Chapter One: Unfortunately Reality

Anna awoke to the sound of birds squawking at one another. When she opened her eyes fully, she looked out of the windshield and cranked her seat back up from reclining. She was in her car on the side of the highway with the driver’s door wide open. “How the hell did I get here?” she thought to herself with racing thoughts and a bumping forehead. She looked around the car more and stopped when her gaze met the open drivers’ side door. Past the view of the door, she could see the outline of a man with his back to the car.

Anna was about to call over to him when she realized he was urinating. She rolled her eyes but continued to watch the man. He seemed strangely familiar. The man finished, zipped up his fly, and turned around. Anna’s head was instantly swimming as the memories of the previous night came rushing back, the ambulance, Mark, and the smell. Just thinking about the smell made her wrinkle her nose. Mark continued to approach the car, looking very spent, and still limping. "How long have we been driving?" Anna asked Mark.

"Almost three hours now, aimlessly, I might add. Where should we be heading to?" Anna thought about it. "I say we should find somewhere that they need medical expertise, so we can help the way we know best."

Anna nodded her head in agreement, and yawned. "I think we should find some food." Mark smiled and started the car. The gauges began to calibrate themselves and shut off, except the fuel gauge, which was staring back at Mark with its one red eye. "And some gas. I’m surprised the car actually started. Mark shifted into drive and the car accelerated.

It was at that very moment that Anna realized she wasn't the only vehicle on the road. They were, in fact, navigating through a scattered sea of abandoned vehicles.

"Maybe one of these has gas," Mark said as he slowed the car down and began to scope out cars until his eyes came to rest on a dusty, grey Toyota Sequoia. Conveniently, the engine began to sputter and knock. "Lets try this one," he pulled the car towards it and rolled to a halt. "Shall we?" Mark said nervously, looking around. Anna did the same and nodded. "Let's go."

Anna opened up the door cautiously and stepped outside. She grabbed the Beretta Tomcat from her pocket and clutched it with both hands. "Are the keys inside?" Anna asked, still looking around. Mark pressed his head to the glass and tried to see over the steering column. Hidden behind it was a glint of hope reflecting off the metal of a small keychain already in the column. "Yeah, they are. Keep an eye out for anything that moves." he said as he laid his hand on the doors chrome-slathered handle. Anna looked over at him, but saw instead a horrid face gawking beyond the tinted glass, barely visible.

"Holy hell!" Anna exclaimed as she grabbed his shirt and pulled him back from the SUV. "What the f-" Mark fell down on his butt and groaned in pain. Anna had forgotten about his leg. Anna grabbed him and helped him up. “Anna, shoot it!” Anna raised her pistol hesitantly and cocked the hammer back. She squeezed the trigger and the window exploded with blood and brain. The body collapsed back onto the seat.

“Get in and check the gas!” Anna shouted at Mark, who was supporting himself on Anna’s car. He got off the car and quickly limped over to the door, which Anna had already opened. Mark plopped down on the seat and looked around the car for any more stowaways. Anna shut Mark’s door and ran around to the other side. Anna opened the passenger door and climbed inside. She closed the door and examined the spacious interior. “Nice car,” she said as she rubbed the leather interior. “How are we on gas?” Mark turned the key and the engine struggled to turn over, but eventually, the six-cylinder power plant roared to life.

The gauges and dials sprang to life, and Mark kept his eye on the gas gauge, which was steadily climbing to half-full. The needle passed the halfway point, but Mark was already smiling. “We're good for gas, For now.” Anna smiled as Mark shifted the SUV into drive and released the brake. Mark looked over at Anna, and Anna returned the look. Mark blushed and returned his attention to the road.

Anna was sill looking in his general direction when she saw a body run up to the window and throw itself into it, creating a spider web on the window. “Holy gay!” he exclaimed and stomped the gas pedal. Anna laughed at his random outburst as the car lurched forward, with the body trying to hold on to the mirror, growling in frustration. The body's eyes met with Mark's own and Mark gave it a scrutinizing stare. The body continued to growl in anger.

"Hasn't that thing fallen off yet?" Anna asked, alarmed. "That's what she said!" replied mark with a grin on his face. Anna was overcome with laughter. Moments passed, and the body lost its grip and fell under the tires and was thusly pureed. The pair continued to drive towards the unnamed city (Unnamed because the sign displaying it’s name had been destroyed by a Jeep Cherokee). The pair began to converse and become further acquainted when the passed a gas station that Anne had pointed out. It was obvious where Mark’s attention was focused. They pulled into the station at pump number four, and shut the engine off. Anna slowly opened her door and stepped outside…

Kianna had her hands firmly grasping the wheel while she approached the city limits. There were cars littering the road and Kianna was doing her best to avoid hitting them. She was doing well when the engine started to knock. Kianna, knowing nothing about engines, looked around the dash with wide eyes, trying to see if she had done something wrong. “Oh, don’t do this to me, please?” the engine ignored her plea and continued to knock and sputter. The gas gauge was firmly on ‘E’, and had been for the last few miles.

The car rolled to a stop about forty yards from a gas station and Kianna rested her head on the steering wheel. “Raoul…” Kianna looked over at Raoul, who had a long line of drool hanging from his lip, eyes closed, breathing softly. She thought twice about waking him up. “Raoul, wake up!” she said as she unbuckled her seat belt and began to rock Raoul awake. He moaned and turned over. Kianna rolled her eyes and looked around through the car windows to make sure there weren’t any cops around, even when they weren't really a problem, now. Satisfied, she glanced back at Raoul, opened the door, and stepped outside. She closed the door and stretched her arms. She looked around again and looked over towards the gas station. “Maybe I can push it…” she leaned into the car window to see Raoul still sleeping. She then saw her pistol peeking out from in between the seat and the cup holders. “I might need that.” She opened up the door and reached for her pistol. Raouls eyes opened slowly to see Kianna slide her pistol into her waistband.

“Good morning,” Raoul mumbled before coughing and clearing his throat. “Where are we?” He looked at Kianna, who was staring skeptically at his jeans, which was holding back an apparent bulge. Raoul raised one eyebrow at her, and then looked at his crotch, embarrassed. “It’s…just my gun, don’t worry ‘bout it.” Kianna rolled her eyes. “At least you’re awake. Help me push the car next to the pumps, fam.”

Raoul, still blushing, grabbed his MAC-11 and exited the car, looking around groggily. He walked to the back of the car and rested his hands on the trunk. “Pushing this boat shouldn’t be a problem for you, Raoul; you were the best in your weight class, for god’s sake.” He thought as his coach’s words echoed in his head. He still regretted dropping out, but still adored the gangster life, and thus, his affliction.

“I’ll steer, you’ll push.” Kianna instructed Raoul, who was bracing himself to prevent injury. “Okay, push.” Raoul began pushing the car, which was heavier than he thought. It took a while to gain enough momentum to continue rolling towards the gas station, or at least the nearest pump, number fifteen. After three strenuous minutes, they pulled up next to a gas pump. “Okay, that’s good.” Raoul was not as fit as he thought he was, as he rested his hands above his knees, panting heavily. “At least I didn’t sprain anything…”

Kianna got out and inserted the nozzle into the waiting filler neck. Raoul stood up and sighed. When he lowered his head, his eyes fell on a large, grey SUV parked on the far pumps, at number three. The window on the SUV had been shattered and there was blood on the edges of the glass. Raoul squinted, trying to see past the glare into the front seats. He began to walk towards the car, slowly and cautiously making his way to the driver door. When he squinted, he could make out two silhouettes that were definitely moving. He cocked his MAC-11 and shouldered the wire stock.

“Hey, you alive in there?” he said, tapping the barrel against the glass twice. The silhouettes turned to face the window in response to the noise. Raoul moved back slowly, raising his gun slightly higher. The silhouettes talked amongst them selves, and then rolled down the window. “Hi there,” said a man in a hospital uniform. The man was definitely alive. “Where are you guys from?” Raoul lowered the muzzle hesitantly, and then dropped the gun to the side of his, his finger returned to the trigger guard.

“We’re here from East Chicago. Are you two from around here?” asked Raoul, occasionally looking around for any Cops or possibly the “Infected Mob” the papers mentioned. The man opened his mouth to answer when the woman leaned over towards the driver’s side window and answered for him; “We’re from Wisconsin. I’m Anna and this is Mark.” Raoul looked over at Kianna, who was staring off into space, waiting for the pump to finish fueling. “Hey Kianna,” Raoul hollered, “Can you see if there’s anything we need in the store?” She came out of her daze, looked over towards the store, then back at Raoul.

“Sure, when I’m done-“The pump stuttered and clicked off. “…Here…” she removed the nozzle from the filler neck and screwed the cap back on. “Like what?” she slapped the cap shut on her way over to the station. “Some food or a working phone would be nice.” Raoul replied as Kianna nodded, drawing her pistol and flicking the safety off. “A’yo, get me a cherry pie-turnover-thing, girl!” Raoul shouted as she walked over to the glass door cautiously and grasped the handle. “If I can find one, man.” She replied as she brought the pistol up towards her chest and slowly opened the door. The hinges creaked as she held the door open with her left hand, keeping the pistol trained ahead with her right. though it was almost noon, the surrounding buildings did not allow much light into the store. the only light in the store came from the beverage coolers, carving lines into the darkness beyond the aisles.

She heard footsteps approaching fast from outside, thusly swung her gun up and fired where Anna's head would have been, were she not having trouble with the door. Kianna made a sour face, like a kid who'd just broke his mothers favorite plate. "Sorry!" She yelled towards the door with a new hole in the top panel. Anna opened the door and stepped in with her pistol drawn. she could see Kianna just fine, even in the failing light. "Girl, you scared the fuck outta me!" Kianna exclaimed and Anna laughed. "I scared you?" Anna said, now laughing. moments passed, and the laughter died with a sigh. Kianna then gasped and raised her pistol.

Anna should have seen him right when she walked in. the undead, Mohawk-sporting teenager lunged from behind the cashier counter and brought Anna down to the floor by her neck and right arm. Anna's head hit the floor and Kianna was dumbfounded. "Kianna!" she shouted. "Help me!" Kianna was already trying to find a clean shot when she heard the chip rack fall over behind her. she swung around and fired, obliterating an innocent bag of kettle corn and missing the balding, armless man shuffling and groaning towards her. Anna was still screaming as Kianna stood torn between two choices; she could save herself or save Anna. She looked back in time to see the teenager sink his teeth into her forearm as Anna screamed in pain. Kianna stood still, dumbfounded as the true weight of the situation closed in around her.

Raoul had already left the car and was heading for the station, with Mark close behind, pistol raised. they stood crouched against the glass on either side of the door, with Raoul on the left side, reaching for the handle, MAC11 at the ready. "Ready?" Raoul said, more of a command then a question. "Yeah, let's go!" Raoul had the door open just a crack when two different shots rang out in quick succession. "Oh shit, go!" Raoul opened the door and Mark entered and fired three shots, as Raoul followed him inside...

Chapter 2 Coming soon