The Lone Road

Chapter 1

I remember it was a Friday morning. I was at work just teaching my freshman English class until it was the bell rang for lunch time. One of the kids in the school got sick with some apparent flu that was going around. Well the news said it was the "flu". The symptoms were similar, but something was off about it. While in the cafeteria, some students decided to cause a food fight which lead into an actual fist fight. Food was being thrown around and the cafeteria was getting louder from the cheers of others. One of the kids fighting got pushed into the sick kid who... was covered in blood. When he looked back, the sick kid had bitten a chunk of flesh off his neck. All the students went silent and began to start screaming, running out of the cafeteria, some ran into restrooms, classrooms were being filled with scared students, and teachers were trying to make sure everyone is ok. A police officer came in talking to the kid with his taser gun in hand. "Now we don't want to cause any more of a scene," said the officer walking slowly towards him. Once he got a little closer, the kid stopped what he was doing and got up slowly. Pieces of his flesh was starting to fall off each time he started walking. If it was supposed to be the flu, then I am sure it was NOT going to make your flesh fall off. The officer slowly started backing up. "Oh god what even is this?" he said. The nurse came out screaming covered in blood making the boy turn towards her. The officer reacted by shooting him with the taser only causing him to become angrier. Went straight towards the officer trying to bite him as well. The nurse passed out and I went to help the teachers get the rest of the students out of the school. "Come on kids we got to go now," I said opening the door leading them outside "Once you get outside start calling the police!" All you could hear was the footsteps of students running drowning out the screams of the officer. "Should we try to go for the nurse, maybe we can- "Karen was slapped across the face before she could even finish her sentence. She felt her face in distraught at why our boss slapped her. "I am sorry for being so rash, but we can't go back for her." He said putting his head down. I have never seen him even lay a hand on anyone. He was the nicest person we knew but dark times appeared to be upon us. We all headed outside once things got quiet. We didn't know where the kids were but decided not to even think about where he could be. Before we left, all the bodies appeared to be gone. The only thing left was pools of blood. This worried me the most in the fact being that they were gone. Once coming outside, we were met with police cars, SWAT teams, concerned parents, and news vans. A police officer came up to me wanting to ask a few questions. "Excuse me ma'am, I was wondering if you could tell me what happened inside. I did ask a few students, but they seem to be too scared to even respond." I nodded to come along with him to his car. He brought out a pen and pad wanting to hear the full details. Once telling him everything he thanked me and was told to go home. As I went to my car, Karen came behind me. "Hey Laura, could I maybe just go home with you tonight. I need some wine time after this whole incident." "Say no more, I need something to clear my head as well." I let her get inside and we drove off to my place. My little one-bedroom apartment. The teaching job was able to keep me to afford this place. I never really thought about getting a house being as how things are expensive now. Hell, even gas has started to become around the $3 range. I told her to go take a shower first while I get the wine glasses ready. I turned on the TV in the living room to the news. "Today at Clear Lake High, a student viciously attacked the school nurse, police officer, and Darren Williams," she continued, "The student identified as the cause was Mark Hamilton." I heard Karen coming out the shower using a towel to dry her hair. "It is a tragedy that this happened." "Yea I know but they will say it is this "flu" going around." Even after I told her that the news brought up how it was the flu. I rolled my eyes knowing how this was bullshit. The newscaster began saying how scientists are trying to be more accurate in knowing how to identify the symptoms. I gave her a glass and went to go take my shower. Having the hot water come down on me was very relaxing after the events of today. The thought of there being a hope in maybe one day these scientists can figure it out or someone smarter can help them. I put on my pajamas walking back to the living room to meet with Karen. "This is all the channels are talking about. I just want to get away from today." She grunted flinging the remote in her hand. I laughed at her in agreement and towards her actions. She gave me a light punch when I sat down next to her. It did help liven the mood a little bit. We stayed up until midnight then headed off to bed. I gave her a blanket and a pillow to have something to sleep on while being on the couch. I went to my bed snuggling up into my blankets. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day." I cut the lights off not realizing how wrong I was.