It's the year 2038 and a deadly virus has consumed the world for more than 14 years.
In Denmark, an unknown politician took it upon himself to create a safe space from the infected. As long as you abide by the 8 Obligations, you are allowed to live...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I haven't heard from Angel in a few days, and I don't understand why. As far as I know, we aren't in a fight. We haven actually ever been in a fight, so I really don't know why she isn't answering my texts. She isn't even reading them.
I have convinced my brother to drive me out to their house to see if anything is wrong. He has complained all the way, but what's new?
I jump out of the car as soon as he steps on the breaks.
"Hey! Watch it. Let me at least park it before you jump out!" my brother shouts at me, but I don't listen. I run straight to the door and rings the doorbell. No answer. I ring again. Still no answer. I glance through the windows, but I can't really see anything. It's completely dark. Maybe they aren't home?
I head towards the annex to check if they are training, but no one answers that either. Now my brother comes up to me.
"Everything okay?"
"No... no one answers."
"They are probably out. Don't be so dramatic."
"I'm not being dramatic!" Alec backs away with his palms raised. I guess I'm a little tense. I reach above the light next to the door and grab the spare key. I know where it is. I saw Angel do it once.
"You do know it's considered illegal to enter someone's property without permission, right?"
"Shut up..." I mumble as I unlock the door. "If you're scared you can stay out here." I retort while walking inside.
"Fuck you. I'm not scared." Alec follows behind me.
When I turn on the lights, my heart drops.
The room is empty. Everything is gone.
"No, no, no, no, no" I run to the adjoining room, but the ring is gone too. "No, this can't be true!"
"Sorry little brother, it looks like they've moved."
"No!" I scream and slam my fist into the wall so hard that I for a minute wonder if I have broken my knuckles. She can't leave me. I love her... what do I do now?
****
"Come on man, you can't keep sulking like this. It's been weeks." My brother is sitting across from me at the breakfast table.
"Just leave me alone..."
"Jace, Come on. Just eat something. I'll drive you to school today."
"I'm fine with biking."
"Alright, then I'll bike with you."
"What?" I can't believe what I'm hearing. I'm staring at him with wide eyes. "You haven't biked for years."
"So? If you want to ride your bike to school, so will I."
"I must be dying or something..."
Alec grins at me.
"Yeah, the world must be ending." He chuckles and pats me on my back. "Come on man, let's go."
I follow him outside, and sure enough he is getting his bike ready. Even though it has lost air in the back tire.
"Are you seriously going to ride that to school?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"it's flat."
"So?"
"you'll ruin it."
"So?"
"God, you are so stupid sometimes. Let's just take the car...." I can see the relieve in his face, so I add, "but I want to drive."
"What? no way."
"Then we are biking." I can see him debating amongst himself, then he throws me the key.
"You are lucky you are so goddamn pathetic today." He walks over to the passenger's side. "If you scratch it, I'll kill you."
I grin and nod. This is the first time I've gotten to drive his precious car. And I love it.
For a moment I even forget that the love of my life has disappeared.
But only for a moment.
When we arrive at school everything hits me again. Simon and Lydia are waiting for us. But no Angel.
"I can't believe she left without telling me..."
"I'm sorry man. It's tough..." Alec says and without thinking, I snap at him.
"And how will you know?! You don't love anyone! You never have." Alec stares at me, completely startled. It isn't all that often he doesn't have a quick snarky comeback, and that's how I know I've crossed the line.
"Sorry Alec... I didn't mean..."
"Don't apologies... you are right... I have never loved anyone..." His voice is barely as whisper as he leaves the car, and something tells me that he isn't actually telling me the truth. But I'm too preoccupied in my own distress to ask him about it.
I step out of the car too and hand him his keys.
"I just don't know why she would do that to me? Didn't she love me?"
Simon and Lydia joins us. I can tell Lydia is paying extra attention to Alec while Simon puts all his focus on me.
"Of course, she loved you." He puts his arm around me, and I find a little bit of comfort in being surrounded by my family and friends...
"I'm not so sure..." I mumble as we walk towards the class. "One thing is sure though." I look at Simon sternly. Determined. "I won't ever fall in love again. Never!"
"You say that now, but just wait and see." Simon says while pulling out his chair. "One day you'll meet someone new."
"No. I won't love anyone else."
Before Simon can answer me, the principal enters the classroom.
"Good morning. I'm sorry to inform you that you teacher Mr. Jensen has come down with a bad case of the flu. He is currently in the hospital getting the best possible care, so no need to worry. Unfortunately, our substitute teacher is also sick today, so instead you will have the first period off."
Cheering and shouting echoes through the classroom as everyone grabs their bags and heads down to the cafeteria or where else they tend to spend their free period.
Me on the other hand, I don't even feel the thrill of having the class cancelled.
