Just One Virus Apart

Part One

This is still a WIP, please respect that and feel free to comment ^-^

The virus is still raging outside. Not as bad as it was a few years ago, but still. The virus I'm talking about is Parenjites, also known as "the zombie virus." Hi, I'm Parker Ralloy. I'm 16, and was 12 when Parenjites was discovered. Based on all the research I've done, it's not deadly to the victims; it's deadly to everyone else.

The virus is highly contagious and keeps the victim barely alive. It freezes the blood inside the body, causing the skin to rot and mold. It's basically like a cage for the human mind and body. The eyes become bloodshot, and insane. Sleep is hardly an option and the victim will be unsatisfyingly hungry–for human flesh. There is no known cure yet. Our head scientist, Dr. Will Spokes, has stated that they are still examining the virus. Hundreds of people have already caught it, including my best friend, Leila. She caught it a couple of days ago and her family has had to go into lockdown for a few weeks.

She was taken to an isolated high security hospital so no one escapes and spreads Parenjites. I haven't seen her since, and tomorrow is my birthday. I was hoping to have a party with her and some other friends, but it looks like that won't happen. I still remember that day...

December 10, 2082.

I walked outside like normal, to get the mail. Our neighborhood is just like everything else in this world: messy. The flowers are overgrown, the houses are all painted bright colors (ours is blue), there are stray cats and dogs everywhere. But everyone knows each other. I know everyone on my street. Just as I was about to open the mailbox, my annoying neighbor, Declan Bean, jumped in front of me.

"Did you hear?" he asked. I shook my head at him. Declan lived in the green house to the left of ours.

"No, I didn't hear whatever you heard." I said, trying to push past him. He was prone to believe gossip from anyone. He stepped in front of me again and stomped his foot.

"Leila." he said. I looked at him, confused.

"What about Leila?" I asked.

"She caught it!"

"Caught what?" I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew what he was talking about.

"The Virus!" Declan whispered. My blood ran cold. Mail forgotten, I shoved him out of the way and ran across the street to Leila's. The house was dark, but I knew her parents were in there. They were talking on the phone loudly, wailing and sobbing. I knocked gently on the door. No one answered so I knocked harder. Nothing. Then, I knocked again, almost breaking the door down. I heard the voices stop, then the door opened to reveal her mom. Her eyes were puffy and red, and there were tears rolling down her face.

"Did Leila..." I couldn't bear to finish the sentence. Her mom nodded silently. I felt dizzy, this couldn't be happening. It shouldn't be. Leila couldn't be gone, she couldn't. I shook my head, not daring to believe her.

"Parker, you should go. We're supposed to be in lockdown for a few weeks." I felt a firm hand on my shoulder. It was my dad. He had seen me come outside and had come to get me.

"You knew!" I shouted, anger and sadness clouding my senses.

"You knew she was gone, and didn't tell me!" I knew I was being irrational. I wasn't thinking straight. My dad grabbed my arm. I tried to pull away, but my father held on tight.

"Come on Parker," he said. "Leave them alone." He pulled me from their front door and back into the house. I am ashamed to say I cried. A lot. I screamed and struggled and glared at my dad. My pain that day was nothing compared to what I would feel later though. But then, all I knew was that my best friend was a zombie. This meant I would never see Leila again, once she had gone to The Hospital. After that, I went into my room and cried and thought and cried more and then drew a little. I drew Leila and me. I already missed her. Since the Parenjites causes victims to lose all memory, she wouldn't remember me. I cried more at that thought.