Anubis

Chapter one - The Beginning

**A Month Ago**

A kilometre thick ice cap broke off of Antartica's ice shelf last week and scientists have discovered an active ancient virus known as Anubis. We don't know what's going to happen, but we have a temporary vaccine for this disease. Symptoms of Anubis include uncontrollable coughing, swelling of red blood cells in the eyes and hives on the abdominal area. There are labs in New York and California, the vaccine will be sent to Mississippi, Kansas and Texas in a few days. Go to the closest lab as soon as possible. Be safe and good luck.

**Now**

I quickly swat the air around me as I squint at the can of baked beans left on the shelf. Hastily, I snatch it, stuffing it into my backpack that's clinging from my shoulder. The room around me is suffocatingly dusty, a bright ray of light streaming through the gap of the grey curtains draped from the top of the window. The four walls are a light yellow colour with intricate patterns, paired with white skirting. A dodgy looking lightbulb hangs from the ceiling, blown. The wooden floors creak under my feet as I step from cabinet to cabinet, searching for any left overs. 

"Lucy," I hear Kit call from the other side of the wall. I quickly zip up my bag after stuffing some salt and sugar sachets inside and make my way over to him. My heart can't help but flutter when I see him. 

His chin length, dark, curly hair rests around his face perfectly, his full crimson lips being complimented with a short vandyke. His nose is straight with a black nose ring on the left of it. Black ripped jeans cover his long legs, supported with Caterpillar work boots and a grey shirt that hugs him appropriately. My gaze quickly flickers to his swirling honey brown eyes that crease at the ends as he smiles. 

"Look what I found," he laughs to himself before holding up a box, causing me to scoff. 

"I bet you're looking forward to using that later," I shoot, stopping myself from laughing as he throws it on the dark bed with distaste, causing the purple toy to slide out. 

"Wow, that is not what I was getting at" he says defeatedly with a smile, tilting a nearby photo frame up so he can see it. I watch him quietly as he draws his attention away from the young couple in the picture and towards searching the rest of the room.

"Have you checked the bathroom?" I ask, adjusting the heavy backpack on my shoulder. It's got a few cans of assorted foods, three water bottles, some medicine, a small blanket but most importantly, a map. 

"I checked the downstairs one earlier but not the upstairs one," he replies, grabbing his black backpack from the messy bed. I nod and leave the room, making a bee-line for the carpeted stairs. 

A few pictures hang neatly on the wall, mainly of scenery. All of the doors are open from when we checked for survivors last night, which allows light to fill the hallway down to the bathroom. 

The bathroom isn't anything fancy, a small shower-bath tucked in the corner while a large mirror sits above some white counters. The tap drips water every few seconds and I find myself tightening the handle. I rub my eyes tiredly as I look at myself in the mirror. My brown, wavy hair falls to my shoulders, two small braids running from my hairline to the back of my head. A set of large green eyes are matched with low dark eyebrows, naturally arched and clean. My lips are plump but dry and I lick them, catching a glimpse of my straight teeth. My tattoos are my favourite though. Forty two hand drawn tattoos are scattered on both arms, each having their own unique meaning.  Forty two because that was the year both of my parents were born. 

I'm wearing a dark green shirt tucked into some back high waisted shorts. My once perfect fishnet tights are torn and thready, but not impractical. I have on my black doc martens, the laces tied in a tight double knot. 

I kneel down and open the bottom draws, smiling to myself when I find a packet of tampons, some hand sanitiser and some travel size shampoos and conditioners. It really isn't often you find luxuries, especially in suburban houses that have probably been raided before us. 

I take my backpack off and put the items inside, pushing the draw closed and opening the ones above it only to be greeted with emptiness. With a quick once over of the bathroom, I leave, closing the door behind me. Before descending down the stairs, I briefly check the other rooms. 

"Done?" Kit asks as I hop down the last stair, to which I say "yes" to. We leave the house, ensuring the door is wide open so other survivors know that this house has already been checked. 

"So what did you find?" I quiz, pulling the straps on my bag so it hugs my back comfortably. Our boots crunching the rocks on the suburban road is the only sound down this street, apart from the barks of abandoned family dogs. 

"A can of peaches, two rolls of toilet paper and some jerky," he smirks, slinging his bag around to retrieve the packet. My eyes light up at the delicious treat, a large smile appearing on my lips. He rips it open and offers me some. 

As we munch on the jerky, I tell him what I found, watching the clouds above us mould in the wind. 

"You know, it really sucks we didn't bother getting to know each other properly before this, thing," Kit clears his throat and admits. We leave the road and walk on the grass towards some woods on the outskirts of Orosi. Our strides are long and fast as we steer in the direction of a nearby national park, our boots leaving prints in the overgrown grass. 

"Yeah," I respond simply, slapping a mosquito that's landed on my upper thigh. "Everything happens for a reason though I guess," I add with a shrug. Silence surrounds us as the sun falls in front of us, the perfect blend of orange to purple smearing up from the horizon. The white clouds glow from the remaining rays, soft stars coming into view. The sound of crickets chirping and toads croaking fills our ears as we approach the stream of the national park. 

"I'll get a fire starting," Kit states before making his way over to an old fire pit. Dark logs surround it as seats and I follow after him, placing my bag down. 

Darkness falls around us within ten minutes, a bright glow radiating from the crackling fire in front of us. I break off a large twig from the log I'm sitting on and thrust it into the fire, waiting for it to light up before pulling it away. Quickly, I stand, going over to the few lanterns that surround the seating area, spreading the light to each one. 

I sit back down next to Kit and stare into the orange flames, my knees already feeling the warmth. The water surrounding the national park reflects the dancing fire and I can't help but smile. Even after this apocalypse, the Earth still manages to be beautiful. 

I pull out the two cans of baked beans I scored at the house and open them into a pot that was left behind from the last camper. After pouring the insides into it, I put it on the rack and sit back with a sigh. 

"Today was good," Kit praises, grabbing our blankets out of our bags. As he lays mine over my shoulders I nod, running a gentle hand over my braids making sure they're still intact. 

"We have a long way to New York, hopefully we can find a car or something tomorrow," I groan, smoothing out the blanket so it covers my bare legs. He makes a noise in agreement before picking up the map that's laying folded on the grass, opening it. 

"Tomorrow hopefully we can be half way to Las Vegas, maybe there will be more survivors there," he mutters in thought, running his long finger along the road we will be on tomorrow. The baked beans bubble softly in the pot, warning us to stir them. Instead, I grab the pot and two spoons out of Kit's bag, placing it in the space on the log between us. 

The fire holds a steady flame as we eat, the slight wind proving no match to it. The crickets, cicadas and frogs have quietened down since earlier, the occasional sound reminding us we are in the wild. 

The tranquility this national park holds distracts us from the fact our race is dying.