The First Hours

"God June are you still in bed?! Have you heard the news, apparently somebody infected got into the city! Darren is there, he's texting me! Apparently, they just died, and they're leaving them in a body bag in a room full of people!", Glenn screamed, eyes glued to his phone. Squinting my eyes open, the light briefly blinded me. The rays escaping past my curtain revealed all the dust bunnies flying around. Wiping my face with the back of my hand, I crawled out of my soft warm sheets.
Coffee was the first thought to cross my mind. As I walked to the small kitchen Glenn was right on my heels, frantic about whatever his best friend was telling him. Opening a new filter, and scooping in the addicting grounds, I finally turned to look at his sweaty face. "I wasn't listening, what's happening now?", I asked mid-yawn. "June, people are starting to get scared. Somebody in Darren's safe house died from infection. They were scared he was going to turn, but he's been dead for a few hours. The officers won't let them out or remove the body. He thinks people are going to start getting aggressive".
The machine behind me made a grumbling noise and it started spewing out the delicious beverage, and the aroma filled the room. Looking at the bright yellow walls, filled with cheap decorations I sighed. We've heard about other cities dealing with problems like this, but the fact it was happening here was a whole different feeling that started at the bottom of my stomach.
"Glenn, I'm sure he'll be okay. They must know what they're doing, we aren't the first city to face it", I spun around not wanting to look at his sad face any longer. I grabbed my favorite chipped pig mug from the cupboard, eagerly waiting for my coffee.
"June are you even listening to me? Those cities are dead June, we haven't heard from them in days!"
"Glenn I hear you, I do. But I don't think that's going to happen here, I hope it doesn't". About to pour some coffee from the pot, the house phone begins to ring. Groaning I put down the pot and go to pick up the phone. The caller ID read "J RHEE", my mother.
"Hi Mom, how're you doing?"
"June! I've been trying to call for hours there's no service here! Listen to me, you and Glenn need to get out of here, go somewhere safe, this city is not safe!"
"Mom, calm down, what's going on?!"
"Honey, infected people were allowed into the city, and a few are in my building. Your father and I are locked in our apartment, but we heard screams. I looked out the peephole, and-", her raggedy breaths paused her sentence, "June, there was blood everywhere!". My words seemed to get caught in my throat.
"Mom, we have to get you out of there!"
"No June, you have to get your brother and yourself out of this city. Your dad is already hurt, I cannot go anywhere. Do you remember that old quarry we used to take you to? Go there, wait for this to be over, and June just in case, prepare for it not to be. Promise me-". The line cut out and the awful tone started to play.

"Glenn pack your stuff, we have to get out of here!"
We packed in complete silence. I grabbed my giant yellow suitcase and started packing my favorite clothes. Wait for this to be over and just in case prepare for it not to be stuck in my head. My mother's terrified voice echoed between my thoughts. "Glenn, make sure you pack light, important stuff. No comic books!"
I emptied my suitcase and went across the hall to my storage closet. Grabbing my two-person tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, radio, and jacket, I dragged it back to my room and stuffed it in the suitcase. Walking back out of my bedroom I headed straight for the kitchen. I grabbed all my canned and prepacked food, and to be honest there wasn't a lot. I had a few cans of beans, soup, and fruit, alongside a few packets of ramen. I threw it in an old grocery bag and stuffed it in the suitcase. Grabbing my old school backpack I grabbed a few clothing items, mostly track pants, sports bras, workout shirts, and a warm sweater. I had my safety keychain with a small window breaker and pepper spray, but I didn't really have a weapon.
Walking towards Glenn's room, I knocked on his ajar door, "Glenn, do you have anything for self-defense". He rubbed his forehead and muttered something. "We have kitchen knives", he said almost like a question. I nodded and went to the kitchen. Truth be told I don't have much kitchenware, I spent more of my money on investing in my career, instead of household supplies. I only really bought stuff when Glenn moved in. Walking back into my bedroom I grabbed my hair scissors and tucked them into my pocket. At least they were sharper than any knife I had in the kitchen.
"Are you ready", I asked dragging my stuff towards the door. He had grabbed a small duffel bag and half a case of water from the kitchen. He nodded with a sullen face, and we headed onto the street to find my car.

Driving out of the city was easy, we were one of the first cars to flee. The line to get in was short, but the line behind us to get out had become chaotic. People were weaving, trying to cut others off, and for some reason, there were no officers in sight to stop us. Suddenly, a car behind us crashed into another, and the line had stopped. They had caused a jam, locking everyone on the other side.
"Oh my god, if we were just one minute behind, we'd be screwed", Glenn panicked in the passenger seat. His breathing sped up and his chest was heaving. "Glenn, we made it. We made it out"
"Where are we even going? What did mom say? Is she going to meet us somewhere?", his questions came non-stop one after the other. Taking a small exit, my tires complained over the dirt road.
"We are going to the quarry we used to go to, the one just up this hill. Mom isn't going to be there, because, well, she's still in the city. She called asking me, begging me to just get us out of there. You were right Glenn, Atlanta was going to fall too. She might call me again, and maybe she can get out too."

He started to cry as I sat there silently driving up into the trees. Driving past all the trails and activities we all used to do would usually bring a smile to my face, but now it seems to make the numbness in my chest throb with pain. I didn't have the heart to tell Glenn that Dad was injured, and they were hurt, I couldn't have him hurt so much in one day. Ring Ring, my phone yelled in my pocket. I have never answered quicker, and Glenn's cries stopped.
"June?! Did you make it? I saw the accident on the T.V.?"
"Mom, we made it, we're almost at the old campsite. How is Dad?"
I looked over at Glenn, concern displayed on his face as he mouthed What's going on?
"Honey, I'm so happy you're safe. Your dad has an awful fever, I was hoping we could try to get help, but he's too sick to go anywhere, and I haven't been able to stop the bleeding."
"The bleeding?"
"June, when we tried to leave a young man tried to attack me, your father defended me and that boy started to bite and scratch, not a manly fighter if you ask me. He took off a piece of your father's ear. He insisted he was fine, but he's just so sick now."
"Are you doing okay mom?"
"Oh baby, don't you worry about me, I need you to worry about Glenn. I will be fine, Dad will be fine, it's all going to be okay. Take care of yourself and your brother."
"Mom, I'm supposed to take care of you too! Put Dad on the phone please I want to talk to him, please mom."
"Okay baby, I'm sure he's awake now I heard him rumbling around. Probably trying to eat the mochi I found in his sock drawer" Muffled sounds from movement played through the speaker. "Jayiga, June is on the. Oh my! Yoongi are you okay?! Yoongi stop! You're Scaring me! NO!" Screams loudly poured out and my phone dropped from my hands.
"Mom!? June who's screaming?!", Glenn started fumbling for my phone. He picked it up and put it to his ear. I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't move. The only thing my body could muster was gently pushing on the brakes and stopping the car. His cries filled my head as he screamed for mom.

"Glenn, give me the phone", He passed it, and without a thought, I ended the call. Listening to anything more would haunt my nightmares. My poor sweet mother had perished because I asked her to check on my father. No, I can't think that. My mother perished due to the infection, it's their fault I've lost my parents.

Suddenly, Glenn's phone started to ding uncontrollably. "It's Darren, he's saying that guy who died woke up and started attacking everyone! He's hiding in a cupboard, and he hears people screaming. He said that he got scratched and he's not feeling well. Is he going to die June?"
"Glenn, Dad was infected too, it seems like people who get infected get sick and attack others too. Dad would never have hurt mom, but whatever they're getting sick with doesn't give them a choice. Darren is infected so we can only assume he will turn into a regular infected and attack other people. We can't trust anyone who has been bitten or scratched or anything."
"Should I tell him?"
"No, just comfort him, I couldn't imagine being in his place. Don't tell him just make him feel better. I'm sure he's scared enough."

The ride up the never-ending hill only took a few more minutes. Somehow, within only a few hours from waking up and brewing a pot of coffee, I didn't even get to touch, I have now fled from my home and have lost my parents, and my brother has lost his friends as well. As we approached the site, there were a few people already gathered there. An R.V. was parked with an old man and two young blondes on top. A man with a police hat on walked up to our car, I rolled down the window to let him speak.
"Afternoon Ma'am, what is your purpose being here?", His hands held onto the roof as he leaned down towards my window. His big brown eyes stared into mine. He had sweat dripping from his forehead, and his shirt looked ratty.
"We were supposed to be here to wait for….we are here to get out of the city, someplace safe, where not many people would go"
"Anyone else from the big city thinking about following you two?"
"No, even if they wanted to…well there no way out of the city, it's blocked. Like I said, not a lot of people come here, or even know the road to here."
"That's true.", the old man spoke climbing off his R.V. "If it wasn't for an old friend I wouldn't have ever been here before. My name is Dale, this is Andrea and Amy", he pointed towards the blondes, and the younger one waved at us. The other one rolled her eyes and looked away.
"Yeah, yeah, anyways we don't really have a lot of rations and supplies here so unless you have something to offer, we are full up. We already have over 30 people here, I'm not so sure we can take freeloaders."
"Well first off, officer, you can't exactly tell us to leave we could make camp elsewhere as this is a large place. Secondly, we do have supplies and plenty to offer, but the fact you're acting like an ass right now is putting me off. You can get out of my face with that smug look, or I'm going to run you over, copy that?" Typically, I would never have spoken to anyone like this, but today has already been too much as is. He chuckled under his breath and looked away from me for a moment.
"Look, you're right I can't really make you turn back, you could camp anywhere really, and I wouldn't even know. Let's say we can come to an agreement here. Look, say you make camp here and if we can establish some chores see what you two can do and maybe, just maybe this will all work out. I don't really see that happening if I end up under those tires. See, I'm going to give you a chance because I like you, you got fire." I really wanted to run him over because not for a second did that smug smile leave his lips.
"Look, I am not agreeing because I want to, but because I have to. This is the only safe place to go"
"Yeah, I know, you can park here. If you walk down near the trees to the right back there, you'll find quite a few tents, you can find a clear spot to set up. You two find me tomorrow morning, and we will discuss some chores, do your part, and if this all works, we won't have any issues." He tapped the roof and walked away hands resting on his hips.
"He looks like a cheap rental cowboy", I whispered to Glenn. Stepping out of my car I stretch. The stress was tightening my muscles beyond relief. My shoulders almost die when I reach up to the sky and my back tightened in defiance.
"Alright, Glenn let's grab it all. I hate doing two trips" A small smile danced on his swollen face. His eyes were red from crying, and it was clear he was still upset.
"Don't I know it", he joked. Grabbing the bags, we headed to find a clear spot.