The Stared Down Upon

By O.C. Hunt

Briefing: During the infection, the special infected were teenagers and the common infected were teenagers as well. However, only about half the common infected were sentient. Anyone who was younger had a 100% death certainty; anyone who was over the age of 18 also had 100% chance of dying. The reason for the teenagers being the only of the special infected and common infected, no one knows. Common infected along with special infected can be sentient.

Also If the initials "A.I.T.F.U." (Advanced Infected Task Force Unit) or "I.F.R.T." (Infected First Response Team) ever come up, it basically refers to the S.W.A.T. team that deals with infected persons. Depending on the level of the situation, Either one, or both these units will be deployed. Lower level situations would involve only the I.F.R.T. but higher-level situations involve both the I.F.R.T. and the A.I.T.F.U. Usually the I.F.R.T. will show up first to control the scene until heavier units like the A.I.T.F.U. arrive.

Chapter 1: Intro

Sarah's P.O.V. – Journal Entry September 18, 2013-

It has been about a year and a half since the end of the infection and the government allowing the "special infected" and "common infected" to live and learn with the rest of "humanity" under the supervision of an armed guard. Even though the infected are considered citizens of the United States and have full rights (well, almost full rights anyway), everyone, or at least mostly everyone looks down upon them. My name is Sarah Cortare, I am a seventh grade student at Foremost Middle School. My best friend's name (and probably my only friend for the time being) is Lily Starret. She is a new student this year at Foremost Middle School and we met over the summer. The both of us have at least one major thing in common; we don't stare down or put down the infected. I truly, and probably speaking for Lily too, think that the infected are just like us and aren't any different. However MANY think otherwise. Even though the infected walk the same halls as the rest of us, Lily and I never have actually talked to one of the infected. I think were just a little scared that they might think were like the rest of the school; "Stares". Stares are people who practically only stare down and scold the infected just because they are infected. Pretty sad huh? Anyway, my story starts here…

September 18, 2013-

Walking down the hall as casually as always. I didn't feel in such a great mood, and Lily saw it when she started walking next to me.

"Somethin' bothering you?" She asked curiously.

"Nothings bothering me, I just… well… just..." I started.

"Yes…" Lily said, prompting me to spit it out already.

"I just want to talk to an infected so badly." I finally said. "Yeah… me too." Lily said somewhat disappointed because she wanted to talk to one also.

Later during lunch I sat down at my usually spot with Lily; the floor. We weren't popular kids so we never got a table. There was always this Football Captain named James Walsh that would let me sit at his table, but I always declined. All the girls at my school are obsessed with him except for Lily and I. He is a Stare if you ask the either one of us. The lunch table gimmick is so that I can become his girlfriend. He disgusts me. Many of the infected sit on the floor too but on the other side of the cafeteria where no one bothers them. I thought to me self, Today is the day that I make contact with an infected.

"Hey Lily." I said to her but not looking at her, I was looking in the direction of where the infected sat.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Could you watch my seat?" I asked her as I got up, not really caring if she said yes or no.

"Sure but its not like anyone is going to take it."

I got up and walked across the lunchroom. I was determined to talk to at least one infected. I was about to enter the vicinity of where the infected sat when a smoker jumped out of nowhere in front of me saying "Boo!". I didn't' flinch a bit and he noticed that. He decided to make his tongue circle around me while not actually touching me. It was like watching a snake circle around except this one circled higher and higher around you every time it made a full circle. The gruff voice of a guard could be heard saying, "Back down now.".

"Yes SIR" the smoker said, obnoxiously emphasizing the word 'sir'.

The smoker walked away toward the group of sitting infected.

"Are you all right? If you want I can file a complaint and report him if you want." The guard asked me.

"No its fine." I said walking towards a hunter with his hood down. The guard must have been surprised that I said 'no', so he followed me and walked beside me. "You know, you don't need to protect me" I said to him.

"Sorry it's the law." He replied. Great, having an ARMED guard following me is sure to give a good impression and I doubt it's the law. I thought to myself sarcastically. As I approached the hunter a deep growl came out of his throat. The guard was getting a bit iffy on continuing because he knew I was making a HUGE mistake, but in my eyes I wasn't. This hunter had something other hunters did not have. He had a red & yellow patch embroidered on the left sleeve of his hoodie. The colors were warning colors. It read, !WARNING! THIS SPECIMEN IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! PERMISSION TO USE LEATHAL FORCE IS PERMITTED! Well that's nice; referring a person as a "specimen" was wrong and the thought of lethal force was even wrongier… if that's even a word. I thought to myself with disgust. Even though his head was down, he could still sense me without looking once. In his hands were a book, and not any form of lunch. It's funny; I would think all hunters would be starving at this point of time in the day because I was for sure. The guard took a couple steps back as soon as I sat down next to the hunter on the floor.

There was silence for some time when I finally spoke up and said, "My name 's Sarah. What's yours?".

The young hunter did not respond. "Look" I started "I feel probably the same way as you do about the whole segregation thi-" I was cut off when his book suddenly closed and he turned to me looking quite angry.

"Do you really think you feel just as much pain as I do about being treated differently?! " he said frustratedly.

"Look I was just trying to help. I really do feel bad and I've been running awareness posters and even-"

the young hunter once again interrupted, but this time he looked more calm and had a curious look on his face. "Wait… your that girl who hangs up those posters that raises awareness?" he asked, his face some what looked guilty. He probably felt like I was challenging him or something when I first spoke but now he realizes that I am really here to help.

"Well me and Lily really." I said in reply.

"Sorry that I… well… snapped at you." the hunter said. "My name is Connor. Nice to meet you Sarah." He sounded a bit guilty when he spoke.

"It's fine. I understand why you snapped at me." I said to him.

At this point, I took note of what his face looked like. He had blood red eyes instead of whatever colored eyes he had before infection. He was extremely pale. When he realized I accepted his apology, he smiled. This is when I saw his teeth. Every single tooth was sharper than a steak knife (literally) and his canine teeth were even sharper. They stood out more than the other teeth because they were longer. Suddenly his hand shot up covering his mouth. He had a scared look in his eyes. I thought he saw something so I turned around to see what it was; there was nothing there. I looked back at him and he said almost like if he was going to cry, "Please forgive me". It took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about. I soon realized that he was afraid that I had been frightened by his collection of teeth. He kept staring at me with his hand over his mouth. He was waiting for a response.

"It's fine, anything you do that you would think that would scare me won't" I said trying to reassure him.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you" he said, his voice sounding doubtful of to what I said.