“Bloody hell!” said Lizzie, allowing this one time to throw caution to the wind. She'd already done so by inviting them, anyhow. Them being the boy and girl that were now heading her way at her own invitation, and with a bloody dog on their heels! The human undead were somewhat less terrifying in comparison to the animals sometimes, because they were generally slower moving. But dogs, they still retained a lot of their speed and biting strength, if not more so, because they didn't tire anymore. Lizzie silently prayed she would never meet an undead cheetah. There'd be no way any of them could escape that kind of monstrosity. She briefly considered closing the door on them; if it had been just one of them, she was willing to take the risk, but two? She would be outnumbered, and she was pathetic in self-defense. They'd slaughter her without even trying.
Her basic sense of decency forbade her from such an act however, and she straightened up, muscles tensed for action, as they closed the distance rapidly. She flattened herself against the door and let the two pass through, before swiftly pushing the door shut, scant microseconds from the dog's teeth sinking into her knee. The animal wasn't barking, fortunately. That would have brought out any lurking shufflers if they heard. And she wasn't sure that the door or the boarded up windows would be able to stand up to that kind of force. Her heart pounded so hard, and she was hyperventilating through her nose, eyes wide and sweat pouring down her brow as if she was the one who had just broken the world record for cross-street sprinting.
She bit off a terrified yelp when the dog threw itself against the door and stumbled backwards, losing her balance and landing unceremoniously on her rump. Still pulling herself away from the door, she looked around the room for something to brace against the door, and grabbed a one-seater couch, pulling it against the door. The door itself was quite solid and sturdy, but Lizzie didn't feel like throwing her faith into just a door alone, especially one that pushed inwards from the outside. Turning a wary eye toward her two new "friends", the girl having just thanked her, Lizzie sighed and just prayed to survive this night. “No worries,” she said, straightening up from her work, and rested her fists on her hips, “don't kill me, and we'll call it even.”
She realized how odd a statement that was to make once the words were out her mouth, but it was said. Rubbing her left wrist nervously, she walked around the two, recovering her briefcase and backpack, she then turned to study them. The girl was taller than her, and looked decidedly stronger as well. At her full height of five feet, she would be craning her neck to look at either of them in the eyes. Silently kicking herself, she reached behind her, digging through the side pocket of her bag, and slowly brought her hand back up, holding three nutri bars, one already partially eaten. She didn't know why she was doing this; she didn't even know their names, but she could imagine that food was hard to find these days. “Try not to eat it all at once,” said Lizzie, “in fact, it might be best to take it very sparingly. Don't know how long before that dog stops-oh God!” The last thud made the door reverberate slightly, and it was nerve-wrecking. She didn't know about them, but it was terrifying. Her trembling lips and eyes said it all for all to see.
Backing away from the door and heading into the narrow corridor deeper into the house, she glanced at the other two, “My name's Elizabeth Lake,” she said, “you can call me Lizzie.” She stuck her own nutri bar into her pocket, and leaned against the wall, taking a moment to try calming herself.
