Chapter One: Car Wrecks And Infection

The window broke as Christian rushed toward Alex's front door. He leaped every two steps until reaching the door, which he kicked in!

"Alex!" Christian's voice resignated from the abyss of darkness.

"Dude!" Alex managed to scrape from his dry throat. Endraped with fear he found Christian using his voice as a light in the dark house!

Christian being familiar with his best friend's house, flipped the light switch to find Alex's mother laying dead on the floor, with a bullet-hole in her head giving blood access to the open world. Alex's younger brother Gabe stood, paralyzed with his position locked, aiming a gun over the dead body of his mother. It was their mother's old .32 pistol.

They need not say anymore, Christian knew. "So you guys have seen those things too?"

"Mom and Taylor, man..." Alex's shaken voice explained, as he gripped his shoulder.

Christian walked to Gabe. Easing the gun down he spoke softly. "Gabe, it's fine. They were trying to kill you. You did what you had to." 

Gabe remained silent and handed the gun to him. 

"Do you think you can get your mom's car started and drive?"

Gabe nodded, fighting back the pain."You know me Christian. There's nothing I'm not willing to do."

He smiled, patting Gabe's shoulder. He turned to Alex. "Are you riding with me or Gabe?"

"Wait- Where are we going?" Now his voice changed from worry to concern.

"To find others." Christian said as Gabe exited his mother's room with her keys in hand and a bag filled to the top. "What's all this?" 

"Flashlights, batteries, and one case of ammo." Gabe explained.

"Good call." Christian followed Gabe to the front door. Before stepping out he yelled to Alex. "Get some food and make sure you get all canned goods! I'll start the car. Find a weapon or two also. Guns are good but melee is better." He started out but stopped. "And be careful man..." 

He stepped out onto the porch as Gabe started his mother's car. As Christian stepped off of the final step he watched the road. Cars blazed down the street at dangerous speeds. News of the violence must have spread fast. These panicking drivers will only make the drive more dangerous. Scared for the lives of his friend, he walks to Gabe's window. He gestures for him to roll the window down. 

"You sure you can drive in these conditions?"

"Trust me, Chris." Gabe grinned. It was actually a bit menacing. 

Christian raised his head outside the window at the noise of that familiar Ford truck rolling down the downhill road. He finally saw the dim headlights trailing off road. It was too late to do anything. He couldn't move, but only watched as the truck crashed into the house. 'Oh God,' was his first thought. Christian wasted no time in rushing in the house screaming Alex's name! Alex walked out, wondering what that loud crash followed by the house rumbling was. Alex and Christian peered at the wreckage. The neighbor of Alex was still in the driver seat. Dead, it looked. Then he began moving, crawling through the shattered window. Christian reached down in his pocket grabbing the pistol, but soon reminded of their noise factor he looked to Alex for a melee weapon. Alex threw him a crowbar. Christian wasted no time in doing what he had to do. The infected man had just begun standing up from falling off of the Ford hood. Before he could stand Christian turned his head into a pink and red mush. Alex, disgusted, began to get dizzy and faint. Christian suddenly hurried him through the door.

"Get into the car." He urged.

With no trepidation, he followed. With his supplies he opened the door, sat in the seat buckled his seatbelt, in fear of Christian's driving, and closed the door.

Christian gave Gabe the thumbs up. Gabe soon rolled his window down. "Remember, follow me!" Christian demanded.

"Gotcha." 

"And remember, seat belt and be careful. the road is very dangerous. People are in just as much panic as we are." Christian gave his final warning before Gabe's confirmation nod warded him away. 

Christian readied himself in what used to be his mother's car and shifted into reverse, carefully backing out of Alex's foggy driveway. It was only four a.m. and the sun barely peaked over the cliff's of Collinsville, Alabama. He started out of the driveway and into the road. The road sort of metaphorically represented a line of life and death to Christian. Once he left the ominous shelter he knew he would not be safe for a good while. If the journey wasn't a success he would just be dead. Either way the journey would come to an end and that's what he was sure about. They turned left into the road. Cars in front of Christian did not mind the speed limit but neither did he. The truth was everyone was trying to check on their families but over half of them would join their families from the concern. They would most likely enter the house attacked at once or surprised while searching. Some people only found strange bloody psychopaths tearing at the flesh of their children. They would try to save them by killing the evil men/women but when they thought it would be safe, the children would only arise to deem them wrong.

Christian dodged certain individuals. Nothing was impossible at the moment. Gabe had actually hit a bystander once or twice, which worried Christian because the thought of him messing up the vehicle was abhorrent. As they reached Hokes Bluff on their way to Trussville, Christian knew where he must go first. Alexis's house. He felt as if he had made a mistake not going there first, but Alex being his best friend and being closer was a more logical choice. He pulled into Gidley street and suddenly an eerie feeling dawned into him. Houses were afire and evil roamed the streets. People screeching and being torn apart. Chunks being bitten out of the unfortunate's neck. Christian slowed down and watched as Alex's eyes grew wide.

"Maybe this is Hell..." Alex decided to state.

"Don't talk like that." Christian's muffled voice toned barely below Alex's.

Christian pulled the car into Alexis's driveway. The windows to her house were completely shattered. The blinds were ripped in half but from what he could manage to see, no one was home. 

"All right, I'm going to keep the car running." He handed Alex the gun. "Here's the gun, if anything comes shoot! Try to stay quiet and stay low."

Alex nodded, fear stricken. As he pulled the gun away Christian could feel his hands shake. "Be careful, dude." His shaky voice made out.

Christian nodded with a smirk as he opened the door, pulling the crowbar out. With his heart beat in his ear, the dinging of an open car door sounded loud enough to signal the whole city of infected. He carefully closed the door, trying not to make too much noise.

Christian had Gabe to accompany him with the machete. "Gabe, check the back door."

Gabe did not even reply, he only did as he was told in a state of seriousness Christian had never seen before. He gave an all clear signal with a simple thumbs up. Christian suddenly heard a shuffling of broken glass, followed by illegible noises. He told Gabe to wait and ran to the west side of the house.

"Alexis..." Christian whispered. He looked up at the shattered window of her bedroom. 'Oh my God. She's dead. She's dead.' He thought, but he had to see for himself. He leaped up, grabbing her window seal. Ignoring the glass inside his fingers, he pulled himself into the window. Inside her room he heard sobbing and it was her! So desperately he tore her room apart but still could not find her.He look at the mattress that blocked her closet. 'Maybe..' He snapped his fingers! But as he did, he heard footsteps approaching him. Quickly, he had the crowbar ready to swing. As he expected a neighbor of Alexis limped into her room! Christian swung, cracking the skull of the infected, forcing it to slam into a wall. It laid on the floor bleeding from the mouth and the open crevice in its skull. Quickly, he threw the mattress aside and opened the door! Then something leaped onto him punching him repeatedly in the face and chest! Finally, his mind caught up with reality and he caught her fist! Alexis was ready.

Bleeding from the nose and lips Christian spoke as he looked as his girlfriend. "This isn't how I wanted to sneak over."

A soft laugh transformed into a gasping cry as she hugged him tight.

"Come on, we have no time for that." He stood up gripping her arm. "We've got to go, now!" He then let his grip slide into her hand and led her outside where Gabe waited loyally. 

Alexis rode shotgun as Christian drove. Alex had decided to hitch the ride with Gabe. So now there was four. All reunited but for Christian the search wasn't over. He still needed Jason and Tyler, at least. After all that had happened this morning it was still early and Christian had finally gotten the shock of his life. He knew know, playing with people's lives isn't a game. Killing isn't as easy as everyone thinks it is. Maybe that's why there are so many. Maybe that's why so many have failed to protect themselves...

Author's Note

First chapter. Review please :D

Reviews

[Sacsen Foote]

I'm interested in seeing where you take this, though as is, I don't really feel all too sad for the characters. perhaps a prologue (or just info added to the beginning) would be in rider so you get a chance to know the characters before they are thrust in to such dire straits. you do well conveying the state of the characters though. there's no doubt in my mind as to how the characters are feeling. the biggest thing I can suggest is to make sure your readers feel for the characters. hope this helps :)

[AleyshaRosa]

Captivated immediately. I appreciate a good BAM in the beginning of a novel/short story.

He then let his grip slide into her hand

For some reason this line hit me hard. It really depicted his urgency with only a few words.

Great chapter, can't wait to read the rest =]

[InkAngelXIII]

Very interesting concept I wonder are you going to make it a darker story or a more humor-ish story?