Prolouge
Druia, Kansas
Infection Count: 0
Farmer TJ Brown was the best farmer in Druia, a small unknown farming town 5.67 miles south of Topeka. No one in the entire population of 7 could produce as many potatoes and corn as he and his wife did. In Druia, it was never too hot nor too cold, and there was just enough rain every year to water crops for him. The old farmer lived in the north, the closest house to Topeka. Druia was the perfect town. The best farming land in America. The place where it all began.
Every farmer wakes up hoping that there is going to be plenty of work to do, especially TJ.
"Alright, corn. Prepare to meet your maker," he thought as he stretched his arms. Waking up was always good for him, because he was able to be excited all day for his wife's delicious dinner.
He trudged down the slope that his house rested upon to his corn fields. The wind was gently blowing, and the corn looked plentiful. "Today's is going to be an eventful day," TJ said aloud. He continued walking towards the... unnaturally red corn. He frowned. This wasn't good. It could be some sort of infection. He walked closer to examine it. Then, suddenly, TJ fell. His face smacked against the cold, hard, cracked dirt.
"Ow!" TJ grunted. He glanced backwards to see what he tripped on. There was a red, bulbous sphere rooted into the ground. A tomato? TJ got giddy with excitement.
"If this is a tomato that grows from the ground rooted, it could be a scientific discovery!" the farmer thought. "I'll become famous, and Druia will finally be put on the map!" He instantly ran to his shed and grabbed a shovel. It took a while to find, but he knew that this was going to be the best thing ever. Right?
TJ struggled to find the tiny sphere, but he found it again. Right next to the red corn. He jabbed the shovel under it, trying to uproot it for closer examination. Instantly, a root shot out of the bottom and started slithering up the shovel, towards his body. TJ dropped the shovel and ran to hide in the corn. The red corn. He realized with a start that this waaasn't the corn that he'd planted last year. But it was too late, as he was already darting through it.
The stalks went rigid, preventing TJ from escaping. He turned around, back to see his shovel. Then he saw that the tendril was slithering and growing at an alarming rate towards him. He tried to run, but the corn was too tough. He could feel it laughing at his misery. Then, the tendril reached him.
There was a tingling sensation as it slithered on his leg, then it took root and he was paralyzed. In five seconds, it wrappped around his body and he was fully paralyzed. He tried to thrash about, but he was in vain. Then, the familiar tingling sensation came upon his head. A jolt went through his bosy as a root burrowed its way through his skull and onto his brain. Then all went red.
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TJ was walking towards his house. That, at least he was sure of. But someone else was moving his body. He could still see, but someone, or something, was looking through his eyes. He could still think, but he knew his thought were being monitored. He knew that every thing was.
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Mrs. Brown was cooking in the kitchen. "Mmm, mm!" she hummed. This was her best batch of chicken that she's ever made! Not too much breading, and no bones! She suddenly leaped into the air as a grunt came from outside. She cautiously turned, only to see that it was just TJ. He was walking down the road towards home. "Tsk, tsk," she clicked. He was covered in a red vine. He must be planting a new crop.
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"NO!" TJ thought. "They've gotten into my mind! They know that she's in there!" he thought. He tried to warn his wife, but he was no longer capable of voluntary speech. There were vines wrapped around his vocal chords. He continued hopelessly staggering towards his house, where his wife was cooking dinner.
"Thanks...your thoughts...will be use...ful in the...spreading. We will...need...your help to...spread," a raspy voice echoed in his mind. TJ tried to shut Them out, but They were everywhere. He weakly placed his hand upon his door. In about three seconds, vines were spreading across the door. He involuntarily smiled, and ran away towards Topeka with inhuman speed. A human scream shattered the air, but then all was silent. Dead silent.
