Chapter 1. How did this Happen?
Many people have an idea of what they want to put on paper when they sit down to write something. Many people have this framework for what they want to say. However, writing from the heart is the most inspirational framework that we as people have used for generations. These are the things that have come to Eric’s mind in these days. Eric was a writer for his local newspaper and writer of a few novels that no one had ever seen. These novels have long been lost since the virus mutated and the economy had its collapse a few years ago. As he sits to himself and his close companions, Jeremiah and Angie, that he has been on the road with since the mutation occurred and society turned on itself, he realizes all of the ways that he could have made his novel work. He thinks of the ways that he could have produced something of meaning that maybe would have changed the world. He realizes that this is not worth dwelling on. The virus’ mutation could not have been stopped. No one could have predicted that this flu-like virus would have changed into a meningitis that would wreck havoc on our planet. Once the violent change in patients was noticed, people turned on each other and became belligerent and nasty. Whole cities were destroyed and millions of people left without homes.
A twig snaps outside the small cabins window, distracting Eric from his daydreaming. He motions to Jeremiah to peak out the window as he grabs his 12 gauge Beretta that was his fathers before he passed. “It’s nothing.” says Jeremiah. “Just another doe” he mutters, sick of the fact that these animals once known for their venison are no longer edible thanks to the virus. Once the virus found a way to mutate and jump from animals to humans, and then back, the majority of the population has stuck to vegetables and fish. “We need to start thinking about our next move” Angie stated loudly. She never has figured out the need for whispering. Luckily the cabin they have been at for the past six months is far enough out that they have been able to avoid conflict. She was right though, the cabin will not be a safe place forever. Just earlier that day the CB-radio had picked up a conversation between a couple of patients, which is what we have called people who have contracted the new virus. It would be easy to describe them as zombies, but they are not. This isn’t a disease that completely takes who you are and makes you an animal. This disease just changes you into a sociopath. They call themselves “The Free.” At face value you are unable to tell if someone even has it. The only way to stay ahead is to catch them interacting with each other. Eric still has no idea how they find each other, but they do. The more of them there are, the more dangerous they become. Their pact mentality is what led to the downfall of society. No longer concerned with protecting one another, they began to purposefully infect unsuspecting bystanders. Eric, Jeremiah, and Angie soon realized that the best course of action was to head for the hills of West Virginia, their neighboring state. They luckily found a cabin in nearby Princeton by a ski resort that somehow had been abandoned.
However, in recent days there had been movement in the town. Obviously unwilling to greet their new neighbors, they had decided to move on. “We will need to move soon” Angie reiterated. “I know Ang, we will look tomorrow. We need to listen in for his announcement.” The Him Eric referred to is the leader of The Free. All they know about him is his beliefs and his voice. With no television, there is no way to distinguish his looks. They just hear his bellowing voice across the AM radio station where he preaches to his followers about their continued quest for complete power. They have been waiting on the announcement that was set to be made 3 hours prior. “Maybe he changed the time. You know he changes his mind on a whim constantly” Jeremiah noted. Eric can’t focus. All he can think about tonight is the days before everything changed. All he can think about it is Jen and Anthony. All he wants to know is where it all went wrong. Was it the virus? Was it the election? Was it that fucking social media? How did we get to this point?
16 Months Earlier
And the election has been called in favor of President Donald Trump. After a long set of litigations, the President and his law team were able to prove… The news trailed off in the background for Eric who had been watching it for days with his wife, Jen. The ups and downs of the elections and Covid-19 would be enough for anyone. Tack on both of them losing their jobs and trying to find creative ways to make money and provide for their 3 year old Anthony, it would be enough for anyone to give up hope. “You over it?” Jen said as she smirked and brushed Eric on his shoulder. “You know the world is going to hell soon right?” he joked. “Pretty soon we are going to have to head for the hills and live off the land.”
“As long as I have you and my baby boy” she said with sincerity.
