Nation 27

CH 13: We’re On Our Own Now

Warning:

This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of violence and gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Beep* 

.

.

.

*Beeep* 

.

.

.

*Beeeep*

“Mm…” Jared groaned as he reached out from under the covers to switch off the alarm clock.

However, before he could tap the off switch, the alarm clock slipped out of his grasp and fell onto the carpeted floor. His hand felt around the carpet but could not locate the alarm clock which was getting irritatingly loud with each passing beep.

“Hah…” Jared sighed and sat up in bed. 

He shivered slightly as the cold morning air touched his skin. It was morning yet the Sun was barely seen behind the darkened clouds.

‘It feels great to be home. I-’ 

Jared’s eyes widen and his hand was immediately on his hand as if he had just uttered an extremely offensive word.

“Wait... Why did I think that?”

*Beep* 

.

.

.

*Beeep* 

.

.

.

*Beeeep*

“Hah… Alright, alright!” he grumbled and picked up the alarm clock from under the table. Turning off the alarm, he proceeded to freshen up for the day.

Not more than a few minutes later, the alarm was shrilling again. 

Jared, who had just finished brushing his teeth, rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“I should have disabled the snooze mode as well,” he growled and strode out of the bathroom but only to abruptly stop by the bedside.

“Wait… Didn’t I put it back on the table?” he asked out loud upon seeing the shrilling alarm clock still lying under the table, “Strange…” Jared said as he switched off the alarm.

“Huh… Was the ring of the alarm switched automatically? I don’t remember ever changing the ring of-”

“Jared! Are you awake yet? Breakfast is ready!” Jared heard mother call out from downstairs.

 “Ah, yes! I’m coming!” Jared placed the alarm clock on the bedside table and rushed down the stairs.

A mouthwatering smell wafted out from the kitchen as Jared approached the dining table.

“Mm… That smells good,” Jared said as his stomach rumbled in agreement.

“Haha. That’s good to hear. I made your favorite~”

“Omelette with potato and cheese?” Jared asked as his mother came out of the kitchen with a frying pan in hand.

“No, silly. It’s pancakes and bacon!” his mother replied as she pushed the pancakes and bacon from her frying pan onto the empty plate that was set in front of him, “Did you forget your favorite breakfast?”

“I…”

“Hm… Anyhow, I’ll be staying home today. Got a slight fever.”

Jared looked up at his mother who had just placed the frying pan on the kitchen counter that is fairly close to the dining table. 

“Mom-” he gasped.

Despite the way his mother explained the insignificance of her fever, she was wearing a hazmat suit.

‘Was I so groggy with sleep that I failed to notice Mom wearing that oversized suit? No… Wasn’t she wearing a green dress? Wait… Has she ever worn a dress?’

“You know, if you keep frowning like that, you’re going to become older than me, you know~” Jared’s mother teased as she sat down on the opposite side of the table. There was no plate placed in front of her.

“Mom, are you-”

*Ding dong!*

“Oh, it must be your friends. I’ll let them in. Finish your breakfast and you guys can hang out,” Jared’s mother said as she went to answer the door.

‘Is it ‘gaming day’ today?’ Jared thought as he reached for the newspaper that was placed on the other end of the dining table. 

“Good morning, Mrs. Lee!” Jared heard Nic’s voice.

‘What is the date today?’ Jared thought as he unfolded the newspaper.

[[Rfwcnday ** June---]]

‘What kind of day is that? Why can I only see the month? Wait… Isn’t it September now?’ Jared wondered and looked at the date again.

[[Rfwcnday ** Gsyafd---]]

“Huh?!” Jared exclaimed.

“Jared? Is everything okay?” Jared’s mother asked as he heard approaching footsteps.

Jared turned and smiled.

“No, it’s everything is o-” Jared stopped midsentence when he saw his friends.

While his mother was wearing a hazmat suit, neither of his friends was covered up in any way- allowing Jared to have a good view of their appearances. 

“No… It can’t be…” Jared trailed off.

“What is it?” Omar asked as he came closer to Jared.

“No! Stay away!” Jared yelled.

“Jared!” Jared’s mother called out his name as she removed the helmet of her hazmat suit.

Jared jumped out of his chair.

“What’s wrong?” his mother asked.

“S-Stay away from me!” Jared yelled and backed away, making sure that the dining table was between him and the trio.

‘What happened?’ Jared thought as he stared at his mother and friends.

His friends were in tattered clothes and their bodies were riddled with wounds. Although Jared could only see his mother’s face, it was obvious that she was no better than his friends. If anything, her condition was much worse. There was a huge gash on her cheek and scratch marks on her neck. Unlike his friends, there was no blood but a darkening of the skin where the wounds were.

‘Why is this happening?’ Jared wondered as he caught sight of the newspaper he attempted to read earlier. The letterings were still jumbled up.

“...Is this real?” Jared suddenly wondered out loud.

“Oh, Jared… Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten you out of that facility,” Jared’s mother said as she wiped off an imaginary tear from her right eye.

“Yeah, it’s like he has forgotten,” Omar chimed in.

“That’s very selfish of you! How dare you leave and then forget about us?!” Nic half-yelled before entering a coughing fit. It was not long before Nic collapsed to the floor, hacking out a liquid that was reddish-black.

But as if Nic’s condition was normal, Omar and Jared’s mother continued to come closer.

“We waited for you. There was chaos everywhere but we waited for you to return. Even when the food ran out, we still held on,” Jared’s mother spoke in a low tone.

Jared glanced at the food that was plated for him and nearly retched. Instead of pancakes and bacon, there was a small heap of unidentified food that had long become moldy. There were even maggots wiggling within the filth.

“Y-You’ve all been infected…” Jared stammered as he backed away and accidentally nudged the frying pan off the kitchen counter that was behind him. 

“You ungrateful child! It is because of you that we’ve turned into this!”

“Let’s just turn him into one of us!” Omar charged.

“No, I haven’t had human flesh in days. Let’s eat him!” Jared’s mother yelled with delight.

“No… P-Please don’t do this-” Jared pleaded.

As he fended off the duo with one of the wooden chairs set at the dining table, Jared felt his leg yanked from under him. 

It was Nic who has fully turned into a zombie.

“No! Ahhh! Stay away!” Jared screamed as he attempted to swing the chair at his mother and friends. Unfortunately, Jared was no athlete and thus, was unable to maintain his swings for long. Seizing the chance, his mother and friends pinned him down.

Jared looked around for another weapon out of desperation and his eyes fell on the frying pan that lay on the floor.

“Ah!” Jared screamed as Nic bit a huge chunk of flesh from his calf. Not long after, his mother bit at his shoulder while Omar bit at his left arm.

Tears streamed down Jared’s face and his voice grew coarse from screaming so much.

Then reacting on pure instinct, Jared grabbed the frying pan and swung hard at his mother’s head. There was a sickening crack and a darkened liquid splattered on his face.

“I-I’m so sorry, M-Mom…” Jared began to apologize as he looked at his bloodied hand. For a brief moment, there was no pain but only sorrow in the depths of his soul.

‘Should I just give up?’ he thought vaguely as the sickening squelch and crunch were heard as his body continued to be devoured by his friends.

Then a blinding pain surged within him, bringing him back to the present.

“H-How-”

His torso was being ripped apart and a chunk of the flesh was bitten off from his neck. There was a metallic taste in his mouth as he choked on his own blood.

“Goodbye, son.”

*

*

*

*

*

*

“Jared! Wake up!” a voice was heard as someone shook at Jared’s shoulders.

“Ahhh!” Jared woke up in a jolt.

He was drenched in sweat and could feel his heart beating frantically against his chest.

“Jared,” someone patted his cheek, “It was a nightmare… Are you alright?”

Jared looked around and sighed in relief.

It was the same mint green tiled walls Jared had grown accustomed to- even the concerned face that leaned close.

“S-Samantha,” Jared said hoarsely.

‘Right… It has nearly been a week since the zombie apocalypse had begun…’

“Here,” Samantha handed Jared a glass of water after helping him sit up in bed.

“Mm. T-Thanks,” Jared said before drinking. 

“You got us really worried, you know.”

“Us?” 

Samantha gestured to the entrance of the room.

Louis was at the door with his arms crossed on his chest. He had an unreadable expression though his eyebrows were furrowed.

“I’m sorry…” Jared said as Louis approached.

“Don’t worry. It happens to all of us…” Louis said.

“I just… Is there any way of contacting people outside of the facility yet?”

“No, unfortunately not. As it stands, we’re on our own now,” Louis replied.