The Virus

Chapter 1: Missing

"Damn, today really felt eternal... I'm just glad it's over, I have so many things planned for us this weekend, wait when I tell the kids." said Michael to himself.
He'd finally arrived at the cul-de-sac, he then proceeded to park just beside the house, as he knew that Mary worked at the St.Peter's Hospital, and sometimes without warning she was needed immediately at work, she was a nurse, so sometimes if things get out of hand, she would be in a hurry.
"Looks like it's a full house, I'm surprised that Mary isn't at work." thought Michael.
Suddenly a crisp gust of cold wind shook him.
"Geez it's been like this all week, it's especially cold at night... I might as well hurry inside, I really don't want to catch a cold." thought Michael.

Michael proceeded to enter his home, that's when he catches his daughter eating that last piece of cake he'd been keeping his eyes on.

"Heh. You didn't waste time with that cake sweetheart" said Michael jokingly.

"Oh hi dad!" replied Carly.

"You can have a piece if you want" continued Carly.

"It's ok honey, besides... Your mother would flip if she found out I was cheating on my diet" said Michael

He proceeded to tell on how he'd to close early due to premature completion of a project he'd been working on, Michael then proceeds to ask on where's Jake and Mary.

"Where's your mom?" asked Michael.

"Oh she's going to bed, just got home too." replied Carly.

"Oh, Jake has been SUCH a brat. Can you like, make him go to bed?" exclaimed Carly.

"Just ignore him." said Michael.

"Besides, it's getting getting late... You should be in bed too missy." continued Michael.

"Urgh, yeah yeah." argued Carly.

"Hey dad, I don't need a lift to the club reunion at school tomorrow, I'm walking with Alice." said Carly.

Michael then proceeded to see his son and wife upstairs, the houses on this neighborhood are 3 stories high, meaning that the kitchen is downstairs, bathroom and tv room are on the 2nd floor and all the rooms are located in the 3rd floor. Michael then goes to the tv room but gets surprised at what his son is watching.

"Wonder why Jake is watching the news channel, he never watches it?" thought Michael.

"Dad! Look! Look at the news! It's talking about monsters and bad water! Dad!" cried Jake.

Michael thought for himself that maybe rumors had spread in school about a new illness.

"Oh Jake... C'mon it's bed time..." replied Michael.

"Buh... But the news! Look! The army! I'm scared..." cried Jake.

"Son don't be scared. The news always over dramatizes things. It's probably just another one of those 'dangerous' illnesses that get forgotten after a month. Go to bed please." replied Michael.

"Let me turn it off, you shouldn't be watching this garbage. Now go to bed." said Michael hesitantly.

Michael then brushes his teeth takes a bath, and then he splashes some water into his face. Michael gets out of the bathroom to say his goodnight to his children and discovers that Jake ripped one of Carly's diary pages.