| Crimson Prisons | a dystopian future story

Chapter 2

I rub the fabric of the curtain together between my forefinger and thumb, an anxiety driven movement. Our street is more crowded than I'm used to, with neighbors that are usually in their homes now out trying to make sense of the situation. Confusion and fear reflect on everyone's faces, speaking quickly and nervously, unsure. My mother stands next to a of couple people I don't recognize, looking around wildly, seemingly overwhelmed.

I continue to wait, impatience making me increasingly uncomfortable. Silently I curse Parker for telling me he was coming over, and not just showing up. That would have included a lot less unneeded anticipation. Parker had called, saying that Grayson wanted to talk to the two of us and that they'd be over soon. But he's late, they're both late, and still not here.

The front door opens and closes followed by quick footsteps, "Al?" Parker asks in a concerned tone from the foyer.

"Here." I call back, moving away from the window. Parker walks into the family room with intense worry plastered on his face, and when he sees me his eyes soften. Parker rushes over to me, wrapping his arms around me in an embrace. I tense before he even touches me.

"Oh, Al, I've been so worried about you. This is all so much, I can't even imagine how hard it is on you." He says to me in a hushed voice. The hug is quick, and he pulls away the moment he finishes what he had to say.

Parker steps back and studies me closely, "Grayson should be here soon."

I nod, shifting in discomfort under his inspecting gaze. Parker has an unreadable expression plastered on his face, as if he is critiquing me and thinking through something else as well. He shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in clear annoyance,

"He's crazy, you know that? Grayson that is. Lost his mind. He called me early this morning, waking me up, telling me about some insane idea about not leaving. God, where is that b-"

Parker is interrupted by a loud slam, and Grayson skidding to a halt against the back of the loveseat, nearly crashing into the both of us. He grabs my good hand in his left and one of Parker's in his right, dragging us up the stairs as fast as he can manage. Pushing Parker and I down on the edge of my bed and wheeling my desk chair over in front of us. He plops down into the chair and leans forward, arms crossed over his knees, eagerness shining in his eyes.

I give Parker an asking look, but he only shakes his head. As if to say, you think I know what goes on in that boy's head?

"We're not leaving." Grayson says, and I snap my gaze over to him.

"What?" I ask, confused. "But it's been all over the news, they're making us leave. When did that change?"

Parker scoffs beside me, laying back rubbing his eyes in frustration. He sighs loudly, "That's not what he means, Al."

I furrow my brows attempting to understand, I cock my head at Grayson. Asking him again, but now with my expression, what?

"We can't leave." Grayson says, locking into a gaze with me, uncharacteristic seriousness in his eyes.

I shake my head in bemusement at Grayson. Of course we're leaving, we'd be in major danger if we stay. The prison's security shutdown unexpectedly, freeing those being kept there. Oscane was supposed to be the most secure place in the world, protecting us all, from our newest enemy. The infected. But nothing can be forever, hence why we must evacuate.

I think of the overgrown island being infested with the prisoners. The infected standing at the shores of the small island, searching for a way to get past the water. Stomachs egging them to the mainland, begging for human flesh. Hungry. I shiver.