We never think that something like this could ever happen.

That everything we've ever known or loved could disappear in a instant.

Leaving no trace of what used to be.

We were foolish to think that we could outrun it.

That we could outsmart it.

That somehow we wouldn't become like them...we were wrong...

–

Ten Months Ago

"Spencer we have to go now!" My brother Glen shouts up the stairs to me. I'm throwing everything I think I will need into a duffel as quickly as I can.

"I'm coming!" I yell back down to him.

"Spencer!" I hear my dad shout. I'm moving as fast I can. I grab a few more things and toss them into the bag and run downstairs.

"Paula!" My dad calls to my mom who is in the kitchen, stuffing as many canned goods into a bag as she can. "We need to leave now." He says in a firm tone.

'Everyone who is able is being asked to evacuate to the closest army quarantine shelter for assistance.' The newscaster lady says on the television. 'We are asking that anyone who is infected refrain from attempting to enter a quarantine area to prevent further contamination.' She continues.

"Ready." My mom says coming from the kitchen with a bag full of canned good and other non perishable items.

"Put your mask on." My dad tells us and we all comply. He gives us one firm head nod before opening the front door.

My once quiet suburban neighborhood.

Happy families. Barbeques. Birthday parties.

This was once my neighborhood.

Not anymore.

Now my neighborhood was in chaos.

People running and screaming. Scrambling to get their loved ones into their cars to evacuate to an army shelter.

It's been one month since the first death due to the virus and government officials have only just now decided to do something about it.

Why do we wait until the last possible second instead of taking preventive measures?

The government wouldn't give us any details on how or why the virus is here. The only thing we know is what the newscasters tell us, which isn't much.

Trinity Flares was the first person to contract the virus and die from it within a few hours, a month ago tomorrow. That's all we know.

"Spencer!" My dad calls to me. I look up and see my entire family has already piled into our Toyota Camry.

The same car I learned to drive in. That I had my first kiss in. This same car that would take us to safety...

I quickly hop in the car and barely inside before my dad is backing out of the driveway.

–

"There isn't anymore room." The guard at the front gate tells my dad for the third time.

"You have to let us in." My dad pleads. "I have a fifteen-year-old daughter and a sixteen-year-old son." He tells the man who peeks into the back window at Glen and I.

"I'm sorry sir. I really am, but you're gonna have to head towards Arizona. That's gonna be your best bet." He tells my father who sighs and drops his head.

"Thank you." My father tells him sternly, before turning the car around. As we pass the hundreds of cars lined up to get onto the base we were just turned away from, I stare into the cars at the little children and parents who will have to try to drive upstate to get to safety.

"We're going to Nevada." My dad says softly.

"But the soldier said to-"

"Arizona is too far. We will never make it." He cuts my mom old.

"Arthur..." She tries, but he shakes his head.

"I know what's best for our family, Paula." My dad tells her, without taking his eyes off the road.

"Okay." She nods as my dad turns onto the highway.

–

"Spencer come on we're moving." Jayden tells me.

"Okay." I nod and start to pack up my sleeping bag and other items.

We never say in one place more than a night.

It's too dangerous.

We never know where they are or how many they'll be. We just try to stay alert, because the moment we lose focus someone could get killed.

After I pack up my things I head out of the tent that Jo and Tim immediately start to disassemble.

"Spence." I turn around a see my brother holding out a bowl of corn for me.

"Thank you." I give him a small smile. I quickly eat my food as the rest of the group finishes packing up their gear.

There are ten people in our group total.

Glen and I, Jo and Tim; who are married with a son Francisco, Jayden and her girlfriend Carmen and their daughter Jessica, and Santana and her husband Rick.

We try to travel as light as we can. We never know when we'll need to move again.

Both the kids in the group are ten, so they don't slow us down much.

"We're leaving, baby sis." Glen says to me, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Okay." I nod and stand up from the rock I was sitting on.

"Spence." He stops me as I start to follow the rest of the group through the woods.

"Yeah?" I turn and ask.

"Happy sixteenth birthday." He smiles and kisses my forehead before walking past me to catch up with the group.

I smile and think of my parents and my last birthday. How we were all together...one big happy family.

"I miss you mom and dad." I whisper out and close my eyes.

"Spencer!" I hear Glen yell and I run to catch up with the rest of the group.