Dying Powerful

Chapter 2- Layton

Hey guys, Ryan here. I just finish writing this chapter. It took me like the whole day because I was writing it on and off... Well here it is!! I really hope that you guys are enjoying this story so far. I know I am, its a whole lot of fun to write. Well I got to go now so bye! Oh and feel free to fan/vote/comment/add to library if you like our story!! :)

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I stare at my gold crested watch noticing that it is 11:55 am. In five more minutes, I am supposed to meet someone here. I dont know why I am supposed to be here, or why these strangers want to even talk to me. All I was told was to be here by twelve and no later.

I tap my leg anxiously staring at my surroundings. I am sitting in a abandoned Starbucks in the middle of New York. Ever since this Moriens breakout, civilization has disappeared. No more jobs, no more school, no more society, no more people. Everything has cracked under the pressure of this Moriens disease. It has been spreading like wildfire. It's hard to protect yourself when Moriens can travel through the air. Us humans used to just hide from whatever was scaring us, but that is no more. Nobody has been able to hide from Moriens.

In this Starbucks there are several scattered tables and turned over chairs around the room. I see that there is still machines behind the cash register so I go and see if they still work. I get up from my chair and slowly slide my feet towards them. When I get there I grab my left hand from my suit pocket and stare at my half scarred and half tattoed hand which said a big whopping 31 on it. I put a cup under the coffee machine and press a few buttons to make the coffee decaf.

Once the fairly large coffee was ready I took a big sip of it burning my tongue making to look like a fool jumping up and down in pain in an abandoned cafe. I take a seat once again and think about the strange events that took place this morning.

I am lining up groggily with my girlfriend Ranny in my arms. Each and every morning everyone in our "quarantine zone" get checked by the MD's to see if they have Moriens or not. Ranny and I are near the end of the line because I slept in by accident. If I had come any later,  I would have had a public beating. The line moves slowly and we inch our way up to the front of the line to be tested, like we do every morning. If the MD's notice you have Moriens. You will be leaving faster than you can say quarantine.

"You nervous?" I ask Ranny. She's practictately shaking. I squeeze her shoulders with worry. She shakes her head but I can see past it.

I met Ranny about 3 months ago. We both were parentless and hopeless, searching for a safe haven. Together we traveled through the ruins of North America and eventually our friendship escalated. But really what's the point? I don't feel anything when I'm with Ranny. Not sad or happy or love. I think that I just can't feel anything with all that's going on right now. One day she just called me her boyfriend and I didn't correct her.

We arrived here last month. The Quarantine zone is a very cold place. Not alot of people like to interact. You just can't get attached to anyone really. They're just going to die on you like everyone you know.

One of the MD's reaches a leather-clad hand forward and  beckons for Ranny's arm. She reaches it forward and the MD grips it tightly as they inject a Ink into her skin. She shivers as it enters her blood system. Time seems to stop when it happens. A big black tattoo of the number 31 blooms across the back of her hand. I glance down on my hand and I notice that I have the same peircing black number stained on my hand.

"Wait, what just happened?" Ranny asks confused.

"You were protected from Moriens, and now you're not." the MD says gruffly.