I was trying to come up with something for Liz's Birthday and couldn't think of anything. Instead, this happened. Whatever. It's something, right? Inspiration came from Aim for the Head by Creature Feature.

…authorities have told newscast…murdered victims have shown evidence of being partially devoured by their murderers…this incredible story becomes more ghastly…these reports…difficult to imagine such a thing actually happening…these are the reports we have been receiving and passing on to you…reports which have been verified as completely as is possible in this situation…it is happening…medical authorities have concluded that in all cases the killers are eating the flesh of the people they murder…

The static of the radio crackled before falling silent when a deathly pale hand smacked it off the desk it sat on. It hit to floor and shattered, equally pale bare feet lumbering over it without a twinge of pain. The steps were heavy on the wooden floor, causing some of the floorboards to creak under the weight. Jade sat curled up in the closet under the rack of clothes, her father's old revolver in her hands. She listened carefully, regulating her breaths so that she was as quiet as possible. The creature grumbling and moaning just outside the door was too close for comfort. She knew she should have stayed close to Robbie, but no, she just had to explore on her own. She hoped he was alright and safely hidden. She shifted a bit, her injured leg hurting her where it was pressed up against something hard.

She could feel the wound bleeding again but there wasn't anything she could do about it at the moment. She could only hope it didn't smell her. A growl rumbled out of long dead lungs and then Jade heard it sniff at the air. She cursed internally and cocked the gun, ready. Suddenly, the flimsy door to the closet was thrown open so violently it hung off its hinges. She looked into the dead yet hunger crazed eyes of the zombie staring her down and silently raised her weapon. With a loud bang that rang in her ears long after it sounded the body hit the ground, a hole in its head. She stood up slowly, waiting a few seconds before stepping out of the closet. She kicked it in the leg but it remained motionless. Dead. She sighed and left the room, running down the hall and into the living room.

"Robbie," she whispered, looking through the dim room for him. She checked the kitchen and then turned to leave when a hand grabbed her by the wrist. She gasped and spun around after pulling away, aiming to shoot.

"It's just me," Robbie squeaked, holding up his hands. Jade let out a relieved breath and then punched him in the arm.

"You scared the shit out of me, Rob!" she reprimanded. He frowned and rubbed at his arm while he stepped out of his hiding place in the pantry.

"Sorry. Did you get it?" he questioned. She glared at him a moment longer before dropping it and nodding.

"Yeah. It's out of the way. Let's raid the place and get out of here before more come," she advised. He nodded and followed her lead. They swept the house for anything of value before exiting out the back door. With a little wandering and sneaking past some of the hunting zombies they managed to travel through a few backyards. They climbed a child's treehouse and squeezed inside, hunkering down to rest now that the sun was going down. They would be safe up there seeing as the zombies couldn't climb. Robbie looked to Jade who was leaning against her backpack, clear gaze hooded with exhaustion.

Since meeting a year ago he knew not to ask too many questions of the irritable girl. At the young age of fifteen she had suffered many loses no normal teen should have to go through. But then again, their world wasn't at all normal. Not anymore. Not since the virus spread, bringing back the dead in a wave of rotting flesh hungry for the living. He was only a few months older than her but he felt like she was the older one. They both lost their parents shortly after meeting and becoming a group. Now they only had each other. As far as they knew there were a few outposts of humanity left, but as soon as they found one it had already been vacated, most likely abandoned due to a breach or maybe even falling victim to die a slow death as each was picked off.

"Stop staring at me, you creep," Jade's rough voice mumbled, lacking its normal sharp tone. She was too tired to put any force behind it but it was just enough for him to apologize and look away. With his eyes off her she felt more relaxed. She prepared to sleep but he began to fidget. He had been an annoying nerd when they met but he was her only companion now. He was trustworthy if a little cowardly, but he was loyal enough to always have her back just as she watched out for him. She held a certain amount of tolerance for him. He was an open book that she could easily read. He didn't bother hiding or holding back anything like she did. Trust wasn't an easy thing for her. It was because of this that he didn't ask too many questions at once, but she knew that too. She knew he respected her privacy, which was why she reasoned that she should know whatever it was that bothered him on a day to day basis. She trusted him enough to know.

"What's got your undies in a knot, Shapiro?" she questioned. He looked up so fast he could have pulled a muscle in his neck. He peered at her through cracked glasses, wary but eager to learn more about her. Especially if she was the one to tell him without having to figure it out on his own.

"I, um, I wanted to ask…n-nevermind," he began yet chickened out at the last minute. He shifted to lay more on his side, using his backpack as a pillow.

"Just ask. I owe you that much," she told him.

"You don't owe me anything," he disagreed.

"Ask," she demanded, a tightness to her voice. He bit at his lip, cautious, before his eyes went to the silver ring on her right hand. It was shaped like DNA and circled her finger in an elegant twist. She often fiddled with it when she was unsure of a situation, a comfort and reminder of a past she missed.

"Who gave you that?" he wondered.

"Why do you ask?" she responded, curious.

"You treasure it a lot," he replied simply.

"I do," she agreed.

"So then, who was it from?" he repeated. Jade sighed heavily and moved to sit up. She looked down at the ring glinting in the last of the sunlight. She twisted it around her finger a few times before looking at him.

"A friend," she finally answered.

"Just a friend?" he inquired with a quirked brow. She hesitated before rolling her eyes.

"My best friend," she rephrased.

"Where is your friend now?" he asked.

"Hell if I know…Hopefully alive," she said, forceful at first but weakening towards the end. Rarely did Robbie see sadness on Jade's face. It was always anger or irritation, sometimes panic and a little fear when they ran into trouble. But never sadness.

"We don't have much anymore. I hope she's alive too. For your sake," he began seriously, only to throw in a joke in an effort to cheer her up. She cracked a small smile and lightly kicked him.

"Shut up and go to sleep, nerd," she told him, getting comfortable. He smiled, happy he kept her from feeling down, and shifted until he was comfortable too. They were both asleep by the time darkness fell. Jade's dream made her jump awake hours later. Her legs jerked and she ended up kicking Robbie in the ribs. He awoke with a start, groaning in pain.

"Shh," she scolded, bringing a finger to her lips. While he recuperated in silence she thought back to her dream. It was a reoccurring one she detested. It was a memory of the last time she saw her best friend, Victoria Vega. Her personal ball of sunshine moved away months before the outbreak. Jade wondered if it was a coincidence or not. Jade wasn't given a reason why Tori was moving and she didn't ask. Either way, it was a heartbreaking good-bye. Tori went over to her house and they sat together, talking. She left Jade with a parting gift, promising that they would see each other again. She looked down at the ring on her finger. She never took it off. Tori was her childhood friend.

They went through so much together and now she didn't know where she was or if she was even alive. That worry was the worst and most pressing. She would be fine apart from her if she was alive. But if she wasn't…Jade couldn't bear to think of that possibility. A sound outside caught their attention. Jade pulled herself out of old memories and got up to peer through the boards. Robbie squeezed in next to her. Scraping on the trunk of the tree was heard before a voice cursed. They exchanged looks before moving to the small window. What they saw was a miracle. They were saved. The man and woman, dressed in uniform and carrying weapons, spotted them. The man spoke into his radio while the woman stepped forward.

"It's going to be all right. We're here to help," she announced. Jade and Robbie felt like a weight was lifted off their shoulders. After all the pain and hardship, losing their friends and family, they were finally among others. They heard of the soldiers from the outposts looking for survivors. They might not have found the outposts but their soldiers found them. In no time they would be taken to a place with people. They wouldn't have to be alone. Neither had to voice that relief out loud. They already knew.

How does one kill what's already dead? Simple, just aim for the head. That wasn't hard. The problem arose when that head was all too familiar. The face of her parents, rotting and dead as they shambled towards her. They were in a sorry state, slow because of the amount of decay that overcame them. Still, they tried to get attack her. She had no choice but to shoot. Her mother went down first, then she turned on her father. He charged, teeth gnashing and ready to bite. She shoved him away and took the shot. A bullet to the head. It was over. Well, she thought it was. Then she was there. Tori. But it wasn't the Tori she knew. This Tori looked sickly. She looked…dead. Her hand wavered as it gripped the gun tightly, pointed at her friend. She growled, a primal sound, and pounced. She couldn't shoot. Not Tori. Pain tore at her, blood ran thick. She cried out for help but she was alone…

"Noooo!" she screamed out loud, sitting up in bed. She looked around hastily, fingers gripping at the sheets. She let out a breath and forced herself to relax when she saw that she was in the barracks, in bed where she was supposed to be. The bunkbed squeaked and then Robbie was hanging off the top bunk to look at her.

"The dream again?" he asked her. She only nodded. He slid out of bed and plopped down next to her where she moved to sit at the edge. She reached over to the nightstand and picked up his glasses, handing them to him. He thanked her and put them on.

"When will they stop?" she wondered. He rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Have you thought about looking for her?" he inquired. Her expression hardened before it was replaced with a frown.

"I want to, but the commander wouldn't allow it. He has enough on his plate running the place and keeping track of all the soldiers. I can't ask him to let me run off on a personal mission when he needs me to scavenge and look for survivors," she reasoned.

"Well, if you really wanted to you could. It's not like you listen to rules. You don't even have to tell him. When we leave to scout just slip away. I got your back," he suggested.

"Breaking the rules, Shapiro? I never would have seen the day," she teased. Since joining the biggest outpost, The Fortress, both Jade and Robbie worked hard through the ranks. Jade was hard-pressed to follow rules and many thought she was difficult to deal with but she was strong and disciplined. Robbie was smart and quick, making up for his lack of strength. Five years of combat training placed them in the next group of scouts ready to adventure out for the good of the community. Jade and Robbie would be joined by the commander's daughter, Catarina. Everyone called her Cat. She was a soft-spoken girl prone to zoning out when she wasn't actively doing something.

Despite seeming vacant she was stealthy and knew the most when it came to treating injuries. Then there was Ryder and Beck. Ryder was the heavy hitter, the powerhouse. He was cocky and his brains were definitely in his biceps. Beck had a leader mentality even though there was no clear leader of the group, a balanced fighter skilled in a bit of everything. Their first trip outside the great concrete wall was scheduled in a few hours. It was clear what Jade feared she would come across. It wasn't the zombies. She fought so many she saw them as nothing more than targets. No, what she feared was seeing someone she knew. She feared that she wouldn't be able to shoot when the time came. When it mattered she might waver and it would cost them all their lives.

"You'll do fine, Jade. You won't hesitate. You know what you have to do," Robbie assured her, squeezing her shoulder.

"And if I wuss out?" she questioned.

"I'll be there to back you up. Each of us don't know anyone related to the other so it'll be easy for any one of us to step in. We'll be fine," he answered. It was so easy to just accept his words and move on, but it was also easy to think of the complications involved.

"I guess," she reluctantly agreed. He patted her shoulder and stood.

"We might as well start getting ready. We had to wake up in the next ten minutes anyway," he mentioned. She nodded but stayed where she was while he left to wake up everyone else. She took a moment to herself, clearing her mind. Her fingers played with the silver band of DNA and then she was up. She got dressed and strapped on her gear, quick and efficient. She left with her team. No one said anything as they made their way to the main building where they were told to meet the commander. Not even Cat said a word, her face just as stern as the rest of them. They entered to see that two other teams arrived before them. One more came in behind them. The first two were made up of older soldiers while the last were a few years older than them.

They were the first team to be so young. The quantity of able bodied people were dwindling. They were desperate to find survivors and all too ready to mow down any enemies that got in the way. They lined up in order when Commander Maes walked in. He greeted them and they returned it. He gave his speech and assigned each a portion of the city, branching out a little farther than the last time they were sent out. With their task given they filed out. They stuck close together as they made their way to the gate. Guards opened it for them to pass through and then they were outside. It felt almost empty, but Jade knew that somewhere out there was groups of wandering flesh eaters just waiting to stumble upon them.

"Good luck soldiers," a guard told them before closing the gate. They exchanged nods with the three other teams before they split up, each going in a different direction. Theirs was straight ahead, into the heart of the crumbling city.

"I think we should hit that pharmacy a few blocks down and see if there's anything left to bring back. Medicine is always needed," Beck spoke up, feeling the need to take charge.

"So is food, which is why we should hit the stores first," Ryder disagreed.

"Guys, we have to work together," Cat reminded them.

"She's right. We can stop by the pharmacy first and then the store, seeing as anyone who still needs food will most likely be hanging around there. I want to have some supplies to help them if they're injured," Jade reasoned. Beck gave her an exasperated look for stealing his thunder but said nothing, never one to start an argument. He liked ending any Jade started though. He irritated her more often than not. At least Ryder knew when to shut his face no matter how often he started a disagreement. They reached the pharmacy with no trouble and then headed to the nearby store, a few supplies richer. There wasn't much to find. It was a small market so they split up, each going down an aisle. Jade was halfway down hers when she heard scuffling towards the back of the store through the swinging double doors. She checked to see if anyone was close enough to go with her but she saw no one.

"Fuck," she grumbled to herself, trying to decide if she should risk checking it out alone. She held her gun at the ready and advanced on light feet, ready to bolt or dodge an incoming attack at the mere sight of trouble. She pushed through one side of the doors with her shoulder so that she could keep her weapon held at the ready. With a loaded gun and a steady hand she could get through this. It wasn't anything new. She propped the door open with a crate so that light filtered in. It was dark in the storage area. She heard scuffling again, to her right. She turned just in time to see something disappear behind a stack of boxes. She approached, holding her breath. She reached out with a booted foot and kicked a box. A startled cry made her jump but didn't give her a reason to shoot. It sounded human.

"Get out here. Slowly," she ordered. Several seconds passed before someone walked out from behind the boxes. As soon as she was able to see the person Jade's breath caught. She couldn't believe it. Her dumbstruck features quickly morphed into shock when a second, more disfigured silhouette came into view from the hall beyond them. Trouble finally found her.

Good start, bad start? Let me know. You guys know I suck at horror. I'm pretty much new to the whole zombie thing but I might as well try it out.