"Update on the newly discovered disease. Scientists have not yet come up with a name for this terrifying virus, but it closely resembles Necrosis and Leprosy. Although victims of this illness have not only taken on the physical symptoms of those two diseases, they have also taken on a caniballistic mindset. They appear to be in a trance-like state, and have been deemed as highly dangerous. This disease is transmitted by the following:
Ingesting the victims saliva and/or blood, physical attacks, such as scratching and biting, and a highly toxic "gas" emitted from cyst like bumps throughout the victims entire body. Thankfully, the disease, and anybody who has already contracted it, is currently being kept in a highly secured facility, and a cure for it is being worked on at this very moment. That is all the time we have, stay close to the TVs and Radios, as another update will arrive soon. I am Sarah Rahkey, and this has been Channel 3 News! Goodnight!"
My dad snickers at the broadcast, before reaching for the remote and very dramatically turning the TV off. He adjusts his wide rimmed glasses and stretches.
"Why the HELL would they tell us this if it's not a threat to us? I mean they keep EVERYTHING ELSE from us..." He complains, before standing up and stomping away to the kitchen. I look at my mother who rolls her eyes and winks before going after him.
I yawn, and look at the clock above the TV. Its almost eight and I have school in the morning. I get up and walk up the wooden stairs to the hallway. I groan and open the bathroom door. I drag my feet to the shower and turn it on. I lock the door before stripping and entering the steam filled bathtub. I close the curtain and stand, facing the water. The water beads off of my body gently as I begin to wash up. After I shampoo and condition my hair, and wash my body, I sit on the floor of the tub and close my eyes. The sound of the running water lulls me to sleep.
The vibration of my phone against the
black and white tiled floor wakes me from my slumber. I reach over the side of the tub and grab my shorts, to retrieve my phone. I look at the screen. 7 missed calls, and 21 text messages.
"Jeez, how long was I asleep?!" I think aloud, as I check to see who called me.
Mom: 8:30
Mom: 8:35
The Dadster: 8:50
The Dadster: 9:30
Kamiyah
The Dadster: 11:00
Mom: 11:30
"How weird, why wouldn't they just knock on the door?" I say, as I open up my text messages.
The first ten were from my mom. They said, ". Going to store w/ Dad. Be back soon", "News Update, 1 of victims from facility broke free, police have not found them. Stay safe. B home soon", "in UR area, spotted diseased man. Police forced us to stay in store. Plz b safe. Lock urself in my room. Gun under bed. Love u" and the rest were "answer your phone !" I began to worry. I looked at the other 11 messages. They were from my best friend, Kamiyah. Figures why she called. I shut the water off and step out of the tub. I wrap myself in a towel, and proceed to go to my room for clothes. I grab a pair of "Kiss My Ass!" Boxers with a picture of Donkey from Shrek on the butt and a tank top. I brush my long, brown, frizzy hair into a pony tail and grab my phone charger.
I then fast walk into my mom and dad's room, and lock the door. I plug my phone into the charger, and call my mom. No answer. I call my dad. No answer. I call Kamiyah. She answers, in a panic.
" AVERI, WHY DIDNT YOU ANSWER MY PHONE CALL OR TEXT MESSAGES?! I WAS WORRIED SICK YOU ASSHOLE!!!" She practically screams at me.
"I was in the shower. I fell asleep I guess. What the hell is going on? How did the dude escape from the facility??" I ask.
" I don't even know. Listen, can I come over? I'm scared shitless and I'm home alone. Where are you in the house?" She asks.
" I'm in my parents room. Just climb up the ladder on the side of the house. I'll let you in through my window. Call me when you're here. Be safe.. Love you best friend!!!" I hang up, and walk over to the window, covered with long beige curtains. I peer through them, not knowing what to expect. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something shuffle into the shadows. I check my phone, hoping that Kamiyah is okay. I hear a loud thud against the front door downstairs. I dart from the curtains to the door. I run to my room, and open the window, just in time to see Kamiyah barrel through it. I shush her and pull her from the room and into my parents'. I lock the door and push her into the closet. I quickly grab the pistol from under the bed and join Kamiyah. I shut and lock the door. She stares at the gun and then at me. I take my phone and open the notepad. I type, "downstairs, front door. Crazy man on news might be here...."
Her eyes widen and I can tell she's terrified. I raise my finger to my lips. She nods and sits. I do the same. Another loud thud comes from downstairs. The door crashes into the wall. All that can be heard is our heartbeats, and whoever was downstairs dragging their feet as they explore my dark home. I begin to hyperventilate. Kamiyah grabs me by my arm and pulls me into her lap. I instantly stop. She cups her hand over my mouth. The stairs begin to groan and creak as the person walks up them. It sounds as if he or she is sniffing around. Suddenly, the sniffing sound stops. A minute, which seems like hours, goes by, and the person throws itself at the door. I jump in surprise. I feel Kamiyah shaking with fear. It hurls itself at the door again, and the door explodes open. I look through the keyhole of the closet door. What I see is definitely not human. It's skin is bubbling and oozing a nasty pus like substance. It's jaw hangs open, clearly broken. It's eyes are bloodshot, and it's clothes ripped. The holes in the clothing are filled with wart-like bumps. Bits of skin and flesh hang from the sides of its head and arms. Bits of brain is peeking through the messy mound of hair. It has no nose. Only slits in its face. It slowly turns towards the closet door. I begin to panic. It shuffles to the door, and sniffs again. I grab the gun. I turn the safety off and point it at the door. Then, silence.
Everything is quiet. No sniffing. No heartbeats. Nothing.
The thing then hurls itself at the door. That sets Kamiyah off. She screams and pushes me against the door. She has tears streaming down her face and snot bubbles coming from her nose. It hurls itself at the door again. The door begins to crack by the hinges. One more blow and the door explodes open. It hurls itself at the door again and BAM, the door is gone. I point the gun at the beasts head and look away. I pull the trigger and I hear a thud. I look and see the beast across the room with its brains and blood all over the teal colored wall. I turn and face Kamiyah. I pull her out of the closet, and wipe the years from her face. She hugs me, bending down from her 5'6 height, to reach me at barely 5'2. I pat her back and we stand in silence. She finally breaks the silence and says,
"You just killed someone. Someone with that virus. What if there's more Averi? What if our parents are like that? My little brother.. Jesus Christ. All of my siblings. We're too young for this.. I'm.. Im 17. And you're barely 16. We've never lived without our parents..." She sniffles.
" I know I know. Look, our parents are fine. Just because that thing got loose doesn't mean there's more like it. I'm here with you. I promise, I'll stick to your side no matter what." I manage to reply.
Something in her eyes suggests that she doesn't believe me. She looks at me, before exiting the room, and walking into mine. I follow her, not wanting to be alone in the same room as that creepy dead thing.
" I'm gonna borrow some clothes. If that's cool with you. Which I know it is. Turn around I don't want you to see me naked. Which I also know you do." Her forced humor and wink makes me smile. I blow her a kiss and turn around. Something makes me want to turn around just to make her mad, but I resist. I feel her hand run up my back. I turn around to see her in a pair of my pajama pants and a hoodie. I flick her nose and walk to the door and lock it. I also lock the window as well.
"Can we push something against the door and the window please?" Kamiyah asks.
I nod in agreement and push my bookshelf in front of the window, and my vanity against the door. I stack my desk on top of my vanity, and lock the door. I turn and see she's already comfy in my bed.
" I think we should sleep in the closet or something. So were not in the open." I say before grabbing a pillow and heading into my closet.
"Oh, so you're telling me you want to be in the closet, like you have been your whole life?" She jokes.
I tell her to shut up and to grab a blanket. She follows me and shuts and locks the door behind her. I push a stack of drawers in front of the door, and lay my pillow down in the corner. She lays next to me and covers us both up with the blanket. It's not long before she's knocked out. I look at her. Her chestnut skin and short dark curly hair. Her chest rises and falls. Her toes stick out from the blanket. I get up and recover her with the blanket. She groans and swats the air with her chunky hand. I can't help but smile. I lay back down next to her and cuddle the wall. I soon find myself drifting. I turn and face Kamiyah. I doze off into a horrible sleep.
I awake to the sound of birds chirping, and the wind rustling the tree leaves like little bells. I look next to me, and to my horror, Kamiyah's gone.
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Hey guys. Just wanted to say hello. THis is probably the only time I will say hello. So yes. I will respond to your comments though. 5 comments and I'll continue. Give me feedback. All is welcome.
