Dead Debut

A Chapter by Davey-sama

Twenty minutes passed slowly, as though time had split in half for them. The girls began to cross a small field when a familiar figure in the distance caught their attention.

“Is th-” Mia began to say until she was interrupted.

“Serah!” Before Erianna could run towards her friend, Mia wrapped her arms around her torso tightly; common sense controlled her actions boldly.

“Get the hell off me Mia!” She screeched hitting her hands.

“No, Eri. Something’s not right!” Mia struggled to keep a hold of her.

Erianna persisted on. Desperate to break her grasp. Her heart no longer felt pain. The part of her she was missing stood just ten yards away. She had to see her. Touch her. Hear her. Becoming frantic she elbowed Mia in the gut which forced her to let go.

Erianna bolted to Serah and wrapped her arms around her. “Oh, Serah, I thought I’d never see you ag-” In that moment she stopped speaking. Instead a deathly shriek was thrown from her mouth. Serah’s teeth had sunk into her shoulder; gnawing savagely.

“F**k!” Mia bellowed as she pulled the 9mm out of her blazer. She aimed at Serah, hands shaking. With gritted teeth she pulled the trigger but the bullet missed. Instead it hit Erianna in the back, killing her instantly. “F**k it!” Mia roared. She pulled the trigger once more and it penetrated the front of Serah’s head then exited the top of her skull along with flesh and bone following the bullet. Everyone watched in disbelief as Serah’s corpse fell to the ground along with Erianna’s.

“I’m sorry...” Mia choked. Her grip on the gun loosened causing it fall out of her hand onto the floor. She then dropped to her knees and began to cry. Mika and Éclair joined Mia and hugged her tightly. All three couldn’t contain their sorrow.

Erianna’s hand twitched. Both her arms slowly moved and her knees bent. As she started to stand up a low growl caught the attention of the remaining girls. All three jumped up.

“Get behind me.” Mia demanded as she picked up the gun. She noticed that Erianna’s legs were far apart while she staggered towards them. An idea boiled in her mind. She ran towards her as quick as she could and slid on her back through her legs. She stood up with haste and delivered a kick to the back of her knees that forced her to fall hard on her back. Mia pressed one foot on her chest to hold her down and lifted the gun to her face. Within no time a bullet was lodged in her brain. “We have to find a safe place to go. This will spread quickly.” She said solemnly. Mika and Éclair nodded.

The girls walked towards a Supermarket. There were still people going about their daily activities unknowing to the events that were unravelling. Mia almost felt guilty. She pulled gently on her sister's arm and they stopped while the others continued. “Mi..” Her eyes downcast. “Should we warn people?”

Mika tried to smile but her eyes remained sad. “Do you really think anyone would believe us? You’ll get arrested for murder.”

“A lot of people are going to die.”

Mika took her twins hand. “When things happen, we can do what we can to save people. For now, let's survive.”

Mia looked away with clear disappointment. “Does it not bother you?”

“Of course it bothers me.” She snapped and clenched her fists. “I don’t want to see people die as much as you, but I’m trying to think logically here. Mia, you said it yourself. This will spread quickly. We need to get out of here. Now” Mika continued to the Supermarket.

Mia was dumbfounded. Even though she couldn’t reply her feet automatically followed her sister.

Mia put her bank card in the cash machine that stood outside the stop and took out all her savings. “Right, I have £300. Anyone else got money? We need a lot.” Mia asked.

“I should have the same amount of savings as you Mia,” Mika responded. She was the next to draw her savings from the bank. “Yeah, £300.”

“Alright, my turn,” Éclair articulated. With a few taps and a beep she took her card bank. “Hmm, you’re not allowed to draw more than £500? We need to go in the bank then.”

“More than 500? This is going to be a ridiculous amount isn’t it.” Mia said to herself. “How much have you got?” She then asked.

Eclair put her finger on her chin and she thought. “Err. Around £3000,”

“What!?” Mia and Mika shrieked.

“I’m from a rich family. Right I’ll be back in a minute.” Éclair disappeared into the bank. The twins stood outside in awkward silence for a few moments. Mia decided to finally speak. “Hey Mika, is this really happening? It’s like a movie.”

“I agree that it seems surreal, but it’s happening. Just think back to when people thought it was impossible to walk on the moon, or even go into space. The only way it could get even weirder is if we found a depressed little girl who carries around a gun almost her size and robs people.” Mika replied giggling.

Her sister let out a small laugh. “You’re thinking of an anime aren’t you?”

“Nothing can get as weird as anime does.” She smiled, this time her eyes seemed a bit happier.

In no time Éclair appeared. The girls rushed through the supermarket and filled the trolley with canned food and bottles of water. They also bought pans and a portable barbecue. Any non perishable food was thrown in without considering the price. there was no time. If they were to survive they had to get out of Alkia City as soon as possible. Before the illness spread like wildfire.

They stood outside unsure what to do next. “Guys, we need a van to put all this stuff in.” Mia eventually said.

Eclair grinned as she spotted a man in the carpark. “Excuse me sir,” Éclair frowned grabbing his hand. “I seem to have forgotten my purse and I was throwing a small party with my girlfriends.” Éclair turned on her charm, and stared the man in the eyes elegantly. He was already blushing from how close she was getting.

“Err. Well, for such a pretty young lady, how about I grab what you need it I can join you.” The man replied. “What is it you need?”

“Really?” Eclair mused and hugged him tightly. She stepped away with her hands behind her back, acting embarrassed. “My, I do apologise. I don’t know what came over me.”

“No no, it's okay. Is it alcohol you want?” He smiled creepily already walking toward the shop.

“Yes please.”

Mia stood by nervous. This guy is thinking something dirty. She crossed her arms. “Please tell me why we are drinking with some weirdo.”

Eclair laughed almost vindictively. “So naive.” She held up a pair of keys and threw them to Mia who caught them confused. “Well, we ready to go?” She smiled.

“Gosh, you’re so hard to keep up with.” Mia said returning the smile.

They loaded the scruffy white van with their food drink and other necessities. Éclair clambered into the back while Mia climbed into the driver’s seat, and Mika sat in the passenger seat. “Hey. Mia. I didn’t know you passed your driving test last week.” Éclair said clipping her seatbelt in.

“I didn’t...” Mia replied with a smirk on her face. She put the car into reverse gear, spun out of the parking space, and drove home.

The drive was mostly quiet, there was nothing to talk about anymore apart from their impending doom. The low hum of the engine rang in Mia’s ears. Her mind was wild with the images of Serah’s walking corpse. Erianna’s empty eyes. They must have already been dead. She thought, trying to control the pounding of her chest. Mia tensed and she gripped tighter on the steering wheel.

“Oh, I never asked. Is that gun fathers Mia?” Mika suddenly broke the silence.

“No,” She replied, feeling lighter. “I found this in a bush, there aren’t many rounds left in the magazine. Saito should have some in the basement though.”

“He’s our Dad you know Mia,”

“That man is nothing to me.”

Mia pulled into their driveway, and everyone got out. The house was just as quiet as they left it but she knew to approach with caution. They didn’t know how far is had spread already while they were getting supplies. Mia was the first to step into the house. The hallway lead down to the living room, where they found a cupboard built into the wall. Inside Mia revealed a trap door underneath a small fancy rug.

They made their way down the stairs that lead to the basement and Mia turned the light on. When the room lit up, you could see dust drift from the light bulb which thickened the air. Breathing became difficult. In the corner was a large chest smothered in more dust. Mia walked over to it and wiped the top. Her father's name was written in Kanji on the chest. “Found it” Mia said with a smirk on her face. She pulled out the gun and already had it aimed at the lock. Both Mika and Éclair covered their ears. She pulled the trigger, and shattered the large block of metal that kept her out. She gripped both of her hands tightly onto the wooden lid and lifted it up.

“Bingo!” Mia announced. The girls gathered around to see what there was.

“Whoa, Mia. What was your dad?” Éclair asked.

“He was in the army, but he was forced to leave.” Mia replied with a disgusted expression and as quick as she could transferred the weapons into a bag.

“You really don’t like him do you?”

“He’s a pig!” She snapped slamming the chest lid. “Just forget about him, we’ve got everything let’s go. We need to find somewhere that’s secluded.”

“Ah! I have a pretty secure holiday home in Alkia Harbour by the beach.”

“Wow Éclair, you are just full of surprises.” Mia said sarcastically. “Can you direct me? At least it’s a start.”

“Of course I can.” Eclair huffed. “But before we go, can we change from our school uniforms?“ She asked already undoing the skirt.

“Yes! I’ll get us all some clothes!” Mika ran upstairs, and Mia turned and undressed as well.

“This is crazy right?” Eclair said.

“No kidding.” Mia sighed. “I wonder if it’ll become global. I’ve seen it in films. There only needs to be one infected person on an airplane, or boat, then before you know it, the dead are being transported everywhere.”

“I always thought those films were unrealistic. Now I’m not so sure.”

Mika joined them again, already dressed with a rucksack of clothes. “I agree, I always looked to them sort of films as unrealistic. It's got to be a virus. Eri..” She looked to the floor solemnly. Everyone shared the expression. “Eri was bitten, and she turned after she died. So that's the source of infection. But, I don't know how a virus like that would start.”

“I don't think it just came out of nowhere.” Mia added.

Mika’s eyes widened. “You don't mean..”

She looked at them both seriously. “I think this is man made.” The conversation fell silent and Mia headed first to the van. The other two followed quietly. It was a terrifying thought that someone, somewhere could have created these ‘zombies’. Mia hoped it was by accident. She couldn't find a reason why someone would purposely set up the destruction of the human race. Biological warfare. She thought. A government weapon maybe? But why?. Who would start a war? She shook her head and started the engine. No matter. I need to make sure no more of my friends die.

prev chapter