The Dead Rise

Chapter 1

     The year flew by, it felt like no time at all, I felt numb, nothing hurt, anymore. I was desiring something real, something different. I was desiring anything in life to give me a sense of thrill or joy. Time flew by after the accident that killed my brother. I still blame myself for it, if it wasn't for my dance practice we wouldn't have been out on the road that day. Since the accident the world has gone quiet as my hearing started to fade.
       A few months ago some virus started but no one told us what it was about or how deadly it was. They made us wear masks over our mouth and nose, it was said to keep us safe from the virus even though no one knew the truth. We still went to school but we had to wear masks that were uncomfortable on the ears. Hospitals were overcrowded and understaffed. I hated the masks, they were so uncomfortable but if they keep my family and I safe I guess I can put up with them.
I walk through the halls of my highschool staring at my feet listening to the whispers as I pass people. I felt like I was an outcast. I got to my next class but was escorted to the auditorium for some sort of emergency. I take a seat in the auditorium with my class. I looked around for my siblings trying to see if they were there too. I only saw my twin brother Asher. He didn't look well, he was ghostly white more than normal. He wouldn't look up. He looked like he had a blood mark soaking through his shirt, but what from?
      I was worried but I didn't have the ability to get to him so I just sat there and stared at him from across the auditorium. I hear the principal start speaking but I can't make out the words. I was too focussed on my brother to hear whatever the principal was saying to the crowd. It all began to ring and the whole world went silent again just like when Elijah died.
       The last thing I could hear from the principal before hell broke loose was "the virus has gotten out of hand. The city is shutting down per the recommendation of the CDC you will be escorted to get your things and then to your bus, please stay safe and calm". Then the unimaginable happened. I watched as my brother dropped to the floor and within seconds he got up and started to eat people like he was a monster.
        Everyone started screaming and running. I shut down as I watched my twin brother sink his teeth into his best friend's face ripping a piece of flesh out of his cheek while his best friend screamed out in pain. I was stuck frozen in time watching the monster that my brother became killing the one he cared for the most. The school's security tried to taze Asher but he kept running at them. They pulled a gun and shot him in the head as I screamed. I finally felt something real...fear. The cops came to me trying to escort me to my lockers but I was frozen in fear and pain.
         I looked up at the officer, fearful that they would shoot me too, "why did you shoot him? He was just a little kid, he was only 14 and he hadn't lived yet." I asked in a shaky tone as a tear ran down my cheek. My lungs began to hurt from stress and crying. I was trying so hard to just shut my emotions back off. It was too much to feel all at once. After desiring to feel something... anything. I wish I couldn't feel anything at all ever again.
          It was too painful one year apart and I lost two brothers.
        "It's what the virus does." The officer says before continuing, "It turns you into a man-eating monster. You eat humans without stopping and the only way to stop it is by taking a shot to the head." He finishes saying to me. I was scared. How could he have turned into one of them? How could the sweet loving brother I knew turn into a monster?