[B][u]Two Days Ago[/b][/u] “All civilians are to form up in a single filed line,” said a voice over a megaphone. Soldiers stood erect like statues as they moved to and fro. “When called, proceed to the checkpoint. Any individuals who move outside the line or attempt to climb the fence will be met with deadly force. I repeat …” Katherine listened to the soldier as she removed her gloves and disinfected her hands. The quarantine zone was becoming more packed by the minute, and there was barely any spaces left to process people cleared of infection. There were some who tried to leave through the highway beyond the checkpoints, but they were either turned around by the military or simply shot. The government was dead set on keeping things contained. Katherine hoped her family made it out in time. Sammy knew the back roads though; they should be fine. “Doing alright?” Katherine looked up and saw Jason as he gave her a weary smile. “Nine hours so far. Makes first and second year feel like a joke. I’m surprised you showed up, Kat.” She rolled her eyes as she moved towards the next tent over. To prevent bodily fluids from transferring tents, protocol was to replace gloves at each station. The precaution was understandable. “I was going to skip town. Away from all this shit, but I couldn’t. Not when Dr. Kneeton sent out that message. Can you believe this? All of this? The deceased literally coming back to life? Not to mention that, but they’re eating people!” Jason laughed as he put on a fresh pair of gloves. “At least residency will be easier after this.” Stepping into the tent, Katherine stepped past an armed guard as she began her check on the patients. Stepping towards a middle aged, blonde woman, Katherine stopped in front of her. She took a look at the information clipped to the bed. Glancing at the patient, Katherine gawked at the woman’s physical condition. Thank god she had a mask on. “Ms. Sanders? I’m Katherine, a medical student at Emory. Some preliminary questions first. Have you been bitten or come into contact with any of the infected?” “I-I don’t like it here. I don’t like it here!” Katherine nodded as she tore open the wrapping around a thermometer. “I’m going to take your temperature and check you out. We’ll try to get you out of here. How does that sound, Ms. Sanders?” “T-they tore into him. I-I don’t like it here. Not here…” “This has to go under your tongue. Can you open your mouth?” Carefully, Katherine inserted the silver-colored rod as she waited for the readout to stabilize. Bethany Sanders. Mother of two and married. From what Katherine could tell, the woman was in shock. Not the typically psychologic trauma that came with car crash patients or GSW, but a different kind. Her voice and demeanor hinted to the woman experiencing something terrible. The reader beeped. Katherine paled slightly. “Ms. Sanders, I’m going to get some medication. I need you t—“ “I DON’T LIKE IT HERE! I DON’T,” Katherine stepped back as the woman coughed up blood. It was surreal. Jerking to and fro, the whole scene looked like a twisted version of ballet. Ms. Sander’s body convulsed as it slammed back into the bed and remained dead still. Katherine was very aware of a soldier ordering her to step back, but she didn’t listen. She continued to stare at the woman — married and whom had two kids — laying there as limp as a carcass. “Step back!” Katherine stumbled and fought to regain her balance as the soldier shoved her off. She felt a pair of hands from behind her as Jason caught her. Jason looked at her then to the soldier. “Hey asshole? What the hell?” The soldier trained his rifle on the Ms. Sanders as he spoke into the radio. “Tent F has an infected,” said the gruff voice from behind the mask. “Copy, Command.” The soldier turned to the medical personnel. “Medical personnel, clear out! Civilians remain in your beds. This tent is under lockdown. Any attempt to le—“ Gunshots cut the soldier off as rounds echoed from outside. Katherine jumped at the noise. She hated guns. The damn things. Though they were helpful in times like this, she couldn’t stand them. The time to complain wasn’t now though. Crossing to the flap with the other medical personnel, her heart stopped as she saw what laid outside. There wasn’t a line anymore. Into the quarantine zone that was. She saw multiple persons tearing into guards and people alike, as great vehicles mowed down the living and the dead. Her eyes locked onto that of a child as she started moving forward. She felt a strong grip hold her back as she fought to move forward. “You bastards! The child is still alive! The chi—!” The brunette looked away as gunfire roared in that direction. The shots rang in her ears, but she swore she could hear someone screaming. Her legs wobbled and grew weak. “Kat!” She shook her head as Jason began to lead her away. “Fuck this quarantine zone. We’re leaving!” “They shot the …” “I saw that bullshit,” Jason said as he pushed past the throng of fleeing people. “Come on. We’re heading back into the city.” Katherine shook her head. “We’re going to borrow a car, and we’re going into the co—“ “We’ll get torn to shreds by the military! No one is leaving that way, Kat! Now shut up and keep moving. The infected are slow. We can slip past them.” “My sisters are waiting for me!” Jason turned into an alleyway and forced her to look into his passionate, sea green eyes. “Calm down, Kat. Survive, then we’ll find them. Have faith. Everything will be alright. You’ll see.” [B][u]Present Day[/u][/b] Katherine leaned against the cool touch of a brick wall. The contents of her backpack pressed into her as she fingered the crowbar in her hands. Her clothes — now three days old — felt slimly as dry blood caked the outside. She was all alone, and the feeling wasn’t shy of letting her know. She could still see Jason’s face contorted in pain as the infected got him. She tried to save him but there were far too many. Why the hell didn’t she leave when she had the chance? She could’ve been with her family. Her sisters and brother anyway. The streets were empty except for the infected as the shambled with the dexterity of a drunkard. The morning runs and yoga really paid off, for Katherine had little trouble avoiding them. What killed her was the moans. She hated the very sound. It was so sad yet so ominous at the same time. It was making her crazy. Sighing, she collected herself. Before the radio cut off, she heard something about Emory University containing an evacuation/aid station in the cafeteria. Though it was probably a hoax or overrun, she had to make it there. If there was any hope of finding ‘normal’ people, she knew she had to do it. In the past few days, she had killed for the first time. Not just the infected, but the living as well. It sickened her to the core, and she still hated herself for doing it. It was for survival though. The man was going to … If she hadn’t killed him … Forcing her legs to move forward, she wasn’t far from the campus now. She knew this area like the back of her hand. She did spend her undergraduate and medical school career here after all. Rounding a corner, she crouched as the infected milled about ahead. Fighting to calm her pulsating heart, she moved as quietly as she could as far away from them as she could. She was too tired from past events to deal with them. Making it into an alley, she breathed out as she continued on her way through the shadows. After a few more blocks, she final saw the entrance to the university. Checking her corners and the street, she moved into the campus and towards the cafeteria. When the building came into focus, she saw several figures standing by a door. Her skin crawled. Would they be friendly or like the man she killed? Whatever the case, she needed to get in and see if anything was left. Caution she thought to herself. As she moved up, Katherine jumped as she heard a voice to her right. “Lemon Balm!” She heard the bushes rustle as she turned and brought her weapon to bear. Her heart thundered in her ears. She was about to strike out with it until she saw pretty looking black haired woman. Katherine stood there for a moment before lowering her crowbar. “Are you completely crazy?” Katherine asked as she frowned. “I was about to ... Forget it. Are you here about the aid center?"