Emily started laughing loudly. She gasped and said, "Oh! What a good joke! But hey, it isn't April 1st!"
Mrs. Kemp scrutinized Emily for a second and said, "I am not joking. I am being serious."
Emily stopped laughing and stared at Nora's mom, with her mouth hanging open. She gulped and asked, "Are you serious?"
Mrs. Kemp nodded silently.
"Wait, I don't get it! Will you care to explain more, mom?" interrupted Nora.
Mrs. Kemp said nothing but switched on the television. A news reporter was announcing something. Everybody watched in silence as the reporter spoke,
"Attention, the government has called an emergency! There has been a breakout of a dangerous virus which turns people into monsters. It has been reported that the virus transforms people's bodies. The people affected have talons, claws, red eyes and horrible scabs. As reported by scientists, this viral infection starts off as a horrible itch and spreads to the rest of the body within a day. The worst thing about this infection is the fact that the people infected have an uncontrollable desire to feed on human flesh. Human flesh becomes the only nutrition for the people affected. The causes of the infection are not known. The only way to remain safe is to avoid any physical contact with the people affected. The cure has not yet been found. So everyone is advised to stay inside their homes and protect themselves. Be safe."
After the reporter had finished speaking, the screen went blank for a second. Then she started saying the same thing again.
It was a recorded clip.
The clip played over and over again while everyone watched in silence. Nobody spoke. Nora did not want to break the silence but she had to ask the question. She had to, because she knew that if she didn't ask, she will never know.
"What do we do now?" she said quietly.
"Nothing. We are going to be here till the cure is found," said Nora's mom.
"But what if the monsters attack us?" asked Emily.
"I don't know about it. We can only hope they won't attack us," said Nora's mom.
"Hey, we can kill them, right?" asked Nora excitedly.
"No. They are too powerful. Don't even try" said Nora's mom grimly.
Ethan, who had been quiet for some while, spoke, "We have no other choice. We can stay here or we can try searching for a safer place but either way, if we get caught, we die.
"No, no. This can't be true! This can't be true! This is a nightmare!" mumbled Emily.
"I think it would be better if we try to find a safer place for us to hide," said Ethan.
"No, I don't agree. Remember the last time you tried to go on your own?" asked Nora, cringing from the memory.
"No, I don't! I still don't understand. Nothing happened that day," said Ethan casually.
Nora and Emily looked at each other and frowned.
Even though Ethan couldn't remember, Nora clearly remembered what had happened that day.
*A few months ago*
It was a cloudy, moonlit night. Nora was screaming and yelling at Ethan. "How dare you do this to me, you jerk!" she yelled.
"I don't care what you think! What I did what right! You will definitely thank me later for this!" yelled back Ethan.
"You are lying!"
YOU ARE READING
ESCAPE
Science FictionIn a dystopian future, a disease which turns people into monsters is spreading. The people infected have talons, scabs all over the body, fiery red eyes and most importantly, an uncontrollable desire to feed on human flesh. Not much is known about i...