Mile marker 9
2/19/22
"Alright, you know the drill everyone, you don't have to go home, but ya can't stay here!" One of the teachers on yard duty shouted as the school bell rang, and Andrew Bloomington slowly pushed himself off the brick divider between the road way, and the concrete steps leading up to the main building, he wasn't in much a hurry, in fact, no one really was, it was another temperate, sunny afternoon in the town of Moscow, Kansas, where the worst thing's you ever had to worry about was whether or not was the local baseball scores, creepy tourist's, rouge cows, and the odd tornado, but those only bared their ugly faces later on in the year, it was late February, and summer vacation was just a few months away. Andrew stood up, and gradually walked across the sidewalk, where the front seat of his fathers Ford F-150 four wheel drive awaited him, with his father in the front seat.
"Hey bud, so, what's the story!?" He asked, eagerly, Johnston Bloomington was, by no standards, perfect, but considering that he was a veteran of the gulf war, and that he had a slightly mischievous 16 year old teen to take care of, alongside his loving-albeit dictator of a wife to take care of, he was pretty good, always making sure his son understood what was important in life, mostly ensuring he never slacked off, be it chores, or school, or his soon to be job. While the family didn't own any farmland, his father was still dead set on him getting a job at the nearest wheat farm, at least until he had enough to pay for 4 years at Kansas state. So far, his son had been very up beat and enthusiastic about it all, after all, who would expect any less of an adolescent from the midwest.
"Eh, not much, talked with some friends, did all my homework." He relpied as he slammed the door shut, tossing his backpack into the empty back seat as he did.
"Oh really? Lemme see." His father set the truck in park for a moment while Andrew reached into his backpack, extracting a white binder, containing the only homework he was currently in possession of. "Here you go, all done to the best of my ability, just as always." His father flipped thought the assignments.
"Looks good to me, hey, it's Friday! I've got some frozen pizza and fries at home, what'ya say to movie night?" Andrew nodded in affirmation, and the truck sped out of the school front, and just 4 minutes later, they were home. The 2 of them hopped out of the truck, and made for the doorway of their cozy, single story house.
"Honey, I'm home!" The 2 heard footsteps, followed by the clicking of the lock. The door swung open, revealing the imposing form of Emily Bloomington, Johnston's wife.
"So, how was your day?" She asked Andrew, immidently turning away from the doorway, and back to the kitchen. Andrew threw his backpack off the the side, and plopped down on the front room sofa, he reached for the remote, only to find his father reaching for it as well.
"You know the rules, world news first." This had been the case in the Bloomington household for quite some time now, ever since the Covid 19 pandemic had begun, the family had been keeping close taps on the state of the world, Moscow, Kansas wasn't exactly the most information rich town in the United States, if it weren't for the internet, the town could have gone weeks without getting updates on the state of the outside world, something caught the 2 as they changed it to ABC news.
"Turn it up." Johnston asked, his son obliged.
"In a compleatly un expected twist, a new Covid variant has emerged-" They both looked at each other, and laughed, in the 3 years of the pandemic, the virus had mutated many times, usually going in the direction of being more conagious. The small town Kansas family of 3 had practically lost track at this point.
"As usual, we've got CDC doctor Anthony Fauci to give use the details, so, tell us, what's special about this version of the virus?" The screen cut to a live recording of the Doctor.
"Well, thanks for introducing me Sheila, and as usual, it's a pleasure to be on here. You see, what's so special this particular strand of the virus, was the sheer suddenness of it all, we had no idea it was going to mutate once more, in addition to this, it that fact that... It just appeared, out of the blue, all across the world. What's even stranger, is that when our experts here tried examining it, the viral genome's within didn't even resemble the pervious Covid variant, no in the slightest-" There was a loud, monotone beep, and the TV cut to a test pattern. Only to return 30 seconds later on commercial break.
"Uh, dad, what happened?"
"Well son, I ain't entirely sure on this, my guess, is that those CDC people found something that the government didn't want the public knowing."
"That's censorship damnit! This is America, they can't do that!" Shouted Emily from the kitchen.
"Heh, is that was you think, this is America, they can do whatever they want, and if they thought that they shouldn't mister Fauci over there should keep his mouth shut about this thing, well then...Son, congrats."
"Er, what?"
Well, as of this moment, this house is on lockdown, and you're staying home from school, if it's that bad, I don't want by boy out in public were he might catch it."
"Uh, are we still having pizza for dinner?" His father's expression changed from one of dread and demanding to one of joy.
"Are you fuckin' insane? Hell yes man!" He exclaimed with a grin, "Ain't no pandemic stopin' us from celebrating the weekend. "
"Well then, help me with dinner!" They heard from the kitchen.
"Alright." Johnston said, shooting up from the far side of the brown leather couch, and rushing to the kitchen.
1 week later...
Andrew sat cross-legged on his bed, laptop open. Talking with his friends over Discord, most of his friends families had done the same as his father, choosing to stay home, until this new variant 'blew over'. Currently, they were discussing their theories for what possibly could have made the government censure the initial announcement, one week prior, there had been several more broadcasts since then, mostly on the spread of this Covid, and whatever this new variant was, but there were always things they kept secret about it, they never showed footage of any of the victims, and refused to speak of the symptoms, or the death rate.
"I bet it's zombies!" David whispered.
"Nah, that's absurd, according to all known laws of biology, a corpse should in no way be capable of sustained locomotion-" The group of 4 cut Connor off before he could go any farther.
"Dude, in English please? We aren't all as 'natrually gifted' as you are."
"Zombies not able exist." He said in a low, mocking tone.
"Good, anyone else?"
"Oh, I got one, y'all ever see that show, Contagion? Well, maybe the symptoms are so terrifying, or painful, that they don't want people panicking?" Andrew responded.
"Remember when this all started back in 2020?" The group let out a collective chuckle as the remembered the chaos that had ensued following the original government lockdown orders.
"Eh, I think it's best we all just lay low and let this blow over with." Jason added in a gruff tone.
"I agree, I'm off to bed for now, let's continue in the morning-" Andrew stopped when he heard is father yelling for him from the front room.
"Andrew, get over here, this is important!" He shrugged, and left the call, slamming the laptop's screen down as he got off of his bed, and made his way down the hall into the front room. Both of his parents where there, sitting on the couch.
"Sit down." Andrew did as instructed, and watched the TV, the blood from his face drained when he heard 3 monotone beeps emanate from the TV.
"This is the Emergency Alert System, this it not a test, Important instructions are to follow." It said in a monotone voice, Andrew's stomach began to feel heavy, and he started sweating.
"What was this, oh, please, god, David better not be right!" The TV resumed.
"A this time, it has bene confirmed that this is indeed, a new virus, far more dangerous than the previous variants, symptoms include:
-Discoloration of pupils.
-Hightened voice pitch
-Increased empathy
-Change of skin pigment
- The sprouting of 'fur', across the entirety of ones body
-the shifting of the skeletal structure, appearing similar to that of a terrestrial horse.
-The growing of 'wings' or 'horns'
-Increased sensitivity to auditory stimuli...
The list went on, as it did, Andrew's expression changed from one of terror, to one of confusion.
"What the- is this some kind of Joke?" His father demanded.
"If you, or any of your family members are experiencing from one, or more of these symptoms, it is imperative you immidently isolate yourself from any other external contact. Do not attempt to contact the authorities. You are considered to be a danger to those around you, please advise that after 24 hours, you are no longer considered to be human, keep out of public places, and avoid going outside. If you are not suffering any of the symptoms listen above, stay as far away as possible from any you believe to be infected, and avoid skin contact at all costs, it is currently unknown if this virus is airbore." And just like that, the TV let out 3 more monotone beeps, ending the broadcast. Andrew swallowed hard, as he began to feel queasy again.
"Uh, dad? What are we going to do?" he asked , nervously. His father breathed in and out, and then stood up.
"Lock the windows, lock them now, and turn off the lights, all of them. I'm going down to the basement to grab the gasmasks and guns, we'll shelter in place, and wait this thing out. The other 2 agreed immidently, and headed off to accomplish they're assigned tasks.
3/1/ 22
Alright, things have gotten, we, I haven't the slightest, we lost cable TV yesterday, water and electricity are still running though, oddly enough, and I can still talk to my friends, although, David wasn't present at our daily Discord meetup yesterday, we've stayed indoors for 3 days straight now, none of us have gone outside, for anything-"
"Damnit!" Andrew yelled in frustration as his pencil tip broke. The stress of the past couple of days had barely lessened. He had taken using one of his old math notebooks as a sort of journal, documenting the days as they pasted by, it was a sort of escape for him. With a sigh, he shut it, and headed into the front room, where his parents where seeming immersed in a game of chess.
"Hey, guy's anything new?" He asked.
"No-" They practically jumped out of their skin when they heard a something bang on the front window.
"Wait here." Johnston said, grabbing his Colt M1911, he cautiously walked into the front room, and pulled back the curtain.
"Hello, anypony in there? I brought some cookies." Standing there, was a... Well, Johnston Bloomington wasn't quite sure what it was, it looked like a horse, it stood on 4 legs, it appeared to have hooves, it was covered in bight yellow fur, with a blue mane, and a freakishly human looking face, with a pair of massive eyes to boot. It was about 3 and a half feet tall, at it's side, it held, a plate of what looked like chocolate chip cookies.
"What in the devil are you?" He asked it, as soon as it spotted him, it's demeanor changed entirely.
"Oh, hi! My name's Yellow Creek, I'm an earth pony."
"Uhuh." He slowly nodded, still perplexed as to what it's intentions were.
"Hey, you're a sad looking fellow, you look like you could use a hug!" It exclaimed, "How about you open the door, let me in, and we can all be friends!" It cried out. Johnston remembered what the EAS had said.
"I appreciate the kind gesture, leave, now, or I will shoot you."
"Awww, you're no fun." It set it's plate of cookies down on the front porch, and began to trot back down the street.
"What just happened?" Andrew asked, standing behind his father, holding an old M16.
"Son, I believe we just had our first encounter with one of the infected."
"Well, what now?"
"We stay inside, it can't get in here-" His blood turned cold when he heard glass breaking in the living room, followed by wing flaps, and hoofsteps.
"Shit!" They both called out, they turned, and stormed into he front room, there, they found the earth pony from earlier, as well as a lime green pegasus, both trying to grab Emily. Without another thought, Johnston an Andrew raised their weapons, and opened fire. Each fired once, and both their aim was spot on, the 2 equines crumbled to the floor, dead, each with a bloody hole in their head. The sight of it made Andrew sick, his father, being a veteran who had been in active combat before, had no problem whatsoever with the sight of dead bodies.
"You good, any of them touch you?" He franticly asked his wife, "Andrew, find something to seal this back window." He rushed downstairs, and grabbed a piece of plywood from the basement, alongside some nails, and a hammer, with few moments, the broken sliding glass window had been replaced by wood
"No." She finally responded. Andrew and Johnston breathed an uneasy sigh of relief.
3/2/22
Andrew walked into the kitchen, making for the cabinets, planning to grab himself a nice bowl of cereal. When he heard his father's voice call for him.
"Son, you there, we, uh, there's something we need to talk to you about." His eyes widened at this, and he slowly walked into the front room. There, on the couch, was his father and mother, only they were...different, his father had a pair of dark blue ears horse ears, and patches of blue fur had sprouted across his face, his feet where gone, replaced by what he only assumed could be the beginning of hooves. His mother was even worse, she was even further gone, with her both her hands and feet replaced by orange hooves, behind her, was a tail, and her face was slowly, but surely, undergoing the transformation into an equine muzzle.
"You- you're infected!?" He asked in shock, stumbling back.
"Yes." His father responded.
"No, this, this can't be happening, how?"
"Well, that thing with the wings got her yesterday, that sick bastard!" He let out a sigh of defeat.
"W-what now?" He asked, his gaze fixed on his parents.
"Well, we don't want you to catch it as well, truck key's are on the coffee table in front of me, there's extra ammunition for the rifle and sidearm in the safe in our room, and half a year's worth of MRE's in the cabinets downstairs, as well as a level B CBRN hazmat suit, put it on, make sure the seal's airtight. Gather everything up as fast as possible, start the truck, and drive as far north as you can."
"Alright." He agreed.
"Son, are you good? Your hands are shaking."
"Y-yes." he stuttered. He followed through with the instructions as best as he could, loading the supplies up into the back of the truck, slamming the bed door behind him, he rushed back inside, and grabbed his journal, and a few extra pencil, finally, he was ready to leave. Although, he felt he had one more thing to do. He walked back into the front room.
"Andrew, what are you still doing here? Go, before we start trying to turn you as well!" His father yelled.
"Goodbye guys, it was nice knowing you." He sniffled, and threw his arms around his almost fully transformed parents.
"I love you guys!"
"We love you to Andrew, now, go!" He turned, and ran for the truck, slamming the door behind him. He threw himself into the drivers seat, tears welling behind his the visor of his gas mask, he flipped the ignition, and tore out the driveway. Thundering down the road, as he drove down the road, he could see more of those strange creatures, some ignored him, others followed him, all where calling out form him to turn around and 'join them' he knew better, as he left town limit's. The rural town turning to fields of grass. He turned on the radio.
Yeah the boys 'round here
drinkin' that ice cold beer
talkin' 'bout girls talkin' about trucks
runin' them red dirt road's out kickin' up dust...
This lifted his spirits. As the radio blasted away, he looked to the side of the road, just in time to see mile marker 9 pass him by. As it did, Andrew stopped crying, and began singing along to the radio.
"Maybe it'll all be alright after all..." He thought to himself as he continued driving down the road, a small, yet confident smile growing on his face.