This story will be split up into to different parts. The next part will probably be posted October 9th. Enjoy!

Inkerstein was impatient. He had gaunt pale features. His cheeks were hallow making his face look like a skull. Inkerstein always wore flowing black clothes, making him look like he was perpetually mourning. He was terribly thin, close to emancipated. It was his eyes that were unnerving. Calculating black eyes set in his skull-like face. Always watching, catching every elusive detail.

A harassed looking woman, scurried into the chalk white room. “S…sir, I believe we found the right formula.”

Inkerstein pinned the woman down with his beetle black eyes, then whispered silkily, “Then execute Plan Crazed.”

* * *

I was curled up comfortably on the light brown comfy chair, with my two fuzzy blond braids draped over the side, binge watching one of my favorite shows – “Nailed It”. The rest of my family had had to go to an exceedingly boring Lao wedding. My brother and I had drawn straws to see who got to stay home and not go the Lao wedding. I had won, and I was exuberant. Lao wedding are long, hot, and LOUD. At Lao weddings I would have had to wear a hot, constricting silk top and skirt, so I was especially enjoying lounging in my gray shirt and blue jeans.

Then, quite suddenly, the screen to my computer went black. Simultaneously, my phone, the TV, and my computer screen, showed two Asian people – one woman and one man, sitting behind a big white news desks. They began to speak. Large white letters scurried across the screen. REPORTS OF DEMENTED PEOPLE HAVE COME IN. THIS DEMENTIA MAY BE DUE TO AN UNKNOWN VIRUS WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SPREAD TO ANIMALS. A MAN IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VIRUS, AND IS OFFERING VACCINES FOR $5000 PER PERSON.

Something was going wrong with the woman on the right. Her entire left side was twitching. Her brown eyes were turning a murky blue. The man swiveled slowly in his chair. Half of her face twitched into a terrifying smirk. That was all I could stand before I slammed the computer screen down. I bolted out of the room like an electrified hare. It took a bit for my frayed nerves to calm down. What on earth had happened there? Was it someone’s idea of a joke? Probably. I decided to walk outside and punch the punching bag to let off some steam.

What I saw when I walked outside brought me up short. All my neighbors were walking in a straight line down the lane in front of our house. Every once in a while they would tremble convulsively. Some of the neighborhood dogs were walking among them, but a large group was congregating silently at the end of the lane. I could feel my mind explode. What?…how!!!! My heart rate was accelerating rapidly. Then I saw my cute little black calico kitten. She had the same blue eyes and vacant look that the news anchor had had. No!! My mind refused to accept what I was seeing.

Marla, my kitten, had a nasty looking wound on her leg. I ran over to my little Marla. The second I tried to touch her however, Marla spun, all claws and teeth. I felt her claws rip into my skin. I jerked back, splattering blood everywhere. Some of my blood flew into the wound on Marla’s foreleg. The change on the kitten was instantaneous. Her tiny body relaxed, she sheathed her claws, and her lashing, spiked tail calmed. Then Marla looked up at me. Her eyes were her normal amber color. Was it my blood that had brought about this sudden change? I blinked, still really confused.

I was still cradling my hurt arm, but I tentatively bent to pick the kitten up. Marla, this time, curled up like a limp doll in my arms. I could see now that the wound on her foreleg didn’t look as bad as it had originally seemed. I glanced at the weeping scratches on my arm. I murmured to Marla, “Let’s go get patched up.”

I stood in the living room, considering. First option: stay here until someone comes back. Were they coming back? Were they OK? I decided to call and see.

“Mom?” I asked with bated breath. Absolute silence. Then a growl, and words that I couldn’t understand. I swiftly pressed decline call. The most terrible thing… those nonsensical utterances… sounded like my mother. I plopped down, my eyes burning with tears. If my own mom was like those things outside, and my family had been with her…. that would mean I was all alone. I glanced nervously out the window. The dogs were still there. After the humans had left, the assorted dogs had settled down at the beginning of the road leading to our lane. No, I didn’t really like option of waiting here; the dogs might start searching the houses for stragglers. I was too freaked out to wait here alone. Second option-try and get out and… I don’t know, see if any of my friends were unaffected. That one sounded better. I glanced at the dogs again. They were just standing there, cloudy blue eyes staring aimlessly. Would they attack if I were to walk up to them? I didn’t particularly want to find out, but I had to know. Was I the only one that wasn’t going crazy? I decided to brave the dogs to see if my friends – just a 5 minute walk away – were sane like me.

I began haphazardly stuffing things in my backpack. In short order my perhaps overstuffed black backpack was filled with a whole lot of food and medical supplies. Then I grabbed a bag in which I would put Marla.

I picked up my phone and stared at it. Should I try my mom again? Plucking up my courage, I called. Would she pick up? Or worse still would the phone ring on and on. The phone went silent.

I grabbed my cat and placed her gently down in the green bag. Then I pulled my backpack on, picked up the bag and stepped outside.

I glanced down at my watch-5:30pm. Already the sun was beginning to spill out its welcome light on the horizon. I started to cautiously walk over to the corner of our yard where part of the fence was crumpled in. The dogs were still there, though they didn’t seem to be paying me any attention. I swiftly bounded over the ruined fence. I held my breath, wondering if the dogs would react to my being there. The dogs did absolutely nothing. I let my breath out and began to jog down the deserted dirt road. I was about half-way there when I had this unnerving feeling that someone was watching me. I turned slowly around. All the dogs of the neighborhood were following me. I very nearly bolted right then. The dogs cocked their heads at me, then turned and melted away. My heart was still beating frantically. The dogs didn’t seem to want to hurt me, just trail me.

I looked down at my cat. It was weird; she was way too docile. Maybe getting the antidote, through my blood -if that’s even what had happened – wasn’t ideal. I felt like I just got punched. Sure call me dumb, but I had been a little preoccupied. If my blood somehow cured a crazed person or animal, then that would mean… I could cure the people affected. Would my blood be able to help my family? But Marcy was acting more subdued than usual. I needed some help before I tried it out on humans. I would have to, somehow, go to a high tech science lab and explain the situation to them. I somehow doubted that Laos would even have such a place. Going to a lab here was out of the question, Also, even if there was a lab, would there be any lab technicians who had not been effected with this disease? Thailand… nah, the disease could have already spread there too. Some place that was far enough away so that the disease hadn’t reached them yet. My mind jumped to my home country. America.

* * * *

After a short, mentally tiring walk, with my already exhausted mind trying to figure out how on earth I would get to America (I just keep on going in circles, “How… How… HOW?!”), I decided to give up on that for the moment as I was approaching my friend’s house. As I reached the house, everything was eerily quiet. Too quiet. The hairs rose on the back of my neck as I came in sight of the house. The gate was flung wide open with the chain hanging limply, and as I looked further I could see that the door was ajar. I gulped. It was getting too dark to try to go somewhere else, and there was no way I would be staying out here after dark. I gathered my tattered courage around me and resolutely marched toward the looming house ahead of me. I walked into the house calling for Asia and her family. Absolute silence met me. I took a cursory look around the ground floor and then make a beeline for Asia’s room. I decided that I would stay in my friend, Asia’s room, since I was most comfortable in there. Though the hole in the ceiling was more than usually disturbing, what scared me the most was what that everything was clean and tidy. Everything was where it ought to be. Last I had seen this room, it had been delightfully messy. What had happened here? Where had everyone gone? My mind just couldn’t think anymore, and my body was screaming at me to rest and go asleep. I lock the door behind me as I turn into the room, collapse on the bed, and escape into sleep.

* * *

I was walking along a wide path when I came upon a massive factory in perfect condition. Walking up to the large double doors I swung them open. As the doors swung open, I could see mounds and mounds of rubble. As I stumbled into the ginormous room the doors swung resolutely shut behind me. I staggered around for what seemed to be an eternity. At last I fell down, defeated. Then, as my head drooped, I heard a sound to make my skin crawl. Tap-scratch, Tap-Tap. Swinging my head up, I beheld a terrible sight. Hundreds upon hundreds of cats and dogs were crawling and clawing their way to me.

I woke abruptly, sweat coursing down my body in rivulets. My breath came in short sporadic gasps. Then I realized that there was a small comforting warm weight on my chest. I had forgotten about Marla, my cat. She must have crawled out of the bag and come and lain down on me. I steadied my shaking hand as I stroked Marla’s spine. I could just see the sun as it showed its much welcome face. I just wanted to let that moment be paused, with my little feline on my chest lending me strength and warmth. I knew better though. The world would spin on not caring that something terrible was happening on its surface, not caring about a young frightened teen and her cat. I took a deep breath and gently pushed Marla off. Marly seemed to have shaken off some of her drowsy state, but she didn’t seem 100%, either. I sat up and once again looked out the window. Sighing I wearily trotted downstairs to grab a bite to eat.

I sat cross-legged on the floor, trying to write a letter to Asia explaining what was happening here. It was proving to be a hard task. All I was able to write was, “Dear Asia”. Perhaps I was simply trying to delay the time I would have to leave and try to find a way to America. That was what I had been doing for most of the morning-delaying.

I groaned and glared at Marla, then muttered, “It would help a great deal if I just knew who the crackpot was that went to all this trouble to poison an entire country!”

“Well, then, you’re in luck,” a cold accented voice said behind me. My heart jolted and I made to twist around to see who had spoken, but I felt an icy muzzle prod the back of my head. “Don’t turn around till I tell to you you can,” the voice hissed in my ear.

I felt my heart lodge somewhere in my throat. My thoughts were jumping all over the place. Whoever is behind me has a gun. Guns hurt. The person behind me sounds like a male. Has an English accent… no wait, German. What was happening!? I could feel the muzzle prodding the back of my head. Then I heard the man again. “So you’re the girl that’s immune to my disease.”

At that I couldn’t help myself, “Wait, you’re the dude that has caused all this!?”

I could almost hear the cruel smile in his voice as he replied, “Yes indeed I am.” Then I felt him gently tugging at one of my braids, “And I am afraid that I can’t have someone running around that is immune to my disease.”

I swallowed as I realized the implications of that, “So… so you’re going to… to kill me?”

There was a slight pause, then, “Stand up and face me. I like seeing the face of who I’m killing.”

My body gave a slight tremor. Then, hardening my resolve, I pushed myself off the ground. I slowly turned around, facing my to-be-killer. As I had guessed he was male and of German decent. The man was terribly tall and pale and he wore black flowing robes. His dark brown hair clashed with his thin skull-like face. Though what frightened me the most was his cruel smile and dark glittering eyes that marked him as pitiless.

My tongue seemed to be stuck to the top of my mouth, but I wet it and in an attempt to stall the man, I asked, “What’s your name?”

Than man tilted his head to one side, eyed me, then smiled thinly, “I suppose it can’t hurt. My name is Inkerstein.”

Now I thought of a question that had been tickling my brain since we had started this conversation, “How on earth did you know where to find me!?”

At that Inkerstein truly smiled, “Ah, yes, that was a bit of complicated science and I’ll spare you the details, but essentially, I put very small cameras in the eyes of a couple hundred of the first people and animals that were infected with the crazed, so as to keep tabs on things at a safe distance. The disease is also highly contagious, and by tomorrow everyone here in Laos should be contaminated.” Then Inkerstein cocked his gun, “Now, no more stalling, girl. Any last words?”

Before I could think of anything suitably chilling, I heard an angry growl and saw Marla leap claws extended at Inkerstein’s thigh. I dashed sideways as I heard a low curse from Inkerstein when Marla’s claws meet his calf. Then spinning around I saw that Inkerstein had dropped his gun, and the gun was right next to the large desk in the room. I swiftly glanced over at my at my assailant, and on seeing what was happening, I gulped and dashed for the gun.

“Inkerstein, leave my cat alone,” I said my voice trembling even as I said it.

Inkerstein who had been about to send a hard kick at my cat, spun around and glared at me. Then he smirked unnervingly, “My dear girl, I don’t believe that you even know how to shoot that.”

“You already had it cocked, all I have to do is pull the trigger.”

At that his smile wavered then it returned again as he strode up to me, so close that the end of the gun poked his chest. “Perhaps, but do you have the strength to pull it? You don’t seem the murdering type.” Both of us knew that I wasn’t going to shoot him, but what he didn’t know was the fact that I knew. I was a black belt in Taekwondo, and he was in perfect range. I spun, sending my left leg into the side of his right leg. Then as he started to crumple I delivered my right fist into the man’s jaw. Inkerstein went out like a light.

I could feel the adrenaline pumping in my veins, and I was taking short quick gasps. Then I frantically cast around for Marla. Finding her crouched in a corner of the room, I picked her up feeling her heart beating like a scared bird. I glanced at Inkerstein knowing now I had to go as quickly as I could to the airport and just hope that someone there wasn’t crazed.

I puffed out my cheeks as I came to the main street. It was so weird; the streets were as quite as a grave yard. However what made it even more unnerving was the fact that all along the sides of the road were cars, each one six feet from each other. I looked over to where my friend’s dad worked. I still hadn’t seen any sign of Asia, but now I wasn’t so sure I wanted to if what Inkerstein said was true and he had infected everyone here. I dashed across the road not wanting to be exposed in the open for too long. Then I stopped short as if hitting a brick wall, as I spotted a well known figure. It was Asia. She stood, slightly bent over with long knotted brown hair partly covering her face, though I could see one pale blue eye, revealing that fact that my friend was part of the crazed. I realized with a dull feeling of hopelessness that most of my plan was to team up Asia and have her do all the planning. Well, that was now out of the option.

I felt a little furry head butt against my leg, and I realized that I must have accidentally dropped the bag that held my cat. I shakily drew in a breath, and picked up Marla and my food/medical bag. That’s when I felt the ground quake. At first I thought it was an earthquake, then with my heart sinking, I realized that it probably wasn’t an earthquake. I glanced behind me and saw a huge cloud of dust. Then I heard the deafening sound of hundreds of feet, and my heart plummeted further. I left my food/medical bag where it was, swiped up Marla and the bag that I had put her in.

I dashed into the nearest Mini Big C that I could see, and cast frantically around for a good hiding place. I hurried over to the freezers, and using strength of desperation, managed to make a big enough entrance for me to squeeze through. Then absolute chaos rained. I could here nothing except screeching metal and a horrid animalistic growling sound. After a while the sounds faded and a quiet stillness settled. Then absolute horror blanketed me. Marla wasn’t with me. I could feel my throat tighten. There was no way Marla could have survived that stampede. I peeked around the corner of the freezers, hoping to catch sight of my furry friend. Instead I saw Asia. She appeared to be guarding the entrance to the door. My eyes swept the room, then I saw a little fury bundle in the far corner. I nearly started crying right then and there. I bit back the sobs, but made a slight grunting sound instead. I glanced at Asia to see if she had heard anything. Apparently she hadn’t. I tried to think logically and to ignore the still body of my cat in the corner. The room was an absolute mess, the cabinets were ruined, there was food scattered everywhere. Wait, the cabinets were ruined and there were metal pieces scattered here and there. I searched a bit more and spotted a metal pipe about five feet from me. I glanced from it to Asia.

First I wanted to make absolutely sure my cat was dead before I had to leave. I left my hiding place and crept to the still body of Marla. I gently placed a hand over where her heart was, but there was no reassuring thump. I felt the tears as they rolled down my face, but I didn’t wipe them away. I took a deep breath then crawled away from the cat, and toward the pipe. I was really not looking forward to whacking my friend in the head with a metal pipe.

* * * * * * *

Inkerstein paced, infuriated. How had that girl escaped death? She was like a roach, refusing to die and give up. He cursed bitterly under his breath and scanned the screens in front of him for perhaps the hundredth time, hoping against hope that he would spot the girl. No such luck. Inkerstein cursed again, then whipped around as he heard the door creak open. “Well, anything?” he barked at the women who came shuffling in.

“N… nothing yet sir. No body or anything. It appears she has gone underground,” the woman answered.

A steady stream of profanities came out of his mouth. Then he growled at the woman, “Keep looking; she can’t hide forever.”