NICOLETTE

"Keep running!" Sarah yelled, sprinting ahead of her. "Just keep running, Nicki!"

How had it come to this?Just a few days earlier, Nicki had arrived in Atlanta with her older sister Sarah for one of Nicki's archery competitions.

"Thrilled for tomorrow?" Sarah asked while unpacking their bags in the hotel room. The competitors and their companions had a fully paid hotel room in the heart of Atlanta, allowing them to rest before the two-day competition began.

"Not that much," Nicki replied, lying on her stomach as she flipped through channels on the TV, searching for something to watch before bed.

"Not that much?" Sarah snorted, shaking her head. "I get that this isn't your first competition, but are you really not a bit thrilled? Agitated? Happy?" She continued, "I mean, the top three will compete at the Nationals!"

"Disappointed?" Nicki asked, glancing at her sister, who smiled.

"Just a little bit," Sarah said, eliciting an eye roll from Nicki.

"Alright," Sarah said, changing the subject. "What about the fact that we came here alone? Not thrilled about that?"

It was true—Nicki usually went to her competitions with their parents. Sarah was finishing university, and the few times she could accompany Nicki, their parents had been with them. But this time, their parents were busy working, and Sarah had a break at university, allowing her to come along. Now that she had turned 21, she was legally able to look after Nicki.

"For that, I am a bit," Said Nicki, nodding her head. "You are so terrible at orienting that I didn't think we'd even make it out of the airport."

"So funny," Sarah replied sarcastically.

"I wasn't trying to be," Nicki shot back, her gaze drifting to her case containing her bow. "I just love archery," she said after a moment of silence. "Winning isn't everything for me; I just have fun."

She relished the feel of the bow in her hands, the way it calmed her as she focused on the target—the bright red bullseye. In those moments, nothing else mattered. It was peaceful until she released the arrow, the buzzing sound ringing in her ears as it flew across the yard. She cherished that.

The bed shifted beneath her as Sarah sat down and placed a hand on Nicki's back. "That's a great way to see it," she said, earning a nod from Nicki.

Then, Sarah chuckled softly. "But be careful not to smile too much," she teased.

Sarah always teased Nicki for being a quiet girl. Nicki wasn't bad at expressing herself; she just preferred listening to talking. If she didn't have anything useful to say, she'd rather remain silent.

"I do smile," Nicki protested, tossing a pillow at Sarah's face. Her brown hair fell messily as she stared at Nicki with wide eyes, before grabbing a pillow and hitting Nicki back, laughter erupting between them.

Sarah loved to smile; she thrived on joy and laughter. She could talk for hours on the phone, spinning stories that Nicki adored listening to. Sarah was a true storyteller, while Nicki preferred being the audience.

But their playful moment was shattered when the news blared from the TV: "The situation is worsening. Many more patients have fallen ill, and entire hospital departments are now in quarantine to contain the infection."

Both sisters froze, their earlier laughter evaporating. It has been weeks, now. A strange infection started in some hospitals and it was beginning to become a serious matter. But as serious at it sound, it wasn't really clear what was happening.

"What kind of disease is this?" Nicki asked, studying her sister's frown.

"No one really knows," Sarah replied, her brow furrowed in thought. "Apparently, it's some kind of fever. People have been quarantined for weeks now." Nicki watched her sister closely, absorbing every word.

"You're dying to know, aren't you?" Nicki teased, eliciting a glimmer of curiosity in Sarah's eyes.

"Of course I am!" Nicki responded. Despite not studying Medicine, her curiosity burned bright.

"But they'll contain it, right?" Nicki asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "I mean, it's the 21st century. We can survive a disease."

How wrong she had been...

As Nicki ran through the alleys of Atlanta, she couldn't believe that just a few hours earlier, she had woken up in a bed and was getting ready to go to the airport. They had been stuck in traffic for hours when it began. The cars hadn't moved an inch; Nicki was sure she had even dozed off at some point while Sarah tried to call their parents.

"Strange," Sarah remarked, peering at her phone screen. "It's not even ringing."

"Maybe they went to Aunt Katie's," Nicki suggested, rubbing her eyes. There, reception was spotty at best.

"Have we moved at all?" she asked.

"Not one bit," Sarah replied, putting her phone away.

They had taken a cab, but they were still in Atlanta, unmoving after two hours.

"We are never going to make it," Nicki said rubbing her left eye tiredly, looking over her sister who still had the phone in her hand.

Nicki frowned a little. "Nothing yet?"

"No..." Sarah muttered before looking out of the window.

"Maybe this situation is just influencing me... I don't know..." She forced a little smile, but Nicki knew when her sister was worried. It was unspoken, but they always could tell when something was wrong with the other.

"Do you want a cookie?" Nicki asked suddenly after taking a breath. Sarah smiled truly, nodding her head, but in her eyes, the worry was still there; it wouldn't go away until they wouldn't have heard something from their parents.

They're fine... for sure... Nicki thought before moving her bag from her shoulders. But as she had it in her hands a sudden noise rang in her ear before a force made her body move forward almost knocking her head on the glass in front of her, if she didn't have put her hands up, she would surely have a bruise now.

"Oh my God," Sarah exclaimed as she felt hands grip Nicki's arm. "Nicolette, are you okay?" The crushing noise still rang in her ears, giving her a slight headache.

"Why don't you ever wear your seatbelt?" Sarah scolded, frustration evident in her voice. Nicki nodded, though she didn't fully understand why she did that.

"What happened?" Nicki asked, frowning when she noticed the driver was no longer in his seat. As she looked up, panic gripped her as she saw the front of the car destroyed. They had crashed into the vehicle in front of them.

"Even at the back" said Sarah incredulously.

But how? They were going so slow.

From outside they could hear the driver yelling at a man, screaming that in was not possible that something like that happened.

"Someone got hit by the car, it's still under it," at those words the two girls looked at each other before curiosity get them and both of them opened the doors. She wasn't going to get any closer, but Nicki wanted to know if that person was alright.

"The ambulance will never get here," muttered Nicki looking at all the cars behind them. From a couple of cars ahead to many behind them they all have crushed.

"It's moving," they heard and Nicki could see her sister got on the tip of her toes to get a glimpse of what was happening, but suddenly a scream cut the air, making the girls jump.

"He bit me!" then another painful scream could be heard making Nicki shiver "Help! Please!"

Suddenly people started to run, as the man still cried for help. More and more people were starting to run their way.

"Oh my God! What is that? What is it?!" someone else screamed as someone from the front yelled.

"People are biting everyone!"

What did that mean?

"They are coming this way!"

"He killed him!"

 Killed? Who had been killed? Who was killing? They were in the street in the middle of the day; what was happening?

Screams and cries could be heard and Nicki looked at her Sarah with fear and confusion in her eyes.

"Nicki!" Screamed Sarah as someone run over the younger sister almost making her fall on the ground.

"Run! There are more!" Everyone was screaming, and Nicki had to do her best not to let someone run over her.

"Stay there," screamed Sarah. "I'm coming!" Then someone bumped into Nicki again, making her hit her back on the side of the car. It was like she wasn't even there as people kept running. They were leaving their cars to run away screaming.

Someone had shirts dirty, or scratches, by any second every person was hurt more and more.

"Nicki!" the girl turned to her sister who had climbed up the car to get to her sister, "Are you ok?" Sarah asked, keeping her close so as not to let people hurt her.

"What's going on?" asked Nicki, looking around.

"He bit me!" a man walked past them, with a giant red bloody bite on his cheek.

Suddenly, a growl could be heard, and some strange figures started to walk towards their way; they weren't fast, but they were walking strangely. Making strange sounds. Their skin was greyish and their eyes were almost black, it could have been seen even from where Nicki was.But what made them scream in fear was seeing one of those men assault the taxi driver at the neck. Blood run out from the bite and more the man tried to free himself more that thing clanged on him and soon even other two did the same. They were eating him.

"Let's go!" Sarah said, pushing her sister. "Come on, Nicki, run!"

They took a few steps when Nicolette stopped, making Sarah look at her in fear."My bow!"

"There's no time!" exclaimed Sarah, taking her sister's hand. She looked at those things and walked closer and closer. "Come on," she repeated, pulling her away with her.

Nicki followed her sister as more screams could be heard everywhere.What was happening? Who were those people? Did they just kill? The screams of the driver still in her head and the vision of his blood printed in her eyes. Did they just saw someone die?

A scream come from in front of them, making them stop. Sarah hold her sister close trying to figure out form where they were coming. People were starting to run back towards them.

"No..." muttered Sarah, "No! There is more that way," she said as people ran by.

"Don't!" but nothing; everyone just passed by, and more screams could be heard everywhere.

"Sarah," said Nicki, pulling at her sister's hand. "What do we do?"

Sarah looked around with wide eyes, keeping hearing the screams."We... we need to move away," she said, finally looking down at Nicki. "Get away from the street." Then she started to run again, pulling Nicki with her.

They ran through the cars, doing their best to keep avoiding people. The screams where everywhere and the only thing Nicolette could think what just what is happening?

Finally, they managed to get away from the road, running towards an alley not that far.

"What is it? What's going on?" Sarah didn't answer. She just looked around. "Sarah!"

"I don't know, I don't know," Sarah exclaimed with a trembling voice.

Nicki was breathing hard but she wasn't sure it was just for the running. She could still see all that blood; her hands were shaking and she could see that even Sarah's were. Suddenly a growl was heard and Sarah pushed Nicki at the ground behind a dumpster.

Growling, they were much more than before. Strange breathing and sounds. Nicki tried to take a look, doing her best to not been seen and suddenly she could see more and more of those strange people.

"What are they?" she whispered, unable to get her eyes from those sight.

"Oh my God," said Sarah. "Are those corps?"

Nicki looked at her sister in disbelief. "But they are moving."

Sarah eyed her sister, probably understanding that her words didn't make any sense.

"We have to find a place to hide," said Sarah after a moment. "Here, we'd be at risk. Those things are attacking everyone."

Nicki nodded her head, and a shiver ran down her spine every time she could hear another scream.

"Wherever you want to go," said Nicki. "We can't use the road."

Sarah bit her lip, trying to find the best way to find shelter. They didn't have a lot of time, by the minute those things became more and more. Sarah continued to bit her lip, she always did that when she was deep thinking, but her shaking hands gave away that she didn't have figure out the right choice to make. Nicki observed her as she heard more growling from the road, not that far from them.

"Maybe we could call the police," suggested the younger one, moving to take her sister'.

Sarah looked down at herself to take the phone, but at that, she groaned. "I forgot it in the taxi," she said, closing her eyes.

Nicki looked for Sarah's purse but that wasn't there and Nicki didn't have it in her backpack; it still was in the suitcase, she hadn't even turn it on, since she would have to turn it down once on the plain.

"Ok," said Sarah, taking Nicki's shoulders in her hands. "We'll use the alleys; we can find another way."

She didn't seem sure of her words, but there was nothing else they could have done, so Nicki nodded.

The two sisters got up carefully, trying not to make much noise. Nicki looked behind herself, and her eyes widened at how many people were walking on the road.

"Come, Nicki," whispered Sarah starting to walk inside the alley, letting Nicki walk ahead of her, probably to make sure none of those things was following them.

Nicolette didn't know where they were going. The both of them never walked in street like those. And the fact that they kept changing way as they heard growling wasn't helping.

"Sarah, you know we are going to get lost," Nicki said as they kept walking.

"Oh, I'm sure of it," Sarah said, looking behind them. "Now, we just need to keep away from those... those..."

What were those things exactly? Were they people? Were they monsters? What was happening?

Sarah turned her head as screams could be heard from behind them. Fast steps echoed in the alleys as the sound was any second closer.

"Are those... things...?" Nicki asked, not really sure where to look.

"I don't know," said Sarah, looking behind them. "Just... keep moving."

They walked for a few minutes, but screams and steps were closer and closer. What was going to happen? The way those people had attacked the taxi driver, the way everyone was screaming... how would they have protected themselves if they had shown up?

"Run!" someone screamed ahead of them. And after a moment a man run in their direction from the front "They are here!" he yelled "Oh God, they are here!" suddenly some of those creatures turned the corner.

They were there, in front of them, and they could not go back.

"Sarah..." Nicki said as she saw them approach.

"We have to run!" the man yelled towards Sarah.

"They were coming from the other way too," she argued "You run there, and you will cross path with them."

"We are going to die, girl!" the man yelled in her face and at those words Nicki saw her sister looking at her. She was scared, but there was determination in her eyes.

"We are not," she said strongly, starting to look between the creatures and what was around them.

"They are slow... there must be something we can use," Nicki nodded at her sister; she didn't want to be eaten by those monsters.

"And what would you do?" the man asked.

"I need to think," Sarah said. She would find a way, Nicki was sure. Sarah had always been good at hide-and-seek, finding all the right and smart places to hide.

"Ok..." said Nicki as those things moved closer. Sarah had to think, and she had to do something, like throwing stuff.

"Dude, help me," Nicki said, nudging the man. She saw some restaurant trash cans, so she first took its cover and throw it like a freebie, hitting one of those things on the chest, making it growl and stumble against a couple behind it. Even the dude had thrown a garbage bag at one of them that fall on the ground. As it fell the one behind him kept walking like nothing happened and they too fall on the ground, growling.

"They just keep walking," Sarah said. "We have to barricade."

"Barricade?" Asked Nicki throwing a trash can at the monsters.

"I'm not sure they can move like a normal person," said Sarah as she started to try and move a dumpster to let a side lean on the wall. It wasn't that far from the wall, but she tried to moved it more on the right.

"Help her," said Nicki as she just kept throwing stuff at the monsters. The man ran to help Sarah move the dumpster.

"You could just push into the wall," he argued.

"No" she shook her head "I need it here!" she said as she finally pushed it where she wanted before running to the other, "Come on!" she said as she pushed with the man the other so that they could be shielded by the dumpsters.

The things were getting closer and soon they would have been too close to Nicki so that she could have avoided them. Now that they were close, Nicki could see them better. They were human... they had a human form, but they really seemed like corpses.

"They can't be zombies..." Nicki breathed out before hearing Sarah yell.

"Nicki come here!" she cried as they had been almost able to get the two dumpsters close.

One of those zombies had been that close that almost touched Nicki who jumped back with a yelp before running to her sister who was pulling the corner of the dumpster as the man was on the other side pulling.

Nicki entered the save zone Sarah was creating, leaned her back against the brick wall, and looked at her sister.

"Hurry up!" Sarah said at the man, that moved to pass between the dumpsters but got taken by the arm by one of those things.

"No!" Sarah yelled as the man started to cry in fear. Nicki rushed to her sister trying to help her as Sarah was trying to grab the man, "Take my hand!" she begged, but as Nicki looked one of those things bite the man on the neck.

Sarah let out a cry as Nicki could just look at the blood covering the yelling men, who was crying tears of pain and despair. And more time passed more attacked him as he fell on the ground followed by the monsters.

"Sarah..." muttered Nicki as she saw a few tears running down her sister's face before Sarah started to pull the dumpster closer until just a gap could be left in front of them. The cries of the man could still be heard as the two girls' backs leaned against the wall.

Sarah's hands were shaking and Nicki had to cover her ears to stop the screams to reach her head. They stood like that for none of them knew how long, like that in silence just listening to growling, not able to forget what they had just seen. That man had died and those things were out there, not moving. Some of them have noticed the two girls and started to push against the dumpster. It could go, but not forever. Soon they would have break through.

"Are we going to die?" asked Nicki as she kept looking ahead of her, to the monster whose arm was between the gap. Sarah was taking deep breaths, as her brown hair fall in front of her face. Nicki didn't want for her to answer, she knew what was going to happen. They would have died, and what really bothered Nicki was not the dying itself. It was scary, of course, but the pain... the fear...

"I don't want to die like this," she said involuntarily out loud.

She could hear Sarah take a breath as the dumpster started to move slightly.

"And you won't," she said, getting up, her voice still a bit shaken, but she had the courage to move, looking up.

"I wanted these dumpsters here for that," she said, pointing at the wall, which was not so far from the dumpsters."If we could climb there, maybe we can manage to climb those stairs."

Above them, there were the building's fire escape stairs. They were made of iron, but they weren't long enough to touch the ground.

"This is the closest we could be," Sarah said, drying the last tear she had on her cheeks.

They could do it. They just had to climb the dumpster, try to jump towards the top of the wall in front of them and try to reach the stairs.

"Maybe they can't climb; they seem to be able just to walk straight ahead," Sarah said as the dumpsters started to move a little. Soon they would have been there.

"Watch out!" a voice called from above them as the iron stair fall closer to them.

The two girls looked up, to see a boy with a hat keeping the stair steady.

"Come on," he said. "Climb up." Nicki looked at her sister, who blinked her brown eyes before pushing her to climb the dumpster. Now, the stair was so close that from the top of the dumpster, they could reach it and climb up.

Nicki went first, and as she was pushed up by Sarah, she could see the group of monsters that were waiting for them so that they could eat them as they had done with that man. She didn't look for long, she turned and helped to pull her sister up the dumpster. Sarah had been right, they couldn't climb. Then they reached the stairs and started to climb up until they arrived to the top.

"I got you, I got you," said the boy as he helped Nicki on the iron balcony. "You ok?" he asked, making her nod before he moved to help Sarah up.

He was a young Asian boy, maybe a bit older than Sarah. He was wearing a baseball black t-shirt and a baseball cap; a backpack was on his back.

"Are you ok?" he asked to Sarah, who nodded her head before looking at him.

"Thank you..." she said, breathing in and out to calm herself.

"No problem," he said with a kind voice, "Seen you in trouble, had to do something."

"You helped us a lot," Sarah said with a little smile. "I... I am Sarah," she said before turning to her sister. "This is Nicki, my little sister." Nicki nodded her head towards the boy.

"Hi..." he said. "I'm Glenn."