When Death Starts To Crawl

(Chapter One)

Wind roared in my ears as my legs pumped me faster. My muscles burned as I sped down the path. Running, to me, was freedom. I loved fitness. I ran home from school with my heavy backpack 3 kilometers. I came near the bend when I smashed into someone.

"Lauren, careful!" It was Lucas, my new boyfriend. He helped me up, my knee bled from grazing it on the path.

"Sorry" I groaned clutching my knee. I put my arm around him to balance my weight as Lucas helped me home. He had dark brown hair, people mistake it for black. he has brown eyes and a toned, tanned figure.

"Are you coming to my dad's awareness speech tonight?" I asked him.

My dad is John Mills. he is a disease researcher and doctor. He has discovered a horrible disease called Perilla, from the word peril (danger). It eats you alive, so i am always fearful of my father catching it.

We live in the large counrty town of King-river. It has a big clear river running through it. My house is on the same court as Lucas and my friend since kindergarten, Milly.

Milly had Wavy blonde hair and had it on one side. we are both 15. She had a crush on this guy that I know for a fact liked her. She never believed it though. she is a horse fanatic and has a cockatoo names Andy. We are inseparable at school. Her hair was like the opposite to mine. Her's was blonde, mine was black.

I said goodbye to Lucas and got ready to go to the town hall for my fathers awareness speech. I Got changed from my school dress, into denim shorts and a black t-shirt. I tied my hair back into a neat high ponytail.

Mum drove us to the hall. I got out of the car, and strolled inside. The air-conditioned atmosphere was a nice change from the searing heat of outdoors.

"The cool change is coming next week,  it's gonna rain for 3 days straight apparently" My mum states. I sigh with relief, i loved to run in the rain, there was something thrilling about the cool raindrops on hot skin.

Everybody took their seats. Lucas appeared next to me and sat down. My father walked out on stage. he wore his doctors uniform. i got a surge of pride. He got to the mic and cleared his throat.

"Good afternoon King-river, I am Dr. Mills. I am afraid i have bad news, as you know i have been researching Perilla. The disease has a second stage. Once it breaks down your skin, you die. But we have discovered many cases of you becoming...... um...." He stuttered, wondering whether anyone will believe what he was about to say.

He cleared his throat again then said "you become an Undead." Shocked gasps erupted from the listening crowd.

"You will be ordered to stay in your homes after 6pm, because we haven't caught the runaway Undead cases. You will be given bacteria killing soap and you are required to use before and after meals. If you are getting symptoms like itchy purple skin or yellow eyes, then go straight to the hospital" he explained.

A thousand thoughts were running though my mind. My aunty Lisa had gotten symptoms of Perilla.
The crowd spilled out into the parking lot. Mum and i got into the car, she burst into tears.

"What whats wrong?" i asked worried.

She sniffled and mumbled "John told me your Aunty Lisa has become and Undead. So John and i are leaving to try and treat her, you cant come i cant risk you getting Perilla. I am sorry. If anything happens, go to Lucas or Milly's okay?"

This was all happening so fast. I was being deserted when there was a plague spreading through the town. What will happen to King-river? Will we all become an Undead?