Dont Panic! [All Time Low]

t w o

November 30th, 2012.

It'd been three days since we buried Courtney, and we'd all spent them three days mourning and trying to cope with the loss. Doctors had been investigating this infection that'd been spreading, as another dozen people had passed away with the same symptoms in Baltimore alone. In an urge to stop the infection spreading, people were buried the next day and in closed coffins, others were cremated. Rian was better than he was at the funeral, but he still didn't smile. Cassadee had been trying all she could but it was no use, he missed Court. He was taking the longest to get back to himself, and we could all see that. He visited her grave everyday, and came back everyday with red and puffy eyes. Cassadee was feeling the effects too, she didn't have her usually cheery, happy boyfriend but she had this grieving mess instead. Zack had started actually speaking again two days after the funeral, but he was still quieter than usual. Alex was alright, he was doing better than us all, in fact. Lisa had visited him everyday, and that helped him a lot, to be honest. I was still pretty shook by it all, I hadn't been able to visit her grave. It was still too much for me, but I promised I'd go with Rian that day. I bought a bouquet of pink roses; Her favourite. I took a deep breath before entering the cemetery, and I kept close to Rian. We stopped at the grave and I placed the flowers down. I turned away and shut my eyes. I wasn't ready for this.

"What if this is more than just an infection?" Rian whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear.

"What?" I turned around to him. He was bent down next to her headstone.

"What if this is more than what they're saying it is?"

"I think you've been watching too many horror films, Ri."

"No, Hear me out, Jack." He looked up at me. "Nearly twenty people have mysteriously died in the past four days, and loads more are sick. I think the doctors know more than they're telling us. Closed coffin? Next day burial?"

"Rian, I get that this has affected you, but stop. There's no such thing as Zombies if that's what you're trying to say. You need to stop thinking about this." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think you need a good nights sleep, and you need to clear your mind."

"Maybe you're right." He mumbled. "I'm sorry, it'd just add up, you know?" I nodded and we left the cemetery. It was quiet, not a car was in sight. We drove back to Alex's house, as that was where the four of us were staying for a while. We arrived back and Rian murmured that he needed to sleep, and he'd see us later.

"Where's Lisa?" I asked Alex, who was curled into a ball at the edge of the sofa. He looked up at me, and bit his lip.

"She's- She's back at her place."

"Alex, don't lie to me." I warned. "Did you break up?"

"No, No, honestly!" He assured me. "She's just- She's doing some work." He was lying through his teeth, and I could tell.

"Alex.." I sat down next to him.

"What if she has the same thing Courtney had, Jack?" He whispered and looked away. "What if i-"

"Guys, look," Zack pointed to the TV and turned up the sound.

"An eight year old child has been admitted to hospital after he became ill this afternoon. This is believed to be the twentieth case showing irregular symptoms in Baltimore alone, and all citizens are advised to stay indoors, isolated from possible infected people. If a loved one has been experiencing the following symptoms, it is advised to seek medical advise immediately." After hearing this, Alex's voice cracked and he scrambled looking for his phone. He tried ringing her six times, and she didn't pick up. He started to panic, and he paced the living room.