? They are 30% around the world now. They are everywhere. I even saved you from zombies last night when you were running from 5 of them. You’re lucky your bruised and weak legs even made it this far to survive.”

I gasped in horror and my hands began trembling, my heart began beating fast as if it was attached to a motor.

“30%? 5 zombies? And I survived with weak legs? Stop these sick jokes!!” I yelled at him, trying to hold back the rush of panic bubbling in my chest. “This isn’t funny. It’s not even a joke anymore!”

He grabbed my jaw, his fingers digging into my skin as he leaned in close. His eyes burned with an intensity that almost felt like a physical blow—sharp, unblinking, and full of pain. “Listen here, you damn brat. These times aren’t jokes. 2028 isn’t a joke. My whole family’s gone because of those damn brain-eaters!”

“2028?” My voice cracked, disbelief flooding me. “The last time I saw a date, it was 2024. I was with my friends at the mall, shopping… just normal. I even saw a magazine with 2024 on it, I swear! What… what the hell happened?”

The air between us felt thick, like everything I thought I knew had just crumbled to dust. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

“Can’t believe such petite thing even survived for 4 years. On top of it, gotten kidnapped.” He scoffed.

I did not say anything since I just tried to process what I heard so I just sat on the mattress in silence and stared on the campfire.

Kennedy’s POV:

That girl is lucky to even be alive in this apocalypse. Who kidnapped her for 4 years? And why?

I wonder if her cuts are infected and if she is aswell. The food sources are not enough for 2 people, this is not good. I cannot go back to the city with this girl. But I also cannot leave her all alone. Damn it.

I looked up to the sky. It was beautiful, even more than it has ever been. Maybe it is a sign?…no, I’m just crazy. Those beautiful stars shining right above my head and the moon; shining bright as well.

The cold air making my face redden and my knuckles freeze. It is a beautiful night. If only not those damn zombies.

I took a glance at the girl as she stared at the fire. Looking at it, as if she wanted to die right now. Who doesn’t? Everyone who is still alive wishes to be dead. But we all know that we really don’t want to.