"Are you ready?" Katherin asked. She hefted the backpack on her shoulders. It was brimmed with clothes and canned foods, torches and sanitary items. Anything that would help them survive once they were far from the safety of their home.

They had decided that taking their car wasn't an option, even if it was quicker. The engine was too loud. If the zombies were outside, they'd surely be alerted of their presence.

Everyone would know where they were running to. Some may try to hijack the car to escape themselves. It was much safer to walk along the empty streets.

The port was empty. Katherin jogged down the lines, staring in horror as she realised that the boat had already left. Ttod's boat was just a blip in the distance; his custom painted ship stark contrast to the ocean. Had everyone just left without them? Esther slumped her shoulders in defeat. They'd just risked their lives. Their friends had just left without them.

"Sorry we're late, where is everyone-"

Raven appeared through the thick mist. Her blonde hair was greasy and limp, and there were black rings underneath her eyes. Jaxx wasn't much better. His shaved hair was overgrown in patches, duller than it was before. They had run out of food and water days ago. It wasn't surprising that they looked so dishevelled.

Katherin stood. There was nothing to say. The boat was gone, but at least they weren't alone. It was selfish to say. Katherin cursed herself for thinking so egoistically. The four of them were in danger now, more so than before. But at least they had each other.

"The boat?" Raven whispered.

"It's that dot in the distance," Katherin responded dryly.

She pointed in the direction of the boat, not that Raven and Jaxx would need any assistance.

The daisies that Morgana had painted on the side were still clearly visible. Hadn't she used glow in the dark paint? Katherin faintly remembered buying the paint on monthly date day.

She and Esther had thought it would be used to paint Morgana's new portrait at university, but she had other ideas. Katherin didn't even think Ttod had known until his fishing trip a month later. He loved it, though. It made his boat stand out amongst the others. Besides, people were offering him thousands of dollars for the boat, just so they could boast to their friends about the flowers.

"We thought you'd all left without us," Esther continued softly.

"What? No, it can't be. Morgana is still coming. Ttod wouldn't leave without her."

Katherin glanced at Esther. It was a valid point. Ttod wouldn't leave without taking his girlfriend with him, right?

An uneasy feeling settled in Katherin's gut. What if it wasn't Ttod commanding the ship?

Plenty of other citizens had attempted to escape, and a boat was a treasured item. They could have taken Ttod and forced him to turn the boat from the docks. Yes, that seemed right. Ttod wouldn't abandon them. They'd been friends for years. Since they were kids.

Morgana appeared, followed by Lyria, Gwynth, Rosabella, Ivory and Rebeka.

They stood together in the cold; huddled in hope that their friend would return. It would be daybreak soon. They'd wait until the sun rose above the ocean if they had to. But the boat never returned. It continued into the horizon until it disappeared into the fog.

The boat wasn't turning back. Ttod had left without them. All of them. No one had been told or given an explanation for his cowardly actions. No one, not even Morgana, had been saved from their terrible fate.

Raven stood underneath the dull glow of the streetlights, stroking Jaxx's shoulder and murmuring to him. It wasn't doing any good. Jaxx had clenched his fists until his knuckles were burning white; tendons visible underneath the stretched skin. He was trying to internalise his rage; pushing it down into his gut until he felt nothing.

Ttod had betrayed them. No one deserved to get left behind. It didn't matter if Ttod had been afraid. He'd left his girlfriend behind. The person he'd sworn to marry one day.

If they died, it was on Ttod. Jaxx kicked the streetlight in anger. The pole crumbled under his rage; dim light evaporating into the mist as the globe shattered. Enveloping them in darkness.

There was a shriek of alarm. Katherin turned in horror as people appeared through the fog. Except they weren't people, not really. Katherin recognised the creatures immediately.

Zombies, just like the videos had shown. They were the creatures that tore the survivors apart.

Lyria shook her head. Her bottom lip tremored as she backed away from the intruders. The zombies were already spreading out; circling the group as they licked their lips in anticipation. Some wore smattered blood on their shirts. Their eyes were glazed over. The videos were correct. Something wasn't right. The zombies had been human once.

"Run!" Lyria murmured. Her body shook as the words spilled from her mouth in a blur. "These creatures slaughtered my family. We have to go, now!"

The group took off running. Jaxx led the way, his hand wrapped firmly around Raven's wrist, shouting for the others to follow as he was swallowed by the mist.

Esther was still sitting on the ground, drawing figure eights in the dust. It was as if she hadn't noticed the havoc around her. Katherin hauled Esther to her feet and pushed her in the direction of the group.

Esther stumbled. Panicked gaze met panicked gaze. Esther realised that Katherin wasn't coming with her. There was still one left behind.

It was exactly as Esther had feared.

"Rebeka. We need to leave. You heard Lyria." Katherin spoke. She kept her voice even, swallowing down the dread rising into her throat. There were too many of them. The zombies would surround them in a manner of minutes.

Blood covered the zombie's worn shirts. Skin had been collected underneath their overgrown nails. Remains of people who had tried to escape from the terror befalling their nation.

Katherin clutched the necklace Esther had given her. They were going to die. Katherin never got to say goodbye.

"He's my brother," Rebeka responded. She spoke with conviction, a smile playing on her lips as she walked towards a familiar face. "He's here to save us. They just came back from Afghanistan. We don't have to be afraid anymore."

Katherin watched in horror as Rebeka moved to hold her brother in an embrace She was frozen; unable to process the situation she was in. The older boy stiffened. Katherin relaxed.

It was okay.

The internet had been lying; a ruse to keep people indoors. A sickening prank, of sorts. But what about Lyria? She must have seen something else. Her parents and sister must have been attacked by wild dogs. That made sense. Lyria could have just been imagining the zombies to ease her suffering.

The boy bared his teeth and sunk them onto Rebeka's flesh.

The others circled in.

Rebeka didn't move or fight them off. She wailed as they advanced on her, biting at her skin and pulling at her insides. Their nails drew red lines down her skin and sliced through clothing. Blood ran down Rebeka's shoulder and pooled at the floor. There was so much blood. Too much.

There was nothing Katherin could do. She felt bile rising in her throat. It was horrible.

Katherin forced herself to look away. She needed to leave, or she'd be next.

Katherin sprinted from the scene. She told herself she couldn't save the girl she'd been friends with for years, not without killing herself in the process.

Esther would understand, right? She would have wanted Katherin to save herself.

The churning in her stomach was getting worse. She'd just left someone for dead. No one was going to save Rebeka.

Katherin could have done something. She could have pulled her away from her brother. Rebeka wouldn't be dead if she'd just reacted in time. Esther would be ashamed of her.

She'd need to tell the group. They deserved to know. 

Hi everyone!

This might be a little confusing for the original readers of this story, but I decided to make this part chapter 2 instead of part 2 of chapter 1. Did that make sense? 

How did you find this chapter? I introduced quite a few characters here which is probably extremely confusing, but keep in mind that these characters will remain in this story throughout the entire triology. You will come to know each of them for their unique personalities - just trust me on this! 

I'm planning to post updates of SURVIVE once a week, but that may change depending on my schedule. 

If you like science fiction, you should check out my other novel KEPLER-168F. It's a standalone novel that is set on another planet - Kepler-168F. Check it out! 

Happy reading x