2 Where a predator lurks

Dawson glared into the woods, a low growl sounding from his throat. Luna looked over into the overgrown plants, closely examining it for any signs of movement. Nothing.

"Buddy, are you sure you heard something?" Luna rested her hand on the dog's back, still looking into the woods.

Dawson growled again, the muscles in his shoulders grew tense. He leaned down, moving his paws so he'd be ready to run at the approaching danger. Luna looked closely to the exact spot Dawson seemed so anxious about. Focusing, she noticed some movement in the leaves, and before she could even react a person came stumbling out. Not just any person though, a child!

The child fell on it's side and squirmed. Rushing over, Luna kneeled down next the kid, but something was off. Looking around she noticed Dawson backing away slowly, crouched and growling. Looking back down at the kid, she noticed the kid's hand grasping tightly around her wrist. A strange noise resounding from its throat. Before Luna could look any closer, Dawson leaped forward and started tearing at the kid's throat.

"Hey! What are you doing Dawson!?" She was about to stop the dog until she noticed a mark on the kids calf. A bite mark. This kid was was a crazy.

She lost her footing and fell backward, shocked. She was just watching a dog tear a child to pieces, this was the new normal now, but why? Why was this happening in the first place? If she survives to find out who did this to the planet, she'll make them pay.

Watching the dog walk away from the mangled child, she crept forward, scared that it may still be alive somehow. Picking up a stick as makeshift defense in case the child suddenly leaped at her, she continued to watch it warily. Is it still alive? No! It can't be... can it? Better dispose of it... wouldn't want the corpse to be laying out in the open like this.

Sticking the stick into the child and getting a good hook on it, she tossed it into the plants where it wouldn't be seen. Damn... disposing of a child like it was a wild animal. How cruel. But in this new world, it seemed you have to be cruel. It's the wild now, eat or be eaten. She had little to no idea how many sane humans were left alive, if any, nor did she know where to start looking.

Hours later she found herself lost, wandering the side of a road that was probably leading to nowhere but more road. She hadn't run into anymore crazies and the dog found food plus water at random places along the way, keeping them both fed and hydrated. What little sleep she got was under any shelter or cover that she could find.

She walked into a forest along one side of the road, creeping through the brush as she glided her fingers on the side of a tree. She had no idea where she was headed, was she still in Florida? What direction was she heading in? Where exactly was she going? So far she's had no sign of humans anywhere. Was she all alone now? Is the world truly at an end?

She walked. A dull expression on her face, tired eyes. She reeked of B.O. and other unsightly odors. The dog was beside her, his head low; panting; it's pads were blistered and sore, it's skin was flea ridden and oily. The earth seemed to pause around them, no sounds could be heard besides from occasional groans in the distance, crickets in the grass, and cicadas in the trees. Everything had just stopped moving, all life was silent and dead.

Looking up at the sky, a flock of birds was escaping this living nightmare to hopefully find something better.

Luna suddenly heard a whine from behind her, turning her head she saw Dawson. He was whimpering in pain and sorrow. He looked back at his hind leg, and she too looked to see what was wrong. It was over, because there it was. A crazy was biting into his flesh. She would no longer have a companion to travel by her side.

Out of nowhere, it hit him. A bullet. 1.7k mph of metal instantly hitting the dog and ending it's life. She stared in astonishment, her travel buddy was gone. Falling to her knees she looked at the dog's bleeding torso. He was panting heavily, a slight whimper emanating from his throat.

She hadn't noticed it yet, but she was crying. Her dog was now gone. Her last thread of humanity was dying. But something was off, where did that bullet come from?

She turned her head to see a tall, robust man. He was wearing a white tank top and green army pants. He had a tan complexion and scowl on his face, and a rifle in hand rested on his shoulder, pointing at the ground behind him. He had a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, a thin trail of smoke pillowing from the cigar butt. His hair was a dirty blonde, it was greasy and probably hadn't been washed in a while.

Tears slowly dripped down her face. She looked at the man, he looked so serious. How could this be? Was he without any emotions at all?

"Damn pests." He said suddenly.

"H-huh?" Luna managed to muster through her tears.

"The crazies, they're so invasive." He pointed his rifle at the lowly life form that was slowly slinking away from the dog corpse. He then shot it.

Luna looked at the dying creature with a deep sadness, it was once a human too, right? She couldn't believe what had happened, her memory from before her proclaimed car crash still hadn't come back.

"Why is this happening?" She whispered in question to herself.

"Lady I ask myself that everyday, but I have no idea what caused this to happen." He said solemnly.

"Do you have any family? Anybody to endure this with?" She looked up at his face. It was so cold, emotionless almost.

"No, long dead." He responded.

"Do you feel any remorse?" She asked.

"Somewhat, why are you asking me this anyways?" His tone was bitter.

"No reason, you just seem so... so empty." Wincing as she said that, she put her hand on one knee and pushed down to stand up.

"Want to spend the night at my place?" He looked up at the midnight sky.

"Huh?" She looked up at the sky, it was dusk. Was it a good idea to decline his offer? Either way she'd be in danger. Mind as well go with him.

He looked her in the eyes, waiting.

Growing uneasy, she nodded. "Ok..."