Gemma:
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BOOM!! CRACK!! SCREAM!! BOOM!!
I lie motionless in my bed as the storm rages on. I have never been able to sleep through storms, not since my parents death. I hear the piercing screams of the people outside in acid rain. They now have Yellow Fever.
Yellow Fever had broken out about 400 years ago but told it has been around much longer than that. Some environment flaw happened and now whenever it rains it gives off an acid that causes the disease Yellow Fever. The Yellow Fever is just what it says, you get a fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea and muscle pains. I never knew it was contagious but I guess it is. At least 2.5 million people have died from this. We don’t even have a cure for this fatal disease, our selfish government took all the remedies with them and they went anywhere that’s not here because they don’t want to ‘become infected’. Thanks to them I have lost both of my parents and my little brother. They all died right in front of me. And I couldn’t do anything about it, and I hate myself for it. I refused to leave Chicago because what’s the point of running around if I’m just going to die anyway. I shiver as I ply the blankets off of me and roll out of my bed in my brown run down house. All it has is a fireplace, a kitchen, bedroom and a bathroom, that’s all I need to live. This town is a ghost town and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m the only sane person left in America.
It’s such a small place that I know it inside and out. As I make my way to the kitchen for some breakfast but something frightening catches me off-guard. My front door is opened.
I know I locked it last night! I mean you can’t miss 4 HUGE locks just hanging on your main door. Before I can move or think, the worst flashback possible resurfaces in my mind. I was only six when my parents died. A storm is passing by, a loud roar of thunder echoes in my home that’s when I made a beeline to my mom’s room. “Gem, honey? It’s okay, it’s just a storm. But you know the rule, we need to stay quiet so we won’t be found.” I’ve always loved my mother’s soothing voice. “Honey why don’t you go get Tanner, okay. Remember, don’t run with the baby in your arms.” “Okay mama…” Before I go to my brothers room I catch a glimpse of a white envelope with a big red stamp on it. I shrug off the thought and continue to Tanner’s room. I creak open the door and tip toe to his crib and I’m greeted to see his huge shining dark blue eyes, just like mine. They fit so perfectly on his innocent, chubby baby face. “Hi bubsie! Wanna go into mama’s room? Yea, okay.” After five minutes of struggle I successfully get Tanner out of the crib. Tanner looks so much like our daddy. With the thought a single tear makes it way down my cheek. Our father had died when Tanner was born, he had saved me from touching the rain. At least that’s what mom told me. He took his life to save mine and I will forever uphold that deed. As I walk across the house with Tanner I notice that our front door is opened. I was so scared I almost dropped Tanner. Now I run into my mom’s room just to three figures dressed in black taking my sleeping mother away out the window. I stand there, frozen unable to pry my feet of the wooden floor and hide. I just stand there. My mother being mom-knapped right in front of me. But then I see a little figure, possibly a child or just a really small person. The little person stays behind, shutting and locking the window after the other men leave. The person takes of their mask. It’s a boy, my age too. “Hi, I’m Brian Johnson! I’m sorry they took your mama, and I’m sorry I didn’t help but I didn’t want to get hurt because all they do is hit me.” “It’s okay. You can stay and live with me. Oh my name is Gemma and this is my baby brother Tanner.” After I took care of Brian I lay Tanner back down in his crib. “Hi bubsie. Our mommy is gone, but don’t worry we’ll find her one day. But until then, me and Brian will take care of you, you’ll be okay and I promise; I won’t go anywhere.” I then lay a kiss on his forehead and run back to my room.
I sprint into Tanner’s room and I quietly shake him awake. “Hey bubsie, I need you to come with me. Okay? Just be very quiet.” “Okay.” We walk to the door, a butter knife in my right hand and my brothers hand in my left. I slowly shut the door then I hear a creak behind me… I don’t think I want to turn around but I need to keep Tanner safe, a sister’s promise. I turn around and shove Tanner behind me in one swift motion just to see a complete idiot. Brian Johnson.
“YOU IDIOT! You gave me a heart attack, why on earth would you do that?!” I exclaim in a whisper.
“Sorry, geez. I just got home and I really needed to pee so i went to the bathroom but I thought I closed the door behind me. And a butter knife? Is that really the best you could do princess?” He retorts with that stupid smirk on his face. If looks could kill, he would be in the grave.
“I swear if you do that again, I won’t hesitate on throwing my butter knife! Then you you’ll be left with one eye.” I snicker right back at him, God he can be so stupid.
“Then I’ll have to sleep with one eye open.” He winks after making the comeback. Well, what he considered a comeback, I told you he’s stupid. He sets down his brown torn leather hunting bag. He hunts, I cook and we all eat. It’s how it’s been since ,well, forever.
“Bri, did you get anything today?” I shout as I search through his bag, which reeks with animal. I’m about to give up looking but then something unique catches me off guard. It’s a letter, one of those really fancy ones that have a big red stamp on them. They have the stamps so that the person that receives them knows that it hasn’t been opened before them. My father had received one of those letters before he died, I vaguely remember what it was about but I think it had to do with a war. Another letter was on my moms night table the day she was captured. With shaking hands I grab the letter and lift it up, so gently as if it would shatter at any given second.
“Yea! I got a squirrel, bunny and duck. I already put them in the icebox so don’t panic.” Brian replies as he walks into the room he left his bag, which also contains me. I can sense his eyes on me but I don’t dare look.
“Where did you get this?” I ask in a whisper, as if I were talking to myself. He knows that every time I see these letters, someone I love is taken from my life. He could have at least hid it better.
“Gem-”
“Do not ‘Gem’ me! Where did you get this.” I spit coldly, I didn’t mean for it to come out that harsh but it did and I can’t, won’t, take it back.
“Okay, when I was walking back home, you know taking multiple routes so know one follows, when I encountered a man. He was probably in his 40s early 50s, he had blue eyes with a dirty blonde hair. He looked a lot like you, it was actually really freaky. He then claimed he was your father. But I was like her father is dead and he said, and I quote. ‘She had to believe that to be kept safe but now her moms missing, you gotta watch her and Tanner make sure they come to Gray’s Peak once you reach its territory you all will be safe from The Summoners then we can open this letter an-”
“BRIAN!! You’re not making any sense. My father died, my mom told me. He touched the rain and died because - “
“No, Gem. You’re wrong he didn’t die. You remember when those men came to take your mom? Well apparently they call themselves The Summoners. They summon certain people to come with them ,if they like it or not, and the people being taken get a beating until they spill information about the government or about why certain events are occurring. Gem, we know where you’re mom is. We could go save her, then we can call for back up oh and we’ll get mentioned in a bunch of articles and- “
“Brian, there is no back up, there’s nothing to be mentioned in, and for all we know my mom could be dead or beaten to death.. Plus it isn’t safe, we have Tanner and I can’t risk his life too.” As if on cue Tanner decides to walk in, perky as usual.
“I wanna do it! I’ve never met my mom, well not that I remember, and you won’t be putting me in danger, I’m 10 years old! I take care of myself during the day while you two are out and about. So, why can’t I tag along? I’ll be like the puppy we never had.” At this point he has his ‘puppy dog eyes’ on and he knows for a fact that I can’t resist them, but there’s always a first.
“No. I am not putting you in danger, a sister’s promise. Now go to bed, and don’t tell me you haven’t eaten because I saw you eating the soup from yesterday. So get to bed!” At this point I can feel tears threatening to spill out. This is all just too much for me.
“GEMMA!!! Why can’t we do this? You know I would like to met my mother too! I hate you Gemma, I’m 10 years old!! Ugh!!” With that he storms off to his room slamming the door behind him. Now I feel guilty… All he wanted was to see hope but I crushed him, I did that and there’s only one way to make it up to him…
We’re going to Gray’s Peak weather I like it or not.