Undetected

Things have been real crazy this past year on this planet here that we call earth. People have gone crazy having to always stay in quarantine in their homes. That really messes with the minds of people, even mine. About a year ago what I call the zombie apocalypse happened. Now people were not actually eating people brains, but it was driving everybody insane. It is a virus that is contagious and, the symptoms were like symptoms from if somebody smoked wet. Also known as Angel Dust. The actual name of the virus was Mad Man. Oh my god, it really made man, woman, boy and girl go mad. Sometimes the person would just look crazy and most of them would take their clothes off so that they would be naked. But the worst ones would attack you if you did not kill them, and if when you killed them, and some of their blood would get into your blood stream, then now, you are going mad to. I have witnessed so many killings. I feel so many diverse types of feelings when I think about everything I have witnessed and encountered over this past year or so. I feel sad, I feel mad, I feel horrified, and terribly disturbed. If life were to ever go back to how it was, I would be very, incredibly surprised. Last night I had to knock some girls head off her shoulders with a shovel because she wouldn’t stop trying to attack me.” Shakes head sadly. “That really messed me up because she had to be no older than sixteen, maybe seventeen, and yes it was a girl. I feel terrible for laying my hands on a female, but I am trying to live. I constantly remind myself that these people are no longer human, to these people I am prey, so I will kill when necessary. “

“I kind of jumped right in, never even introduced myself and for that I do apologize. My name is Eric, and I am a 22-year-old architect major. Well, I was an architect major, back when civilization was a thing. Anyway, I grew up in Los Angeles California, with my mom, dad sister and little brother. I had a good life anyone would say, and they would be right to say that. Besides the regular things that me and my family went through, which any family went through if they lived together. We were good as a unit. My parents were still in LA last that I knew with my little brother. My sister lives in Texas with her husband and her twin girls, and I would also really like to believe that they are alive and well. Me, I am in Philadelphia right now, but I was living in New York because that is where I was going to school at, and I never left. Until all this chaos broke out, then I went where I could seek shelter and go unseen. Unseen and undetected is the best way to be now days, only way to stay alive. Phone lines have been down for about a year now. I remember for about a week I had been calling home to my mom and dad just trying to see how they were doing. My mom used to call me at least twice sometimes three times a week. So, when I noticed that I had not heard from her in over a week, that was when I began calling. I never got an answer. I did not talk to my sister that often because she was busy being a wife mom and a teacher. She had her hands full, so I just heard how she was doing through mom. So, when that was not happening, I tried calling my sister. I got the same results each time I tried, BUSY SIGNAL. It drove me crazy. Maybe another week went by before the phones just shut down completely.”

“The strange thing was that you did not hear anything about this new virus, kind of just crept up on everybody. I honestly do not even know the name of the virus. I know it makes everybody mad tough, so Mad Man it what I started to call it. I just hope and pray that my family meets up at my sister’s house in Texas because her rancher has some very cool stuff underneath of it, and I am willing to bet money that they are still fine. It is my parents and little brother that I worry about. Over this past year, I have learned that the Mad Man cannot see that good at night, so the best time to travel, if you plan to do so is also at night. Unfortunately, I cannot see that good at night either, but I can see a lot better than them creatures, so that is a plus. I have heard a few people say that the government did this to our planet but there is not even a government anymore. Plus, it is not like we saw anything on the news, I mean the news does not even come on anymore. This past year has been hard to say the least, my issue is not knowing what is going on. I mean yes, I know there is clearly some type of virus but what I really want to know is if there is a rescue team and when are they coming for me? Cars on the street used to be great, but after gas ran out it was murder trying to get one to start. They could hear extremely well; I mean really, well. That is why the best time to move was at night. If they heard a car trying to start, they were coming for you. You had to start and move immediately, or it was over for you, especially if they came in packs. I learned that the hard way. So, moving around was not easy, and its winter right now, so it is cold. I really hope that there is a rescue team out there. “

“It is extremely cold in the house that I am staying in right now and the house is falling apart. It has no weatherization in the walls I’m sure, and the floors squeak too much for me. The house is cold to, hence the squeaking of the floors. Lol I could be wrong, but I must try to find some type of humor in my situation. Anyway, I am leaving tonight, I really need to find somewhere better to stay. I have on so many layers of clothing, I hope that I will be able to move around without a problem. The extra layers of clothing help of course with the weather but it also helps with the mad men if, I should get attacked by any. I plan to walk all night long so I can remain to go undetected by these things. I will look for somewhere to stay about an hour before daylight is supposed to hit. That way I can check wherever I go in a decent amount of time and setup for my stay. I wanted to go to my sister’s house in Texas, but since I cannot drive, I am just looking for somewhere I can setup at safely and undetected.

I must have been walking for like 4 hours already, and I saw numerous amounts of death along the way. That just lets me know that I am not the only survivor. I saw a sign that said Clarion Farms 30 miles away. So, that is good, because I have at least three, maybe three and a half more hours before daylight hits. I tell you one thing; Clarion gets way more snow than Philadelphia and New York get. It is freezing out here. I can hear my teeth chattering, and my fingers and toes are completely numb.”

“I walk up to this farm, and it looks beautiful. Of course, there is snow all over the place, but the farm and the house look to be intact. I see no footprints in the snow, so I am quite sure there are not any mad men around here. I still go into the house with caution, I never know just what I am going into. When I did walk in, I immediately noticed a dead family of six, at the dinner table. I cried, yes, I did. This family sat here and took their own lives. I said it though, people are not in their right minds. I checked the rest of the house, it was empty. There is so much log available for the fireplace that I get overly excited and began to breathe all heavy. I got myself together and began wrapping up all the bodies and placing them out back in the yard. I said a prayer for their souls, they had to have felt like there was nothing left that they could do. About two and a half hours went by since I first got here. I could see the sun getting itself together to come up, sky was looking beautiful with rays of pink and orange in it. That sky with this snow and the view that I have was just, wonderful. There was a freezer full of meat in the shed kitchen and a pantry full of canned goods. I do not think I have eaten a proper meal in almost nine months. I fried some chicken and made some French fries. I was cooking meals in the chimney hoping to God it did not all go up in flames, and it did not. After I ate, I tried to clean up a little bit but next thing I noticed I was waking up some time in the evening. I missed the whole darn day. My body was tired though, and rightfully so. I walked all the way from Philadelphia and had not eaten right in a year. My body was finally happy with me, and I was finally happy with my new location.”

“It was still a small light outside, and because of how the house sat up on a hill I could see everything. All I saw was snow, but it made me feel safe to go check out the barn because there was no evidence of the mad men. I really could not understand why that family decided to end it all. However, it was not for me to understand, so I immediately shook those thoughts from my mind and proceeded to get into my layers and go and check out the barn.”

“I walked into the barn, with caution of course, looking for anything that could be useful to me. There were a few birds flying around that practically ran out when I opened the barn doors. They scared me so bad I peed a little bit. I did find one of those old radios though. I placed that into a bag and was getting ready to leave when I heard a hoot sound. I stopped and looked around. I heard it again. A lot more, but I could not see anything. The sun had just gone down. Suddenly I saw this big, huge owl when I shinned the light toward the back of the barn. Oh my God, this owl was huge, and it had multiple little owls flying around it. They were flying around very angrily it seemed like. I mean they were flying into each other and everything. Meanwhile the big one is just standing there staring at me with the look of death in its eyes. I ran out so fast. I never knew that I could run that fast. Those owls must have the virus because they were crazy. They were mad as mad could be, and I am guessing, they were trapped inside because they were all over the place. When I ran out and closed the barn door, I jammed that latch so far down it looked as if it were about to break. I ran back to the house as fast as I could with about a foot of snow on the ground. I could hear the owls trying to get out. It sounded like they were about to tear that door down. The thumping noises were crazy. As soon as I got into the door of the house the barn doors went flying open. Oh my God, it had to be around two hundred birds that came flying out of that barn. They came running into the house trying to get in. The family must have had this problem before because everything was boarded up. Those owls were not getting into here, and I am so grateful to God for that. After about two minutes they just left. I felt a little bad because I let them out and I just know they are about to start trouble somewhere with somebody. I said a prayer in my head for anybody that encounters them, because they’re really going to need it.”

“After I watched them fly away, I pulled out the radio and tried different frequencies. I could hear something, but I was not sure what it was that I was hearing. I was beginning to hear a voice that sounded familiar over the radio, but it was so much static. I changed a few more frequencies and it was clear.”

“Emma, is that you”? ERIC, I heard. “Oh my God. I am talking to my sister. I cannot believe it. Hey sis, omg have you spoken with mom, dad, and Ethan? Then I heard my little brother and immediately a weight was lifted from my shoulders. My parents were ok. Mom got on the line crying, apparently, they all were worried sick about me.” Dad came on saying, “I knew you was good son, I tried to let these women know not to worry.” I began laughing. It was almost like I forgot what we were dealing with outside because I was so happy.” I was crying major tears of joy. I told them everything I encountered this past year, and they did the same. We were all just incredibly happy that our family was still alive and breathing. They were at my sister’s house just like I thought they would be, but they were running out of food though. I told them I had way more than enough here and that they should try to get here without being detected. My sister told me she knew where a helicopter was, and I told her that may not be the best idea because they hear so well. She said they would land about a mile and a half from the barn I was at and then walk. I said fine, we could do that.”

“The plan was for them to leave tomorrow night; I was cool with that because I wanted to make sure everything was clean when they got here. This house had six bedrooms, so we had more than enough space for everyone to be comfortable. That night I ate some beef stew from the can with some crackers. I figured we would eat a big dinner tomorrow so just wait till then to do my cooking, plus mom and Emma will be here; their cooking is so much better than mine. While I laid there in my new bed, I listened to hear anything…………. I heard nothing, nothing at all. It was like I was on a planet all by myself. I just hope when my family gets here tomorrow that its just like tonight, quiet. I really pray that none of the mad men follow the sound of the helicopter. I had finally drifted off, and before I knew it the sun was hitting my eyelids.”

“I got out of bed, did my normal stretching routine and I hear something outside. It was those owls from the other night. Off in a distance I could see a group of them like, circling around something. I didn’t see the huge one, but I am sure it was not far away. I went downstairs to get me some peanut butter and toast. I had so much anticipation inside of me waiting on my family to arrive. I really hope those owls leave before my family gets here. The virus does seem to mess with the vision at night, but we all know that owls hear extremely well; lets just hope that the virus damaged their hearing as too. “

“I heard the radio buzzing, so I went to answer it, it was my dad letting me know that they would be pulling out while it was still light there because they found a silent jet. I told him that was great and said that they would not have to land so far away from the farm then. Dad was not feeling that part when we had talked about it the other day. I am glad he found a way. It just hit 5 pm, I made steaks with mashed potatoes and string beans. I did want mom and Emma to cook, but I figured they would be hungry when they pulled in. Dinner was done around 7:45- 8:00 pm. At around 9 pm, quarter after, I could hear something on the porch. I opened the door, and it was my sis, the twins, my mom, and little brother Ethan. Of course, we all hugged each other for which seemed like forever. Where is dad and Robert, Robert is my sister’s husband; are they behind yawl? I asked while looking out of the door. I was not feeling the look that was in their eyes, mom started to cry and so did the twins. I already knew what happened, nothing needed to be said.”

My sister fed the twins and then she put them to bed. My mom was telling me what happened when my sister came back downstairs.” Your dad and Robert are true heroes. If it were not for them then I am so sure we would all be dead, we never would have made it.” My eyes began to tear up. “When we got off the jet everything appeared clear, we didn’t hear anything or see any footprints. We were feeling good about the whole thing. Then, out of nowhere comes this huge owl that grabs your dad and tries to fly away with him. Robert grabbed onto his feet and the owl let your dad go. They told us to run, so we did. We thought they would catch up to us but,” mom eyes swell up with tears. “Here it is almost 11 pm and they’re still not here. I just know he’s gone Eric; I just know it.” Mom starts crying profusely. I told Ethan to take her upstairs and lay her down. She needed it badly, she could not even eat.

While Ethan and my mom was upstairs Emma told me that she wanted to go back out there to see if we could locate Dad and Rob. I love my big sister, she is fearless. But like I told her, “You let me, and Ethan go out there, I need you here taking care of mom and the twins. “She agreed, Ethan came back downstairs, and we all ate dinner.

“Now it was midnight, me and Ethan layered up and we went outside to find our dad and our brother-in-Law. I told him to take me to where they landed the jet. It was not that far from the house, about the length of a football stadium away. I was trying to open the door to the jet when it just flew open, and out came Robert. Needless to say, my man was glad to see us.” Where is my dad?” Ethan asked. “He’s in the cockpit.” Ethan was hype, “but be careful, he is a mad man now.” We looked at him with such disbelief in our eyes. I had to see that for myself. I went into the cockpit and could see that Rob had tied him to the chair. My dad was going berserk trying to get out of that seat. I just cried, and so did Ethan. I shot him in the head. I felt like he was suffering like that. Ethan cried out in disbelief, but he understood. When we got back to the house, my sister jumped into Roberts arms so fast. She was extremely glad that he was all right. Now mom was sleep, so we did not have to break the news to her yet, but she already knew. I remember her saying to me, that she just knew he was gone. Rob ate his food and him and Em went up to their room. I was getting ready to go upstairs when Ethan asked me if he could sleep in my room with me tonight, he said he felt a lot of anxiety and did not want to be alone. Of course, I told him to come on.”

The next morning everybody was already up when I came downstairs, well everybody but mom. We didn’t think anything of it though because we knew how she felt about our dad. I went upstairs to check on her after she had not come down after about an hour or so. She was dead, my mom and my dad are gone. I just got my family back, and now I am losing them all over again. I laid down in the bed with her for honestly, I unsure of how long. I just know I wanted to be up under my mom for a little while longer, while I still had the chance. I was awakened by my sister and brothers. They were crying now of course because they knew she was gone. My mom died from a broken heart, I never even got to tell her about us finding Rob and my dad. It would not have mattered anyway though. He was gone, and now so was she. It was clearly too much excitement for her little heart to endure.”

About a week later we decided to burn all the bodies, the people who once lived there and our mom and dad. We went back to get dad’s body so that we could burn him and mom together and wear them around our necks. The rest we decided we were going to place in an ern. The smoke was so thick that we had to go into the house just to breathe. I sat in my room and looked at the thick dark smoke as it went up into the air. That smoke was thick. I had never been that close to anything burning, it was all new to me. I felt bad for anybody that was ever involved in a fire, because it is hard to breathe in the smoke. They burned for like an hour. When the smoke was beginning to thin out, we went back outside to get the ashes before they blew away. While we were gathering our parents into an ern, we found in the house three helicopters came into our view. We hurried up and gathered what we could and ran into the house because those helicopters were loud as ever. I just new some mad men were coming, me and my family went upstairs to see what was going on and we could see people in all black coming towards the house. They had guns and major armor. I went downstairs with my brother-in-law because they were coming to knock on the door. When we went outside on the porch we were asked if anyone was infected. We told them no and then we invited them in because I felt like outside was not safe.

“When we went in everyone was downstairs wanting to know what was going on, including me and Rob.” Hello everyone, one of the men said, we are the United States Rescue Team, we saw the smoke and made our way over here. Is everything ok here with all of you?” everyone shook their heads yes. “Good, now we need everyone to gather some things together so we can get to where we need to go.”” And where is that?” I asked. “Planet 51” was his response. “Of course, we are all looking at one another like, this man is crazy, but apparently he wasn’t crazy at all. There was another planet that survivors were being taken to. I thought that this would all be under control one day, but apparently that is never going to happen, and Earth is now what we call, a lost cause. We all looked at one another shocked and in major disbelief. So, earth will not be saved?”” I’m afraid not” the man said. He told us to pack some things and come on to the helicopter so we could make take off.”

Never in a million years, did I actually see me, or anybody other than astronauts going into Outer space. Yet here I am in a rocket ship leaving Earth with my family. You know in the United States of America, we endured a lot of stuff, and I mean a lot of greatness as well as a lot of heartache and pain. I really never saw us not making it out of this Pandemic, but it looks like the time finally came where Earth itself has had enough. After we launched, I was looking out the window when we made it into space, and they were blowing the world I once knew as home up. All I could see was explosions happening. I thought why they are even bothering if there just leaving and taking everyone who is fine. It doesn’t make sense to me, but we are gone, and I hope we are safe. I do not know much about this Planet 51, but it is supposed to be remarkably similar to earth and its atmosphere. It is going to take us eighteen hours to get there they said, meantime in between time I am going to just listen to my music that they gave me and thank the man upstairs that we are saved. If we never would have burned those people and my parents, then we would be getting blew up as we speak. Life is funny like that though you know, my parents are gone, but I know that they would be overjoyed that we made it out alive.

My family and myself have a second chance at life, and I do not know about them, but I am going to get to this planet and find me a wife and everything. I want to live a full life and make great memories all while telling them about what used to be earth.”

Venesha Owen