The next few months were rough in New York. Adults from Maine to California were rapidly being transported to Africa to help the food shortage. Pretty soon, even older teenagers were being shipped off. Before anyone could have predicted, only people 13 and under were left in the city.
Of all the people affected by the food shortage, Tracy had it worst. Not only has she avoided her house since she read the note, she had lost all interest in everything except her journal. Even eating was done strictly for survival. The kids did not know how to operate the power plant, so there was a finite amount of electricity left that was constantly depleting. She had lost all contact with her friends, because the closest one was in North Carolina, where Tracy had moved from. It was shaping up to be a great year, but no one can tell the future. Not even Tracy's new best friend, her Magic
8-Ball. Whenever she asked "Are my parents okay?" the ball said yes. That was the most reassuring thing she could hear, and no one else was kind enough to tell her.
• • •
Today was the day. It was January 7, Tracy's thirteenth birthday. She had always thought this would be a perfect day, but what was happening so far wasn't even decent. She decided to go out for a walk in Newer York, the city's "clever" new name from the self-elected town leaders, because she was feeling an extra glow of positive energy. She was about to leave when her phone started to blast a monotonous ringing noise. Someone was calling. Her phone only had two percent battery, and no caller ID, so she picked up and cut to the chase. "Keep it brief." An unexpected voice answered, filled with shock. "Channel 10," Melissa said, then hung up. Tracy was about to call back, but the phone died. She needed to know what was happening, so she sprinted to Times Square, the only remaining place in the city with a working television. "Channel 10," she requested between breaths. Zach, the remote keeper, requested a name. He got an answer. "Tracy Porton, eh? Never seen you around these parts of town. Where are you from?" The fatigue in Tracy made her especially grouchy. "Just change the channel already." "Alright, I will." He didn't seem to like her attitude.
Right as the TV displayed the channel, Tracy could see what Melissa thought was so important. Someone took an NBC helicopter as transportation to Africa. "I'm Dave Sparrow, reporting for NBC10 News." He was clearly a reporter before going to Africa. "This just in: there is a deadly disease rapidly spreading across Africa. Bacteria have infected our little remaining food and begun the spread of Lochnia. The only symptoms are coughing up blood in large amounts and death. The death can be instantaneous or following a few minutes of coughing, but no more than 4. There is good news, however. The bacteria causing the disease can only infest people of ages 14 and up because of a specific blood cell ratio necessary in the bloodstream for survival of the bacteria. I don't know what any of that means, but younger kids should be safe for now. For NBC10 News, I'm-"
Dave dropped dead on camera.
• • •
Over the next few weeks, the disease continued to spread. Eventually, everyone over the age of 14 was dead, including Tracy's parents.
So much for the idea of "happy birthday."
YOU ARE READING
When the World Turned Young
AvventuraTracy has lost all hope. Her parents are dead, along with everyone above the age of 14, and none of her friends live in NYC. When a 16-year-old arrives, Tracy asks herself a question: If he's alive, could my parents be, too? The only thing she has i...
