From Rich to Runner (on pause)

Untitled Part 1

"Superesse vigemusque, etiamsi reliquas orbis terrarum qui non oriuntur."

"Survive and thrive, even if the rest of the world fails to rise."

-----
Waterbury, Connecticut

Wed March 29, 2039

0829
-----


I could feel the press of the wind against my face as I pushed against it, my feet running against the wet, slippery gravel on the ground as the buildings around me beginning to blur while I fought to control the loud, heavy breaths that escaped from my mouth while I ran onward. I wanted to stop, every part of my body was aching and begging for me to stop. The muscles in my legs seizing every time I slowed down to turn a corner as my lungs convulsed in attempts to take in as much air as they could. But, even though I could feel my body beginning to tire as I had been running for a good thirty minutes, I knew that no matter what I would not-could not-stop because I could still hear the sounds of the heavy, feet pattering against the wet ground behind me.

I became distracted as I head grumbling, snarling noises coming from my right and didn't notice the metal fence as I rounded the corner, ending with me ramming right into it. What little air my lungs had gathered flew from my mouth as I stumbled backward, my dress shoes not equipped to help keep me standing in the slippery concrete and therefore caused me to fall backward. Every part of my body froze, fear gripping my arms, legs and soul as I laid in a muddy puddle, staring up at the grey clouds that seemed to mock me. The sounds that seemed to come straight from a nightmare began to creep closer, and my already heavy beating heart began to feel as though it was trying to escape from my chest as it drummed harder against my ribs.

I felt a laugh bubble from inside me as I thought about all the things that had happened in the last 3 weeks. 3 fucking weeks was all it took as I went from being the richest kid in the state of Connecticut to some dirty, nobody running for his life. All because of some stupid nuclear plant explosion that turned 95% of the population into brain dead monsters. I closed my eyes, knowing that this was going to be the end, less than 10 miles to a safe place and to finally see my sister again...

"Why me! Huh? God, why me. I never did anything to anyone, I never hurt or stole or disobeyed anything or anyone...so why the fuck am I the one being punished!" I finally stopped, my dry throat now feeling like sandpaper as tears rubbed the back of my eyes. I only wanted to see my sister one last time, to tell her that she didn't have to worry, and that everything was going to be okay. I could suddenly feel a pull against my skin, as though someone was calling out to me. I lifted my head off the wet ground and looked around-with a large amount of effort on my part-, my eyes searching for something or anything that seemed to create the pull I had begun feeling.

"Psst. Up here." The sound of a low voice drew my eyes from the ground levels to above me, the darkening skies making it hard to see anything in details, even if I squinted. I muttered a string of curses but made no motion to move until I heard the sound of a foot clamping down right next to my face, causing a gurgled yelp to escape from my empty lungs.

"Corpseahelius Dan Jones, get off the ground." The sound hissed above me. My name sounded foreign to my own ears, but it surprised me enough that I fully lifted my head off the ground.

(paused!)