4 Angels

300424

08:50

DAY 1 5 8 3 S.P

- - - - -

My head feels empty still, my hands clasped together in my lap and legs spread apart with my head held down. I'm tired. Where am I, again?

"This is your stop, now out quickly. I gotta get back and get ready." My brother's voice fills the empty vehicle and I realise where I am. I see from the backseat, two dark, large hands stretched around the steering wheel, reaching out from a dark shadow that surrounds the figure where my brother sits. We had a fight earlier today. About a common topic. Although this time I doubt he'll talk to me for a bit.

Yesterday was the first day of having zero cases of our beloved XNA21 virus, the only day zero people have come in to get tested. Cases have been decreasing over the last four months, ever since the new year of two thousand and twenty-four began. You'd think people would finally take the initiative and start self-isolating and stay clean so we can all get out by next year. We've had about four years to practise doing so every day, I might've actually thought this if I didn't know any better. But the hundreds of thousands of cases didn't decrease from people simply getting better, only one in a hundred people with the sickness would truly recover. The sickness involving various symptoms including sneezing, coughing, blood vomiting, full internal organ failure, although most have had symptoms involving lung failure. Rashes that turn purple and scar the skin if even touched once, fatal migraines and brain shut down, severe itching, bursting blood vessels in the eyes which result in blood tears, blood noses and in some cases bleeding from the ears. Anyone who would have the slightest chance of recovering would end up in intensive care or not functioning properly at all, their old self and life would be lost due to severe disability or being on life support forever. Most people asked for some form of self-assist suicide, the government having to make it legal simply due to the virus. Every single case, every single person with symptoms and those who self-isolated due to believing they had symptoms. They all died. If the virus didn't get them first, suicide did. Cases haven't been recorded yet today, they could go up by thousands just by everyone going back to school.

The government couldn't even wait even two weeks to see if the cases would stay down, our so called shitty leader announced an hour after cases were recorded yesterday that students were to attend schools again today. Teachers and school staff like the department of education are the only legal essential workers working currently, that and medical workers, and whoever is involved with making decisions about the pandemic and government announcements and politic crap like that. I never paid attention to online classes. I've only attended about fifteen classes in the last two years so politics isn't my favourite topic, I don't even know who the name of the guy who stands at the tall podium is anymore.

"I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night, Sarah Williams," One of Rosé's daily random quotes invade my train of thought once again. Although hearing it in person instead of through a computer screen or text message, is somewhat relieving.

I find myself standing by the school sign that hasn't been touched in years, the place myself and my best friend Rosé Revell swore to meet up at every morning before school and afternoon when school finished. The tap of her black high dock martins approach swiftly, and I raise my head letting my hair blow past my cheeks to see where she is. My brother's car is long gone now.

Her tiny figure plastered in front of me with a cheerful posture, her arms stretched out in front of her and her medium length bob cut blowing towards me covering her eyes. Her smile shines through though. Her slim face and medium high cheekbones screamed Rosé, her name suited her.

In the span of two seconds her swift walking turns into sprinting and I find her wrapped around my body. I let out a sigh of relief, who knew this day would come. The situation as to why we have been sent back to school, basically being test subjects in seeing if numbers will rise again, isn't favoured. But I'm glad to see her again, in physical form I mean, instead of through a screen.

"Tiana! How have you been?" I reckon her voice is the loudest of all the others, having emotional reunions with their partners and friends. Even people who swore to hate each other are seen hugging each other nearby. We don't move from the spot next to the sign, 'Louiton High school' one of two high schools in town. It's a very old school, full of portables that were promised to be removed years ago and an empty forty metre long pool that we used to use as a skateboard dip as the parks around were either snowed in from the mountains to the west, or kids that smoked cigarettes and started fights were huddled around . There was nothing really thrilling to tell each other, as we'd always stay in contact every day to either check in or just have someone to talk to. Sure we'd have our times where we seem to have left the face of the Earth for a week or two, but we've never gotten tired of each other yet. She tells me about how her old man is, Dominic Revell. A strange figure, for as long as I've known Rosé our parents haven't met properly. My brother has only come across Dom at the store once, and we've only heard stories from Rosé about his work and how he has a shotgun kept under his bed between the slats and mattress. The proper reason why Rosé can't hold a relationship, her father's overprotective trait seems to overpower all. I tell her about the disagreement I had with my brother this morning, and she shifts weight onto her right leg to lean onto the side of the school sign. "Angel wouldn't understand," she tries to reassure me, I already know.

He doesn't have to feel guilty everyday about not attempting school work at all, he just works. Illegally of course, all businesses aren't essential unless you are involved in Medical work, government crap, military stuff and the education department. He's my daily reminder as to how disappointed our parents will be when they get back, seeing how I've attempted nothing in school work.

Last year was the downfall of all coming and going income, no one could make money anymore as the virus spread into different stores, businesses, companies and into any form of entertainment online or in the public. A worker shut down the whole fast food industry by throwing up blood at a customer while serving them, and like wildfire everyone they got in contact with got the virus.

Another parent went into work this other time, they worked for some sort of CEO of a mobile device company and started itching terribly, it was reported that her skin was quite literally falling off and her nails were just as bad. Every name listed within the building had been found in a hospital or dead, that night and their families, friends, the strangers they'd pass got it too. The world really seemed to have collapsed. One by one people were losing their jobs over someone who lived on the other side of Alland. Families began struggling to provide for each other, and the illegal underground businesses stopped selling illicit products and started to charge stupidly high for things like clothes, toilet paper and masks. My brother had to do the same to provide for me. Luckily our parents were already somewhat wealthy. They used to send us checks that would last a month, but then it stopped. They had left us alone for good.

Canned food and vegetables wasn't so bad at first, but when we really started to go hungry my brother started to leave more. I assumed he just stole things from closed down stores and sold them for stuff we needed, as money wasn't exactly the most important thing, a few years into the pandemic. Because no income was coming into work and into family's pockets, no one made money. Obviously. Which caused a worldwide breakdown as money has always been the biggest deal breaker in life, and so it wasn't just the virus people were worrying about anymore. Feeding each other and themselves, affording masks to go out, curfews from twelve lunch time to six before sunset and being able to pay bills. Only this year, was when everyone started getting essentially random shit from government and government funded charity workers. The only downside to this deal was that whoever actually took and used the products were expected to owe them back once the pandemic was declared over. So of course there were people who didn't take the deal, called it scam. My brother and I took the deal though, because our parents didn't help us anymore. Not even a 'hello', but if they were to return after the pandemic they'd pay them back still, maybe trying to make us owe them after to forgive them. That's what we liked to think anyway. We weren't sure if they were gonna come back. But my brother stays hopeful.

A high pitched bell rings over the speakers scattered all around the school grounds, and I find myself stood in line at the front of the main school building. Rosé standing calmly thinking to herself by my side, "We aren't gonna make it to first period because of this vaccination shit," she sighs, rubbing her temple with her thumb and pointing finger. Swearing never looked nice on her, but then again I do the same so letting her know seemed a bit hypocritical.

"We're not supposed to have vaccinations 'till June, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, but the Xina Vaccine was just made and their pushing limits to stick it in everyone, before those who aren't sick, don't fall victim to it." Her voice grows deep as she gazes down at her feet.

"What's with the formalities? And that quote? About the moon?"

"Oh you still remember that? Yes, I've been reading poetry lately."

"Poetry?" Her quotes are usually about self improvement or something she found on her social media feeds, but this one seemed different. She's said it more than once.

"The old man bought me some books for my birthday last week, I don't wanna just let them collect dust."

"Fair enough."

My feet are getting sore, I can feel my heels flatten in pain and my toes suffocating. After switching my weight on each leg my knees are getting sore too. We finally reach the front of the line. A tall lady, with thicker legs and broad shoulders, raises her chin up to make eye contact with me.

"Come sit down, quickly we have to get moving," her voice is light, but from the situation she's in now she sounds a bit irritated and wants me to hurry up. But my feet refuse to move, it isn't the pain. It's a gut feeling, my heart dips from the anxiousness of defying a medical worker. My brother is going to have my ass if he finds out. And I'm holding up the line.

"No," my voice makes other's go quiet. Surely I'm not the first to not want to do this. Taking a vaccine that was made barely two weeks ago, with no record of side effects? Foolish.

This is exactly how a zombie apocalypse would start in the movies, or some world similar to that one Netflix K-Drama where people turn into monsters and try to kill survivors living in an apartment complex.

"What?" I caught her off guard.

"I'm not taking the vaccine. Sorry." I can sense Rosé's train of thought shattering as all eyes are on me. Her eyes widen and mouth forms an 'o' shape.

"Don't be silly, take off your jumper please. Or at least roll up your sleeve." She isn't taking me seriously, so out of spite I stand my ground.

"What if I don't?" I test.

Rosé's arm reaches over to my back and her hand rests on my shoulder calmly, she tells me to stop giving them a hard time and that we can leave right after this. Leave to where? We can't go anywhere, everywhere is closed.

One foot after the other I start to move towards her, Rosé taking a breath of relief at my obedience.

The lady moves towards her white and red trolley, fiddling with the glass and flasks stacked on top of each other. My eyes snap towards the two large doors wide open, facing the back gate of the school. Two fence-like panels that swing open high above the ground, it would be too easy to get into the school at night with how high that fence is. I could crawl under, no problem.

"Rosé," My voice is loud and stern, she is stood behind me fiddling with her thumbs so she has no choice but to hear me. "Door."

Her head jolts up towards my back and then to the two doors my chin is pointed towards. "Now?" She almost sounds nervous, and slightly whiny.

I pick up my feet and make a break for it to the doors, the lady attempts to grab my arm but quickly rethinks her decisions as it would be too much of a bother for her. She clicks her tongue and searches for a teacher to do something about my escape. Rose moves forward too, some kids in the back sigh in disappointment, wondering why we would do such a thing. Others move to their peers in attempt to do the same, they mustn't want to take the vaccine either. My feet bounce off of the ground, I can hear the light steps tap behind me and her light breathing shortly after.

"Tianna it's the first day," Rosé laughs, and I try to shrug while running but it looks like I'm throwing a fit.

070524

15:44

D A Y 1 5 9 0 S.P

D A Y 1 S.A

- - - - -

It's around three fourty-five, Angel will be back soon. Job hunting all week is on most people's agenda, especially now that things are slowly opening up. Very slowly. Places like fast food stores, retail and adult businesses that I never really understood properly like furniture stores and this place called Bunnings, are opening too.

The door clicks and creaks open, slowly. Fair enough, he never really gets excited about coming home to the same old mess. He still hasn't really spoken to me either. Then again I'm not supposed to be home, I've been leaving school earlier a lot and the teachers don't question it. I've heard more than a few teachers have quit recently because of the huge four year gap in their career. It's only been around a week since school opened back up, and people haven't really checked case numbers at all really, but from those who have the numbers have been going up, but not past a hundred.

I hear a bang, the door handle whacking against the wall. Chills run through my body, "Why are you so quiet?" I call out, from the couch. The front door sits behind a wall that stretches only half-way across the room, kind of dividing the brown carpeted lounge room from the musty tiled living room. So I can't see anyone who enters the house from where I sit in front of the small coffee table that has an unfinished game of Monopoly scattered across the top. He doesn't respond. "Are you mad I left school early, again? How did you know? I didn't give the school your new number."

I hear a grunt, and another bang. The sound of something heavy falling to the ground. "Angel?"

Should I get up? Something in my head sparks and I force myself to my feet. I gaze down at my school shoes kicked to the side and my black socks shoved inside of them, he's going to shout at me if I don't pick those up. They feel warm and moist in my hands, I've always hated that feeling.

Thankfully there isn't any stereotypical creaking in the floors, the only noise around me is the fish tank buzzing away.

Jumping out in front of me, a loud thud makes me jolt backwards and standing in front of me is my older brother. "What the fuck?!"

"Language," He corrects me, his hand holding onto the wall that covers the front door to help balance himself out as he takes off his shoes. I chuck mine next to his and shuffle on the spot for a moment, to calm down a little. I don't think my heart can take anymore jump-scares from him, "Why are you home again? You usually don't get back 'till four?" This is possibly the most conversation I've had with him in four years.

"They're still trying to make me take the vaccine," saying it out loud does make me sound a bit childish.

"The Xina vaccine?" He asks, I nod.

"I assume Rosé went with you, I saw her walking down the street. Were you a good host?" His tone doesn't seem angry or disappointed, almost as if I was expected not to take the vaccine. I nod again.

I'd ask if he had gotten his vaccination yet, but he really spent all day searching for job interviews and labour work, being unemployed classes him as a non-essential worker which puts him as less of a priority for getting the vaccine compared to myself, being a student. "I got an interview," he says, making his way towards the kitchen, located beside the lounge divided with a tall tough counter table. "At six tonight." I hear my phone vibrate somewhere, beating twice every two seconds.

"That's good, thankfully the verges extended from seven in the morning to seven at night, but you'll have an hour to get back," I grin slightly, there hasn't been much good news lately so this is a start. Crouching down, I hear my knees crack and I try to maintain my view on my brother who seems quite intent about scoring an interview at a cash-in-hand fish and chip store down the street. Searching for my phone in the pockets of my school jacket. The vibrating stops and I click my tongue, "Did you want me to come with? Or will you be fine by yourself," I speak trying to continue the conversation, and search for my phone. Leaning on his hip next to the counter on front of me he stares down at me, arms folded and feet crossed over themselves.

"I'll be fine, it isn't that far so I can walk. Plus it'd just be a waste of time, for you. You should be doing your school work."

"I haven't done school work in years." Wow, I can actually say that.

"You're lucky mum and dad aren't here, when they find out I've been letting you slack they'll-"

"When?"

His mouth closes calmly and he swallows, my phone is still silent as I wait for Rosé to call me back, maybe I can find my phone then. My gaze is on my bag now, still searching. I hear his feet shuffle towards the back door. Probably to go smoke or sit and come up with excuses as to why mum and dad would actually come back. Maybe even wonder how Oka is doing, how her last four birthdays have been. She'd be fourteen right now, her birthday was about a month ago.

·

'Hey there! Sorry I couldn't pick up the phone! I'm probably asleep or something haha. Call me back later?'

Rosé's biggest fear currently, her hands shake as she slams her front door shut. The wood rubs against her arm as she leans anxiously onto the door, trying to catch her breath locking every lock. She tries again, but no dice. The thought runs through her mind that maybe I just lost my phone, maybe even dropped it while fleeing the school today. 'I should leave a voice mail, yeah,' a thought that brings her slight hope. She tries again.

"T-TIA..." Her voice shutters as her device allows her to speak after the tone, "Listen, stay inside," she shouts. Her father enters the front room, gazing up at his daughter. He throws her a look of confusion before the sound of neighbours shouting out for help fill the front yard. People outside must have heard Rosé slam her door, it was too loud. "There are people burning! Screaming in pain!" Rosé chokes out, speaking to the phone and her father, he who gives her a glance of disbelief. "Tia do you see this?! There are people itching and..." She swallows, "scratching? Tia stay inside, lock your door I don't think it's." She is abruptly stopped by the voice mail recording turning off and her phone swiping back to her home screen. Could it be Xina? Has it reached home?

"Rosé Revell, what is wrong?" her father speaks in a calm tone, his eyes wide but his brows furrowed. "What's happening?" He travels towards the large wide window that sits behind his grey couch, and faces the front of the house. Glancing through the laced curtains trying not to been seen from the scattered people flaying about out on the front lawn, he cusses something under his breath and moves towards the door.

"You're not going out there, dad!"

"They're on my lawn?!"

"They aren't people!" She snaps back. He frowns and tries to relax his shoulders. He never had a reason to not believe his daughter, the two were the only people they had and trust was a big thing in their little family. So he believed her, despite how crazy she sounded.

"I'll get my gun," he speaks calmly, a little startled at Rosé's words. As he moves towards his room to snatch up the coach gun he's had hidden under his mattress, he tries to process what he has been told. Not people? How? There are clearly people screaming for help outside, so why is Rosé blocking the door?

·

I cuss myself out at my body's deformities, why must I have been born with little arms and long legs. We at least I think it's a problem, people tell me my body's fine but nothing can stop the insecurities kept by a seventeen year old. Either way, my arm couldn't stretch far enough to reach the damn phone. "Dammit, missed another call," I sigh, finally picking up my phone. I can hear Angel chuckle slightly outside, until suddenly being cut off at the sound of sirens beaming passed our street, heading toward the main road next to the school. Rosé lives only around the corner, so she'd be home right now. I know she's fine, but I can't help but worry about her and her father. All week has been cloudy and rainy so fires starting in the mountains is unlikely, although common as it's usually hotter nowadays.

"You hear that?" Angel walks in a bit startled from outside, his breathing is a little uneven almost as if he ran in here.

"The sirens?"

"No, the screaming."