INFECTION
* This is the emergency broadcast system... head to the designated location and wait for further instructions...If you are unable to do so, stay indoors and board up your house until other instructions...This is the emergency broadcast system...*
6 hours before the infection
Humid air hung over Konoha Leaf High School. The school was deserted with only one car remaining in the parking lot. Two figures emerged from the darkness. They closed the door as a jantior locked the school up for the night. The two people opened the door of a silver Hummer and backed out of the parking lot, as the lights of the school went black.
''Neji, Kiba is going around town saying there is a party at your house.'' stated Tenten.
''Whatever Tenten...'' I mumbled, glaring at the road in front of me as I pulled into my neighborhood.
''But really he said-...'' Tenten started to say.
My eyebrow twitched in anger. ''I told him already there is no party.''
''Well don't look now.'' said Tenten, pointing at his house where at least 50 cars surrounding it; loud music playing could be heard from down the street.
Trash littered his front yard, with Sakura and Ino wrapped up in their conversation over Sasuke and Naruto. For some odd reason Naruto was on the roof unconscious, and my own cousin unconscious next him. Shikamaru was asleep on his car with Temari yelling insults at him for being lazy; Kankuro harassing some girls by the front door; and the ''Party King'' himself break dancing in the middle of his living room.
''Oh my god...''
Hours after the party and before the infection
''Kiba! What the hell? What did you do to my house?'' I yelled over the loud music blaring in my ears.
Kiba woke up and shoved all the beer bottles off of him. The party was mostly gone, except for a few who stayed. A loud voice was ranting throughout the house.
''My parents are going to kill me, when they get back from vacation!'' I screamed as I looked at all the damage to the house. Stomping out of the living room, I left to check the other rooms of the house.
''Ugh...'' Moans Kiba, as he looked around. ''What time is it?''
''Two in the morning, not that it matters.'' says Shikamaru, just waking up.
''Dammit!'' yells Kiba, as he searched through his pockets, ''They robbed me!''
''Who?'' Shikamaru says, turning over to look at Kiba with a raised eyebrow.
''The hookers I hired.'' He stated flatly.
''You hired hookers?'' I yelled as I came back into the room.
''Relax...we didn't do anything...'' Kiba says, shrinking back into the chair.
Glaring at him, I said, '' Ok, then tell why is my cousin on the roof with Naruto?''
Kiba chuckles. '' I don't know, it's a party!''
The lights illuminating the house flickered and went out, drowning the house in darkness. The music cut off, and it was a quiet silence. Nervously shuffling came from those still in the house.
''Neji did you forget to pay the power bill..?'' Kiba went on.
''Shut up Kiba! This is not the time. Your stupid party could have caused a power-outage.''
''Huh.'' says Shikamaru looking out the window.
''What is it?'' I asked, calming down a little bit.
''It seems the whole city has had a blackout.'' Shikamaru says, moving out of the way so the others can see.
We all walked towards the window. Kiba grasped the curtains and pulled them back for a better view. Sakura walked in front of me to see as I looked over her head. Down the block and into the city, the lights were going out like a domino effect. Even the street lamps were out and they were not even on the same power connection of the houses. The city seemed to be covered in this darkness. The backup generator should have kicked in after a few minutes, but nothing happened.
''The whole city must be having parties.'' says Kiba as he let go of the curtains.
I glared at him. ''You know..'' I start, ''You're too stupid to make fun of Kiba.''
''Hey!'' Kiba says sounding hurt.
''Guys, look for some candles.'' Temari said interrupting us as she looked through drawers. ''Or flashlights.''
''Stupid blackout.'' I muttered as I walked around in the dark, hitting my leg on random objects.
I slowly made my way into the kitchen, trying not to run into anything. Feeling my way through, I slowed down once I felt the table. Chair. Walk a few steps. Sink. Walk some more steps. Drawer. Perfect. I opened it up and felt around through its contents. My hand rested on a lighter as I pulled it out. Click. Nothing. Click-click. A small flame popped up as I held it down to the drawer to look for candles. Nothing, just old bills and pens. Closing the drawer, I made my way out of the kichen. This would have to do. I held the lighter up to see who was all in my living room. Blank faces stared back at me.
''There is a riot on the street.'' A low voice says.
''Kankuro, your here too..?'' I half yelled-half moaned. ''Who all did you invite Kiba?''
''Riot..?'' Shikamaru started, ignoring me.
A huge crash sounded outside, interrupting Shikamaru, and screaming was heard. Other neighbors opened their doors to look outside. A lone car had crashed into a steet lamp. Smoke fumed from the car. I waited for the driver to exit the vehicle, unharmed. But nothing. The door to his car did not open. Gaara, a teen from my Chemistry class, ran to check on the driver. I took a step towards the door, but the power jolted back on. The TV turned on but was static, then came to, as the news turned on.
* ..Sixty car crashes have been reported, as medical personal struggle to attend all of the accidents. The cause of which, are unknown. A homeless man was found eating a rotten animal carcass and was taken to the county jail, late this afternoon. No charges have been filed. In other news...*
The TV started to static and went out again.
''Thats just fucking great. '' remarked Kiba.
''Whats going on outside!'' Sakura screamed.
Shikamaru looked out the window as people were running around in complete chaos; cars were barely missing people as they sped away. Some kids of a young age group were turning over trash cans and breaking into people's homes. Someone started knocking on their door at a fast pace.
''Open up, Neji!'' screamed a voice.
I opened the door and the panicked voice revealed to be a panting Naruto, with my cousin at his side.
''What the hell is going on?'' I demanded, glaring at both of them.
''Shit, I don't know. Hinata and I were on the roof...''' Naruto started but saw me glaring daggers at him and he started again, ''Then people started screaming for no reason and it woke us up.''
''N-Neji, I got to g-go get H-Hanabi." said Hinata as she ran into the chaos.
''Wait-'' She had already ran down the road far from hearing distance.
A loud shriek filled the air, echoing off the walls. People who were still standing outside stopped what the were doing and looked into the direction it came.
''What the fuck was that?'' Screamed Naruto.
Their neighbor, a market man screamed at no one in particular, ''If we stay here, we are going to die here.''
His comment brought the chaos back as people pushed over their own family members to get to their cars.
Temari and Shikamaru ran outside looking around; Shikamaru his hands on his head gripping his hair as he watched people screaming, running past them. "What's going on?"
''I don't know, just get in the fucking car!'' I yelled, jumping into the drivers' seat of my Hummer and shoved the key into the ignition. Tenten hopped into the the passenger seat next to me shaking, while Shikamaru, Temari, and Kiba hopped into the backseat. I rolled down my window and sternly looked at Naruto. The car lurked forward as if it was waiting in anticipation.
''Get in your car with Sakura, Sasuke, and Kankuro. Follow me, we are getting the hell out of here.''
Rolling the window back up, I put the car in reverse. My car sped backwards and we started to drive down the road and out of the residential area. The speed meter read fifty miles an hour and was slowing climbing. People were screaming and running around; loud crashes were heard. I was tempted to turn the radio on to drown out this noise, but I wasn't so sure that was a good idea.
''Are they following us?" I asked, too focused on the road in front of me.
''Yea..'' Kiba answered looking back at the black Cadillac following them. ''But, Neji what the hell is going on...?''
''I don't know..''
I took a sharp left, and got onto the highway. Nearly sideswiped another car doing it. Other cars, like us, were trying to get out of town. People were breaking into stores and shops, and others were just running around screaming. Buildings were on fire and the police were everywhere. What could be causing this? War? The Sand Nation has signed a peace treaty years ago. It couldn't have been that.
''Where is everybody going...?'' Tenten wondered out loud.
"They're getting out of town before it's too late.'' Kiba piped up.
I turned around to look at him. ''Kiba we don't need this bullshit, now stop trying to scare everyone!''
My phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, the caller ID read 'Naruto'. I immediately put it next to my ear. I turned around from facing Kiba to look back at the road.
''Hello?''
'Neji, it's me, Naruto..'He said.
''Yea, I know, what is it?''
'Take the next right, and get off the highway. Pull onto some country road... or ...a road hardly ever used. Somewhere away from all these people.'
''What? Why?''
'Neji, whatever is going on...its...I don't know... It's almost like bunching everybody in one spot, so they can easily pick us off one by one.'
''Dude, what? Who is going to pick us off one by one?'' I replied, taking a right turn, trying to get off at exit fourty-two. A sign said, ' Exit fourty-two, Kingsville. ' Never heard of the damn place. I switched on my right blinker and took a right on the exit onto a road heading toward a small village 10 miles away. Other cars that were behind us, and in front, kept going on the main highway.
'When we get there, pull into a gas station. We will fill up and talk about what to do next, ok?'
''Yea, ok, see you then.''
'Bye.'
I closed my phone and put it back in my pocket.
''Well? Who was it?'' Temari asked, speaking for the first time.
''It was Naruto. We are going to pull up to this next gas station and talk this over.'' I answered.
''I can't believe this is happening.'' Temari sighed, leaning into her seat.
The ride was silent; no one dared speak, for there were no words to say. Tenten was looking out the window, her arm on the armrest; Shikamaru and Temari were holding hands in the backseat, with Temari fast asleep on Shikamaru's shoulder; and Kiba staring straight ahead, quiet for the first time in his life. My hands were still gripping the wheel as I was looking ahead at the road. I would never admit it, but I was scared out of my mind. I glanced at my watch. Only ten minutes had passed since we exited the highway. And it feels like hours. I sighed and looked in the rear-view mirror. The Cadillac was still there riding my ass. The flames coming from the city looked like fireflies in the night sky.
The night was black, and it was only three in the morning. No moon, but it was eerily quiet. Like in those horror films when you know someone is watching you, but you don't know who or where. I turned the head lights brighter on the road before me, and saw a lone figure standing in the middle of the road.
''What the-..?'' I said, slowing down 5 meters away from it, while Naruto's car slowed down behind me.
Kiba sat up. ''What the hell is that guy doing..?'' I asked.
''Honk your horn.'' Kiba ordered.
Hesitantly I honked my horn twice and held out the third one waiting for the figures to move. It did move. Its head slowly turned to the right as if it was analyzing me; then turned to the left slowly in the same way. I stared right back at it.
''You know, Neji, I don't think that's a man.'' Kiba stated.
"Why?"
''Because it's like eight feet tall.''
The figure was indeed tall for a man, but that's only height. Out of nowhere the figure opened its mouth, to where its jaw came in line with the hood of my car; and let out a loud shriek, shaking the car. I have heard that before. When we were getting into our cars to leave the city.. I flashed my headlights onto its face, showing what the figure looked like. Hundreds of teeth lined its jaw, all of its limbs were extended two-times the size of normal human limbs. Its mouth was dripping with blood and some oozing liquid; its skin was rotten and missing in patches. Its eyes black holes that seemed to suck you in, as I blankly stared at it in horror.
''BACK UP, BACK UP!'' Kiba yelled.
''Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!'' I yelled as Kiba brought me back to reality and I tried to put the car in reverse.
I slammed my foot on the pedal, backing up into Naruto's black Cadillac.
''Drive! Drive! Drive!'' Kiba said, staring at the messed up looking creature.
''Shit!'' Switching gears I put the car into drive and slammed my foot on the gas, hitting the figure at 60 miles an hour. It slammed onto the hood of the car and rolled off onto the road behind us. A loud motor came up from behind, turning out to be Naruto's car, which sped past us with the creature on top of their car.
''Holy shit!'' screamed Shikamaru.
Screaming was coming from Sakura in the other car, as Naruto swerved left to right on the road. The 'thing' was shrieking and hanging onto the car, and was showing no signs of letting go.
''Oh my God!'' Temari screamed just waking up.
''Tenten, reach into the glove-compartment and hand me my gun.''
With shaking hands Tenten opened the glove-compartment and searched through its contents. Finally finding it she grabbed the gun and handed it to me as I rolled down my window.
I shot off a round of bullets at the figure on top of the Cadillac, but missed and hit Naruto's bumper. A loud noise of tearing metal was heard as the thing pulled back a strip of metal from Naruto's roof of his car. Reloading, I shot it again hitting the creature, this time in the back of the neck, as it rolled off the car. I took a sharp left to avoid being hit by it. Pressing more weight on the gas petal, I sped behind Naruto as we raced to the gas station; neither of us wanting to be the one behind the other. I stared at the ripped metal on Naruto car, with shock clearly on my face.
How is that even possible..?I thought.
Seven miles ahead of the area where the creature attacked us, we pulled into a deserted gas station. The gas station lights were still on, so the blackout must not have an affected this area. My Hummer pulled up next to Naruto and I put the car in park. It was pitch black and if those lights were not there, I could not see where I was going. Wordlessly, I pressed the un-lock button on the inside of the door and silently opened the car door. Ever so slightly I stepped out of the car as if I was leaving the safe and secure area, into a war zone.
''Shikamaru, fill up the car. I'm going to talk to Naruto.'' I quietly shut the door to the car and sprinted to the Cadillac.
Kankuro was already out of the car walking over towards Shikamaru repeating 'shit' over and over again and how he was not getting back in that car again. Another car door closed as Tenten went to the little convenient store which was closed. But surprisingly it was open so she broke in anyway. I walked around the hood of the Cadillac and stopped at Naruto's window.
Naruto's face was pale and his hands were still gripping the steering wheel tight. He was looking straight ahead at nothing in particular. Sasuke was staring at the giant hole over his head. Sakura was nowhere in sight, so I guessed she might be hiding in the back or on the floorboard.
''You ok..?'' I asked looking at Naruto from outside of his car.
With Shikamaru
Shikamaru placed the pump in his car and watched the meter. He looked down at watch, which read fifteen till four A.M., and the pump was going ridiculously slow. He could hear the radio that Temari was messing with.
* This is the emergency broadcast system...head to the designated location and wait for further instructions... (static) ...If you are unable to do so, stay indoors and board up your house until other instructions...This is the emergency broadcast system...*
''Turn that shit off, Temari. It's giving me a headache.'' Shikamaru complained.
''Shikamaru?'' she asked, as he looked over at her. ''What if this is worldwide?''
''Well, I guess then we will have to find a different world to live in." He said with a smirk, as she narrowed her eyes at him. She turned around muttering something about how 'he can't be serious, even if his life depended on it.'
This was writted by my best friend Autumn (again). She came up with the idea and wrote it, but I had to spell check and edit it.
Autumn's A/N:
Review please. I'm not sure I should continue.