The Red Mist

"All set?" my grandmother asked me as I packed my bag. She was wearing a mask. Why was she wearing a mask inside the house?

"Almost," I said hurriedly, picking up my water bottle and my mobile phone.

"Alright, I'm all done."

My grandmother handed me a lunch box.

"Come on gran! We talked about this! I have no space in my bag. And who knows what I'm going to go through," I said grumpily.

"It's okay. Doesn't matter," she replies cheerfully, but I could tell her expression was darkening. "Are you sure about this, Lily?"

I sighed. "I have to, even if I don't want to."

My village is a place far away from any continent. It's on a remote island somewhere in the nowhere. People in my village have suffered from a disease which primarily started from old people. However, some cases in new born children and teenagers are also being reported. The disease is severe. Many people have travelled far in order to get the remedy, but no doctor in the world have had the answer. That's one explanation for our village being kept as far as possible from the rest of the world.

And here I am, doing what generations of our people have failed to do. I am the only few lefts among the teenagers who could possibly go out here as I'm safe from the disease, yet.

"Alright gran. I'm leaving!" I said, knowing well that this might be the last time seeing her and this village.

"Lily. Find the remedy. Come back home if you do. Otherwise, leave. Don't return to this cursed place. Live a good life," gran said slowly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw gran's hands and my eyes widened.

"Gran. Your hand-" I knew the truth but I was too afraid to admit it.

She quickly hid it and looked away. She had got the disease too. Her skin was peeling off, revealing her muscles and tendons.

"Don't worry about me, Lily. Go find the remedy for others. I'm old anyway."

"Gran. I love this place. I didn't grow up to leave my people. I'm doing what's right and I will come back, whether I find it or not."

Gran sighed. "Lily-"

"Okay gran. I'm leaving. Also, I'll take that. I'll eat it on my way!" I said, taking the lunchbox from her, because this might be my last.

"Take care!" she called as I walked out of the house. I put on my mask and walked past the empty streets. The disease had caused so much terror in the people that they shut themselves inside their homes.

"Faster, slow poke," a familiar voice called. It was my friend, Elouise.

"Hey Lola!" I said as I met her near the shore.

"Lila," she replied.

"So, everything ready?" I asked, already hopping on the small wooden boat we managed to acquire.

"Yep, just a few arrangements. It's a pity that we aren't seen off, saying if it's our last time stepping on this island."

I remained silent. The thought hurt but I knew I had to do this. For my people and for gran.

I smiled wryly and arranged the items.

"Ready," I announced.

"Aye!" Eloise responded.

Incase you're wondering, Lola was Eloise's nickname and Lila was mine.

We sailed and sailed. My wi-fi signals slowly died out and all we could rely on was a map. We were heading to a man who claimed he knew how to fix this disease.