The Day the World Ended

Chapter 1 Just a Sickness

I walked to my last class of the day. It was a Monday and everyone was in a bad mood. Who isn't on a Monday? It was a reading class, so I expected to learn about language in some way. I walked into the room and sat down, surprised to see the TV was full volume. I watched as pictures of a burning buildings and people running appeared.

"A sickness has effected a patient of the local Maine County Hospital was recently effected with a disease much like the Black Death. But instead of dying and staying dead, he arose at his funeral, just a day later, and attacked everyone..." A picture of a deathly looking man shown across the screen. His flesh was ripped and torn, he was bleeding and he seemed... not there.
"It seems that this sickness is only passed if they claw or bite you. And the cure will be found shortly. Please, everyone remain indoors so you do not get bitten or scratched..." The TV began to fade and had static appearing. "Please," the announcer said, "Stay calm."

With that, the power had died, all of my class mates and I were in the dark. With only the sun as our light.

The rest of the day we did nothing. Everyone was too distracted to think. I think some were scared. I heard many saying that it was finally happening... the Apocalypse. It couldn't be, could it? They said it was a sickness, and if there were... zombies... the military would kill them all before it spread around the globe. I had to admit, I was scared. My loved ones could turn into one of those things, and I wouldn't know until after this was all over. All over. It would be over right?

I looked outside. Obviously I couldn't see what time it was because there was no power, so the sun was my best shot. I was worried when I saw that the sun was setting. It had to have been six. And we should've left three hours ago. I wondered about my mom, dad, and siblings. Let alone my pets. Were they all at home while I was stuck here? How will I get home? Were they even there?

The teachers seemed nervous. They too had family to get back to. I felt bad. My teacher was pacing the front of the room, chewing on her fingernails.

I walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder, "It'll be alright. You heard the reporter, it is just a sickness, and it will be cured soon. As long as we stay in the school, we'll be fine."

"Are you sure of that?" She put her hands on the sides of her head, "I heard the students talking. This is how the world ends! Everyone will get the 'sickness' and we will all turn into one of those things and kill everything and everyone. There's no hope."

I let go of her shoulder, "How could you say that? You're the adult here, and these... we are your students. Shouldn't you be spending your time keeping them calm? I understand you're worried about your family. We all are. But you are here, and you are still the teacher. It's time to take responsibility and keep everyone calm."

She considered it for a moment, "You don't understand. I have a husband, children! I am a mother of two, and when they need me the most I'm not there."

"Well you're here for us. And we need you as well."

A tear rolled down from her eye as she hugged me, "Thank you. I will be the responsible adult and take care of the kids."

And with that she went off telling everyone it was a sickness. Just a sickness. It was one... right?