Chapter 1: Mad World
"Hate keeps a man alive. It gives him strength."
"Emma get away from the window." Her older brother, Luke said.
It had been a whole week since their Aunt Pat had died of the virus. It had been two months since Mrs. Patterson, their mother died, And almost a year since their father Mr. Patterson had died. It was just Luke and his little sister Emma, all alone in their home in the heart of the cul-de-sac.
Nothing bad ever happened at 216 Shadow Lane. It was the most interesting house in the neighborhood. The Pattersons had a life that one could only dream about. But their was something missing. Children. They always wanted children but could never have them due to Mrs. Patterson's bout with cervical cancer. She managed to fight it but not with out losing the ability to have children. The answer to their problems came while Christmas shopping at the mall.
Emma never had a family. She lived at the Our Lady of Prompt Succor Orphanage. The Prompt Succor Orphanage was notorious for their mistreatment of the children. Emma had seen terrible things happen under the care of Mother Mary Ignaiuos. She managed to stay out of Mother Mary's way until one fateful day she was caught fighting with another child. Her punishment was simple...a beating. Emma escaped her punishment and escaped to the mall. The mall was the perfect place too live. Their were clothes, food, and most importantly, people to pickpocket.
Emma saw her chance to makes some money with a young couple. They held each other's hand and seemed only see each other. Emma snuck up behind the couple and quickly grabbed the man's wallet. Before she could turn around he grabbed her arm firmly. She tried to get loose but he was too strong.
The man looked at Emma. She could not have been more that 6. She was dirty and obviously hungry. Under the suggestion of his wife, the couple took the girl home. They fed her, bathed her and gave her a place to sleep. What turned into a night's stay, turned into a week, a month and then a permanent home for Emma. With their new daughter the Patterson were a family. But their was still one more person missing, a boy.
Luke was the most exuberant boy at the Longtree Orphanage. The nuns affectionatley called him Chatterbox. He was a boy that was easy to get along with. He was very willing to help anybody. It was a little of a shock to the nuns that Luke was never picked to be adopted.
It was just another interview for Luke. He would meet the Pattersons and then they would leave just like all the other parents that came to the orphanage. The Pattersons were waiting in the activity room to talk to him. They had a air of perfection about them. Emma was with them and obviously not pleased to be there. She kept fidgeting and would not stay still. She was becoming more and more of a problem for the Pattersons everyday. They were not entirely sure if they could handle another child. But still they went.
Luke talked to the Pattersons while Emma played with an Etch-A-Sketch on the floor. They were soon distracted by Emma who started to bash the toy on the floor. The Pattersons tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen. It wasn't until Luke persuaded her to give it to him that she stopped. He then showed her how to use it properly and even showed her how make a circle with it. They spent the whole day playing. Luke showed her how to play Monopoly and even got her to start saying please and thank you, something the Pattersons could never do. The Pattersons had found the missing piece to their family.
Luke and Emma spent the next four years with Pattersons. It was a dream come true. The family would take trips every summer all over the country, all over the world. For the first time Luke was loved. He had a family. Then the virus hit.
And now Luke and Emma were trapped in their house. Afraid to go outside in the anarchy. The kids had already formed into tribes and were already at each others throats. All Luke had was Emma and she was only 10.
"What are we gonna do, Luke?" Emma asked as she culed up beside Luke.
"Don't worry I'll take care of you." He said.
"The other kids are bound to find us, we can't stay here."
"We could go back to the orphanage."
"No! I'm not going back to that place ever!"
"It'll be fine I promise."
"No Luke! I don't want to go. I want to stay here. I want Mom and Dad."
"I know I want them too, but they aren't coming back, Emma."
Emma starts to sob. He puts his arm around her.
"Don't worry,Em. I'm still here. I'll protect you."
Luke holds Emma until she has cried herself to sleep. Luke spends the rest of the night thinking. What are the going to do? Are there anymore adults? There was only a little food left and they were running out of water also. How would they get more food? He pondered this until the sleep over came him. Unaware of the tiring journey ahead of him.