“A series of vicious murders has swept the county. The murderers all have a similar trait; each one started with a case of a bad flu. Extremely high fever, fatigue, and memory loss is how it starts. Specialists say the cause of the flu is unknown, but advise those who aren’t sick to stay away from those who are. If you have been bitten or scratched by one of the sick, call 911 or get to a hospital—”
The woman on the TV disappeared and showed a reflection of Shane and I in the reflective black screen.
“They dunno what they’re sayin’.” Shane muttered.
“Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?” I turned from the television to face him.
“Yeah, yeah. I should, shouldn’t I?” but he didn’t move.
“He’s your best friend and there’s an epidemic going on. He needs you.” I tried to convince him to leave.
“I know that, okay? But I’ve got to make sure you’re safe. That’s my first priority.” He began to pace back and forth from my kitchen to my living room.
“You’re wasting time. I’m fine, okay? Just go.” I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder.
He stopped pacing and looked directly into my eyes, and as he did, I saw a light bulb turn on in his head. He cupped my cheeks in his hands and kissed me,
“I’m gonna take you to your dad’s.” he said, rushing around my house and packing things.
“What do you mean to my dad’s? You think that’s really a great idea?”
“It’s the best I got.” He replied from the bedroom.
“The last time you stepped foot near his house he almost shot you.” I reminded him. My dad hadn't really taken to Shane all that much.
“Yeah, I remember, but I don’t think he’ll mind me much if I’m bringing you to him.” Shane came back into the living room and handed me a bag of my clothes and toiletries.
“Now, let’s go.” He took my hand and led me outside.
The news had made the sickness look way worse than it really was. There were no ambulances, no people screaming and crying, just families packing their cars up and leaving.
Shane drove me across town to my parents’ house. He stopped the car and we both got out to walk up to the door. We didn’t have to go far however, because my dad came marching out of his house with a rifle pointed at Shane's chest.
“You’ve got to be kidding me dad!” I yelled at him, “He’s a police officer, you can’t do that!”
“The hell I can't,” he grunted, “What’re you doin’ here?” he barked at Shane.
“I’m just droppin’ Lin off ‘cause I have to go to the hospital for Rick. Thought she’d be safer with you.” Shane’s hands were up in the air.
“Daddy c’mon, let’s get in the house.” I walked up to him and lowered the rifle with one hand.
We turned to go into the house when Shane stopped me, “I’ll come back for ya, okay?”
“Okay.” I smiled and he kissed my cheek.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
And with that, he walked down the steps of my parent’s house and got back into his squad car.
I heard the engine roar off as I stepped inside my childhood house. My mom and seventeen year old sister sat on the couch watching the news. When they noticed me standing there, they stood up and pulled me into a giant group hug.
“Seen the news? They haven’t stopped talking about it. The police have been taking strange calls like mad and the hospital's being overrun with the sickness.” My mom motioned to the old TV set.
“Oh no…” I gasped.
The TV showed police cars and FBI trucks parked in front of the hospital. I wondered how Shane was going to get in there.
We spent the next two hours watching the news. I was checking my phone every five minutes to see if Shane had called or texted me, but so far I had nothing. When I had checked my phone for the hundredth time, we began to hear commotion from outside.
My dad got up to see what was happening. When he came back, his face was horror struck.
“We have to leave now.” He said and started to pack like Shane had done before.
“What’s going on?” my sister asked.
“Something bad just happened out there. It’s not safe here anymore. We have to get to the city so we can get out of Kentucky.”
“But… but we can’t go!” I protested.
“Why?” my mom asked me.
“Because…” I took a deep breath, “Because Shane told me he’d come back for me.”
My dad roared with anger, “COME BACK?! YOU THINK THAT SCUMBAG WOULD COME BACK FOR YOU?! THE LAST THING I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME WAS THAT HE DUMPED YOU TO PROTECT YOU WHICH WE ALL KNEW WAS BULLSHIT!”
I stood up, shaking with fury, “Oh really? You think he would lie to me like that? And he had a good reason to break up with me! But after this happened, he’s been there for me! If he said he’s gonna come back, then he’s gonna come back!”
“Tracy, Leanne, grab your bags, we’re going now.” My dad addressed my mom and sister. He then turned to me, “If you wanna stay, then you stay. But I’m taking my family to safety.”
I began to cry; trying to decide if I should wait for Shane or leave with my family. But as my dad, mom, and sister started to leave the house I decided that I should go with. Maybe he had gotten caught up in the mess from the hospital. Yet I still couldn’t believe he wouldn’t at least try to contact me.
I stared at my phone, praying for it to ring… where was he? And why didn’t he come back for me?
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