Invasion

[Joe Jones]

I have to get out of here. 
 
I keep hearing footsteps. Crunch, crunch, crunch, pressing down into the snow. They're coming for me.
 
Dead. All my loved ones are dead. They turned. They were no longer my father, my mother, my brother. I had no choice.
 
I noticed their behaviour changing. They kept telling me I was insane. They shouted at me. "You're obsessed! They don't exist! It's all in your head!"
 
But I knew. I knew they were victims to the plague. Slow release at first. They weren't aware of it. But their minds were oblivious to what was about to unfold.
 
"Take your meds," they would say. Can you believe it? Trying to claim that I was going mad? No way. I'm the only sane man here. I know what's happening.
 
Dread filled me. It began with the brain. Panic set in. Tightness clenched my chest. I couldn't breathe. I stumbled, fell head first into something. Blackness.
 
Then it happened.
 
She was on top of me. Eyes vacant. She wanted to consume me. She had turned and I was about to be turned too.
 
I screamed. Piercing. Terror burst out in sound form. I punched her in the side of the head. Leapt up. She was dazed. I knew I didn't have time.
 
I picked up the paperweight from my desk. Smashed it between her eyes. That's where the virus lies.
 
Bam. Bam. Bam. I hammered down with all my might. She was split open, blood pouring from her head. I screamed again. What if it infected me?
 
God bless America, eh? The Second Amendment. \"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.\" 
 
Well, the State was not free at that precise moment. They were coming. I've read all the books. They are slate erasers. They will not only destroy the State, they will destroy civilisation. They will destroy humanity.
 
She was screaming. He was coming up the stairs. They can run now. I've seen those films. I've read that book. They are merciless killing machines.
 
I ran into their bedroom. At least, the bedroom that belonged to them before they turned. The TEC-9 under the pillow. At least they cannot use firearms. As far as I know.
 
I turned to what used to be my father. I destroyed the monster that he became. A bullet, right into his forehead. I got him. Brain matter exploded in every direction. More contamination. 
 
He fell backwards into the mirror. Glass shattered, flew everywhere. Like we need more bad luck.
 
I looked down at my former mother. She was still moving. She could grab hold of my leg and sink her rotten, diseased teeth into it, and then I would be one of them too.
 
I had to be merciless. Only by destroying the brain could I be safe. I pumped four bullets into her head. I had to be sure.
 
Then the footsteps. The shouting. Could it have been coherent speech? My brain was so hyped up, I could barely understand. This was fight or flight. I was not going to become one of them.
 
I rushed down the stairs. I looked over. Oh no, not you too. My little brother. This is so unfair. Damn this plague to hell. 
 
Tears flooded out of my eyes and down my cheeks. I couldn't bring myself to do it. But then he screamed something. He's not human... HE'S NOT HUMAN!
 
I slumped to the floor, TEC-9 smoking. I cried so violently I was physically sick. Howls, screams, sobs intertwined. He had died long before I shot him.
 
The footsteps then stopped. But then so did my heart. Knocking on the door. Could they knock? But then it became banging. More were coming. Clearly alerted to the noise. The virus sharpens their senses so much it's unreal.
 
This was my last stand. I was not going to go down without a fight. I stood there waiting. Breath heavy. Come on, you braindead scum. I'm ready for you.
 
The door eventually caved in. I screamed a blood-curdling scream of war. I pointed the gun towards the figure.
 
Click.
 
No bullets left.
 
In that moment I knew I was finished.
 
BANG.
 
Hold on... how did I fire my gun if I was out of bullets? Did it jam for a second? Did I even attempt to fire again?
 
I looked down. And that's when I saw it. Blood pouring from my chest. 
 
They know how to fire guns now? This cannot be... nowhere did it say they could do that. We're doomed.
 
I felt an indescribable pain, and then I felt queasy, woozy. I dropped to my knees and onto the floor.
 
I really do not know what just happened. But I do know that I'm dying. I'm just glad to have been spared the damnation of becoming one of them. I'll die a clean, uninfected death.
 
A human. A policeman. Oh, I could not have asked for a better way to go. Maybe he thought I was one of them too? At least it's a human face. 
 
Thank you, God.