The Infection

The Diner

"Luke...Luke...Luke God dammit answer me... For fuck's sake he is coming. He's about to go into Will's house." 

Bang!

"Luke...I think he's dead. I think Will is dead."

Foot steps slowly approached the door to the shed . 

5 months earlier

A grouchy old man entered the diner, The Forest Diner,  sits down at the end of the bar and yells, "Hey Ashley how are you doin?"

"I'm living aren't I, Doug?" playfully replied Ashley. 

Ashley had been working at The Forest diner  since she was 18 and she had to get a job to pay for her child, Lily. Once she was at the diner, she kept her job and the man who got her pregnant. His name was Richard he left right after he found out. Doug had been coming into the diner since she was 20.

"So Doug, how long have you been coming here and seeing me." As Ashley poured the coffee half way into the cup and added cream to it as well.

"I'd say about 10 years now." Scratching his head, as he sipped his coffee. 

"Only 10 it feels longer. How's Francesca?" Ashley asked, not really caring because Francesca didn't really like her or the diner.

"Francesca still hates you, but she stopped referring to you as the devil...so it shows progress."

"How's Luke and the kids?" asked Doug.

"Well, Luke is still working in the government, Lily is still waiting for her dad to send a 16 year old birthday card because that is the only think he sends her, and Jake is about to start fourth grade." 

"I can't believe little Jake is turning 8 this year and wh-" 

Anticipating what he was going to say she replies,"No I still can't tell you what Luke does for the government."

Upset, Doug replied, "Dammit." 

It gets to about 2 and running in the door is Jake. His small ginger haired, brown eyed face smiling bigger than the sun running and screaming, "MMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM." 

This small boy runs zigging in and out of the people going left, right, under people, jumping over chairs just trying to get to the opening of the counter to say hi to his mom. His mother was the only one that would make him feel better on a daily basis and the only one he would want to be with. Meanwhile, Lily walked in with her black skin tight skirt, knee high high heeled boots, and her camo-green shirt with a black leather jacket chewing bubble gum and texting as if she didn't give a damn about the world.

"Oh how are you my little monkey how was school?"

"Oh my gosh...mommy, I had the best day in the entire world. This man came in and talked to us about this summer camp that they have in the woods," said Jake, with his freckles growing with his smile and his bright blue eyes sparkling with the light glaring at him. 

Ashley was not impressed, but played along with him, "Oh what was the name of the man who ran this camp?" 

Jake forgot the name so he said in his high pitched voice, "Let me think about it for a minute."

Ashley chuckled and looked at Lily, who was staring down at her phone. Ashley with cat-like reflexes snatched the phone out of Lily's hand. 

"HEY!" Lily exclaimed angrily.

"GIVE IT BACK!"

"Toying with Lily," Ashley replied, "I'll give it back if you answer a few simple questions."

Lily determined said, "Ok let's play."

Ashley gives rapid questions and Lily Responds even faster.

"How was your Day?"

"Sucky."

"Why?"

"Because no one remembered my birthday." 

"Not even Sally."

"Nope." 

"Rachel?"

"Nope." 

"R u sure?"

"Yes."

"R u positive?"

"Yes."

"Have you been home?" 

"No."

Stopping the game, she pauses and says, "I would go home and check," as she hands her phone back.

Lily out of game mode *Gasp* "Did you get me a puppy?" 

"I don't know what Charlie is." 

Both Ashley and Lily start burst out laughing because they can't contain it anymore. Ashley was excited because nothing makes her smile on her birthday nothing except the card from-

Finally coming to a realization, Jake yelled, "RICHARD!" 

Both Ashley and Lily stoped laughing and their faces turned dark as if lightning had struck them. They look at each other; Lily was excited as she thought that her dad came back for her, but Ashley was nervous because he said he would come back for 2 things:

Money

OR 

a favor

________________________________________________________________________________

To anyone who reads my story: 

1. Thank you for at least reading the first chapter and I hope you continue to read it. 

2. This is my first book that I have written so i hope you like how it goes if you decide to continue to read it. 

I was thinking of ending the chapter/note part with a riddle. Please comment if you like it, have an answer or think I am wasting my time (HAHAHAHA) 

I only live where there is light but, I die if the light shines on me. What am I?

Ok I hope you enjoy the book