Sempiternal. That's what this was. In the dictionary, it was described and everlasting and eternal. That's what the last hour of this drive seemed to be- a sempiternal nightmare. 

We were quiet because everyone knew what had to be done- they would have to leave me and I didn't disagree. 

"Where are you leaving me? It better be somewhere with snacks."

I turned to look at them, and they looked horrified at my joke and it just made me laugh. Maybe the delusions were starting early.

No one talked as Jess pulled the van over into an empty parking lot with what looked to be a store. The dirty glass was blacked out from years of grime and a couple were even broken. surprisingly the doors were still intact unlike most of the places we passed.

This was it. I got out of the car and walked towards the door of the creepy building and stood there until I felt someone on either side of me.

"Take these." Izzy handed me one of the back packs. "I know you won't need them long... but it's for... well... just in case. It would be easier instead of becoming one of them I think."

Tears formed in her eyes as I slung the bag over my shoulder and she hugged me. It was the most bone crushing hug I had ever had, and with my father that was saying something.

"Percy, I'm gonna miss you so much. I promise to come back just in case." She pulled away and walked back to the van and my eyes started watering. I knew why she walked away, she couldn't stand here or she would never leave. Right before I could turn to Chris, he was in front of me with another hug that almost snapped me in half. 

Chris shook his head. "We aren't leaving you anywhere especially not here. We can't even if you are infected we-"

"Let's go, I don't want to die anytime soon!"

Silence filled the air as we looked at Jess before she turned to get into the van to comfort a crying Izzy. 

"There's something you need to know before I leave you here in the middle of nowhere." 

I looked up into his eyes and waited for him to speak.

"Persephone, I love you." 

One second. He stepped closer. 

Two seconds. He leaned in. 

Three seconds. He started to close his eyes. 

Four seconds. My brain was racing. This wasn't right. 

Five seconds. No.

"Chris, I'm infected!"

His eyes snapped open and he looked at me with confusion. Something along the lines of 'I was just about to kiss you why are you yelling?' passed over his face before he realized the same thing and took a step back.

"Let's go!" Jess grabbed his arm and started dragging him towards the van as he looked back at me helpless. I waved sadly and watched them get into the van and drive off before turning around and looking at the door. Might as well look around, I'll be here awhile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The problem with things that go 'bump in the night' was not the terrifying thing that it is, nor the fact that it could rip you to pieces or even that it could be someone you used to know. The problem was resources.

I reflected on this as I sat with my back to the tree and looked at the three objects in my hands. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing, straining to hear anything over the sound of the wind rustling through the forest leaves overhead. I knew now that it was a mistake to enter a forest, where distance and light were in short supply, but it all came back to the same problem. Resources.

My supplies were limited and that dawned on me when I had spent the night in the store. Sure, it had been empty and I found a good spot out of the view of anything at the door, but I didn't have anything to sit on so I sat against the cool wall. I sat for hours, watching the sun go down and by the time the rising of the sun of the early morning came through the window, I nearly did a happy dance. I wasn't infected so I just had to wait for them to come back. So I waited.

And waited. 

And waited.

By the second day, I knew I had to go and find them. While I looked around for a map, I heard the familiar sound of the infected. And that's how I ended up in the forest. 

I had grabbed my bag that contained a knife, flashlight, matches and a few protein bars and bottles of water, and ran out of the store. My first thought was to head in the direction they went, but the oncoming hoard on the horizon changed my mind. Instead, I saw the distant forest and headed out for it. After all I thought, lots of animals lived in the forest, so there must be plenty of food there and possibly even some water...

The crack of a branch snapped my eyes open. I stood up holding my breath. Out in the dark I could hear it moving, coming closer towards me, whether it was through luck or because it knew where I was it came towards me. Straining my eyes, I saw a figure move through the trees, stumbling on tree roots and knocking into tree trunks. I flicked on the flashlight. Its dim bulb did little more than cast an eerie glow a few feet in front of me. It was enough for the figure to see. Head jerking up it locked eyes on the light and started making a direct line towards me.

Stepping backward I raised the pistol and screamed out for the figure to stop. 

"I swear I'll shoot you, I swear I will!" I couldn't figure out why my brain thought it would be a good idea to talk like it would listen. I shouted out as the pallid figure reached out towards me. I pulled the trigger, muzzle pressed against the creatures temple.

The loud click rang loudly in my ears before my confusion could even register its face slammed into mine, knocking me backwards to the ground. As I fell, a vision of a guy registered in my mind before exploding into darkness as my head slammed into the ground.

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Sorry for taking so long to update! Enjoy my lovely readers! 

Also if you have a name I could use for some new characters comment or message me!