Infected

Sickness

Silver

It was early the next morning. I sat up in my bed and looked at Cindy, still asleep. She had a small smile on her face. I smiled and grabbed my pack and glasses. My knife was still hooked onto my belt. I swore I'd never take it off unless absolutely necessary. I picked up my new glasses and put them in my pack.

I went to the storage room and checked every pack. It seemed like Ben and Mike didn't eat their breakfast yesterday. They resisted their hunger the entire time? It's a shame they're not Runners. They would be great. I heard footsteps and Richard walked in.

"Can you take these bags to everyone? Except the two boys, of course."

He nodded and took them out. I looked around and noticed the phones still plugged in. I forgot to pack those, too. I picked them up and slid each one into my pocket. When I picked up Ben's, though, I got curious. I unlocked it and looked inside. It did belong to someone before. I looked through the pictures. It belonged to a girl. When I looked at the recent pictures, however, you could see the pictures he took. He had himself in some of them, but most of them were of the docks, where he lived. The place was depressing, but the pictures were amazing. It was hard to believe a person with that much talent would be living on the streets. I heard footsteps again and locked the phone back. It was Richard again.

"Let me guess. Phones missing?"

He nodded.

"I'll hand them out." I said.

Richard went down the hallway, and I followed, but Cindy stopped me on the way out and gave me a big hug.

"I miss you when you leave." She whispered.

"I miss you too. But someone has to do it."

"I know. I just wish... you didn't have to leave."

"Trust me, when we have enough people and the compound is big enough, I might not have to go back out."

"I can't wait." She said.

There was a knock on the door.

"Mrs. Walters? Are you awake?" A woman said. One of her friends.

"Yes. I'm coming." She said. She looked at me and said, "Stay safe."

~~~

Cindy

Mrs. Crawford brought me to her house.

"It's Benny." She said. "He was feeling bad yesterday, but he woke up today with a high fever. You'll have to excuse the smell." She said.

"He's been vomiting?"

"Ever since early this morning. He's been feeling dizzy. I'm really worried for him."

"Show me."

The door was open, and I could tell why when I walked in. Her husband, Mr. Crawford was trying to clean some vomit that was on the floor. There was a bucket next to Benny's bed with vomit, or what was left in his stomach. He was sound asleep now. I felt of his forehead. It burned my hand. His temperature had to be 103 or 104. There was only one thing this could be.

"How is he?" Mr. Crawford asked.

"He's got a very high fever. It could just be the flu, or a new epidemic. Bring him to the tents." I said.

Mr. Crawford picked him up and put him on a bed in the tent closest to our house. He stirred a little when he was placed down, but remained asleep.

"You really think it's the flu?" She asked.

"It's possible. I'll give him some Acedaminaphin. It should bring the fever down."