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Chapter Two

It's Wednesday, January 7th, 2015. This is the day that everything's going to go shit, and we're all oblivious to it. My alarm clock is blaring, telling me to get up so that I can get myself and the little ones ready for school. I crawl out of bed, careful not to wake up nine year old Jenny, who sleeps in the bed next to mine. I grab some clothes and go shower. After styling my wet, hazelnut brown hair into a fishtail braid, I go downstairs, where Jenny, Timothy, and Charlotte are already watching one of our many Disney movies. "What do you guys want for breakfast?" I ask.

"Pop tarts!" The three say in unison.

"Okay, then while I make you guys pop tarts, how about you go get dressed, and you can eat your breakfast in front of the T.V. today?" At that idea, Jenny pauses the movie and the three bolt upstairs.

When I go into the kitchen, a note is sitting on the counter.

"Chloe, your Mom got sick last night, so I took her to the emergency room. We should be back by the afternoon.  -Dad" 

I toss the note away and turn on the radio to listen for a weather announcement, praying that we have a snow day.

"In other news, a strange virus has been spreading through out the following countries and continents; USA, Africa, Australia, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Afghanistan. Symptoms of this virus include vomiting, puss filled sores, nose bleeds, red eyes, and peeling skin, and can kill you in approximately one week. So far, there have been no new developments in finding a vaccine for this virus, and it has killed over 7,000,000 people worldwide. If you are displaying any of these symptoms, or you know of anyone who is displaying these symptoms, please go to the nearest hospital. Stay inside and do not let anyone displaying these symptoms in." 

"No one seems to know the origins of this virus, and with every country pointing fingers at each other, this virus may be the cause of World War Three."

"Now, it's time for the weather. It's a freezing -10 degrees Celsius, with winds blowing up to 50 km/h. there is a 80% chance of a snow storm, and all schools are closed today due to the snow being 7 inches high."

I turn off the radio just as the pop tarts pop up from the toaster. This virus sounds pretty bad. I think about Dad's note about taking Mom to the hospital because she's sick. I ignore the thought of Mom having this virus, and I go back to making breakfast. I slice up some fruit and pour chocolate milk for Jenny and Timothy, apple juice for Charlotte, and coffee for me. Charlotte comes clomping into the kitchen, dragging her stuffed seal behind her in one hand and carrying a hair brush in the other. Her atrocious outfit today consists of a bright orange and black sweater with matching leggings, a purple tutu, and penguin toe socks. Her blond hair is still in a tangled mess, but she is still the cutest little five year old that I know.

"Chloe, can you do my hair today?" I smile at her and nod. Just as she plunks down in a kitchen chair, the computer we have in the kitchen starts ringing, notifying that we have a Skype call coming in. I accept it, and my 20 year old brother Anthony's face pops up on the large screen. "Hi Anthony!" Charlotte yells and waves.

'Hey Charlotte. Chloe, are Mom and Dad there?"

"No," I reply as I brush Charlotte's hair back into a ponytail. "He took her to the hospital last night. He left a note saying that she was sick."

"Shi_ Crap," He says, catching himself. Charlotte hops off of the chair and goes back into the living room. 'Where are Jenny and Timothy?"

"Upstairs getting ready. Anthony, what's going on?" I hear the blasting of a car horn on his end. "Where are you?"