Before It Began

Ever looked around and felt thankful for all that you had? Ever felt as if all that you had could disappear in a blink? Don't worry about that, the question is hard to take in.

The last few chapters, you have read about how I and my friends took our first stand. Now, I'd like you to know how it all began-how all hell broke loose.

Alright then, as far as I remember, I was in my house watching the news. My parents had no choice but to be shipped to the United States of America-a military protocol which needed all adults from the age of 35-60 out of the country for vaccination. That was one heck of an experience, I shall say. The operation was so huge! Chinooks and  choppers flew to us, advising us to remain calm. Apparently there was an outbreak (didn't know of what back then), and the adults were needed to develop a form of counter-virus-scientific stuff which I understood really less. But our population was incredibly high, countless adults were still left. Our parents were forced to leave us, with the military promising them that we'd be safe. A promise which they failed to keep. Nothing could have been done. Streets were closed-sealed off. Everything was quiet. I remember calling Rohan to see how he was doing. 

He said, "Well first time alone at the house, creepy as hell." 

I called Shamerul and Shaherul. 

One of them said, "Raiden, nothing cooler than this, gonna' play games all night!" 

Tried Arman. 

He said, "Yeah, I'm cool. Could have been better if Mom was here." 

I remember taking a short nap after that. A nap which seemed to last a long time.

I woke up after two hours or so, only to find out that it was raining. 

I looked at the clock, it had just become 9 o'clock. It seemed to be raining outside. I always did love the rain. I sat upright and saw my younger brother-Shafkat talking with his best friend-Samen Yaser. They could talk for hours on the phone. I turned off the television and looked out the window. The whole town of ours was darkened, all lights seemed to be off. Our lights were off too, and doors locked. The military said it was some sort of precaution. I had to make a few more phone calls, make sure my loved ones were doing fine. I had two more childhood friends, two sisters-Sadia and Samia.

I placed a call;Samia assured me that she was doing well, being the hyperactive girl she was. Talked with Sadia and she seemed fine too. She told me to take care of myself and that she hoped I was alright. Frankly speaking, she was the nicest person I knew, she had a heart the size of the whole blue sky! Bigger, might I say.

The night was never ending, seemed to stretch longer and longer. I decided to watch the news again; something was on about a break-out in the streets. A break-out of people containing a mutagen, given to them by the permission of the army heads. This was a mutagen which would save humans from all sorts of cancers. The only thing was that the serum that was used didn't actually work out as planned, it defied the expected effect it was to cause. The humans who suffered the consequences of this experiment were then called 'Carriers'. So, those humans gradually passed away. A few hours later, it was announced that the dead would 'wake up'! They would stand up and start walking, even after they were declared dead by doctors. This mutagen was something which changed the shape of our country. It didn't work. All it did was raise the dead. I was no science guy therefore I couldn't really tell what was going on. And neither could they at that moment. All we were told was that there was imminent threat and that we were not to leave our residences. It was a dire situation for sure. We were (as it seemed) in war with an unknown threat, and there were many a revolts on the streets and packs of youthful people began forming troops of their own in order to maintain security in neighborhoods or to ensure large-scale suburban protection.

Alright then, this is the part where things got a bit tricky. Suddenly, there was a black out. My little brother and I lit up a candle. We placed it on a table in the living room. 

He was still on the phone, talking with his best friend. I came to the window yet again, but to no avail-it was dark outside. I was going to call for my brother when suddenly the sharp sound of gun-fire from my neighbor's house startled me. I tried to look out through the window for anyone on the streets. There was no one. It was absurd. The sound of gun-fire should have attracted people from surroundings. They'd at least see what was going on, check in! I waited five more minutes, and then I couldn't wait no more. 

I asked my brother, "Will you be going to Samen's place?"

He nodded, saying, "He's my best friend and we are going to join a resistance force just outside of town, his dad's sector is recruiting and asking for aid. Everything's planned."

We remained silent for a while.

He frowned, "I need you to be okay with this."

I smiled and nodded saying, "If this world is facing a grave threat, we need to be ready and you are our hope. My blessings are upon you, as well as Mamoni's (mother's) and Babuji's (father's). Good luck little brother."

He nodded, as I patted him on his shoulder. 

He picked up a bag and went out for his best friend's place-near to where we lived.

I waved him goodbye and I knew that we would meet after a long time, if Allah the Almighty willed. He would make us all proud. As he left, I made my way to my neighbor's door; to find out if he was fine.

I knocked. No one came to open the door. I looked through the window and could see nothing. It was pitch dark. My heart was beating fast. Firstly, I wasn't experienced in combat or in case of strategies. Therefore, it was a crucial moment for me. 

I decided to break in. I spoke the name of the Almighty and I pushed the door open with formidable force. I tripped and fell down on my back. I looked around to see if anyone came out of their houses to see what all the commotion was about. No one came. I got right back up and slowly entered the house. The lights were dim, it was very dark. 

From the porch I asked, "Hello. Is anyone there? Heard gunfire."

No one answered. I decided to see around the house-whether anyone was wounded or hurt badly. But I needed a flashlight, so I rushed back home and checked my room. Allah was kind, as He blessed me with one in my drawer. It lacked batteries. I took some from the clocks in my house. It was time to get back to business.

I made my way to the house. I turned on the flashlight. The house was spacious.

I asked again, "Hello, is anybody here?"

I walked in to the dinning room. I looked around and saw blood on the walls of the living room. My heart began to beat faster. I pointed the flashlight towards the refrigerator and I saw a small boy hiding beside it. I came to him.

I asked, "Little boy, what are you doing here? Where are your parents?"

He seemed shaken and was shocked-trembling even.

He said, "My dad.....my dad."

I asked, "Where is your dad?"

He pointed towards the kitchen. I pointed the flashlight towards the kitchen. I saw a figure dash towards the other side. The figure was making a lot of noise.

I asked, "Sir, is everything okay? I heard gunfire."

I was about to go and talk with the man when the boy pulled my hand slightly.

He said, "My father, he is not my father anymore. He...."

He began to sob. I noticed a bite mark on his right arm. I thought about who or what could have done this to him. 

I asked, "How did this happen? How did you get hurt?"

He asked, "My father loves me very much. A father would never want to hurt his child right?"

It had stricken me hard then, the fact that this young boy's father may have hurt him. 

I patted him on the head, saying, " Don't worry kid, I'll go and have a talk with your dad."

The thought about an infection which was probably on the streets and raging hit me in my mind. This infection was a plague, for sure. I took a small iron rod from beside the boy and slowly went towards the kitchen. I gripped the flashlight and the rod tightly. I slowly entered the kitchen. And there I saw a grown man looking down. I noticed that he was eating something. I came closer and saw what he was eating.

Life has a way of messing with your mind. Without faith and hope, there is no point in living, no point in fighting for something. The balance of nature suggests that you give love and obtain love, give thanks and get thanks. This world today, is full of ungrateful beings. This world contains those who do evil and are evil. Don't you think it is about time, when a storm came and washed away all the impurity?

That man, was eating the meat, of a woman. I was stunned. The flashlight fell from my hand. It was all dark then. I heard thunder. The kitchen was lit up from the light emitted by the lightning. I could only see the man stand up, with blood all over his mouth-eyes red as hell fire. It was all dark once again. 

I hurried for the flashlight and I pointed it at the body. The man was gone! I looked all over the house yet there was no one. I heard glass shatter at the back. The little boy was coming towards me. I told him to stay outside of the kitchen. He was still coming. I told him not to and there he stood, just outside of the kitchen. I couldn't let her see this woman here, severed so badly! I was about to vomit.

I asked, "Was your mother inside the house?"

He nodded, and then I knew that the woman lying dead on the kitchen floor was this young lad's mother. It was a hunch which I was certain about. I didn't want this boy to see her like this. 

I came to him and asked, "What is your name my little friend?"

He said, "My name's Maheer."

I said, "Well Maheer, it's nice to meet ya'. My name's Raiden, I live next door."

He asked, "Is my father okay? Is he mad at me?"

I shook my head saying, "No, he loves you very much. And he's sorry he hurt you. He went to get a gift for you with your mother. Would you care to join me for a walk?"

He nodded. I held him by the arm and was about to walk out of the house from the back. And there did I see a shattered glass door leading to the garden. I decided to avoid it. I came out through the front door. It was still so silent. It was clear that everyone was afraid. 

The electricity was back.

I took the lad to my house. We started playing some video games, but it was all very disturbing at the back of my mind. And then a time came when I saw that woman's dead body, being eaten by that man. It was a horror movie in reality! I left him to play while I visited the kitchen. I was confused about all that was going on, but I knew that it wasn't anything good. It was a bad feeling all the way. I came to the living room, where I saw the boy crying.

I asked, "What's wrong little man? Everything alright?"

He said, "No, my arm hurts."

I looked at the wound, and it was all red and bloody. It was getting worse. We had to see a doctor. 

I said, "Lets go to a clinic and on the way I'll get you an ice-cream. How about that?"

He wiped his tears and excitedly jumped up. He was a strong lad. We went out. Suddenly, I saw everyone on the streets, running here and there as if it was an earthquake. They were shouting and screeching! It was a crazy moment. I was shocked. I would ask someone about what was happening but everyone seemed to be busy running towards east!

I said to the boy, "Alright then, stay with me kid. Seems like we gotta' run."

And so we did start running with the huge number of people around us. Suddenly, we saw a huge explosion in a distance. It was a bridge, it led to the other side of the city! Oh what a terrible scene it was. Everyone was shocked.

A man shouted, "They've crossed over! The military was too late!"

Everyone began to run again, as half of the huge bridge fell into the abyss below! It was all so crazy.

We reached an intersection when we saw that all the vehicles were halted. Everyone was on their feet! From the back, I saw a horde of people running wildly at us! It was frightening.

Another man shouted, "They're here! They're here! Turn back, turn back!"

Everyone was in distress. I hid behind a car with the boy. The hospital was on the other side of the freeway. His eyes were becoming dim. I began to run with the crowd. I didn't know what was going on, but I knew something had broken in to the city. I put the boy on my back and began to run as fast as I could. A man was running beside me.

 

He glanced at the boy's wound and shouted, "Carrier, he's a carrier!"

That man then grabbed the boy by the head and threw him to the ground. I punched the man straight at his face, smashing him to the ground. My hand hurt. I was about to pick the boy up when the man got up and pushed me down. He took a plank from beside him and was about to hit the boy. That is when I got up and picked the boy up. I ran and ran, and ran. Till the man was gone behind me. I was confused. Why would he want to hit the boy, or throw him from my back?

 

I hid behind a small convenient store when the boy asked, "Will I see my parents again?"

I nodded. He was in pain. His breath was failing him. He then began to scream due to pain. Soon, he died in my hands. I felt his heart, it had stopped. I could still hear everyone running here and there. 

Suddenly, his hand moved a bit. He began to shiver. His eyes opened. I was shocked. I was happy to see he was alive. But his eyes, they were of a different, more shattered color! How could he have woken up, when his heart wasn't beating? Then it hit me, the fact about the infection I had read on the newspapers. The fact that stated that the carriers of the infection would wake up and show aggressive and violent behavior. The fact which stated that when they woke up, they would be the dead, who walked and were cannibals. Yes, cannibals! The boy, was bit by his father, who also devoured his mother. His father was the first carrier in that house. And as the boy was turning in to one of those dead, cannibal savages, I broke out in tears. I knew then what was going on. That boy turned in to those infected savages, right in my hand. I found a nail bat. I held the boy down, as he vaguely tried to bite me! 

I wiped my tears and said, "Sorry kid, see ya' on the other side."

I struck him on the head. He was dead yet again, instantly. Right then, I got a call from Rohan.

He said, "Sivgat, we're meeting at Arman's crib. The Hudas are gonna' be there too. All hell has broken loose! Meet ya' there."

My friend Arman, his house was near. I composed myself and hopelessly went towards his house, knowing that the whole city would be conquered by this infection overnight and the whole country, by the next day. And that is how for me, it all began. And it all began, with a lot of pain.