"So, who's going to die today?"

I have asked myself this question every morning since The Day It Happened. Every morning I wake before everyone else, if not to get started on the daily work ahead of me, then due to the nightmares. Every night I see the faces of those I couldn't save. Every night I hear those horrible sounds and feel those gruesome figures at my side. And every morning I wake and ask myself who else I will not be able to save.

I squint in the dim light from the candle at the two sleeping bundles on the other side of the small shed floor. One looking just like me - the same strawberry blonde, ringlet curls spilling across her sleeping bag. The other, her best friend, now parentless and now my responsibility to keep alive. A promise I made to her father as he was being dragged away and we were running for our lives.

I fully unzipped my sleeping bag and laid it over the top of them before I stood at the shed door. I cracked it slightly open, listening. Listening for those sounds I dread to hear ever again. But all was quiet. I open the door enough to stick my head out into the brisk, icy air. I survey our campsite. Four camping tents lie close to our shed. Two cars parked slightly farther. Nothing seems out of place. I am sure I would have heard something in the night if anything had gone amiss, but I have learned to question everything since The Day It Happened.

I quietly make my way across the campsite, slowly unzipping tents enough to peek in and get a head count, while staying quiet enough not to startle anyone. I give a small wave to the person currently on watch and make my way over to the cars and peek through the small opening in the window covers we made for this very purpose. Something that I can use to look in, but hopefully something inconspicuous enough that nothing else will, too.

Everyone is accounted for. We made it through another night unscathed.

We are pushing our luck, however. We have stayed at this site for 4 days. The longest we've stayed put somewhere since It Happened. The longer we stay somewhere, the more likely we are to be found.

I'm trekking through the woods now, toward a small clearing up ahead to meet with Jack, like I have done every morning since It Happened. Jack and I didn't know each other Before, just like I didn't know over half of our group. We didn't get the luxury of choosing who we'd get stuck with when It Happened, but I will say that I feel lucky I ended up with Jack to help me keep everyone alive. If we had had a choice and I had known him Before, perhaps I would have chosen him.

"I see you chose to sleep in." Jack bantered as I plopped down next to him on the ground. He handed me a piece of dried beef, and I graciously accepted it.

"Maybe you should give it a try. Some beauty rest could do you good - you look like shit." I quipped back.

"I would blame it on everything that Happened, but I can't say I looked much better Before." Jack said, the king of self-effacing humor.

We sat in silence, chewing our lousy breakfast slowly.

"We need to move on from this spot. Soon. Today. Before we are found again." I somberly broke the silence.

Jack's body tensed, surely subjecting himself to the memory of that day. "Yeah, you're right. But they aren't going to be happy about it." He said.

"Well, then they can stay behind. Even if they are never found, who is going to keep food in their mouths and supplies in their packs? It _would_ be less mouths to feed..." I say bitterly, Jack and I both knowing I do not mean what I say.

"I hiked South and back all night last night... I scouted out a pretty good place for our next night. There's a dirt road that the cars should do okay on, and it's concealed enough." Jack said, eyeing me hesitantly.

"Why would you go out that far alone at night? Why wouldn't you take me with you?" I was aghast, however this was not the first time Jack had made a choice like this.

"First of all, who would be here to look after the others if something went wrong? Secondly and most importantly, you need rest. Badly. You're burning yourself out fast, Mother Hen." He said, offering me another piece of beef, this one I declined.

"You should have at least told me. We could have scouted in one of the cars. It would have been faster and safer..." I trailed off knowing it was useless, and above all, what he did was very much needed and I was too exhausted to be the one to do it.

"So, we'll head South." I changed the subject.

"It looks like a promising route. I think the faster we get to the coast the better. We need to get closer to the open water to keep those freaks at bay." He said while popping the last of the jerky into his mouth, aside from the piece I assume he is saving for me.

I opened my mouth to agree with him, only to be interrupted by the snapping of a twig across the clearing. Jack and I froze and listened. We heard no other noises... surely it's just an animal. We waited. Seconds felt like hours. Our bodies relaxed and we looked at each other, both shrugging.

"We better get back and get everyone moving. Long day ahead of us" Jack said as he stood up.

He took one step and we were immediately deafened by the most horrible sounds. Like flies buzzing too close to your ears with the piercing overtone akin to a nuke siren. I immediately covered my ears as Jack hit his knees, blood pouring out of his. Over the ear-splitting, grotesque sound, I could barely hear a scream back at camp. But it was all too recognizable.

It was my sister.

TBC maybe?