The Sight Of You

By Devika Hardikar

Bang! 

Shots and screams echoed through the street. I could hear the sharp sound of fences being torn down. The influx of burning flesh and death whipped me across the face. Bile surfaced up my throat. The buildings that once gleamed were now shrouded in fog and dirt. If you told someone that this was New York, they wouldn't believe you, but it is. 

There was once a time where the world would rejoice in new medical discoveries. A time when scientists were praised and doctors were loved. Then, that all changed. Everyone turned on them when the virus broke out. I watched as my whole world shifted. Every second house on my street suddenly had a person on a vent, struggling to breathe. My mother never really elaborated on the revolts, my teachers weren't great help either. Some say it was one of the bloodiest mass killings to ever occur. I believe them. 

A sharp gunshot jostled me awake as I watched another doctor fall. Blood pooled around his chest and made a slush as Alex, my boss, stepped on the man's chest and continued firing. This is wrong. I thought. I was not supposed to be hired to kill people so that my neighborhood could be avenged. 

"Snap out of it Kira!" Alex yelled. "We don't have time to be spacing out, We need to get into the hospital to find the stragglers." 

Stragglers. That's what he called the doctors that remained. I moved my black hair out of my face and continued to march forward. Alex pushed open the door to the emergency bay. Yellow quarantine signs had been littered everywhere around the cold sickening while floor. "Should we split up?" I asked, looking at the crew of around 7 people. 

"That's not a call for you to make but yes, we are splitting up. If you find someone, kill them.'' Alex sneered. He was a tall and well built man, one with no emotion or empathy for others. He was in his 30s with a thin, poorly trimmed beard. I glared at him and turned towards the maternity ward. A wave of contrite clouded my judgement. However it washed away the second I flicked on the light. I was met by blue petal shaped eyes. Freckles dusted this short man's pale skin. His brown hair was ruffled and some bit stuck out. I knew this man. I also knew that I couldn't kill him. I cocked and raised my gun. 

"Kira?" The deep voice called out. 

"Dad."

By Devika Hardikar