Losing the Future
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Chapter 2: The Infected
Several weeks had passed since Musa and Riven had moved into their new house. Peace had been made with the witches and they could even be considered as something of friends now.
It was a rather gloomy day that day. Heavy grey clouds hung over the city, threatening rain. A cold breeze blew. Musa couldn't shake the feeling that something seemed. . . Off.
Musa sighed as she placed the third peanut-butter and jam sandwich on a plate. She worked from home, so Stormy and Darcy had made her their official baby-sitter.
On this particular day, Stormy was gone to a doctors appointment and Darcy had to go to the potions shop her and Don owned. Don was running the shop and Jared, along with Riven, were professors at Red Fountain. This left Musa to watch the kids until either Stormy or Darcy returned.
She levitated the three sandwiches and was about to take them to the kids, who were currently in the living room, playing with some toys they'd brought and entertaining baby Dusk. She stopped when something caught her attention on the radio playing in the background.
"Now. Onto another matter. The infected. The number of sightings are rising by the hour, both in the city itself and the surrounding area. They are known to be both extremely hostile and unrelenting. Officials suggest to stay inside and keep doors and windows locked, as they seem to venturing further into the city. We will be reporting more on this matter later." The reporter said.
This was beginning to worry Musa. For days now, there had been reports of disfigured people, mostly around the outskirts of the city, who would attack others on sight. They had been dubbed 'the infected' because they seemed to infect whoever they attacked with whatever strange disease they had. The officials kept claiming it was under control, but apparently they were just saying that to keep the pubic calm, because the situation seemed to be escalating. Rapidly. Musa was starting to wonder whether there was truth to the Earth theory about the 'zombie' apocalypse. Huh. Maybe. . .
The whirring engines of an airship outside pulled her from her thoughts. She walked over to the window and looked out, expecting to see a Red Fountain aircraft, which wasn't that uncommon a sight over the city.
What? That's a military airship! If the government is sending in the military, how bad is it, really?
Now she was really concerned. She quickly took the sandwiches to the kids, before pulling out her phone and calling Riven. He didn't answer. Musa wasn't surprised, as he was probably busy, so she left him a message instead, asking if he knew anything.
Suddenly there was a distant bang and the ground shook. The kids started screaming, Dusk was wailing and Musa herself was panicking as she ran back into the living room. She picked up Dusk and tried to sooth the other three.
When she heard voices outside she told them to wait where they were, while she took Dusk and tried to figure out what was going on. Outside, her neighbours stood in the street also panicked.
"What was that? Someone questioned.
"An explosion in the city centre!" Someone else exclaimed
"They've lied! The situation isn't under control! It's out of hand!" A man yelled.
"Are we at war?" The fairy from next door wondered.
"Fools! All of you! Get your asses inside before the infected get you!" A guy suggested from his window.
Another bang and the ground shook again. Musa turned tail and ran back inside. She gathered the scared kids and took them to the basement.
"I want mummy. Where's mummy? Jaxon cried.
"Musa, I'm scared. What's happening?" Raven questioned.
Jace stared at her with big eyes. "Mummy." He whimpered.
"It's okay. It'll be okay." Musa assured.
She pulled out her phone and dialled Stormy's number. She let it ring several times before she hung up. Shit! She was about to try Darcy, when she heard the front door open and close.
"Musa!" Someone called.
Thank the dragon! It was Darcy, and she wasn't the only one who new that. Raven ran to the bottom of the stairs and called out to her.
"Muma! We're down here!"
Footsteps thumped across the floor and the basement door opened. Musa almost fainted from relief when she saw Darcy and Don run down the stairs.
They hugged Raven as Dusk reached out to them. Darcy came over and took her, relief clear on her face.
"It was smart to bring them down here." She said. "Stormy's not back yet?"
"No. I tried to call her, but she didn't pick up." Musa replied.
"Curses! Her Doctor's office if right downtown! I have to go find her!"
"Darcy-" Don started.
"She's defenceless Don! Right in the middle of this mess!" She exclaimed.
Before anyone could stop her she was gone.
o0o
She was calling Stormy's name before she had even completely materialized. When her vision steadied she saw people everywhere. Some infected. Most not. A few in the process of being infected. Downtown Magix was chaos, and not just because of the infected. There were crazed military officials everywhere, firing blindly. Darcy wasn't sure if they were hexed and she didn't bother to find out.
She jumped off the ground and levitated above the crowds, frantically scanning for her sister. Oh Dragon. I'll never find her like this.
She focused her energy and tried a psychic probe of the area, searching for a familiar presence. That was easier said than done, considering the amount of people out in the streets. She flew over the crowd, probing the whole time. Just as she picked up what she was looking for, glass shattered nearby as someone was thrown into it. She turned just in time to see a man go flying into a shop window and Stormy stumble back into the wall as a couple of the infected lashed out at her.
Darcy's eyes darkened as she hissed a spell under her breath and fired it at her sister's attackers.
It hit them square on but had no effect.
"You have got to be joking." Darcy growled. "Alrighty then. You asked for it."
She shoved her magic aside and focused her mind. Many people had mistaken telekinesis for magic, but Darcy new better. She wasn't just the witch of darkness, she was psychic too. She didn't even flinch as she through the two infected people to the side, where they landed in a heap. She then teleported out of the sky and appeared beside her little sister.
"Darcy!" She gasped in relief.
Darcy eyed the infected people, who had gotten back up and were now going at other people.
"Let's bounce." She said. She took Stormy's hand and they both disappeared.
Darcy new the dangers of teleporting during pregnancy. She new that most doctors strictly forbade it. But she also knew that now, they could either take the risk, or die because they didn't.
When they materialized in Musa's basement, Stormy stumbled forward right into Don, who grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her. He eyed his wife, who's calm demeanour had returned.
"I thought you said teleporting was strictly off limits for pregnant women?"
"It is." Darcy replied. "But it was a life or death situation."
She turned to Stormy. "Are you okay?" She had to check.
Stormy nodded, although she looked like she might be sick.
Musa wasted no time in conjuring a bucket. "Over here, Stormy."
The witch hastily grabbed the bucket from Musa and turned to face the wall, where she stuffed her face into it and promptly puked her guts out. When she was finished she turned to her sister.
"Please, don't do that again." She begged.
"I'll try not to, but considering what's going on out there right now, there will be no promises." Darcy replied.
Stormy groaned. "Actually though. What is going on out there?"
"You got me." Said Don. "Definitely has something to do with the infected though."
"Huh. I think that Earth theory is coming true." Musa thought out loud.
"What Earth theory?" Stormy asked.
"Ok, so maybe it's more of some weird idea someone came up with, but basically there's an apocalypse and the world ends up over run with these zombie-like creatures. The government falls apart and it's every person or group of people for themselves. They have all these shows and movies about it on earth. Bloom introduced us to some of them." Musa explained.
Stormy rubbed her temples. "I had to ask, didn't I?"
Musa shrugged. "I'm just saying it as it is. If I'm half right, we could be in real trouble."
"Ok. Enough theorizing. Does anyone have a plan? Half a plan?" Don spoke up.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm gonna hang down here until at least tomorrow. Then go up and analyze the situation." Musa announced. "And also try and contact Riven. . ."
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts.
"I vote for Musa's idea." Darcy stated.
Don agreed and so did Stormy, so a campout in the basement it was. Musa tried to contact Riven again but he didn't answer, so she suggested Stormy try Jared. He picked up on the second ring.
"Stormy! I've been trying to call you for the past hour! Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Darcy saved my hide, but you can thank her later."
"Thank the Dragon. I was so worried. Where are you now?"
"In Musa's basement, with her, Darcy, Don and the kids."
"Stay there. Don't go outside. You'll all be safe there. For now."
"Jared, what's really going on? Do you know?"
"To be honest, not really. We pulled our guys out hours ago. They said downtown Magix was a bloodbath and that there was nothing we could do to stop it without getting massacred ourselves. The Military was called in, but I'm willing to bet they're spelled. They were acting completely crazed. Anyways, Red Fountain is on lockdown, as is Alfea and Cloud Tower. No one is allowed to leave, not even us professors, so Riven and I are spending the night. If we can we'll meet you all at Musa's in the morning."
"Ok. Wait, you think the military are spelled?"
"From what I saw, I'd say there's a good possibility-"
"But that would mean someone planned this. . ."
"A higher power that somehow infiltrated the government. It could have been happening behind our backs for months."
"An attack from another realm maybe?"
"I don't think so - oh, ugh I have to go. Emergency staff meeting. Tell Musa, Riven is safe, ok? I love you. You'll see me again, I promise."
"I will. I love you too. Goodbye."
They hung up and Stormy put her phone away. As she turned to the others, Musa spoke up.
"What did he say?"
"He told me to tell you Riven is safe, but he doesn't really know much more than we do." Said Stormy. "They pulled their guys out because their efforts were fruitless. Red fountain and the other schools are on lockdown, so they're both stuck there until morning at least. They're going to try and meet us here in the morning though."
She then turned to Darcy. "Did you notice anything weird about the military guys when we were downtown?"
"Define weird." She said.
"He thinks they might be spelled."
"Yeah, I was wondering that myself, but I didn't take the time to find out." Darcy agreed. "You know what that could mean, right?"
The others nodded grimly. If they were under a spell, someone was behind this, and that someone was also behind the infected. But who? And why?
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