Amelia

"Hey, I came to apologize-" Jason stepped into the house, making eye contact with me.

"How did you find us?" I asked quietly.

"Chloe and I share our location with each other."

"She's not feeling well."

"Did she tell you to say that?" Jason rose a brow.

"No, she's been throwing up. She can't keep food down." I admitted.

"How long has she been sick?" Matt stepped forward.

"A few days, now."

"I'll bring up some medicine. You can't afford to get sick during these times." Emma added, moving to the cupboard.

"Mel, I just want to see her." Jason's face fell, his eyebrows furrowed above his eyes.

I nodded. I wasn't going to try to stop Jason from trying to right his wrongs. It was up to Chloe to hear him out and forgive him.

Jason turned to Matt and Emma, "Would you mind if I go up to see her?"

They both shook their head, "She's in the guest room upstairs." Jason nodded, before running up the stairs.

"I'm sure he'll end up sleeping over," Emma shook her head lightly, "Would you like to move your things over to Ryan's old room. It's the last room we have with a bed, besides the living room couch."

I had no doubt that Jason would sleep over with Chloe, and I didn't want to sleep on the couch out in the open, "Yes, please. If you show me the room, I'll switch my things over." Emma nodded with a smile.

I slipped into Ryan's bed, throwing the thick blankets over me, as I dialed my sister. The line opened, and it sounded like orders were being thrown out in an accented English. "Kayla?" I called.

"Mel," The pain in my sister's voice seemed palpable as it struck me. She was sobbing.

"Kayla, are you alright? Are mom and dad with you?"

"No. Yes. I'm fine. Mom and dad are here. We're fine. Just- confused."

"Where are you?"

"We tried leaving early to surprise you, before you go back to Penn State, but we couldn't even get on a flight. We're in the U.S. embassy in Belgium. They brought us here when we tried leaving. Belgium closed their borders; no planes are allowed to fly over us or out of here, and no ships are leaving either. Everyone's panicking." Her cries turned to small whimpers.

This had to be global. Hearing Kayla cry, and finally understanding that whatever this was wasn't just something in Caldwell, or wherever Ryan was- these things were happening everywhere.

I managed a whisper, "It's global, Kay."

"What's global?"

"Whatever this is. Zombies? People attacking other people? Haven't you seen the news?" I sat up in bed, staring at the sheets as I awaited her answer.

"The news? No. We're on vacation, Mel, of course we weren't watching the news." Kayla sobbed harder.

"Okay, just stay with the security guards, stay in the U.S. Embassy and you should be safe." I whispered, unsure if I was actually giving good advice or not.

"Okay, okay."

"I'm going to let you go, okay? Watch out for mom and dad, and yourself too."

"Of course, Mel. Love you." She whimpered.

"I love you too, Kay." I whispered back as the line cut off.

My eyes watered as I lay in Ryan's bed, thinking of how my family was helpless. Not that I could've done much, but at least knowing I was by their side to try and keep them safe would be calming. At least Ryan was the only normal thing I still had. I opened the messages app to send him a text.

M: thanks for talking to me, it

would've felt weird to not talk

after we've been talking all these

days.

R: I don't think I would've been able

to sleep if I didn't.

Are you going to bed yet?

M: yeah, i should probably get

some rest

R: Goodnight, Mel

M: Night Ryan

*

I jogged down the steps, catching Elmer coming out of his room at the same time, "Good morning."

"Morning." He replied with a nod. We both moved to the kitchen area, slowing at the sound of wet chewing. We rounded the corner, my brows scrunching at a squatting figure by the open refrigerator.

Elmer turned to me, whispering, "What's her name?"

I stared harder at the figure until I recognized Chloe's messy hair, "Chloe." I whispered back, but whatever he needed her name for didn't feel like the right move to make. I didn't want to think about it, but anxiety rolled through at the possibility that she was one of those things I'd seen on TV.

"Chloe, are you okay? What are you doing?" Elmer called, moving cautiously closer.

Chloe snapped her head in our direction.

My throat tightened, my stomach turned, and my heart raced in my chest. She wasn't a zombie. She responded to her own name. Her skin was pale, but still intact. Her eyes the same- just- I squinted to see better- glossed over. Her eyes seemed distant, far away. She curled her lips, baring her teeth, before running in our direction. She held something pink in her hands, and her mouth was smeared with grease.

Elmer and I ran to the living room area, but she jumped on Elmer, tackling him to the ground. My hands shook. What do I do? What do I grab? I didn't want to hit her but I had to do something.

She scratched his face, but he caught her wrists fast enough to jerk her back. He was struggling.

"Chloe, stop!" I yelled, tears welled my eyes. What the hell was wrong with her?

Bad move.

Chloe looked up, and before sprinting my way, she cocked her head as if waiting for me to explain, "Stop, Chloe! It's me, Mel. Amelia." She stopped for second, staring at me. My face softened when I felt she was going to calm down.

Her brows furrowed, she swallowed hard, "I'm hungry." Her voice was raspy, and it broke before she finished her sentence.

Without notice, the glaze returned over her eyes again, and I ran. She tackled me to the ground, and I flipped over, quickly catching her hand as she went to scratch me too. I needed to get her off me, now. Her legs straddled me, I took a deep breath, and in one swift move I slid both of my feet in front of her and kicked her.

She flew back, hitting the couch, before screaming and coming for me again. I squinted my eyes for the impact, but instead saw a steel bat connect to the front of her skull. The sound of aluminum vibrated through the air along with the cracking of bone, forcing me to cringe.

I could feel my chest rising and falling as I stared at Chloe. I let out a shaky breath, and my eyes watered in return.

I looked up, Emma stepped forward from over me, and knelt down slowly, "Are you okay, hon?"

I shook my head, my throat too tight to even speak. I couldn't take my eyes off of Chloe. Was I okay? She just tried to attack me- but at least I wasn't injured.

Emma helped me up, gently brushing me off. I didn't care about tiny molecules of dust, but the motherly action was appreciated.

I stepped forward. Did she just kill Chloe? Her nose was pushed into her face, the skin around it broken and bloody.

What the hell was happening? Why did she run at me? Why did she understand me? My mind was a jumbled mess of questions and confusion. I didn't know what she was, but she wasn't decayed and she wasn't slow.

"We have to make sure she's dead." We all looked up from Chloe' lifeless body to Matt. I didn't even notice when he entered the room.

I couldn't watch them finish Chloe off. My feet led me into the kitchen, and it wasn't until I was standing still in front of the sink that I realized my hands were shaking, and my body was trembling.

Emma came forward, wrapping me in her arms. She didn't have to say anything, and I was glad she didn't. I just- I needed this hug.

The more I thought about what happened over night that made Chloe like this, the more nauseous I got. Emma released me slowly, and without instruction I hurled breakfast into the sink. My head was pounding and my eyes were watering, but I wasn't even sure what was going on myself.

"Where's Jason?" I whispered. I was sure he was going to flip out, and I didn't want to be here for that. Emma held my hair back as I rinsed out my mouth.

"He left this morning." Emma replied quietly, "I'm sorry I had to hit her."

I shook my head, "You saved me." My voice cracked. She saved me from my best friend.

"Hon, come over here." Matt called. Emma handed me a paper towel to dry my mouth, as she led me forward slowly.

Matt stared at the television. The news banner read: 'LIVE FOOTAGE FROM NEW YORK CITY'. The footage was terrifying. On the ground, what looked like riots, pushed passed cops with barricades up, attacking them. The helicopter footage then moved to the building where some were jumping out of windows, people with blood around their mouths jumping after them.

"The president has just called a national emergency-"

Matt shut off the TV, glanced at Chloe, and back to us, "We've got to get out of here."