The End

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

There was something wrong. As I walked home from school with my big sister, Sammy, I noticed that there weren't any people out walking. We lived just a few miles from Manhattan, so there were always at least a few people around. Of course, the amounts had been decreasing since the events taking place for the last few months.

I'd seen it all on the news; the shootings, sick people, paranoia, and many other things, but now, it feels different. It's here now.

"Are you even listening to me?" Sammy asked. "Dang, fourth grade's messing with you, huh?"

"What?" I asked. I was nine years old at the time. Sammy was 4 years older than me; thirteen and in the eighth grade. It seemed like she had the world at her feet. She was strong, funny, and even a little scary. Those crystal blue eyes drew you in and then made you realize how cold they really were. She was young, but just as powerful as our mother. They were practically twins in my eyes.

"Earth to Lexie! Come on, what's going on with you? You're usually so talkative on the way home." said Sammy.

"The people are all gone. It's too quiet, do you think that the disease is here now?" I'm gonna be honest; I was scared. People were dying, and I'd never even thought about anyone I knew dying.

"No, Lex. We're fine. All the electricity still works, and everyone is safe. People are just worried, that's all." Sammy assured me. But as we approached our area, I realized that she couldn't have been more wrong.

–

There were cars flipped, and no sign of anyone. Police cars, too, were everywhere, but again, no people. I began to breathe heavily, and I knew that the disease had spread to
our town.

"Lexie, stay close. It's okay, we're almost home. We're okay." Sammy said shakily. All I could do was trust her; I felt safe being with her and she was right. We were only about five minutes from home.

We walked slowly, careful not to encounter anything or anyone that could hurt us. We'd seen police on the news just come out of nowhere and attack the sick ones, and we didn't want to be mistaken for one of them. I saw lights on inside some houses, but things were all messed up and carelessly thrown about.

"Sammy, I'm scared." I said. I was so used to everyone being around me, being alone with just Sammy was something that has pretty much never happened before.

"I know, Lex. But everything's fine, we're gonna get home with mom and dad and they'll find a cure. It's gonna be over before you know it." Sammy said. She sounded doubtful. Our parents were scientists, they've been devoted their time to finding cures for cancer and things like that. Now, they're trying to figure out what's happening with this new disease.

We arrived to the front of our house. The door was already open, which made me even more scared but didn't seem to affect Sammy. We got inside quietly, and didn't hear anything.

"Okay, Lexie. I am going to go downtown, maybe near the city or something." Sammy said. She was talking slowly and quietly, almost a whisper.

"What? Why? We just got home, mommy and daddy will be worried and-"

"Look, you saw it out there. Some people might need help. What you have to do is go upstairs and find mommy and daddy, maybe try to pack some things up- just in case. Okay? Can you do that for me?" She was still whispering.

"Yes. You promise you'll come back soon?" I tried to sound brave, but you could almost hear the lump in my throat.

"Of course, Lex." she said wearily. "Now go find mommy and daddy. I love you."

"I love you, too." I replied. She went into the kitchen, and shortly after she came out holding a knife.

"Just in case." she said. And with that, she left.

I started up the stairs, slowly, like how I walked with Sammy.

"Mommy?" I yelled out. "Daddy?"

I wasn't surprised when there was no response.

I decided maybe they just couldn't hear me yet, so I continued up. Then, I heard it. It sounded like some sort of animal devouring its dinner. The sound reminded me of a monster, but I knew I had to be brave like Sammy.

Following the noise, I walked into my father's office. What I saw was the most horrifying thing I'd ever seen to this day. My daddy was on the floor, being eaten; torn to bits.