September 19, 2013
Four days, that's all it takes for things to go from normal to strange and terrifying. Allow me to explain; things are completely different from four days ago. Something is wrong, very wrong. It started the day after Theo got sick. Seemed like a nice Saturday morning until my baby brother's frantic flailing woke me up, his green hoodie drenched in sweat. A lot can happen in one night.
It's been four days since I've entered anything in this journal, four days since I've even picked it up. The only reason I'm able to write in it now is because it's no longer my shift to look after and care for Theodore, but still I sit here in our room watching over him. As I've said, he's gotten much worse since the common cold symptoms I mentioned a few days ago. Not only has he had weak symptoms like a tummy ache, but he's been vomiting… more than his stomach acid. It's gotten to the point where he's even been coughing up blood. Alvin and I have been dead worried since the first few symptoms, and when these hit Theo I was crushed, and judging by Alvin's seriousness and tears (something he rarely did in front of others) so was he. Everyone's been nervous about Theo. While he's the one to usually get nervous over everything, it's our turn now, but honestly I don't think it's doing much good. My brother is stuck in bed sleeping twenty-four-seven and the few hours he is awake and not vomiting or coughing up a storm or sipping water, me and Alvin would play games with him and hum tunes. From common cold to seriously ill, Theodore was in trouble.
It only gets worse from here; two days after Theodore's sickness hit him, Dave vanished. Whoosh, just like that. He'd left for the veterinarian's office to get medicine for Theodore (he was too weak to make the trip) and… we haven't seen him since he stepped out the door. Two days he's been gone and I've been debating on whether I should call someone, the police maybe. Eleanor's been freaking out with Theodore's condition and Dave's… Jeanette, Brittany and I have since taken over, becoming the ones in charge of the household. Normally, Dave would have left me in charge, but given the circumstances, I need all the help I can get. Brittany is a surprisingly good nurse and actually takes care of Theodore like a real medical helper with Alvin's help. With no Dave there was no school. I wonder what everyone else thought.
Jeanette is currently sleeping in my lap. I could feel the heat rise from her sleeping head. She showed no signs or symptoms and neither did anyone else. It looks like whatever Theodore has isn't contagious. Everyone's cut back on their sleep, shifting at various times to stick right by Theodore, catering to him. I like to think that's the only reason no one sleeps, but wouldn't you have trouble sleeping too if your parent was missing? I've tried calling his number multiple times, but with no luck, I don't know what's keeping me from calling the police. What if it's just a mistake? A misunderstanding? And Dave got held up… but by what? I'll sleep on it and by the time it's my next shift I'll have my answer. I'm guessing that we've all lost sleep because of both as I tremble with fear whenever I'm not sitting next to Theodore.
We've been cut from the outside, unable to control my own feelings I've actually never thought of looking at the bright, sunny world. It would be nice to see something that didn't want to make me cry. I want desperately to look out the window high up in our room, covered with a black curtain and letting in little light, but I don't want to wake Jeanette. If Theodore wasn't sick and Dave wasn't missing, this time with her would be nice, romantic even. Why she curled up in my lap, I'll never know, and I like to think about some of the reasons. To share my comfort, my warmth. To feel protected maybe. I hope that isn't the reason; I'm scared, I don't have enough bravery for anyone.
"Alvin," Brittany said the first word in hours, "go check the TV to see if there's anything about Dave." She was acting real mature, something I've never seen in her. It's a surprise what people will do when something or someone is missing in their life. Brittany usually acted like Alvin; vain, irresponsible, a trouble-maker just like him except maybe not as extreme. I think she's just scared, but then again we all are. I watched my brother disappear out of our room. I can hear him as he hops down each step of the staircase and turns on the television; yes, it's that quiet. I can't hear the television itself, but with no sounds from my elder brother I figure that nothing's happening.
Eleanor is the most frightened out of the six of us and her whimpers are the only real noise. I know she worries about Theo and misses Dave. I miss Dave. We all miss Dave. Eleanor's spent most of the past four days by Theo's side. Her loyalty is cute, and I wish a times that I could show my own to Jeanette, but this whole thing is scary.
"You guys might want to see this!" Alvin called from downstairs. Brittany and Eleanor shot up immediately and started their way out.
"Will Theo be okay for a few minutes?" I asked.
"He should be." Brittany informed and darted out. Waking Jeanette seemed like a mean thing for me to do, but what choice did I have? This was important. I placed my paw on her cheek. Her fur is so soft, so warm like a blanket.
"Jeanette," I whispered, lowering my face to her ear, "Jeanie."
"Hm?" She jumped and I apologized, "W-What is it? Is Dave back?" She had to ask that… I couldn't tell her no, but I guess my silence is enough. She tilted her head down in disappointment.
"Alvin said there might be a clue on TV as to what's going on." Her sweet face lit up groggily and she sat up, allowing me access to my feet. I took her hand nervously and we brought each other down to our siblings.
"Hurry!" Alvin ordered, "Before you miss it!" Still we only walked, no other words were spoken and here we stand with the others in front of the television screen which read at the bottom, "Breaking News: State of Emergency, World in Crisis." Filling up the rest of the screen is the solemn face of an older man with gray hair, his body tucked into a suit; a news anchor no doubt, but nothing about him looked like he wanted to be there.
"We strongly advise that everyone remain locked indoors and do not, under any circumstances, leave or make contact with anyone from the outside of your home." The man spoke of some kind of tragedy, "Armed forces are trying to keep a hold on things," He moved up from his chair and closer to the camera lens, "Stay safe, normally that's the job for the forces, but they can't help you… I'm sorry…" A real tear? "We don't know what they are, but they won't hesitate to kill you. Whatever you call it; disease, plague, virus, these are some of the known symptoms to watch out for. If you or anyone you know is suffering from these… I can't believe I have to say this on air… say your final goodbye, they're lost. The symptoms are as followed: Possible foam shooting out of the mouth, like a rabid animal, graying hair and skin at an increased speed, dilated or lost color in the eyes, -before you… turn- a high fever, and when it seems like the one you loved is dead, they're something much worse. Those who who become infected become… monsters. We are searching desperately for a cure. I can't say everything will be alright; hundreds of millions have either died or turned and I'm positive many more are going to follow." Dead silence replaced his words, and next came crying. "O-One last thing, to all of you who think you're safe, always carry a weapon with you. Something you can use to bash or bludgeon the head with… That seems to kill them. Be careful to those of you who are listening, this is John Maryweather signing off for the last time." The screen froze and static overcame the picture. I had to rush to list everything down here, hoping not to miss a word.
I wish someone would talk, say something that would just end this deafening silence. This cruel, killing silence that made everything seem so meaningless. This can't possibly be a joke, it explained so many things. Mainly the reason Dave hasn't come back home… He's gone. No one said a word, not until we heard Theodore hacking and wheezing.
"Theo." I heard Eleanor's faint whisper and before anyone knew it, we were right by his side again, holding a small bucket in front of him as something piled in. I looked down at the bucket, the amount of blood he was vomiting was starting to overcome the amount of water and stomach acid. He lay back after he was finished and gave us a strange look, dazed and confused.
"Simon?" He croaked.
"Y-Yes?" I'm doing my best not to cry right now; if I have to be the one to tell him the news, that the world has, in a sense, ended, what would happen? He's been through enough already and I wonder if these are some of the unknown symptoms. Oh… Oh no, no I can't kill my brother…
"Is Dave okay? I haven't seen him in a while. H-He'll help me, right?" The tears came, whether I wanted them to or not, rolling down my face and giving me trouble breathing. Do you realize that I had to tell my baby brother that our dad was gone?! Dead! And that he wasn't going to come and help him, no matter how much he watched over him just like most of the population?
The heart shattering look on Theodore's face, that terrifying image. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. He didn't try to hold back his tears or stop himself from sobbing, none of as did at this point.
"Rest, Theo." Eleanor managed to cry out as a few tears rolled off her face and onto Theodore's exposed fur (by now, his hoodie was too hot for him). He did as he was told, coughing with every movement, choking on his own tears. "I'll keep watch." Eleanor whispered and rather than staying, I hopped downstairs with Alvin, Brittany, and Jeanette.
"We have to get him medicine." Alvin stated as we sat in the living room.
"Are you crazy?" I argued -I'm not sure why I did, now it seems so pointless-, "Did you hear the broadcast at all? We can't go out there!"
"Simon, our brother is dying!" The cold hard truth, "Do you want him to die? Do you want to be the one to kill him? Unless we get the medicine that Dave ordered, he's a goner!" We don't know if he's infected… but still Alvin's words hurt, even if they were true. Whether Theo was infected or not, he was still dying. I jumped off the couch and hopped to the large windowsill, peeking out from behind the curtains.
At first glance, everything looks so normal in the neighborhood; it was sunny and people are out and about, slowly moving to wherever their destination is. But when you really looked, only then can you see the nightmare that presented itself in front of me. It's clear that those aren't normal people. I don't think they can even be called people, or human for that matter. Human skin isn't gray, their hair isn't thin and dying or gray either, and they don't naturally move so slow, limping around. Most of all, the thing most wrong with this scene: corpses don't lie in the middle of the street with these "people" huddled around one, lunging down, chomping at it. This is not the world I woke up in four days ago, I don't think that world even exists anymore. I keep telling myself this is all a nightmare, but no matter how much I pinch myself, I don't wake.
"We can't go out there." I said and Alvin sneaked a peek.
"That's a lot of…" He started.
"How many?" Brittany inhaled from behind us, disrupting Alvin and his final word. The word he was thinking of to describe these… creatures, whatever it was, Brittany didn't want to hear it, and right now neither do I.
"Too many for us to leave now," Alvin answered, "but we leave when they clear, and if they don't clear we may have to do a few stupid things." That's the best I'll get out of him. I can't keep him and the others safe inside forever, not with Theo's condition. Eventually we will have to leave this sanctuary in an attempt to rescue my brother. Whatever these creatures are, they're bloodthirsty and we make six little snacks for them. One thing was certain: We'll be going out there in a couple of days at the most, and we're going to need weapons.
"Bludgeon them in the head." That's what the news anchor said. I don't know if there will be another entry, I may not have time before I voyage out to retrieve Theo's medicine, and I may not return. This journal is my survival log, but I want safety for the others most; I pray that they will be safe, though I have trouble believing a prayer will get us in this world anymore. That may make this the shortest survival log ever.