Search - Prologue

Ariana

A small voice inside of me tells me to run, but my heart tells me to stay put. Sounds of screaming and fighting to stay alive, echo through the house. The smell of torn flesh pollutes the air. Not knowing what to do, I tuck myself into a ball and pray for everything to be over soon.

Two warm hands slide under me. I don't move a muscle in fear of being mistaken for alive. I'm about as close to being dead as there is, and I plan to stay that way.

Suddenly, everything goes black. I can't see, hear, or feel anything from before. But I can still smell it. Flesh, blood, death... I know I'll never shake the horrible memory of this day.

When I wake up, I'm lying down again. I'm not in my house anymore, though - I'm in a car. Am I being kidnapped or rescued? I guess it doesn't really matter. I have no reason to stay here anymore.

I sit up and look in the front seat. Empty. That's when I realize the car isn't in motion. I look out the window and see a man leaned against the car. I can't tell what he looks like, other than his dark brown hair.

Gently, I knock on the window. "Hey," I call, hoping to get his attention. When he turns around, I can see that he's very good looking. He opens the car door and peeks inside.

"Sorry about this," he says. "My brother went to look for others. When he found you, I wasn't sure if you were alive. I put you in there in case you were." He opens the door wider, letting me know I can get out. I stand next to him and really take in his appearance.

After a while of silence, he says, "There's something I have to tell you."

I look up at him, trying to prepare myself for whatever it is.

"There were no other survivors in the house he found you in. None around your house, either."

I sigh. "I know. My family was dying when I passed out. I knew they wouldn't make it very long."

He puts an arm around me. "It's okay. My parents didn't make it, either. I thought Tyler had died too."

Someone starts to jog toward us, and as he approaches, I can see a small resemblance. They have the same dark hair and skin tone. "Drew," he calls as he gets closer. When he sees me, his eyes light up. "Hey, she's up!" He stands in front of us, body covered in dirt. "What's your name, girl?"

"Ariana," I tell him. "And you're Tyler?"

He nods and smiles a little, then looks to Drew. "Is she coming with us?"

"Why not?" Drew answers with a little smile. "Where are we going?"

Tyler automatically answers, "We'll check a few towns over. If we can't find anyone, we're headed to Pittsburgh."

They climb into the car, Tyler in the driver's seat. I follow, sliding back into my place in the backseat. "Hopefully," says Tyler, "We'll find enough people to fill this car."