Lost Ordinance

The Outbreak

"And I win again!" Rotis exclaimed, throwing his cards down onto the round wooden table. "You suckers, just hand over the cash now."

Skylar giggled beside him as she observed her boyfriend's triumph. Clearly she didn't care that she was losing.

"Pack the bong again. Playing card games with your brother is stressful." Kara laughed from beside me as she grabbed the sandwich baggy full of fluffy, light green stuff.

"Imagine having to live with him for half your life," I commented with a chuckle. "Probably why I'm crazy now."

Kara's been my girlfriend for years. We were high school sweethearts and when she headed off to college, I think she felt obligated to break up with me. Shortly after, she realized it was a mistake and I accepted her with open arms.

Her blue eyes have been my home for too long. I could never give her up.

"Bring in another round of shots!" Rotis called to Skylar as she walked toward the kitchen.

Skylar turned to flash Rotis a corrective stare.

He grinned sheepishly. "Please, babe."

After awhile, I threw down my cards and Rotis fell speechless. It was a good feeling, being able to win against the winner.

"I guess you're not as good as you thought you were." I laughed, glancing to Kara as she celebrated my win. She's always celebrated my wins. "Looks like we're going out to a fancy dinner for our anniversary, love."

12:01 a.m.

We finally decided to call it a night. After drinking for what seemed to be hours, Kara and I headed back to our hotel room. This was a lover's retreat that we made a double date with Rotis, my younger brother, and his girlfriend, Skylar. I now lay in bed with Kara as we sunk into the mattress and prepared for slumber.

"Rotis really seems like he's changing for the better," Kara spoke in a hushed, gentle tone. "I can't believe I'm saying this but it's not so bad being around him anymore."

"He's still the same asshole he's always been. Just more tolerable."

"I'm glad we got to spend this time together. Just been feeling — well, wrong since the threats. I'm scared that something is going to happen."

Awhile back, anonymous threats were leaked across the internet pertaining to some sort of virus that was just created and was apparently being manifested. The sources claimed that they had the power to spread the virus and it'd be like nothing we've seen before.

Then, people started randomly going missing. It was as if they disappeared out of plain sight and were just never seen again — like they never existed.

The news stations and government are convinced the instances aren't connected.

"C'mon, Kar," I reached over to put my arm around her. "None of those threats have any credibility behind them. It's just a fear tactic meant to scare people."

"Why though, Jake? Why would they want to scare us?" She inquired with a hiss. "It's a warning. It's not something that's meant to scare us."

I huffed. Kara would never see it my way. I knew this because she never does — even if I'm right, wrong, or somewhere in between, she finds a way to falsify my claim.

"Well, whatever happens, I'm here. We're together and that's what matters."

She rolled over to meet my gaze and leaned in to gently kiss my lips. As our tongues danced and our bodies clashed, my hands explored her body for the millionth time but the ecstasy between us never fades.