Panning my head around the dark streets. Searching for any sign of life. I spot two people standing together about a hundred meters away from me. I begin walking towards them and call out.

"Hello...I need help. Please."

Continuing my approach, they both turn their heads toward me. And burst into a run. Coming at me, gnashing their teeth. Scythe drawn I swing it backwards. Again trying not too cause any injury. Just trying to keep them at a distance.

It doesn't slow them down at all. Their charge continues, unfazed by the push of my scythe. I begin walking backwards away from them. Still swinging with the dull end of my scythe. Another appears behind me and I trip over them. One of the original two stands over me. Looking directly into my eyes.

Suddenly there's a loud bang, and his head just explodes. Turning my head toward the source of the sound I find a woman standing there. A woman like I've never seen before. Clad in a black sleeveless shirt. which is tucked into green pants. which are tucked into black boots. And shoulder length black hair ending just above a black bag on her back.

With rifle in hand. She points it at the second attacker and dose the same. Bang another head gone. Then the third.

"Dude, a scythe, really? You're gonna need something better than that if you wanna survive."

She says, as she reached a hand down to help me up from the ground.

"What's going on? Did everyone get sick and start acting crazy here too?"

"Uh yeah. Where have you been? It's been like this for a week. Real ass zombies man."

"Zombies?"

"Don't tell me you don't know what zombies are. You know, from movies, TV, video games, comics. Have you seriously never heard of zombies?"

"I'm Amish"

I say, as I point to the bridge I just crossed.

"Oh, shit man, I'm sorry I didn't realize. It's dark. And I was kinda preoccupied saving your life. Guess that explains the scythe at least."

She pauses for a moment before point to the bridge and continuing.

"So, how bad is it in there?"

"Everyone is gone. I'm the only survivor. I wanted to come out here sooner and find a cure. Now it's too late."

"Well, if it helps. We don't have a cure yet. I doubt that we ever will. This has gone global. The news reported on it the first few days but now there's no one left to report it. And no power to watch the news anyways. I doubt any labs are still running, looking for a cure. Now it's just about survival. Look, I'm sorry to drop all this end of the world stuff on you and run. But I really gotta get going. Good luck"

She speeds off. Limping I try and keep up with her. Yelling out.

"Wait!, What's your name."

"Courtney"

She calls back, but keeps her pace as she walks away.

"Courtney, I'm Levi. Thank you for saving me."

She stops for a moment and turns around to face me.

"Don't mention it. Now I don't have time to stand around and chat. Goodbye Levi."

She begins walking away again nearly breaking out into a run.

I continue following her.

"Are there more survivors?"

without stopping, or even turning her head she replies.

"A few. Listen I'm sure you're a nice guy and all but seriously. Leave me alone."

"But I don't know where to go."

"Figure it out."

"I can help you, I owe you for saving my life."

"Dude what is your problem. You're like a stray dog or something. You don't even know what I'm doing. Or where I'm going. How are you going tell help me."

"So tell me."

"You know what? Fine."

She stops and turns to me again, before continuing.

"I can use your help. As long as you don't slow me down. I'm out here gathering some supplies. There's a pharmacy just a little ways down the street. Were going for food and medicine. And anything else we can carry."

The pharmacy's door is completely destroyed. There's barely anything left of it. Just some shattered glass where it should be. The windows are cracked and the shelves nearly bare.

"Damn, someone else has already been here."

Courtney says.

"More than once"

I add.

"Hopefully we can find enough to keep us going. The only other pharmacy is too far. It'd be too much of a risk carrying things back a great distance. Makes defending yourself harder."

Courtney explains. She continues.

"You go see what you can find for food. Even cat food, I don't care. If it's edible grab it. Oh, and batteries if you can find them. Any and all sizes. I need to get behind the counter, then I'll come help you."

There are baskets at the front where the door should be. I grab one and set out too fill it with whatever I can. There's very little here. And what I can find I don't recognize. I spot a pair of doors that reads "employees only" and think perhaps I'll have better luck back there.

Poking around, there are boxes piled up high. I begin sorting through them. Most are empty. Others are just junk. Bubble bath, greeting cards, hair dye. I can't imagine we'll need any of this. Finally I happen upon a box with twelve cans of corn in it. Then notice a stack that looks like its more corn boxes. I head over to check.

All the boxes tumble over toward me. One crashes down onto my shoulder and was definitely not empty. The rest, nearly missing me and hitting the floor. Bursting open to reveal they are in fact full of corn.

An arm lunges out from where the boxes once stood. Another one of these zombie things, which was stuck behind the boxes waiting for someone to come around. It stumbles toward me. Tripping over the boxes it had just knocked down. Laying atop them, its writhing about trying to get up. I hop onto it back and just like with Amos, Press my scythe against it's neck. A quick pull and it's neck slashes open. Nothing happens, It just continues biting and trying to get up. My weight is keeping it pinned down. I try again for the throat. Same result.

Then it hits me. Remembering what Amos said, It's all about killing the brain. This blade is too thin and would never penetrate a skull. Desperately I reach for the only hard thing I can get my hand on. A can of corn.

Bashing away savagely, I don't stop. I just keep going well past the point the body went limp. The can is dented beyond recognition. The zombies head, little more then a mush at this point.

Then, sitting there on top of this very dead zombie. I break down and cry. Not just for having taken a life. But for everything else that's happened too. I haven't taken the time to process any of it before. The fact that everyone I knew and loved is gone. The fact that life will never look normal again. All of it.

This is not the time to have a break down. But its happening now regardless.Through teary eyes I raise my head to see Courtney standing between the double doors. Laughing.