The Deathlock virus

Chapter 1

e opened the door to her apartment and walked inside, dropping her bag on the ground. As she closed and locked the door she heard the familiar siren warning for the curfew going off. It had been going off for a long time. She barely paid it any mind anymore. She sat down on the couch with a groan.

Her day had been longer than usual. Filled with the annoying tasks she had to do just to earn her damn food. She sighs and stretches her arms, hearing the familiar few pops that came from her shoulders.

She got up with a grunt and walked over to her dresser. The soldiers in her Grid searched the houses of the people living inside the Grid every Friday. They would take guns, alcohol, drugs of any kind and medication unless you had the signed paperwork saying you needed the medication. So anybody that had anything to hide always hid their things in the floors or in any secret places they could find or make. The soldiers luckily never caught on.

Valerie hid her stuff under a loose floorboard under her dresser. She pushes the dresser aside and kneels down. The dust on the floor sunk into the fabric of her jeans. Her nails dug into the crack between the floorboards as she pried the wood up. As the loose plank came up, she saw everything she'd hid. A few bottles of whiskey, some cigarettes and loosely packaged pills she'd smuggled in. She grabs one of the whiskey bottles and moves the plank back into place.

As she sets the bottle down, someone knocks on the door. She sighs and walks over, opening it and looking out.

"It's about time you got back. I've stopped by your apartment twice." He says with a stupid smile on his face.

"Shut up and come inside, Ry." She opens the door all the way to let him inside. Ryker had been her friend since before all of this nonsense had started. He was her coworker so naturally they started to get along at some point.

Ryker walks inside and grabs two glasses from a cupboard, grabbing the whiskey bottle from the counter. "How was your day?" He questioned, pouring them both a small glass of whiskey.

"It was pure bullshit. Thank you for asking." She grumbles, taking a glass.

He cocks an eyebrow, "They made you work late again? I can have a word with Simon if you want, I know he needs more MDMA. We could offer him some so he'll cut you some slack."

She shakes her head no, "It's fine. I don't care about working late."

"Sure you don't." He taps the glass in annoyance before bringing it to his lips and downing the liquid inside, grimacing as it stung the inside of his throat. The two stood in silence, Ryker poured himself more whiskey.

"We should talk to Raven." She looks over at him, taking a drink of her whiskey. "I know you two don't like each other but she's a good smuggler and we could use some more pills to get the soldiers off our backs. Especially Simon."

Ryker's jaw clenches and his grip on the whiskey glass tightens. "I am not talking with Raven." He growls, setting the glass down.

"Yes you are." She smiles at him. "Go get your shoes on and grab your gun. It's underneath the dresser." Valerie pats his shoulder and goes to grab their bags and her shoes. She slips her shoes on and tightly ties the laces, grabbing her bag and making sure there was extra ammo inside of it. As well as a can or two of food and a med kit. Ryker walks over and hands Valerie her gun and her sheathed knife. She puts the knife in her back pocket and tucks the gun in between the waistband of her jeans and her belt.

"Let's go. Do you have your shoes on?" She asks, looking up at Ryker as she handed the brunet his bag.

"Yes I do. Stop asking dumb questions."

"Stop being dumb then." She puts a flannel on, followed by her backpack, and then walks out the front door.

The rain outside hits the ground hard, getting the fabric of their backpacks wet as soon as they step outside. It was the first time it had rained in a while so people were outside, putting out buckets and bins to catch the water.