Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the creation of the special infected that will be used in future chapters, nor do the characters such as Bill, Zoey, Francis, and Louis, these all belong to Valve.

I couldn't escape; no matter how fast I ran or what I did, there's no escaping it. Cat-like shrieks rang in my ears as I ran down the dark corridor.

"Do I dare look behind me?" I continually asked myself, deciding against the better part of my brain pleading not to, I turn my head to look back at what was chasing me. I couldn't see anything in the dark except for two piercing red orbs behind me; fear surged through my body like I was being electrocuted. My knees buckled, making my body collapse onto the floor below me, the red orbs were getting closer and the shrieks were getting louder.

"This is it." I thought to myself as the creature came upon me like an oncoming storm.

My eyes shot open to see I wasn't a dark corridor but safe in my bedroom. The shrieks from the creature that chased me in my dreams still rang in my ears, slowly dying away like an echo. I've been having the same nightmare for the past few months now, and each time the creature seems to be closer and closer to me when I finally wake up. I shifted my eyes to the alarm clock I had besides my bed, 7:15 it read.

Damn I'm going be late.

I quickly rolled off my bed and fell onto the floor, using that extra jolt from the fall to wake me up. Reaching on top of the night stand I grabbed my glasses before I got up onto my feet and opened up my drawer and pulled out my clothes, I quickly pulled on pair jeans, my favorite Doctor Who T-shirt and my denim over shirt. Digging deeper into my drawer I found a pair of socks and ran out my bedroom door. I rushed into the kitchen noticing that my breakfast had been set: fried eggs with buttered toast.

Thanks Mom you're a doll

I scarfed down my breakfast, and washed it down with a glass of water. I then grabbed my bag and pocket watch I set besides the table, only pausing to yell "Love you" and rushed out the front door. Usually I'm not like this; usually I'm up bright and early making my own breakfast and lunch so my mom could sleep in, but for the past few weeks I've become more and more tired in the morning and restless at night, I think it's because of that freakish nightmare I have every other night. It seems to be more draining than I thought.

I pulled out my pocket watch, it read: 7:25, I think I could make it in time. The school bus drops by at 7:30 two blocks away, if I cut a few corners at break neck speed I should be able to make it right on time. Sprinting around a corner I notice the bus of in the distance, crap it's early. Making my legs go as fast as possible I zoom by early morning joggers with ease, only one kid was left in line to board the bus, I screamed "Wait for me!" The last kid turns around and sees me; he points towards me and says something to the bus driver. I then scraped to a stop in front of the double doors and climbed onboard. As I climb up the steps the bus driver gives a slight tsk before closing the doors, I made it.

I looked around the bus as I stopped to take a breather, I notice the kid who told the bus driver sitting in the front seat.

"Thanks….I... Owe…You." I gasped between breaths; the kid mumbled "No problem." Careful not to look at me as if it would turn him to stone; oh yeah did I mention I'm the least liked kid in the school? For some reason people think I'm the prime candidate for name calling and beating, you would begin to think that at least the name calling would stop at high school- nope it only gets worse.

"Hey Kendick." Somebody called from the aisles of seats, now this is mock up of my name: Ryan Kendrick, for some reason people thought it was clever it get rid of the R in my last name so it sounded like Ken-Dick instead of Ken-Drick; people have been using that as my name ever since the 4th grade when they just managed to figure out that dick was another word for penis. Promptly ignoring this remark I walk down the aisle searching for my one and only friend Nicole Jacobs. Nicole and I go way back, ever since the 4th grade just when people started to pick me as a punching bag she was the only one who defended me against them. We soon became friends and made a pact that we would watch each other's backs for the years to come. Her light and happy mood always use to cheer me up even in the saddest of times; like when my father abandoned us. It seems like mom and dad were always fighting back then, whether it be late at night or early in the morning they would always be at each other's throats about one thing or another. Eventually my dad decided he had enough of us and left without even giving a second glance. I was ten at the time so finding out that your dad didn't love you or even couldn't stand to look at you again was like having your heart ripped out and thrown to the trash. Most mornings I couldn't even be bothered to get up and out of bed, my mother feeling worried brought me to a psychiatrist because she was too busy trying to work extra shifts at the hospital to keep us going. Despite their best efforts neither the psychiatrist nor my mom could make me feel better about the situation. The only person who seemed to take my mind off about my father was Nicole, she would always be there slipping her hand into mine telling me: "I'm here for you."

Nicole was always there for me, she always saw the best parts of life; but life will eventually kick you down in some way or another, for Nicole it was the death of her mom. Nicole lived with both her parents; her mother Amy Jacobs, was a sweet woman and often sat down with me to sympathize about the situation my mother and I were in. Her father Brian Harley, though was often abusive towards both of them, and came home most of the time drunk and in a bad mood; I've only had the displeasure of meeting Nicole's father two times. Her mother was the only person between Nicole and her father; usually when Nicole's father would come home he would be looking for something to beat on because his job actually required him to listen to orders and he didn't like that at all. One night during our summer vacation Nicole's father just snapped and for some reason beat her mother down, until it came to the point where Nicole had to call the police to stop him. Nicole's mother died while being driven to the hospital and her father was arrested for the premeditated murder of Amy Jacobs. In one cruel hour, life had taken away Nicole's mother, father, and Nicole herself in a way.

For the rest of summer vacation Nicole stayed with me and my mother, I originally planned to take up a summer job so I could make it a bit easier for my mom with the bills, but that was swiftly changed to take care of my best friend. Nearing the end of our summer vacation I thought I was finally going to get my friend back but that ended with four knocks on my front door. I opened the door to find Jacob Harley and a couple of his buddies from work; turns out these buddies of his chipped in and bailed him out of jail. Now he was back a wanted Nicole back as well.

I saw Nicole sitting by the window and immediately sat down besides her. "Cutting it kind of close, don't you think?" She mumbled. "Still made it on time didn't I?" I replied. Her face was monotone, but I could see in her eyes she was hurting. I slipped my hand into hers and gave a gentle squeeze, "I'm here for you." She gave my hand a gentle squeeze back, "I know."

The bell rang noisily signifying the end of the day, as I packed my bag I noticed Nicole walking out the door; shoving my text books into my bag I ran after her into the hall. I eventually caught up to her, and noticed something strange as we walked together, underneath her long sleeves I notice a purple patch of skin showing. "Nicole; stop for a second." I murmured. As I slowly pulled up her sleeve bruises and welts lay scattered across her arm. "That son of a bitch…." I growled. I look back up to her face to notice tears are streaming down "Nicole you don't have to-"I began but was cut short by Nicole shaking her head furiously. "Yes I do, I have nobody else but him, I don't have a choice." She said as the tears streamed down faster. "Nicole you know that's not true." I said. Again she shook her head furiously before saying "It is true, and you've known it too-don't deny it, he doesn't like you, in fact he's never liked you, not since the first time he's laid his eyes on you. Enough to the point of hurting you, and I can't allow that."

It was true, I realized it was a possibility ever since he came back to get Nicole. I still stuck with her though because she deserved better than that asshole, she deserved to be with the people that care about her, not him. I felt Nicole pull her wrist out of my grip and walked off.

"Good Bye." She said, not even giving me a second glance. I wanted yell after her, but the words were caught in my throat, my feet wouldn't move they were glued to the sidewalk; I could only look at her as she walked down the sidewalk, and walked out of my life.

"And for our tops news tonight, it seems that some kind of new virus has been spreading along the coast of Miami sending dozens of people to the hospital; symptoms include paling of the skin, violent coughing, and severe hysteria, scientists are still trying to find what this disease is and how it is spreading; more details after the break." The news anchor reported, even though his voice rang throughout the room none of it really got to me. I felt abandoned, left to live life's cruel little game it set up for me that I'd have to play by myself now. Despite the hurt that swelled in my chest, it was nothing compared to the feeling of guilt and concern I felt for Nicole, having to live with her father, a sadistic ass, having no one to be there for her, she deserves better. My outrage for the situation grew at the thought of Nicole's father; I hated him so much, for ruining everything.

That's it

I couldn't stand it any longer, I jumped off my couch and stomped to the umbrella stand we kept by the front door. I grabbed the bat out of the stand, I never knew why we kept there and I will never care, the only thing that mattered was getting Nicole back. I unlocked the front door and ran out, not even bothering to close it, because I wouldn't be gone for long, no not long at all.

Walking down the sidewalk, house after house I immediately recognized the building I visited once as a little kid. I crossed the lawn to the front of the door, it was open, and so Brian must have come home early. Once I got onto the porch I could hear his voice screaming: "WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?" followed by a thwack. I immediately knew what was going on and bolted through the door, the scene opened up to me: Brian was standing over Nicole his back turned to me, wielding a cane. Nicole herself was using the wall as support her face and arms covered in cuts and bruises, her eyes swiftly met mine as I stood there taking in what was happening. Brian must have noticed her eyes too as he slowly turned around, but it was too late. I brought the knob of the bat across the bridge of his nose with a satisfying crack. He dropped the cane as he clutched his nose screaming in pain. Without a second's notice I hit Brian's shin with bat causing him to collapse to the ground. I threw the bat away having done its job, before embracing Nicole with a hug. Hearing her gasp slightly I remembered the cut and bruises on her before I let go. Her expression was terrified as she looked at me, then she turned her eyes to the crumpled heap on the floor sobbing, "The extent of his injuries is a broken nose and one bruise, he'll be fine sadly" I said. Nicole brought her eyes back to me before nodding. "Why did-"

"I'm here for you Nicole; I've come to take you away from here, I can't allow this to happen anymore."

"But what if he comes to take me back again?'

"He won't come back; those bruises and cuts are enough evidence for an organization like UNICEF to separate the both of you."

Nicole stood there motionless before looking at me and asking: "But what about you?"

"I don't care about what happens to me, just so long as I know you're safe I'll gladly accept the charges, because Nicole this is where everything changes." I explained. I slipped my hand into Nicole's and squeezed gently, she looked up at me with a smile slowly spreading across her face, and it vanished instantly, fear replacing it, "RYAN LO-"But for me it was already too late. Pain explode inside my head as the bat struck the side, I fell to the ground like a rag doll. Darkness filled my vision, having Nicole's voice scream distantly. "That's what happens, you little shit" Brian's voice echoed.

"NO PLEASE, RYAN COME BACK." Nicole sobbed, her voice growing more and more distant. "No, not you too." Is all I heard before the Darkness completely engulfed me.