An Infinitesimal Bit of Monica

The Departure

1 month in

The weeks went on. It's been a month now. We left home four days ago cause we lost power to our building, it was getting quite hot outside, and people had started breaking in to try to escape the heat.

An angry mob had gathered and stormed the building. Some were missing eyes, some were hobbling around on broken limbs. Most were screaming and in horrible condition. One had parts of his skull exposed to the sun. The mob reeked of blood and sickness.

The world had devolved into chaos and insanity. People went mad as large swathes of the population could no longer distinguish between what was real and what was fake. Late-stage psychosis had gripped much of the world.

The hallucinations were no longer confined to the moments we were frozen into...

We'd slept out of our car the past two days. We'd filled up several gas canisters and hit the road. I'd plugged in a small icebox into the car charging port to make sure her insulin lasted longer, while she managed to grab us a new battery and helped me install it. We packed our most important belongings, along with some canned goods, a can opener, a hot plate, an extension cord, a shovel, firestarters, and four cases of bottled water. Whatever else we needed, we'd just have to scavenge.

After getting food and managing her blood sugar, we go to bed. She sobs most days cause she knows it's only a matter of time until we run out of insulin, and then only so long before I have to leave her behind. We break into a hospital along the way and find some more insulin. 3 months' supply in an icebox.
We also find some paper. Maybe it'll help us keep track of time. We take both items and move on.

That night, while I'm sleeping in the car, I wake up, open the door and vomit. I stagger forward, doubled over in pain. Blood pours out my mouth, out of my skin. A white substance pours out of my fingers and toes, my private parts slowly grow swollen and try to attack me. I'm not sure what to do, I'm still pouring blood everywhere, and I only am able to scream her name.

I feel a cold sensation wash over me, a welcome contrast to all the warm and viscous fluids covering my weakened body.

Her voice came through in waves. I was only faintly aware that it was a hallucination, but I could still tell, and that gave me some hope.

I walked through a long valley. The blood soaked back into my emaciated body through my translucent skin. The sky was black, splattered with color; as if some kid from grade school had colored it in.

Is this what madness felt like?

...

I finally rode it out. When I came to, she was sitting on the ground beside me. I was covered in cold water. The sun was rising.

"How...how long?" I knew but wanted to confirm.

"You were out of it the whole night. I worry for you."