It was a typical day as a group composed of all ages, from watchful sixty-year-old holding rifles in their hands to teenagers wearing brown jumpsuits with buckles and belts around their hips, guns by their hips, and knifes stripped at the bottom of their pants, to a mother holding a sleeping baby.
They walked on a road that has been long neglected by construction. The road was dusty and cracked. The soil all around them was isolated, and a run-down the city was filled with broken fragments of bones, metals, and many varieties of weapons, pistols, smoke bombs, kitchen knives, and anything that can be used as self-defense were scattered and almost buried in the dusty ground.
A young teenager that looked way older by the grit of the atmosphere and the horrible circumstances of surviving, pointed his finger at footprints ahead of them, “We are almost at the arsenal!”
Relieved looks crossed twenty people’s faces. They had traveled long days with the scorching sun baring down on them and little amount of water barely to spare. They trotted a bit faster, excitement prickling along their nerves of no more spending nights of switching guard-watch every two hours, a newly supplied of weapons and bullets, and an abundance amount of water to refreshment their scratched throat and parched lips.
A middle-aged man looked at the eager teenagers and inclined his head at them. He urged the kids, “Go ahead of us and tell them we are here,” as he spoke, his voice was caught and he coughed, the moisture left from his mouth. “We will be right there, we going to make sure this fine lady is safe.”
The mother blushed with her sleepy baby in her arms, “Thank you.” She was the most drained and the baby had the most threatening of her life ending. The mother’s breast milk ran dry when they decided to take the trip, and she didn’t have as much energy to protect herself and her baby to the best extent she could.
The teenagers nodded with thankfulness, their minds eagerly seeing water ahead to drink and food to eat. They dashed where the footsteps led and there stood the arsenal with concrete walls.
“Halt!” a soldier yelled, rising a gun at the teenagers.
They skittered to a stop, lifting their hands in defense.
The oldest teenagers announced, “We are here by the decree of Gem.”
“Password,” ordered the soldier, never lowering his gun. His fellow soldiers next to him, watched as more people were headed their way.
Most of the teenagers sighed, feeling dumb to have a password. The oldest shouted back, her stomach rumbling as her mouth saliva, “Bang Bang.”
The soldier who was the captain lowered his gun and saluted, “Thank you, Group A Number two hundred and fifty-one, you have arrived safely. You will be checked and then led to the Gem.”
The teenagers stayed quiet as the heavy iron doors opened with a loud creaking noise. They tried not to look back at the hard faces of the soldiers. Once the doors close and lights flickered on, a boy huffed, “Damn ass password. At least Gem will protect us. I bet Gem has so badass and cool.”
The rest of the teenagers nodded in agreement.
Gem was a teenager around their age as the virus infested and she didn’t wait like everyone else did, thinking the government would handle the situation. She rose with guns blazing and gathered the few friends she had, and shoot anyone who came her past threateningly.
When the government was eaten and the nearby countries blocked their boundaries—the beastly invaded their grounds so every country, even the ones across the oceans were infested with the so call: ZOM. Short for zombies, long for Zombie Outrun Mankill.
As the Americans learned no one would come for help after a couple of terrifying months, Gem took the lead, and came to save groups and families. As the ZOM overpopulated more than the living and five years passed, Gem hid for some odd reason, and everyone assumed she died. However, recently, there had been news that she was back again, and better news that they were only two million down of ZOM in America.
“I can’t believe,” the oldest one scoffed, “we are the two hundred and fifty-one groups that have entered here. It’s only been two days since the announcement that Gem was alive.”
The dark corridor they walked through had sections of hallways, with closed steel doors every twenty feet in case zombies infested the arsenal. The teenagers reached an open room that was mostly empty beside nurses called: INK – INTERNALLY NURSE KINDS. These nurses made sure that the disease that infected the ZOM was not internal. If the disease did infect any of these teenagers, they wouldn’t know until it was too late, and it cannot be seen unless the blood is observed under microscopes.
ZOM can bite humans without the humans getting infected. There was no explanation for why that happened, but usually, scientifically based, one out of sixteen do not get infected and turned to ZOM themselves.
No one knew how the disease started, but rumors have it that by a radioactive asteroid—something similar that killed off dinosaurs but does little effect killing humans. There was a strange glow that if touched by a human, they get infected.
Of course, none of the scientists noticed that until one of them touched it without a glove and became infected. First, it becomes a slow, stinging burning sensation, then the virus goes into the heart and then into the main bloodstream that rises into the brain, eventually, making their brain go into a radioactive zombie mood, and eating flesh is their instinctive meal.
When other scientists placed the asteroid to blow it up, the outer shell broke, and green moldy liquid poured down and seeped into the ground but some stayed on the ground. The liquid burned so hotly, that it went right through the dirt until it eventually was burned with the earth’s core.
As the teenagers were getting their blood drawn and carefully watched by soldiers stationed around the dome room, the nurses gave them water. They made sure the kids took the water little by little to make sure the water didn’t override their empty, and dehydrated. The water was so refreshing and amazing, moisturizing their dry throats.
Thirty long minutes passed and a scientist came with a grin widening her face, “Kesha, we don’t have any infected!”
Kesha, who was the lead nurse smiled with the scientist, “Follow me, kids.”
The teenagers finished their water, allowed to drink faster this time, and jumped from their reclining chairs, following Kesha.
“Where are we going?” the younger kid asked, her straight blond hair a tangled mess from the dirt’s grit and constant winds.
“Food first,” answered Kesha.
The teenagers dug in their huge meal, but of course, Kesha made sure they didn’t eat too fast. She gave them plenty of water and a supplementary vitamin that will start building the immune system—that’s supposed to work—against the ZOM virus. They took another pill—not allowed on an empty stomach, to start all the functioning organs back again.
Once the teenagers finished, Kesha led them down another dark hallway. As they walked, she asked, “What’re your lovely names?”
The oldest answered, “Genny.”
The others followed suit, “William, Johnny, Lila, Amy, Reese, Mitten, and Cleo.”
“Oh, what beautiful names!” exclaimed Kesha. She pushed open heavy doors.
The first thing the teenagers saw was tons of people crowded around, loading guns, sharping knives, charging chainsaws, and so much more. They were all wearing purple jumpsuits with knives strapped to their ankles, bullet pockets, and guns holstered. Some of them had terrible bites that were healing...so they weren’t infected—definitely always have their blood drawn twenty-four hours to make sure they weren’t being affected. If they reached over two weeks, the longest that has been reported of not infected in the system, they were safe.
A tall gorgeous girl sat on a looking stone throne, sharpening her knife. Lila ran to her, “Are you Gem?”
The girl huffed, “Gem, you wanna see her?” She looked at Kesha with a smirk, “I think Gem be happy to see young ones around.”
“Wait, we are only teenagers here?” squeaked William.
Kesha laughed, “No, she just hates kids. It’s a joke.”
Reese gave a pout, her eyes glistering sorrowfully, “We aren’t going to see her?”
Kesha shrugged, “I need to make sure she hasn’t killed a guard, so yeah. Come on, hurry now.”
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The teenagers hurriedly followed her into another hallway that had electric sliding doors. They reached the end of the hallway and Kesha knocked, “Hey. I brought you some young ones.”
She opened the unlocked door and the teenager nearly tripped her over to see Gem.
Gem was facing her desk, working on bombs. She stopped as the door opened and swung her chair around to face the kids. She propped one of her legs up on her desk chair and stared at them.
All the teenagers besides Genny gasped. A long scar ran down’s Gem’s on top of the side of her forehead, between her eyes, and down her face. It wasn’t pretty either as if the surgeon quickly stitched her up to keep her alive. An eye patch covered that scared eye. Her other eyes sparkled a neon green. Her mouth twitched up, “Ah, hello. I’m glad you have made it safely here.”
She stood up, all of the teenagers expecting her to be tall, muscular, and wearing a crazy jumpsuit stuffed with amazing weapons. Instead, they found a petite young girl, around their age. She was no more than five feet and she wore a simple brown jumpsuit as they did, but much cleaner and looked comfy as hell. “I’m Gem, as you can guess.” She tossed Cleo a grenade at him who barely managed to catch it, “Enjoy. Freshly made.”
Genny went white and politely muttered, “I’m sorry about them gasping at you...we, um—”
“Expecting someone more manly?” finished Gem with a smirk. “Me too.”
Genny saw another small scar slashed across her lips, leaving a more...less invasive scar unlike the one across Gem’s face, “Excuse for my intrusion, but weren’t you our age five years ago? You look no younger than fifteen.”
Gem scoffed, waving off Kesh who was about to say something about the comment, “The infection slowed my age.”
“Wait, you infected?” shrieked Mitten. The teenagers nearly leaped backward.
Gem grabbed another of her grenade bombs with a smirk. She tossed it in the air and caught it easily without looking where to catch it much, “My mom was one of those scientists that first discovered the asteroid. Before the infection drove her nuts, she knocked me out and injected this so-called antidote she made. We both knew I would be too much of a pussy to take it. When I woke up, I found that she killed herself before letting the virus take control and put a sticky note, telling me what she did. I wasn’t sick or anything, and when the virus became worse, well...I didn’t think much of it. My friends and I banded together, and when a ZOM was trying to strangle my bestie, I tackled him without a second impulse. He bite me and my other friend was killed. The infection took me right away. I told my friends to kill me, but they knew something was different because if the virus takes someone that quickly, they can’t speak, have any emotion, or understand fearful language. They took me and watched me.”
Gem licked her lips, “Let’s go to the kitchen, I need milk.” She started leaving her messy bedroom filled with mental and weapons, and items to make bombs and among other things.
“So, you are infected, but not?” inquired Johnny, who was the shyest of them, but he was curious. His heart beat against his chest to hear more.
Amy, the littlest exclaimed, “You have milk!”
Gem laughed, “Yes. We have a whole farm of animals. They are in what is called a Greenhouse. They are protected from ZOM and have many guards there keeping them safe.” They came to the spotless kitchen and she poured milk for three of them, the others eyed the chilled soda. She nodded, so the rest of the teenagers taking varieties of soda of the refrigerator.
Gem continued her story, “I wished they killed me, but they didn’t.” She sighed sadly, “All my friends died as we continued trying to save people. I wanted to stop, but my sister and brother told me mom wanted us to keep saving.” She paused to take a sip of her milk, “They died by stepping in a human trap and an explosion took them. I had gone to the store to pick up some things we needed. When I saw what happened...and the humans claimed they were ZOM, and one look at me, they came after me. I ran. I told them that a ZOM isn’t coherent, but the way I look infected, my veins popping out with green glow.” She pulled her long sleeves, revealing her veins glowing strangely, green.
She took a deep breath and finished her milk.
Gem looked at the teenagers listening intensely, “I thought I was safe, but a man had followed me. He demanded who I was and I explained I was surviving from the infection.” Gem scoffed, flickering her long white hair, “I thought a ZOM would scar me, but no, this man ran a knife right along my face. I was so scared. Blood blinded me and I wasn’t sure what he was doing.”
Kesha walked up to her, “Hey, you don’t have to tell them.” She turned to the group, “She only told me this.”
Gem stared at Kesha hopelessly, “I have to, Kesha.”
Kesha nodded, staring deeply, and not questioning her.
Gem shuddered as she said, “He raped me. After he was done, he told me he let me live because I was now ugly and I had to live with it. A ZOM had stuck behind us and eaten him. I was so badly hurt, I couldn’t move. I thought the ZOM would kill me, but...he growled at me. It was a language they spoke and he gurgled, which I could recolonize because I had the virus: ‘Help. Sorry. Sorry.’ He looked down at the man, and growled, ‘Die..’ The ZOM left and I don’t know what happened. I don’t understand why he didn’t come for my flesh, eat it. When I passed out, and I awoke to this nice family taking care of me. I was lucky the man was a nurse.” She touched her scar, "Anyway, I haunted down a ZOM and experimented with him as humanely as I could when I left. Besides Kesha knowing,” Gem looked at bewildered teenagers, “The virus is slowly subsiding. The ZOM are still crazily infected, but they have been involved in more human natures. It will take about ten years or so, and that doesn't mean we shouldn’t kill them, we have to if they attack, but I have hopes.”
Kesha nodded, “Yes.” There was a loud beep from her pager, “See ya.”
Gem smiled once her friend left, “Kesha is such a sweetheart.”
“Is that why…” Cleo gulped, “You hid after…”
“I was raped, yes. After my sister and brother died, I was so scared of facing the world again. I had no one who could protect me. But I soon realize, I need people to survive, and they need me.” Gem had tears coming down her face and she cleared her throat, “Anyway, don’t ask how I built this, because that’s another long ass story.” She put away her glass, “Why don’t you guys go? I need to make sure everything is good.”
A couple of seconds of awkwardness passed until Genny ushered the teenagers away. She looked back, seeing Gem crying alone in the kitchen, her hair covering her tearful face.
***
Genny rolled over in her bed, unable to sleep. The rest of the group was not infected and they were introduced to their jobs. The teenagers were allowed to pick, but Genny wasn’t allowed to choose what she wanted to do. There were so many choices: become a lab scientist, make weapons, caring the farms, be a chef, janitor, be one of those lame-ass soldiers...or even after two weeks of training, be a solider that went out and find families to bring back to the arsenal.
A knock came at her door and she lurched up. There were no windows, but she knew it was very late in the night. The door slid open and Gem stood there in her jumpsuit. She whispered, “May I come in?”
“Um,” Genny hesitated, but she shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it, “Sure.” She really couldn’t deny the boss of this team.
Gem smiled and Genny found it was a very pretty smile. Gem sat down at the edge of the bed and lay on the bed, stretching, “Tell me, if you were going to pick a job of the ones your friends did, what would you choose?”
“Well,” started Genny. “I think maybe be one of those soldiers who saved the family.” She looked down at Gem lolling on her bed.
Gem sat up, “I thought you would.” She smiled, but it faulted quickly. “Genny, only Kesha knows this, but I’m dying.”
Genny stared at Gem in shock, “What? Dying? What do you mean?” She looked over at Gem’s body for an indication of that.
Gem sighed deeply, “My mom was a scientist. Scientists are right or wrong, and constantly tried vaccines over and over again. She only made this antidote one time, and it’s damn impressive how long this antidote lasted. But the virus building in my body—amazingly not affecting my brain, is poisoning my blood instead. I get tested every three weeks for infection since I am always out. Kesha found out one day, something was not normal in my abnormal blood counts. We soon figured out the virus was poisoning me. I don’t have much time. I try to make every day count.”
“When will you go?” gasped Genny, horror-stuck. She then regretted asking such a prudish question.
“I was supposed to die a couple of weeks ago." Gem answered bluntly, "I don’t feel like on a deathbed as you can see me walking around, just as if I’m running a cold. I’m glad you came. Kesha and her sister, the one who likes to sit on the throne chair, will take over. But I need someone trustworthy without me, to order the solider getting the families, the friends, the groups; I think that’s you.”
Genny startled at her, “Me?”
“Yes,” Gem nodded. She clutched her hands, then ran a hand down Genny’s face. “I shouldn’t be flirting with you. How old are you? You are so beautiful. I'm twenty-two."
Genny blushed, her face starting to pink. She unconsciously tucked a strand of wet, clean brown hair, “Thanks. I’m nineteen. You’re pretty, even with those scars. Those scars make you even look badass. You look like exactly who I expected.” She said in a low whisper, “I’m sorry that you had to suffer through all that.”
Gem shrugged, but her face gave a distraught sorrowful gaze, “If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.” She leaned in, her one, bright neon eye looking at Genny, “Do you accept the job?”
Genny nodded, her heart racing, “I truly do with all my heart.” She couldn’t believe this girl, the boss of America was asking her to take over her job...well, basically. Genny could sense Gem was that control freak that had to know what was going on with everything, but what she was asking her to take over that was critically important to her...was a heavy task and a duty to fulfill. Genny scoffed, “I would say that's a big shoe to fill,” she glanced down, “But you have very small feet.”
They laughed and Gem ran her finger down Genny’s face, “Thank you. I know we barely know each other, but I felt I’ve known you my whole life.” Gem breathed out, and kissed Genny lightly on her lips. She parted, “Good night.”
Genny wanted to ask for her to stay, but her words couldn’t leave her mouth as she was had electrifying, fluttering butterflies running along her skin. All she could muster was: “Night.”
As the door closed, Genny lay down in complete wonder as her mind buzzed about what just happened—what she would be fulfilling. She closed her eyes and dreamt wonderful dreams.
***
The morning was late and it was evening now. Gem didn’t like to be woken up until around eleven, because she was such a sleepy head unless she was out of town. Kesha did her daily routine of an iced caramel latte drink and pressed iron jumpsuit that was warm on a steel tray. She gave a gentle knock and opened the door, “Morning sleepy head.”
She saw a note fall on the floor. She glanced up to see Gem’s eyes closed and body still. Her whole look seemed so calming.
Kesha’s heart pounding, she picked up the note: Dearest Kesha, it was fun talking to you last night and the concoction of the mixed fruity drink was quite amazing and made me tipsy. Tell Genny what I told you. I know tonight I will not make it. I was coughing blood, but I didn’t want to bother you because there was no point. I love you very much. - Gem