Fighting The Virus

The start of the end of the world

I turn to see a large truck crash through the fence of the oval, the truck swerves heading straight for the Ferris wheel, I see Tara and Al at the top. It crashes bringing the whole wheel down, no one could survive it.
I jump up and gasp for air as I see Al and Tara moving motionless on the ground. Their bodies along with many others crumpled under the heavy weight of the Ferris wheel carriages.
"Aaaaaaaa!" The screams come from every direction, but I stay silent.
Another lot of trucks, recklessly roll into the carnival grounds.
Bodies pile out of the trucks walking limply, dragging their feet along the grounds, almost looking like zombies. a group of them start splashing oil of some sort onto the stalls and jumping castles as people run for there lives. it hasn't been announced, but it was clear they weren't friendly.
Another group of Zombie humans roll out with flame throwers. the night is dark and only when the flame throwers get going, can you see the murky colour along with their ripped clothes and dead eyes.
"Alex, I'm..."
"I have to find my brother!" I say abrubtly. Failing to fight back the tears.
"Let me help you." He says following behind.
"You should go find your friends."
"I'm staying with you." He doesn't give me an option.

*************************************

We duck in and out of turned stalls and destroyed rides, staying unseen by the murky coloured people. Zeke follows one step behind, making me feel a little better that someone is watching my back.
He eventually says something bringing me out of a complete zone of panic.
"I can see Toby!"
"Where?"
"Over there." He points to a group of 5 kids being surrounded by the zombies dragging their feet.
"Holy shit!"
"What?" I ask creeping from my hiding spot too his.
"See the guy closest to your brother?"
"Ohmigod... is that?" He doesn't have to answer for me to know.
A zombie looking Ben staggers closer making Toby shout my name. I stumble out of the hiding spot and Zeke following behind.

Ben was Zeke's best mate. They were always up to no good with each other, they were like brothers. But I guess that was all about to change.

"Alex help us!" Toby shouted.
I started running for Toby. I was planning on ramming into a zombie, taking him to the ground, then helping the others that needed assistance.
"Don't touch them! If they bite or scratch you, you'll end up like them!" Someone yells. I skid in my tracks, rolling on the ground to a stop. I feel my ankle twist uncomfortably and let out a small wail.
I see the Ben looking zombie reach out for my bare skin. I suddenly get knocked and rolled to the side, making Ben fall to the ground as I kick his feet out from underneath him.

I look up to see Zeke's eyes looking into mine.
"T-thanks." I stutter.
"No problem." He lifts me back to my feet, and though my ankle is killing me, I realise that I could've really just been killed there.

I stand up to see Toby army crawling to an upturned ride. Before he can make it I see another familiar looking zombie reach for Toby.
"Toby roll!" I scream, but he's too late, Bella, who also looks like a zombie, reaches down and grabs Toby by the neck. Lifting him up in a head lock, she gives it a sharp turn and leaves Toby to sink to the ground.
My brain stops working and I just stand there, again, motionless. A single tear rolls down my cheek, Bella starts to feast on Toby's neck.

A moment later Toby stands up again. His head hanging to the right, looking extremely uncomfortable. I see his pale skin mixed with green and black circling his eyes. His eyes show only the reflection of the flames burning in the distance.
"Alex!"
"I know!" I say meaner than I'd planned to, but can you blame me. I just saw my 2 best friends and my brother die, right in front of my eyes.
"Can you run?"
I nod, but keep my eyes glued to my zombie looking brother. limping towards me.
"Follow me!" He turns and starts running in the opposite directions of Toby, Ben and Bella.
I hesitate, but sprint after Zeke, not wanting to fall behind and be left alone.
I was normally pretty fast, but with my ankle hurting like a bitch, and a million thoughts going on I'm my head, I was falling behind.
I felt the tears slip down my burning cheeks. I couldn't breath and was now at least 10 metres away.
Before I can stop myself I sink to my knees bracing myself for the fall. I cough loudly and look up to see Zeke a few 10 metres away. he turns his head and skids in his tracks. "Alex!" He says sounding truly worried.
"Just go on without me." I urge.
"No." He says calmly. "I'm not leaving you."
"Please!"
"No.I'm not leaving you here, alone."
"It's fine, I'll call you if I need you."
"No. I told you I'm no leaving you to die." He says looking down the long street. "Stay here!" Don't come out until I come and get you!" He says helping me to a bunch of bushes to cover me.
"You don't have to..."
"Just stay here!" He leaves, giving me no choice. I don't move as I wait for him to return. Hoping he does, I realise that if he doesn't I couldn't really blame him.
It feels like it the start of the end of the world.

*************************************

The next thing I know, I'm being carried into a small car. I look up in panic, but relax a little when I see that it's Zeke.
I must've passed out from distress.
"I thought you left."
"I told you I'd come back and get you." He says, sounding a little cliché. But it makes me smile. I guess I like a little cliche.

I don't bother putting my seatbelt on, thinking that I'd probably have to get out of the car in a rush any moment.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" I give him a sharp look. "I'm sorry I...I'm just... no I'm not alright. And it's not your fault so I shouldn't be yelling at you, but I'm mad, I just saw my two best friends die right in front I'm me, as well as my brother turn into some crazy...zombie of some shit. So..."
"I'm sorry." I look up to see him starting straight back at me.
No one was on the road which lead to a bad conclusion. This crap didn't just go down at the carnival, but everywhere esle.
"For what? I mean you lost Ben."
"I know, but you don't deserve to loose them...anyone for that matter. Your too good."
"And you're not?" I say. "Why do you think that?"
"I've done bad stuff!"
"Like what?"
"I use to bully kids, I was in grade 3."
"So! One that was like... 6 years ago, and two, that doesn't mean you should loose a best friend. It's not even like you killed anyone. Right?" I half laugh, making the edges of his lips raise a smile.
"I don't know how you and Toby are siblings, your so kind."
I look down at the thought of him. somewhere out there he is roaming around like a zombie, alone, he's only 13.
"I'm sorry." He apologieses.
"Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong!"
"I just..,"
"Don't worry about it." It was hard for me to keep talking but I needed to change the subject. "You know. When the third lot of trucks came crashing in, they crashed into the One Direction band. None of them were killed exactly, but I'm pretty sure that there is a band of 5 zombies walking around, singing like dying cows." We couldn't help ourselves, but crack up laughing as he pulled into someone's driveway.

At the front door I can see 2 motionless bodies lying on the ground. I follow Zeke up to what I believe is his house. I can see the faces of the bodies clearly now. The male of them two looked like a an older version of Zeke. I didn't need to ask to know it was his dad, I only guessed that the other woman was his mother. He dropped to the ground and put a finger around there necks, one at a time, checking their pulse. I didn't say a word but rest a hand on his shoulder as empathy. I knew that they were gone.
He stood up slowly, dropping his parents hands. I watch as two tears slipped down his right cheek. I know he is trying to stay tough, but in the inside he's breaking down and spilling with emotions. Just like I was before.
"It all begins now." He didn't have to explain it for me to know what it meant.
'This means War'