Buzz.....buzz..... ,the alarm clock of the phone went off,it was exactly 6:40pm,a tired hand aimlessly reached out and reluctantly put it off,it belonged a handsome 17-year-old boy, his hair slightly tousled from sleep, eyes still heavy with drowsiness, yet his fresh face and natural charm give him a quiet, effortless appeal.He gave a heavy sigh and sat up facing outside of the window,the new morning was fresh, nostalgic and full of hope...not for him though,to him "Hope" was a futilous encouragement to keep on going,even when you knew nothing lies a head.He groaned at his own lack of enthusiasm and got off bed, grabbed his towel and half dragged himself to the bathroom.
"Collins !" rang a voice down the hallway.
"Oh my God Collins, you're gonna be late for school again!" called Grace, his mom,a caring gentle lady with expressive eyes that seem to notice every small need of her only son her face carrying a natural warmth, framed by neatly kept hair that softened her appearance, she gave off an aura of safety and love, the kind that makes her presence feel like home.
"On my way,mom"
He got out of the bathroom frantically dried himself grabbed a couple of text books from his shelf ,stacked then in his back pack and ran down the hallway.
"Morning mom" he reached out for the ready breakfast on the table.
"Morning too and hurry up with the breakfast, you're late already for God's sake " his mom was helping her self already when he sat.
" ... it's been noted that the sickness mostly attacks teenagers between the ages of 13 to 19 years,and the common signs and symptoms are dizziness, vomiting, migraine headaches and bloodshot eyes,Incase you know anyone with any of the above mentioned signs and symptoms please contact the local authorities as soon as possible in order to curb the spread of this deadly virus known as the Miretha plague....." The news anchor on the TV went on.
The new virus strain had become the major topic all around.It had been confirmed that it only attacks teenagers specifically those between the ages of 13 and 19 years of age,what was more scary all the cases reported to the local authorities were never had from again,they just vanished.
Collins finished his breakfast, grabbed his back pack and headed out, he played Chemtrails as jogged all the way to school,it helped him feel alive occupied and happy.
Hawkins college was the only near school compared to other states this made it more congested than normal since most parents figured that it would be more appropriate to keep their children at arms reach.
A massive building came to site,it windows were shattered,most of it's surface was covered in graffiti of all kinds of colour,depicting various topics ranging from the coming of the lord to all sorts of erotic scenes one couldn't even try to conjure up in mind, remains of ciger sticks were all around the compound and you could smell the turbid stench of drugs wafting in the whole college space,it was hardly a place one would call school.
He stood at the front of the gate staring, suddenly he subconsciously turned to the left lightening fast.....
"Woosh...." A can of red paint came crashing just where he'd been a second ago. He turned to look back and there stood the Micheal ,the chief of the students disciplinary committee,face read because he'd missed his sure shot.
"You're late for school, moron"
He was always gloomy,no one had ever seen even a hint of a smile on his puffy face,arms behind his back his tall and huge body obstructed him as he questioned , compared to him,he was like a miniature mountain .
"Am not late , it's just 2 minutes to time for classes"
"Well ,those two minutes should be countable when you're in class,not out"
His face got redder,from being opposed, Collins knew he hated it,but he wasn't about to step down.
"Well go on then to class,he said as he stood taller arms wide Infront of me"
As he was reaching out for his tie,a hand stopped him,it was his friend Joe, Collins only friend in Hawkins college,though not remarkably strong,his father was sheriff,so no one wanted to get on his bad side.
"What have we got here...." He eased the tense mood with a smile.
He barely noticed his grip,he was still fuming.
"How are you Micheal?"
He inquired.
He snorted,gave him one dirty look to mean this isn't over and marched off to his next victim.
"Thanks" Collins said relieving himself of the stress which had built within him...
"Of course" Joe brushed off as they headed towards the classes.
"You good though?"
"Am fine , you?"
"Same as usual" , they chatted ideally as they headed in.
Collins sat at the third row near the window,the lessons went agonizingly slowly though he wasn't attentive for most of it,he occasionally sneaked a peek or two at his comic book, Perseus's Jackson and the lightening thief at least the protagonist's life adventurous and wasn't as boring as the his.
Suddenly the ground started shaking,it started as a slow barely noticable vibration, till it shifted to a full rhythmous earthquake that no one could keep calm any more,the ceiling walls started giving way due, clamour set in as every student scrumbled out of the class.