Chapter One
The city Jenna’s lived in her entire life gets smaller and smaller in the wing mirror. She feels a tinge of sadness for having left it behind, but knows it’s for the best.
Maybe elsewhere the virus isn't so bad.
Cindy, her girlfriend, tightens her grip on the steering wheel. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You've been awfully quiet this whole trip."
"Mixed feelings, I guess. I just hope where we're going is better than what we've left."
Cindy turns her head to study her momentarily. Jenna can't help but focus on her eyes. Two blue and red rings are tinged around her irises, and she flinches. She gives Jenna a sad look before concentrating on the road once more.
The rings are a sign of infection. Her girlfriend was infected at the beginning of the apocalypse and has been Bitten ever since. Although Jenna hates the Bitten with all her heart, she can’t let go of Cindy. The two are together again, and Jenna tries her best to push the thought of Cindy infecting others to the back of her mind. Those infected with the Sarj virus are given instructions from some higher power to infect four Unbitten and three Bitten. Jenna has come across loads in her short time in the apocalypse, but she doesn't feel sympathy for any of them. They choose to infect others. They choose to ruin others’ lives by spreading the virus.
It's selfish.
"Can we stop a minute?"
Cindy's voice yanks her out of her thoughts. "Why?"
"I..." Cindy starts blinking rapidly. "I don't know. Something's wrong."
"But we'll be vulnerable out here."
"Something is wrong, Jen. I'm stopping," Cindy snaps.
Jenna flares her gills before smoothing them back down with her hands. "Okay, fine."
Everyone is born with a power. Some are passive, while others are offensive. Unfortunately, both she and Cindy have passive powers. She has gills, while her girlfriend has deformed ears that can hear anything from miles away. Well, she used to. Infecting others with the virus slowly drains you of your power. Cindy has infected a few Unbitten, which means her power has been significantly reduced. Some days are better than others.
Cindy pulls the car over and slumps back in her seat. Strands of ginger hair are stuck to her forehead, which is caked in sweat.
Jenna's annoyance instantly evaporates. "Sin? What's wrong?"
Her girlfriend takes a few deep breaths and touches the tips of her elf-like ears. "I don't know. My head burns."
"Burns?"
She opens her eyes momentarily, which are now pink and bloodshot. "Yeah."
The rings around her irises look like they're glowing. Even though her entire body screams at her not to, Jenna leans in close and pushes away the sweaty hair. Cindy's forehead feels like it's on fire and all the sweat is starting to tinge the air with an unpleasant smell.
"Are you sick?"
"I... I felt fine a few minutes ago."
Jenna sits back. "Maybe I should drive."
"Have you ever driven before?"
She shrugs. "Kinda."
Her girlfriend rolls her eyes and manages a single laugh. "That doesn't fill me with confidence."
"Well, you can teach me."
Another laugh. "There's no way I'm teaching you right now. I just need a minute to rest."
Jenna glances out the window without answering. The motorway is filled with abandoned cars. Some have their doors wide open, as if the occupants escaped in a hurry. The floor is covered in various belongings and rubbish, filthy and wet from so much exposure to the elements.
"Do you want some air?"
Cindy grits her teeth. "No. I just need to wait for it to pass."
"What makes you think it will pass?"
"It came on like a minute ago. It will pass. It has to."
Jenna sighs and looks out the window once more. Her eyes lazily scan the abandoned cars, trying to make out the words of the license plates. Movement catches her eye, and she stiffens. A humanoid creature on all fours is crouched behind a red car. She only manages to catch it as it stumbles into sight partially. Its skin is dark blue, and from her vantage point, Jenna can see it covering its face with its hands and cowering.
Is it in pain?
When Bitten have infected the seven people they were ordered to, they are whisked away in a bright light. The Sarjs are what comes back. These creatures were once human before they were stripped of everything that made them who they were. They attack Bitten and Unbitten alike, turning them into Sarjs without having to infect seven others.
Why isn't it attacking us? It must know we're here.
Her heart leaps into her throat as the creature falls forward. Its hands are still clinging to the sides of its head, and it raises its legs high to its chest. If it wasn't such a dangerous monster, she may even feel sorry for it.
Jenna grabs Cindy's arm and shakes it slightly. "We need to go, Sin. There are Sarjs here."
Cindy's eyes flutter open, but they're unfocused. "Please, I just need a minute."
Frustration flares up inside her. "I'm telling you that we probably don't have a minute."
Cindy sucks in a pained breath, and tears brim in her eyes. "They've turned on him. That's what's making my head hurt."
Jenna shakes her head. "What are you talking about? Who has turned on who?"
"I don't know. I just know that they've turned on him."
Jenna turns her attention back to the Sarj. It doesn't seem to have noticed them; if it has, it isn't bothered. It continues to shake on the floor, both hands holding its head. The minutes seem to drag out for all eternity until Cindy relaxes with a sigh. She blinks a few times, adjusting to the light.
"Sin?" Her voice barely comes out as a whisper.
"I don't know what's happened. But something has."
Jenna bites back a retort. "What do you mean?"
"I... I don't know how to explain it."
With a dissatisfied grunt, Jenna looks out the window again. The Sarj stands unsteadily on all fours, looking around with its mismatched eyes. She freezes when its gaze passes over them in the car. Then, without interest, it staggers away from them, disappearing in the line of cars.
"The Sarj is gone," she mutters.
"I don't think they'll bother us anymore."
"What makes you say that?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. I just don't think they will."
Jenna watches the road for a few more seconds, expecting a Sarj to jump out. Maybe it was momentarily disoriented. Maybe it saw her but wanted her to let her guard down.
Too many scenarios start running through her head, making her want to cry.
"Let's just get out of here."
***
That’s it for this week, I hope you enjoyed reading! Look out for Hell when it’s available for pre-order. See you next Sunday.
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