The Overtakers

Proloug

The tv was flashing as the news reporter spoke fast. Desperately trying to explain what was going on. It's been about a month since the plants started popping up, and the bigger cities have fell into absolute chaos. Charlie, my brother, gently rubbed my back trying to comfort me. At the time, I was small. I was a kid, I didn't truly understand what was happening. He smiled at me, but even then I knew it was fake. "Charlie, I'm afraid" a said, my voice was small and weak. He shook his head. "You're going to be okay, I promise. I'm here" those words didn't comfort me long, because soon after we heard noise from outside in the yard. He grabbed my shoulders tight, looking me in the eyes making sure I could understand. "Stay. Here. I mean it" The living room was right in front of the door to the backyard. He quickly went outside to check out what the noise was. It felt like forever, but I finally heard Charlie speak, seeing as the walls were thin. "I don't understand what's happening. It makes no sense. I was just.. looking at it.. and now...where did it even... come from... " His voice going from low to yelling. I got up quickly making my way outside against my brothers wishes. As I got outside and got closer, I realized that he was standing motionless in the yard. I soon realized why exactly he was motionless. As I looked down to where he was staring, there was a shriveled up flower, and a vine coming up from the Earth below wrapping around his ankle. He looked at me with pain in his eyes, we both knew that it was hopeless to struggle. My body went numb as I heard a scream, it wasn't his, but mine. How could Charlie be so stupid? I was about to turn, to go find help, to do something, but he stopped me. "It's already too late," he said, "you saw the news, once the vines have a hold of you.." I heard a crack, as if the bones in his leg had just been snapped in half and he screamed in pain toppling over. I took a step closer, reaching out my hand towards him. He shook his head desperately, tears were streaming down his face. "No. No Ava don't you DARE come any closer, you- you stay back. Don't let them get a hold of you too."
I stomped my foot down backing away, grabbing my hair and screaming in frustration. This isn't happening, this is all a bad dream. "Ava," Charlie choked out, I looked back over at him. The vine was already up to his hips, holding onto him so he wasn't able to move much.
"Ava, you- you pull out those small note pads and pen I gave you. I know you always keep them in your pocket, I want you to- to write this down." He gasped for breath, closing his eyes. My hands shook as I slowly reached down, doing what he said and pulling them out of my pocket. Right where he knew I always kept them. I looked down, my eyes somewhat blurry with tears. I'm so weak. I ran my finger over the note pad as I waited for him to tell me what to do next. These note pads, so warm and familiar in my hands, they were a gift from Charlie after all of this started. It was a gift from him, he wanted me to continue my love for writing. We didn't know how bad it was truly going to get. I quickly snapped out of it as he coughed again. "Start writing now. Ava, my dear sweet sister.." why did he sound as if he knew this day was going to come? My hands continued to shake as I wrote, from anyone else's eyes they'd have no idea what I wrote. However, I knew. I knew what it said and that's all that matters. "You were never able to meet our parents... hell, you're only a kid... but if they could see you now, they would be so proud..." Please stop Charlie, I can't take it. No matter, I continued to write despite this terrible feeling in my chest making it hard for me to breathe. "So please.. not just for me.. but for our parents, our friends and family... all those who died to this... this thing..." he spit at the flower and vines, "survive for.. us"

By the time he was done talking, the vine had made it all the way up to the back of Charlies neck. Without mercy, the vine plunged itself into his skin, he let out a scream that shook Ava to her core. She saw the news and heard the stories, she knew what was about to happen to her brother. She turned on her heels, running away as fast as she could. She didn't stop, she didn't look back. Her brother, once her family, was now her enemy. The vines crept and disappeared into the back of Charlies neck. He got up with a groan, making his way onto his feet before letting out a gutted scream of pure anger and agitation. Then, he started to follow where his beloved little sister Ava had run off to.