Keep Running

Alicia’s feet pounded on the sidewalk as she ran, sweat beading on her forehead, breathing heavily. Her legs burned but she couldn't stop, she could hear the herd of walkers close behind her.

She had only been trying to help, really. How did it always end up like this?

She was running so fast she didn't notice the broken edge of the walkway, and tumbled to the ground, scraping her arm and getting a face full of dirt.

Alicia quickly scrambled to her feet, taking off running again, but they were too close. One of them reached out, grabbing onto her arm. She screamed and tried to free herself from its grasp, all to no avail.

She could faintly hear someone calling her name, and it was getting louder and louder. She recognized that voice.

“Alicia! Alicia!”

Alicia's eyes shot open as she leapt up, shoving at the arms around her. Tears streamed down her face as the cried out, terrified.

“Hey, hey, Alicia! It's me, you were having a nightmare!” Elyza yelled, grabbing at the brunette again, “it's okay, it was a dream.”

“Elyza…?” She mumbled hesitantly, wiping at the tears on her face with the back of her hand.

“Yeah, it's just me. I heard you screaming so I came to wake you up, which proved to be a very difficult, and dangerous task,” the blonde said, a smile smile playing at her lips.

Alicia looked away, blushing. “I'm sorry I woke you up,” she apologized, “I get those pretty often, can't really remember the last time I got a peaceful nights sleep.”

“Wait, how often?” Elyza asked, a worried expression taking over her face.

“It's not always that bad,” Alicia answered, too quickly for Elyza's liking. “Really,” she added, trying to be convincing.

“Alright then, I guess I'll just go,” Elyza said, standing up. She pretended not to notice the how scared Alicia really looked. She hated leaving her like this but Alicia obviously didn't want to talk about it.

“Hey,” she called out, stopping and turning at the door, “wanna come help me find something for breakfast? It's a little late to be getting back to bed anyways.”

“Sure,” Alicia said, smiling. At least it would get her mind off the nightmares. They really were awful. “What is it with you and breakfast?”

“It's the most important meal of the day!” Elyza yelled, causing them both to break out into a fit of giggles.

They walked to the kitchen in silence, stealing glances at each other every so often. They both pretended not to notice while hiding tiny smiles. Alicia was glad Elyza stayed with them.

When they got into the kitchen they found nick and Chris sitting at the counter while ofelia rummaged through the cabinets.

“Anything good?” Elyza asked, alerting the other three of their presence. All she got in response was a grunt from nick and a scowl from Chris.

“Alright then, nice chat,” she said sarcastically, walking into the living room and collapsing on the couch dramatically. “I guess we'll all just starve.”

“Shut up drama queen,” Alicia said,“and move your feet over.”

“No,” the blonde huffed, snuggling deeper into the cushions.

“Fine,” Alicia replied, sitting on the blondes legs, “if you won't move neither will I.”

“I hate you,” Elyza replied, hiding her smile in the pillow.

“Ditto.”

Ofelia then made her way into the room, carrying a box of cereal.

“Here, it's all that left,” she said, handing it to them.

“Ooh frootloops!” Elyza yelled, grabbing at the box.

“Hey, give me some,” Alicia yelled back, reaching for the box.

“Wait a minute,” Elyza replied, elbowing the brunette away from her prized fruitloops. “These are my favorite.”

“Well I'm hungry too so give it.”

“Guys,” ofelia interrupted, “there's enough to share, it's okay.”

“Shut up,” they both replied at the same time, continuing their little battle.

In the end neither of them won custody of the box, and it ended up spilled all over the carpet and couch. Ofelia made them clean it up and they grumbled to themselves about how ‘it wasn’t even their fault.’

“Great job you two, it's not like we're short on food or anything,” Nick called from the kitchen. Chris just snickered along behind him. Assholes.

“Oh shut up,” Elyza yelled back, stuffing a handful of cereal she picked up off the ground into her mouth. “Five second rule, see?”

“Ew, Elyza! Who knows when the floor was last cleaned!” Ofelia cried out, looking horrified at the sight in front of her. Elyza just shrugged her shoulders and went to put more in her mouth.

“Elyza, No!” Alicia yelled, slapping her wrist and causing all the cereal to fall back onto the carpet.

“Hey, What the hell!”

“Calm down, geez,” Alicia muttered, “Do you want to get sick? Now of all times?”

“No,” The blonde muttered, looking down at the floor.

“Good. Now clean up the rest of the cereal.”

Elyza sunk back down to the floor and began scooping it up again, but not before pointedly sticking her tongue out at the Brunette's back as she walked away.

“I’m surrounded by idiots!” Nick yelled, slumping into his chair. Chris scoffed from next to him.

“I am not an idiot,” he stated. Everyone ignored him.

Later in the afternoon everyone was sitting around in the living room, bored out of their minds. There was absolutely nothing to do in the house, and they were running out of food. To make matters worse none of the adults had returned yet, and they were starting to worry.

“Do you think they’ll ever come back,” Ofelia asked, sounding as if she were about to burst into tears.

“They’ll be fine,” Chris replied, rolling his eyes, “They can manage.”

“But what if they can’t!” Ofelia cried out, tears suddenly streaming down her cheeks.

“Hey, hey,” Alicia said, coming to sit by the crying girl, “it’ll be okay, I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”

She pretended not to notice the jealous look on Elyza's face as she stroked Ofelia’s arm in an attempt to calm her down. It’s not like Elyza actually cared, she was probably just imagining it.

“Well, I've had enough of this,” nick stated, standing up, “I'm going out to look for food. Who's coming with?”

“Chris, don't be ridiculous. We can't do that now.” Alicia responded.

“I'm in.” Chris stated.

“Alright, let's go.” Nick relied, standing up and ignoring his sister's protests.

“You two are going together yourselves killed.” Elyza stated, looking bored, “at least take me with you.”

“Absolutely not!” Alicia yelled, standing up. “This is ridiculous, if you're all going I might as well come too.”

“No way little sis. Like you said, this could be dangerous. There's no sense in putting everyone at risk.” Nick replied, somehow seeming absolutely calm.

“He's right for once,” Elyza added, actually siding with Nick.

“Fine,” Alicia stated, flopping back into the couch, “but I still don't like this.”

The three grabbed their bags and waved goodbye at the door. Ofelia called after them to be careful, which they all just brushed off with a wave and a smile.

“I hope they'll be okay,” Ofelia said, more to herself than Alicia.

“They will be. Elyzas a good shot and Nick knows how to take care of himself.” Alicia responded.

“And Chris?” Ofelia asked.

“They'll take care of him, just wait.”

Nearly an hour passed and both girls sat in uneasy silence. Alicia couldn't help but think about worst case scenarios. What if they had ran into trouble? Maybe they wouldn't come back, just like the adults hadn't.

Alicia was startled out of her thoughts by the front door flinging open, than slamming shut, as three sweaty teens piled into the room breathing heavily.

“Oh my gosh are you guys alright?” Ofelia asked, springing to her feet along with Alicia, who was heading over to Elyza.

“What happened to you guys, you look awful,” Alicia asked the blonde.

“Gee thanks. Just what I wanted to hear, not thank you for getting food Elyza.”

“Shut up,” Alicia said, smacking her arm lightly, and noticing with worry how she flinched. “Hey, are you okay? What happened to your arm?”

“I'm alright, we ran into some trouble back by the store and I fell. Hurt my arm.” Elyza told her.

“How bad? Are you sure you're fine? You didn't get bitten, did you?” Alicia asked all at once, panic rising in her tone.

“I didn't get bitten, don't worry. It just hurts like a bitch,” Elyza stated, placing both hands in the Brunette's shoulders. “Now calm down and come help me bandage this up, I seem to be bleeding.”

“Okay, come on,” Alicia replied, heading towards the bathroom to find first aid supplies. After rummaging through The cabinets for a while she pulled out some gauze and disinfectant cream.

“Hop up,” she said, patting the counter next to her. Elyza did as she was told, and extended her injured arm forward.

Alicia carefully wrapped the bandage around the blondes arm, trying to ignore the tingly feeling she got every time her fingers brushed the other girls skin. Hopefully she wasn't blushing as much as she felt like she was.

“All better,” she stated, smoothing the bandage down before throwing the rest back in the cabinet. “It feel okay? Need anything else?”

“Well,” Elyza started, a smug grin creeping over her face, “I think you need to kiss it better.”

“In your dreams,” Alicia retorted, sticking her tongue out at the blonde and exiting the room.

“You know you want to!” Elyza called after her.

“You wish!” She yelled back.

The girls made their way back to the living room laughing and shoving at eachother. Their smiles instantly dropped when they found ofelia crying in the couch, next to Chris and Nick who looked close to tears themselves. Chris's eyes were puffy as if he already had cried.

“What's wrong?” Alicia asked, concern taking over her features.

Chris just rolled up his sleeve, revealing a bright red bite mark, just below his elbow.

“Oh my god,” Alicia yelled, covering her mouth and gasping from shock. Elyza had a similar reaction.

“What are we going to do?” Ofelia wailed, before breaking into another sob.

“That's easy,” Chris relied, smiling sadly, “nothing. There isn't anything we can do, except-”

“No.” Alicia cut in, “that isn't an option. We’ll wait it out, Travis will be back soon and we'll figure something out.”

“Alicia's right, we should wait for Travis,” Nick said, “you'll be fine man. Just wait.”

They all knew this was a lie. Chris was already showing symptoms of the fever, it was only a matter of time before it killed him. Even if the adults returned they couldn't do anything, just like they couldn't for Chris's mother.

As the hours passed Chris got worse and worse, and began drifting in and out of consciousness. They tried their best to keep him awake, knowing each time he shut his eyes they may never open again.

It was the middle of the night around 2am when Chris's body gave in to the fever. They all huddled around their friend and cried. Even Elyza who only had known him for a mere two days shed some tears.

None of them were prepared when Chris reanimated and lunged at ofelia. She let out a scream as her dead friend lunged at her. Nick was quick to grab a heavy looking lamp off the table and use to get him off, a single blow to the head doing the trick.

He took the sobbing girl to her room, Elyza and Alicia silently deciding it was best for them to go to bed as well.

Before they parted ways at the door Alicia tuned to the blonde “Elyza, will you…?” She trailed off, sniffling and looking down at the floor, embarrassed.

“Yeah,” Elyza responded, knowingly, turning away from her own bedroom and following Alicia into hers.

They both climbed into the bed, which was just large enough for them to lay side by side without touching.

They pretended not to hear Nick dragging Chris's body out if the house. They pretended not to hear ofelias cries from down the hall. Most of all they pretended this was just a normal day, that they weren't fighting for their lives.

They drifted off into a dreamless sleep not long after, momentarily escaping the horrible reality of the world they now lived in.