It took almost three minutes of "sitting tight" after Dec hung up for me to stop spinning on my chair, and remember why I had initially tried to leave the office in the first place. 

I was hungry and I hadn't eaten anything since the left over breakfast bar and six chocolate button I found in my bag on the train this morning. With that in mind and feeling quite sure that my colleagues either wouldn't be coming back for their food in the staff room or, if they did ever return, probably wouldn't care much that I had taken some of it, I made my way to the kitchen and began rummaging through the fridge.

Apparently a lot of people were still going for the January health kick because there were an annoying number of salads to contend with.  Eventually finding a shepherds pie belonging to Stacy in HR I popped it on a plate and then in the microwave to cook, taking perverse pleasure in the fact she had written "do not touch" on every side of it.

Just as I was sitting down to eat in my favourite booth seat with the steaming meal, my phone chimed with a text.

Lover boy: Managed to get a car and on my way to you now. How you hanging in there?

I looked down at my plate and then at the phone. I mean so far apart from the whole witnessing a cannibalistic murder I was actually not having a bad day. I didn't even need to deliver the presentation I had been working on either. As much as the wasted hours were frustrating I couldn't help but feel relief at the free afternoon I now had.

Well as free as it got when I was trapped in my office building thanks to a bunch of rampaging zombies.

Brianna: Couldn't be better, I just stole Stacy lunch!

I could almost imagine his eye roll as he read that.

Lover boy: Of course you did. Might be worth packing up any food you think might last to bring with us. 

Brianna: What do you mean last? How long is it going to be until they sort things out?

Lover boy: I don't know that they will babe

I stare at that last message, the spoonful of mash that was halfway to my mouth looking decidedly less appetising with the future of the world on the line. It can't be that bad though? Can it? Cases of this virus have been reported all over the world. Everyone will be working on a cure and we will be back to normal in no time. At least that is what I keep telling myself in an effort to calm my now panicked breathing.

After take a deep breath I look back at the meal. I have never been one to reject a good food and I'm not going to let a silly little thing like the end of the world stop me. If Dec is right then it might be awhile before my next one so I better make the most of it. I ram in a few spoonful's and let out a small satisfied noise. Somehow it tastes even better with the knowledge that it isn't supposed to be mine.

Outside the sound of a car horn wails and the screech of tires rips through the air. Meal now forgotten, I head to the window to look out. At first, there is nothing. Just the same streets devoid of any people, alive or otherwise. A fluttering newspaper catches my eye briefly, but other than that it is still. 

Then all of a sudden a land rover tears around the corner, horn blaring and swerving up onto pavement. It is followed by what looks to be thirty of the sick and stumbling zombies. I almost feel bad calling them zombies when they're unwell, but there's no other word to describe what they've become.

The car careens past and overcorrects it's turn, before slamming into the front of the Co-op opposite. 

My initial instinct is to run and help, but then I remember the dangers and hesitate. Dec would tell me to stay put if he was here. However, if he was here I know without a doubt that he would be running to help whoever it is himself. A woman scrambles out of the passenger seat and wrenches open the door behind her, quickly retrieving a small child who cannot be any more than five. 

Danger be damned, my feet are already running for the stairs before I've fully processed what I'm seeing. The reception area is surrounded by glass and I'm hard to miss as I rush through it. The woman and child have scrambled onto a car just outside the door, but I can hear the child's terrified screams from here.

The zombies are clawing at them and making awful, animalistic growls and clicking noises. It's almost like they're trying to communicate with each other. Perhaps they are? They're like nothing I've ever seen before and I don't think there's any way we can understand them until we study them. If there's even anyone else still alive to do the studying that is. All I know is that there have been no video games or movies that could have possibly prepared me for seeing them in the flesh. The disgusting, people-eating, stinking flesh.

Looking around wildly for a weapon my eyes fall on the fire extinguisher. It takes a second to yank it off the wall and I test it once, flinching at the noise and recoil. It is heavier than I expected, so I end up tucking it under my arm to carry it. Then, without pausing to really think about it, I press the door release and kick the door open.

Six rotting faces turn to me, snarling with bits of god knows what hanging from their mouths. I raise up the extinguisher and fire a stream that makes them stumble back. "Come on." I yell to the woman who looks frozen in fear.

At my words she is startled into action, slipping off the car on the side I made the gap. A zombie wearing what looks like it was once a very nice tailored suit lurches a bit too close for comfort and I turn my next spray directly into his face.

As the woman and child sprint passed me, I yank the door closed behind them. Just in time too as the beasts slam into it snarling and pawing at the glass.

Despite the fact my heart is pounding violently in my chest and my shaking hands can't seem to release the extinguisher, I can't help but feel it was all a little anti-climatic. 

The noise of the zombies outside seems to be attracting more and they are crowding around the glass, slamming their bodies against it over and over again. Although the glass looks strong, I'm not sure it was designed with a zombie hoard in mind and decide it's best we vacate the area so they hopefully forget we are here.

Forcing my stiff fingers to uncurl from around the fire extinguisher, I place it down carefully before turning my attention to the two I just saved. The mother has balanced the little girl on the the desk and is checking every inch of her, murmuring something in a language I don't recognise. 

It isn't hard to be speaking a language I don't know seeing as I didn't even pass French at school, which was the only one I took. Despite my lack of knowledge I can tell that what she's saying is soothing and the little girl's sobs are subsiding. 

Another loud thud behind me encourages me to approach so that we can quickly clear the area.

"Hi there," I say softly, my hands raised in the universal sign for I-mean-no-harm, "I'm Brianna, but you can call me Bri."

The woman spins at my words, her dark eyes wide with mistrust. She searches my face and skin for something. Perhaps a sign I'm going to turn into one of the monster outside. Whatever she sees, or doesn't see, seems to satisfy her, "I'm Karina and this is Roza." She says in a softly accented voice, picking Roza up to balance her on her hip.

"I don't mean to rush you, but I think we should head up to my office floor. I was just eating and I don't think it's a good idea for us to stay where they can see us." I gesture at the zombies battering the door with my thumb.

Karina nods and mutters something that sounds like swearing under her breath. I nod back and hurry for the stairs, leading them up to the first floor. 

As I scan my badge to let us in, it occurs to me that there's a good chance that this is one of the safer buildings I could have chosen to spend the apocalypse. I lead them through to the kitchen and start hunting through the cupboards. 

"Thank you." Karina says after a moment, "I thought we were going to die."

I glance over my shoulder at her and see the unshed tears glistening on her lashes. As much as I want to comfort her I'm not sure she would welcome the contact right now. Her body still seems like it's on high alert and her daughters face in buried in her shoulder, her little body still shaking with sobs. 

"It was the right thing to do." I tell her firmly as I fill up glasses with water and put the kettle on, "Tea?"

She gives me a watery smile, "How very British, yes please."

"Tea is well known for it's ability to solve everything." I laugh as I heap sugar into two mugs, "I'm not sure how it works on zombie apocalypses, but it can't hurt to try."

"Why did you help us? No one else did." Karina says as I stir them. 

I frown at the idea that anyone could leave a woman and child to fend for themselves against something like this. "It was the right thing to do like I said. If we haven't still got our humanity then what's the point?" 

"I hope more people think like you." She says quietly, looking away.

Roza has lifted her head very slightly and is looking at me quietly. Her tear-stained face and jutting lower lip ensure she still looks on the verge of tears still. I cannot imagine what she has been through today whilst I've been creating a presentation and eating shepherds pie and guilt hits as I search the cupboards again.

"Is she ok to have a biscuit?" I ask, retrieving the tin of fancy meeting biscuits. 

These were only supposed to be brought out when we had important clients in, but I was pretty sure they would make an exception this once. 

Karina's face lights up in a smile and I realise that despite the dirt all over them both and the worry tightening her face, she is actually beautiful. "Of course, thank you."

I hold out the tin and Roza tentatively reaches out and grabs one, stuffing it in her mouth quickly, like she's afraid I might take it away again. I smile gently and bounce the tin to let her know she can have another one. 

She glances at Karina to check it's ok before she does and then rewards me with the smallest smile, that just makes my heart melt. 

"Say thank you." Karina says, brushing her daughters riot of curly hair back from her face.

"Dank you." Roza lisps and I grin in response.

"You are very welcome. This is the brave girl's biscuit tin so only the bravest girls are allowed treats from it." I say in a stage whisper like it's a secret.

Her eyes light up in delight, "I am the brave girl?" She asks, pointing at her chest.

"Oh the very bravest girl I've met." I assure her, as I return my attention to our cups of tea.

Scooping out the tea bags onto a little plate I add a splash of milk and stir. "So where were you guys going?" I ask, handing Karina hers.

We both sink into chairs and she shoots me a look, "Anywhere but London. It's totally overrun."