"Zombies do not exist." Miko?aj said, pressing down on the gas, watching from the corner of his eye the terror in Emil's eyes. "That's for sure... hell, I don't know."

  "I saw it." he lowered his voice, his head completely cloudy. At school he had no time to think so now his emotions came out.

  "What did you see? Kaja, what happened there?"

  The girl measured her father and brother with her eyes, she herself did not know quite what she had seen. Was what she saw real? For her it was incomprehensible, unlike her older brother she had never been exposed to any form of zombie entertainment, she was not interested in it.

  "People... they are sick."

  "They're not sick, they're dead. It's zombies." Emil was knocked out of his rhythm by Miko?aj's voice, warning him not to say such things in front of his sister. It's a fact, Kaja was still young, innocent, she shouldn't think about such things. "It's true, dad. Besides, you can hear for yourself what's going on!"

  "They didn't say anything about any disease on TV."

  "They said. Someone bit off a homeless man's face. Do you think it's a coincidence?"

  Driving through the city, they saw the chaos happening before their eyes. Miko?aj was beginning to understand his children's terror as they saw people fleeing, police pacifying the infected and many broken vehicles. The EAS alarm did not quiet down. Miko?aj, despite the heavy traffic and congestion, did what he could to get his children out of this hell. The siblings watched through the windows as the world they knew collapsed before their eyes. The city went crazy, Emil's father had to dodge cars in a slalom. It took them a long time to get out of the city through the chaos, but after several minutes the SUV passed the traffic circle, leaving the buildings. The sound of the siren could still be heard, but not as loud as before. The Kaczmarek family calmed down, able to at least rest from the hustle and bustle for a moment. They drove for some time without stopping until suddenly Miko?aj unexpectedly stopped the car. If Emil hadn't been wearing his seatbelt, he would certainly have flown through the windshield. He looked quickly ahead to see why his father had stopped. He saw an ambulance standing in the middle of the road. It had its light signal on but no one was visible either outside or inside the vehicle. They were just outside the city, a few dozen meters behind them was one of the suburban villages. The lack of traffic on the roadway added to the strange unease. Where had all the people gone?

  "Wait here."

  Miko?aj turned off the engine. Emil already knew what was coming. "No no no. Do not go there." However, the father did not listen to him and got out of the car skeptical about his son's story. He approached the ambulance, the front of which was facing them. She was driving straight from their home village, considering that the DW615 road runs through this very town.

  "Kaja, whatever happens, stay in the car, okay?" Emil closely watched the actions of his father, who does not realize the seriousness of the situation. Kaja unbuckled her seatbelt, wanting to lean forward to see more. She was afraid for her father, but she believed that nothing would happen to him.

  "Hello?" Miko?aj growled in a loud voice "Is anyone here?"

  With a slow but brave step, he walked on, bypassing the vehicle. As he approached the back of the ambulance he heard strange sounds. He couldn't tell what it was; he had never heard it. As he touched the open rear door of the vehicle, which obstructed his view of the road, he suddenly pushed it open bluntly. Stunned, he saw an image he didn't want to see. A bloodied man with bluish, corpse-like skin was tearing a man's corpse into pieces. He bit into the paramedic's chest again and again. His shock was further heightened when he spotted Robert, a longtime neighbor in the monster, whom Emil had seen this morning while driving to school. He looked similar to Nikodems. White eyes, gray skin, unnatural movements.

  "Robert?" Infected spotted Miko?aj, who began to walk even closer.

  The infected man moved violently against Miko?aj, throwing himself at him with the whole weight of his body. The man caught him, trying to push him away but the force with which he pushed was considerable. The infected pushed him slightly out of the way, giving a clear view of the siblings sitting in the car. Emil, seeing this, rose quickly, shifting into the driver's seat. Despite his age, he had no experience with driving, but something had to be done. He turned the key, left earlier in the ignition. The engine started. He put it into reverse, wanting to get enough speed. Meanwhile, Miko?aj was still wrestling with the infected Robert. Finally he hit him, his fist stopped him for a moment but the infected did not give up.

  "Move back!"

  Hearing his son's shout, Miko?aj pushed him back into the street, and at that moment the SUV hit the infected with considerable force. It threw him further away.

  "Damn!" Miko?aj sighed, looking around instinctively. The surrounding area remained empty, and only the squeal of tires could be heard when braking sharply. The hood of the SUV was bloodied, and the bumper was also slightly damaged. Emil got out of the car, telling Kaja to stay inside. He approached his father, who was already standing staring at the corpse lying on the ground. Robert's lifeless body didn't look very good after the collision with the car. Twisted limbs, broken bones, skin coming off. However, something unnatural had happened. The dead Robert was still "alive," turning his head slowly toward Emil and his father. This was the first moment when they could see what the new reality was.

  "This can't be true." Miko?aj said with trepidation in his voice.

  Kaja emerged from behind her father's back, horrified by the sight she found. She was immediately scolded by him for leaving the car and watching such things. He ordered her to return to the car.

  "Let her watch." Emil interjected, not letting the corpse out of his sight. "If everything collapses, this will be the only world she will ever see again.

  The boy picked up a large rock from the side of the road. He approached the dead man, who, although he tried to get up, could not do so because of his broken legs. Miko?aj looked at his son for a moment with confusion on his face, he guessed what he wanted to do so he took Kaja to the car, getting ready to drive away. The corpse stared at Emil with its white eyes, every now and then biting its jaw while grunting. Despite the fact that it was the same neighbor Robert, whom Emil had seen almost, if not every day, he was certain that Robert was no longer here. Just a walking corpse that by some miracle is alive. Emil raised his hand with the rock upward, wanting to swing. He hesitated for a moment, but finally forced himself to do something he didn't want to do. He took one last look at the zombie and whispered quietly under his breath:

  "So this is what a new beginning looks like?"

  He threw a rock straight at its head, causing brain damage. Blood splattered across the asphalt. This time he was really dead.

  ><

  Emil got out of the car when they had already arrived in front of the house. The first thing he did was close the gate, looking around the village. Some people seemed to know what was going on and others remained in the dark. Those who knew packed up and left, while others decided to stay in their homes despite everything, locking up everything precious inside. While driving, Miko?aj called his wife Anna, telling her about the situation. She didn't believe it at first, but agreed to go home early, convinced by the EAS alert and the first announcements on TV. Emil, because of his fascination with the pop culture of the living dead, was, one could say, a veteran when it came to this topic although, of course, computer games or TV series are nowhere near real life. He was unable to gauge his emotions. On the one hand he was curious about what was happening but on the other he was terrified by the possible vision of witnessing his loved ones being torn to pieces by brainless monsters. He felt strange about being the only one to feel excitement, although the situation was definitely not pleasant.

  While waiting for his wife, Miko?aj turned on the TV. He wanted to see if maybe they were talking about it somewhere, if it was actually happening. He changed channels until he saw a government broadcast in which the president himself was speaking from his presidential palace. His nervousness and fear were evident in his facial expressions. The message was preceded by a short jingle, specially prepared for a national emergency.

  "We ask everyone to stay indoors and not go outside. The virus that has suddenly flooded our country is very contagious and the aggression it causes is very dangerous. The services will try to do what is necessary, keeping the nation safe. See you in future reports and remember, stay at home. May God protect us."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Kaya entered the living room and listened to the government broadcast from behind the door. For a 15-year-old girl, these were incomprehensible and almost traumatic experiences. She approached her father, hugging him.

  "Is everything going to be okay?" She asked, lifting her head up and looking at Miko?aj. "Will Mom be able to come back?"

  "She definitely will, honey. Mom is on her way."

  As if on cue, they heard the sound of the engine from outside. They saw through the window how Emil quickly opened the gate for his mother to enter and immediately quickly closed it, in fear of lurking evil. Anna Kaczmarek, an undersized woman in her 40s, from whom Emil had evidently inherited her looks, got out of the car with many questions for the family. Kaya and Nikolai joined them outside.

  "I heard on the radio that something was going on. What kind of virus? What's going on with the alarm?"

  "No one knows, darling." Anna's husband was the first to speak up, approaching his wife.

  "The dead come back to life, just like in the movies." Emil stormed in with full seriousness.

  "Is this a joke? At a time like this?" Anna looked slightly surprised, perhaps even embarrassed by what she had just heard.

  "No, mom. We saw it, didn't we?" He turned around, looking after the others. They nodded their heads, signaling that this was indeed the case. "Besides, didn't you see it yourself? The city went crazy, broadcasting messages everywhere."

  The woman stood as if she had been struck, having a confusion in her head, all in all, like everyone else. She grabbed her head, sighing deeply.

  "But I think the military will do something, will they protect us?"

  Kaja also joined the conversation. There were stray cats running around the yard, one of them approached the girl, who crouched down stroking it. "What are we going to do?" she asked another question, realizing that they couldn't answer the first one.

  "The best thing to do is to call the people in our family and stay in one place. It's safer in a group." Emil leaned against the car, combing his golden hair behind his ears.

  "Isn't it better to go to the city? The police in the countryside are unlikely to make any safe places." Anna replied, pulling out her phone and looking in it for the numbers to her relatives.

  "No. The city is the worst place we can go. Where there are a lot of people, there are also a lot of dead bodies."

  "Emil is right. Let's stay here. We have food, water. Besides, on TV they said not to leave the houses so there are probably no collection points. For now."

  The family continued talking while Kaja, stroking the cat, suddenly noticed the silhouette of a person at the gate. She did not see exactly who it was, but decided to get up. She did not interrupt their conversation, she simply headed towards the person and the cat that was with her scurried behind her legs. As she shortened the distance, the animal began to hiss in terror at the visitor, who turned out to be a now-dead woman, Anna's neighbor and good friend Janina. Janka, as she was diminutively called by all her friends, often visited the Kaczmarek children so the sight of the woman turned into a monster terrified Kaja, who cried. Tears streamed down her cheek, she was afraid to come closer knowing what she might do to her. She watched her as the woman pushed against the gate, waving her arms in an attempt to grab the girl. The sound of the gate scrambling alerted the family. Miko?aj ran quickly to his daughter, dragging her a further away to a safe distance.

  "Dear God..." Anna also cringed at the sight of her friend. She knelt down until, trying to catch her breath.

  "She turned. The virus has already reached here?"

  "Who was it? We have to help!" Kaja shot forward with a desire to help.

  "I'll go." Emil went deeper into the plot, heading for his father's garage, where he began bushwhacking around looking for a sharp tool with which to defend himself.

  "You won't go there. It's dangerous." he said. Miko?aj followed him, wanting to dissuade him from this idea.

  "That's why I will go alone. Stay here with mom and Kaja." He found among his belongings a small but handy hatchet that his father used for work on the plot. He looked at Miko?aj, who stared at the hatchet as if unsure of what his son planned to do with it. "Dad, please."

  Anna and Kaja listened in despair to the conversation between father and son. The mother already wanted to interject, but gave up. She was afraid for her son, just as Kaya was afraid for her brother. Emil, however, was fierce.

  "Is this how we are going to act now? Should we start killing?" a visibly disgruntled, upset and saddened Miko?aj tries hard to convince his son to stay.

  "They are dead. You saw for yourself."

  "What if it's a disease? Some mutation of rabies? We don't know."

  "Stop acting like the world is going to return to normal. It won't go back. And we have to adapt because we will end up like them. Like the person who screamed."

  At that moment, the father saw a strange glint in his son's eyes. In his facial expression he saw the terror that he wants to hide at all costs. He knows that Emil has already chosen a new path, while the rest are still experiencing the end-of-the-world crisis. He questioned his own approach at the time and wondered if he should also follow Emil's path.

  "You are not going there to help." His son's reaction only strengthened his conviction. "So what's the point?"

  "To see what's going on. How many zombies are in the village. Take care of mom and Kaja. Let the whole family gather here."

  "You have to be there in 20 minutes and no more." He said in a stern voice.

  "I know."

  From what Emil managed to notice, no one was in the houses. "They already escaped, huh?" He whispered to himself under his breath, calming his heartbeat. It was quiet on this side, if anything was going to happen it was only on the main road. Emil walked ahead quietly until he reached the center of the village. He saw an elderly woman lying in the middle of the street being devoured alive by a single corpse, the dead Janina was also already close by and had joined the meal. The woman had her larynx bitten off and was choking in agony, unable to even scream anymore. He knew that she could not be helped so he looked around while the dead were busy. Next to the woman was a bag from which a few things had fallen out. It was food. From his vantage point across the street, further behind the corpses was a grocery store.

  "This is a good opportunity." he thought. "But not now."

  He turned nervously, checking if he was safe. He was. He decided to walk a bit further, avoiding the sight of the dead. He hid behind a tree, facing one of the houses. He peeked through the gate, making sure there was no living soul there either, but he saw as if a light was reflected in the window. When his eyes traveled in that direction, he saw a girl with long blond hair. He knew her perfectly well. They had built a relationship with each other in the past, but everything collapsed about two years ago and since then they had pretended not to know each other. Their gaze lasted for a while although from Emil's perspective several minutes had passed. The girl suddenly moved away from the window. Emil looked out again from behind the tree and the woman was already dead. He looked to the right, deeper into the village, and saw a group of people resisting a handful of dead. The screams resumed, luring the corpses consuming the woman's corpse. Emil quickly hid behind a tree, and after a while the dead went on. He turned his head again, looking at the window of the girl's house, but no one was there.

  "However, not everyone has escaped. I would like to hope that I will never meet you again." Emil thought, taking one last look at her house and making his final trip back home. At least he would have liked to go to it, but suddenly he heard another scream, this time from his ex-girlfriend's house. He sighed, massaging his temples and saying only one thing to himself under his breath "Fuck."

  "No, no, no!"

  He heard from deep inside the building her desperate crying. He didn't know what was going on there, and asked himself many questions. Who is infected? Did it bit her? And most importantly, should he save her or not? He was facing probably the biggest moral choice of his life. Seconds passed, the chances dwindled.

  "Screw it." He rushed through the gate into the yard of her house. He grabbed the handle of the front door but it was locked. So he attached his hatchet to the lock and began to strike. With each passing moment, he thought she might be gone. He wasn't sure if he was just waiting for silence to dissuade him from what he was doing, but the screams weren't about to quiet down. A few bangs were all it took for the door to open. He immediately ran inside, checking every possible corner and nook. He didn't want to risk his own life. He located the girl's voice, it was coming from one of the rooms on the first floor. When he headed there, up the stairs to the first floor, he noticed a corpse, wrestling with the door, which the girl is trying hard to close but can't manage. Something struck Emil, memories of an unfulfilled relationship. He hesitated to help, fighting with himself. Another moment and the corpse gets inside, the girl sinks from strength.

  "Don't lose yourself!"

  He ran into an elderly woman, hitting her with his shoulder. She hit the wall and fell to the floor. However, she immediately began to pick herself up seeing another target. Emil unscrupulously, knowing what must be done, stabbed the axe into the zombie's head which momentarily took her life. The door swung open, the girl, whose name was Klara, saw her family member lying dead on the floor. She was in shock. There was a long, grave silence, which was broken by the boy.

  "Do you remember what I said two years ago? When it starts, I will find you. I wish I had never said that."