Candace could remember, as if it were just yesterday, when the first cyborg rose from the dead in the fairly new graveyard in mainstream New York. It was all over the news, every radio station, and there was a health advisory alert on everyone's feed to stay indoors. The feed. It was completely controlled by the government, if you could even call it that anymore. It stored every cryborg's memories, tracked their every move, gave news alerts, it was also how cyborg's communicate to each other via the web, an online social platform.
Here lately, all she could think about were the unknowns and what ifs. She was scared beyond belief that her, her family, or her friends would get the virus. She could practically see the rotting flesh along with the deteriorating metal, and the glazed look in her eyes was enough to haunt anyone. She just looked so dead with her pale blue eyes and rotting flesh but also somehow alive. It was terrifying for anyone most especially her little sister, Luna. Luna had been having nightmares ever since that news video of the zombie walking through thousands of rounds of bullets completely unaffected. She could still see the wires sparking, twitching with every step she made, the eery blue eyes that were anyone's worst nightmare, the rotting flesh falling off to expose her brittle, rusted bones and corrupted wires, the hair falling off in clumps exposing the rotting flesh, and the part of her brain that had just completely turned to liquid mush. Yeah that was enough to give anyone nightmares. Candace flicked through all the news networks in her feed only to be disappointed with all the news networks showing the same clip over and over. She decided to turn her feed off and start her math homework in attempt to distract herself from everything going on. Candace was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the door open and her sister plop on the bed.
"Hey Lu Lu." Candace smiled only to be met with a sad expression.
"What is it?" Candace asked.
"I'm scared Candace. What if mom or dad get the virus? Or you? Or someone we know?" Luna asked in tears.
"Shhh it's okay Luna. I can't promise we're not going to get it. I can promise that I'll protect you until the very end. I promise." Candace assured.
"Really? Pinky promise?"
"Yes." Candace smiled while crossing their pinkies and to her CPU in her chest.
"I love you sissy." Luna smiled curling into Candace's side.
"Luna! Come downstairs!" Their mom yelled.
"Okay!" Luna yelled back before shutting the door leaving Candace to her thoughts. What if she couldn't protect her baby sister? What if one of them or someone they loved actually got the virus? Candace shook her head and turned her feed back on only to hear a blistering loud news alert that was only for dire emergencies since it disrupted every cyborg's functionality and processing.
"You have all probably seen the cyborg news recently and the cyborg who was being fired upon. We are not sure how this happened or how to avoid any spread of this computerized virus. It is recommended to stay indoors, limit any social interaction with other cyborgs, quarantine yourselves, evacuate New York, stay at least 10 feet away from each other, avoid any form of the web, stay on your feed, and most importantly stockpile on groceries and medicine. Despite all of this remain calm panic will not help our cause and could in fact crash our system.
Symptoms of the virus include in its first phase include:
Runny nose.
Cough.
Fever.
Difficulty logging on to your feed.
Glitches in your vision.
Difficultly programming or moving.
Flushed complexion.
The later phase includes:
Rotting skin.
Uncontrolled movement of limbs not directed by you.
Glitching.
Sparks coming from your CPU
Wiring coming undone
Finally death and reanimation.
A single bite from an infected cyborg will transmit the virus directly to your CPU.
Be warned the reanimated are aggressive and love to feed on healthy cyborgs.
Be safe. Goodbye.
There were three loud beeps before everything returned to normal for the cyborgs and Candace's CPU returned back to its normal speed. Candace sighed before turning on her favorite music from her favorite rapper Sugar Jay. Listening to music had always been something that had gotten everything off her mind to where she could relax but not even music could ease the dread she felt in the pit of her stomach. Soon enough it was bedtime she sighed before climbing into bed and activating sleep mode. The next morning Candace woke up to her 5 am alarm going off causing her to jolt awake as usual. She promptly went to brush her teeth and refreshed her system for new messages in her feed. A hologram version of her mother appeared telling her to get downstairs to have a discussion while Luna was still asleep. She walked downstairs to listen to what her parents were saying.
"We need to evacuate New York. More and more cyborgs are getting infected with this virus and I can't have that happen to Candace or Luna." Dave said.
"I know hun. But I just don't want to leave this. We've made so many great memories here. I would hate to throw it all away." Mellissa sighed. Dave reached to cup her cheek, affectionately stroking it for a moment.
"I know. I hate to leave her too but we have no choice. Our safety is more important." Dave said.
"How are we going to tell Luna? She's 6. She doesn't understand this like Candace does. What if Candace or Luna get..." Her voice cracked as she tried to say the inevitable
"I won't let that happen I promise." Dave said while giving her a reassuring hug.
"Hi mom and dad!" Candace said with fake cheerfulness while getting her fruity cereal and sitting down next to her mom while her dad left the room.
"Listen Candace. We're telling you first since you're the oldest. We're leaving New York. It's just way too dangerous to stay. Pack whatever you want but pack light." Mellisa said.
"Okay how are we going to tell Luna? She's too young to understand all of this. She's already worried about us getting the virus and is scared out of her mind."
"Your father is telling her now but not what we told you. She's just too young and doesn't need to know the real reason why we're leaving."
"Ok. I'll go pack now." Candace sighed.
"Ok let me know when you and Luna are finished." Mellisa smiled.
Candace walked to her room only to find Luna standing in the doorway apparently waiting for her.
"We're leaving because of the virus aren't we?" Luna asked.
Candace hesitated on answering her baby sister's question because of what her mom said about her being to young to fully understand and grasp how critical this is.
"Listen sissy. We are leaving because of the zombies. We'll be much safer once we leave New York. And remember our promise I will protect you from everything no matter what." Candace said smiling.
"Thanks sissy. I love you." Luna smiled revealing her missing baby tooth.
"I love you too. Now let's pack. And pack light." Candace said.