OUTBREAK (A collection of Zombie Stories) |#Wattys2016|

TWELVE DAYS AGO

TWELVE DAYS AGO

AN OUTBREAK STORY

(Compiler's note: When we first got into contact with the Middle-eastern safe-zone, we rejoiced. There were settlements of survivors on other continents! AS we established communications over that one solitary radio system, guarding it like it was the last Twinkie on earth, I told them about my ongoing goal, and on hearing it, they immediately sent a diary our way. The diary arrived six months later, battered and bruised, but alive. It provided insight into the goings on in Abu Dhabi during the times of the Great Plague and the Blackout-the time period right before the Apocalypse started.)

TWELVE DAYS AGO

Dear Diary,

I'm Deepti Misra and I live in Abu Dhabi with my mommy and daddy. We moved here from India when I was just one years old! I'm nine now and I have a lot of fun in this city. Abu Dhabi is hot most of the time. So hot, that our entire building complex has a 'central AC' my daddy calls it. I still think it is done by magic, but no one believes me. L

Yesterday mommy and daddy came home early. They usually come back only at night and Zareena aunty looks after me, but today they came back in the afternoon. Aunty left once they came. They looked very tired. They had large bags of groceries in their hands. I helped them with the groceries and asked, "Why did you buy so much food?" To which they replied, "Because we're not going to be going outside the house for a while, honey."

Deepti Misra

ELEVEN DAYS AGO

Dear Diary,

Me and my parents are still inside our apartment. Outside, I can see the city through the windows. It seems very still. I cannot hear the usual sounds of traffic, people and construction. What is going on?

My parents tell me that there is a 'disease scare' and that it's nothing to worry about. We just have to stay indoors for a while.

I saw a helicopter fly by today. It landed at the edge of the city, but whoever was in it did not come in the direction of our apartment. They must live on the other side of the city.

My parents gave me some medicine today, even though I wasn't sick. They told me it was to make sure that I did not fall it. They think falling ill is such a bad thing! But aunty Zareena says it's just a part of life! She was sick yesterday! She had a cough and was sneezing.

She told me not to worry about it. It was just a small cold and I would not pick it up. She had given me some lime and orange juice, telling me this would help me if I did get a cold.

Deepti Misra

TEN DAYS AGO

I heard a few more helicopters fly by today. We are all still in the house. I have not seen any other people for two days. I'm starting to feel scared. My parents tell me it's nothing to worry about, that everything will be fine. I want to believe them. I am looking outside the window right now, but I do not see any people. I think I can see a sandstorm coming in from outside the city. I like sandstorms. They are a lot of fun. The sand goes everywhere! I can collect the sand and build thins from it! Mommy and daddy say the sandstorm is a bad thing, but I do not agree with them. I think the sandstorm is a good thing.

The sandstorm hit us a few hours ago. All I can see outside is sand. It hits the windows and leaves tiny little cracks. The sound it makes is really funny. It sounds like the glass is farting!

Mommy and daddy look worried. They say the sandstorm will 'slow down relief efforts', whatever that means. I'm playing with my dolls right now. Lucy and Barbie are out on a tea-break when giant glitter-aliens invade earth! They are turning everyone into glitter-monsters and it's up to Barbie and Lucy to save the world!