[54 Years Ago. Day: Tuesday. Time: 10 minutes Before The Apocalypse]
Lick.
Lick.
"You do know youāre 14 years old, right? Licking your fingers like a snotty child makes you look weird," a redhead lady said to her sister as they walked through a garage.
"Big sister Tifa, youāre too cruel. How can you refer to me as having a snotty nose? Iām just making sure the flavour of the ice cream is cleaned off my hand," Miriam said, almost causing her sister to laugh.
Miriam held her hand as they walked. After a while, Miriam spoke again.
"Iām sorry for blackmailing you, big sister. I just wanted to spend some time with you before Father sends me to that godforsaken private school."
Tifa turned and looked at her sister, smiling. "Donāt worry about it, Miriam. I wouldāve wasted my time going on that date anyway.
It was Sophia who set up that blind date to prank me and get content for her page. I wouldāve been pissed if I found out that was the case."
"Big sister, donāt you already have a boyfriend? Why do you have to go on a blind date again?" Miriam asked, and her sister Tifa scoffed.
"I donāt have a boyfriend, okay? I only have friends, but none qualify to be my boyfriend." Tifa laughed again.
Miriam looked at her sister and smirked. "You make it sound like you have a checklist that must be checked before someone can become your boyfriend. Let me tell you, big sister, I may only be 14, but I know having a boyfriend is simple.
Not all boyfriends become your husband, so stop checking the list and get yourself a man."
"Ouch, what was that for?" Miriam asked, rubbing her backside.
Tifa giggled. "That was for being unruly. At this rate, Iām going to have to tell Dad to send you to an all-girlsā private school."
Miriam laughed. "Even better. There are many angels waiting for me there," Miriam teased, causing her sister to just laugh and shake her head.
The Nabil family is a big one. Their father has seven wives, each of whom has more than one child. They came from the 4th wife, and despite having several siblings, the two of them are each otherās best friends.
They banter a lot, and every second, Miriam manages to come out on top. So Tifa losing today, too, was no new thing to her. She just likes spending time with her troublemaker sister.
After a while, they arrived at where they had parked their car and zoomed off. Soon, they were nearing their castle-like house. It is a rather large castle where every last important member of the Nabil family resides.
---
[Three minutes Before the Apocalypse]
"Miriam, I think Iām getting sick. I feel weird, and suddenly, I feel like devouring any food," Tifa said with a frown.
"Youāre not getting sick, big sister. You are sick. Knowing you, food is not your best friend." Miriam used the back of her hand to check Tifaās temperature.
"Youāre burning up, big sister." Miriam gave her diagnosis, and it was spot on.
"Yes, I am. Iād better hurry and get home so I can have some medication." Tifa sped up the car, soon arriving at the gate. The moment the gate opened, they entered and alighted just a few steps away from the gate.
The guards would drive the car to the garage.
"Young Miss Tifa, are you alright?" One of the guards asked when they saw the sweat on her forehead.
"Iām fine. Just a mild fever... Iāll be okay in a day." Tifa answered before taking Miriamās arm and starting to move inside.
However, five steps later, she halted. At that moment, everyone felt the air they were breathing grow heavy as a blue panel appeared before their vision.
ā¦Welcome to the Apocalypse.ā§
All of a sudden, screams started filling the air, coming from all directions. Tifaās grip on Miriamās arm tightened. Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Miriam, bearing her teeth as saliva flowed from the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes turned red, and her face turned pale. Green veins appeared on her face and hands, and almost every visible part of her body had green veins lining it.
Miriam stared at her with a look of fear, for at that moment, what she saw on her sisterās face was terrifying.
"Big sister, are you alright?" She asked, and in response, Tifa released her hand.
"Miriam... R-Run... Now," Her words came out hoarse, almost like she was trying her best to fight against the part of her that wanted nothing more than to rip Miriamās throat out.
And she did.
She fought against her hunger.
But not for long, since the next second, she moved past Miriam and punched one of the guards coming at Miriam.
There were eight guards at the gate that day. One of them became a zombie and came after Miriam, but Tifa was fast and killed him, tearing a chunk of his neck before ripping his head off.
Fear gripped Miriam, making her feel like her legs were rooted to the ground. She couldnāt move or talk.
After Tifa killed the zombie, she turned and looked at Miriam, fighting the urge to pounce on her before turning toward the guards.
That was when the massacre occurred, traumatising Miriam to the point she had to create her own truth, one where her beautiful sister saved her at the expense of her own life.
What she saw that day was savagery... one that left her broken for 54 years. When her sister was done killing the last guard, she lunged at Miriam, who couldnāt even move.
Even at that moment, her sister tried her best to hold back her hunger, but in the end, she took Miriamās arm and bit into it.
However, something changed when she tasted Miriamās blood; something within her snapped. The change was immediate. The green veins on her body vanished. But her skin remained pale.
Her hunger subsided, but when she looked at the scared look on Miriamās face, she knew she had broken her. Of course, she wasnāt planning on running, but then she saw her father and 50 guards coming after her with guns and other weapons drawn
That was when she knew she had to run.
"Iām sorry, Miriam, but I have to go. However, I will stay close... I will." With a leap over the giant gate, Tifa disappeared into the wild.