PHOENIX 

My life wasn’t perfect before the outbreak, but damn it was decent. I finally graduated college and was the graphic designer for a launched game. The game wasn’t super popular, but it was enough for us to live on and maybe buy something nice once in a while.  My family didn’t approve of it, but they didn’t pay for the college I went to. (I got a scholarship) They told me it was a waste of time.

 Anyway, everything was as well as it could be, and it all got ruined by this big event my friend Scarlett was begging me to go to. It was for hotshot Alvin Eclair’s birthday. He was one of the founders of one of the biggest medicine companies. 

Scarlett wanted to go ‘for the experience,’ whatever that means. Personally, I think she wanted to show off because her ex-friends were making fun of her because she wasn’t rich. So I went because I felt like she deserved it. At the time, I didn’t know it would be the worst decision I’ve ever made. Let me tell you what happened that day…..

* Four Months Ago *  

“ Scar, do I really have to go? ” I say, pouting. 

“Yeah, I can’t go by myself; that would be weird, ” she says, folding her arms.

“ What about Mia, ” I say.

“ She can’t go; she's sick, and you already said yes last month, ” she says.

I would call her lucky, but being sick sucks. I don’t do that well with people, though. Even at my job I only have like one friend. 

“ I know, I know I’ll go, ” I say, annoyed.

“ Great, now you have an outfit, right? We have to leave soon because it’s going to be kind of a long drive,” she says with a smile. 

“ Yeah, I have a suit right there, ” I say as I point toward my suit. 

“ Oooooo, that looks nice. Welp, time to get ready, ” she says. 

She and I both get ready and then head out to the car. It takes us about 45 mins to get there and, sadly, about 15 to freaking park. 

Once we get out of the car, I whisper, “ This better be worth it. " 

She winks, “ It will be just look, ” she says. 

As we walk in, I’m flabbergasted that it looks so good. To describe it, it would be a red ballroom the size of a football field. There are chandeliers on the ceiling, dumb big tables with beautiful tablecloths, and even the floor is pretty. Never mind, I was wrong. This is definitely worth it. 

I lean and whisper to her, “ You're right it is, ” I say. 

She nods as we get to our assigned table. When we sit down, Alvin Eclair goes up on the stage and starts talking.  

“Good evening, everyone. I hope you all have fun tonight. Before you go ahead and mingle, I would just like to thank everyone for coming tonight. This is celebrating not just for me but for everyone—the celebration of my accomplishments that have saved people's lives, ” he laughs. Anyways, have fun, drink, and eat to your heart's content—it’s all on me, ” he says while everyone cheers or clapped. 

Scarlett and I enjoyed the night, and she dared me to try the drinks. We had a couple of glasses and ate some of the delicious food. However, a couple of hours into the party, people started acting crazy. 

Everyone started biting and scratching each other, and Mr.Eclair and other people started leaving. (Including us) As Scarlett and I were about to go, I pushed her outside so she wouldn't get scratched. In doing so, though, I got scratched by this crazy-looking person. It didn’t matter anyway. We got the hell out of there and drove home. I showed Scarlett the mark, and she was surprised I didn’t go all crazy like everyone else. The next day on the news, though, we heard most of the people died. 

“ Wait a minute, but you didn’t die or need to go to the hospital,” Scar says, confused. 

“ I know, but you have to be careful; I could infect you, too, ” I say before I sigh.

“ You haven’t done anything, but they said someone on the inside probably spiked the drinks or the food,” she replies.

“Yeah, but have you seen the pictures? People were trying to eat each other's brains before they died,” I say as I pace around the room. 

“ I’m sure it’ll be fine, Pho—” Scar says before she is cut off by a knock on the door. 

I go, open the door, and they just walk in. I close the door behind them. 

“ Hello, I’m Sage Fin, and this is my partner Kaiden Evergarden. Are you two, Phoenix Thorne and Scarlett Bloom?” the lady says.

“ Yes, we are, ” Scarlett replied. 

“ Were either of you scratched during the event you attended yesterday ?” Sage asked. 

“ I was scratched,” I said, showing them my arm.  

“ Have you had any symptoms? Dare I say, have you felt hungry to eat brains?” the Kaiden guy asked. 

“ No, I haven't felt any symptoms. I went to sleep fine and haven’t eaten since yesterday, ” I replied.  

Both of them seemed shocked and confused. They went to make a call to their boss, I guess, and I think I was supposed to have some symptoms. I feel like the same old, same old, though. 

“ Phoenix, we need to get you checked out somewhere, so for further notice, you’re going to come with us. We don’t know if it will be safe for you to be with your friend Scarlett, ” Kaiden informed us. 

“ Whoa, whoa, where are you taking him? Also, how do we know that you two aren't bad people?” she replied, looking annoyed. 

They pulled out their badges and showed those organization tablets. They only had certain info on it. You couldn’t watch youtube and shit on it. Scarlett backed off after that but still didn’t exactly understand why I had to go. Sage explained that I was the only one out of the survivors from the different parties who didn’t have immediate symptoms the next day. 

“ You’ll need to pack for at least two weeks, and we have a room for you. You will be taking a lot of tests in the next two weeks. So I suggest we leave now, and Ms.Bloom, since you haven’t been infected, you will continue living a normal life as everyone else has, ” Kaiden said. 

Scarlett nodded, and we said our goodbyes. We left for my place, and they waited downstairs for me to finish packing. 

Wow, I’m really leaving. I wonder what is going to happen next for me. I pack all the clothes, shoes, and products I need. I feel as though I might not be there for two weeks. So I grab my charger and keys and take a once-over of my apartment. I lock the door and head downstairs to the car. It was a big black SUV, which isn’t surprising. I get settled in, and we drive off, heading wherever.