Chapter 1
The alarm clock rings on Tuesday morning. I start my day as always. My son, Abel, is still asleep in his toddler bed. I dress in purple scrubs today (the butterfly ones, my favorite).
I wait for the school bus and kiss my daughter Charolette goodbye. I head to work hoping for a good day, with hospice you don’t get those often. I start my audiobook and listen to a new romance novel, wearwolves this time.
I vaguely pay attention to the road as I take the same road as always. As I reach the hour mark, I notice two cop cars coming from behind me fast with the lights on. I quickly get out of the way. They pass me so fast my whole car shakes.
I take my exit and notice a man staggering down the road. He’s got blood on his shirt, but he doesn’t seem upset by it. On the contrary, he looks very dazed. Probably on drugs. I have learned being this close to the city, it’s sometimes best to stay out of it.
I pull into work with a few minutes to spare. I gather myself and find my bag. I barely make it out of my car when I see an older lady walking towards me dragging her foot. She doesn’t seem to notice the blood and bone coming out of her leg. I almost run to her pulling my phone out to call 911 when she starts growling and reaching for me. I stop dead in my tracks sensing something is very wrong. I quickly get back in the car and lock the doors as I notice my coworker coming out of the building with a bite mark on her cheek and blood down her chin. Her eyes are glazed over too.
I call 911 only to get a busy signal. I do the only thing I can think of and call my husband, Trey, at home. He turns on the news to find a warning of a new virus epidemic. He repeats the news host telling everyone to stay off the roadways and inside with locked doors. They are unsure at this time how the virus is spread but to remain calm. That’s easier said than done. He tells me to do my best to get home safely and he would go get Char from school. I check the charge on my phone, 94%.
