Risen from the Grave

The Beginning

I honestly don't remember how it started. One moment, I was relaxing on the sofa with my sister, Julie, the next there were screams coming from outside, my dad rushing in and telling us to lock all the doors and windows. I thought there was maybe a riot outside from yet another controversial group, or maybe just some teens wrecking havoc. Regardless, I followed his orders and closed all the curtains, locking the windows and checking the doors. We then found ourselves stood in the main room, all the lights turned off, the TV switched to the news and on silent. My dad had turned on the subtitles, but I didn't have my glasses on, so I couldn't tell what he was saying. "What's going on?"I whispered to Julie, who had a concerned look on her face.

"Some people at the mall were biting people. Like, ripped flesh off of them,"she replied, eyes glued to the screen in horror. I returned my gaze to the screen, where the reporter was standing amongst the chaos, trying to get someone's attention for an interview.

"It was grandma, my poor, dear grandma!"a random lady screamed, tears rushing down her face. "Some fucking asshole bit her, tore her arm off! He ate her! He fucking ate her!" Her face showed clear distress, when suddenly, she was yanked off screen by another one of those 'things', who quickly began consuming her too. The reporter tried to run, but was grabbed by another, and that was when the camera stopped. It flipped back to the news agent, who had a look of concern and fear plastered onto his face. I couldn't make out what he began saying after that, but my dad soon turned the TV off and turned to me, Julie and our younger brother Carlos.

"You're mother and aunt are in the studio. I'm going to go get them, tell them what's going on. Bobby, you're in charge, none of you can leave, or follow me, understood?"he told us, his voice firm and clear. We all nodded, and I could feel my hands shaking. He then turned around, making his way out of the back door and towards the studio. Carlos turned to look up at me, a scared look in his big eyes.

"Are we gonna die?"he asked me, tears rolling down his cheeks. I shook my head, kneeling down so I was level with him.

"Everything's going to be fine, okay?"I assured, trying to calm my nerves.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Julie gave me one of her looks, telling me she knew I was just a terrified as everyone else. I can't promise everything will be fine, I don't even know what's going on. But I can play pretend for my little brother, I've been doing that since he was a baby. Julie's two years younger than me, and yet she seems to have matured past me, unable to lie to Carlos anymore, telling him the brutal truth even if he can't handle it. Tough love, she calls it. I sighed, standing up straight and looking over towards the back door, silently begging my parents and aunt would come through any second now. Finally, I saw the familiar silhouette of my mum come running through, quickly followed by my dad and aunt. My mum embraced Carlos, tears building up in her eyes.

"Everything's going to be fine,"she mumbled into his ear. "All fine, I promise mijo." Tía Victoria followed suit, wrapping Julie in her arms and pressing her face into the brown curls. I looked up at my dad, who simply put a comforting hand on my shoulder, offering a weak smile.

"What does it look like out there?"I asked, almost now wanting to know, but letting the curiosity get the better of me.

"Awful, hijo,"he whispered, hoping Carlos couldn't hear. "Don't let anybody leave, okay? Nor let anybody in. Those people... they're not people. They're something else... something... deadly."

"It must be some kind of infection,"Julie observed, breaking free of our aunt's tight grip. "Spread through the bite. So long as we don't get bit, we should be fine, but then again, we don't have enough information to be sure." Dad nodded, turning to face mom and Carlos.