Project 239

The Day My Life Changed

It was July 28th of 2018 when it happened. I was at home watching t.v. when the warning came on in big white letters followed by a siren. I didn't think much of it at the time just thinking that it was some sort of test, that is until my father came into the room covered in oil and dirt.

"We have to go! Now!" He said in a rush as he went to the storage closet and grabbed a military grade backpack from his days in the army.

I remember him storming around the house frantic as he filled the pack up with anything he could get his hands on. He would let out a bunch of cuss words when he was doing this and shaking his head like he could not believe what was happening, what he was doing. I was confused and slightly worried for his sanity. I mean I've heard of vets having issues after retiring but for the few years my dad had been out he had never had an issue.

"Dad? Are you okay?" I remember asking a total of six times before he acknowledged my presence.

His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly parted as he rushed towards me and grabbed onto my arm yanking me up off the couch. At this point the t.v. was screeching and an emergency broadcast started playing over the show I was previously watching.

"Get a bag and get whatever you are going to need, something happened and we need to leave." he said before shoving me towards my room.

"What are you talking about dad? What's going on?" I asked feeling more and more worried and scared by the second.

"Were you not listening to the news Anna! There's been an accident at one of the labs and some...assets escaped and are now causing terror in the city!"

"what kind of terror? Is mom okay?" I asked my voice laced with panic for my mom who worked at the labs in the city as a microbiologist.

I watched as he shook his head again and cussed to himself almost like he didn't believe what he was going to say out loud. "They're eating and biting people Anna. I don't know about your mom but if she's that close to the things she could be just as sick or possibly dead, for her sake let's hope she's dead."

I let my mouth drop open in disbelief and my eyes well up with tears until they were spilling and falling down my face. My dad looked at me with sorrow in his eyes as he nodded for me to go and pack anything I had. So I did just that.

I ran to my room and grabbed my school bag, dumping all the contents on my unmade bed before running towards my drawers and grabbing a few sets of clothes to shove in placement of all my school books and homework I had yet to complete. I ripped my tan jacket off of the hanger and shoved it in my bag. I went looked around my room looking for anything I would need when my eyes landed on an old picture of our family laying on my desk still in its frame. Quickly I snatched it up and tore it from its frame before shoving it into the front pocket of my bag.

I left my room with my bag slung over my shoulder and met my dad in the living room. he was pacing with two packs on both of his shoulders, talking to someone on the phone. He sounded angry and was yelling into the phone.

"Dad?" I called walking up to him slowly so I wouldn't startle him, but also so I could get his attention.

"Meet us at the old campsite, I have to go." He hung up the phone and looked at me before gesturing towards my bag.

"Are you all set? Got everything you'll need?" He asked, and once I nodded he turned his back and left out the front door.

We ran towards the truck where He threw our bags in the backseat next to a few guns and cases of water. I didn't even want to question why we would need the guns so I quickly threw the front door open and climbed my dad following shortly after.

He quickly started the car and slammed his foot on the gas making me jolt forward towards the dashboard. I quickly put my hands in front of me and caught myself before my face slammed into the hard plastic.

"Are you okay Anna?" he questioned, glancing over at me as we turned onto the back roads behind our house.

"Y-yeah I'm okay...Uhmm can you explain what's going on now a little more in detail?" I asked him my hands clutching my seat in order to stay upright when he took a sharp left.

"Not now. I'll tell you when we get to the campsite. Do you still have your phone with you?"

I nodded and took my phone out waving it in the air before looking at him confused. "Do we need it?" I asked.

"I need you too call Simon. Tell him to tell his dad to bring any water and weapons he can. We're going to need everything we can get."

I quickly pull up my contact list going down to where his name was and clicked call. It only took him a minute to answer but with all the stress and panic it felt like ten.

"Anna?" He questioned his words coming out breathy like he had ran three miles straight non stop.

"My dad told me to call, he said to grab all the weapons and water you have. He said we need anything we could get." I rushed out hoping Simon could understand me.

I heard him yell something out to his father, probably relaying my dad's message to them. I waited as patiently as possible in this situation my mind going into hyper mode trying to process everything that was happening.

"Alright he said he grabbed and loaded everything we have. We are about to head out now. We'll meet you both at the camp." He said.

"Uh yeah, see you then. Stay Safe." I said biting my lip in stress.

"You too Anna." I hear before the phone clicks off.