Quick and very important note: From this point on, the chapters will be from my ORIGINAL version of Infection. Please note that the only major difference is instead of a house, the survivors are in Rich's cellar/bunker. They've also learned to kill a zombie, it has to be to the brain. The story picks up after a night of sleep in the bunker. As you read this on, please remember that this draft was written in 2009 when I first started writing as a teen. Believe me, I know there are errors and I know how terrible it is, so if bad writing bothers you, I recommend waiting for the fully-rewritten version.

*Even though I was embarrassed at first to keep my old work up for readers to see, it was important to me to show readers how far I've come and how far anyone can come with practice. Happy reading!*

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I knew I was dreaming when I was riding in a car.  I stepped out of my friends car, dismissed the dog that was barking with a wave of my hand, and walked to the front door of my house. 

I took a step inside the door and was blinded with lights that suddenly flicked on above me.  In the archway to the living room stood my mom and dad.  I realized that this was a replay of what had happened the night before. 

 Mom had her arms crossed across her chest, still in her clothes that she wore to work, and I could tell that she was real pissed off.  Next to her, and slightly behind her, stood Dad leaning against the archway.  He had changed into his PJs and he looked more worried than mad.

I felt my body sway with drunkenness and my eyes squinted in the bright light.

"Lucy!" I imitated an accent.  "I'm home!"  I lifted my arms in the air and gave a big smile to my mom.

"Where have you been?"  Mom said deeply, her eyebrows cocked up.  "It's 2 o clock in the morning.  Your curfew is midnight." 

"Well, it's midnight somewhere,"  I said turning to walk to my bedroom. 

"Desiree,"  Mom said more sternly.  "We aren't done talking.  I know you'e been drinking."  She took a step closer to me.  "I can smell it on you."

My stomach started to churn from the whiskey shots I'd had earlier that night.  "Okay."  I pointed at her.  "Yeah.  I need to lay down."  I stumbled as I turned back around and my shoulder slammed into the wall.  I belt of laughter erupted from my throat.

"Desi--" Mom started to yell.

"Lucy,"  Dad said loudly.  "Stop it.  Let her go to sleep and we will talk to her in the morning."

"No,"  I heard Mom start stepping towards me.  She grabbed my arm.  "We will handle this now."

"Don't be such a bitch,"  I whispered as my face went cold with sweat.  Her jerking me around made me feel sicker.

"Lucy!"  Dad yelled and Mom let in a quick gasp.  "I said to stop it!"  She let go of my arm.

"Screw you, Hoyt!"  She shoved her hand in his chest and stomped off the kitchen.

I turned to look at Dad.  His eyes were serious.   He walked up to me and wrapped me up in a hug.  Then I knew I was dreaming again because I heard a snarl start to rise in his throat.  He leaned back and looked at me with bleeding black eyes and bit my face.

I woke up sweating. Cody snored lightly behind me. I slid myself out of his arms and stumbled around trying to find the door in the darkness. I finally found it and opened it slowly so that it didn't creak.

The hall lights blinded my eyes. I shut the door behind me and started to walk past the closed bedroom doors. I wondered what time it was.

I reached the grandfather clock on the corner of the hallway. 9:00 AM.

I turned the corner and saw that no one was in the dining room or the kitchen. I walked into the living room and looked down the hall to the cellar door.

It was wide open.

I froze where I stood and frantically looked around the room to make sure no infected were with me.

I struggled to gulp down air into my lungs and my hands shook at my sides. Sunlight was streaming in in a single ray. I saw the grass swaying in the wind and even saw little yellow dandelions. I wanted so much to pluck one, put it in my ear, and dance in the sun. If only I could go out there without being killed.

I heard screams and I turned around to run down the hall behind me. I sprinted as fast as I could to Cody in the bedroom.

I burst in the door.

"Cody!" I screamed. "The cellar door is open!" I tried to catch my breath from running. "I can't--didn't see anyone but I just heard screams." I rested my hands on my knees and Cody jumped out of the bed.

We ran back down the hall.

When we reached the living room we saw Rich and Jason carrying in someone with blood all over them.

It was Sheridan.

"Oh my god.." I whispered. My hand went to my mouth in shock.

They laid Sheridan down in the middle of the floor while Cody ran to shut and lock the cellar door.

Jason and Rich were leaning over her. I heard Jason talking to Sheridan and I saw tears falling from his face. Tears filled my own eyes as my eyes scanned her body.

The bicep of her left arm had been completely torn out. Blood and bone was in it's place.

Her leg was broken, the bone emerging two inches out of the skin.

Blood was draining from numerous bite marks on her body.

Her face was the worst though.

It was completely lifeless and white. Her eyes were closed.

She was dead.

I couldn't look at her anymore. I switched my gaze to Jason.

Blood was all over his shirt, hands, and face. His cheeks were wet with tears and his hard muscular body shook with sobs, making him collapse.

He buried his head in her curly hair and wept.

I felt guilty for feeling weird about him before.

He just lost the love of his life.

I did not know that kind of pain, but it looked like he was dying on the inside.

I didn't even realize Cody was standing next to me again until I felt his hand grab mine.

"I'm so sorry, Jason," I heard Rich say from the floor.

Jason didn't reply. He just sobbed.

Suddenly his head shot up and stared at Sheridan. Then he looked at Rich.

"I just heard her breathe," he said, shocked. A smile spread across his face.

I couldn't see Rich's face from the angle I was at but I could tell Jason didn't like Rich's expression at that.

"What?" Jason said angrily. "Are you not happy that she's alive?" His face began to turn red.

"Jason..." Rich said calmly. Cody's grip on my hand tightened. "I saw Sheridan get bitten and so did you." He sighed. "You know what that means."

"No.." Jason said through his teeth. "No!" His voice scared me and made me flinch.

"She's infected." Rich said apologetically.

Jason stood up and swooped Sheridan up into his arms. He laid her on the couch and then turned back to face us.

"What's going on?" I heard Selma from behind me. I heard her gasp when she saw Sheridan and then scurried back into the hall dragging Aundrea behind her.

We all turned our attention back to Jason. His voice was terrifying and the veins in his head and neck throbbed as he spoke.

"If any of you touch her," he said pulling a heavy-duty pocket knife out of his pocket.

"If any of you harm her, infected or not, I will kill you."