I walk outside our base and stare up at the grey sky, trying to smell for any infected near us. The virus creates a very distinct scent, which you can smell for up to about fifteen metres on the days with strong wind. Harry and Malik join me, weapons in hand to search for supplies. We've been gradually walking further and further each time we look, getting more and more familiar with the city's layout.

"Which direction this time?" Harry walks up next to me and looks down at the map in my hands. He zips up his hoodie and puts his hands in his pockets because even though it's the middle of summer, we rarely get any warm days.

"South."

"I'll tell Mal." I pull the kitchen knife out of my belt, which barely fits against the leather. I admire the recently sharpened blade, carefully balancing the weight across my fingers. My dad taught me how to properly handle knives because he didn't think I was independent enough to look after myself. I went everywhere with a knife in my bag, 'Just in case'.

Malik walks to my side, checking his compass to confirm the direction. A few seconds later Harry joins us, looking bored as usual. The only time I ever see him look genuinely happy is when he's killing- either animal or human.

"Let's go." I keep the map in one hand, my knife in the other. I lead the way down the abandoned streets, always keeping to the middle in case anything's hidden in an alleyway. Today we aim to reach the shopping centre and get back before night, so we have to move quickly to get as much time as we can to look around. We have fifteen cans of beans and fruit and a small river not far from our base, but we know the beans won't last more than a few weeks.

"I'm hungry," Harry complains, throwing his small axe from hand to hand.

"We're all hungry," Malik replies with an angry tone in his voice. Suddenly a high pitched grunt comes from behind a fence not far from where we're standing. I've always had better than average hearing, so I can pick up sounds that others can't; like if a leaf rustles in the wind or if a twig breaks. I shush Harry and Malik, slowly walking towards the source of the grunt.

"What?" Malik whispers, looking around us for any danger.

"Be quiet." I sneak around the fence and spot an old man crawling around his garden, army style. He spots me and attempts to scream, but chokes on his own saliva. I walk back to lure him into the street so he'll be easier to kill, waiting patiently for him to crawl after me. Considering that most of them can walk or jog, he probably had to use a wheelchair or a walking frame to get around before he got infected, so all he can do now is drag himself along the floor.

Harry gives me a pleading look, wanting to kill it himself, but it's been I while since I've been able to kill one and I've started to crave the satisfaction that comes with it. I crouch down about a foot in front of him, knowing that he can't do anything to hurt me. Seeing him helplessly trying to eat me makes me feel sympathetic for a few seconds, but I know there's nothing I or anyone else can do to help him.

"What are you waiting for?" Harry interrupts my train of thought, helping me remember our goal. I'm wasting time crouched here thinking about the thing I know I'll have to kill. I raise my knife and stab him in the back, making sure to puncture him at an angle that will push past his ribs and to his heart. I watch the life fade from his face as a thin trickle of blood escapes past his grey lips.

"Let's go." I wipe my knife on his shirt and stand up, returning to the group. We don't speak for the rest of the journey, sometimes exchanging glances after we hear noises from buildings. It takes half an hour to reach the largest town in the city, which just like everywhere else, is abandoned. We keep our guard up knowing that anything could be lurking in the shadows ready to attack.

I constantly check the map to find shortcuts to the shopping centre, hopefully finding a way for us to stay away from the larger areas of the city. We spot a few of the infected sitting against walls or sleeping, hiding away wherever they can. Unlike most TV shows or movies with zombies in them, these ones don't shuffle around slowly with their arms outstretched, growling at everything they see. They can run, and some of them even know how to use weapons. But then again, these people didn't come back from the dead like the zombies in the movies do- they're just sick people who can't be saved.

"There it is." Malik points towards a sign saying 'Smith's Shopping Centre' with a picture of a happy family carrying shopping bags, laughing and smiling. I wonder what's become of that happy family.

"Where do we start?"

"Somewhere with food!" Harry adds, licking his lips as if the food is his prey.

"Fine, we can look for food first. But after that, we need to find some medicine and supplies." Harry's face lights up like a flame. He runs up to the doors and picks the lock, which he's very good at for some reason. He runs into the nearest food shop without waiting for me and Malik to catch up.

"He really needs to stop doing that," Malik adds, sounding somewhat disappointed. Malik is the parent of the group. He always makes sure everyone's safe and that they're okay, always looking out for us. I nod in response and find Harry stuffing can after can into his bag, throwing them in without even checking the labels.

"Guys! There's so much here, it's like it hasn't even been touched!" My eyes meet Malik's and we instantly become alert. I listen out for any noises and signal for Malik to close the shop doors, which he does without a question.

"What's wrong?"

"Think about it." I flash him an angry glare.

"I'll try."

"Don't you think there's a reason why a huge place like this was left untouched?" He stares at me in response, a rare look of fear on his face.

"There.... can't be that many."

"And how would we know?" He zips up his bag after filling it completely, picking up his axe from one of the shelves.

"I think we should leave. Now."

"Good idea." As soon as we turn to leave, a swarm of them turn the corner in the direction of the shop, a few of them spotting us through the glass. Normally we can take down groups that come at us, but we've never had to fight one this big before. There must be at least thirty of them, their rotten skin hanging loosely on their bony frames.

"Great!" Malik shouts, throwing a can of mango slices at Harry. "Why do you always get us into messes like this? If you'd just stop and think for once...!"

"I'm sorry, okay! How was I supposed to know this would happen?"

"Now we're all gonna' die because you're so damn dumb!"

"Guys!" I shout, considering throwing food at both of them. "Will you two shut up?! We need to think of a plan!"

"It's too late. Look." Harry shrinks against a wall with his head in his hands. Malik and I turn around, as at least a dozen of them throw themselves against the glass, smearing it with blood and pus.

"This is it. This is where it ends."