An Opposing Virus.

[C H A P T E R 2]

No matter how hard I attempted to rid myself of the protruding thoughts that swarmed my mind; nothing seemed to prove successful. They continuously prodded and hassled it, as if it were an impatient child; forcing waves of frustration to emit from my very pores. My Mother, was a very deliberate and purposeful persona; never making unnecessary points. So her claims only seemed to fuel my never-ending unease.

I stood in the shower for at least an hour. My unfocused optics lazily investigating fleeing droplets of water and they wandered excitably to the block hole (otherwise referred to as a 'drain'). Eventually coming back to my senses recognizing the heavy weight draping effortlessly down my face. Forcing myself to stumble out of the shower, I began attempting to prepare for the day. Spending hours upon hours drying and combing my hair, that retreated from it's spiked form into flawless curls that ventured courageously down my back. Re-positioning my eye-patch accordingly above my 'deformed' orb, before dressing in simple, yet comfortable clothing. Consisting of navy-blue denim jeans, and a t-shirt of my favourite hue, a soft orange. Slipping on my Father's jacket with a small smile adorning my features,  I glanced lazily towards the mirror; nodding instinctively at my appearance. Quickly dismissing my negative thought exploration, purposely ignoring my previous nightmares which I would return to later, I began roaming into the hallway; slowly walking down the grumbling stairs, a sense of dread immediately submerging me at the eerie silence.

"Mother?"

Receiving no reply, my heart racing and drumming loudly within my ears, I began racing through the hallway. Releasing a large, intruding, sigh of relief upon finding her staring blankly out of the window. Her usual gaze full of love and passion abrasively being replaced by an unidentifiable coldness.

"Mother, are you alright?"

Her head, as if one possessed by a rag-doll, immediately turned around in my direction. Her panic evidently spiraling out of control before dissolving considerably; sends me a small glance, accompanied by a small smile.

"Oh, yes dear. I'll be fine" Mother reassured, moving over to the fireplace, which was alight with a roaring flame, before replenishing it's coal. Another issue for us, financially, was the absence of a electric fireplace; only the richest (most of them populated within the Central) could afford electronically operated fire. The rest of the unlucky population journeyed back to the days of the 'Black Country.' A world submerged in darkness, the very atmosphere we breathe in covered in a thick blanket soot as a result of the excessive use of substance. A good few years back, scientists managed to engineer artificial coal, created by renewable resources; at first it was a revolutionary discovery, but everything has a price, which me and Mother learnt the hard way. It produces twice the amount of product emissions, or in other words, disposes twice the amount of soot.

"Are you okay Telsa? You seem to be zoning out there?" Mother questions softly. I simply shake my head, providing her with a smile, as reassuring as I can muster.

"Oh no, I'm fine."

A short silence passed over us, it was as if words was shatter the atmosphere around us; as my Mother continued to tend for the fire. The angered flame spitting and snarling ferociously in the tense silence. Eat at the coal greedily. My eyes were fixated on the flame, much like my Mother I presumed.

It was around ten minutes before movement within the peripheral vision caught my eye, forcing my optics to glance wearily at the direction of my Mother.

"Will you do me a favor dear?" my Mother asked softly, as if she would shatter due to overwhelming fragility at any time, lifting up a small bag submerged in floral contents.

"...Of course" I mumbled, slowly standing up before roaming across the living room towards the porch, where she was now standing.

"Place these flowers on your Father's grave will you? I would go myself, but I need to find a way to pay the tax due for later today."

"Of course Mother" I respond gently, a smile began etching it's way upon my face as I quickly gave her a peck on the cheek.

"You be safe alright Mother?" I question carefully. Mother just stares at the me for a moment before nodding hesitantly.

"I will be."

Nodding, I began making my way it of the house towards the burial site. The huge buildings loomed threateningly above the high street. The metallic skeletons of the buildings penetrated the concrete ground; lurking deep beneath the surface in a secure fashion. Oceans of glass windows fit together, like a jigsaw piece to form buildings, each glass panel lined up perfectly alongside one another. Stuck together by unknown stubstance that defies the standard laws of physics. Bridges held up by hovering stabilised swirled ambitiously around the buildings. Colliding at designating sectors before taking off again, like pathways connecting the people to the city itself. Trains wished by at fast speeds, disregarding typical things like safety attempting in taking people (who could afford such luxuries as train tickets) to their desired locations as fast as physically possible. Street lamps and boisterous lights luminated the busy streets. People whizzing around like flies, their own lives their priority; not the well-being of others. The town was only one of the several components who suffered deeply under the Central regime. Resorting to only caring about themselves and family- others only if necessary. It was an eye for an eye. Being too kind in the sad remains of the planet we live on only lives one option:

Death.

I sighed, shaking the melancholic cloud above my head away. Even though I knew it was futile; considering I was journeying to my Father's grave. 'Always think positively, negative thoughts lead you down an endless path of sorrow. Positive thoughts, may lead you down a short route; but you'll always come back to the route once more the same person you used to be.I guess I'll just have to find that fork in the road.

Finally arriving at the burial gate, I released a sigh of relief. I always seemed to find myself lost in my own imagery world, never focusing upon the world before me. And before I knew it, I was swept away by the waves of time. The current pulling me further and further deep within the depths of my mind and the dangers lurking within. Feeling a small jolt flood my palms, I released a small smile.

Abruptly, the lights surrounding me, penetrating me to the very core began flickering. Flickering and flickering.

On, and off. On and off. A constant turbulence of light being fired at me relentlessly. The wind began to pick up, like knives cutting it's victims mercilessly. My eyes closed despite my will to keep them opening, wincing as the wind continued to ambush me with it's fierce attacks. My hair clawing at my face in fear, as the wind began grasping upon it. Pulling and pulling as if it were a small child. It wasn't until I was able to give open the lock between my eyelids I acknowledged the planes above us. The high technological marvels slowly beginning to zone in upon the town. A silent cry escaped my lips as the realisation adorned upon me. The reason why my Mother appeared so sad today, and so many purposeful things; he reason why she led me to Father's grave just outside of the city.

The city was about to be attacked.