In a world falling apart can a shell of a young woman survive? Bailey is a young woman struggling with her demons, trying her best to fight through a living hell; literally. Not only does bailey fight for every living breath but now she must fight for her place in this dying world.
View MoreI can’t help but look around me as I run down the abandoned street. My canvas clad feet smacking harshly against the dirt road with my increasing stride. The early morning sun making it easy to see as the darkness lifts. My breathing became deafening as I continue to tire. I need to push on they need the medicine.
You’re not going to make it, the fever will kill all those effected all because you weren’t quick enough. That’s why they abandoned you the first time, isn’t it? You weren’t quick enough, It’s all your fault they left you. My subconscious speaks like I am a five year old in need of a scolding.
My uneven breathing grows harsh as my throat closes up with memories rushing back from my subconscious’ taunting. My fingers automatically go to the left side of my forehead to trace the ridge of the scar to its end just below my right eye.
Why is it whenever I’m alone I always end up drowning in the torment created by my own mind? Come on Bailey, you just have to get the medicine back to the others.
I start thinking about the group I am currently with. Sure they were nice but they mainly have children that survived the carnage. They almost always need me to go on supply runs but I can’t help myself from thinking they just want to get rid of me.
Imagine all the things they say behind your back, being branded with the shame of failure and rejection is the best thing that will ever happened to you. That scar warns others away from you. The disgust and the suspicion, it’s all clear on their faces. My subconscious cackles, delighted by their obvious disgust.
No! They don’t look at me like that, do they? I have to distract myself. Maybe if I look at the buildings.
The abandoned buildings around me were trashed when the apocalypse started. I remember when the first outbreak was reported, the infected were ripping people’s throats out. I always thought the apocalypse would have been caused by zombies but it’s not. Get this, the apocalypse started because of vampires and not the twilight kind of vampires. No these vampires don’t have glittery skin or look even remotely attractive. These vampires have rotten skin from the lack of food and their eyes are black bottomless pits. These monsters can go out in the sun without the fear of their skin burning. Their nails look like thick wires protruding from their fingertips reminding me of barbed wire. It is terrifying. I don’t ever want to get caught in the middle of a pack of them. I have seen it happen. I shudder from the atrocious memory, that’s not something I want to see ever again.
I knew I was nearing the compound due to the buildings having a stronger structure with more stability than the rubble around them and I knew I was nearly at the compound. I draw closer only to notice the screams and the sound of gunshots in the distance, my breath hitches as I sprint towards the wailing. How could this happen? The groups on patrol are excellent at spotting threats. Have they been attacked by another group? Is it those monsters? Have they been overrun?
My thoughts intensify as I stumble along the dirt road as fast as I can.
I have to help them! I need to help them!
What and risk your own life? You’re too cowardly to consider that. My appalled subconscious spat.
They helped me when I was lost. I need to be able to help them when they need it.
The only reason they help you is because they need some mindless drone to do all their bidding. Think back do they ever try to make you feel comfortable? What do they want from you, that doesn’t involve you running around. Don’t be stupid abandon them! My subconscious all but screams at me as I continue towards the compound.
No, they don’t ask me for anything but errands but I don’t care! They took me in, they could have left me to those monsters and I would never have survived but they didn’t so I’m not going to abandon them.
You’re such a little bitch whimpering, waiting, hoping to save them. Bailey they aren’t making it out alive! Now turn around and leave! The presence in my head increases until a dull ache appears, I grip my head as I continue to run.
Stop please! Please stop I’m going to help them!
Fine if you want to die, please continue on the path you’ve chosen! The ache disappears and my subconscious with it.
“Fucking stupid door, Bailey don’t move I’m going to go find Tristan. I’ll be back please trust me.” I heard him sprint down the hall followed by the sound of the front door slamming shut. I finally got to the desk and began to push it with everything I had in me but it just wouldn’t budge. I cried out in pain and frustration, why do I let her talk my into he stupid situations. They wouldn’t have hurt me at all, not once did I hear them try to get into my room last night nothing even came past my room. They were so willing to help me recover and help me to feel comfortable that they went to this extent, I breathed in deeply and braced my hands against the desk digging into the floor with all my might as the desk began to move. I got the desk out the way enough and crawled backwards a little before the sound of thunderous steps came rushing to the room I was currently in.“Bailey move away from the door now, I’m going to tr
“Bailey?” Theo gently questioned the concern made me feel a bit of guilt for the way I ran out of the room but there we go again her making me unable to trust myself and those around me, I have no one but myself to blame. It’s always been all my fault.“Bailey, are you ok? You scared me I’m not sure what’s wrong but its ok if you just wanted to rest, I’ve out clean sheets and a clean blanket on the bed so you can have a lay down. It’s getting late so I’m going to go to bed and Tristan is going to sleep on the couch if you need anything just yell out ok hunny?” his voice was unsure and sounded a little bit hurt as I backed away from the desk, I didn’t bother to reply not wanting my voice to give away how guilty I was feeling and how weak I was for running away like that.I heard Theo sigh through the door before his foot steps faded leaving me to my own devices, I feel horrible for making him feel like he
I cleared my throat and let go of Tristan’s hand mumbling an apology when I saw the red marks I had left behind, I didn’t man to keep a death grip on him the whole time.“It’s ok, how about we make you a snack?” he left me at the table and wandered in the pantry before getting kicked out by Theo who tsk’d when Tristan made an approach towards it.“I know you’re not about to even think of setting foot in my kitchen, we both remember what happened last time don’t we?” the hard look on Theo’s face peaked my interest in the situation. Tristan came to sit next to me grumbling about how it was an accident and he didn’t mean to do it. I giggled a little at him before turning my attention towards Theo however not before I noticed Tristan perk up at the sound of my giggle.“Uh what happened last time, if you don’t mind me asking?” I stifled my laugh as tristan groa
A gentle nudge under my chin bought my attention back to Tristan standing in front of me his eyes shone with concern for me.“I’m sorry.” It came out as barely a whisper but I knew he had heard me because his lips turned down the slightest before he smoothed out the frown and replaced it with a gentle smile. Is that what she meant when she said they hide the way they felt about me?“Don’t say sorry you’ve been through a lot in the past day, how about we go get some food and then you can go lay down in the spare bedroom?” he spoke cautiously like he didn’t want to overwhelm me, they are so kind to me. I’m scared of what they are going to want in return of all this kindness, what are they going to make me do to pay back the burden I’ve placed on them by being here?“Ok.” I looked back up him and sighed, I can’t let these thoughts ruin the right now I can’t let them see how weak I&r
After Theo had finished helping me wash my hair and the general areas of my body I asked for some privacy to finish off and dress before I joined them in the kitchen. The kitchen wasn’t too far from where the bathroom was located I remembered that from our walk here but I couldn’t help but get lost in the house, I was too lost in the memories that were dragged up for talking to Theo about the past. A cold nose poked the back of my calf muscle making me jump and let out a startled yelp, the sound of cutlery being dropped made me look in the direction of a doorway and not long after Tristan burst through the door holding a knife in his hand and searching with his eyes until they met mine. He sighed and lowered the knife looking down at my legs to find Zara staring at him innocently. "Zara you can’t go around scaring everyone!" Tristan scolded her before looking back towards me. "Are you ok? she didn’t hurt you by accident did she?" his e
"Are you ok?" Tristan’s voice jarred me out of my awkward fiddling and caused me to jump, I looked up at him to him softly smiling at me reassuring me that everything was fine and he wasn’t going to harm me."I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, you just seemed really out of place." he knelt down in front of me and took my hands that were pinching each other. he rubbed the little crescent marks left behind."You don't need to be afraid anymore, I know that we are all complete strangers to you but trust me when I say I will not allow anyone to harm you. I promise you bailey." he gently squeezed my injured hands and smiled up at me before getting back to his feet just as Theo walked in with a towel in hand."oh perfect Tristan has already warmed up the water for you." he turned to Tristan before making a shooing motion with his hands and turning around to face me. Tristan shook his head and smiled at me before walking out of the bathroom and gently cl
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