I stood frozen, staring at this new obstacle. My instincts were screaming 'Run!', but I couldn't seem to get my legs to move. It had been months since I had seen another living human and now one had just magically appeared.
Something registered on the boy's face and he held up his hands. "Hey, it's okay," he said slowly. "I'm, not going to hurt you."
He took a small step forward. His movement snapped me out of my daze. I had to get out of here and fast. I didn't know who this guy was or why he was here and didn't particularly want to stick around to find out. Out here, people are more dangerous than the zombies. Zombies are mindless and easy to handle if you know how. People, on the other hand, are dangerous, smart, and ruthless.
When the boy took another step forward I took action. I started running down the aisle, straight towards him. He stood between myself and the exit. There was no way around him so I'd just have to go over him. Right before I ran into him, I jumped to the side and used one of the empty shelves to push off. I tucked my body into a roll that sent me right over the guy's head and landed on my feet just behind him.
I didn't hesitate, I ran. I ran out of the drug store, broken glass from the sliding doors crunching under my feet, and out into the open.
"Hey, stop!" He yelled from behind me.
'Yeah right.' I thought. I felt a little better being out in the open, without walls trapping me in. I pushed myself to run even faster, reaching behind me to sheath my katana as I ran. Earlier this morning I had decided to stop in town to look for supplies. I had been running low on food for a week now and this town had seemed as good a place as any to try and restock. It was nice and small, not too many large buildings which meant not too many zombies. As I ran down the main road of the town, dodging between abandoned cars, I scanned the line of stores for what I needed. I wanted to get to higher ground, there it would be easier to escape without having to worry about running into any zombies.
I finally found what I was looking for in an alleyway between a two-story brick hardware store and a building that looked like it might have been a gym. I quickly changed my course and ran down it before skidding to a stop.
About eight feet above my head were the bottom rungs of an old, rusted fire escape. I took a step back before jumping toward one of the walls. I pushed off of one wall of the alleyway and used the force to push off of the second wall, gaining height until my fingers snagged the bottom rung of the fire escape. My body swung freely for just a second before I grabbed the ladder with my other hand.
I pulled myself up until I could get my feet on one of the rungs. After that climbing was easy. I glanced back only once to see if the boy had followed me. Sure enough, he stood at the entrance to the alley staring at me with his mouth hanging open. He no longer held the shotgun he had used in the gas station.
For some reason, seeing him watching me with mouth agape, amused me. I smirked to myself. There was no way he was going to be able to get up by himself. It had taken me a month of practice to be able to use the walls to get up by myself as easily as I did. I climbed the rest of the way up to the roof.
I straightened up and let out a sigh of relief. Up on top of the roof, with the wind in my face, I felt more relaxed. I had never really liked people even before Day Zero. Seeing another person in the gas station had reawakened old memories that weren't entirely pleasant. I hadn't been close enough to talk to an actual human being in a very long time. Out here, you can't trust anyone, there are no laws in the zombie apocalypse and some people use that as an excuse to do whatever they want.
I did a quick check on my surroundings. There was one main road leading through town that was lined with shops and small businesses. A road of houses branched off directly in front of me. Something seemed off but couldn't quite seem to pin down what it was. Then it hit me. The town was empty, not a zombie to be seen even from my high vantage point. The noise from the guy's gun should have drawn them in.
A loud clang came from below. I looked down and saw, with astonishment, that the boy had managed to grab onto the fire escape. His face was red and sweaty from the effort.
'Who the hell is this guy?' Despite my caution and fear I found myself strangely fascinated. This boy was persistent, determined, and I was impressed. I watched as he climbed up the fire escape.
I backed up from the edge of the roof. Despite my fascination with this boy I knew he was still a threat. I didn't know why he insisted on following me and I didn't particularly desire to find out. Just as he pulled himself up onto the roof, I turned and I was about to run but I stopped when he spoke.
"No wait, please don't go. You're the first living human I've seen in a long time who doesn't want to kill me."
I froze, my mind racing. Was it a trick? Was he trying to make me lower my guard so he could kill me? A part of me denied it. I don't know why, but my gut instinct told me he wasn't dangerous. I slowly turned around to look at him. My hand went to the small hunting knife I kept in my belt just in case.
He wore tan cargo pants and a dark green long-sleeved shirt. He had a bow slung over his shoulder and a hiker's backpack on. His hair was blonde, and badly in need of a trim. He had light brown eyes and soft features with a square jaw. Nothing about him seemed dangerous. The thing that really caught my attention was his eyes. They had the haunted look of someone who had seen more than their fair share of evil in this world. I knew that look all too well. It was the same look that I saw every time I looked at my own reflection. This boy had been through hell.
"How do you know I don't want to kill you?" I said. I didn't even recognize my own voice. It was rough and raspy. It had been months since I had spoken louder than a whisper. Not that it was a bad thing, I actually preferred it.
He smiled a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "If you wanted to kill me I'd already be dead."
It's true. If I wanted him dead I would have killed him when I first saw him in the gas station. I don't like killing humans. Each life lost brings humanity closer to the brink of extinction. There were times when I didn't have any choice in the matter. It's kill or be killed out here.
"How do I know you won't kill me?" Even as I asked it I already knew the answer. This boy wasn't a murder. If he was he would have shot me rather than the zombie.
He shrugged, "You don't."
I looked at him for a while. He stood casually and held himself with an air of confidence. He was bold, I'll give him that. Not many people are brave enough to openly attempt to speak to another human out here.
"Fine," I said.
He raised an eyebrow. "Fine what?"
I relaxed slightly. "I won't kill you, but if you even think about trying anything, you'll be dead before you take your next breath."
"Sounds fair," he said. He held out a hand. "I'm Andy by the way."
I stared at his hand. Did he expect me to shake it? After a while, he let it drop. He cleared his throat awkwardly and reached a hand up to scratch the back of his neck.
"And you are-?"
"Why does it matter?" There was no way in hell that I was going to going to get all buddy, buddy with this guy. He had managed to get me to talk but that was all he was going to get.
He shrugged. "I just thought I'd ask."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't have time for this," I muttered. I had already lost more time than I would have liked. My goal had been to find at least a little food before the sun set. With the gas station empty I would have to look someplace else.
I pushed past Andy and went back to the fire escape. If I didn't have to run I might as well get back on the ground.
"Hey, where are you going?" he asked following close behind me.
I groaned. He was like a stray dog. "Away from here," I said.
I climbed down the ladder and dropped the last few feet to the ground. When my feet were safely on the ground I looked back up at the roof. Andy stood at the edge looking down at me. I gave him a brief two fingered salute before walking away.
I pressed myself to one of the walls of the alley and peered out. A few zombies had crawled out of the woodwork, but none of them seemed to have been drawn out by the gunshot. They shambled around aimlessly rather than heading for where the gunshot had come from. I shook my head in disbelief.
"What the hell is going on here?" I whispered. In the five years I had spent out here I had never experienced anything like it. It was almost as if the guy had never shot that zombie in the first place.
From behind me, I heard a loud clang. Andy was descending the fire escape.
I did a quick check to make sure that there weren't any zombies too close by before I fled the alley. I made a beeline for the road of houses that was directly in front of myself. My intention was to check the houses for supplies. If the gas station had been looted, then I had no doubt that the other stores had been picked clean as well.
I heard footsteps behind me and glanced back. Andy was jogging to catch up to me. I shook my head in disbelief. This guy just wouldn't give up.
I decided to confront him. Obviously he didn't get the hint that I wanted nothing to do with him. I stopped walking and turned around. "Can I help you with something?" I asked sharply.
I had stopped so quickly that Andy nearly ran into me.
He backed up a few steps "Huh?"
"I said, can I help you with something?" I replied putting emphasis on each word.
"Um, I don't know what you-"
"Why are you following me?" I snapped.
He shrugged.
I clenched my fists to keep from punching him for his cockiness. "Leave me alone," I said.
"No," He said, crossing his arms.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
I'd had enough of this. In one fluid motion I drew my katana, cleared the short distance between us, and pressed it against his throat. He didn't even have time to uncross his arms.
"Yes," I hissed.
He slowly uncrossed his arms and held them up. "Look, we'll have a better chance at surviving if we both work together."
I didn't remove my blade from his throat. "I've done just fine by myself."
"That was before the Runners, though. Let's be honest here, if it wasn't for me, that Runner in the gas station would have killed you."
As much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew he was right. I had never faced a runner indoors before today. If Andy hadn't shown up, I would probably be dead or bitten and on my way to becoming a zombie.
I glared at him for a while longer with my katana pressed to his throat before I pulled it away. He rubbed the spot where my blade had been.
I ground my teeth before I spat out the next words. "Fine I'll work with you, but you do what I say when I say it. Got it? I didn't make it this far just to have some asshole get me killed."
He nodded. "Will you at least tell me your name now?"
I rolled my eyes "Lauren," I tossed over my shoulder as I started walking towards the houses again. "Now come on, we're going to check those houses for supplies."
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