A man once said,
Time is the most important thing in humanity's life span; because every moment is worth a life itself.
Would this mean that with every second that rolls by, you are one step closer to the end?
...It's true, isn't it?
The inevitable.
Death.
But for some reason, we fight.
We live.
We prosper.
Breathe, blink, think, experience life- until the very last moment.
You wonder what comes after.
Maybe you already know.
But I do know one thing, though.
I know it is not this.
Z-Day is not humanity's last breath.
People are running in front of the car, as Zeke frantically swerves from left to right. I clutch the moaning boy in my arms and turn to face Noah and Jeremy in the back seat; Noah in tears, Jeremy fighting his. I make Jeremy speak for me.
"What's happening, Zeke? Why is everyone panicking?" Comes Jeremy's voice, hitched with sobs. I brush the brown locks from his face and offer my hand, which he takes gratefully. Zeke shakes his head roughly and dodges another bystander in the road, picking up speed every time Collin coughs.
"I don't know. I don't know." I watch him mouth. I squeeze Jeremy's hand as I watch the world fall in front of my very eyes outside the window.
The first thing I see, ironically to me, is fire.
Great big fires, stringing from shop to shop along the sidewalks edges.
The second, madness.
I see it in their eyes.
I hear it in their thoughts.
I feel it in their secrets.
Noah thrashes from side to side wailing, and finally begins to notice the looters practically running alongside the car. He screams louder and Zeke slams a hand on the dash.
"Jeremy, make him shut up! Please!"
Jeremy releases my red hand and begins treating Noah, though I know just how much he can tolerate. His tears are almost out.
"Pen, something's wrong. Really, really wrong. Maybe it's a terrorist attack or something, but I don't know if a hospital will be-"
My eyes look up from his mouth as the car slows and I look out the windshield. The hospital is surrounded by police, as I am surrounded by my thoughts.
"Get inside, get inside! Try to remain calm and move quickly into the building, everyone!" The police yell. Zeke squeezes my hand and makes me keep my head low as Jeremy takes my other hand; Noah wailing in his arms, Collin suddenly quiet in mine.
Crowds, hoards of people are being mushed into the front lobby and halls of the hospital. The smell of sweat, fear, and adrenaline fills the silence in my head as I watch mouths run for miles. Zeke pulls our little family to the front of the line through sheer determination. No employees are present.
"Hello? I need help over here!" He says, looking around. Some refugees stop to stare, but no workers take notice. The crowd is pressing harder up against our backs.
"Excuse me? Could anyone help us?!" He says, spinning around, trying to gain someone's attention. The police are starting to try and close the large glass doors. Jeremy tells me he hears gunfire in the distance and I can only nod.
When I see Zeke's face again, I know he's had enough.
He slams a hand down on the plastic counter top, shaking various Purell bottles in the process and alert staff in scrubs rushing by. They stare at us.
"Excuse me, we need help. My brother is really sick and-"
"I'm sorry sir, but we're kind of in a state of emergency and there's so many people, so If you could just-"
"HE'S DYING!"
The crowd's mouths stop moving and they stare at Zeke's open one. I look at Collin's feverish face and grab Zeke's sleeve tightly and his body relaxes briefly.
Zeke rarely yells.
Suddenly, our little family is of no longer importance and the crowd turns its attention to a small television set in the children's waiting area. I notice the doors to the hospital are closed and locked.
"Today, our nation- our planet has become under attack by an unknown virus. This virus, is very deadly. It is apparently bringing back the dead, or 'infected', then having them attack the living. We advise you to stay in your homes and isolate the infected, and be prepared to wait this all out until it blows over. Take all precautions to board up your homes and businesses and to avoid any contact with the dead and stay safe. We are going to stay on the air as long as possible..." The newscaster was grimacing with the sweat on his brow worsening. I turn my head away and try to smile at Collin's tearful face. The man on the television- his lips spoke both truths and lies.
Though no one else but the White family could tell, I was shaken to my very core.
Any other news could've made sense.
A terrorist attack, a natural disaster, an alien invasion-
Well, maybe not that..
But this? It was impossible, unbelievable, it was-
Happening.
The teenage fantasy of Z-Day was upon them.
I fall in line with the crowd as they turn from the television to a police man, guarding the hospital doors.
"Alright, everyone alright! I would like everyone to remain calm!"
Zeke is pulling us away from the crowd, his face in a set panic.
"Zeke, it's alright. It'll be alright.." Suddenly I am the source of all calmness and happiness in the world and everyone looks to me. Collin's dark brown eyes, Jeremy's hazel, Noah's pale blue and Zeke's stormy grey skies. I smile at them and pull them into a hug, whispering reassuring words in their ears.
Whispering calming, soothing words.
Uttering soft, gracious, comforting ballads of language.
Murmuring consoling stories of a paradise that does not exist.
Telling them lies.
Secret Two:
I know your secrets.