====== Not Just A Story ======
Eli and Aiden sat **i**n the clinic. The two had been travelling together for weeks, after a previous zombie attack had left Aiden without a leg. Ever since, Eli had been there for Aiden, and the two were like f**am**ily to each other, along with a small group of survivors who had settled in the clinic with them. 

Food became scarce quickly, so remainder of their group left to find food, leaving Eli to treat Aiden’s wound. 

But zombies don’t wait for you to heal. They strike. And they were about to strike the clinic. Eli and Aiden were alone; they would **not** survive if they stayed where they were.

The more time passed, the louder the zombies became. They didn’t have long. Eli grabbed a wheelchair, allowed Aiden to sit in it, and ran, pushing Aiden as she did so.

But this took everything out of her. Their strength, their energy and their care for Aiden. They began to mock them, saying that that their life was "**just a Story**” and that “it will all be over tomorrow”. 

Can you imagine the fear? The confusion? Of a friend, a companion that you trusted with your life, your last hope of survival and happiness, turning to you and belittling your entire existence? Aiden's determination to survive, their suffering and pain, their grief, their effort -- Eli discarded all of it in a mere few words. Aiden was shocked at this change of personality, and begged her to stop, but Eli only doubled **do**wn. 

This mocking continued as the pair moved into the wastelands. Eli began to viciously insult Aiden, and as the two continued to argue, zombies appeared.

Eli grabbed Aiden and carried them, running. But they did**n’t** stop the mockery. Now they were running a “test” and Aiden was “passing it”. Aiden began to cry. They were scared for their life, and all Eli could think to do was pretend that living meant nothing. That life was a test and everything would be over by tomorrow.

Miraculously, they found another place to settle, a school that Aiden once attended. But when they approached the main gate, they were stopped by two others.

These two others were Mallory and Matthew Green, siblings who were also seeking shelter in the school. Matt carried a rifle, and trained it upon the two intruders, ordering them to leave.

But Mallory had compassion, and talked to Matthew. They agreed to allow Eli and Aiden to stay for one night, and then to move in the morning.

Despite this selfless warmth, Eli decided to **mock** their hospitality, dismissing it as the irrelevant final chapter of a near-finished story. Matt's rifle swung back up to her. He coaxed Aiden away from Eli, showing them the compassion that Eli no longer afforded. 

Even still, Eli refused to cease her belittlement. She turned to run and pretended to fall and hurt her leg. Matt ordered her to crawl. She began to shout and scream, calling for a nurse -- as if a nurse could be called. As if it were that easy, and no-one needed to suffer in the first place, if only they'd asked for help. The only thing they were calling for were the zombies who were now aware of the Green’s settlement, and could attack at any mo**me**nt.

So Matthew did what he had to. 


----


Several days passed. Matthew and Mallory had befriended Aiden, and welcomed them into their settlement. The group had begun to reinforce the school’s defences to **help** defend themselves the next ti**me** a zombie hoard appeared**.**

But there was one room they hadn’t touched. The main gate, where Aiden and Eli first met the Greens, and where Eli had been k**i**lled.

Matthew and Aiden agreed they’d go together, and leave Mallory to reinforce the doors in the Dr**am**a hall. 

Aiden began to think about Eli. Had they done the right thing by killing her? Would they have been stronger if they were still **alive**?

Aiden’s thoughts were interrupted. Eli’s body was gone**.**

“But… but, bodies don’t move…” A**i**den began to panic. 

Before Matthew could reply, there was a scre**am** from an adjacent room. It was Mallory.

Matthew picked up Aiden and ran. They reached the Drama hall, only to find that the door had been broken down by a hoard of zombies, and the zombies were charging towards Mallory. At the front of this group, was a zombified Eli.

Matthew threw Aiden to the ground and rushed towards his sibling, rifle drawn. After firing several shots, the group were able to flee to a storage cupboard, but the hoard still moved in, and Matthew was running out of ammo.

Mallory looked at Matthew and Aiden. They were surrounded, **trapped** in the school that had once been a place of safety, but now, it was nothing but a shelter ready to be torn down**.**

The group put up a valiant fight. Matthew out front, using what l**i**ttle ammo he had left from his rifle, Mallory beside him, holding out a knife, and Aiden behind them, holding a club to whack zombies if she **need**ed to.

All that time, trying to find a way out, trying **to** survive with what little resources they had, was for nothing.

No matter how hard they tried, it was impossible to **escape** their fate**.**