Rise of the undead

There were at least six of them, each one moving out of the skate range, clawing and tearing at anyone they could grasp. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as her lips quivered in terror, her entire body shaking.

In that dreadful moment, she made a choice—she had to run. And that's exactly what she did, turning around and sprinting away as fast as her legs could carry her.

The walls continued to crack around her, the terrifying sounds of people being devoured alive filling the air with gut-wrenching cries, echoing in her ears, amplifying her fear.

As quickly as her legs could carry her, Ava ran with all her might. In her frantic escape, she spotted two glass doors and hurriedly attempted to open them, but found them locked tight. "NO!" she cried out in frustration, desperation pushing her forward as she turned to the other set of doors.

This time, she pulled harder until she finally heard a satisfying click—the door swung open, and she dashed outside. But as she stepped out into the chaotic scene, her eyes met another horrifying sight: cars were frantically trying to escape while people sprinted away in panic, the air thick with confusion and dread.

Ava swallowed hard as she surveyed her surroundings.

 The streets were a whirlwind of chaos and fear—screams echoed around her, and she could see the military beginning to move in, weapons raised and at the ready. Her heart raced as she struggled to process the chaos—the creators, those terrifying beings, what were they?

Were they the result of that virus she had heard about on the news?

What was actually happening?

Ava's mind raced as she scanned the crowd, seeking any sign of Anya or anyone familiar. Pushing deeper into the parking lot, she watched in horror as cars collided, some veering off into one another as their drivers tried desperately to flee.

 Amidst the clamor of military vehicles and the panicked shouts of those around her, she suddenly heard the sharp cry of a child.

Ava's eyes widened as she frantically looked for the source of the distress. Then, through the crowd, she spotted a girl, no older than six, standing alone on the sidewalk, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, clearly lost and frightened. Ava's heart broke for the little girl.

 Where were her parents?

 Without hesitating, she sprinted toward the child, her mind racing. But then her desperation was overshadowed by fear as she noticed a speeding car that was veering toward the girl, oblivious to her presence.

In a split second, Ava sprinted toward the little girl, scooping her up around the waist just in time to push her out of the car's path.

They both fell onto the hard concrete of the parking lot, Ava hitting the ground hard, pain shooting through her body. Despite the jarring impact, she was relieved to see that the little girl was safe.

After a moment of sheer breathlessness, Ava let go of the girl and adjusted herself so that she was sitting upright.

 "Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched across her face. The little girl looked up at her with tear-filled blue eyes as she sat up, her voice trembling. "No," she sobbed, "I can't find my mommy or my daddy."

Ava's heart ached as she looked at her with worry.

She rose to her feet and extended her hand to help the little girl up off the ground. "Can you remember which way they went?" Ava asked gently, crouching down to meet her at eye level, hoping to soothe her amidst the chaos.

The girl glanced around, clearly lost, her small face wrinkled in distress. "I don't know," she admitted through her sniffling, tears streaming down her cheeks. "They were here, and then they were gone."

Ava scanned the chaotic crowd, her mind racing as her heart pounded. In the midst of her search, she suddenly heard loud gunfire erupting nearby, the sound making her pulse quicken and her breathing grow shallow.

 It was then she remembered her father's words: whatever they did, they must not go to the hospital.

Turning to the little girl, Ava asked, "What is your name?"

The girl, with her shivering lips, looked up into Ava's eyes and replied, "My name is Abby Clifton."

Ava nodded, taking Abby's small hand into her own, comforting her with a firm grip. "Okay, Abby, I know this is really hard for you, and it's tough for me, too," she said, meeting the girl's gaze with determination. "My friend, and the man I love, is somewhere in that building or out here just like your parents, but we have to get away from here as far as we can. There are some really scary things lurking inside that building."

Abby stared at her, her young face trying to process the fear while she wiped away her tears. "But what about my mommy?" she pleaded, her voice thick with worry.

Ava felt a heavy weight settle in her heart as she considered how difficult this situation was. Looking up, she saw another horrific scene unfold before her: the bodies of those who had been bitten by the monsters were beginning to stir.

 They looked as if they were caught between life and death, slowly rising and starting to attack other innocent people.

With a surge of urgency and fear, Ava grasped Abby's hand tightly, slowly backing away from the encroaching nightmare. But just as they began to retreat, she saw those horrors spilling from the building, tearing into soldiers and civilians alike. Suddenly, she knew they had to run as fast as they could.

Turning to Abby, she asked, "Can you run?"

Abby nodded, though her blue eyes were wide with terror.

"Okay, then run with me," Ava encouraged, gripping Abby's hand firmly. Without looking back, they bolted together away from the chaos and despair, racing towards safety and desperately hoping for a chance to survive.

Ava held tightly onto Abby's hand, gripping it with all her strength as they navigated the chaos that enveloped the city of New Jersey.

 It wasn't just the skate stadium that was filled with turmoil; creators were emerging from every corner, crawling up from the ground and spilling out of buildings, causing panic that made people scream and run for their lives. The sight was nothing short of horrific, and Ava had never witnessed anything like this in her entire seventeen years.

 She felt completely lost and overwhelmed, unsure of what to do or where to go amidst the bedlam unfolding around them.

All around, there was utter chaos: cars collided with buildings as their drivers swerved in desperation, while terrified pedestrians dashed away, their faces etched with fear.

 The scene was surreal, with some of the lifeless bodies that lay scattered on the ground starting to stir and rise, adding to the terror that was already gripping the streets. Ava's heart raced as she glanced around, feeling a mix of confusion and dread wash over her.

Desperation set in when Ava spotted a car parked nearby, and an idea formed in her mind.

 She realized that she would have to take a car or something, it would be better if they have something faster that going on like this. As her legs felt too heavy to keep running any longer.

 Her breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale a struggle as fatigue settled heavily in her bones.

"Wait!" Ava called out to Abby, her voice strained and breathless, urging her to stop. She doubled over slightly, clutching her side as a wave of nausea washed over her, the combination of exhaustion and horror threatening to overwhelm her completely.

"Are you okay?" Abby asked, her voice filled with concern as she watched Ava struggle. Ava met her worried gaze, her breaths uneven and quickened. She shook her head, indicating that she was anything but fine, and she forced herself to take deep, calming breaths.

Scanning their surroundings for a moment, she felt a flicker of hope when her eyes landed on the car. Thankfully, her father had taught her how to drive, and she felt a surge of determination as she prepared to take action.

Ava squeezed Abby's hand tightly and managed to say in between breaths, "We're going to drive." Abby's eyes widened in realization, and after a brief moment of shock, she nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation without needing any further explanation.

Without wasting any time, Ava made her way to the truck, relief washing over her when she found that it was unlocked.

She swiftly opened the passenger door for Abby, helping her inside before closing the door securely behind her. Then, she hurried around to the driver's side, her heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and fear.

The vehicle was an older Ford truck parked haphazardly along the side of the road, and luck was on their side; the keys were still in the ignition, ready for her to use.

Taking a deep breath, Ava turned the engine over, the muffled sound barely cutting through the chaos outside. She glanced in the side mirror, her stomach dropping as she saw the creators pouring into the streets, their grotesque forms drawing ever closer.

Panic surged within her, but she knew she couldn't hesitate. With a firm press on the accelerator, she shifted the car into drive and sped away, determined to escape as fast as she possibly could, clutching the steering wheel tightly as she navigated through the mayhem surrounding them.