A New Kind of Hope

Class Four Outbreak: June 22nd at 6:16 pm

Current Location: Washington, D.C.
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"The end of the world...?" Olivia mumbled, and I could tell she was getting scared.

Sargent Brown nodded, not liking it either. "I'm afraid so, but don't worry. The military is trying their best to stop all of this."

He gave Navarez a look that told me he was doubtful of that.

"What cities have they bombed already?" I asked out of the blue.

Sargent Brown frowned. "As of now, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Charlotte. Those are the worst places that's basically collapsed under itself."

I was hoping that Dad wasn't in either of those places. Looking over at Braxton, I could tell we were thinking the exact same thing.

Although I had no idea what a six year old would be thinking at a time like this.

"What's next on the list, sir?" Navarez asked.

I really needed to find out his first name.

The Sargent sighed and picked up a notebook. A grim line formed on his face as he read it, worrying me some. "Montgomery."

Navarez's eyes grew wide. "That's...oh no."

I knew what he was talking about then. It must've been where his mom was killed. I patted him on the back as Sargent Brown continued. "I know what happened, but we don't have a choice. If Class Five happens, it's World War Two all over again. Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York, Wichita, Portland, and other cities are done."

"What will we do if it does happen?" I asked.

He sighed and looked at me with a sad expression. "We'll be sure to get you three to a safe place, don't worry."

I frowned and glanced at Navarez, who seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Sighing, I buried my face in my hands, trying my best not to cry, which I haven't cried in years. It just wasn't in my nature. "God I miss you..."

"Jeremy."

I looked up at the Sargent, and he read my expression.

"Do you know where your father is?"

I didn't know what to say, so I looked down and shook my head. He continued to stare at me.

"Do you want to know where your father is?"

Olivia looked up and snapped at him. "That's like asking if we're ready to see the world end. Of course I want to know where our dad is!"

"I understand that, but I'm talking to your brother, okay?" He said as he put a hand out in an effort to calm her down. She nodded and slumped back in her seat. I grabbed her hand under the table.

I answered him before he could ask again. "Yes, I want to know where my dad is. Why do you ask?"

"We might be able to pull a few strings, if you're interested or not."

I frowned and shook my head, confused. "Like what?"

Sargent Brown smiled warmly, and my eyes began to light up with excitement. He nodded toward the door, still smiling. "There's a helicopter waiting outside. Let's go find your father before World War Z becomes a reality."

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Current Location: Greenville, SC
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I was terrified. My ears felt like blood was pouring out of them, and zombies were everywhere. I couldn't tell you how many of them I saw. It was only a matter of time before I was going to get overwhelmed by them.

I checked every car I found, and when there were keys in them, they wouldn't start. A zombie suddenly grabbed my collar, and I elbowed him in the side of the head. Stumbling backwards, I blew his head off without another word. Fortunately, most of them were regulars, not clickers. I'd be dead already if there were more clickers than regular zombies, probably.

I avoided the clickers.

I finally got a break as I hid in an old grocery store. At least, I thought I did.

"What're you doing here, punk?" A raider asked in a low-toned voice. I aimed the pistol at him and a sudden flash of surprise showed on his face.

"Leave me alone, and I won't kill you on the spot," I said, surprising myself that I wasn't scared of him.

The man didn't move, just stood there still. I slightly let down my guard, realizing he didn't have a weapon. "Where's the rest of your gang at?"

He shook his head, looking at the ground, still not saying a word. I nodded and put the pistol away, slowly walking up to him, still cautious.
The zombies still groaned outside, but I tried my best to ignore it.

"You haven't been bitten, have you?" I asked, scamming for bite marks.

He shook his head, glancing at me. "Why?"

"Just making sure that you won't suddenly attack me," I said, thinking of the man back at the house this morning.

"I won't."

I nodded and motioned him to sit down with me. He looked confused, but he did.

"What happened to the rest of your gang?" I asked again, looking at him.

He took a minute to think about what to say, eventually speaking up. "Clickers. We were planning on going to Charlotte to meet a friend of ours, but we passed through here and...there was no other way out. This place was like a trap and we fell right in it."

I frowned. "Where were the clickers? It seems like there was mostly regular ones here."

He nodded northeast. "The train station. The fungi that's creating the spore clouds are growing all over the walls. I warned them not to go in there, but they insisted. I saw them, but they didn't want to listen."

I heard a rustling sound near the back of the room, but I figured it was the wind.

"What brought you here?" I asked.

"I drove as fast as I could away from them, but those zombies destroyed my motorcycle. I fought them off, but I ran out of bullets. I've been camping here ever-"

Suddenly, a zombie appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his face, digging its nails deep into his eyes and mouth. He made a disgusting and choking scream as the female clicker bit a huge chunk of his skin off. Blood went everywhere. I screamed, more in surprise than fear, and fumbled for my pistol. I shot a few bullets into her head, but she lunged after me.

Diving out of the way, I crashed into the candy racks. She screamed an ear-bleeding scream, and I fired at her again, missing some, but one it her forehead, sending her on her back.

She scampered towards me quickly, but I let her do it. Once she got to me, I shot again, and she stopped cold. I crushed her skull under the bottom of my foot, and I gagged at the sound.

Then, the zombies outside seemed to want to throw a party too, and hell, you should know they weren't invited.
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