Broken World

CHAPTER 3

The world is changing

I lay in my cold bed, wrapped in furry blankets. The room is dark but my eyes have adjusted to the darkness so I can see the outlines of furniture and objects. Cameron lies in the bed next to me and I hear his heavy breaths as he sleeps. I wish I could sleep as easy as him. For the three days I've been here, I haven't been able to get more than 5 hours of sleep. I can't stop thinking about my family, where they are, and what they're doing. I haven't been able to get out of the shed to look for them because every time me and Cameron try to leave, there are creatures around. I've decided I'd stay here a bit longer, I'm sure my family is fine.

"Get up" whispers Cameron, "come on time to get up" he taps my shoulder gently and I roll around to my back.

"What time is it, it's still dark" I ask, forgetting where I am,

"It's 7:30 and that's because were underground, stupid" replies Cameron, a little too harshly.

"Ok ok give me a few minutes will you?" I say, annoyed at his rude comment. He leaves the room and I sit on the edge of my bed and stretch.

A couple minutes pass and my brown hair is brushed out of it's tangled mass, my teeth are clean, and my face feels fresh. I walk out of our room to find Cameron on the couch.

"Finally" he says, "come here."

I sit to next to Cameron and turn my attention to the tv, it's on the news channel. An older man wearing a blue and white, ironed suit begins to talk in a loud, clear voice;

"Updates on today, the disease shows no signs of mercy. It has already spread from Boston to all around the world including our city, Vancouver. There is no evidence whatsoever of how this disease has started or how it can be contained but researchers are on the case at this very moment, now here are clips from this mornings chaos, some people may want to turn away."

The man disappears and in his place is a video of downtown Vancouver, but it can't be from this morning. People run screaming down roads and the creatures chase, kill, eat, and injure. It can't be happening now. It can't be. At some parts I have to close my eyes, either it's too gross, or I just can't believe it. I can't believe this is happening to my world, the world that was all going so well, is now, well, broken.

This isn't fair. It isn't fair for so many people to be tortured, and killed, while me and Cameron sit safely on a couch. It's not right for us to be so healthy and alive, while others are being injured and getting sick. It's not right. What did we do to deserve this, we don't deserve anything better than those people on the tv screen. I could just forget about it and take advantage of being so safe, but instead the images of the screaming and scared people burn into the back of my brain and I can't stop thinking; this isn't fair.

My eyes start to well up with tears, but I don't want Cameron to see me cry so I hold them in. Although when I look at him, I can see his eyes getting red too. I shiver even though I'm warm, and he moves closed to me so our shoulders are touching, and our feet overlap. He puts his hand on top of mine as more people die on the tv, and I fit my head on his shoulder, not because I have feelings for him, but because I need someone to comfort me, to keep me strong through this horrible time.

When the video ends Cameron turns the tv off. The screen goes black and we sit for a moment as everything sinks in. Cameron speaks first,

"Want something to eat?" He asks.

"I'm not very hungry" I reply.

"You need to eat" he demands, "you haven't eaten much in a few days"

"Ok fine, I'm going to go change." I walk to our room and shut to door. The bed seems comforting so I lay in it for a minute or so, but then I get up and look in my drawer. I find an oversized t-shirt and some baggy jeans that I change into even though they're a bit to big.

When I come out of the room I smell scrambled eggs but all it does is make me feel more sick than I already am.

"You gotta eat" says Cameron when he sees my disgusted face, "at least a few bites."

"I'll try" I say, "but I promise you I'm not gunna finish it."

"We'll see" answers Cameron, "we'll see." I take my seat at the table and pick up my silver fork. I stab a piece of scrambled egg and bring it close too my mouth. I close my eyes, stick the egg in my mouth and force myself to chew and swallow. After a few bites I'm ok and decide I actually am really hungry, and before I know it I've eaten the whole plate.

"Told ya" Cameron jokes with a smirk on his face, "I knew you were hungry."

"Anyways" I move on, "I didn't think the tv could get signals from down here."

"My dad has his ways" answered Cameron, "what I don't get is how with everything happening, the news is still up and working."

"Yea well the news tower is really protected and I guess the creatures can't get that high" I say, "yet" I add.

"Smart girl" Cameron says, I smile.

"Tea?" Cameron asks.

"Yea" I reply, not bothering to say please.

"'Kay" is all Cameron says. I hear the water boil as I stare straight ahead, still not fully believing all that has happened in a few days. Everything is going by so fast, getting worse every second of every day. I just can't imagine the rest of my life being like this. Being cooped up in a little underground hideout with Cameron, once in a while going up to get food. Food. What will we do when we run out of food? How will we li- a ding cuts me out of my thoughts.

"Tea's ready" I hear Cameron say.

•END OF CHAPTER 3•

I hope you guys are enjoying it so far! Remember to vote if you like it and comment if you have any thoughts, ideas, or questions :)

I'll try to publish a chapter on Thursday or Friday.

-Riley