Shattered

-Two-

           My jaw drops to the floor. I mutely stare at ERAA, hoping I misheard. An infection? Here? No. Not here, not now. No. There hasn't been an infection since.... No.

           "But," Quinn begins, "How? We never go near anyone else, and the disease can't be spread without contact." She says it as though she is trying to convince herself that it isn't true. I wish it weren't, but if ERAA got a message for a town meeting, something is up.

..........

           I haven't personally been in town since the last infection, ten years ago. ERAA always comes to town if we need anything, and we rarely do.

I walk into the city hall. It looks broken and ancient. It doesn't surprise me, no one uses it anyway.

           I see people, so many of them. More than I ever remember seeing in one place. It seems odd to me, that they would call us all together right after an infection of a disease spread by contact. I don't voice my concerns to anyone, but I do wave to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were my parents closest friends. They took care of Quinn and I, before ERAA showed up, after my parents died.

           Mrs. Kelly is the first to see us, and she hurries over. She gasps and gathers Quinn and I into a hug pressing us against her ample bosom, I see Mr. Kelly not far behind.

           "I am so glad you two are okay!" Mrs. Kelly squeals, "After I heard about the infection, I was worried it was one of you, what with the last ones being so close." She holds me at an arms length away, and I manage a weak smile.

           Mr. Kelly rests his hand on Mrs. Kelly's shoulder. "How are you two, is ERAA treating you alright?" He asked, his voice laced with concern.

           I glance at Quinn, who is now deep in conversation with a girl about her age. I think about how we are. We are still alive, and that has to count for something, right? "We're good." I finally answer. "We're good." I say more definitely.

           I walk away from the Kellys and look around, looking for anyone else I know. It is more for something to do than because I want to talk, I don't know any of these people. They do however, apparently know me.

           "Jamie!" I hear behind me. My head whips around to see a guy running toward me. "Jamie!" he yells again, his black hair falling in his face as he stops in front of me.

           "Do I know you?" I snap. He looks hurt and I immediately feel guilty.

           "Yea," he says slowly, "don't you remember?" I shake my head, and he looks disappointed. "Oh, well, we used to be friends, before, ya know" he doesn't finish, I don't want him to.

           "I think I do remember you," I start slowly, he perks up, "yeah, Annikin or something?" 

           "Close, Aukai" he say grinning, "we should catch up sometime."

           Don't get attached I think frantically. "No thank you," I say quickly and turn around. I hear him call after me as I quickly walk away, I soon lose him in the crowd. I search the crowd and find Quinn talking to the girl I saw her with earlier.

           "Hi," Quinn says, "this is Vina." Vina waves.

           I am just about to introduce myself, when a voice comes over hidden speakers. 

           "Hello," it says, "welcome to the gathering. We are here because someone is sick." This startles the crowd murmurs run between us. 

           "It is okay though, we contained the disease, and only a few people have it!" The voice remains incessantly peppy, even as it delivers Earth shattering news, you can't contain the virus. "We have gathered for the funeral, and burning of the victims!"

           A curtain in a clearing I had not noticed before was ripped away to reveal three people, alive and pounding on the glass walls of their enclosure.

           A/N

          Hiiiii, it's me. Thanks for reading this, it means a lot. What do you think about Aukai? What should happen? (*suggestive eyebrow wiggling*) Any-who, I have decided on Wednesday and Saturday and/or Sunday for updates, is that good? Any comments or suggestions are deeply appreciated.

           Thanks! BYE! ;P