Armageddon

Two: Lurkers

"Kimberly!?" Mira called. The students have been long evacuated, but she was still inside, looking for her best friend. The city must be full of lurkers now. The military lost control over the lurkers and abandoned their post after a week of battling them. It was a hopeless fight.

"Kimberly, where are you!?" she yelled once more and entered the room. Mira looked around the mess.

"Kimberly, answer me!" she called. Beeping cars, ambulance sirens, and firetrucks roamed the city back and forth while numerous explosions erupted. A thud on the cabinet caught her attention. Mira approached it slowly, raising her sword and pulling the door open.

Mira immediately found Kimberly trembling in fear while covering her ears in the cramped cabinet space.

"Kimmy." Mira called her name gently. Kimberly looked at her, tears well up in her eyes. She immediately hugged Mira.

"It's okay. I'm here," Mira said while rubbing circles in her back. Kimberly hates loud, booming noises. When she was a child, a madman stormed into the mall, resulting in her parents' deaths from a bomb. It was an extreme trauma for her.

"M-Mir, what's happening?" Kimmy asked. Mira grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room.

"We need to get out of this university right now," Mira said. Kimberly became more anxious as she heard screams, cries, and gunshots all around.

"Mir! What's happening!?" Kimberly inquired frantically as her eyes searched for students.

"Kimmy, you told me you trusted me, right?" Mira asked while steadily walking.

When the virus spread, people started hiding in the university, but one infected person quickly overran the area. It started attacking the survivors, and this was when Mira lost Kimberly.

They weren't able to go out when the infection started and were forced to stay in a group, but it was a big mistake because none knew how to fend for themselves. The group, with few fighters against the lurkers, wouldn't stand a chance. She was separated from Kimberly. She had to stay in a room for three days before going out and searching for her best friend, but she was too late. Mira saw that she had already turned into a monster. It was against Mira's will to leave her, but she had to. Mira fled to the city, which was filled with what they call lurkers.

"I'll explain everything to you once we get out of here, okay?" she said. Mira caught a glimpse of people running in the hallway.

"Mir! There are still people running in the rooms. We should stay with them until help comes," Kimberly said and pointed. The people frantically forced each room to open.

"No!" Mira said. She will not risk it again. She will not make the same mistake twice. "We're leaving," she added. Mira looked back at the people and continued running away.

"You know the hole at the back of the botany laboratory?" Mira asked while looking around her.

"Yes, but it was sealed, right?" Kimberly asked. Mira nodded her head.

"It was, but the sports club made a new hole again," Mira said. She let go of her hand and pulled the canvas away. The hole was exposed, with only a brick covering it. The hole will lead outside of an alleyway that was used for parking.

"I'll go first," Mira said. A scream startled Kimberly. Mira went back to her and cupped her face.

"Whatever you hear, continue to crawl until you're out, okay?" Mira said. Kimberly nodded while squeezing her best friend's hand.

"I'll be quick, so follow after me," she said. Mira began crawling into the hole. When her head was already outside, she glanced around and saw the cars parked. Mira breathed and crawled again until her body was out. She immediately crouched and peered inside.

"Kimmy, come on," she whispered, motioning for her to follow. Mira saw Kimberly nod. Suddenly, a bone-chilling growl slowly made its way onto Mira's back. She quickly unsheathed the katana and turned her body, sl*shing the lurker's head.

"M-Mir...you...what is that?" What d-did you do? Kimberly asked, stuttering at the horrific scene that happened in front of her. She got up, but suddenly, her phone rang in her pocket. Mira cursed as the lurkers on the street began to snap their heads in their direction. Lurkers were sensitive to the sounds around them; one wrong move and you'd end up dead.

"You better turn it off, Kimmy. Now!" Mira whispered, yelled, and gripped the sword tightly. The lurkers savagely ran to where they were standing, while Kimberly frantically continued to find the off button.

"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!" Mira mumbled. Kimberly glanced at the lurkers while pressing her phone's screen. Mira swings her swords at the lurker who jumped at her, cutting its neck. Agility-type lurkers weren't strong, but with their speed, they can take any person down easily.

"I got it!" Kimberly said it triumphantly, raising her phone with a nervous smile on her face. Mira looked at her and grabbed her hand.

"Run!" Mira yelled. They both ran, and the lurkers followed. They turned around and entered a small house. Mira immediately locked the door and set up the chairs and tables to serve as barricades. Mira motioned for Kimberly to remain silent while they watched the lurkers pass by the house.

When no one found them hiding inside the house, Mira breathed a sigh of relief. She slumped on the ground and swiped the sweat off of her face.

"Mir, what was that?" Kimberly asked while clasping her chest. "Those are people, right? Why are they trying to kill us?" she added while playing with her fingers.

"Were," Mira said. "They're already infected with an unknown virus. They are now lurkers, Kimmy," she added, putting the katana on her lap.

"I don't understand," Kimberly asked quietly. She just witnessed Mira kill a person with her own eyes. Mira let out a sigh and examined the house. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. Her guess was that the people living here went out when the apocalypse happened and left all the things inside. She looked at Kimberly again and smiled a little.

"Would you believe me if I say that I time-travelled?"