LEANE ANDERSON
The streets are cleared or so she thought. Huddled up in the small hole she was able to find just at the end of the street where the whole madness started, she hoped for hours to get out. It was hot and choking in there.
The problem wasn't her. The issue was the two kids she held close to herself and an old woman who can barely walk. Leane looked around her and thought about how she'd gotten into this mess in the first place.
Working overtime at the fire station, her team got called to show up at St. Delsin Avenue. Apparently, there was a fire outbreak caused by some insane people who weren't thinking.
"Will you just add this to your shift, Anderson?" The commander, Newton had asked her. Being one of the most pretty chilled person she'd ever worked with, she couldn't say no.
"Alright. Bet." Leane Anderson rose, getting prepared.
Anything to forget her boyfriend who just dumped her. Anything to forget her shitty love life and just move on. She wore on her orange overall, set up in her protective gears, she hopped on the vehicle.
"I thought your shift ended an hour ago." Victor asked.
A nosy colleague who would always be up in her business. Another shitty matter to put up with as she will be working with him.
"I wonder when all these stupid BS will stop coming from Delsin." The driver said, frustration colouring his tone.
"I mean, what do you expect from a small town like Evergreen? This place is like an Island of mad peeps. Fifteen years of working in this place and I'm used to the craziness." Antonio, another colleague with a round shape commented.
Indeed, he is the oldest worker in their team. He must have seen and known a lot. Leane always enjoyed listening to his stories about things he's experienced in Evergreen. He always had interesting stories to tell.
"You know, five years ago when the madness was still palpable in the air, someone spread a funny rumour around. Talking about a spaceship the government were building and all that."
Leane frowned. That story was new and different. What spaceship was he talking about?
"Government spaceship?" She asked and as if that was a cue for him to say more, he sat up and continued.
"According to this sick man, the government and other billionaires would leave us the less privileged here on earth to perish among..." he looked up trying to recall something. "Among something he called monsters or walking corpses."
Leane scoffed and the others laughed as well. "Five years after the rumour, Evergreen has never moved a bit, not to mention the rest of the world." Another outburst of laughter.
She would never regret being a member of this team. Antonio, the storyteller. Victor, the one who loves getting on her nerves and won't stop bluffing everytime he's around her. Dylan, the driver. Lucas, Drake and the funny twins, Festus and Felix. They made her strenuous job less overwhelming with their cooperation, humor and support. Except all while she was working with them, she preferred being alone as a socially awkward person. Growing up homeschooled and mostly locked up in the house, interacting with people has always been a challenging feat for her. However, this team accepted her with open arms and never let her feel unwelcome.
She was still staring at them lovingly, appreciating their company. Her heart was thrown into an abyss of memories, embracing their personalities. Something was off but it felt like this was the last time she would see them. Their humor mixed with...
The tyres screeched and the vehicle tried halting to a stop.
"What's going on?" Leane asked but the team members were as confused as she was.
They all gripped the overhead handle as the vehicle swerved from one side to the other. The tires sounded like they were burning on the ground.
"Dylan!" Antonio hit the Iron window that separated us from the driver's seat. The banging coupled with the silence that followed the driver's name being called made her palms immediately get sticky with sweat. She swallowed hard wondering what was going on. But she kept calm and held on the handle, silently praying for safety.
The bus began to speed freely down the road. The driver was unconscious or something else happened. No one had the time to find out before the bus crashed into something huge. Leane felt a sharp and pointy object plumetted into her abdomen before giving in to the dark that came from banging her head against the iron window.
At first, she saw darkness but then it gradually lightened up and was a shade of grey. Blinking slowly in an attempt to avoid triggering a striking headache, her vision cleared. She could hear people screaming from afar. Almost like the screaming was from a far distance. Maybe she was hallucinating or dreaming. If she went back to sleep, it would go away.
It was all false. The screams was slowly getting clear and nearer. Her eyes flick opened. A hog of memories washed over her and the last thing Leane remembered was the handle she held on to as though it were her life.
"Antonio?" She mumbled but regretted it instantly.
Her abdomen burned and ached. She gasped, grasping a nearby object to lift herself. In her head, several questions about how she got to where she was clogged her head.
"Stand up." A small and frail voice called her attention. Leane blinked to catch a clearer view. "They are coming. Wake up." The voice insisted.
"Who's coming?"
Something snarled behind her and seeing the kid before her clearly, she was forced to check what it was that made the child's eyes widen. What she saw however made her flinch backwards and scream.