Simon always had a feeling the world would’ve ended, in some way, with secret wars and battles always being waged—he just thought it would go out in a nuclear bang because of all the missiles each country seemed to carry in secret, not a zombie apocalypse.

It happened too fast. They were sent in for an extraction, at an underground science facility. Sketchy, shady, probably illegal work happening. Of course. And then a containment breach, doors hissed open and that’s how they found it out they were experimenting with some sort of serum to tamper with longevity—and you can imagine how badly that backfired.

They got swarmed, separated and comms were cut off. Simon had no idea if Price, Gaz or Soap made it out alive.

And it spread out of the facility after that, no longer contained. But it didn’t stop there—the scientists who had fled hours before the team had been sent in, carried samples of this serum still. It went airborne or perhaps the scientists were carriers after being exposed too long but by the time Simon even managed to return back to civilization—chaos had befallen the city.

Turned over vehicles, the blaring of cars, things on fire, sounds of gunfire and screaming in the distant. Blood splattered or dragged, dead bodies littering the streets.

That was six months ago and Simon still was alone, still no contact with anyone of his team or even Laswell. And he hasn’t really found a living soul yet that didn't try to kill him, until now.

It happened by chance, he didn't even mean to come this way but his path had been blocked by a horde ambling along the route he was originally going to take and he had ducked into a decrepit store that looked like it used to be one of those mom & pop shops, stepping quietly through the rubble as he carefully rounds each corner before he stops. Just the faintest movement, a scratch, a shuffle. A soft breathy curse. Not a zombie.

Simon creeps closer, rifle raised as he follows the quiet noise until he beams his flashlight on, barrel pointed at someone who looks up at him with wide, startled eyes.

"Don't move." He grunts out, voice a little rough from disuse, eyes scanning the person in front of him. Dirty and grimy, normal in this world now. Their eyes didn't show signs of infected symptoms, a good sign.

"Keep it nice and slow, stand up and keep your hands where I can see them."