Chapter 1
Tay
I awoke to the jarring sound of a loud bang, my senses jolted from the depths of sleep. As I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of last night's binge watching session, I saw a familiar face peeking through the door. It was my 17 year old brother Andy, his expression a mix of excitement and urgency.
"Get up, Tay! You've got to see this!" he shouted before bolting down the stairs, his footsteps echoing like thunder in the stillness of the morning. I groaned, considering the comfort of my bed over whatever had captured his attention. Sundays were my refuge from the hustle of the workweek, a time for lazing around or indulging in long, blissful naps.
Despite my reluctance, my mother's voice soon followed, calling for me to come downstairs. I sighed deeply, pressing my face into the pillow for one last moment of solace. "Fuck, my life," I muttered under my breath, knowing that resistance was futile.
As I descended the stairs, the blaring sound of the news channel grew louder, filling the house with an air of urgency. My family sat transfixed, eyes glued to the TV screen, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern.
"What's going on?" I asked, still groggy but now piqued by curiosity. My brother, usually the first to jump in with a sarcastic remark or an attempt to annoy me, merely pointed at the screen, his face unusually serious. The news anchor spoke with a grave tone, reporting on a series of bizarre occurrences that had swept through the town overnight.
My heart skipped a beat as the words "virus" and "dead patients" echoed in my mind. The news anchor continued, detailing the rapid spread of an unknown virus that had originated within the city. Reports of people exhibiting violent behavior, attacking others with a ferocity that seemed almost inhuman, flashed across the screen.
"Like you see in the movies," I whispered, incredulous. "Fucking zombies... fucking zombies are real."
The room was filled with a tense silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. My parents exchanged worried glances, their expressions mirroring the fear that gripped my own heart. My mind raced with questions. How could this be happening? What would we do?
First, we decided we needed to gather more information. My dad suggested keeping the news channel on and checking online for updates. We needed to stay informed and aware of any new developments or safety instructions. My mom, immediately thought of supplies. We would need food, water, and medical supplies to last us in case things got worse. She made a list, and we began planning how to gather what we needed without drawing attention. My brother, still unusually serious, suggested we secure the house. Lock all doors and windows, possibly even barricade them. It sounded extreme, but in light of what we had just seen, it seemed like a necessary precaution.
As I sat on the couch, the news droning on in the background, I found myself lost in thought. My brother was practically vibrating with excitement at the thought of a real life zombie scenario, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. While he thrived on the thrill of it all, I longed for the comforting normalcy of my everyday life.
Realizing how much I missed my best friend, I picked up my phone to call Gigi. We hadn't spent much time together since she started dating her new boyfriend, and now, more than ever, I needed to hear a familiar voice. "Hey, Gigi," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaos swirling around me. "Tay! It's been ages!" she replied, her voice warm and cheerful. "I was just thinking about you."
We chatted for a while, catching up on the small things we'd missed in each other's lives. I told her about the news and the strange events in the city. She was surprised but reassured me that everything would be okay. "I'm sure it's nothing we can't handle, right?" she said, her optimism contagious. "Besides, it's not like we're living in a movie."
Talking to Gigi reminded me that despite the current situation, life would go on. I had college classes to attend, work shifts to cover, and a future to plan. My parents, though worried, were doing everything they could to keep us safe. It was comforting to know that we weren't alone in facing this strange new reality.
As the evening hours stretched on, we found ourselves reluctantly pulling away from the hypnotic glow of the television. The news had been a relentless torrent of grim updates and unsettling images, each report more alarming than the last. Yet, despite the chaos unfolding in other parts of the world, our small town remained untouched by the virus.
My dad insisted that we should not succumb to panic. "Let's get some rest," he suggested, his tone calm and reassuring. "We'll see what tomorrow brings."
