A World Fallen

conversations are short but pleasant. Markus knows his brother loves him, and he understands he has his own way. He accepts that. He’s pretty much the only one in their family that does.
It’s not quite a straight shot to Pete’s house, but staying off the main roads is achievable for most of the travel. The road they’re on now is the one they’ll remain on for the majority of the trip.
“Markus!” she exclaims.
His face is a blank slate. Kylie can’t figure what he’s thinking. She calls his name again and finally him snaps out of his daze.
“We’re going to Pete and June’s. We’ll figure the rest out there with them. You know how Pete is. No one around his place for miles.”
He questions whether or not to finish his thought. He already knows what her reaction will be, but she needs to be prepared for the worst. That’s all he can think about.
“And he’s got guns.”
Her jaw drops, just as he suspected it would.
“Guns?! Do you really think that’s going to be necessary?!”
Her question is appropriate, he knows that.
“I don’t know honey.” he says as his gaze moves to her.
She’s afraid, he is too. He doesn’t know what to say to comfort her. Hell, he doesn’t know what to say to comfort himself. All he can say is exactly what he’s thinking.
“But I’m not going to let anything happen to us. No matter what.”
Her hand rubs the back of his neck. She, too, knows they’re both afraid. She knows he feels like it’s his job to protect them, and she knows he’s doing his best. There is no plan in this situation, no course of proper action to be taken. All they can do is what they feel is right. Something sick and disturbing is happening in the world. Something they never thought they would ever have to live through. They don’t know if it’s temporary. They don’t know how bad it really is.
Telephone lines are backed up. Markus couldn’t get a call out to anyone. She couldn’t either. They don’t know if their families are safe. They don’t know if their friends are safe. They don’t know how much further the disease has spread, where it came from, or when it truly first started. They don’t know anything. That is what frightens her the most. This feeling of total helplessness and confusion. All they can do is stay together and try to protect their son.
“Baby, I know you wont. I-”
Movement in the corner of her vision catches her attention. Her head snaps back to the front of the car. The deer isn’t moving, just standing directly in the middle of the two lane road.
“MARKUS!!” she screams, terror surging in her voice.
His eyes move back to the road just in time to see a flash of brown. He jerks the steering wheel to the left, swerving away from the deer. The car rattles as its back end collides with the fearful animal. Markus attempts to pull the car back onto the road, but the mud provides no traction. He slams on the brakes, but it’s too late, the tree is too close. The car crashes head on into the stationary evergreen. The last image the distraught father sees is a flash of gray from his own steering wheel just before it impacts his face. His mind begins to fade, the sound of his son crying out in fear rings through his ears, and then, the light cuts out.

CHAPTER FIVE
The hours blend into days, the days blend into the weeks, the weeks blend into months. If it wasn’t for the calendar he keeps with him he would’ve lost his since of time long ago. Loss, such is the case for Karo. He’s felt for years he doesn’t know anything anymore.
His life is one of anguish. His days are filled with depression. Morbid questions constantly run through his mind. He tells himself he shouldn’t think these thoughts, that he doesn’t try to, but that’s a lie. These are the only thoughts he ever has. Well, these and the nightmares. He’s killed so many. Is it even technically killing at this point?
The diseased certainly have no issue with it. There is no divide, not in this vicious world. It’s kill or be killed, and for some reason he will not relent. He will not give up. To do that, to make that choice, feels wrong to him.
He hasn’t come across a real person in almost two years. He’s encountered some diseased that could speak, but they’re not people. The disease itself is evolving. People are aware of what’s happened. They know to avoid the afflicted, to avoid cities, and so this cruel blight against humanity has evolved, has adapted.
It was a shock the first time he heard one speak. It could only say one word and it kept saying it over and over. It said, “Help.” as it walked toward him. Karo told it to stay back, not to come closer, but it would not halt. Karo did what he has done so many times, he did what now feels natural to him, he killed.
For a while after this experience he pondered if he should’ve tried to lend aide. Did he make a mistake? Could that have really been a person in need? That subsided when he happened upon a whole group of them. All of them were asking for help. Their lifeless eyes missing the spark within them that only accompanies cognizance.
This is when he knew the very worst that could happen has occurred, the adapting. He’s not sure how long they had already been able to speak, but since the first encounter that development has increased rapidly. He has now witnessed the diseased speak full sentences. It’s always a notion of need. “Please, help me.” or “I need help.” or the far more devious “Do you need help?”
The world shouldn’t be like this, life shouldn’t be like this. Someone, somewhere, made a grave mistake, or far worse