She stepped on to the cobblestone, thinking about what Margaret had said. "Join Us" That's the part Genevieve remembered vividly. The walk home felt solemnm, and she was thinking about what she meant.
Join us? Join the cult, maybe? Either way, she would never encourage people like them. People who kidnap the innocent. People who hack TV broadcasts. The whole town was 100% absolutely fucked after the spore storm. From what she heard from Margaret, the people who get infected are hard to take down, and get a bit... violent. Genevieve was just about to zone out, when she heard a rustle. It sounded like a bush or something. Her head practically snapped around, trying to see where the hell that sound came from. Then, a figure emerged from the bush in front of her. Stepping back, she clenched her fists, ready to fight this infected person. But, to her surprise, it didn't look like an infected. It was a boy. A really irritated looking boy. He was holding a gun. She stepped back even further, raising her hands in surrender.
"Hey! Please, I'm not infected! Please don't shoot..."
She heard a sigh from the boy before he looked up, taking off his cap.
"You're not... infected... are you?"
"I swear!"
His eyebrows furrowed as he spoke, "Hey, i guess."
"Hi...?"
They stood there silently for 30 seconds, before it got too awkward and felt like 30 hours instead.
Genevieve cleared her throat, 'So... whatcha doing? Still wearing a mask, huh?"
He looked her dead in the eye, 'Uh-huh. And? It's a spore storm, no?'
Genevieve let out a small breath of laughter, 'It ended like... 10 hours ago.'
She watched as his ears turned red and he slowly lowered his mask.
Then, they stood there for another 30 seconds of awkward silence before the boy spoke up.
"So, I'm Ivan. You?"
'Nice name. Genevieve.'
Ivan nodded slightly, 'Cool, i guess.'
Then they stood in awkward silence, again.
"Okay, let's stop doing... that. What were you doing, hiding in a bush?" Genevieve said assertively.
Ivan blinked at her before mumbling, "I was looking for the infected..."
Infected? She thought. That's what she apparently was, after that spore storm. She didn't know if Margaret was lying. "Looking for the infected? Why? It's dangerous, you know."
"Well, someone has to get rid of them."
"Actually, yeah. You're right, now that i think about it." She paused for a moment before adding, "I'll join."
They walked the streets, artillery in hand. The street had a thick scent of blood, despite how big the area was.
Her hands trembled holding the gun. She'd never held a gun before, let alone a real one. She didn't even know how to use it. Out of nowhere, there was a deafening ringing sound in her ear. She stopped walking and put her head in her hands, eyes clamped shut.
Ivan let out a frustrated groan before turning around. "What?"
Genevieve didn't answer.
"Are you serious?" He rolled his eyes, "Jeez..." There were distant moans in the distance. "C'mon, hurry. It's not safe here."
Footsteps got closer, but before Genevieve could even look up, Ivan spun around and fired. A tumultuous, roaring noise. Genevieve grunted and plugged her ears. A soft thud hit the ground and she finally opened her eyes, the ringing fading away. There was this bony, leather-black figure sprawled across the ground, blood spurting from the back of it's neck.
"Sorry about the sudden pause..." she said, eyes fixed on the unknown creature on the ground.
"It's...whatever. Just hurry."