Today she woke up for the last time. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, wiped her face clean from streaks of running makeup from crying that night and stood there just starring. Kelly Marie Adams was this young girls name. She had just turned 18. She was a beautiful girl with dark brown hair and natural highlights of red streaking through in the sun light. She was the "perfect size" 5'6" and weighed 108lbs. She was the prettiest girl in school, with tons of friends and she was always on the high honor roll. She was an image of perfection in all their eyes, but if only they knew..

The final day of her life..

Kelly had just gotten home from school, her soccer practice was canceled. Her fathers car wasn't in the driveway but her mothers was, which was odd because they both worked until 5:30pm or so. She walked in her house didn't hear a sound she called for her mom, but no one answered, she heard footsteps upstairs. So she went to her parents room and saw what was going on.. She quickly closed the door and ran into her room crying. "How could my mother have done this to us," she wondered. Later that evening her father came home, he and his wife sat down for dinner but Kelly was not at the table with them. Instead she told them "I'm not hungry" which was a typical thing for Kelly to say. So nothing seemed different. But that night was very different for Kelly. She sat in her room next to her bed clenching something in her hand. She opened her fist and took that beautiful new blade out and cried and cried. Biting on her lip she began to paint thick bloody lines across her delicate skin like she had many times before. But this time they were deeper, deeper than any of her past cuts. She found comfort in this strange feeling. It somehow made her forget everything bad in her life for a few minutes. But when the pain was no longer there the bad things crept back into her head. Last summer, when she lost her virginity at a party because she had too much to drink. Last fall when her best friend moved away and never spoke to her again. Last winter when her ex boyfriend of 3 years was killed in a car accident days after they had broken up. And through all this, her parents marriage was failing and the family was falling apart. But she never thought her mom could ever have an affair. It was all so much to take in. For that entire year she had changed..she lost a lot of weight and began harming herself in different ways. She could cope with everything..until now. She was done trying. She was done faking her smile everyday. She was done with everything, she had no one who cared anyways, her best friend wouldn't talk to her, her ex that she had almost gotten back together with was now dead, and her parents were too wrapped up in their own little worlds they barely noticed her anymore. So that night she made a plan. A plan to end it all. She wrote a short note and placed it on her dresser. She entered her bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet and took just about everything to numb her. Then she started slicing her skin again but this time her wrists. She lied in her bathtub and waited for death to come and take her away from this awful place. Blood flowing out of her so fast, so much blood. That night at 11:37pm she was gone.. gone forever.

Thinking of all the fights..

Never pitch black, always needing lights

Thinking of him, that frightening man.

Needing to move away.. So I ran.

Thinking of the tragic past..

The nightmares always seem to last.

Staring at the ceiling wondering why..

Why is it me who needs to cry?

Looking around my room..

Looking for where the monsters loom.

Crying for all reasons..

Never changing, no matter the season

Wondering how I became such a mess..

All I can do is sit and guess.

Tossing and turning in my bed.

Pounding and screaming in my head.

Painful memories all around.

Peace and happiness may never be found.

Monsters and killers in my mind,

Wishing the past I could leave behind,

I close my eyes and pray..

Pray that I'll make it through another day

Dreaming..Dreaming finally not of the past

But dreams turn to nightmares; dreams never do last

Fighting my body to go to sleep

But I'm thinking and I'm in too deep.

Trying to sleep but crying inside

In my head the monsters reside

Let me sleep let me be

Please I beg, let me be free..

Chapter 1: Nightmares

I'm running, my heart is racing, beating out of my chest. Someone or something is chasing me, I can hear a strange moaning sound behind me, getting closer and closer. I do not dare look back, I just need to get away and fast! I somehow end up in a wooded forest, I have no idea where I am. Nothing looks familiar, but I know I have to keep running. I need to escape whoever or whatever is right behind me. The air is dry and it's chilly out, the leaves on the forest floor are all different shades of brown and reds. It's Fall I'm assuming..all theses crunchy leaves are making it extremely hard for me to stay quiet. My vision is getting blurry now..what's happening to me?? I trip over something, a rock or branch I'm not sure exactly. Whoever/whatever was chasing me is now closing in.. Something tells me that this is the end. I turn to see my attacker I need to see who it is.. I turn and scream in terror. It is not exactly who, it's more of a...

"KELLY MARIE ADAMS YOU WAKE UP RIGHT NOW!!" I jolt up out of my bed and look at the time, it's 7:24AM, crap I'm late for school! I take a look in the mirror and I'm completely soaked with sweat..wow I really hate nightmares.. "KELLY! You better be up and getting ready!" Ugh.. "Yeah mother, I am!" My mother, Karolyn is downstairs probably drinking her disgusting green health shake and watching the morning news. Quickly I throw on a pair of jeans and my favorite hoodie. I put on a little makeup to cover up the dark circles under my eyes..I look like death. I throw my hair up in a messy bun and head downstairs to leave for "Hell" a.k.a High School..

Chapter 2: Our Last Dinner

"So, how was school today sweetie?" mom asks. "Uh fine." I mumble in response. "Oh..well alright." I can tell she's upset I woke talk to her.. I want to say so much more to her but nothing comes out of my mouth. I want to tell her how I got an A on my chemistry test, about how a cute guy winked at my today in the hall, but most of all I just want to tell her that I love her. Yet, i just sit there staring at my food and we eat on in silence like every dinner. I'm tired of the silence at dinner ever night! I open my mouth to tell her I love her..But the TV starts making that obnoxious sound signaling an emergency broadcast testings. Except this time it isn't a test.. A recorder voice starts to say, "This is not a test please stop what you are doing and listen very closely." Mom and I exchange worried looks. The voice continues with, "Our country is in a state of emergency. Please stay indoors at all times, take any safety precautions you may have. Lock all of the doors and windows in your house and turn off any lights or anything that makes sounds." I'm really freaking out, my chest starts to tighten and I'm struggling to breathe. I look over at mom, she's pale and clammy with a blank stare. "Mom...what's happening?" Then the TV goes black and the power goes out. I scream as an automatic response. "Kelly, I need you to stay calm! Count to 5 and take some deep breaths. I need you to go upstairs and light a few candles. Stay in your room, I'll be up as soon as I'm done checking all the doors to make sure they are closed and locked." I just stare at her, frozen with fear. "Kelly! Now!" I jump up out of my seat at the table and run upstairs trying not to trip because it's so dark. I make it to my room and manage to light 3 small candles. Then, "CRASH!!!.." What the hell was that?! "Mom??! Are you okay??" There's no response. Oh god.. I'm trying to fight back the salty tears forming in my eyes. I can hear footsteps..someone is coming up the stairs. I slowly go toward the door of my room, "Mom, is that you?.." Again no response. Then I see him, there's a man standing at the top of my stairs down the hall. Oh my God.. "Kelly! RUN!!" mom screams from somewhere downstairs. Then the person comes running at me, he grabs my arm. I fight back and pull away from him. I run down the stairs and that's when I saw her.. "Mommy.." She's lying in a pool of her own blood. "Mom! Oh god please...no please." She looks up at me barely alive. "Run Kelly.." She whispers. "Mom no I can't leave you here! I need you!" Now the tears are uncontrollably flowing down my face. "Mom please..you can't die on me.." She mouths the words "I love you, go." Her eyes start to close and her breathing stops. A loud crash comes from upstairs. I completely forgot about the man! I kiss my mothers hand for the last time in my life.."I love you mom." Then her eyes suddenly shoot open, except they aren't really her eyes. They are completely black now, nothing like her once blue eyes. Her hand reaches out for my throat..this isn't right. I scream and back away quickly. I turn to run but the man has made it back downstairs. His eyes are pitch black also.. I run past him, he tries to grab me again and I just barely avoid his grasp. I dart out the front door towards my car. Hoping I left the doors unlocked with the keys in the ignition. I jump into the unlocked car, and reach for my keys that are in the ignition. Thank God.. I start the engine just as the man and the person who no longer is my mother race towards the car. I speed away from my house that I may never see again, away from my mother who isn't really alive anymore.. Wow, that was our last dinner together and I didn't even talk to her. I fight back the urge to breakdown and cry. I really need to focus on the road ahead.

Chapter 3: Now Leaving Zombie Town

I've been driving for an hour or so. The radio isn't working, it just has the same recording of the emergency broadcast I heard at my house on every station. I've tried not to look around too much. All I've seen are people being chased, attacked, and mauled by other people with black eyes and bloody clothes. I've lost track of how many bloody black eyed creature people I've seen..but I do know that they were all no longer people. They all were bleeding and some even missing body parts..? I have no idea what's happening, but for some reason the word "Zombie" is all I can think of.. That's crazy though right? Zombies are fictional things that you only see in horror films.. Just then one of those black eyed things lunges at my car. It's growling and moaning, chomping its blooded teeth at me. It's drenched in blood..wait, is that a huge bite on its shoulder? Oh god..I'm starting to think the whole zombie idea isn't all that crazy anymore.. I step on the gas leaving the zombie creature far behind. I pass the town line, a sign reads "Now leaving Pleasant Town" I smile a little, "Pleasant Town?More like Zombie Town.." My smile quickly fades as i think of my mom..and those black eyes she had.. I try to focus on the road and not think about that. I look ahead and my heart stops..

Chapter 4: Empty

I'm in the next town over, it looks even worse here.. Houses are burning down, cars are crashed into houses, trees, or other cars. I can't see anyone who isn't one of those zombie things.. "BEEP...BEEP..." Oh you've got to be kidding me! I look at my gas level, it's almost empty. Crap.. I look around for a gas station or just somewhere that I can get some gas. In the distance I see a sign that says "Tom's auto-body shop" That place must have gas, I hope.. "BEEP..BEEP!" My gas level is now below the empty line.. I pray I make it to the shop..I'm soo close! I'll make it, I know I will..I have to. Oh god, I'm slowing down, I'm not going to make it! My car then comes to a complete stop. Great..I look around, I don't see anyone (living or zombie.) I'm probably about 5-10 mins away if I walk there. I really do not want to leave the safety of my car; but what other choice do I have?

Chapter 5: Time to Fight

I look around hoping I don't see one of the zombie creatures. Oddly, I don't see any movement anywhere. I slowly climb out of the safety of my car, very reluctantly. I take another look around, still no sign of anything. The thought suddenly occurs to me, what if one or more of those zombies show up and come after me? I'm going to need some time of weapon to protect myself. Just then I remember about my softball bag I never took out of my trunk! I quickly run to the back of my car and pop open the trunk. There it is, my lucky bat! I grab it, it's a perfect weapon to protect myself with. I just really hope I don't have to end up using it. I take my keys, lock my car and slide them in my back pocket for safe keeping. I start my journey towards the auto shop, trying to stay calm. I need to be alert and aware of my surroundings. A few minutes go by, still no sign of anyone or anything. I guess I won't have to use my bat after all. I spoke too soon..just then a woman figure comes out from behind a tree. She's badly limping which is not a good sign.. I wave, hoping she waves back or says something. Of course though I get nothing back in response. She's slowly making her way towards me. I can hear her growling like an animal.. I start to look for an alternative route to the auto shop. I turn down a short side street that should still bring me there in the same amount of time. I turn behind me just to see if the zombie woman is still following me but, I don't see her. Thank god. I turn back around facing where I'm going. I stop dead in my tracks.. Zombies!! An entire horde of zombies are in front of me! I turn to run back the other way but a group of maybe 5 zombies are now coming towards me that way too. I know what I have to do..i'd rather take my chances with a group of 5 of the flesh eating creatures instead of a massive mob of them. So I charge towards the group of 5, bat in hand, it's time to fight! Just as I'm closing in on them a loud explosion blows the entire small group up. It also knocks me down to the pavement and I hit my head on the ground. A loud ringing courses through my head and my vision is getting blurry. I think I'm gonna lose consciousness. I see the horde of zombies coming for me, I'm ready for the end. Then suddenly one by one, the zombies are gunned down. Before I go unconscious the last thing I see if a young man coming towards me, he's not a zombie. Then everything goes black.