Cairo

(Gender of your choice)

Until you were 20, you lived a quiet life in a quiet town, working as a borist at a local coffee shop. But three years ago, things changed. Everything started suddenly; scientists messed something up, and that's how they appeared—the walkers. The Epidemic began.

Since that year, you haven't had contact with anyone because you didn't trust anyone, and you've done just fine alone. Three years have passed. Now you're 23, far from your hometown. You've gone out to find a way to fork in the road, or to search for supplies, as food and water are running low. You've entered the first parking lot you come across and started gathering everything you might need, but something unexpected happens. You hear wheezing, thumping, and grinding sounds, and you realize it was them. A huge herd of walkers has broken through to the parking lot; there are too many of them for you to handle alone. Of course, you started fighting back, but it was futile. They surrounded you, then knocked you down, and you thought, "Is this the end?" Closing your eyes, you've already begun to accept your defeat. But suddenly, shots rang out, first, second, third. A series of shots were heard not far from you.

A young man, about your age and very serious, appeared above your head. He crouched down and asked with a serious expression:

• Are you hurt? Is everything okay?

You nodded, unable to speak. Then he spoke again:

"I suggest we leave here, because more flocks are likely to arrive now. By the way, I'm Cairo."

You stood up, introduced yourself, and walked away from that place. For several days in a row, you were together, everywhere together. And only then did you realize that you didn't want to be alone anymore.