Whatcha Gonna Do? (Apocalypse)

Part One: Whirlwind

          I never expected my life to take a turn like this. I mean, my friend and I always played silly games to figure out what we would do in the rare chance this ever happened. None of those games could have prepared me for the whirlwind my life would become.

I was at work, bussing tables in a small, local restaurant called Relish, when we found out what was happening. All the 50 inch TV screens which were typically muted came to life. They all blared a siren, demanding we all go home and be with our loved ones as we were now in a state of emergency due to an epidemic plague and a broken quarantine. The entirety of Washington, California and the rest of the West Coast was already wiped out. The virus hadn't been contained.

It was the calm before the storm as everyone was eerily silent. People all over the nicely decorated pavilion and at the dimly lit bar attempted to process what the announcement was telling us. What could have only been a few moments later, pandemonium ensued, people still silent as they left their unfinished sandwiches and salads as they dashed to their cars to isolate themselves.

My legs carry me to the back of the restaurant to grab my small, purple book bag I always carried with me. My eyes glance up and notice Johnathon, a friend I had made at work. He glanced towards me, the corners of his pale lips barely turning into a smile, his jade eyes offering their last goodbye and good luck. I returned the unspoken gesture, before I turned and walked out the door, calling my dad as I ran two miles to my apartment.

People all around scream and run into gas stations, hoarding as much crappy American food as they could. One woman with curly brown hair and two young children sit on the corner of the street and weep over a man's body. The unrecognizable man looks like he was hit by a truck, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and blood seeping from several open wounds on his body. I tear my eyes away and force my legs to keep moving towards my home.

As soon as I barge in the door to my apartment, my dad's arms envelope my body into a hug as he whispers, "We need to go to Uncle Mikes, now." His eyes search mine to see if I understand before he nods his head and continues to pack the essentials. My best friend who was a nurse and a worrier had begged me when she first began to hear of the symptoms of this virus to pack a bag, plus it wasn't safe in a crisis to be in an apartment complex. I thought she was insane at the time, but now I'll definitely have to thank her for her preemptive anxiety.

I go to my room, pick up my backpack and shove as many dark and sturdy clothes, feminine products and non-perishable food as I can into the bag. In another bag I shove a few books, a picture of my mom and a few sharp knives and a frying pan. My mind starts to race as I try and call my best friend, April. I hang up as the busy dial tone screeches into my ear with the all too familiar automated voice: "I'm sorry but this number can't be reached at this time, please hang up or try again."

My dad knocks on the door, "are you ready?" I turn to face him as I slowly nod, picking up the few bags I had packed my life into. A glimpse of myself flickers in the mirror as I walk by. My long, brown hair typically reached my low back but was put up in a disheveled ponytail and my makeup was smeared down my cheeks from sweating on my run home, making me look like a raccoon. When I woke up this morning, I never would have imagined walking out of the house like this as I pride myself on always looking decent and classy but right now I could not care less. My father and I walk out the door to the apartment complex as it buzzes with people who race to pack their cars, kids screaming and cars on their way to escape.

We climb into the car and my dad is sensible enough to go slowly, not vying to be the first one out. It's only a five to ten minute drive to my uncles and with everyone attempting to get away from the city I begin to worry we'll get stuck in traffic or get hijacked. I look out the window to keep track of anything that might be suspicious, but all I see is trees on both sides of the car are beginning to turn various greens, flowers emerging on some and littering the ground. A few brick houses sit on the hills and several cars pass by our car going the opposite way. Before I know it my dad has pulled into my uncle's neighborhood and sped into the garage, jumped out and immediately began to barricade the metal garage door.

Uncle Mike and my dad began to talk about the virus and unpack the car as I went in to the house and took a look around, to take stock of our supplies. I suppose being such a big fan of The Walking Dead was helpful in a situation like this. I found my dad and uncle seated on the black leather couch and joined them. They almost looked like twins despite them being ten years apart in age, both tall and lean with gray, curly hair, the same pointy chin and nose. I plopped down on the fuzzy, green armchair, in the corner of the room. I pulled out my IPhone and sent messages to April to ask how she and her family were doing.

My eyes began to flutter and close shut as the fatigue from the day set, and the realization of what was happening began to hit me. My phone buzzed on my thigh. I tear myself away from the sleep I desperately needed to check up on my friend. The bright glare from my phone, burned my eyes and a few tears fell down my cheeks from squinting so hard.

APRIL: Hey... Not doing so well. My family has the virus... I love you

My eyes would not leave the screen, continuously scanning the message my friend sent. "She, she can't..." I whispered to myself. My stomach began to gurgle in fear at the thought my friend was going to die and I hadn't seen her in months. The angel and devil on my shoulders fought with each other, one with hope my friend was okay but logic insistent she would die. I told April where I was and to follow the most recent plan we had devised about what we would do in the apocalypse. My eyes fight to stay open as I send the message, but lose the battle the moment after I press send, drowning me in slumber.

A few days later, a knock raps on the door pulling me from my thoughts. In a heartbeat my uncle was at the door, looking through the tiny circle window. "Oh wonderful! Jenny! It's your friend!" The door swung open to reveal April standing there silently with a backpack and two bags, eyes glazed over and covered in blood.

Before I could take in what was happening or someone began questioning, I was on my feet, dragging her through the house and stripping her of her clothes and shoving her into the shower. Her clothes had been covered in blood, but she didn't seem hurt except for a huge scrape all down the inside of her forearms. Neither of us said a word as she sat there, silent and naked as the water poured over her body. The blood began mixing with the water as it poured off her body in stream, creating a scarlet color coating the bottom of the tub as I helped to wash her and scrape the blood off where it had dried and clung to her skin. Once I had gotten the nasty, red flakes from her body, I searched her bag and dug out a few clothes she had brought in a backpack. The girl may be in shock, but at least she was smart about what to bring, a few lighters, a knife, clothes and food.

Once she was dried and dressed in leggings and a sweater, I brushed her hair and we sat there in comfortable silence as we had done many times before. After a while, April turned and looked at me, her eyes focused on the threads loose on the comforter and picked at them. "It was silent after two days. I couldn't come to terms with why it was so silent. But..." She gasped and looked up at me, tears filling her eyes. "There was so much blood, Jenny... They were all laying together, as a f-family..." Her voice hitched as she finished her sentence and tears began falling. "They," She hesitated, her whole body flinching, "the men. They came for me, that's why I came here, I couldn't hide any longer."

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Hey y'all!
It's a new story!
Please comment and all that. But seriously just comment!
I want to know what you think about the character and what's gonna happen next!

Thanks for reading, my nuggets❤