©️2015 @cinneryn ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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ⒸⒽⒶⓅⓉⒺⓇ 1:
The Unprepared Vacation
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"Mom, come and look at this!"

I sat on the couch with my dad. We stared at the TV so intently as if trying to burn our eyes. My mom walked in and glued her own eyes to the screen. I raised the volume and listen to the news reporter speak urgently.

"There have been reports of a epidemic across the country. We aren't solid on the details but it seems this particular disease was told to make its victim to act.... dangerously. We aren't sure at the moment but we will get back to you on that. Now over to Avery."

I turned my head to look up at my mom who looked concerned.

"Disease? That makes people dangerous? What does that mean?" She said crossing her arms, still looking at the screen but not really paying attention to what was being said.

"That was pretty weird." I said trying to be calm about it. However, I felt a strange prick or fear in my stomach. Like something was gonna happen. It was obvious my mom felt it too, she was almost shaking with nervousness.

"Maybe we should get Ellie off of school early." My mom suggested quietly in her paranoia.

My dad shook his head. "Honey, don't pay any attention to that. Its probably nothing. People always over exaggerate on the news. Its like a big foot-kind-of thing." My dad dismissed the whole thing and took the remote to change the channel. I looked at him. Trying to get his attention. Trying to communicate my fear.

Just before he was able to switch channels, the TV screen went into a snow storm for a second and then popped back up as a blue screen. The only thing on the screen were tiny words saying: "We're sorry, but your local news is experiencing some difficulties. Please stand by."

I felt my gut churn as I read the screen. No one spoke. We only stared in shock and made a few noises in our throats.

After a bit, a new screen popped up and the images terrified us. The camera faced a news reporter who seemed to be under a desk or table.

"Hello. Anyone watching this, please listen." He spoke in a quiet shaky voice. His breathing heavy and his chest heaved as he laid on it.

"Listen. The disease- the people- they aren't themselves.... they...." He looked around cautiously. "They're everywhere, and they don't stop. They have taken a few of our people." He looked strait at the camera with fear dripping out in tears. "Run..... Take your loved ones and run. Get out of the city, find shelter and pray for god to have mercy on your soul." There was a sound of clattering and the man whipped his head around, startled.

"Oh shit." He whispered. "They've come." He whimpered and held head in his hands. He murmured prayers and pleas but none were heard.

Suddenly a hand came into view and he shrieked. The camera was knock away and faced a different direction. There were wails of pain and the sound of growling. A pool of red seeped on the carpet into view.

Fear shot throughout our bodies and my mother gasped, her face pail and eyes wide with fear. "We need to go, now!"

We all raced out the door and piled into the car. Our hearts pounding and our heads fuzzy with fear.

Please god, tell me this is only a nightmare.

My dad drove recklessly down the road but his style wasn't much different than  some other people we passed. They were all either as terrified as we were or completely confused.

We pulled up onto the lawn of Ellie's elementary school and we all piled out. We all thought in our minds that it would be safer going together. We ran through the doors of the school. There were only a few other parents who seemed to know what was happening. But, like us, wasted no time explaining it to anyone. Not that we knew enough to do so. We only shouted into the classrooms. Saying to "get out of here. Call the parents and get home."

We ran to Ellie's classroom to find it empty. We made our way to the playground were we thought they might be having recess.

The playground monitor saw us and immediately questioned us. "Excuse me, do you have visitors passes?"

We spotted Ellie and my parents rushed toward her. The monitor tried to object but I quickly started to explain. "We're Ellie Goldman's family. We came to get her. Something bad is happening, you need to get these children inside and contact the parents." I spoke urgently, my voice shaky from shock.

My fear transferred over to her and she furrowed her brow. "Whats happened? Whats going on?"

I shook my head and clenched my fists. "I have no idea. All I know is everyone's lives are in danger. There's something coming- I don't know, its like a disease...."

My dad came behind me, with Ellie in his arms. "We need to go!"

I turned and followed him, shouting over my shoulder. "Get them to a safe place!"

As we ran to the car we heard whistles going off and a voice come up on the intercom. "Everyone get to your classrooms and call your parents. This not a drill."

We piled into the car and frantically closed the doors. My innocent little sister sat cowering. "Daddy, whats happening? Im scared."

"Its ok honey. Don't worry." My mother spoke calmly to ease her terrified child.

"I left my backpack."

"You don't need it sweetheart."

There was a long, silence where we tried to smooth our breath and stop from being dizzy. After a bit, my brain had started to think a bit more normally.

"Dad...... What do you think it is?" I kept my eyes down and did my best not to sound distressed so I wouldn't upset my sister.

My dad cleared his throat and came up to the freeway entrance. "I don't know, Cory, but it isn't good." He had is eyes on the road ahead but not like it was just regular driving but like he was in shock. I followed the focus of his eyes. My mouth dropped open as a saw the freeway completely backed up with cars. Some of them looked like they crashed and others honked and tried to find a way to move ahead. My dad quickly did a full U-turn and started going down another road.

"The long way around it is." My father mumbled.

"Daddy, where is everybody going?" Ellie asked, significantly calmer than before but still a bit on edge. I scooted a bit closer to her and smiled.

My father answered her in a hearty tone. "I don't know were they are going, dear. But we are going to that cabin buy the lake."

"The one we go to every summer?"

"Thats the one."

"Are we having a vacation?" She asked egarly.

My mom nodded and turned to show her a smile. "In a way, but we don't know when we will be coming back."

Ellie sat in thought. She no longer felt afraid but she sat probably wondering why we are suddenly leaving.

I didn't think lying to her was fair, but right now the last thing we need was a crying, shaking little girl.

I tried to figure what kind of disease would make people act so violently. I thought back to what I saw on the news. I shuttered when I remembered the yelps and terrible cries and then seeing the blood on the ground.

What the hell happened back there? Who or what did that to them?

Was it that disease? If so, how the hell do we escape that?

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Yay!

I've been wanting to publish this book for a while now. If you don't know me, I'm violent so this is only the beginning. 👹