Standing desolate on the front steps, the late summer heat warms my skin. Dulcet laughter floats outside through open windows. Playful yipping from a young dog bounces about. Home. Light as air I walk towards the front door. The world around me appears to be a tad too bright. My hand reaches for the familiar doorknob. Wait, where is it? My petite fingers lay flat against the door searching for the missing knob. Sealed completely shut, absolutely no way I could open it.
"Kai, honey, dinner is ready. Why don't you grab Jax and join us." Mom? I try to speak, but my lips produce nothing.
Overwhelming confusion propels me forward towards one of the large glass window panes. Abandoning the door altogether, I look in on Mom leaning against the delicate marble counter laughing. Mouth wide showing off brilliant white teeth as Dad tries pulling her into some goofy dance of his. For a moment they become motionless looking into each other's eyes with unconditional love. With a mind of its own, my arm rises a tightly balled fist shoulder high. About to bang on the glass, I need them to notice me. Let me in, let me feel safe again. Coming within inches of the glass I stop myself. Two young teens, no older than thirteen or fourteen,wildly dash into the kitchen. A small mixed shepherd puppy quickly on their heels. Ears flopping about with each playful bounce. Ollie? How... he's so little.
"Woah there!" Dad exclaims, arms raised high spinning around as they pass by, surprised. Wrapping around the corner, Nova and Mavek. Strutting in smiling wide, embracing my parents in a warm welcome. Following close on their heels comes... No... that isn't... how? Jax and Drake's mom and dad carrying their younger sister. Alive. Also smiling ear to ear eager to have a meal with family and friends. I feel my jaw go slack hanging wide open watching the scene before me unfold.
"Sorry, Dad!" A familiar voice rings in my ears giggling. Is that... is that me? They all were grabbing their seats around a very crowded table. Lively chatter, laughter, and pure joy filled the mid evening air. Laying both of my hands flat against the cool glass, I ache to be in there with them. Trying hard to burn this moment into memory, I need to remember them this way. Happy. Unknowing. Perfectly perfect.
Thick mist begins to wash over my feet, creeping up the side of the house, and fully engulfs my stunned body. With ease it washes away the place I once called home, leaving me standing in the abyss utterly isolated. In a blink of an eye, everything turns into a fast-spinning blur. Mist swirling about, tossing and turning me through the void. Pounding aches of a migraine form above each eyebrow. What is going on? Closing my eyes tightly I wait for it to be over. Once I feel my feet land on solid ground, I slowly allow my eyes to peek.
Burning heat replaced with a chilled autumn breeze raised pale goose bumps across my smooth skin. Warm beams of the sun were switched out for daunting thunderous clouds. Deserted on an oddly empty road, I stand in the busiest part of Orchard Hills. Where is everyone?
I try to move my heavy feet in an attempt to have a look around. Soon realizing my shoes have sunken into the pavement. Concrete swallowing my shoes, snaking up my ankles, and firmly gripping onto my calves. Holding me hostage where I stand. Precisely only my head can move in some kind of way. The rest of my body feels- what could simply be described as- filled with lead. Heavy and immoble, I swivel my head left and right revealing nothing the first time. As my neck turns back to the left a man stands slightly hunched over. Wearing only a tattered blue tank top and gray-washed jeans. Half of one pant leg torn off. He kept his face turned from me, kept hidden by the shadows, making it hard to recognize who this may be. With one more focused look, a defining feature sets him apart from all other possibilities. Long, jagged, and somewhat faded pink scar along his muscular collar bone. I gave him that scar five years ago in a twisted game of dare or dare.
"Jax?" My voice finally working comes out quavery. "What happened to you?" As my words drifted across the space between us, he began to move. Dragging a leg he slowly hobbles in my direction, head hung low. Small grunts escape his cracked lips with every step. Despite the chilled atmosphere, sweat makes itself known by running the length of my neck and back. "Stop Jax, please, you're scaring me." Wobbly words meant to be firm gained a response of more grunts. Coming to a stop a few feet away, his head finally lifts, bobbing up and down from his weakening neck muscles. Giving me a full view of what has become of him. Blood splatter created new darkened freckles across his high cheekbones. His skin bubbling where the acidic blood has fallen, eating away at any exposed flesh. Both striking irises were replaced with solid black voids. An obvious inflamed bite mark reflects off the side of his leaking neck. Infected. A fresh wave of tears filled my lower eyelids with ease. My best friend... dead.
BANG.
A perfectly round bullet hole appears between his eyes, just like the man from day one of the outbreak. Faintly my ear splitting scream vibrates around us. No. No. No. This isn't real. I want to wake up now. Please let me wake up. I can't see this, how am I supposed to watch him die in front of me like this? Jax's jaw falls open as his head snaps backward. Collapsing into a heap at my feet with a hard thump.
BANG.
Ouch. My own blood slowly escapes a new wound slightly under my collarbone. I was... shot? Every building surrounding us starts to crumble, mimicking Jax. Thunder roars from above threatening a hefty storm. Blinding flashes of lighting flicker across the sky. Please make this stop. I beg, if anyone hears me, make this all stop. It's too much for one person to bear. Watching as the lightning dances amongst the clouds, still unable to move as one singular strike pierces the ground at my feet. Familiar immense pain becomes the only feeling coursing through my body. Breaking the firm grip of concrete. Sending me flying backward, arms flailing, into a cliché solid white light. Into absolute nothingness.
YOU ARE READING
Infectious
Science FictionIn a world that has become grossly overpopulated, the government has decided to take matters into their own hands. A quick and deadly disease is spread amongst those in all sectors. Two young adults, Kai and Jax, must work together to find a way to...
