Chapter One – “It Begins Here”
In 2017, a 17 year old teen named Camilla wakes up in quarantine to find herself lying next to her dog and a pistol. In the year prior, she was in the midst of a viral infection that turns people into zombies. Only some people survived the infection by not becoming infected due to an immunity in pets, children, teens, and young adults. Camilla’s father placed her in quarantine as the virus had started to spread to other people. He escaped the town, while Camilla is in her quarantined room with rations, water, and the pistol. Now, she’s met Zhane, a 16 year old whose parents were infected and Phoenix, a 19 year old who had returned from active duty just as the military quarantine had ended; and the three of them are on their way to find a way to escape the place they once called home, and find other survivors of this un-deadly infection. This is their story…
…It’s the year 2017, 1 year has passed since the lockdown. I have just woken up to find myself laying next to a pistol and my dog Ami. No one knows why the town was put on lockdown. Its just me, my dog, my pistol and I’m putting up a fight because… everyone contracted a virus which turns them into mindless zombies, feeding on flesh and blood. But, I however; was put in a room where I was safe from all the chaos outside. I’m scared, lonely, on edge, and filled with adrenaline. Being confused about all the commotion from the outbreak and why I’m the only person in town left alive. Why just me? Could my dad be one of the undead? Could I be hallucinating everything I’ve been seeing and hearing? These questions are constantly running through my teenaged mind. I’m Camilla, I’m 17 years old, and this is my part of the story. I just killed 2 zombies chasing me, and they were running fast. Like Terminator fast, which is scaring me even more. I’m hiding in an abandoned store at the moment because I’m trying to keep myself from the zombies outside… The zombies found me earlier and I killed those creatures and one of them… was my mother. My dad escaped town before the outbreak began, so he’s safe… or so I think. It’s hard thinking that you’re just stranded in the town you have lived in since you were born, and then it just hurts that you have your fate in your own hands. You might think that you can kill all zombies because you can still reason? Think again. I had almost gotten killed by these… things. Life has been hard, especially when your father left you in isolation for an entire year. My life has been s***y for the past year because of this. Figuring out why this infection happened and why is it only affecting people older than 24? Half of the state was put on lockdown, but it lifted after it looked like the infection had been eradicated. I’ve just been out killing more of these zombie things, and… I’ve just seen someone running just yards away from me. Could it be another survivor? If it is another survivor, then; could they help me and get me out of here? Well, apparently I am no longer alone in this fight. This person named Zhane has appeared and is searching around town with me and my dog for more of the undead. As I am getting ramen noodles for us to eat, I’ve been questioning how did this outbreak start. For 365 days, we’ve known nothing about how this outbreak started; how it affected humans. We’ve known nothing about what is happening in the outside world… Filho da puta! I just realised that all of my IDs and security stuff is with my dad, and I have no way to find him or contact him. Apparently, Zhane just came back with another survivor named Phoenix. I am just speechless at how us three could survive something horrible like this. I’m still asking myself, “Why me?” I’m just confused as to why my dad would just abandon me to save himself from this sh*tshow of a zombie horde. I don’t know what to think, but I can say that hopefully Zhane, Phoenix, and I can leave here soon.
I just found my old smartphone and charger, left untouched in a drawer in the bunker. I can try to reach my dad and let him know I’m safe and alive.
Camilla: Dad?
Richard: Camilla? What’s wrong?
Camilla: I found my old phone and charger. I can talk to you, and hear your voice. I actually questioned whether you had actually died or not.
Richard: Camilla, I am just fine. I’m just happy you are okay and alive. Is Ami okay?
Camilla: She’s fine, although she’s getting weak because she’s barely had food over the past couple of days.
Richard: That’s okay, but I’ll try to get you both here to where I am as fast as I can.
Camilla: Dad?
Richard: Yes?
Camilla: I love you… (crying)…and I miss you.
Richard: I love you and miss you too sweetheart. I’ll talk to you later, okay?
Camilla: Okay. Bye dad.
Richard: Bye Camilla.
I think this conversation I just had with my dad will lighten my spirits, and will help me think more positively about trying to escape Emporium with my new acquaintances. As they re-acquaint themselves back into the town where we’ve grown up, I start to ask myself how they’ve known about the outbreak; and how their personal lives have changed because of it. One thing I can say is that it begins here.
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