Infection

Chapter 1

I cocked the gun with a scared determination. The last thing I thought I would be doing at seventeen, was killing zombies and fighting for my life.

It has been nearly a year since the world went to shit. I had been enjoying breakfast with my sister, when breaking news came over the tv. Riots, they said....What it really was, was the apocalypse. I never thought that I would be the one to be a survivor, I thought for sure I'd be one of the first to go. I tell myself each day just to make it to the next and so far I've made it six-almost seven-months.

-Six months earlier-

"This is revolting." My twelve-year-old sister frowned, looking at the perfectible edible and delicious pancakes I had slaved over.

"Don't like it, don't eat it." I shrugged not going to let her get me down. I had woken up early on this special day, just to make sure that she had a great birthday breakfast before she went to school. Besides, I knew the truth, she acted like she hated it, but relished in the love. After our father went to prison, all we had was each other. It wasn't anything new, our sperm downer had always been more absorbed into his latest whore and shooting up his score of heroin, than taking care of us.

"What even is this?" she asked picking at her birthday pancakes.

"Three pancakes covered in chocolate syrup, sprinkles, m&ms on the top and a thick layer of cool whip and gummy worms in the center." I smiled at my creation.

"Oh, jeesh. Trying to make my heart explode with this crap?" She said, but a flicker of a smile crossing her face. "You must not want me to make it to thirteen."

"Oh, you are such a drama queen, a little sugar never hurts anyone. Now, shut up and eat your birthday pancakes, so you can get to school." I smiled before digging into my own tower of perfectly boring pancakes. I reached to the other side of the counter before flicking on the television that was strategically placed, so we could eat and watch tv. Our morning ritual was to watch an episode of Tom and Jerry before I took her to school.

'Breaking news, two men found dead and three injured. The cause is unknown, but a witness reported the attacker looked to be in a haze, likely due to drugs, but in a state of insanity. It has been the seventh case this month that has been reported of people in such a state, committing the same acts of violence. Officials are looking into drugs that could cause these states of mind. More to come at a...." I turned off the television before the news anchor could say anymore, the last thing my sister needed on her birthday was to listen to this rubbish.

"What do you think caused that?" Taylor questioned looking at me with wide blue eyes, fear evident.

"Who knows, nothing to worry about?" I said placing my dish in the sink, I moved around the island to give her a kiss on the top of her head. "Now finish up, so we're not late to school."

I walked into my bedroom, aka the living room, and searched for clean clothes to wear. This place was trashed, and yes, it was mostly my fault but honestly, who really cleans up after having to search to find their only flash drive that contained all of their schoolwork? That's right, no one...

"Don't you think that it's time to clean up this place?" Taylor asked coming out of her room, only to find me doing the smell test. It wasn't one of my finer moment, but how else was I supposed to know what was clean or dirty, heck I couldn't even remember what I had two days ago for breakfast, let alone remember what clothes I already wore.

"Feel free." I said tossing a shirt at her with a smile on my face.

"You're nasty Kat, no wonder you're single."