Tallahassee, United States
7:35 p.m., August 23, 2010
Jason returned home in silence.
The journey seemed longer than it should have.
The streets of Tallahassee were still illuminated by the late-afternoon sunlight.
Cars passed by.
People walked with grocery bags.
A boy rode his bicycle along the sidewalk, laughing at something his friend had said.
Everything was normal.
Irritatingly normal.
Jason got off public transportation several blocks from his house and walked the rest of the way.
He wasn’t in a hurry.
For the first time in days, he didn’t want to arrive quickly.
He didn’t want to think about lists.
He didn’t want to think about deliveries.
He didn’t want to think about the twenty-fifth.
Most of all, he didn’t want to think about Todd following Brian Blake to Georgia.
When Jason entered the house, he found Robert in the living room.
His father was sitting on the couch with the remote control in one hand and his eyes fixed on the television.
Jennifer sat beside him, crocheting.
The movements of her hook were slow and almost automatic.
She appeared to be trying to keep herself occupied.
On television, a reporter stood in front of footage showing blocked streets and police vehicles.
“…authorities continue investigating the recent wave of violence reported across several regions of Georgia and Florida.
According to police, the attacks do not appear to be connected, although residents have described unusual behavior among the assailants…”
The broadcast switched to an interview with a police officer.
The man looked serious, but his posture seemed far too calculated.
“The situation is under control,” he said.
“We are dealing with isolated incidents.
The public should remain calm, follow official instructions, and trust the authorities to handle the situation.”
Jason stopped in the middle of the living room.
His backpack still hung from one shoulder.
He stared at the screen.
Then he spoke quietly.
“It’s a lie.”
Jennifer’s crochet hook stopped.
The faint sound of her work disappeared, and the silence that replaced it felt heavier than the news report.
Robert slowly turned off the television.
Jennifer looked at Jason.
That was when he saw it.
Fear.
Not distrust.
Not irritation.
Fear.
His mother was afraid he was right.
And perhaps that hurt more than if she still doubted him.
Robert studied his son for several seconds.
“You look terrible.”
Jason tried to respond with a joke.
He couldn’t.
Robert leaned slightly forward.
“What happened?”
Jason tightened his grip on his backpack strap.
For a moment, he considered saying that he was tired.
That it had been a difficult day.
That he only wanted to go upstairs.
But he had already told too many lies that week.
“Todd is leaving.”
Jennifer frowned.
“Leaving?”
Jason slowly nodded.
“With his uncle.”
Robert became more attentive.
“What uncle?”
Jason realized too late that he hadn’t mentioned that name at home.
Only Todd knew.
Todd and him.
“Brian Blake,” Jason answered.
Robert narrowed his eyes.
“Blake?”
Jason nodded.
“Philip’s brother.”
The name made Jennifer look at Robert in confusion.
Jason continued before they could ask more questions.
“Todd’s mother is at Saint Augustine.
The hospital is becoming dangerous, and Brian said he knows a place in Georgia.
A small town.
He claims they have medicine, security, and organized people.”
Jennifer placed her crochet work in her lap.
“And Todd believed him?”
Jason swallowed hard.
“He doesn’t trust Brian.
He doesn’t trust his own father either.
But his mother has cancer.”
The word fell into the room like a weight.
Jennifer covered her mouth with one hand.
“The warehouse can’t solve that,” Jason continued.
“Food and water can’t solve it.
Not even Donald can promise her treatment if everything collapses.”
He looked at Robert.
“Brian offered him a chance.
Perhaps a bad chance, but still a chance.”
Robert remained silent for several seconds.
“And you let him go?”
The question wasn’t an accusation.
But it felt like one to Jason.
He lowered his eyes.
“I couldn’t stop him.”
His voice grew weaker.
“And I didn’t have a better option to offer.”
Jennifer slowly stood.
For a moment, she appeared ready to walk toward him.
Jason almost wished she would.
He almost wanted her to embrace him as she had before, when problems could still be solved with a conversation, a warm meal, and a promise that everything would be all right.
But Jennifer stopped.
The fear was still there.
Fear of the world.
Fear of what her son knew.
Fear of what he was becoming in order to survive.
Jason took a deep breath.
“I’m going upstairs.”
Robert nodded.
“Jason…”
The boy stopped near the stairs.
“Yes?”
Robert appeared to want to say something.
Perhaps that Todd would be all right.
Perhaps that Jason had done everything he could.
Perhaps that not everything was lost.
But none of those statements would have been true enough.
So he asked only:
“Are you all right?”
Jason looked at his father.
Then at his mother.
For a moment, he considered answering honestly.
No.
Penny will die if I don’t change something.
The world is collapsing on television while everyone pretends it’s merely ordinary violence.
But Jason said none of it.
He merely answered:
“I’m tired.”
Robert held his gaze.
He knew it was a lie.
But he let it go.
Jason climbed the stairs without waiting for more questions.
When he entered his bedroom, he dropped his backpack on the floor and stood motionless for several seconds.
The house seemed distant.
The television silent.
His mother’s voice absent.
The weight of the entire day clung to him like dust.
Then he entered the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped beneath the water before he had completely removed his clothes.
He wanted to wash away the sweat.
The smell of the hospital.
The helplessness.
The image of Todd walking away in the park.
But some things couldn’t be washed away with water.
Jason closed his eyes beneath the shower.
He tried to forget Brian.
He tried to forget Philip.
He tried to forget Woodbury.
He tried to forget that, for the first time since he began preparing, someone important had moved beyond the reach of his plans.
He couldn’t.
Downstairs, the world continued lying through the television.
And in the room above the living room, Jason finally understood that losing people didn’t always begin when they died.
Sometimes it began when they chose a path you couldn’t follow.
Tallahassee, United States
6:20 a.m., August 24, 2010
Jason woke knowing it would be the last day.
Not the world’s final day.
Not yet.
But the last day when he would need to pretend it made sense to go to school, sit at a desk, listen to teachers discuss tests, and act as though the greatest concern in his life were turning in overdue assignments.
He stared at the ceiling for several seconds.
He didn’t want to get up.
He didn’t want to get dressed.
He didn’t want to board that bus again.
But he still needed to go.
There were things he could resolve only at school.
Jimmy.
Melody.
Perhaps a few final details before everything spiraled out of control.
Jimmy needed to be convinced.
His father, Dennis, was finishing the motorhome, and Jason knew that simply retrieving the vehicle wouldn’t be enough.
If he could persuade Dennis to join them, they would have someone who understood mechanics, repairs, and improvisation.
In a broken world, that would be worth more than money.
And Melody…
Jason needed to arrange exactly when they would go to the warehouse.
The plan had changed after his conversation with Robert.
They would no longer sleep at home that night.
Robert would spend the day transporting the remaining supplies to the warehouse.
With luck, everything that mattered would be gathered there by nightfall.
Food.
Water.
Medicine.
Weapons.
Tools.
Clothing.
Equipment.
And if the deliveries arrived as promised, the armor, standard costumes, and wetsuits as well.
Jason sat up and rubbed both hands over his face.
Everything depended on time.
Time he didn’t have.
When he went downstairs to the kitchen, Robert was already awake.
His father leaned against the counter, drinking coffee, with the expression of someone who had also slept very little.
Jennifer stood near the stove, quieter than usual.
She looked at Jason when he entered.
For a moment, she seemed to want to say something.
But she didn’t.
Jason felt the weight of that silence.
“Good morning,” he said quietly.
“Good morning,” Jennifer replied.
Robert merely nodded.
Jason placed his backpack on a chair.
“The deliveries are arriving today.”
Robert looked up.
“The armor?”
“Yes.
The modified sets and the standard costumes.”
Jason poured himself a glass of water.
“The wetsuits should arrive today as well.”
Jennifer stopped for a moment when she heard that, then continued tending to the frying pan.
Robert noticed.
So did Jason.
Even so, his father kept his tone practical.
“I’ll watch for them.
If they arrive, I’ll take everything directly to the warehouse.”
Jason nodded.
“Thank you.”
Robert took another sip of coffee.
“I’ll also finish transferring the rest of the boxes.
Tools, food, ammunition, and the medical supplies Donald dropped off.”
Jason looked at his mother.
“We’re going to sleep there tonight.”
Jennifer finally turned around.
“At the warehouse?”
Her voice was controlled, but fear lingered beneath it.
Robert answered before Jason could.
“Only as a precaution.
One night.
To make certain everything is ready.”
Jennifer looked at her husband for several seconds.
Then at her son.
Jason didn’t know whether she believed the explanation.
Probably not.
But she no longer argued as she once had.
Fear had replaced denial.
And that made everything sadder.
“What about school?” she asked.
Jason released a quiet breath.
“I’m going today.
I need to speak with a few people.”
Robert immediately understood.
“Melody?”
“And Jimmy.”
Jason placed a slice of bread on his plate despite having no appetite.
“After school, Melody and I will go to the shop.
We’re picking up the motorhome.”
Robert narrowed his eyes.
“And Dennis?”
“I’m going to try to convince him to come with us.”
Robert remained silent for a moment.
“He’s stubborn.”
“I know.
But he understands mechanics better than any of us.”
“If the world breaks, keeping the motorhome running could mean the difference between being stranded and staying alive.”
Robert didn’t disagree.
Jennifer closed her eyes for a moment, as though every sentence made the situation more real.
Jason noticed and lowered his voice.
“Mom…”
She opened her eyes.
“I’m listening.”
There was no anger in her voice.
Only exhaustion.
Jason wanted to apologize.
For hiding things.
For frightening her.
For growing up too quickly before her eyes.
But there was no time for any apology capable of fixing what had happened.
Robert placed his mug in the sink.
“Go to school.”
Jason nodded.
“If anything seems wrong—”
“I’ll call you,” Robert finished.
Jason picked up his backpack.
Before leaving, he looked at both of them.
Jennifer remained near the stove.
Robert stood beside the sink.
The house looked the same as always.
But it wasn’t.
Perhaps it never would be again.
“Tonight at the warehouse,” Jason said.
Robert nodded.
“Tonight.”
Jennifer didn’t immediately respond.
Then she spoke quietly.
“Come home before then.”
Jason felt his throat tighten.
“I will.”
He didn’t know whether it was a promise.
Or a hope.
Jason walked out the front door and headed toward the bus stop.
The Tallahassee sky was clear.
The air still carried the peace of an ordinary morning.
People left for work.
Dogs barked behind fences.
A neighbor collected the newspaper from his porch.
Jason watched everything while waiting for the bus.
Normalcy was still there.
Fragile.
False.
But there.
When the school bus stopped in front of him, Jason took a deep breath.
He climbed the steps.
And entered the final day when he would pretend to be nothing more than a student.
As soon as he boarded, Jason realized something was wrong.
His eyes automatically went to the back of the bus, where the rest of the football team usually made the most noise before school.
The seats were almost empty.
Todd wasn’t there.
Neither were several of the other players.
Heather was absent too.
And along with her, several cheerleaders had also disappeared.
Jason stopped in the aisle.
His heart accelerated.
It was too soon.
He looked around until he found Madson sitting beside Jimmy.
Without hesitating, he walked toward them.
“Madson, where’s Heather?”
The girl looked up in surprise.
“You don’t know?”
Jason shook his head.
“She called me last night.
She was desperate.”
Madson gave a small laugh.
“She said a bunch of strange things about dead people walking through the streets.”
A chill traveled down Jason’s spine.
“She said she saw a man attack someone in front of her house,” Madson continued.
“She locked herself inside and called Todd.”
Jimmy also began paying attention to the conversation.
“Then she called me again,” Madson continued.
“She said Todd had gone to help her and that they were leaving town that same night with his family.”
Madson shrugged.
“She even invited me to go with them.
But I thought it was some kind of prank they had planned, so I barely responded.”
She paused before adding:
“I think she called the other girls too.
Some of them are also absent today.”
Jason went completely pale.
No…
It couldn’t be happening that soon.
Heather had already left.
So had Todd.
Brian hadn’t wasted any time.
Woodbury was beginning to form even sooner than Jason had expected.
Jimmy immediately noticed the change in his friend’s expression.
“Jason…
what’s wrong?”
Jason took several seconds to respond.
When he spoke, his voice was quiet.
Almost a whisper.
“It wasn’t a joke.”
Jimmy frowned.
“What?”
Jason looked directly at him.
“What Heather said.
It was true.”
Madson released a nervous laugh.
“Oh, come on…
You’re going along with this too?”
Jason didn’t look away.
“I wish more than anything that it were a joke.
But it isn’t.”
Jimmy felt his stomach tighten.
He had never seen that expression on Jason’s face.
It was fear.
Genuine fear.
Jimmy opened his mouth to ask another question.
At that moment, however, the bus entered the school parking lot.
The brakes squealed.
Students began standing.
Jason took a deep breath.
It still wasn’t the right moment.
He looked at Jimmy.
“At lunch.
I’ll tell you everything.”
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his backpack and stepped off the bus.
Jimmy remained seated for several seconds, watching Jason walk away.
For the first time since meeting his friend, he hoped Jason was wrong.
But deep down…
He was beginning to suspect that he wasn’t.
I’m using AI to translate this story.
English is not my native language.
If you would prefer to read it without an AI translation, you can find the original Portuguese version on this same profile.