Above us stretched a cloudless, blue sky, uncorrupted by man's intrusion. Brown trunks reached out toward the heavens, its limbs' barren of greenery. My spirits should have lifted at such a sight; however, as the cool breeze stirred, it contained the rancid scent of death. Its fragrance was a constant reminder of what man had made our reality.

"Although our flesh doesn't attract those who are sick, we need to remember what dangers we face while going outside."

Eradication of the lingering traces of rage from my body continued, as did my eye's twitch, as I searched for imaginary faces that shouldn't exist. In comparison to the chaos my mind created, the danger from our broken world was welcomed.

"We stay close, head down, but eyes alert."

Before us, lay the outskirts of the city, or as those shielded by the wall called zone red. Color categorization of the region's danger meant survival to protectors, and according to them, this area was where everything living went to die.

Over-the-Rhine's historical district used to house what was once the middle class, yet the only species safe to reside here now were the infected. For within every darkened entrance, every gloomy alleyway that held the possibility of flesh, lay a deceased predator.

Gone were the townhouses a variety of bright colors. And what remained were faded derelict skeletons of what once was. Some buildings, like ours, remained vertical. Others had toppled long ago, or were decorated with gaping holes; if its walls existed at all.

The front door's gentle click sounded behind us before my watchful gaze fixated on our brethren of altered neighbors. Clusters of the undead loitered across the lawn, seemingly unfazed by our arrival. And for a fleeting moment, I actually felt guilty. For my discarding of leftovers had attracted a gathering rather than our normal stragglers.

I sensed that Carly had paused beside me. Nodding my head slightly, I knew that she would not move without my silent agreement. Then white smoke released from trembling lips before she surged forward, forcing us to follow.

The porch's wood groaned, initiating the stirring of dilapidated figures. And In my head, my aunt's instructions ran on a loop, words religiously whispered to Hailee each morning...

"We blend in, we never stand out."

Ironically, the drug that ended our normal lives also gifted us. For we were genetically camouflaged from a devourer's detection. Something happened during the fever, an enhancement to the dead's sense of smell. And now like a basset hound, they could distinguish whether the person standing before them was contaminated. But when it came to our scent, the aroma seemed to confuse them. It made them believe that prey didn't exist, even when it stood right under their noses.

And although I didn't view devourers in the same manner as others, I was no fool to the dangers of traveling through a horde this size.

Huddled together, an army of three, we cautiously entered a mob of flesh eaters. Like mannequins, they stood sporadically in bunches, seemingly unfocused. Careful not to make any unnecessary movements, we shuffled with eyes glued to the cracks along the pathway rather than the display of rotten decay.

A steady beat pounded in my ears. It made my breathing labored, my movements slightly less steady. It wasn't until I caught a glimpse of Hailee's dirty Puppy Dog Pals' bookbag that I recognized this antiquated emotion for what it was. It was an emotion that I believed had died along with my family. Fear...

It wasn't that I was frightened of enduring pain at the hands of the undead, but that I would lose the only family I had left. I feared the aftermath of severing my only link to humanity.

"And while fear might entice us to run, all it would take is an impulsive movement..."

Several emaciated bodies swayed while positioned along the bottom steps that led to the public sidewalk. Their movements were in unison like some demented ballet. And when I dared to glance up, I witnessed withered faces with vacant eyes, slack jaws with decomposing lips that continued to release that god-forsaken moan like a harmonized demonic church hymn.

My palm was interlaced with one of Hailee's while her other hand remained captured by Carly's; as if a human chain could save us from a sudden attack.

"It would only take one reckless action for a sick mind to mistake us for food."

My skin crawled at the proximity of a concave chest mere inches from my back. Bile sat at the base of my throat at the stench that wafted up to meet my nostrils, and my legs wavered slightly as I tip-toed cautiously over amputated limbs.

Of course, I knew better than to allow my inner revulsion to show even as blood dribbled from misshapen teeth to slither a trail down my back.

"If they don't want us, why would they attack us, Mommy?" Hailee had countered. "Why would they hurt anyone?" Her questions altered a bit each morning, and yet its meaning was always the same. What made them different than us?

Day by day, I wondered how Carly would manipulate the truth this time. Each morning, I contemplated how she'd paint Lumara Pharmaceuticals as heroes rather than villains.

My thoughts distracted me from our practiced traditions, and my gaze lifted from the derelict pavement to rest on my aunt. Carly's hurried pace ushered my niece forward while her attention remained focused on her evaluation of the crowd for potential danger.

"The water affected those who drank it in different ways, Hailee."

Carly's other hand remained wrapped around the handle of the concealed gun at the waistband of her skirt. Swathed in white cloth, the sun suddenly rested upon her figure. And at that moment, its beam made her appear almost angelic whilst surrounded by demons.

Oh, how images lied.

"Our changes happened on the outside." Carly had pointed at me before she continued, "But look at Alyssa, she looks the same, doesn't she?" Hailee nodded. "That's because her skin didn't pale like ours, her eye color didn't change; however, she's faster, stronger than she used to be-"

"Like me?" Hailee insisted happily. "I can outrun everyone in my class. I couldn't do that before."

Lowering herself to Hailee's level, my aunt's thumb had brushed her daughter's cheek lovingly. "That's right, Sweetie. The water made us... unique, and sometimes others fear those who are different."

Hailee had nodded, her pigtails hitting her pink coat. "That's why we dye our hair, wear contacts, and don't tell anyone our secret."

"That's right, my love. That's right."

My gaze traveled to the stop sign at the end of the block, red signifying safety rather than danger. We just needed to make it a few more steps. In just a few more steps we'd leave the yard, we'd bypass the crowd, and make it to the blessed emptiness of deserted roads.

A crash erupted to our left.

"Stop," came Carly's whispered order.

We froze, waited in the same unified fashion that the dead's heads rose in the direction of that sound. Colorless eyes closed, necks reclined as what remained of noses inhaled the cold breeze. That damning groan emitted deep from within chests, like a battle cry meant to attract more of its brethren, while the pound of my heart seemed deafening. A gentle squeeze gripped my hand. Hailee's small palm became a reminder of who I was, and who I needed to protect. Because while fear overwhelmed my heart, my primal instincts screamed at me to join in. My darker impulses urged me to pursue that sound.

Stay still, Hailee, I mentally chanted to my cousin in an effort to focus on what was important. Stay still.

However, I knew from the death grip on my hand that she was barely keeping it together. Hailee was used to seeing devourers clumped in one spot, she was even used to traveling through a crowd. What she wasn't used to, was having something attract their attention.

Foolishly, Hailee took a step forward. And sure enough, her sudden movement attracted a pair of unwanted eyes.

Damn it!

Quickly, I sidestepped until my body shadowed hers.

Now the recipient of a lifeless gaze, I felt it pan my figure, assess my body as one would evaluate an item at a grocery store. His body shifted nearer, rank breath blowing against my skin as drool fell in strings across my cheek. I felt rather than saw, Carly slowly ease Hailee closer to her side while this creature continued its sluggish appraisal. Colorless eyes closed before that inhalation began. My scent was absorbed by that derelict nose, and while I knew that he could not detect humanity within me, confusion caused his jaw to contract.

And I swear, at that moment, my heart literally stopped beating in my chest.

This was it. This was my end.

Frozen, I stood there waiting for his strike, waiting for the feast to begin...

Author's note:

Hope you liked it!