The world as we knew it had gone. In a matter of weeks bodies lay scattered across cities, towns and villages.
People dropped down dead in the streets, while at work or queuing for groceries. At first no one knew why. And the few that did find out why didn’t survive long enough to tell anyone important.
Steven knew why. He was the last survivor in his street. His parents had gone; his best friends were also dead, and he had even killed his girlfriend. He didn’t intend to it just happened. And that’s when he realized what had killed millions across the globe.
Steven lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was quiet and that’s what he hated the most. He had wandered the streets at first, but when he did come across another survivor he ran and ran. He knew coming into contact with someone else could be fatal.
When his parents died he buried them in the back garden thinking it was some deadly virus. It had only been a few weeks ago; his dad was panicking collecting supplies, while his mum was packing clothes into rucksacks. It was chaos, all three of them stood in the room yelling and screaming. Then it happened, his parents starting choking. He’d tried to help by calling the emergency services but they were both dead by the time he heard the dead line on the other end of the phone.
The next day he’d watched his girlfriend collapse and die in front of him and that’s when he’d realized how they died. He sat for hours crying, something that had in turn changed to hysterical laughter. Steven didn’t stop laughing for days.
Giving up on the ceiling, Steven made his way down stairs, walking into the fully stocked kitchen. For now he didn’t need to worry about supplies. He had driven his dad’s car to the local supermarket. There had been some looting but it was all over too quickly for most people. He had gathered up bottles of water, tinned foods and the fruit that hadn’t gone bad. He never came across another survivor searching for food.
Since then, he’d ventured out a few more times, just to break the boredom, but he didn’t think there was anyone left. The last time was different, and he saw someone in the distance, but there was no way he was going to take a chance, so Steven ran.
That was three days ago and it still worried him he might have been followed.
Glancing out of the kitchen window from behind the blind, he looked at the three mounds of earth where his parents and his girlfriend were buried. He missed them so much: the world had become such a quiet place, and he hadn’t even seen or heard a bird for days. Could the same thing that killed the human race also wiped out the wildlife?
He lit the gas stove, opened a can of tinned pork and cut himself four thick slices. Placing them on the frying pan, he also opened a tin of beans and poured them into a small pan. The smell of food made his stomach grumble and his mouth water.
Once the food was cooked, Steven sat at the table and tucked into his breakfast, quickly polishing it off. Leaving the plate on the table, he went and laid on the sofa, picked up a fantasy book and started reading.
He hadn’t been reading long when someone started banging on the front door and he jumped up in shock, heart hammering wildly.
“Please let me in, I know you’re in there. I can smell your food. Please?”
Steven crept to the front window, and holding the curtain back slightly, he saw a teenage boy. The boy noticed him.
“Please let me in, I am so scared I haven’t seen anyone for ages.”
Steven let go of the curtain and sat back on the sofa.
The banging continued, “Please let me in”
“I can’t let you in, it’s too dangerous,” he called out.
It had been so quiet for so long, but the banging continued.
“Stop banging on my front door.” screamed Steven.
“I will, just let me in. Please.”
He didn’t want anyone around him; Steven had accepted a life alone. And he knew that he would put everything at risk if he let him in.
The banging continued, and Steven put his hands over his ears. But then he felt something stir in his body.
“I couldn’t, but who would know if I did?” He whispered.
Steven stood and slowly walked to the front door. He opened the letter box.
“Step back from the door.” He yelled.
The teenager stepped back.
Steven saw tears streaming down cheeks, his clothes were filthy and he was shaking uncontrollably.
“How?” asked Steven
“What?” replied the boy?
“How do people die?”
“I don’t know they just fall down dead.”
“You really don’t know how they die?”
“No I don’t, please just let me in.”
Steven stood. “I can’t have this person bothering me, I just can’t,” he said behind gritted teeth.
Steven unlocked the door, the boy rushed at him. But Steven put his hand up. “No don’t come near me. You can come in for food and that’s it, ok?”
The boy nodded. “I’m Jake,” he said holding out his hand.
“I don’t care what your name is, just keep your distance.”
The boy nodded again.
Steven waved him into the kitchen.
“I can’t thank you enough. It’s been crazy, everybody’s dead. My mum, my dad, my brother, even my cat.”
“Your cat?”
“Yes my cat, all dead. I wandered the streets looking for help and then I saw you. Please let me stay.”
Steven felt the stir in his body again.
“Wow, this is a nice house. Is it just you here?”
“Yes, just me.”
“What you cooking?” asked Jake.
“Spam and beans”
“Beans, you know they make you fart like hell.”
Steven grinned. “I know.”
Steven let go of his bowls. The sound of Steven’s fart ripped through the air like a knife. It was long and loud.
“Bloody he……” Jake’s words trailed off, and his eyes bulged. He started to cough, and then choke. Jake put his hands up to his throat gasping for breath.
A few seconds later, Jake was dead.
“A fart Jake, the smell of another person’s fart killed off the human race, and now you know.” Steven giggled. “I do find it hysterical.”
The End
