“ As the chaos ensues many people have come to believe that these are the end of times”. The reporter turns to look at his co-anchor, smiles then says, “ Not to me”. After second guessing rather or not he should take her hand into his. Both seem to settle on a round of almost visibly nervous laughter. As She prepares her notes to coincide with her male co-anchor, things fade and zero in on her. She has been bitten by her now ex-boyfriend.
She remembers that he became sick complaining about never having a flu like this. He says that it started out as a rash. Asking, “How the hell could a rash get this bad?” Hell. She remembers him talking about how badly his skin itched and the burning. No ointment he thought of could help. She wasn’t sure if it was an allergen in the creams. She though about the phone calls after he decided to quarantine himself. She had soup she could bring him she said over an almost empty call. Why did he even answer the phone? Heading there she remembered how dark the back of the house was and the mess. His place unusually smelly she wondered did he get drunk and tried to sleep it off? She found him laying down arms folded across his chest. She tried waking him and after a few shakes stopped trying she had already called the hospital but was told to wait. She had heard and even reported what to do in case of times like that. To stay on the line and someone would be with you. She only sat the phone down to shake him again from what seemed like a coma. She began to get nervous. She was picking up her phone and decided she would leave him there. Panicking she wouldn’t even pause to lock the door.
All those seemed like ideas that she had wished she had taken into action sooner. After a wrestling match that started with him groaning. Reaching over onto her turned back clumsily. Shocked she bashed him with her fist. Turning to run tripping over his blankets that may have been tossed to the side from a fever. Him stumbling into a frenzy and moving quicker than she expected. She then kicked him and ran out into the open towards her car. Ironically trying to shut the door she had only just moments decided to leave open. Him as famished as he may have been readily shoved his head into the closing door. Biting down on the available flesh there. She spent a minute or two bashing the door close and him eventually giving up on using the door at all. Listening, she could hear him scrabble towards the space of the home. Snapping the papers into her hand She looked at her co-anchor and saw him looking away from her bandaged wrist. She wondered how much he thought about having an itch….
He had listened to many outside reports and himself remained a skeptic. He prepared none the less and knew many times over about how badly things would get when “S**t” broke down. Listening he could still hear how much quieter the studio had become and was on the list of available patrons for the shelters in case of emergencies. The voices he was hearing at this point seemed to only whisper some words. Repeated over and at a pace. He looked to her and she seemed distracted he didn’t think she could hear them. Alone it would be much worse. Names and unfamiliar voices….
Silencing the thoughts that panicked his mind he looked the attractive anchor over. He was sure she had been bitten and the rumors or even the Administration for Strategic preparedness and response said to be aware of those that had been in direct exposure, there could be correlation. Like the disease was almost certainly transferred through that type of contact. Its almost unclear as to rather those bites lead to one dying and then rising from death. The itching and flu like symptoms was all he cared to think about. The show would be ending soon and many co-workers had taken to not leaving their homes. He and She had mostly discussed the possibility of working from home via the internet.
He doubted if he could convince himself to invite her over. The bandage had not began to seep yet but he could sense the worry in her. Shuffling papers they said their good nights after wrapping up the rest of the nights news, weather included. Heading home he could see what ever it was that whispered to him scatter from well lit places and into the darkness. Heading up his stairs and unlocking his door he could feel the dark presence creep towards him. He looked out the window after locking his door with the deadbolts he doubted he’d need. Was it a vampire? He muttered a prayer (spell) to calm himself. The soft glow surrounding him only made the voices whisper to him more angrily. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep them away….
“In today’s news” the prompter spoke in a clear fluid voice, UFOs, sightings of werewolves, and Satanic forces of evil. Should we believe or shop? The question was posted as a survey with many saying they were undecided. One person even gave an interview, speaking clearly about the hoopla and the deliciousness of juicy brains. The idea that we should not shop is just as crazy as believing every thing you hear on the news. Like an itch or monsters hidden away in the dark. Like who would ever really believe in that….