The Package

The Survivor

As I approach the light, my pace slows, almost to a complete stop. I don't mean to, but nowadays, I'm unsure what to trust.

From a distance, the light seemed to be from a wisp, but as I move closer I realize that it is not so.

It's a glowing flashlight.

The heart almost stops. My mind races. Maybe it's a survivor. Maybe it's Amanda.

I inch forwards, and peak around the corner of the garage I'm now in front of. I bump into a small shelf and I cringe.

A man of about 20 turns and his golden brown eyes lock onto mine.

"Who are you?" His voice is deep and his eyes narrow.

"Willow. Who are you?" My voice shakes and I'm not sure if I should trust him. His index finger reaches out to flick off the flashlight, and he sets it down. Picking up a blue rag, he wipes his hands, and extends his left to me.

"I'm Eli."

That's all he says, leaving me to wonder what the rest of his story is.

"How did you survive?" I inquire, taking a step forwards.

He acts guarded, but I know he isn't afraid to tell me.

"Well, Willow, I just didn't catch the disease. Simple as that. What about you?"

"Same." Now I'm the one leaving him to wonder. I begin to wander around the garage. Before I interrupted, Eli had been seemingly working on a motorbike. Maybe he was trying to leave.

I reach a desk with a frame on it. The people it holds seem familiar to me, and I stretch my fingers out to take a closer look. But I don't get the chance.

"Hey don't touch that," he murmurs. One of his large, muscly hands blocks my view of the picture.

"Your family?" I turn towards him, and our eyes lock again,"I have a sister. The rest of my family was taken from the disease, aside from my father. He's just a - jerk. My sister, Amanda, she just got sick. I stole a wisp from my father. When I went back to give it to her, she wasn't there. That's why I found you. I was trying to find her."