CURFEW

A cold wind eerily creeped through the window of the living room as I sat there on the couch. The television was like a broken record, repeating the same old news.

"Still listening to the news?" My roommate scoffed, "you know nothing ever changes."

"Doesn't hurt to at least see if there is anything new." I sighed, grabbing the remote and clicking the TV to a different news channel.

"Mayor Kleyborne has issued a curfew starting at 20:00 this evening until further notice due to the recent disappearances. Plateu City Police Department has come across another body-"

"Another body with missing limbs and robotic parts, what's new?" My roommate scoffed.

"Shut up. I'll turn it off." I sigh, checking my watch as I clicked the TV off.

7:15, and ticking. My stomach rumbled in anger. I barely ate anything all day. Apparently being a zombie watching a screen works up an appetite.

"Hey, Jay, what we got to eat?" I asked my roommate.

"Air, air, and more air. Let me guess, you're hungry?" Jay sighed.

"Yeah yeah, what you want? I'll go get us a bite to eat." I stood up from the couch, grabbing my hoodie.

"You sure you wanna do that? It's cuttin' close to 8. That's when curfew is." Jay tapped his wrist.

"I'm sure, not like them damn cultists are near our area. Feelin' like chicken?" I asked, heading over to the front door of the dorm room where the table is, holding my wallet.

"Yeah, but make it quick, don't want it to get cold, I feel a storm brewing." Jay shivered.

"Then close the damn window, I'll be back in 30, if I'm not, then uh..." I stopped, thinking of what else to say.

"Eat some air?" Jay chuckled, finishing my sentence.

"Yeah, that." I chuckled, unlocking the door and heading outside the dorm room.

The walls were unsettlingly quiet as a light rainfall started, gently pattering against the window of the stairwell. Proceeding down the stairs, I made it down to the first floor, the receptionist chewing bubblegum and on her phone.

"Storms-a brewin', huh?" I commented, lifting my hood up.

"Sure is, don't be out past 8, the doors lock then." The receptionist looked up at me, blowing a bubble.

"Yeah, you got it." I nodded, heading out the front door of the dormitory, being greeted by rainfall with city lights.

The street was quite empty, granted a few teenagers roaming around while cars hurried home before curfew. Checking the time, my clock read 7:20.

"Quick and easy, shouldn't be more than 30 minutes." I thought to myself as I trudged through the rain, hands in my pockets. The gray clouds blanketed the evening sky as a bright light shot through the sky, then a clash of thunder.

"Better hurry before it really picks up." I thought as I started to jog down the sidewalk, towards the nearest chicken restaurant. The wind went from a simple breeze to chilling force. The further I walked from the dormitory, the more exposed I felt.

My hairs started to stand on end as I felt a strange feeling of being watched. I turned around, seeing nothing but the empty streets with a flickering street lamp. Goosebumps raced across my skin as I faced forward, seeing a large bolt of lightning surge through the thick, gray clouds, lighting up the evening sky, followed by a crash of thunder.

My jog became a sprint as I ran down the street towards the nearest fast food joint, I didn't feel safe anymore, starting to damn myself for choosing to leave now of all times. The rain turned to a downpour as each drop of water had weight and force behind it.

An awning came into view as I sprinted down the sidewalk, hastening myself with each step as I finally made one final push to cover.

Under the awning, I stopped to catch my breath, sighing deeply. My hairs were on edge as I felt eyes beaming down on me. My eyes darted in front of me, seeing nothing but empty sidewalks. Every fiber in my body was telling me to turn around. Unable to resist, my head pivoted.

A gigantic mech of a man stood there, glaring into my soul as I met his gaze. Dilated red eyes as he sized me up.

"Can I help you-" I was cut off before I could finish my sentence.

"YOU LOOK LIKE A GOOD CANIDATE." The robotic man spouted.

"What?" I asked, confused.

The man didn't even bother to answer my question as I see him reel back a fist. Before I knew it, I felt a wave of excruciating pain hit my head as my vision went black.