Zzzt, Zzzt, Zzzt.... A buzzing, what the hell is that? A tired hand slapped at the phone that was making noise on the bedside table. Jericho Twili was definitely not a morning person after being able to retire from his post in the military. Sleeping in just made sense now, after being up before the asscrack of dawn every day, he thought he deserved the time to enjoy the comfort he was afforded now. He looked at the phone, it was seven in the morning, and he had a text message from a friend back home that he hadn't seen in years.

Been a while Jer. I'm coming down to Texas next week, got some new toys I wanted to show you. Let me know if you have the room for me and the wife.

Sighing he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Of course he would think I was up already." He shook his head and started his morning routine. One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, then a two mile run. Even though he had retired he never really gave up the routine he was so used to, it was surprising even to him. "I guess I am a creature of habit." He laughed as he finished the run around his property. It was a beautiful little house in the middle of almost nowhere. It was a miracle he could get cell service most times here, so the fact that he had a text message was always a miracle. The thought process of his home was continued as he bathed and got dressed for the day, a pair of jeans and a light t-shirt, knowing the way Texas worked, the shirt would most likely come off before too long if he started to play outside with his own 'toys'. He shrugged grabbing his phone before he went outside to the barn next to the house. He unlocked the safe room stairs and walked down into the bunker beneath the floor of the barn. He had put it in thinking he was still in Oklahoma, where a tornado could come in the next two minutes without warning, but where he was there was rarely a tornado, let alone rain. He shook his head as he started filling the brass casings of the ammunition he had shot the other day. This was calming to him, something about knowing how to keep your ammo stores in stock was a peace of mind. He had more than enough, he knew, but it was always good to keep things topped off. His head turned to the crates that he had purchased and filled painstakingly with bullets. They were categorized from the type of weapon that shot it, to the barest millimeter of size difference. The next few hours were spent doing just that, making sure every thing was in its right place, then he turned to the gun safe, unlocking it. "There's daddy's baby." A rifle he had painstaking maintained since his first mission, it had seen the best and worsts parts to war, it's scars told a story. The rifle had been modified to be able to switch out barrels, firing pins, the rounds it chambered. The different optics, rails, add-ons, everything in its right place. He spent the rest of the morning cleaning and doing routine maintenance on his weapons that he kept below.

There over a thousand female USMC recruits doing a variety of boot camp activities with their drill instructors shouting at them while Erin jogged around the field along with her bunk mate, Alex, who was five inches shorter than her 5'10" frame and with a buzz cut.

"I can't believe it's been over eight years since we last did this," she commented to Alex as she picked up the pace more, this time jogging backwards.

"Same here but don't ask me if I want to relive it again," Alex chuckled. "Gonna go and grab some water. Catch you later for lunch."

Erin enjoyed the lifestyle she had established with the women at USMC and everyday she woke up with the energy to spend another day working hard, playing hard, and cooling down with some of the younger recruits. She had learned that most of them wanted to be in the USMC for the GI Bill but Erin had reminded them that they should also remember that they're putting their life on the line for others and deployment could be around the corner; that's how it always was.

Erin had been deployed to Kuwait and Afghanistan where she was a courier in the front lines and a medic of sorts. She had hoped to be courier again because she was very good at ambushing the enemy and securing spots until the rest of her platoon came. From what has been kept secret, it seems like the next stop will have to be Syria.

The night came faster than Jericho expected, he heard the crickets chirping from the door left open. "I guess I've been down here long enough today." A smile on his lips as he checked his phone, he had been down below for over twelve hours, time really flew when you were having fun. He responded to his friend.

Sure bud, You know you always have a place here. Sorry I got caught up with the big boy toys.

He smiled as he headed inside, maybe tonight he would have something different than his normal staple diet. He changed from the shirt he had on, putting on something nicer, as he grabbed the keys to his truck. He started the vehicle and drove into town, a good forty minute drive. He pulled into a steakhouse that he loved and sat down. The people saying their hellos and asking for his order, and the other normal pleasantries.

The next hour was spent eating and conversing with a waitress that he had a fancy for, and with the last bit of flirting he coerced her into coming and having a drink at his place. He felt that there was some sort of god after the evening spent with the waitress came and went. He laid down staring at the ceiling after the ordeal... Little did he know... this leisurely time was going to be the last he was able to spend like this.

The day was eventful with having to do some firearm training with the recruits and talking with the boys later for a game night down the other field where their bunkers were. Erin wasn't good at flirting but she had her eye on a Lieutenant who looked like he came out of a Tom Cruise movie: swept back hair, tall, and a million dollar smile. From what Alex had heard from her boyfriend, Clyde AKA Tom Cruise, was looking to ask Erin out some time but he had become encumbered with going to another Fort to train with other people of his rank so he didn't want to have to make her play the waiting game for that long.

At the end of it all, Alex bid her good night in their bunk beds as Erin stared up at the ceiling, her eyes wandering over pictures of her dog Caesar she had stuck so that whenever she had a terrible nightmare. Caesar was currently staying with her neighbor. He was a blind Husky who found Erin one evening when she went out to get some gas. Someone had abandoned the dog with a note attached to its collar that they couldn't find someone who wanted him and was patient to train him. Erin wasn't exactly religious but when she found this, you can bet she begun having more faith. She hadn't known that she really needed a good friend like Caesar until a miracle happened.

With that memory in mind, she adjusted herself into her bed with a tired smile and closed her eyes.

She had hoped to see him again... whenever that may be.

The sound of glass shattering... an explosion... small arms fire... screaming... Jericho sat up with a start, the nightmares never left. A cold sweat matted his clothes to his skin. He checked his phone to make sure the waitress had made it home, four AM, no text message or even call. He clicked the screen on fully, no service. Of course there would be no service when he wanted to make sure someone was safe. He blew out an irritated breath before standing up. His sheets were soaking wet with his night terror sweating. He stripped his bed, then sat in a chair in his living room, a small bottle of whiskey now in his hand as he waited for the spot on his bed to dry enough for the new sheets. He took a long pull from the small bottle, making a slight wince as the alcohol burned. The cheap stuff was never good, but it got the job done when it needed to, so he was thankful for that. He sat in the chair, staring at the floor, taking a drink every now and then for what seemed like forever. He reached into the pocket on the side of the chair, where he stashed a pistol for security of his home. He laid it out on the coffee table in front of him. He looked at it long and hard for what seemed to be hours, but in reality was several minutes. "Quickest way to lose the nightmares." He said to himself, as his hand gripped the pistol. He slowly raised the gun to his temple, his finger slowly starting the final squeeze...

CRASH! Glass broke, sounded like the window in his bedroom. He pulled the gun away from his temple, aiming it down the hallway as he slowly made his way towards his bedroom. "I suggest you leave, unless you want to meet your maker a fair bit sooner than you expect." He called out, his voice calm and stern. "If you leave now, we can forget this ever happened." No response, though there was a slight gurgling sound... like someone who was drowning in their own blood. It was a sound he would never forget. He slammed his palm against the light switch, turning it on. It seemed there was someone head first in his window, all he could see was the long brown hai--... Wait a second that looked like the hair of the girl he had just slept with... "Amanda?! What happened to you?" Then the hair became a face as the woman looked up at him. It had looked as if she had been drug behind a car on these backroads going 50, skin was sluffing off and it looked like she had bled profusely. The gurgling sound seemed to be emanating from her, shards of glass embedded deep into her throat. His radio had been left on before he had fallen asleep, and it chose this moment to broadcast a warning.

The virus has completely devastated over 150 of the world's major regions, and is spreading rapidly. Be on guard of any loved ones who may have recently been in any sort of contact out be infected, And if you find yourself out in a threatened position, please do not hesitate to act. Again, this is not a test. This is not a joke. We as a species are overwhelmed. We are outnumbered.

The next few seconds happened in a flash, the girl pushed through the broken window, lunging at Jericho.. One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... click... click... click... His pistol emptied of rounds as Amanda's once beautiful face, now was a puddle of gore attached to a neck.

"This cannot be fucking happening." Then he did as any normal person would do in this situation, he screamed.