To Cure a Broken Heart

Sunnydale Springs — 679 miles from Canterlot

Surviving was definitely the most important, yet most difficult task Sunset could have given herself… and perhaps the most annoying. Days… weeks… even months passed since the disease first broke out. Things seemed at an all time loss.

Sunset took a swig of her drink before setting it down in the cupholder, stretching slightly in her seat as she continued to drive on the dirt road. Celestia was right about one thing, the South was definitely safer in the sense of less infected people.

The silence made Sunset inhale sharply, and after a few minutes, Sunset finally succumbed and turned the radio on before flipping through the channels.

“The World Health Organization has officially called it ‘Cerebral Neurodegenerative Agent’ or ‘CNA’ for short. Known symptoms are: hysteria, bloodshot eyes, foam coming from the mouth, and prolonged aggression in others…”

“Manhattan has issued a full city-wide lockdown. The number of new infections in the city have soared to record breaking levels…”

“As of late August, the number of confirmed deaths has passed ten thousand, and the number is rapidly increasing…”

“As far as we know, the infection began in Canterlot, and has quickly spread to the neighboring cities. We are unsure if the virus is airborne, and suggest wearing a mask in crowded areas till confirmation. Government officials suggest keeping inside your designated Quarantine Zones, and wait for instruction…”

“Las Vegas’ healthcare system has been so overwhelmed that many patients are being turned away…”

“The World Health Organization has sent out a warning of a new wave of new CNA infections and possible deaths...”

“In just the past day, more than 1.3 million have tested positive for CNA, revealing incubation times may now be longer than originally believed…”

At this point, Sunset immediately turned the radio off. “Songs, people, songs. Why can’t we just put a playlist out there for us all to listen to while we all fucking die…” Sunset ranted to herself before leaning down to itch her leg. “I’d like one radio station where I can just jam out and not throw myself into a panic attack because the world is ending around me and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Sunset gripped onto the wheel tighter before leaning over and changing the channel one last time.

“The Canterlot Mall has been issued a reliable Safe Zone for survivors, and Government Officials suggest anyone near or in the area to immediately report to the Mall for testing, relocation, and rehabilitation. The military outpost is being guarded 24/7 and is considered safe against the horde.”

Sunset glanced at the radio before leaning back in her seat. She knocked on the wheel before thinking for a second. The Mall wasn’t a bad idea… heading there could ensure safety, food, water, but the possibility of meeting someone there. Only problem… The Canterlot Mall was in the middle of the city. Sure they say it’s safe, but anyone who’s anyone knows that’s a bunch of bullshit piled on top of one another.

Sunset clicked her tongue before finally mumbling to herself, “Fuck it.” she whipped the vehicle around, doing a U-turn before heading in the other direction… towards the city. “Eight hours of non-stop driving, here we go.”

Which ended up being one or two as the vehicle finally came to a stop… the gauge dead on E.

“And… we’re out.” Sunset rubbed her eyes. “Great… and I’m sure my fucking gas can is empty too.” Sunset hopped out of the vehicle before opening the trunk, grabbing the can before shaking it a few times. “Shit is sucked dry.” She closed the trunk with her free hand before moving to the backseat, grabbing an MP9 she had found from a police station arsenal a few weeks back. Stopping there was probably the best investment she had made—as if she needed much to stop at a place like that.

After a few minutes of non-stop walking, Sunset reached the gas station she had passed a while back. It wasn’t that far from the vehicle, but it was still a hassle to begin with. “Should’ve fucking stopped here earlier, would’ve saved my ass the trouble.” Sunset dropped the gas can by the pump before filling it up. While she waited, she glanced over at the grocery store a couple of meters away.

Sunset blinked before looking around, “Okay… a grocery store… in the middle of—fucking nowhere. That’s new.” Sunset sighed, “Is it worth it?” Her eyes darted from the car to the store. “I’m bringing the car over.” she finally decided, grabbing the gas can before moving to retrieve her car.

When she did enter the store, it was packed with goods and appeared practically untouched. “Damn.” she mumbled, moving through the aisles and taking out any infected that came her way. She pulled her bag from her back and opened it, pouring as many cans of food she could carry as well as opening a pack of water and throwing a few bottles inside.

She zipped her bag up after finding food, water, and medical supplies, and just before she could leave—a loud noise kept her from leaving the grocery store. The doors dinged as they slid open, but after Sunset kept herself still and alert, the doors slowly slid back shut. “Hello?!” Usually calling out in a random place was definitely a bad idea, but the idea of finding a possible survivor…

Sunset had been alone since her separation with Celestia, which only served to throw Sunset in a downward spiral of talking to herself and having full-blown conversations without a reciprocant.

After a zombie finally came into her sights, Sunset groaned annoyingly. She raised her gun before shooting a few bullets into the zombie, causing it to fall to the ground. She reloaded her weapon, but a growl caught her attention. The fucker wasn’t dead?

It stood up, snarling and thrashing before charging—much quicker than a regular infected. Acting quickly, Sunset grabbed a random ‘ON SALE’ sign from the ground before hitting the zombie down. Using the rods poking out of the bottom, she slammed one into its head.

It was still alive?!

“What the fuck…?” Sunset used her pistol to shoot a few bullets into its head, but still.. it moved. It wasn’t till Sunset stomped onto its skull, crushing it completely, that the damn thing finally stopped moving.

Sunset stepped back before trying to leave the grocery store once again. “New strain…” she mumbled to herself, “are they getting stronger?”

The noise from earlier suddenly caught her off guard. Was it another zombie? Sunset turned around, this time more aggressively. She whistled, hitting her gun against the aisle to try to attract the rest of them—but there was silence.

Till something stepped into view ahead of her, but it wasn’t human. It sniffed and snorted, grunts and growls escaping its throat all the while. It made all the hair on the back of her neck stand up, a shiver climbing up her spine. The zombies didn’t usually give her a genuine fright—not since the whole thing went down anyways… but the way that thing sounded? A lion's paw stepped forward, and Sunset cursed to herself as she quickly scrambled to the car.

“A fucking lion in a grocery store?! Where’s the nearest fucking zoo??” Sunset started the vehicle before quickly driving off, not even bothering to wait around to see the damn thing. “Fuck.. fuck.” Seeing that opened up a whole new acknowledgement. Animals can get infected too.