'This is where the fun begins...Plan E has been deployed now it's time...'

I threw the leaf away while a smirk was plastered on my face. The Nightwalker turned around to look at me while studying my expression for a minute, confused as why I'm grinning, she sighed and moved on, focusing her vision in front of her.

I enjoyed the cool of the night, but I rather the rays of heat the sun emit that grants me sight. The night sky quickly got darker and darker but, I can still see what's ahead of me. I see The Nightwalker take off her sunglasses she has been wearing, allowing me to see her bright orange eyes that glowed from the darkness. 'Those eyes actually doesn't look to bad on her, seems to suit her actually, but they still give me the chills'

My eyes were fixed on her, watching The Nightwalker look relieved at the sight of the quarter full moon. Although dark for me this Nightwalker probably can see the dark forest as clear as day, seeing all the details and the scenery without....complications. I noticed a familiar turn and I knew what I had to do. I got this far with Plan E why not continue on. I decided to speak up, breaking the silence between us.

"So, why don't we have a little race to the cabin, see who gets there first?" I proposed. The Nightwalker turned her head to my direction looking at me with a quirked eyebrow from what I can tell.

"What's in it for me?" The Nightwalker bluntly asked also slightly growling at me. I started to grin again.

"If you win, you can ask for anything from me, but only once" I replied, spilling out the information, she slowly began to smile as she thought of something.

"What about you? What's in it for you...challenger" The Nightwalker gave me a nickname, she slightly narrowed her eyes in a taunting way when she said 'challenger', suprislingly enough, which took me off guard slightly but I remained cheerful. 'This Nightwalker has a way with words'

"Well, If I win same goes for me, I ask you to do something for me once". The Nightwalker looks at me semi intently and semi playfully, probably trying to guess what I want from her.

"If you want a kiss, you will end up becoming a zombie much like me, but, that doesn't matter since I am going to win, Nightwalker's are built for the night" The Nightwalker taunted me at the end and still trying to guess what what I want from her. I eyed her up and down several times, she doesn't look bad herself but, I didn't want a kiss from her and also she was only messing around, she couldn't be serious.

I had to spill the truth anyway, so I better tell her now. "Well, I actually want to know your name, that simple, I'm not asking much". The Nightwalker faintly grumbled when I mentioned 'name' she doesn't like my sudden interest in her it seems, or she doesn't like her past life as a human, from my speculation anyways.

The Nightwalker taunted me again with her words. "Well you better have your cabin's bed ready because that's what I want and I am getting what I want" she smirked deviously, that's what she wants...my bed...well she ain't gonna get it.
'Never in a million years, over my dead body that bed is mine and only mine, she can screw with just the chair'

I grunted "Fine deal, but you have to make it to the cabin first, do you know where it is?" I wanted this to be fair as possible even though the Nightwalker had night vision and super human abilities.

The Nightwalker seemed surprised at my actions "I can sense it from here, why don't we get started already". I felt a pang of stupidity pass over me.
'That's right Nightwalker's can smell practically anything, they can sniff out lies too, I must be a new level of stupid to forget that'

I bent my knees suddenly, the Nightwalker heard my movements and done the same, she was prepared for this it seems. I ran as fast as I could passing by the Nightwalker and hear her mutter 'cheater'. Nightwalkers wouldn't always be as social as this one is, that's for certain but they never could pass up a game or a wrestling match to cure their groachy and grumpy selves, it seems like I am the antidote! Wait I can't even cure myself of insanity what am I joking about.....

Even with my tactical head start that was considered 'cheating', my speed was no match of that of a Nightwalker especially at night, when their bodies are somewhat enhanced by the midnight sky, that theoretically, might possibly trigger a body reaction at the zombie body that causes a catalyst, that enhances their already almost super human speed and strength.

'I have one advantage the knowledge of this forest and it's hidden makeshift passages I made....Instead their use now is for recreation instead of...retreat'

Seeing the Nightwalker sprint past me and take the lead, my plan came to wake. I barged through a few bushes and now I was taking a shortcut to the cabin. I gave myself a high-five mentally, congratulating myself of this ingenious maneuver.

'Best thing is she can't even smell my scent anymore, that leaf covered it!'

My ingenuity against this Nightwalker's speed came down to a close, after a few minutes of relentless running. I encountered all kinds of animals such as rabbits, deer and foxes but, I zoomed right past them, knowing the Nightwalker can kick my ass if I gave up and stop for even a second.

I seen a small structure constructed of logs with small windows appear at the distance.

'Ah there's the cabin and the Nightwalker isn't even in sight, this is easier than I thought'

I barged through the remaining plants while running like a mad-man, seeing the cabin getting closer and closer to my reach, feeling the taste of victory and imagining the continuous teasing about the outcome to the Nightwalker, getting beaten by a human at night.

But, I felt something wrong, that knot at my stomach reminding me....my nerves ticking up...hunters instincts coming alive....

'Oh no, she did not!

A noise stood out abruptly, out of nowhere that stood out from the breezes of wind whizz by, the crickets singing their nightly chorus and the trees creaking, bending down at the winds mercy. I heard movement above me, right at the trees branches. I jerk my head quickly in the noises direction just in time to see a Nightwalker jump at me from above.

Next second the force from the Nightwalker send me and the Nightwalker herself rolling at the ground, gaining a few 'Oofs' and 'Agh' from the both of us.

The rolling came to a stop and the Nightwalker is atop of me.
"Even though I couldn't smell you, that doesn't mean I couldn't hear you, good try anyways" The Nightwalker spoke victoriously while placing each of her hand on my shoulders pinning me. I began to feel frightened due to my vulnerability.

'Wait no, no, no, she can't kill me, please tell me she wont'

The Nightwalker noticed this and smiled at me, knowing what I was thinking.
"I wouldn't harm you, well not yet even though it is tempting, I'll play nice" her words brought relief to me, knowing she was only messing around like I was.

"Geesh, you scared the living daylights out of me" I took deep breaths to cool myself down. The Nightwalker's ego multiplied by several times it seems, judging by her facial expression and slightly grinning victoriously, taking pride that she outsmarted me....at my own turf.

'Wait she didn't touch the cabin! She was just here like I was, she was waiting for me! Run you fool!'

I listened to my inner-voice. Before the Nightwalker could speak expressing her pride. I jumped up to my feet and started running towards the cabin, desperate not to lose. I hoped I could make it there before the Nightwalker could catch wind to what I am doing. Unfortunately, she did catch on, I seen a figure at my corner of my vision reach to me, but before the Nightwalker could outpace me, I grabbed her and pulled her close to me. We both banged onto the wall of the cabin touching it exactly the same time with our shoulders.

The Nightwalker started to growl at me, obviously not happy that I pulled myself unscathed and took advantage of her while she was busy building her pride, as well that I diminished it all in one move, saving myself in the process.

'Well, that was good thinking, I deserve a gold medal, for saving myself'

"Well Challenger, what does this mean then?" The Nightwalker grumbled while taking her hands off me, I repeated what the Nightwalker did, slightly excited and also slightly down to what I have to say.

"Well, that means we both get with what we want, win, win for the both of us" I said shrugging while the Nightwalker rolled her eyes. We both entered the cabin, it felt smaller with another person staying here also it had a different atmosphere.

When I closed the door I decided to speak up.
"Well then what's your name I don't want to to keep calling you Miss 'Nightwalker', so what is it?" I mentally slapped myself for being so blunt but, I was a little drowsy and exhausted but, I think I can put up with it now.

The Nightwalker. I-was-presumably-going-to-know-her-name looked over her shoulder to me to speak.
"My name is Serenity, Serenity Flyde" Serenity cut the conversation short presumably because her Nightwalker instincts starting to control her wellbeing.

I eyed at her while she was walking.
"My name is Kenny Brooke, your local superhero" I told Serenity my name sarcastically, while also mumbling the last part but, it seems Serenity caught it as she smiled at me.

Serenity moved the wooden chair with one of her legs making it slide over to me, she smirked at me.
"I hope you enjoy your new bed for tonight because, I'll be having the king sized one, thank you for being such a gentleman" Serenity spoke sarcastically at the end waiting for my response but, I didn't give any, I only pouted knowing that a verbal response is what she wants, that leads to indefinite amount of teasing to build up her ego.

I tried to make myself comfortable with the chair but, I couldn't do much so I decided to just sit on the chair regularly but, slouched. I tried to fall asleep several times but, it wouldn't just happen...while Miss Serenity Princess is silently relaxing on my bed. I say relaxing because Nightwalker's rarely sleep, especially at night.

'Well lucky her....I guess....'

I forgot what was happening and what circumstances I and the world was in, due to what was happening ealier but, now with the silence around me, the silence reminded me about the situation....yeah apocalypse and near enough extinction....

I finally got used to my position and felt my body shut down and then blackness....dreaming of those orange eyes glowing at the darkness.

I woke up shuttering my eyes, adjusting to the newfound light while my body felt strange, regaining consciousness and feeling this wasn't the same place it slept before. After a few seconds I realise I am on my bed.

'Wait, wait, wait....what? How? Why?'

My mind was racing with questions while I was scanning my surroundings, until I saw Serenity sitting beside me wearing her sunglasses with an amused expression on her face. My nerves kicked in as I jerked away slightly.

'Oh that's how....I wonder why?'

I noticed Serenity wasn't tucked in under the sheets like myself, she decided to do it for me but, not herself? She probably didn't need any sleep but, still.

"Why did you bother?" I asked hearing my voice was dulled, and slightly scratchy. Serenity's face became her usual stoic expression every Nightwalker has.

Serenity tilted her head slightly, examining me.
"I brought you here because I didn't need this bed, as you might or might not know Nightwalker's rarely sleep, also you fell from you chair so I picked you up and tucked you in, also I remained here to watch over you in case you didn't hurt yourself even more"

Serenity explained all of this to me in a matter-of-factly voice as I nodded. I got up from the bed and turned my head to around to see Serenity eyes behind her sunglasses watching me, not moving from her position.

"Thank you, Serenity"

Serenity just watched me move on, remaining silent probably thinking about my sincere words as Nightwalkers are hard to become affectionate with, even harder to receive that affection back.

I got a response I never knew I could get back.
"Your welcome Kenny" I heard this from Serenity really quietly. I stopped in my tracks and processed this for a moment. I heard Serenity open a drawer that contained some books I never read, I didn't hear her get up and walk though, comes to show how silent and dangerous she is.

I started picking up a few things for breakfast, which was just a tin of pork with a few sliced plums.
"Hey, would you like breakfast?" I asked Serenity. Serenity only looked at me like I am dope

"Nightwalkers don't each much food Kenny, we go hunting for the most part, I hunted last night and caught a few rabbits, I skinned them and made them into jerky" That information clicked into me, the previous sane Nightwalker only drank animal blood, because he had said 'it keeps his mind intact'.

"Right then so you only drank rabbit blood, so you don't want anything?" I asked again to receive a direct answer not some explanation, thinking of explanation why is this Nightwalker so talkative? I thought they spoke a few words at a time.

Serenity sighed as she shook her head.
"Fine, but only an apple" I heard her grumble her entire sentence, probably Nightwalker instincts, and not directed to me.

I opened the airtight container, noticing the newfound jerky and picked up a fresh, green apple, I looked at where Serenity was sitting and threw it to her.
"Enjoy Sweet-Touth" I chuckled internally at my sarcasm as Serenity caught it with one hand while growling at me for my nickname for her. I instinctively rolled my eyes as a response.

"Aw and here I thought you were warming up to me" I said sarcastically, while enjoying the response I got from Serenity which was her growling, she didn't need to say anything to me, I already know.
I started to eat the pork and plums, obviously noticing the silence, it seems Serenity wasn't talking, if she isn't then it's probably better off not talking back then.

I listened to my inner of wisdom, and finished my breakfast silently, also noticing there wasn't a trace of a green apple around Serenity.

'Definitely Sweet-Touth for sure'

I start preparing for another trip to the town, instead of the previous one now I'm planning on going to one of backwater towns by the ring roads, instead of the main motorway, I might have all my stock nearly full, but I needed a couple of things from garages and that.

Serenity notices the shuffling and movements I am making so she tilts her head to me.
"What are you doing Kenny?" I stop packing items in my backpack for a second and look up to Serenity.

"Going for a trip, care to join?" I slightly smiled at Serenity when she gave me the 'alright' shrug, seems she is coming with me on this one.

"Where are we going then?" Serenity questioned me similarly as how she questioned my sanity.

"To one of the backwater towns by the ring roads off the main motorway, we can take the dual carriage way to the small town as well" I said shrugging explaining my plans to Serenity as she just nodded.

I got my metal helmet and hatchet placing each of the two at the required place. When I placed my helmet at my face, I noticed Serenity settling a backpack on her shoulders, I did the same action as the Nightwalker, and now I am all ready to go.

"Ready?" I asked Serenity as just gave me a nod in response. We both walked out of the cabin and started to make our way down. I could smell the water dampening around the trees, grass, the creek and it's tributary streams due to their salty water.

Serenity looked at me for a few seconds before moving on.
"What are we looking for in this town anyway, Kenny?" I hummed as I turned my head to her direction and realised she asked me a question.

"Ah right, well I've been needing to have a few parts from the garages and that, also it wouldn't hurt if we raid a Chinese takeaway" My thoughts lied on getting the food from the Chinese takeaway, processed food I enjoyed like chips.

Serenity turned her head back to me, observing then sighing in disappointment.
"How you made it this far is beyond me..." she grumbled, I remained silent as made my way through the forest while Serenity was slightly ahead of me, because she was obviously faster.

'Now I have to choose my words carefully, what does she want from me? There must be something....'

Quite possibly I will have to ask her directly if I want to find out...

------------ ■□ Authors Note □■
Words- 2987

Yay, now you know the main character's name, Hooray. Now next chapter will be a lot of story telling and how this 'virus' came to be.