The Colony

O'Connor's Story

It was a cool summer day on July 1st. I remember it like it was yesterday. There was a nice breeze every few minutes and the sun was shining brightly. It was a picture perfect day. As we sat down for lunch, I noticed something peculiar out of the corner of my eye. Sara, my daughter, was standing up facing the picket fence. I stood up and walked over to her to see what was wrong.

"Sara? Are you okay?"

No answer.

"Sara? Are you..."

I was cut off by a hissing sound that I have never heard in my life.

"Sara!" I scream in horror.

Her eyes were bloodshot and they did not have any remnants of human life in them anymore. She lunged at me and before I knew it, she pinned me to the ground. I have never seen this kind of strength from a girl, who had just turned seven, in my life. I was soon able to throw Sara off and free myself. In a matter of seconds, I saw Sara sprint over and lunge on my wife, Laura. Sara sunk her teeth deep into Laura's neck. I picked up a branch and hit Sara in the back of the head. Sara flipped around on the ground and looked deep into my eyes. For that brief moment, I saw my daughter in those eyes begging for help.

"I'm sorry..." I whimper.

I smash Sara's head with the stick until she stops moving. I look down at Laura who is now holding on for her life. Blood is gushing from her wound and she's only able to get one final phrase in.

"Life... Life is precious... Don't forget that. I lo..." Laura says while choking on blood.

"No... No!" I scream in disbelief.

My daughter and now my wife? In less than ten minutes, I have lost the people closest to me. I look down at Laura who is now slowly opening her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot and lifeless just like Sara's. Reluctantly, I raised the stick.

"I love you." I say choking on tears.

I plunged the stick deep inside her skull and she stops moving. I slowly turn around and realized that the rest of the world was in chaos. As I looked at the cityscape, I saw nothing but smoke and flame. Sirens were going off in the distance. I was in awe of how fast it had happened. I walked into my house and heard the radio broadcasting a message of warning.

"An unknown virus has infected thousands in New York in a short time period. Infected individuals are extremely dangerous. Contact with their blood, a scratch, or a bite will result in infection. In order to stop these infected, you must destroy the brain. Please stay in your homes and lock your doors. Thank you and be safe."

The radio played this on repeat for hours. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and thought to myself,

"This is the beginning, and I will survive."