Life, can change in seconds. One second a baby is born, life is given. But in the next, a man is murdered in cold blood.

In seconds a man can win a lottery, and in another a man can lose everything he worked for.

In a few seconds, you can be enjoying a coffee, and in the next... you're a crow. A undead, stalking around and finding dead things to eat, or making your own food, by taking the life of a survivor.

I remember it like it was yesterday, the memories are etched in my mind, with a jagged fingernail.

I remember, the screams, the sound of footsteps... I remember the day, of the infection. March 31th, 2021.

——————————————————

The hospital was packed, more then normal. Nurses were scrambling, doctors were yelling, people looked around, dazed with dead eyes. I walked up to the front desk, the receptionist looking quite calm.

"Hi, I'm here to see my uncle."

"Name?" She asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"George Brown."

She slightly nodded, and looked through some papers.

Coughing grew louder, the sounds of vomit hitting the trash were almost constant, the groans and shuffling rapidly increased with every second.

"When were you born?" She asked, looking me deep in the eyes.

"July 15th, 2004."

"I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to see a patient without a guardian."

Sighing deeply, I nod, and walk away. I sit down in a chair, far away from any of the sick people.

The main doors were pushed open, and a man walked through, holding his arms over his abdomen.

"Please! Ma'am help me." The man exclaimed, his hair falling off by the second, his teeth getting yellow and his skin breaking out in a dark rash.

We stumbled to the receptionist, and tried to grab her coat. She pushed away his hand, and started to argue with the man.

"Please!" He screamed, his words slowly turned to gibberish, and then too low pitched yells and growls.

Seeing a opportunity to get to my uncle, I took it. Speed walking to the stairs and quickly dashing up them.

The halls were surprisingly empty, not a single doctor or nurse was in sight. While it was simple to reach my uncles room, it was quite disturbing, especially with all the sick people begging to be seen by a doctor. I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.

"Nephew! It's good to see you." My uncle says upon seeing me.

"You too, uncle George."

I walked over to his bed, and sat down in a chair, with rough fabric.

"Say, how'd you get up here?"

"I have my ways."

He laughed, his hearty laugh. The laugh
that could make people smile at the darkest of times. He wiped a small tear from his eye.

"Anyway, how's the ribs Uncle George?"

"Tasty and delicious as always." He lightly patted his chest, and laughed.
"I say, your aunt Lily can't hold a ladder straight."

We laughed, but the laughing didn't last, as the room grew dark, a sliver of sunlight barely coming through the window.

We sat in silence for what seemed like awhile, the lights came back, as a dim red. My uncle shifted in his bed, and grabbed a glass.

I got up, and walked to the door, peering through the window. I saw a figure, seemingly pale, cut up. The figure was slowly moving through the hallway, one crooked step after another. I backed away from the door.

"I best get going, see you later Uncle George."

"Be safe!"

I grabbed the handle, and pulled the door open, taking a look to my right, and then to my left. Nothing, just the empty halls.

I took a step out, and closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath, and slowly made my way to the stairs.

My heart was racing, my mind was spinning. I descended the stairs, and smelt a foul smell, smelling of corpses, blood, and burning flesh. I mustered up the courage, and took the last step.

Figures were crouched over another, arms pushing down on the chest, then pulling away with a fistful of meat. I covered my mouth, and tried to push away the urge to vomit. I backed away, and crashed into something, making the dead lobby, alive.

Figures turned to me, emitting growls and low pitched yells. I turned around, and booked it back up the stairs, hearing rapid shuffling behind me, I didn't stop running until the shuffling stopped, and when it did, I was at the roof.

I slammed the door, and pushed myself against it, dropping down and sitting. Taking a deep breath, but the peace didn't last, banging erupted from beyond the door, the same growls and yells growing louder and louder.

I looked around, but there was nothing, no way to block the door. I hugged my knees, and closed my eyes hoping to wake up in my bed, hoping it was a fucked up nightmare, but I never woke up in my bed.

I pushed myself up, and quickly slammed on the door again, I looked around, and saw a fire escape. The only way down, the only way to escape the hospital. I took a second, then bolted to the fire escape.

The door busted open, and I could hear the shrieks and growls. I ran down the stairs, the clanking of metal under my feet, and then above me. I ran all the way down to the last level, and pushed down the ladder, but it didn't budge.

I looked up, and saw the figures falling down the fire escape, face first into metal, trampling each other. I looked down, and started to kick the ladder, kick after kick, I felt it get looser. With one last kick, the ladder fell, nearly taking me with it. I quickly grabbed the sides of the ladder, and climbed down.

I let go, and dropped to the hard asphalt below me, I away from the fire escape, stumbling and turning around, to see the fire escape break under the pressure, and fall to the ground with a devastating crack. I put my hands on my knees, and caught my breath.

"I'm one lucky bastard."

I looked forward one last time, before turning around, and walking away from the hospital. My plan wasn't smart, but I had to make it home, at least there I'd be safe... better safe then sorry.