Almost Dead Big Time

The rustling of the leaves woke me from my light sleep. I grabbed my knife and was up in a flash, waiting for what was coming around the corner. It had rained earlier that night, so I had to be on constant guard. They were going to find out exactly where I was. They could smell me now.

I headed slowly toward the sound, hoping it was only one and I wasn't going to have to fight for my life. As I rounded the corner I saw a mangy cat scrounging for food. I let out a heavy sigh and started out to look for higher ground to finish the night and possibly get some sleep.

I climbed the stairs to the old water tower and rolled out my sleeping bag. I sat on the edge with my feet dangling off the side and my mind started to wander to a simpler time. I had just graduated high school and was looking forward to celebrating my twentieth birthday, so it was the first part of June. Who are you kidding? I thought to myself, you know the exact date. You won't ever forget it. It was June fifth. You just graduated six days before and you spent your birthday a week later making one wish: to survive. I woke up early that morning to go look at the junior college because I wanted to be close to home and when I walked in the kitchen where mom was fixing breakfast, the news was on.

The news caster reported, "The riots are getting out of hand. The cops are asking everyone to stay indoors until everything is under control."

I glanced at the TV and then at my mom, "What's going on?"

She glanced at the TV then back at me, "They still haven't told us anything. Remember last week when they were talking about that virus that was making people act strange?" I shook my head, and she continued, "Well apparently it's spreading and fast. These people have lost their minds. I think you need to postpone your trip today."

I looked at her crazy. For my mom not to want me to check out the college there must be more to it than what she is telling me. "If you say so mom. Where is dad?"

She smiled at me, "He is still in bed. He wasn't feeling very well."

I gave her a serious look, "Mom cut the shit." The look on my face told her I wasn't buying it, "You're a nurse and there is this big bad virus going around and you're not at work. Dad is a doctor, and he is upstairs sick. You know I am perfectly capable of handling the truth."

My mom went from little miss sunshine to the grim reaper in seconds. She hung her head slightly and pulled up a chair, motioning for me to sit, "Look (YN) I was hoping this would be like all these other viruses that come around and then they find a cure after several hundred die and everyone panics for nothing but I honestly think in order for you to survive I'm going to have to give you details that you aren't going to want to hear."

About that time, I heard a commotion coming from upstairs. As I got up to see what was going on my dad fell down the stairs. I rushed to his side and my mom freaked out, "(YN) get away from him!" she screamed and came running over, pushing me behind her and wielding a knife.

I tried to get around her and screamed at her, "Mom what are you doing? Are you going crazy too?"

She never took her eyes off dad, "(YN) run as fast as you can! Don't stop! Get into the tree house and don't move! I will be there as soon as I can." And she shoved me toward the back door.

I tried to object but she screamed at me, "GO NOW!"

As I reached the top of the tree I could see over several blocks and there were people everywhere. The only problem was that most of them looked injured. Before I could come down to help the injured people my mom popped up in the tree house.