The Shadow Plague

001

Most people in the city known as Rhysta don't prefer to have children. They know that eventually their child will be tested every year for the Shadow Plague, a disease that is known to drive children insane. Children ages 13 through 18 are eligible to get this plague and are shipped off to an insane asylum in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

So many times have I seen these wild teenagers get shipped away through a TV screen. Every time, I think to myself, at least it isn't me...

But this time, it might be me. Today is the Testing Day of 3021. I'm fourteen years old, so this is my second Testing.

I'm in a large auditorium now. There are rows and rows of blood-red chairs filled with people, and a large stage in the front. I take a seat in an empty chair, and my mother takes a seat a few rows behind me. I hear hushed whispers, and voices full of fear. The room goes dead silent when a man walks up on stage. The governor.

"Greetings, all," he says in a microphone. It's the same deep and intimidating voice every year, booming throughout the auditorium.

"Welcome to the Plague Testing of 3021," he continues. "If you are not aware, the Testing will be different this year, and for the years to come."

No one says a word. Everyone is curious to see what the new system is.

A woman with pale skin, and straight black hair wheels something onto the stage, but no one is quite sure what it is, for it is draped in a white cloth. The woman turns and faces the audience. She flashes a smile, revealing her fire-engine red lipstick, and her pearl white teeth.

The governor pulls the cloth off, and several people gasp. It's a large and complex machine. There are wires hanging out from different directions. I don't know about everyone else in this room, but I'm scared of what they will do to me.

The governor hands the microphone to the woman and steps back to the corner of the stage. "Hello, everyone!" the woman begins. "My name is Doctor Lindsey Stein. I have created this machine to scan your brain the the most efficient method. It won't hurt too much, but we will be able to better notice any signs of the dreaded Shadow Plague." She pauses to take a breath.  "When I call your name, please come up to the stage."

Parents and children exchange nervous glances.

"Abel, Alyss."

A very young looking blond haired girl steps up onto the stage. She looks as if she is on the verge of tears.

The woman hooks each of her arms to the wires hanging out of the machine. Then, she pushes a button.

The girl screams in pain. She kicks and hits, but the machine wouldn't let her go. I desperately want to go up to the stage and rescue her, but my feet are anchored in place.

Alyss won't stop screaming. My heart hurts for this poor girl. Then I remember that this will be me soon... 

At last, the screaming stops, because the woman unplugged the machine. She ushers the girl to go backstage, and the girl miserably does as she is told. No one dares to defy the Government.

The same thing happens again when Stella Anderson is called up. Although she is also sent backstage, she is sent to the opposite end.

People murmur uneasily. Clearly, one of these two girls has the Shadow Plague.

But which one?

When Alex Bryant is called, things are a little different. He is a teenage boy, who is too ashamed to scream in front of all these people, so he holds it in as best as he can. His Testing seems longer than the two girls before him. It keeps going on and on...until he can't take it anymore. He starts to shriek. After a moment, the woman unplugged the machine.

That's when I realize what the Government is trying to do. They wait until the victim screams before releasing them. The scream probably determines whether or not they have the virus...and if they don't scream, then their body will shrivel up and die, like Justin Brown's body just did. The room is filled with screams when everyone sees what happens to Justin. His body is wrinkled and has a grayish tinge to it.

I make a mental note to not try to act brave.

After about 25 kids were called, I hear my name.

"Krauss, Ava."

I don't move at first, wondering if there is another Ava Krauss willing to go before me. If there is another person in this room who shares my name, they clearly want me to go first. I slowly stand up and make my way to the stage. I can feel a million sets of eyes burning into my back. Staring at me as I walk up the steps. My hands are sweaty and clammy. I wipe them against my pants, and take a deep breath when I get to the machine.

The woman takes two wired and shoves them into each of my wrists. I wince in pain, expecting myself to scream, but when I open my mouth, no sound escapes my lips. The woman plugs the machine in, and pushes a button. I brace myself...

But there's no pain.

In fact, I can't feel anything. My body is numb. I hear a voice in my head.

Scream!

No!

Scream now!

Why?

Because you have to.

Why?

Just trust me.

My brain is having a battle.

So I trust my gut and let out the biggest shriek ever. I pretend that I am feeling the worst pain ever. I think about the Government, and how much I hate them. I think about how I hate the man who stole my father's life...

Ava! a voice echoes. Ava! Wake up!

I open my eyes.

"AVA!"

My eyes adjust and I see the dark haired woman standing over me.

It takes me a moment for me to register that I'm on the ground. I stand up quickly and look around. I am behind the curtain on the stage in the auditorium. There are others here too. Other people who were tested before me, and some people I don't recognize. They must've been tested after me.

"The Testing is over," the woman tells me.

She looks around at everyone. "Well then...follow me."

We look at each other in confusion at first, but suddenly we all understand. Those of us standing here have the Shadow Plague. The thing I dreaded most was happening to me. Right now, right here.

I have the Shadow Plague.