Infected

Chapter 1

My breath began to grow short, I'd been running the whole day since I had been found. Found by the sick- the evil. You can't hide from them, only try your best to run. They grow thick skin, the sickness making it midnight black. Their eyes a blood red glowing in the darkness. It takes over their body once they've turned, making the victim helpless until someone finds a cure. It'd been around a week or so- I've lost count- since they invaded my small town. All of us had to run, or who was left. I snapped into reality, realizing there was a wide cliff in front of me. I skid to a stop, looking behind me at the evil one who was following me since last night. I gulp, seeing it slow down, walking creepily over to me. I looked back at the cliff, and a river was not far down. I took a final look at the evil one and leaped into the cliff. I hit the water soon after, my legs stinging slightly. That'll leave a mark. I remarked silently. I quickly swam to a ledge on the other side and climbed up. I rolled up my ripped jeans and noticed how bruised and scarred my legs were. I let out a small sigh and stood up, continuing on. Thoughts raced in my head like, what would have happened if I didn't jump? Or, how long until it catches up with me again? I quickly shook them out of my head. Wherever I was going, I knew it would be a long time before I rest again.

Minutes quickly turned to hours. Hours to days. Not sure how long passed but it was a gloomy afternoon. I hadn't seen anything after I met that thing. Seems as if my luck has gone away since I began to run. I was the only one of my family to make it out alive- watching as my family slowly got picked off. My mother took too long grabbing supplies at our house, my father left to hunt and never returned- presumed dead, and my older brother- he saved me but his act of bravery and selflessness took his life. I continued on so I could help find a cure. I wanted to avenge or maybe even cure my family. I miss them so dearly. I snapped back into reality when I felt something watching me. I feel myself quiver slightly. I looked around the forest I was in, panic filling my eyes. I felt more eyes watching me. I set down my bag and search through it to grab a wooden sword I'd gotten from my old home before leaving. I'd attach my bag back on me and ready for something to come out of the trees. "Come out! I'll rip you to shreds!" I yelled into the woods, hoping whatever things were watching me could hear my words. I spin around, looking for whatever it was. I heard rustling from a nearby bush and gulp. "I can hear you- just come out and face me!" I called in an aggressive tone. I felt something grasp my arms to my side and kept their hand to my mouth so I couldn't scream- though I tried. I felt some kind of blindfold being tied on my face and soon I could see nothing but a void of darkness. I felt my hands get held together behind me and I was guided somewhere. Fear overtook me as I remained quiet and obedient.

After what seemed like an hour of walking, I heard a door- or what seemed like a door- open in front of me. I felt the blindfold get taken off and I quickly opened my eyes. A tall male was in front of me, he wore a dark gray vest and a lighter gray long sleeve under it. His gaze was calm and seemingly emotionless. I look around the room- deep gray metal room with weird black something with eyes watching us. I glare at the male and look for my bag- gone. "What do you want from me?" I snapped, fear still loomed inside me. He let out a long sigh as he rolled his eyes. Offence tinted my fearful glance.

"What is your name?" The male plainly asked, there seemed to be no emotion in his voice whatsoever. I looked around the room once more, we were sitting at a table. The man was sitting in front of me and I noticed something beside his hand which laid on the table- a gun. "What is your name?" He asked more forcefully. I gulped silently and looked back at him.

"M-my name is Katsu Sezia" I studded quietly, my gaze pinned to the gun beside him. He noticed how frightened I was and set the gun on the floor. I began to calm a bit knowing there was a good chance I'd survive. He stood up and gazed at me.

"Come with me, Civilian Katsu," He plainly ordered, leading me to a door I guessed we came from. We went through another after that revealing many more people like him. I step back slightly frightened. Everyone stared at me silently. I backed into a wall, nerves over taking me as I crouched down. One of the people I hadn't met walked over and bent down in front of me. He lightly put my chin up, his gaze was bright and he smiled softly.

"Why've you brought her in here? You've already scared her enough, Wren," He patted my head lightly and sat beside me. "She clearly has problems with too many people," He continued. I looked over at him, he still smiled as he watched Wren.

"I-I can handle large amounts of people!" I defended stubbornly. Everyone stared at me again, my nerves grew larger. "I-I just am somewhere I've never seen before," I stared down to the ground. The man beside me put his arm on my head, smiling down at me.

"I can take her to my place to rest, she seems as though she hasn't rested in weeks," He stood up and helped me up after. They all nodded slowly in agreement. "Come on Civilian Katsu," He held my hand and guided me out. We walked down streets full of people who gave me shocked or weird glances when we passed by.

We finally arrived at the house, it seemed to have two stories and was pretty big. We g0 inside and the person who guided me let go of my hand and walked into the kitchen. I walked over to a window seat by the door and sat down, staring outside. "So, what brought you here, Civilian Katsu? Or were you taken by Wren?" He spoke while making something in the kitchen. I looked back over at him, I'd calmed down a lot more since I was taken.

"Well, I was walking away from my infected town. I lost my family on the way here and I hadn't rested for weeks. Someone blindfolded me and took me into that room," I answered calmly. Somehow my family often wasn't a hard topic to speak about. He looked over at me with a small frown.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you had such a harsh time," He murmured softly. He turned back and began again, I looked back outside. There was an odd silence for a while.

"Hey, I never got your name," I thought aloud.

"Oh- I'm Executive Felix! Sorry for not telling you earlier," He let out a small laugh of embarrassment. Confusion tinted my eyes.

"Executive?" I echoed with confusion before an oven dinged quietly. He put something into it before he spoke.

"Well, I- and more- am a protector of this city. All of us before our name are Executive so people know we're high ranks. We also have our Leader- or Commander," Executive Felix closed the oven and continued working. "You don't have to call me Executive or anything, sounds really formal for when we're friends!" He put something else in the oven and walked over to me with a smile. I let out a small yawn as Felix sat beside me. "Once food is ready and you finish eating I'll guide you to a spare bed," Felix gave me a warm glance. I nodded slowly. Soon after, the oven dinged once more and Felix walked over and pulled the food out. "Come sit at the table," Felix invited warmly. I stood up and took a seat at the table, calmly waiting for the food. He came over with two plates full of food. "Eat whatever you want from it," He set one in front of me and one in front of another seat near me. Felix sat down and we began to eat. I finished the whole plate soon after, I hadn't eaten a full meal in weeks. Felix finished a bit after and stood up, taking the empty plates back. "Are you wanting to sleep now?" Felix walked back after setting them by the sink. I slowly nodded, standing up from my chair. Felix grasped my hand lightly and guided me upstairs. A desk and two chairs were up there, he took me to the closest bed and smiled at me. "Here's your bed, you can sleep now or do whatever. I'll be downstairs if you need me," Felix walked away after he spoke. I watched him leave and then I flopped onto the bed. I haven't had this comtorble of a bed for so long! I thought, a smile creeping onto my face. I curl up and close my eyes, drifting to sleep quickly