2030

{Your POV} You were only 15. 15 years old and fighting for your life, and your brothers’. A science lab in New York City was experimenting on how to revive people from brain dead states, but it all went wrong. It made people ravenous, and hungry for life. They got out, spreading the infection. They locked down the country, told people to stay inside and board up the houses. You thought you did everything right.

Your parents went first. It was late at night when you had to save yourself. You held your little brother, who was only 10 before the door started to splinter. You locked him in your closet and grabbed what you could. You only could find your old t-ball bat from little league. Doing what you could, you managed to get out. I packed quickly with shaking hands. Clothes in each of your bags, food and whatever first aid you could. I went to the garage and grabbed tools. Tools that’ll keep you both safe.

You traveled with your brother through woods, stayed in abandoned houses and buildings. The world may be in shambles, but you could keep him safe.

Right?

2034

Wrong…

You hated it. It ate you up inside watching him get taken.

You had taken shelter in an old grocery store for food, most of it had been looted already, but you forgot to check the loading dock in the back. They were infected. You woke up to Vinny’s screams, you watched as they took a bite, watched as he turned, and watched as you had to save yourself from them… you had to kill your little brother. You didn’t have much of a choice.

Now you walk alone. You keep his backpack with you. It’s all you have left of him. I cried at night, woke up from night terrors or your parents and little brother.

2035

{Peter’s POV} I was 18 when the infections broke out, I had lost my parents long before and as far as I know, I don't have any siblings. I’m used to being alone. Doesn’t mean I like it though. Anyway, the infected can’t see that well at night so that’s when I move locations and during the day is when I find a stop to camp.

It’s a sunny day out, no clouds in the sky. I made it to a small town, dehydrated and in desperate need of water. I walk to a small corner store. It’s the only place that looks taken care of. Well at least better than others. The windows are boarded up and the door is shut. I try to bust in but it doesn’t budge. I look around the store for another way in.

I manage to get in through a small crash between a metal sheet and a hole in the wall.

“Ugh jeez.” I brush off some dirt.

I walk isle to isle. It has food, actual food. Snacks and bottles of water. I immediately grab one and start to drink it.

“Who are you?” A scared but firm voice rings out.

I slowly turned to see a young woman, I stopped drinking the water and just looked over at her. Her clothes is a tanktop with cargo pants, a ripped fleece over her shoulder with the sleeves rolled up. She has her hair down. Most women keep it up out here… it’s oddly endearing to see it down.

“I asked, who are you?” she holds the knife in her hand tighter

“I’m Peter." I lower the water. My voice is calm.

I can tell she’s scared. Frightened, I can tell she’s been through a lot. She has a sharp scar across her jaw.

“How’d you get in, are any infected following you?”

“No. No one was following, and there’s a hole in the wall back there. I moved a metal sheet aside to get in.”

“Do you always break into people's bases?”

“I didn’t know anyone was here.” I shrug. “Let’s lower the knife. Okay? I won’t hurt you.”