Faltered light

Part 1: The beginning of the end

Calla

I could never quite put my finger on what makes me happiest in the world.  I would search for reasons or things that came almost close but it just never amounted. Now I am sure I will never know. My family was not very large. I had no siblings; my mum and dad were like every other married couple. They had date nights and friendly neighborhood parties. I however had been a queer teenager. I had never been one for going out parting and getting drunk like all the other hormonal pre-adults my age. Staying  home and watching tv most nights were my weekly routines. I was however not one to pass up romantic love and I Calla Weir was crazy in love with James Venton. I had known him since middle school and at one point in time he was all I thought about. He had beautiful dark hair and golden-brown eyes. I watched him go on a run every morning and I decided I should too. We became well acquainted but nothing ever came from that relationship. He was a complete god compared to me and I think we both knew it. Dull Brown hair to contrast dark eyes that shut out any prospect of me being bubbly. Suffer in silence and complete introvert were the perfect words to describe me and I liked it that way.

Then it happened.

It was date night and my parents were going to go to the cinema. They usually invite me to be nice but I avoid being a third wheel to my parents. Tonight, the Venton's (James' father and step mother) were accompanying them — I guess the perks of my parents being friends with his meant that we occasionally had family dinners together in which I would sit and pine over something I would never have. He wouldn't even look at me— tonight however I decided to watch a movie with some popcorn. I liked being alone, if there was anything, I did know it was that I liked spending time by myself. Eventually I nodded off. I was awoken by James. At first, I thought it was a dream because why would James be at my house at — I glanced at the clock— 1:32 in the morning. Was he insane? Then he sounded off and slightly annoyed. "Calla put on your shoes we have to go right now", "what are you talking about, I'm not going anywhere with you". I sat up and my eyes started adjusting to the light my head felt groggy. "Calla we need to go; I'm not messing around. Your parents, they're...", at the mention of my parents and the panic in James' voice I immediately shot up. I ran to my room threw on a pair of jeans, my black chucks and a Nirvana T-shirt I sometimes slept in. I heard James yell to pack a small bag and to be quick about it. I grabbed my dad's old green army jacket. I grabbed a backpack and shoved in a few T-shirts, one other jeans, underwear and a toothbrush and a Swiss Army knife — my dad taught me to always be prepared. I ran downstairs tying my hair into a ponytail. James rushed over to his dads off-road Nissan Frontier. It was worse than I thought. I threw my bag into the back when I noticed James has a bag too, and water, and a very large hunting knife. I guess his more prepared than I am. We got in and headed out onto the road. "Calla, my parents called. We need to get out of town immediately. To find a deserted place. To drive up to the mountains". "What! Where are my parents James?". I don't know why but when James mentioned my parents, I figured they must have been in an accident. I only wish that was what had happened. At least things would have still been normal. Then I heard the screaming. It was the single most awful moment of my entire life.

James took back roads. At first, I insisted we go look for my parents but then I saw it. People running around screaming. Attacking each other. Blood everywhere. James explained everything. I was afraid. I wasn't going to let James drive me away. "Venton, don't be a pussy. Let's go find our parents" I tried to convince him hoping the shot at his ego would work. "Calla they told us to get out of here. Please let's just do as we're told. God knows what's going on in the middle of town" he reiterated for the hundredth time since we started on the deserted road out of town. "James I'm not leaving my mother. Turn around!" I have had it with him. His not taking me anywhere. He gave in and turned around in an irritated swerve. We had to look for our parents. That was the single most stupidest mistake I had ever made. What I saw next was exactly why I should have just shut my mouth and let him take me away.

James

It was early when it came. The loud ringing. When I looked at the time it was 1:24 — the screen lit up and it was Susan. My father's second wife. "What" I snapped at her. "James!" Her voice rang with urgency over the phone. She wasn't annoying or anything but she acted like my mum and she wasn't. " I need you to listen to me", here we go again but I listen attentively anyway. "Pack a few things quickly. A knife, take water. Clothes. Warm clothes. Wear one jacket and something you can run in. Take the truck, fetch Calla! Get out! Before it's too late. Go to the old camp near fort..." the line cut. What the fuck. I try to call back but it just rings. I knew what camp she was talking about. We used to go there when I was a kid but a few years back, they started a chain of fancy restaurants and waterboarding closer to the town and the old camp spot just became just that, out dated. I do as I am told as quick as I can. I have a key to the Weirs. It took me five minutes to get done. I am over at the Weirs in no time and I see her. She must have fallen asleep here. I gently shake her. I don't want to alarm her like Susan alarmed me. "Calla?" I almost whisper but decide to wake her up softly instead. She wakes up and I give her a set of instructions. She's rather quicker than I thought she would be. She takes longer than me but I used her parents as an alarm to get her on her feet quickly. I don't even know what the situation is but Susan sounded shit scared. And I wasn't technically lying. Her parents could be in danger. What could it be?  She comes down with a backpack and that green army jacket that she always wears. she's beautiful. It is no time to be thinking about that but shes annoying in a different way. I remember when we first met. She clearly liked me. She would ask me a million questions that of course I would never answer. But I wanted to. She made me want to. She always gives her own opinions. After a while she became so guarded around me. I guess she can tell that I am a complete shitbag. We head out to the truck and I can tell she's annoyed at me for not relaying too much information. We pull out onto the road and I explain the situation as delicately as I can. She flips. I knew it. She convinces me to go back and I know I am making a mistake. Firstly because of the shit fest we just passed and secondly the voice in my head warning me that Susan's voice rang like venom, 'get out!'.  I double back onto the road of the school, that should lead me straight into town— to the movie theater. The school is empty at night except for a night guard. It is Saturday morning so most of the kids that go to our school are either soundly asleep in bed or out getting shit faced. When we get closer, we see a huge commotion. Cars are flipped over; fires have been set everywhere and their are people running and screaming. At first it seems like that but when we get closer, we notice that they are violently killing each other. We see a group gathered around someone and they are — eating him. Jesus. What the fuck. I look over at Calla and her face screams horror. I should not have listened to her. I am turning the fuck around and getting her the hell out of here.