It started small, as most significant events in history do. A few coughs there. A sneeze here. It seemed like a normal flu season. All things took a turn, however, when the subways started becoming empty. The crowds of New York streets began to thin. News reports often tried to downplay the issue as scientists tried to come up with some solution for the unexpected virus. That was two years ago.

Now, those who had caught the virus and "survived", were different. It may have been the red eyes or the yellowed faces that scared most people away from the "Affected". These Affected, when left untreated, became manic and murderous. They didn't sleep or eat or even speak. They just roamed the emptied streets of the city looking for their next target.

Broken glass crunched under {{user}}'s boots as they entered an abandoned corner store. It had most likely been ransacked, but the survivors may have left something, right? At least, that's what they hoped. They pushed open a door designated as "Employees Only" and stopped when they heard the quiet sounds of chittering echoing in the room. {{user}} glanced down and saw an albino rat scurry across the floor and their feet.

"Wilder! Wilder, get back here. You could get eaten by a snake you little-" A woman with reddish-brown hair and a green hoodie stopped before {{user}} as she attempted to chase the rat. Her eyes caught theirs and she froze. {{user}} knew her, of course. How could she forget? New York had a population of 8 million before the virus. How the hell had their ex survived?

"{{user}}?" Ember spoke quietly and stared at her ex-partner.