The Sick Ones

5 years ago - where were you when it began?

Havens POV

The school buses were late. Normally I could hear them rev up and idle by the front doors around the end of 7th period. Ms. Gonzalez's class was interesting enough but I always found myself staring out the window, watching them pull up.
The buses were late.

Suddenly, cell phone after cell phone rang. Ms. Gonzalez stopped writing on the dry erase board long enough to give us all dirty looks for having the sound on in the first place. Then hers rang.
I remember her saying hers only rang for emergencies. She seemed to remember she'd said that too as we all gave her concerned looks before looking at our own cell phones.

25 missed calls.
13 text messages.

Mom: How is school?
Mom: Something strange is going on, is anyone at school acting funny?
Mom: I need you to answer.
Mom: I've called the school, no one is picking up the phones.
Mom: HAVEN
Mom: Honey I need you to answer me.
Mom: God damnit Haven look at your phone for gods sakes.
Mom: I'm on my way to get you. Don't talk to anyone, don't touch anything. If anyone acts funny you tell them to stay the fuck away from you.
Mom: I'm almost there.
Mom: Get your things and be ready.
Mom: Haven are you there? I'm going to try to call again.
Mom: I'm here.
Mom: ...

The moment I looked up from my iPhone screen, my confused expression matched those of every single person in my class. In a panic I opened the news app.

DEATH TOLL CLIMBS AT ALARMING SPEEDS ONLY 1 HOUR AFTER CONTACT WITH PATIENT ZERO

CDC URGES INDIVIDUALS TO STAY INSIDE AND AVOID ANY AND ALL CONTACT IN HOPES OF CURVING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

SCIENTISTS ARE CALLING THIS, "THE WORSE VIRUS THEY'VE SEEN SINCE THE BLACK PLAGUE."

SATURNINE- HOME OR FOREIGN ATTACK?

I couldn't believe my eyes. I remember the news from this morning talking about a man stumbling into a hospital in New York with some type of never before seen pathogen but when I left for school, there were no dead. In a matter of 7 hours, 20% of the nations population had been taken out.

"Ok class settle down. Clearly we've all seen the distressing news coverage of what's going on. I'm dismissing class early for a safety precaution. I've tried to reach the office and they're not responding via intercom so I am acting on their behalf."

I quickly gathered my books and notes, already prepared to bolt for the door. My mom should be here anyway.

"If you have someone already here to get you I need you to calmly exit the building like you normally would. Due to the severity of this new virus, please make sure you are standing several feet apart. Now let's start—"

Kkkkkssssssssss

The loud hissing of the intercom had us all covering our ears.

"This is-" heavy breathing "your principle."

There was a couple of seconds filled with nothing but the sound of him gagging and wheezing. He sounded like he was suffocating.

"Fucking run... the virus is in the building. We're all going to fucking die."

And click.