Winner!
Third Place Sci-Fi Winner on The Dream Awards July 2020.
What would happen if one day you were infected with a virus that ate at your brain, your skin, and all your internal organ all while you were self-aware?
Would you still feel? Want to...
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Earlier
Darkness.
Pure and utter blackness surrounded her. A high pitch ring between the ears, buzzed like thousands of flies on putrid meat, keeping her from being able to think clearly. The pounding of a vein at her temple was unbearable. It hammered her head like a drum, or what she imagined, a banging drum would feel like. It almost went unnoticed except, Teal had never felt pain like this before.
"Oh. My ... shit!"
The hybrid experienced a bitter-sweet moment when she realized, she had a pulse. Never before had Teal felt her heartbeat in her head, nor her chest. Never. Not even on the days, she saw Marc, and he, excited her so.
Blinking rapidly a few times, Teal panicked. A combination of nausea and lightheadedness overwhelmed her senses, and she squirmed around the constricted surroundings.
Teal gasped for air.
"Why am I in a wooden box? For zombie's sake!"
It was obscure and smelly. Although the box was empty and large in size, Kaya managed to quickly tie her arms and feet, before hammering the lid shut. Teal's extremities were bound tight and her body constricted of movement.
Like a worm she squirmed. Perhaps because Kaya had been in a hurry, the knot at her wrists loosened slightly. With newfound hope, Teal wishfully believed she would be able to untie herself and reach her phone.
Rubbing her arms up and down at the same time, and shaking her body, Teal stretched the material around her wrists. She pulled at it in hopes one of her small hands could escape the fasteners. Half an hour later, sweat covered her brow and upper lip. Her breath was heavy and the warmness in her coffin was beginning to feel unbearable. Dizzy, she lost consciousness once more.
Unaware of how long she'd passed out for, Teal woke startled. Dazed, she sat up quickly banging her forehead against the wooden lid.
"Fuuuuck!!!"
For once Teal knew swearing was the appropriate reaction. Maybe, the only sane one to have at the moment. The situation merited it.
"Shit! Ugh, damn it!! I'm in hell!"
She began to cry. The tears and shudders made it difficult to think. Desperately, the terrified zombie thought of things that might calm her erratic state.
Thoughts of her mother surfaced while taking deep, long breaths through her mouth.
Mom's gonna kill you when she finds out if you're not dead already.
