Chapter 4
Eric Mercer
8:24 AM
"Mercer."
I focused on the road before me as I drove. It was a heart-wrenching sight, really. I had been in San Fierro only two days ago, with Sarah and Jimmy. Two days can really make a difference.
One day, everything is great. The sun is shining, people are on the streets talking, hell, you might even see a cop chase. You're pushing your son's stroller down the street, your beautiful wife at your side. Your son says, "Birdy! Daddy, a birdy!" and you and your wife can't help but chuckle at your young, yet strangely observant son. You pass by a fast-food joint and see the people inside. They're talking, laughing, and comparing things they just got at the mall. Then you get a whiff of the unusual scent that is billowing from the roof. It smells salty and dirty, and you hate it. It stands for everything that is wrong with fast-food today. You never think you would miss that smell.
"Hey, Mercer."
Then everything changes. You're sitting in your shop, reading a magazine, and you hear glass breaking. "Sarah? Jimmy? Is everything all right back there?" you call, as you head for the back room. The next thing you see shatters your heart. Your wife lies on the ground, screaming. Your little boy lies dead, his death having been caused by something you never want to see again. Two grotesque, human-looking creatures stand over his body, blood dripping from their claws. Then, one of them slashes your wife. She dies, and you scream. You run into the next room, grab a gun, and shoot it at the creatures. You watch as they retreat back out the window, back into the wilderness. Suddenly, a moan catches your attention. It's your wife, but now she resembles one of those things. Your son stands up, and to your horror, he is a Thing too. You are followed into the bathroom, where...
"Dammit, Mercer! Can't you hear me?"
I turned around to face Jay.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Where's your family?