《Sinfully Short Stories》 The Vanishing World - A Gay Romance (Learning how to express feelings) It was strange to go out with your best friend with the new version of 50 Shades of Grey. Many great reasons made this uncomfortable as the two couples on the screen did the deed. First, these friends were both males, and why the hell did they agree to see this movie? Of all movies in the movie theater, it was this one. Seriously, they both liked superheroes. A new batman came out. Secondly, Uriel looked at his friend the whole movie, until the uncomfortable scene came up. This is soooooo boring. Just shot me. He stared at the sex scene in a monotonous, expressive manner. Uriel was blinking some to keep himself awake. He looked back at his friend to see his reaction. His friend¡¯s face was blank. No reaction. Uriel¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. Should I tell him? That I love him? For years, I yearned to tell him how I feel about him. I so badly wanted to kiss his mouth, see his thick eyelashes flatter up and down like butterfly wings as he hungered for me. ¡°O my god, yes!¡± the woman cried. Shot me. ¡°So, why did you want to come to this movie anyway?¡± Zack asked, shaking his head. Uriel looked at him and started, staring at him with his big blue eyes that everyone could tell were deeper than the depths of the ocean, ¡°What? No, you wanted to see this.¡± Zack stared back at him, with his hazed light brown eyes, giving a confused look, ¡°I texted if you wanted to see this and you said yes.¡± ¡°And I thought you wanted to see this,¡± declared Uriel. Agh, do we have to fight? They were never fighters though, although small disagreements about some heavy subjects, made their differences. ¡°No, I texted you: How about that 50 Shades of Grey for straight people? It was a joke, Uriel," scoffed Zach, his eyes trying to avoid the screen at this moment. Uriel sighed, at least he was happy in knowing that his friend had better taste than this. ¡°Oh, sorry. I thought you wanted to see this. So I said yes.¡± Zack leaned in now, his breath hot on Uriel¡¯s ear and he felt a warmness spread his body, ¡°Well, next time, I¡¯ll be more clear,¡± he gasped, his tone almost seductively, ¡°Sorry.¡± Uriel looked at him strangely, the gasp was almost dramatic. Is he flirting with me? He then thought of the dating games that had the option of Flirt back or do nothing. ¡°No need to be sorry,¡± Uriel smiled, trying to not be lame as possible, ¡°The only reason to be sorry is how pretty you are.¡± He expected Zack to laugh absurdly at how he got that idea or gave him a strange look. Uriel grimaced at his comment, awaiting his friend to answer back for wearisome long seconds. Instead, Zack leaned closer..the mouths almost touching, he sighed dramatically again, ¡°Sorry, for being too pretty.¡± He flattered his eyes closed and kissed Uriel, hot on the mouth, slow and easy. Uriel shrank back in surprise, pressing his hands against Zach''s chest, feeling the steady heartbeat underneath his slender fingers. He felt the hardcore muscles underneath the shirt as his fingers flexed more open on Zach''s chest. However, Uriel couldn''t help but pull away with an embarrassed face flustering greatly. Zack opened his eyes, his shocking blue eyes glistering. He turned away, hiding his disappointed state, ¡°Sorry, that was inappropriate of me. I don¡¯t know what I was thinking.¡± He gazed his eyes at Uriel, not sure what to do now. Did he make everything awkward now between them? Did Zach lose his only favorite friend? ¡°No!¡± Uriel exclaimed, feeling strange regret weigh inside his chest ¡°Zack, I do¡ª¡± The movie shut off with a click. They yanked their heads to the screen. The movie wasn¡¯t supposed to be over. He was sure that the girl was about to spank the guy or something like that, he wasn¡¯t watching anymore to that point. Zack looked up at the clear glass that had the videotape, but it turned off. He then looked at Uriel, ¡°Where did the people go?¡± Uriel shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe to the bathroom or had enough with the sex.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see them leave.¡± He flickered his eyes to the three rows down where people sat. ¡°Come on, let''s get out of here, I¡¯ll talk to the manager. Probably something wrong with the videotape.¡± Uriel wasn¡¯t disappointed that the movie cut off. He was getting sick of watching straight people having sex. They walked out of the room and it was oddly quiet. He didn¡¯t hear any other movie sounds in the other rooms. ¡°Maybe the power cut off?¡± ¡°Then why are the lights still on?¡± said Zack. He turned to Uriel, ¡°I have a bad feeling about this.¡± ¡°Zack, it¡¯s fine. Let''s go to the food stand,¡± Uriel sighed. Sometimes Zack could always be overdramatic, which was annoying. They quickly went to the food stand. No one there. They looked all over the movie theater. No one. No sound. Just emptiness. Like Uriel¡¯s heart. They stepped outside into the bright sun and saw no one. Empty cars in the parking lot, and no one in the restaurant next door. ¡°It¡¯s like everyone vanished,¡± concluded Zack. Uriel crossed his arms, uncomfortably from the hot atmosphere, ¡°Maybe, something bad happened on the news and people retreated to their homes?" Uriel pulled out his phone. He looked up at Zack with a grimace, ¡°My phone isn¡¯t working!¡± Zack let out a frustrated sigh, he pulled at his. It wasn¡¯t working either. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Damn it!¡± Uriel was getting scared. Was this a bad dream? What was happening? ¡°Hello!¡± He called out into the empty air. There weren¡¯t even birds flying. ¡°If everyone disappeared, why haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Uriel.¡± He kicked the ground and put his coat around him tighter as if that might comfort him. ¡°Let''s drive around and see if we can find anyone. They walked to Zack¡¯s orange mustang. He grabbed his keys and turned them. Nothing. ¡°What the fuck?¡± Zack said, annoyed. He tried again. The car was dead. Zack banged his hands against the dashboard annoyingly and stormed ahead, slamming his car door behind him. ¡°Wait, where are you going?¡± exclaimed Uriel, running next to him. ¡°I am going to find people and demand answers,¡± his polished black hair blew in the soft wind and he glared at Uriel, ¡°Did anything unusual happened today?¡± Uriel chuckled with blushed cheeks, ¡°No, only the kiss you gave me.¡± He combed his hand through his wild burnt hair, ¡°Nothing. You?¡± Zack clutched his hands, ¡°No. It was a normal day. I saw cars and people pass me while I drove.¡± ¡°Maybe something happened in the movie theater?¡± suggested Uriel. They jogged up the sidewalk, but their small town was empty. No one was shopping or walking down the sidewalks. Zack shook his head in disbelief, ¡°What is happening!¡± He turned to Uriel, ¡°Let us go to the movie theater. Maybe you are right. Maybe we were somehow transported into another world while watching that cringy movie.¡± Uriel nodded in a silent agreement, wondering what the heck was happening as they ran back to the theater. ¡°At least we can all eat popcorn.¡± Zack snickered, ¡°We should try the room where we were and see if we spot anything?¡± He quickly tried his phone again. Nothing. ¡°Agh, fuck!¡± They went into the room, the lights on now. They searched every row and even sat down in the seats they were in. Uriel felt a ping in his chest and he looked back at Zack, his hair shiny in the lights and his skin perfectly tanned. Uriel wanted to express his feelings right now and here. Zack, I want you to know I love you. Not just your pretty face but your personality. The way you smile makes me happy and how you laugh brightens my day. Uriel held his hands to steady himself, ¡°What should we do?¡± He slumped, in a saddened state. How were they going to get out with no one here? Maybe we did transport somewhere. ¡°Uriel?¡± Uriel glanced at Zack, ¡°Yeah?¡± Zack blushed and stared at the ground, ¡°You never finished your sentence.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°¡¯ Zack, I lo.¡¯¡± answered Zack, ¡°Finish it.¡± Uriel shook his head in disbelief, ¡°We are stuck with no people or animals around. The world just vanished and we are the only ones here to solve it! You are asking me to finish a stupid remark?¡± He felt his chest tighten. Even when he said that a slap was burning across his face. A stupid remark? It wasn¡¯t stupid at all. Zack and Uriel had been friends since kindergarten. Uriel didn¡¯t know how his feeling grew deeper for Zack, maybe when he was around his thirteens. They went to the same college together, for they were interested in majoring as lawyers, and both managed to get into Harvard. They were destined to be together, it seemed. They cried together, laughed together, and most importantly, shared memories. When Zack got a girlfriend, it was the first time Uriel was jealous. He thought it was just friendship jealousy, but when he dreamt of doing something to Zack, he knew that he loved Zack. It was hard, deep love. His soul never expressed anything like it. That raw love inched closer to the surface every time he saw Zach''s glimmering eyes. Uriel wished Zack felt the same way, but he was sure Zack was straight, even when he dumped his girlfriend, Zack telling Uriel that he wasn¡¯t interested in dating...girls. Uriel''s eyes lite up. He heard Zack¡¯s voice, ¡°Uriel, I dumped her...because I am not interested in girls.¡± He turned to Zack, was he giving him hints all these times? He repeated the sentence over and over again, rolling in his bed. Uriel couldn¡¯t believe that he missed that part. Not interested in girls. ¡°Sitting here will do no good,¡± stated Zack and stood up. Uriel followed him outside and they walked down the road for a good while, probably two hours, with no sign of life. Unless you were getting picky and saying the breeze moved the trees, which were considered living things. Zack stopped in the middle of the road. He was sweating and so was Uriel. The outside was scorching. He yanked off his coat to the ground. Uriel wanted to break down and cry as they paused for a second. Why did this have to happen to them? Scary and confused. But seeing Zach take off his shirt in one fleck, made Uriel''s thoughts lean to the better side of things. Zack was now panting and stripped off his shirt and Uriel jumped, trying to not look, but his eyes betrayed him, and saw a glorious ripped chest. A sweaty chest, but still gorgeous. Uriel was getting even hotter. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was seeing Zack half naked or the sun was just deciding that it was going to kill them. Uriel had never seen Zack uncovered before, only since they were kids, changing shirts and pants from their mud-covered clothing, playing hard outside, and making mudslides. He inhaled, ¡°I¡¯m hot too.¡± ¡°Then take off your shirt. We are boys, we don¡¯t have boobs.¡± Uriel frowned slightly, nipples are pretty sexy though. He shrugged and yanked off his sweaty shirt. He saw Zack glance at his slender chest, soft, not ripped, which Uriel was kinda jealous of, he wanted a nice buff chest. Zack turned away. Is he blushing? Uriel hugged himself, ¡°Well, let''s get going.¡± Zack inhaled, ¡°What was that stupid remark you were going to say?¡± His chest raised and fell. Why are his jeans so damn low? I can see his hips. His eyes trialed further but he yanked up, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Zack.¡± He knew his parents and friends would be okay if he dated a guy, but...Then why can¡¯t I say I love him? Zack walked closer to Uriel, small steps, but Uriel stepped back, ¡°What are you going to say, Uriel?¡± ¡°Why do you want to know so badly?¡± shouted Uriel, ¡°It is nothing important.¡± Zack flattered his eyes, and stared down at his feet, ¡°I¡¯m your friend, it¡¯s important to me what you were going to say...am I not important to you?¡± He cocked his head and gave that sorrowful lust eyes to Uriel. Uriel stared back, clutching his wet shirt, ¡°I¡­¡± His heart was going rip out of his chest and he felt dizzy...probably from the lack of water. He started to break out in a sweat, and gasped, unsure what to do. ¡°Zack...you are important to me.¡± Hell, the world was going to burn anyway. What was the point of hiding now? Zack stepped closer. Uriel stepped closer, ¡°Zack, I love you.¡± Zack grinned, ¡°I¡¯ve loved you since high school idiot.¡± Uriel swallowed hard. This was amazing! He didn¡¯t care anymore if the world burned and it was just of them forever. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I love you, Uriel, not just friendship love, but romantic love.¡± Uriel cast his eyes and then turned back to him. He pressed his chest to Zack¡¯s chest. He gasped and trailed his fingers on Zack¡¯s hardcore chest, ¡°I...love you if you haven''t realized.¡± He leaned in and kissed him, hard and not gentle. The kiss was rough and this man wanted not just more of the mouth. He wanted the whole body. Uriel was greedy for more. He opened his eyes and then whirled around in his seat. They were back at the movie theater The awful movie playing again, and the people were there, sitting three rows down. They had their shirts on and Zack''s coat on him. ¡°What happened?¡± Zack looked confused also, ¡°I don¡¯t know. You saw what I saw, right?¡± Uriel nodded to his friend, ¡°Yes, empty world, creepy as hell, and your car didn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Then a thought came into his mind. He was about to say that he loved Zack, but not with real passion, with lust...with true love. Then the world vanished as if they were in a different world. ¡°Zack? You don¡¯t think we disappeared¡­¡± ¡°So we could confess our love to each other?¡± added Zack, nearly shaking his head with such an idea. It was creepy how they both thought the same thing sometimes. ¡°Yes.¡± Zack smiled and kissed Uriel again. Damn, Uriel thought he won the lottery. Three kisses in one day! ¡°Whatever happened, I''m glad we did it. Maybe an angel or something stopped the world for us to finally really express how we feel.¡± And he was extremely grateful. ¡°Maybe,¡± agreed Uriel with a small quirky smile ¡°Or we hit our head and went insane.¡± ¡°Or that,¡± smoothed Zack as he bent his head in a cocky angel, pressing his tender lips on Uriel''s chapped ones. Four! Score! The Red Eyes - (100 Words Essay - that I wrote at a Christian online school lmao) All I see are red eyes, nothing more, nothing less. I feel pain everywhere in my body and I want it to go away! I try to remember what I did last. Now I know! I was driving late last night, drunk as a skunk. I was angry as hell! My wife had been cheating behind my back and here she was at it again! I plowed straight through my house, knowing he was in there. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. I stare back at the red eyes and now I know what I''m looking at. I am looking at the eyes of the Devil. The Cursed Headphones (Short Story) Music beats in my ears, like there is no tomorrow, and smooths my angry soul. My heart pounds with frustration and I grimace with ugly thoughts slashing in my mind. I am walking in the cool night, my hand gripping my knife, as I keep pondering the idea cycling in my mind endlessly. Should I kill them? Plotting revenge has been on my mind ever since she cheated on me. I started to have everything I could want but she turned her back on me for this dickhead. Killing her would not be a mercy if I truly love her, but jealousy and hate flare inside me like nothing before. I don¡¯t mind people passing me this late of the night. Some give me strange glances with my luminous stance, stiff but determined to go somewhere. My head is bent down and a hoodie covers my tight face as I round a corner, getting closer to my destination. Is this a good idea? My brain knocks some common sense in me as I look up at the tall house, compact with other houses. My heart yearns for punishment for what my girlfriend did, but my killing would not prolong the guilt she certainly should have. I hear footsteps moving behind me. I think someone is just watching something else, curious that maybe a television playing in one of the upstairs loudly, or looking across the street to pass safety. Instead, the hair on the back of my neck prickle, and I turn in time to see the dickhead that my girlfriend cheated on. I yank down my headphones to my neck, about to give him a piece of my mind, but my eyes catch everything that happens. However, my body moves too slowly to react. The dickhead whips out his knife and his dagger slices across my neck right between my headphones, blood spraying like a water fountain. My knees buckle and I gurgle out blood. My eyes roll behind my head right as my body smashes against the cracked pavements. I hear a roar of laughter and I don¡¯t still know how. I thought perhaps I went to hell and Satan is laughing at my stupidity. But here I was, I could visibility see around me at a 360-degree angle. The dickhead grabs my headphones, and I feel myself being lifted and I know somehow in my deepest guts, that I am now somehow I spirit that possesses my expensive, yet favorite headphones I wore constantly. I am not a vengeful spirit that could not let go of the past, and this was my price. To forever be stuck in these pair of headphones, feeling the vibrations in the air. I couldn¡¯t smell anything but see. The dickhead spites on me, and I feel the warm, gooey spite on me. If I could shiver, I would¡¯ve. He quickly runs away from the crime scene, and washes me with water and soap, getting off the blood. Good thing these headphones were waterproof and I am surprised how they hold up as they stand through the water and soap. I feel shiny and new, and no more my blood covering my new self. The dickhead chuckles as he gets out of his house again and walks a few blocks. He drops the headphones in the trashcan. I see him leave and I am staying in the fifth trashcan with my clean self...granted, I just had my blood on me, but still. I don¡¯t know how many days pass, but I think two days for I saw the sun raise and set two times. Dirty cups, trash, paper, and cigarettes were thrown in the trashcan. Then, the trashman comes and pulls out the bag. He has trouble getting the bag out and most of the trash spills out. ¡°Fuck!¡± he cursed, annoyed. Then, I see his eyes on me. His voice is gruff with age and he mutters, picking me up, ¡°How this pretty thing get in here?¡± He examines me with interested eyes and puts them on his neck. He wrinkles up his nose but knows not to get rid of something looking so nice and clean. The old man picks up the littered trash and quickly hauls the trash away. Time passes into late night, as he cleans me and puts me down on his desk, calling out for his wife, ¡°Hey, honey, I found this...um, somewhere. Do you think our son will like it?¡± I can tell this man isn¡¯t poor, but not close to any time rich. Seemly, I study, and he can¡¯t get a job anywhere else with his limp as he walks. The wife comes up and grins, ¡°Hell ya, babe!¡± She plants a kiss on him, ¡°Good job. He will love it.¡± The man smiles and puts me in his desk drawer. I don¡¯t know how many days pass as I am set in the drawer. I hear conversations, door slamming, and barking from a dog. The drawer opens one day, as a cord drops next to me. Months fly and finally, I am plucked out from my place and wrapped in a box. I get rattled in and set back now. I don¡¯t know how much time passes, but I think only a night passes. I feel the vibration of laughter and some minutes later, I am picked up and I get shaken like a cocktail shaker. I hear tearing paper and the box is ripped open. I see a young teenage boy laughing with excitement, and thanking his parents. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The night comes and he takes me to his room, hooking his phones and me to the Bluetooth. I say that his music taste isn¡¯t bad with some classic rock and hard metal. I hear some moaning and I wish I could roll my eyes, the horny boy watching porn throughout most of his teenage years, but honestly, I don¡¯t mind it. Lying on his desk, I see he brought a girl in and she is a pretty blond. They talk and sit a good distance from each other. They study and eye each other. This happens frequently throughout the weeks, the happy teenager humming to the music which he didn¡¯t do, and way less porn which I am grateful to. His music changes slightly as his woman shows her music, which is okay. I am always watching him every single day for I am stuck in these headphones, invisibly watching wherever the boy sets me. I can never move, for I am stuck to where this object is. One day, he drops me. Neither of us was happy about this and after some good time trying to hook up o the Bluetooth and fix me, nothing happens. The twenty boy frowns, ¡°Damn, you have been so good to me.¡± He sighs, ¡°One more time.¡± I didn¡¯t want to be tossed away and crushed with other garbage for the rest of my miserable life. I like being here. So, with all my might and wish, I feel strength from me as I click on my blue light to life. The boy gasps, ¡°Please work!¡± He puts me on his head, quickly doing the routine of hooking me up to his phone. He hits play on his long playlist and music blares loudly. I wish I could smile, but all I could give him was better audio, which he could hear. ¡°Hey, I think your sound is even better!¡± More time passed and his girl makes out, which I am happy to see for they both enjoyed each other company, and I could hear the happy sounds of their hearts. Some more months fly away and the couple does more than just kiss. I sense that the adult was getting moody and feeling down. He kept grumbling as he set me on his head, rumbling about how his life is a misery. His job is pointless and his parents waiting for him to get out there, and so on. I agree with his parents, he needs to get others there and not stay. Eventually, he moves out which is a blessing. After some months of settling in, his girlfriend is now a fiance, and he has a better job. The guy still grumbles about his life and how he hates that he has nothing. I beg to disagree. He has a roof over his house, clothes on his back, food to eat, and a hot fiance who loves him to death. Then one night, a new girl comes in. He does something I would never expect. He cheats on the new girl, who is nothing like his other girl which he said to her that he cherishes and loved. I am appalled. Loving someone is not cheating on someone else. My memory goes back to my girlfriend. After the girl leaves, and he drenches with guilt, he slips me on his head, muttering about much better she was than his fiance. The worse part comes. His fiance drops by and he says that he loves her and even fucks her, muttering about marriage and children. After she leaves, he complains about how wrong he felt...if you couldn¡¯t tell, he likes to talk to himself a lot. Anyway, he bitches nonstop about how shitty his life is. I am pissed as he ups his music, singing a depression song. I would¡¯ve frowned if I could. Hatred for him and the lack of respect burns in my soul. He ups his music, shouting to himself that he had such a shitty life, when the opposite, he had everything he wanted. Angry boils and I roar, not speaking in over ten years, my voice crackling over the speakers, ¡°YOU HAD EVERYTHING! YOU FUCKING UNGRATEFUL BITCH!¡± The man screams in anguish, trying to pry the headphones off, but I tighten myself hard on his head. I rumble out my rage, crackling through the speakers in an earsplitting scream. He sways his head so fast, trying to yank me off, nearly twisting his neck in the process. I feel the familiar blood that trickles from his ears and into the speakers. My furious yelling gurgles from his blood into his ears. His eyes roll back and he fell to the ground, not moving. I couldn¡¯t keep thinking: That¡¯s what you get...bitch. The anger calms down in me. Then, I feel something strange in me. For some reason, I yank myself up. I am inside the man¡¯s body, but it feels so wrong. Somehow I possess his body, perhaps his blood soaking into my soul had me transported into his ugly body. The skin hisses and the blood coils inside me. I grab the headphones, knowing what I want to do. I wash out the headphones quickly, run outside, and sprint to Goodwill which this man has gone to a lot with me hung over his neck. I would not die in this disgusting body, but live in my headphones; for my soul belong to it. It is my destiny to stay there forever. I see a smallish boy walking to Goodwill with his mom. I went to him, the mom glaring at me. I barely respond, my lips quivering in pain, ¡°Please, this is brand-new, just put it in Goodwill or keep it.¡± I hand the boy the headphones, and collapse to the ground, feeling my soul get sucked back inside the headphones. I am back in my comfort place, feeling restful. The mother screams and calls the cops. As she is distracted, telling the cops what happened, the boy looks down at the man''s body. He didn¡¯t rere about the dead body surprisingly. He goes to Goodwill and puts me on the counter. ¡°A man said in his last dying breath, to have this in Goodwill.¡± The register gives the boy a strange look, taking me without a word. She puts me down and goes back to her computer. After some time, right before she leaves, she spots me. The woman sighs, examining me closely. She presses her lips and stamps a fifteen-dollar stick on the top of my headphones. I remember that my headphones cost at least one hundred dollars. So, whoever buys me, will have a sweet, cheap price and not regret my lifetime warranty. Gem - The Apocalyptic ZOM It was a typical day as a group composed of all ages, from watchful sixty-year-old holding rifles in their hands to teenagers wearing brown jumpsuits with buckles and belts around their hips, guns by their hips, and knifes stripped at the bottom of their pants, to a mother holding a sleeping baby. They walked on a road that has been long neglected by construction. The road was dusty and cracked. The soil all around them was isolated, and a run-down the city was filled with broken fragments of bones, metals, and many varieties of weapons, pistols, smoke bombs, kitchen knives, and anything that can be used as self-defense were scattered and almost buried in the dusty ground. A young teenager that looked way older by the grit of the atmosphere and the horrible circumstances of surviving, pointed his finger at footprints ahead of them, ¡°We are almost at the arsenal!¡± Relieved looks crossed twenty people¡¯s faces. They had traveled long days with the scorching sun baring down on them and little amount of water barely to spare. They trotted a bit faster, excitement prickling along their nerves of no more spending nights of switching guard-watch every two hours, a newly supplied of weapons and bullets, and an abundance amount of water to refreshment their scratched throat and parched lips. A middle-aged man looked at the eager teenagers and inclined his head at them. He urged the kids, ¡°Go ahead of us and tell them we are here,¡± as he spoke, his voice was caught and he coughed, the moisture left from his mouth. ¡°We will be right there, we going to make sure this fine lady is safe.¡± The mother blushed with her sleepy baby in her arms, ¡°Thank you.¡± She was the most drained and the baby had the most threatening of her life ending. The mother¡¯s breast milk ran dry when they decided to take the trip, and she didn¡¯t have as much energy to protect herself and her baby to the best extent she could. The teenagers nodded with thankfulness, their minds eagerly seeing water ahead to drink and food to eat. They dashed where the footsteps led and there stood the arsenal with concrete walls. ¡°Halt!¡± a soldier yelled, rising a gun at the teenagers. They skittered to a stop, lifting their hands in defense. The oldest teenagers announced, ¡°We are here by the decree of Gem.¡± ¡°Password,¡± ordered the soldier, never lowering his gun. His fellow soldiers next to him, watched as more people were headed their way. Most of the teenagers sighed, feeling dumb to have a password. The oldest shouted back, her stomach rumbling as her mouth saliva, ¡°Bang Bang.¡± The soldier who was the captain lowered his gun and saluted, ¡°Thank you, Group A Number two hundred and fifty-one, you have arrived safely. You will be checked and then led to the Gem.¡± The teenagers stayed quiet as the heavy iron doors opened with a loud creaking noise. They tried not to look back at the hard faces of the soldiers. Once the doors close and lights flickered on, a boy huffed, ¡°Damn ass password. At least Gem will protect us. I bet Gem has so badass and cool.¡± The rest of the teenagers nodded in agreement. Gem was a teenager around their age as the virus infested and she didn¡¯t wait like everyone else did, thinking the government would handle the situation. She rose with guns blazing and gathered the few friends she had, and shoot anyone who came her past threateningly. When the government was eaten and the nearby countries blocked their boundaries¡ªthe beastly invaded their grounds so every country, even the ones across the oceans were infested with the so call: ZOM. Short for zombies, long for Zombie Outrun Mankill. As the Americans learned no one would come for help after a couple of terrifying months, Gem took the lead, and came to save groups and families. As the ZOM overpopulated more than the living and five years passed, Gem hid for some odd reason, and everyone assumed she died. However, recently, there had been news that she was back again, and better news that they were only two million down of ZOM in America. ¡°I can¡¯t believe,¡± the oldest one scoffed, ¡°we are the two hundred and fifty-one groups that have entered here. It¡¯s only been two days since the announcement that Gem was alive.¡± The dark corridor they walked through had sections of hallways, with closed steel doors every twenty feet in case zombies infested the arsenal. The teenagers reached an open room that was mostly empty beside nurses called: INK ¨C INTERNALLY NURSE KINDS. These nurses made sure that the disease that infected the ZOM was not internal. If the disease did infect any of these teenagers, they wouldn¡¯t know until it was too late, and it cannot be seen unless the blood is observed under microscopes. ZOM can bite humans without the humans getting infected. There was no explanation for why that happened, but usually, scientifically based, one out of sixteen do not get infected and turned to ZOM themselves. No one knew how the disease started, but rumors have it that by a radioactive asteroid¡ªsomething similar that killed off dinosaurs but does little effect killing humans. There was a strange glow that if touched by a human, they get infected. Of course, none of the scientists noticed that until one of them touched it without a glove and became infected. First, it becomes a slow, stinging burning sensation, then the virus goes into the heart and then into the main bloodstream that rises into the brain, eventually, making their brain go into a radioactive zombie mood, and eating flesh is their instinctive meal. When other scientists placed the asteroid to blow it up, the outer shell broke, and green moldy liquid poured down and seeped into the ground but some stayed on the ground. The liquid burned so hotly, that it went right through the dirt until it eventually was burned with the earth¡¯s core. As the teenagers were getting their blood drawn and carefully watched by soldiers stationed around the dome room, the nurses gave them water. They made sure the kids took the water little by little to make sure the water didn¡¯t override their empty, and dehydrated. The water was so refreshing and amazing, moisturizing their dry throats. Thirty long minutes passed and a scientist came with a grin widening her face, ¡°Kesha, we don¡¯t have any infected!¡± Kesha, who was the lead nurse smiled with the scientist, ¡°Follow me, kids.¡± The teenagers finished their water, allowed to drink faster this time, and jumped from their reclining chairs, following Kesha. ¡°Where are we going?¡± the younger kid asked, her straight blond hair a tangled mess from the dirt¡¯s grit and constant winds. ¡°Food first,¡± answered Kesha. The teenagers dug in their huge meal, but of course, Kesha made sure they didn¡¯t eat too fast. She gave them plenty of water and a supplementary vitamin that will start building the immune system¡ªthat¡¯s supposed to work¡ªagainst the ZOM virus. They took another pill¡ªnot allowed on an empty stomach, to start all the functioning organs back again. Once the teenagers finished, Kesha led them down another dark hallway. As they walked, she asked, ¡°What¡¯re your lovely names?¡± The oldest answered, ¡°Genny.¡± The others followed suit, ¡°William, Johnny, Lila, Amy, Reese, Mitten, and Cleo.¡± ¡°Oh, what beautiful names!¡± exclaimed Kesha. She pushed open heavy doors. The first thing the teenagers saw was tons of people crowded around, loading guns, sharping knives, charging chainsaws, and so much more. They were all wearing purple jumpsuits with knives strapped to their ankles, bullet pockets, and guns holstered. Some of them had terrible bites that were healing...so they weren¡¯t infected¡ªdefinitely always have their blood drawn twenty-four hours to make sure they weren¡¯t being affected. If they reached over two weeks, the longest that has been reported of not infected in the system, they were safe. A tall gorgeous girl sat on a looking stone throne, sharpening her knife. Lila ran to her, ¡°Are you Gem?¡± The girl huffed, ¡°Gem, you wanna see her?¡± She looked at Kesha with a smirk, ¡°I think Gem be happy to see young ones around.¡± ¡°Wait, we are only teenagers here?¡± squeaked William. Kesha laughed, ¡°No, she just hates kids. It¡¯s a joke.¡± Reese gave a pout, her eyes glistering sorrowfully, ¡°We aren¡¯t going to see her?¡± Kesha shrugged, ¡°I need to make sure she hasn¡¯t killed a guard, so yeah. Come on, hurry now.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The teenagers hurriedly followed her into another hallway that had electric sliding doors. They reached the end of the hallway and Kesha knocked, ¡°Hey. I brought you some young ones.¡± She opened the unlocked door and the teenager nearly tripped her over to see Gem. Gem was facing her desk, working on bombs. She stopped as the door opened and swung her chair around to face the kids. She propped one of her legs up on her desk chair and stared at them. All the teenagers besides Genny gasped. A long scar ran down¡¯s Gem¡¯s on top of the side of her forehead, between her eyes, and down her face. It wasn¡¯t pretty either as if the surgeon quickly stitched her up to keep her alive. An eye patch covered that scared eye. Her other eyes sparkled a neon green. Her mouth twitched up, ¡°Ah, hello. I¡¯m glad you have made it safely here.¡± She stood up, all of the teenagers expecting her to be tall, muscular, and wearing a crazy jumpsuit stuffed with amazing weapons. Instead, they found a petite young girl, around their age. She was no more than five feet and she wore a simple brown jumpsuit as they did, but much cleaner and looked comfy as hell. ¡°I¡¯m Gem, as you can guess.¡± She tossed Cleo a grenade at him who barely managed to catch it, ¡°Enjoy. Freshly made.¡± Genny went white and politely muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about them gasping at you...we, um¡ª¡± ¡°Expecting someone more manly?¡± finished Gem with a smirk. ¡°Me too.¡± Genny saw another small scar slashed across her lips, leaving a more...less invasive scar unlike the one across Gem¡¯s face, ¡°Excuse for my intrusion, but weren¡¯t you our age five years ago? You look no younger than fifteen.¡± Gem scoffed, waving off Kesh who was about to say something about the comment, ¡°The infection slowed my age.¡± ¡°Wait, you infected?¡± shrieked Mitten. The teenagers nearly leaped backward. Gem grabbed another of her grenade bombs with a smirk. She tossed it in the air and caught it easily without looking where to catch it much, ¡°My mom was one of those scientists that first discovered the asteroid. Before the infection drove her nuts, she knocked me out and injected this so-called antidote she made. We both knew I would be too much of a pussy to take it. When I woke up, I found that she killed herself before letting the virus take control and put a sticky note, telling me what she did. I wasn¡¯t sick or anything, and when the virus became worse, well...I didn¡¯t think much of it. My friends and I banded together, and when a ZOM was trying to strangle my bestie, I tackled him without a second impulse. He bite me and my other friend was killed. The infection took me right away. I told my friends to kill me, but they knew something was different because if the virus takes someone that quickly, they can¡¯t speak, have any emotion, or understand fearful language. They took me and watched me.¡± Gem licked her lips, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the kitchen, I need milk.¡± She started leaving her messy bedroom filled with mental and weapons, and items to make bombs and among other things. ¡°So, you are infected, but not?¡± inquired Johnny, who was the shyest of them, but he was curious. His heart beat against his chest to hear more. Amy, the littlest exclaimed, ¡°You have milk!¡± Gem laughed, ¡°Yes. We have a whole farm of animals. They are in what is called a Greenhouse. They are protected from ZOM and have many guards there keeping them safe.¡± They came to the spotless kitchen and she poured milk for three of them, the others eyed the chilled soda. She nodded, so the rest of the teenagers taking varieties of soda of the refrigerator. Gem continued her story, ¡°I wished they killed me, but they didn¡¯t.¡± She sighed sadly, ¡°All my friends died as we continued trying to save people. I wanted to stop, but my sister and brother told me mom wanted us to keep saving.¡± She paused to take a sip of her milk, ¡°They died by stepping in a human trap and an explosion took them. I had gone to the store to pick up some things we needed. When I saw what happened...and the humans claimed they were ZOM, and one look at me, they came after me. I ran. I told them that a ZOM isn¡¯t coherent, but the way I look infected, my veins popping out with green glow.¡± She pulled her long sleeves, revealing her veins glowing strangely, green. She took a deep breath and finished her milk. Gem looked at the teenagers listening intensely, ¡°I thought I was safe, but a man had followed me. He demanded who I was and I explained I was surviving from the infection.¡± Gem scoffed, flickering her long white hair, ¡°I thought a ZOM would scar me, but no, this man ran a knife right along my face. I was so scared. Blood blinded me and I wasn¡¯t sure what he was doing.¡± Kesha walked up to her, ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t have to tell them.¡± She turned to the group, ¡°She only told me this.¡± Gem stared at Kesha hopelessly, ¡°I have to, Kesha.¡± Kesha nodded, staring deeply, and not questioning her. Gem shuddered as she said, ¡°He raped me. After he was done, he told me he let me live because I was now ugly and I had to live with it. A ZOM had stuck behind us and eaten him. I was so badly hurt, I couldn¡¯t move. I thought the ZOM would kill me, but...he growled at me. It was a language they spoke and he gurgled, which I could recolonize because I had the virus: ¡®Help. Sorry. Sorry.¡¯ He looked down at the man, and growled, ¡®Die..¡¯ The ZOM left and I don¡¯t know what happened. I don¡¯t understand why he didn¡¯t come for my flesh, eat it. When I passed out, and I awoke to this nice family taking care of me. I was lucky the man was a nurse.¡± She touched her scar, "Anyway, I haunted down a ZOM and experimented with him as humanely as I could when I left. Besides Kesha knowing,¡± Gem looked at bewildered teenagers, ¡°The virus is slowly subsiding. The ZOM are still crazily infected, but they have been involved in more human natures. It will take about ten years or so, and that doesn''t mean we shouldn¡¯t kill them, we have to if they attack, but I have hopes.¡± Kesha nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± There was a loud beep from her pager, ¡°See ya.¡± Gem smiled once her friend left, ¡°Kesha is such a sweetheart.¡± ¡°Is that why¡­¡± Cleo gulped, ¡°You hid after¡­¡± ¡°I was raped, yes. After my sister and brother died, I was so scared of facing the world again. I had no one who could protect me. But I soon realize, I need people to survive, and they need me.¡± Gem had tears coming down her face and she cleared her throat, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t ask how I built this, because that¡¯s another long ass story.¡± She put away her glass, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys go? I need to make sure everything is good.¡± A couple of seconds of awkwardness passed until Genny ushered the teenagers away. She looked back, seeing Gem crying alone in the kitchen, her hair covering her tearful face. *** Genny rolled over in her bed, unable to sleep. The rest of the group was not infected and they were introduced to their jobs. The teenagers were allowed to pick, but Genny wasn¡¯t allowed to choose what she wanted to do. There were so many choices: become a lab scientist, make weapons, caring the farms, be a chef, janitor, be one of those lame-ass soldiers...or even after two weeks of training, be a solider that went out and find families to bring back to the arsenal. A knock came at her door and she lurched up. There were no windows, but she knew it was very late in the night. The door slid open and Gem stood there in her jumpsuit. She whispered, ¡°May I come in?¡± ¡°Um,¡± Genny hesitated, but she shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it, ¡°Sure.¡± She really couldn¡¯t deny the boss of this team. Gem smiled and Genny found it was a very pretty smile. Gem sat down at the edge of the bed and lay on the bed, stretching, ¡°Tell me, if you were going to pick a job of the ones your friends did, what would you choose?¡± ¡°Well,¡± started Genny. ¡°I think maybe be one of those soldiers who saved the family.¡± She looked down at Gem lolling on her bed. Gem sat up, ¡°I thought you would.¡± She smiled, but it faulted quickly. ¡°Genny, only Kesha knows this, but I¡¯m dying.¡± Genny stared at Gem in shock, ¡°What? Dying? What do you mean?¡± She looked over at Gem¡¯s body for an indication of that. Gem sighed deeply, ¡°My mom was a scientist. Scientists are right or wrong, and constantly tried vaccines over and over again. She only made this antidote one time, and it¡¯s damn impressive how long this antidote lasted. But the virus building in my body¡ªamazingly not affecting my brain, is poisoning my blood instead. I get tested every three weeks for infection since I am always out. Kesha found out one day, something was not normal in my abnormal blood counts. We soon figured out the virus was poisoning me. I don¡¯t have much time. I try to make every day count.¡± ¡°When will you go?¡± gasped Genny, horror-stuck. She then regretted asking such a prudish question. ¡°I was supposed to die a couple of weeks ago." Gem answered bluntly, "I don¡¯t feel like on a deathbed as you can see me walking around, just as if I¡¯m running a cold. I¡¯m glad you came. Kesha and her sister, the one who likes to sit on the throne chair, will take over. But I need someone trustworthy without me, to order the solider getting the families, the friends, the groups; I think that¡¯s you.¡± Genny startled at her, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gem nodded. She clutched her hands, then ran a hand down Genny¡¯s face. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be flirting with you. How old are you? You are so beautiful. I''m twenty-two." Genny blushed, her face starting to pink. She unconsciously tucked a strand of wet, clean brown hair, ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m nineteen. You¡¯re pretty, even with those scars. Those scars make you even look badass. You look like exactly who I expected.¡± She said in a low whisper, ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you had to suffer through all that.¡± Gem shrugged, but her face gave a distraught sorrowful gaze, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t be the person I am today.¡± She leaned in, her one, bright neon eye looking at Genny, ¡°Do you accept the job?¡± Genny nodded, her heart racing, ¡°I truly do with all my heart.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe this girl, the boss of America was asking her to take over her job...well, basically. Genny could sense Gem was that control freak that had to know what was going on with everything, but what she was asking her to take over that was critically important to her...was a heavy task and a duty to fulfill. Genny scoffed, ¡°I would say that''s a big shoe to fill,¡± she glanced down, ¡°But you have very small feet.¡± They laughed and Gem ran her finger down Genny¡¯s face, ¡°Thank you. I know we barely know each other, but I felt I¡¯ve known you my whole life.¡± Gem breathed out, and kissed Genny lightly on her lips. She parted, ¡°Good night.¡± Genny wanted to ask for her to stay, but her words couldn¡¯t leave her mouth as she was had electrifying, fluttering butterflies running along her skin. All she could muster was: ¡°Night.¡± As the door closed, Genny lay down in complete wonder as her mind buzzed about what just happened¡ªwhat she would be fulfilling. She closed her eyes and dreamt wonderful dreams. *** The morning was late and it was evening now. Gem didn¡¯t like to be woken up until around eleven, because she was such a sleepy head unless she was out of town. Kesha did her daily routine of an iced caramel latte drink and pressed iron jumpsuit that was warm on a steel tray. She gave a gentle knock and opened the door, ¡°Morning sleepy head.¡± She saw a note fall on the floor. She glanced up to see Gem¡¯s eyes closed and body still. Her whole look seemed so calming. Kesha¡¯s heart pounding, she picked up the note: Dearest Kesha, it was fun talking to you last night and the concoction of the mixed fruity drink was quite amazing and made me tipsy. Tell Genny what I told you. I know tonight I will not make it. I was coughing blood, but I didn¡¯t want to bother you because there was no point. I love you very much. - Gem