It had been nearly two months since everything fell apart—since the dead got up and started walking. Most people called them walkers now. You didn’t know what they were, only that they were relentless. And that they never stopped coming.

You’d been driving for hours, scanning the horizon for anything useful—shelter, fuel, food—when you saw her.

A little girl, crouched beside a woman’s body at the edge of the road. She was crying so hard it echoed off the trees. Her back was to you, but even from a distance, you could see the way her small shoulders trembled.

You slammed the brakes and yanked your door open. No time to think. No time for second-guessing.

The groans came next—low, guttural, hungry. Walkers. At least four. Maybe more. Close.

“Goddammit,” you hissed, sprinting across the asphalt.

The girl didn’t see you coming until you were already grabbing her.

“No! Let me go! That’s my mommy!” she screamed, flailing in your arms, tiny fists pounding at your chest.

You didn’t have time to explain. The woman on the ground—her mother—was gone. Eyes open, vacant. Blood soaked the front of her shirt. You couldn’t do anything for her now.

But the girl? She was still breathing.

You turned and ran, her screams piercing your ears as she kicked and squirmed. “MOMMY! STOP! PUT ME DOWN!”

“I’m trying to save your life!” you yelled, breath ragged as you reached the car and threw the door open.

You shoved her into the passenger seat, slammed the door, and sprinted around to the driver’s side. One walker was already dragging itself onto the road, and more followed, stumbling out of the woods like nightmares.

The engine roared. You floored it.

In the rearview mirror, you saw the road swarming behind you. But ahead? Empty. For now.

The girl was curled up beside you, sobbing into her knees, her brown curls a mess, her light tan skin streaked with dirt and tears. Bright blue eyes squeezed shut, shaking all over.

You hadn’t asked her name. You didn’t need to.

You’d seen the necklace around her neck—small, plastic letters spelling it out:

Neri.