Chapter 6 :THE UNINVITED GUEST

The figure came into view in the headlights, standing on the porch.

It was Jason.

He held his hands up and his smug face. Two dark-clad men with baseball bats stood behind him. The very men of the cabin. Men I humiliated; the same men.

“Sarah,” Jason said in a polished sweet voice. "Long time no see."

I shut the car engine and took my crossbow from the passenger seat. Adrian pulled out his gun.

I said softly, "Stay behind me.

He scoffled, "I'll not do it on your account, like hell.

We got out of the jeep with weapons held up. Jason's smile never faltered.

Plz, put the toys down, sweetheart," he said. I don't come here to fight, I don't come here to fight.

“You followed me,” I said icily. Well, that's not talking, is it?

Jason shrugged. I hired a private investigator, it cost me a lot of money, but you're worth it, you took something that belongs to me.

I said, 'I took what was mine. “Half of that money was my own; the divorce was legal, you signed the papers.”

Jason snapped, his composure cracking: "I signed them because I thought you were having a breakdown. I did not realize that you were going to run off with all of our money. “Do you have any idea how humiliated I was?”

"Humiliating?" I laughed, that bitter not-very-happy laughter. You abandoned me to burn to death, Jason, you chose your mistress over your wife, you said that I was useless! Now you're mad I took some money?

Jason's face went red with anger. That money was for my future; for my child.

"Your child?" So I took a step towards him and put my crossbow to his chest. You mean the little one who was conceived when you were married to me? With the woman you abandoned me, to what child did you intend to bring up?

He flinched. I had never seen anything but pride in his eyes before. Fear.

He was shaking his head, "You don't know what you're talking about.

“What do you know, I can tell you everything” I said. “So I know what's to come.”

Instead of anger, Jason looked at me and was confused. What do you mean?

The world is ending, Jason. All that you know will fall apart in less than 48 hours. The cities will fall, the dead will rise. You, you I stopped and listened, You'll not be a bit prepared.

He laughed nervously. “You're crazy!

"Have I?" I indicated to where the sun was setting. “Look at what's happening in the north, three cities have had outbreaks and it's a bad flu, and they are lying.”

The men of Jason looked somewhat guilefully at each other. One of them took out his cellphone and began to scroll. His face went pale.

'Boss,' he whispered. “She's correct, it's everywhere in the news.”

Taking the phone, Jason looked at it. His hands began to tremble.

“It must be a joke,” he whispered. "It has to be."

Adrian came forward, "It's not a hoax." “My work took place at the lab where they engineered the virus, I have seen the data, and the Apocalypse is happening and it's happening quicker than we all realize.”

A mask of disbelief and terror was his face, as Jason looked between us. What is it that you need from me?

"Nothing," I said. I don't need anything from you, you're already dead to me, but I want to give you one bit of advice for free.

Close, I whispered, close.

Go home, fill up on food and water, put up your windows and pray to God that you make it through the first week.

Jason looked at me like a fish and his mouth moved. It was the first time in his life that he had nothing to say.

I said, "Now get off my land, now. Before I change my mind and put a bolt through your knee.

He didn't argue. He didn't threaten. It was at that moment that he simply turned around and headed for his car, his men right behind him. The engine started up and the taillights rolled down the driveway.

Adrian blew a whistle that was low. "That was impressive."

I told him, "It was very important. He had to find out what was really going on, and anything was possible maybe he would believe it, maybe not.

We returned and locked the door. I lit a fire in the fire box and Adrian scanned the perimeter. The fire crackled in the house, and the rest of the farmhouse was silent.

I couldn't help but feel something was amiss, though.

I checked my phone. The news reports were now rolling in quicker. More outbreaks. More cities. The government was telling people to remain calm, but there was panic.

Then I saw it.

A real-time feed from a hundred miles south of us. The reporter stood in the middle of the street, her voice trembling with fear.

Reports of violent attacks throughout the city, people attacked in the streets, authorities say everyone to stay indoors and lock their doors...

The camera zoomed out to the left. A man's blood streaked over him, his clothes ripped apart, was running along the street. He was not running for anything.

He was heading towards the camera.

His eyes were "blank as a sheet of white paper.

The feed cut out.

I looked at Adrian. His face was grim.

“It's been going for a while,” he said.

Slowly, I nodded, feeling my heart in my chest pounding. The End had come. Not in two days. Not after 48 hours.

Now.

I took out my crossbow and went to the window. In the distance, I could see the light of the city glowing faintly. Then, little by little they started to leave.

The electric grid went down. The world was crashing down.

And I was ready.