I heard the glass smash and scatter on the floor downstairs. I slowly got out of the bed and grabbed my bag, a small dagger clutched in my hand. I wondered what was going on. My hand shook as I reached for the doorknob. I opened it slowly and walked out, my bag hanging down from both shoulders. I had yet to adjust it, seeing as both clasps always came loose; I needed a new bag but didn't want to give up my one piece of home.

Cindy screamed. It seemed to have come from downstairs. I walked to the corner and leaned my backpack against it. I slowly peered around the corner. Maggy was the next to scream and I started to worry. I peered at the front door and stood in shock at what I was witnessing.

There were people entering the house.

Armed people.

Real. Live. People.

I was about to rush down the stairs and greet them when someone covered my mouth. I just about screamed when Jack turned me around to face him.

"I don't think they're here to be friends." He whispered, nodding in the direction of the stairs.

"What do they want?" I asked quietly and he shrugged.

"I don't know, but Cindy and Maggy were downstairs making breakfast. I need to know if they're okay. I'm going to go downstairs, and you're going to stay up here where it's safe." He said and I nodded, trembling in fear. I didn't want him to leave me alone up here, I was scared enough as is.

"Jack, I'm scared," I said quietly as I fumbled with the dagger in my hands.

"It's going to be okay." He said, then walked down the stairs.

"Hey, what are you-" Jack said when a shot rang out throughout the house.

I heard a body collapse to the ground with a thud and my eyes widened as I realized it was Jack.

I screamed and ran back into my room.

Tears poured from my eyes as I desperately looked for a place to hide. I could hear Maggy screaming from downstairs; she must be terrified.

Where are Blake and Lisa?

I sat down in the corner between the bed and the nightstand, clutching my dagger in both hands, staring at the door. I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs and quickly wiped at my eyes with the back of my hands. I started to hyperventilate, unable to control my breathing.

No no no.

Please. No.

I don't want to die.

The door handle jiggled, then turned slowly. The person on the other side pushed it open slowly.

I screamed again.

A young boy walked in, about 5'4, with blonde scruffy looking hair and blue eyes. He spotted me and stood there for a second, before raising his gun in my direction. I dropped my dagger and cowered closer to the corner, both of my hands covering my face. He lowered his gun slightly and came over to me slowly.

"Kick the dagger here if you want to live." He said and I did what he wanted, moving slowly. I kicked it to him and he picked it up, holstering his gun to his hip. He stayed kneeling and stared at me.

"I'm Kye." He said, putting out his hand for me to shake. It was a few inches from my face and I wanted to shake it, but I just stared at his hand. He lowered his hand and stood up.

"What's your name?" he questioned and my jaw trembled as I tried to speak.

"Bb- Bev." I stuttered and he nodded. He closed the space between us and grabbed both of my hands, hoisting me up to my feet.

"Nice to meet you." He said and I nodded, looking out the window. I was beyond scared; some strange guy was in the room with me and I was unsure of how to react.

"Where's Maggy and Cindy? Are they okay?" I questioned and he nodded to the door.

"They're downstairs with the rest of my group being questioned." He said and I closed my eyes, willing the next few words to come out.

"Is, is Jack... dead?" I questioned and he shook his head, relief filling me instantly.

"No. Karen only shot him in the leg. He'll be fine." He said and I nodded. He walked us out into the hallway and down the stairs. We continued to walk until I came face to face with his group.

There were only five of them including Kye. There was a tall slim lady- their leader- that stood above Cindy as they talked. She looked strong, along with her face structure. She had short brown hair that fell just above her shoulders, and she carried herself very well. There was a younger man who seemed to be well off, other than his arm being in a sling. He had light blonde hair and dark eyes. He was slouched at the moment, because he was sitting closely with Maggy, chatting about something. There were two girls, obviously sisters, that seemed to have a hard edge to them. They were off to the side, and didn't seem to say or want anything to do with our group.

"I found the source of the scream." Kye said, pushing me towards Karen. I stumbled forwards, looking up at her in complete terror. She smiled down at me, and I almost fell back as I took a step back.

"Leave the youngen alone Kare. She looks more frightened than a cat about to get hit by a truck." The slouched man said, straightening up by Maggy.

"Paul, I'm not trying to scare her. We just need to know if this was the group that killed Ariel." She said, glaring at me.

"What are you talking about?" I questioned and she frowned, then her face going back to emotionless.

"My sister was killed last night by another group. And we assume that it had to be your group. Because yours is the only one around." She said with a hard edge to her voice, though it sounded almost broken.

"We were all here last night, locked inside," I said when she shook her head.

"Who else could have done it? Hm?" She said, then I thought about last night and the noises I had heard.

"I was asleep last night, but I did wake up in the middle of the morning and heard people talking. They were outside the house last night. I heard them." I said and she nodded. Kye walked towards her, putting his hand on her arm to get her attention.

"I don't think it was them. Considering they only have knives for weapons and one beaten up crossbow." He said quietly, but loud enough for me to pick up on.

Paul got up suddenly and walked away from the group. Karen's eyes followed him as he walked. She turned back to Maggy, then looked at Jack lying on the ground. She walked over to him and finished wrapping his leg for him. She held his eye contact then got up. Lisa and Blake walked out, Paul following them with a gun aimed at their backs.

"Ah, more to the group I see. How many more are there?" Karen questioned, directing it towards me. She stared at me and I shook my head.

"This is our group. There's only six and a half of us." I said, and she gave me a sideways look.

"Six and a half?" She questioned and I looked at Cindy.

"I'm pregnant," Cindy said quietly, keeping her head lowered as she spoke.

"That sucks." Karen said, then looked around. She walked over to the broken window and looked outside for a moment, then stepped back.

"I don't know how you guys live in this world, but bitters are coming. And we're leaving. If you want to come, you can." She said, but I don't think it was an actual option. Paul followed Blake and Lisa downstairs as the rest of us went to gather our belongings. We all quickly grabbed our stuff and headed out with Karen's group. Jack could barely walk, but he was strong. He held his composure and limped near the back of the group. Maggy tried her best to help him, but he refused her help. The bandage around his leg was already bloody from all the movement he was doing.

Kye walked next to me as we followed Karen back towards the city, onto the highway.

"Where were you when it happened?" Kye questioned and I told him about the restaurant and what happened to my brother that led to us getting out here.

"Wow, that sounds rough. I was at a party at the time when a few bitters ripped into my friends in front of me. That's when Karen found me. Turns out she had been one of the first people to come in contact with these things." He said and I nodded.

"This world sucks," I said, and he shook his head.

"This world may not be pretty, but at least people are talking to each other and working together how they should. Before all of this, social media had pretty much brainwashed us all into becoming a type of bitter. All we did was sit there and feed off of other people's drama." He said, and I shrugged, glancing at him.

"Why do you call them bitters?" I questioned and he gave me a weird look.

"That's how the disease is transferred. They "bite" you, and you become infected, then you "bite" others. Hence bitters." He said and I nodded. I guess it was an interesting way to look at this whole thing.

"I guess it makes sense. But that also makes them seem like their dead." I said, and he glared at me.

"They are dead. They will never be like us again. And you need to understand that now, so you don't get your hopes up. Once they get to that point, they're gone and they're never coming back." he said harshly and I winced; that wasn't something I wanted to hear. Tears started to form in my eyes, and I looked away from him.

"I'm sorry." He said, but I continued to stare off into the distance.