SafeWater

Chapter 2

“SafeWater is a revolutionary discovery, that will save lives. You witnessed it in action. A few drops can make anything grow on any surface,” The waiter said to the astounded people. “Not only is it a miracle grow, but it is unbelievably nutritious. As we speak, employees are releasing this water into the ocean to restore our dying coral reefs. Plans have been made to ship Safe Water to Africa, to grow crops to feed the children. Any food grown with SafeWater is more nutritious and filling. SafeWater is also drinkable as it is an keeps you hydrated longer. It costs little to nothing to make this product.” Everyone was smiling, some even clapped until the waiter politely silenced them. “We have hooked up all the pipes to SafeWater for your benefit, and, soon, the benefit of all.” He took the mostly full glass of Safe Water. “So a toast, to the modern manna!” He gulped down the water. His smile to the audience faded quickly into horror. The glass fell from his hand and shattered on the tile platform. Moss bubbled out of his gaping mouth. He fell, and clawed at the air, searching for oxygen. His eyes, frozen in terror, as his body went limp.

There was a second of inexplicable silence. One second to process. One second to realize. Screams sounded out. People ran like startled deer. A woman knocked over a glass as she bolted. The minute the water touched the ground moss spread over a three foot area. Now everyone screamed.

“To a boat!” a man bellowed. My mom grabbed my arm and shouted to Jacob to follow. My mother pushed aside a crying woman. How could she? That woman had a 3 year old wrapped around her! And my mom just pushed her aside? We ran to the outside decks, looking for a boat among the hectic people. My head was spinning. How was this possible? Maybe this was a magic trick and we didn’t have to be worried.  But the huge boat that brought us here was gone. All that was left were rowboats for leisure. As I looked closely at the boats, it became clear that it was covered with moss that was still growing. An older man held his wife’s hand tightly as they ran to a row boat. The man tripped and fell on the dock were his face landed in a puddle of water. SafeWater. The moss crept at sonic speed into his mouth. A few seconds later moss spewed out and the man was dead. His wife dropped to her knees and cried out. She gingerly touched her husband’s face in her sadness. As her hand touched the moss, it too started to grow the puffy plant. She drew back, tears in her eyes. The moss grew up the length of her arm, just because she touched it on another person. Her lips turned purple and she paled. Her uninfected arm reached for her heart as she screamed in pain. Her skin on her chest turned green. The color spread to her neck as she shrieked a final time before she too lay dead by her husband.

I couldn't help but yelp. It was drowned out effortlessly by the panic. I looked at mom. She seemed utterly focused, no doubt assessing. Was she calm, or shocked? I couldn't tell. Jacob’s teeth were chattering even though it was a zillion degrees.

“Okay, t- to the room! D-don’t touch ANY water.” she yelled. We raced through the docks, which was a dangerous task since water was sloshed everywhere. I saw some people so hysterical that they pushed others into the ocean or jumped in themselves. The moss on some bodies was so strong that the decomposition process was improbably rapid.

“Jump!” Jacob shrieked right as we came up to the body of a child no older than eight. Moss covered him like a blanket as he slept peacefully. I felt tears well up. How?! How could this happen? Why did people have to die? As we raced into the lobby, people were running around screaming for some had vines and other plants crawling up their limbs. It was like a sick game of tag, but instead of being ‘it’ you would be ‘gone’. We raced to the elevator. It didn't work. A man with a green leg ran up to me and yanked the collar of my dress.

“Make it stop!” he moaned in a breaking voice. Panic was all over his face. I could see the moss growing up his leg like a wave that no wall could hold back. “It hurts… it hurts so much!” he cried. I struggled in his iron grasp. The moss reached his hip and was getting dangerously close to my swaying dress. Now I was thankful for the shortness of it, it was keeping me alive, for now. His leg gave out and he was on his knees, the moss reaching up his torso.