Virus

My feet are so sore. I feel like I've been walking for days, which is probably true. The world is so barren, it's just a barren landscape of nothing.

"Ida, I'm so tired," my little brother Jarred whined, his feet dragging. He was only five, he looks a lot like me, with his chocolate brown hair, and green eyes. He has freckles that dance across his face, just like me, and mom.

"I know we can stop in a little bit," I replied.

"We just need to deliver this. Ok?"

"Ok."

I need to deliver this letter to Piscotti. We're what you call poor. The virus really did a number on the world. It has taken many lives from us, many that will not be forgotten.

We reached the warehouse, where Piscotti will be waiting for us. Once we got inside, there he stood awaiting our arrival. Piscotti was a middle aged man, he had slicked back, black hair, going bald in some areas. He had eyes the shade of brown, with green flecks mixed in. He's the one I do business with.

"Stay here alright," I said to my little brother.

"Ok."

I walked over to Piscotti.

"Do you have what i asked for?"

"Yes," I replied.

I took out the envelope from my bag and handed it to him. He wouldn't tell me what's inside or what it was for, but I could tell it was important. He's very secretive like that.

"Good, this is why you're my most trusted employee."

Piscotti trusts me only because the government can't track me. I don't have the chip, neither does my brother.

"Well your trusted employee needs to be paid to stay your trusted employee," I said thrusting my hand out to him waiting for money. He then in return handed me, a whole one hundred dollars. Better not be fake, me and him are close, and I do know he does play tricks. I held a bill up to the light checking ; it's not.

I said thank you, and told him if he needs me he knows where to find me. I don't have a phone. The government tracks those too. The government tracks all technology, but there is a select few that the government can't track. Those are very rare to find.

We walked to the town square where they supply things for cheap. It might not be the best, but it's better than buying a bunch of bananas for twenty dollars. Here they would be about four dollars.

"Oh can we get this Ida?," Jarred exclaimed excitedly, while hopping up and down.

"We have to spend our money wisely," I tell my little brother with a stern expression.

I went up to a stand and picked up two apples, one for me, and one for Jarred. I paid and handed him one and told him to eat it, telling him we'll be walking to Zoe's house. we go to Zoe's house twice a month, once every two weeks. Zoe has one of those fancy computers, that the government can't track. We go there to check what's happening in the world. You can see anything on those computers, even when the next black market auction is. The auctions are very helpful, you can get very useful information there. If someone's willing to buy it there's someone willing to sell it. Anyone can buy anything.

We reach Zoe's house, and she greats us with a warm smile. Zoe is like a sister to me. She's very loving towards Jarred, but to me she's more like a spunky girl you'd meet at a rock concert. She has short bobbed hair, the colour of an electric purple. She likes very loud colours, which is just like her personality.

"Zoe!," Jarred runs up to Zoe, hugging her legs, not tall enough to give her an actual hug.

"How are you Jarred?"

"Good!"

"Zoe can I use your computer?" I ask.

"Yea sure," she says while playing hide and seek with Jarred.

I go onto the computer, and check a news site, one that the government doesn't control. It's almost all blank, besides where it says: "The government is trying to track these computers; if you're on this site, get off and shut down the computer. I wish you luck." I did what they told me to do, I don't want to take any chances.

I heard sirens in the distance, red and blue flashes in the window; cops.

"We need to go! We need to go now!"

"We need to get the computer!" Zoe yelled to no one in particular.

I nodded and told Jarred to go hide in the closet and be quiet, in case they came in. Me and Zoe started unplugging cords frantically, quickly moving the computer in the basement, in a secret panel in the wall.

"Come out and put your hands up!"

"We need to go now!"

We rush up the stairs. I tell Jarred we're leaving, while Zoe packs a bag full of food and supplies.

We run out the back so they don't see us. We run until we reach town square, trying to blend in with the crowd. We dodge people, some trying to sell us products. It got to the point where the crowd became so thick, I had to try to shove people out of our way.

"Put your hands up!," I heard someone call from behind us. I turned around slowly while putting my hands up. We were surrounded.