“Fuck.” He muttered as he readjusted his fingers on the guitar settled in his lap. Taking a deep breath, he began strumming again. The strings sang beautifully for only a moment before twanging, causing him to jolt. He stood, removing the guitar strap off his shoulder. His breath quickened, agitation rising in him. He swung, the guitar slammed against the coffee table, splitting it in two. With a spin, the guitar was shot out of the window, taking the curtains with it.

  Darkness. No stars, no moon, an empty darkness with only the howling wind being evidence of a world out there. From the darkness, a yelp and screech of demonic anger echoed from the shadowy void. Mike breathed heavily, that was his only guitar, and he threw it to the void, the darkness– The world shrouding the only one he knew and felt safe in, in a fit of rage.

  “Oh no…”

  News outlets have been off the air since late March. Power kept getting cut on and off and sticky red liquid keeps coming out of the faucet. It tastes like nickels, likely bad. I’ve been in my apartment all month, water and food is getting low and my power’s been cut for a week. I need to leave. Judith Memorial should be good. I’m gonna leave this journal here, hopefully you can find a better use for it-- whoever you are. It helped me a little before this.

  Exordium

  A flickering flashlight was all Mike could bring. He had nothing else; except crumbs of food and tainted water, not to mention his guitar which he threw out the window. He threw his jacket on and prepared himself to see what was going on out there. He turned the doorknob, finding it hard to open. It took a few tries before he gave up and rammed his shoulder into the door, it hurt like hell, but it gave way.

  Mike fell to the ground as the door busted open. Dust and mold invaded his nostrils, making him cough and gag. He picked himself up, finding wooden planks hanging from the doorframe. Not just his, but every apartment was boarded shut. He slowly made his way down stairs, seeing more and more boarded up apartments. Dead plants and furniture adorned the halls, it seemed the owner tried to keep everyone safe, though whether it worked was questionable.

  Mike found the lobby, completely in disarray. Windows smashed, doors ripped off the hinges, and a handful of bodies ripped open and rotting before him. He felt sick, all the blood, the gore… he wanted to vomit. Shining his light to the front desk, he saw the owner twisted and contorted into a hellish shrine. Mike looked away, knowing he’d vomit looking at it any longer. He saw the outside. Pitch black, colorless, devoid of life. Caution creeped up Mike’s spine like a vine, but regardless, he stepped closer to the busted open front doors, into the chilly night.

  Cars lined the roads, all destroyed and picked apart. Some had bodies, some had blood all over them, some were unrecognizable. He walked onto the sidewalk, his breath quickening as he realized he was surrounded by total darkness. The light was too weak to truly shine, only giving him a sliver of sight for a brief couple of moments.

  He remembered where Judith Memorial Hospital was, remembered that it was a safe haven early into this strange event. Hopefully it was still standing, and maybe someone knew what was going on.

  The hair on the back of his neck stood up, his sensing going into overdrive. He turned, seeing two pinpoint dots staring at him from the void he came from. Raising the flashlight to the dots, his eyes widened. A face, cemented with anguish atop a neck permanently bent and broken. Mike stumbled backwards, the torch slipping from his fingers. “S-Shit!” He yelled, scrambling away until his back hit a car. He watched the creature scramble towards him, almost mocking his fear. It opened its mouth, showing off its jagged, razorlike teeth. Mike closed his eyes, expecting this to be the end.

  “Hey!” A voice called out, Mike opened his eyes and looked around, his eyes finally getting somewhat used to the overbearing darkness. He saw a silhouette atop a truck, grinning at the creature. In a blink, they were gone. The creature looked startled, looking around. Suddenly, the silhouette appeared; it was a woman, a large smile on her face as she kicked the thing in the face. She bared her knife, stabbing the creature in the throat before kicking one of its legs. She took a few steps back before bolting, jumping, then drop-kicking the creature, sending the knife deeper into its throat. With an anguished gurgle, the creature died.

  Mike breathed heavily, his eyes wide with shock at what he witnessed. Did she kill that thing? Just like that? In an instant, the girl was in front of him. She was… pretty to say the very, very least. She had puffy, curly hair, plush lips, and striking dark eyes. Though, she had no color, even as Mike’s eyes were getting used to the night. Mike slowly stood up, looking over the confident girl with caution.

  “Peed your pants yet?” She asked, a smug smirk on her face. Mike shook his head.

  “No. No, not yet.” He stammered, shivering slightly from the cold night. He noticed her clothing. It was alternative, which looked awesome. But she didn’t look warm, especially with how cold it was. “You’re… not cold?” She held back a laugh, shaking her head.

  “Really? I just saved your life and you wanna ask if I need a coat?” She let out a small chuckle. “I mean, no. Thank you for caring, though.” She looked him up and down, a look in her eyes that suggested interest. “What’s your name, gloomy?”

  “Mike. Mike Newstead.” He said, looking around. “What about you?” The girl nodded, liking the sound of his name.

  “Ami Smith.” She said, shrugging one shoulder with her wide smile. She looked over her shoulder at the creature, seeing a broken, blood-splattered guitar lying near it. Mike, seeing his guitar, rushed over. He picked the broken mesh of wood, plastic, and metal strings. It was barely recognizable as a guitar, more as some post-apocalyptic weapon made by a lunatic.

  “That yours?” Ami chuckled, resisting the urge to burst out laughing.

  “Yeah,” Mike replied, slinging the broken instrument over his shoulder. “I threw it out the window, after smashing it.” Ami blinked, mildly shocked that someone would willingly do that.

  “Huh. Well, there had to be a reason for you to leave the warmth of your home. Where were you heading off to before… y’know.” She asked, tilting her head in curiosity. He forgot why he left his apartment for a moment, that thing cleared his mind in the worst way possible. Looking around at the now visible, monochrome surroundings shrouded by darkness, he saw it. Judith Hospital. He pointed, looking back at Ami.

  “There. Judith Hospital. Last I heard, it was turned into a… a safe space!” He said. Dammit, what was the word he was looking for?

  “You mean a shelter?” Ami replied, a shit-eating grin on her face.

  “Yeah, a shelter…” Mike nodded. Wow, did he sound stupid. “I know you already helped me once, but could you help me get there?” Ami tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. She thought for a moment, or looked like it, before shrugging.

  “Why not?” She said, already walking past Mike with a carefree stride. “Surely they’ll have spare underwear in your size.”

  “Piss off…” Mike muttered, following Ami to Judith Hospital.

  ...

  “So… Do you know what’s going on here?” Mike asked, watching as Ami strode. How could she be so carefree? Ami shook her head, still bouncing on her heels to some unheard rhythm in her head.

  “Nope!” She said, looking over at Mike. “All I know is that it’s dark, there’s uglies everywhere, and no one’s around. No one alive, that is.” Mike’s brows furrowed. What was this girl’s deal, he thought.

  “And you’re calm about this?” He asked, his chest getting tighter as he absorbed the decrepit surroundings.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “Why would I be scared?” She retorted, spinning and walking backwards while talking to Mike. “I’ve been out here for a month, I haven’t even gotten a scratch on me. Plus, I nabbed this sweet outfit from the mall, completely free!” She chirped, doing quick poses before spinning and walking normally again.

  Mike’s head reeled, not just from the headaches, but from trying to decipher what was going on. Before he could ask anymore questions, they were at the door to Judith Hospital. The glass was shattered, plywood scattered across the floor. Remnants of a failed fortification.

  Ami climbed through the holes of the door, Mike hesitantly tagging along. The hospital was dark and empty, save for smeared blood and bodies across the ground. Way less than Mike’s apartment complex, but still a gruesome sight.

  “Jesus… we’re too late.” Mike muttered, looking around at the corpses. Ami shrugged, walking to the front desk and looking over it.

  “Guess so…” She murmured, not sounding super cheery for the first time since… 15 minutes ago.

  Mike rubbed his face, almost as if checking it was still there. How did his life get even more upside down than it was before?

  Ami piped up, looking at Mike over her shoulder. “Hey, gloomy! We should look around for stuff. You’ll never know what you can find here.”

  “What would we even find here?” He asked, looking down at one of the bodies.

  “I dunno. Scalpels, needles, a pretty little hospital gown for you to wear to sleep?”

  “You never take anything seriously, do you?” Mike asks, getting up and walking towards the elevator. Who would’ve guessed, it’s broken.

  Ami followed Mike, immediately noticing the escape hatch was open. She jumped, climbing on top of the cab.

  “Ah-ha! Mike, get up here!” She called out, reaching down to help him up.

  Almost effortlessly, she lifted him atop the cart, pointing at the floor above them. The doors were open. Climbing to that level revealed what looked to be a hideout, candles dimly lighting the halls, windows covered with plywood. Even though there were blood smears, this place looked hunkered down.

  “Woah… these people were smart.” Mike muttered, looking around.

  “Yeah, ‘were’.” Ami joked, “There’s nobody here! Don’t you think somebody woulda heard me lift your heavy butt up here?”

  Mike rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “Oh shuddup, you lifted me easily.”

  Ami giggled, turning and walking down the hall to investigate more of the candles.

  Mike slowly started to follow, before the sound of a third footstep hit his ears. Before he even thought to turn, his mouth was covered, and the cold, thin edge of a blade was put to his throat.

  “Don’t move.” The stranger whispered, her voice almost like a husk.

  Ami was looking at one of the candles, oblivious to the situation for a moment before seeing someone grabbing hold of Mike. She drew her knife, the urge to throw it strong, but any sudden move would indirectly kill him.

  “Hey! Hands off him!” She called out, her face not configured into a smile for once. She didn’t budge, still holding her blade to Mike’s neck.

  “Shut up! Who are you? Why are you here?” She growled, pressing the blade tighter against his throat.

  Ami’s eyes flickered, trying to spot a weakness. “Hey, hey… we’re just here for help. My buddy that you have at katana-point said that this was a shelter.”

  “It was… now it’s my home.” She replied. “I want to be alone here.” Ami bit her lower lip in thought, an idea forming.

  “Well… let me help.” She said, before slashing the knife. From it, a bright orange portal opened for a split second before it and Ami disappeared. The stranger let go of Mike, her free hand going to the blade. Mike fell to the ground before making a sharp 180 turn and hitting her in the face in retaliation. She spun from the hit before looking up and seeing the orange portal again, Ami jumping from it and kneeing her in the face.

  She was sent tumbling back, barely managing to land on a knee. She held her blade defensively, keeping her eyes on Ami and Mike.

  “W-What the fuck?!” She exclaimed, the grinning Ami holding her knife combatively as the two stared each other down.

  “Sorry, couldn’t resist.” She replied, ushering Mike back as she and the stranger were in a standoff. “Listen… we’ll be on our way in no time, we don’t have to fight–”

  “No. Now we must!” She growled, charging at Ami and swinging her katana. Ami met the slash with a braced counter. Mike watched as the two exchanged slashes and stabs, neither getting an upper hand for a good few minutes before the stranger, in a sudden move, kicked Ami across the face, making her stumble back against a roped together set of double doors. She wound the blade back, and as Ami swiftly dodged, struck downwards, cutting the ropes accidentally.

  Everyone stopped and stared as the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a dark corridor. The stranger backed away from the doorway, breathing heavily.

  “Shit…” She huffed, getting in a combat position, facing away from Ami.

  “What? You were so quick to–” Ami cut herself off as a growl emitted from the hallway, immediately getting in a defensive position.

  A creature, walking on a dozen or so broken arms and legs came into view. At the peak of its body, a head sat, its eyes dark red and bulging. It lunged at the stranger, making her swipe at the hands outstretched to grab her. A few hands fell from its body, causing it to screech and pounce again. Ami kicked the underside of it before it reached the stranger again, making it fall backwards onto the tile ground.

  Mike grabbed the broken-up guitar off his back, wound it above his head and slammed it into the thing, swinging until the instrument completely broke into shards of wood and plastic. The creature twitched and convulsed, a faint mist emitting from its wounds. The stranger grabbed her sword and drove it into its head, killing it. All three of them watched for any movement, and after a moment, they all relaxed.

  Mike rubbed his throat, feeling minor abrasions from when the stranger had her sword pressed to his skin. He felt her eyes burning into him, her hand rubbing her jaw.

  “So… who are you? Why were you alone here?” Ami asked. She didn’t answer immediately, looking at Ami with slight disdain before answering.

  “I’m Naomi Higashi,” She muttered, louder than the growls and grunts she used before the thing attacked. “I was here for safety when everything happened… me and my sister.” Mike’s brows furrowed.

  “Wait… sister? Is she…” Mike trailed off as Naomi glared at him, clearly not eager to answer his questions, but also seeming… apprehensive.

  “We rushed here when the sun vanished. It worked for two weeks… but the bastards just had to open the front doors. A supply run, they said.”

  Mike and Ami looked at each other, a mutual feeling of sorry for Naomi. Ami reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, but stopped herself, knowing how jumpy Naomi was right now.

  “Yeah… we saw the bodies down there. To be fair, plywood doesn’t seem to work on these things.”

  “Hellspawns.” Naomi interrupted. “I call them hellspawns. ‘Things’ seems like a really polite term for these monstrosities.” She husked, looking over at the rapidly rotting remains of the creature they killed minutes earlier. She pressed her knees to her chest, memories flooding back. “They invaded the hospital. I can’t even describe most of them… they had to be out of some fucked up teenager’s wildest nightmares.”

  Mike nodded, agreeing with the description Naomi gave for them. An idea came to his head, “I got an idea,” He says, standing to his feet. “We can’t be the only ones left in Beauview, this is one of the biggest cities in California– there has to be other survivors!”

  Ami’s eyes widened at the idea. She nodded, her trademark grin coming to her face once again. “So a zombie apocalypse situation!” She jumps up, ready to go as if she didn’t almost get her ass handed to her just minutes ago. “C’mon Naomi, get up!”

  Naomi got up, unsheathing and pointing her katana at Ami. “No.”

  Ami’s eyes widened, her hand hovering over her knife in its holster. “Wha… why? It’s a good idea! Didn’t you see how well we worked together against that hellspawn?” Naomi’s eyes narrowed, her jaw clenching for a moment before she sighed, sheathing the katana again.

  “The church had a fallout shelter installed in the 50’s, perfect for surviving… whatever this is. Surely a group of people are there.”

  Mike nodded, a smirk coming to his face for the first time in months. “That sounds good.”

  Ami giggled, pointing at Mike. “Aww, you smiled!” Mike’s expression immediately faltered, a dark hue coming to his cheeks in the darkness.

  “What? I’ve never seen you smile!”