Don't Talk To Strangers | BOOK 1

three

Elle McBriar
not really sure what day it is

My eyes fly open. The cold sweats making me shiver. I'm staring at a roof. A white roof. Oh my God. Have I been kidnapped?

I sit up quickly, a shooting pain in my side, "Ah fuck!" I scream, clutching my ribs as hushed whispers fill my ears. I look down, seeing blood cover my hand. I was shot? Who the hell shot me? Surely it wasn't a zombie.

I get down off the table I was laying on and look around. It looks like a break room. Old posters hung up, an old coffee machine was sitting on a table. It's sad.

I go to my holster to find it empty. I begin to panic.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit.

I don't have my gun, or my knives! I'm about to be ambushed, and die! Goodbye sad, zombie world!

The whispers suddenly stop and I press my ear against the door. What I don't expect is be to flying backwards and landing on my ass.

"Well that hurt." I winced, laying flat, "Look zombies, if you're here to kill me, just get it over with. I'm sick of being alone. It sucks you know. It sucks! It sucks big fucking shit!" I rant. Its then I realise I don't hear zombie noises. Lifting my head up, I see people.

Actual real life people.

Scurrying backwards and standing on my feet, I feel myself start to shake.

"Fuck y-you're a person." I stutter, feeling the air leave my lungs.
The first boy looks at his friends behind him, "Yeah? I am, did you uh, hit your head."

He comes closer to me and I flinch away, causing him to stop.

"Please, just give me back my stuff and I'll leave you alone. I didn't mean to trespass I'm just hungry. And I needed somewhere to sleep-"
"Woah woah, slow down. We're not going to hurt you." The first boy rushes out.

I give him a 'are you stupid' look, and glance down at a hole in my skin.

"In our defense, you looked like a zombie." Rolling my eyes, "Thanks." 

My hand is still by my side, clutching the bullet wound as the boy comes in closer.

"I'm Alex, Murphy." He holds out his hands, I didn't take them. "Elle McBriar." He looks back at his friends who are staring at me intently, "Elle, can I ask you a few question?" My eyes widen, "I'm not in trouble, am I?" 

I hear one of the guys scoff, "What is she, stupid?" He mumbles, I shut my mouth.
"I just want to know if you're okay. You're the first human we've seen since this whole thing started, it's weird you know."

I nodded, following Alex Murphy back into the grocery store.

He guided me to a seat, behind the counter.

"Whats the last thing you remember?" He asks, "Someone yelling 'die fucking zombie' and then waking up here." I shrug, "Okay."

He stops talking, "Is that all?" I asked, he shakes his head, "How long have you been alone for? Out there?" I look down, fumbling with my hands, "Four months. Since this whole thing started." 

Alex Murphy nods, giving me weak smile as he gets up and walks over to his friends. I feel light headed. I know the loss of blood is not helping. I get up, a stabbing pain in my side every time I take a step.

"Hey, no one said you could go anywhere." Someone yelled at me. I froze, "Price, calm down."
"No, she could be bitten for all we know." "Price, you're gonna wake the baby." A baby? There's a baby? This price guy comes up to me, glowering at me. Without saying anything, he grabs my wrists, aggressively turning them over, he pulled my neck and my legs, "I'm not bit, I swear."