Lurranus Stories: The Boys of ‘68

They were completely different in appearance. At the front was fourteen-year-old Jack, a teen who seemed to always care about how he looked. His black hair had been carefully combed back, he wore neat stylish shoes and clothes that said he was trying to look his best. His brother was very different.

Behind him, taking up the rear, was six feet of tattooed flesh. Twenty-year-old Ryan had a kind and gentle personality but the pictures that covered his arm and most of his body did everything to betray that fact. With his tattoos, leather jacket, imposing physical structure and close cut hair, he looked like more of a biker gang member than a loving brother.

 The second thing people around them might notice, after acknowledging that these hugely different people were brothers, was that they were travelling alone. There were no parents, friends or anyone accompanying them on their journey, wherever they were heading. They both looked lost, with no idea where they were going and where they would be tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, if they had even survived to that point. Everything about the future had become unsure after Earths resources had become depleted. So the boys just tried to think about today and surviving to tomorrow.

On Jack’s suggestion they turned and approached an Italian restaurant, as both boys were hungry from a day of tiring walk. There was only one person in front of them waiting to be seated so it wasn't long before they were both resting in a seat and while it may have been wooden, it was heavenly comfort to Jack and Ryan worn out bodies. They looked at the menu and ordered a few minutes later, sitting in an awkward silence while they waited for the meal to come. Jack finally managed to break the silence.

"So, what are we doing tomorrow?" He questioned his brother.

The tattooed hunk opposite him sighed. "I don't know. Try and stay alive."

Something in his brothers tone said the conversation was over so they both returned to their thoughts and ceased to talk. About five minutes later the waiter arrived with their food and drinks. He set a pizza and soft drink in front of Jack and a similar meal in front of his brother. Jack thanked him but Ryan was silent, seemingly trapped in his thoughts.

As Jack finished his first piece, Ryan suddenly seemed to come to live, asking "Are you still in contact with your school friends?"

The stylish teenager seemed to become dark all of a sudden, fixing Ryan with an icy glare. He looked away, feeling bad, and stared at his pizza. Jack had a dozen friends and had just hit off with some girl, before everything changed so quickly. School, then the announcement, then they house was robbed, their parents disappeared, there had to go to live on the street with only a bag each. All these events had happened so fast, they had barely had time to think about their old life. The life they had lost so quickly.

Some time later both pizzas were finished, the glasses were empty and Jack wasn't in quite a bad mood. Ryan watched as his brother drew out his iPhone 64c and did something he couldn't see. Ryan thought he was maybe texting his friends to see if they were alive.

As the waiter came to give the bill, Jack engaged him in some friendly conversation, which Ryan's ears didn't process. When the conversation began to become more serious, though, Ryan tuned in to listen.

"So, what do you think about this?" Jack asked the waited.

A grim look settled across the mans face. "It's very bad. For now it is okay." He paused, seeing the look on Jacks face. "It mean it is not as bad as it will get. Next year will be worse. Little food, fuel, anything. But for now, we are alive."

He looked at both of then. "One day this will all be a distant memory. They may be no order but for now there is. I suggest you both try to enjoy these final moments of peace." He looked at his watch. "Well, I've talked long enough now. You'd best be off, both of you. It was good meeting you..."

"Jack." He told him. "He that's my brother Ryan. He's a lot nicer than he looks."

"And I am Robert. Safe travels, to both of you."

With that, the man walked away and Jack rose from his seat, followed by Ryan. They walked back out onto the almost deserted street and began walking to a place of shelter. Jack, feeling the cold, took out a jacket from his bag to warm up. After this was done they set of.

They were walking pass an unmoving tram when Ryan suddenly yanked his brother down.

"What the hell..." Jack began, but his brother silenced him, then put a finger to his ear. Taking the hint, he listened and heard a series of sounds. There was a the sound of a body hitting the floor, crying, people laughing and then a voice Jack was certain he would never forget.

"That's some nice belongings." The man began before he was interrupted by a cry. The sound was silenced by a kick and the same voice saying "We've got what we wanted, let's go. You all know the drill."

As Jack tried not to breathe, he heard the sickening sound of a knife piercing human flesh and felt stomach acid crawling up with throat. As he swallowed it back down, the man said "Let's roll out people."

The brothers heard their footsteps as they moved away but just as they were breathing normally again, the voice of a man pierced though the silence of the night.

"Haig, I think I saw something. A person."

"Where?" It was the same man as earlier.

"By the tram. The one there."

Jack found his heartbeat beating two times the speed of before. They were coming over to the tram.

"Dammit." Ryan whispered to himself, them to his brother he quickly said "We have to get out of hear now."

"Agreed." Jack barely got the word out.

They got up and ran. They only had a second to try and put some distance between the people behind them and them, as the killers spotted them right away. They fled down an empty street, thankful that they were both fairly able runners. Ryan guessed the fear and rush of adrenaline helped too. But, to Ryan's fear, their pursuers also were quite fast.

"Faster, Jack!" He yelled. "We've gotta go faster!"

Though gritted teeth, Jack said "I can't go any faster!

As they turned a corner, Jack felt a cold metal object wrap around his legs. He was sent flying though the air and he painfully landed in a heap on the stone ground.

Swearing, Ryan skidded to a stop and looked at his brother. A metal tentacle had wrapped around his brothers legs and, as Ryan found out as he pulled at it, sealed too.

He picked him up and started moving but had only made it five metres before a heavy boot in his back sent him crashing into the ground.

As Ryan heaved himself up he saw half a dozen dark figures in front of him. Turning around, he saw more figures blocking their escape route. He realised, fearfully, that they were trapped.

Using his tattoos and body to his advantage, he put on a tough guy act.

"What the hell'd you want? Have you got a problem?" He said, trying not to let nerves creep into his voice, hoping it was enough.

"No, we're just hungry." The man-Haig-said. "And we have ten more men then you so I'd advice you not to struggle."

The aggressive looking man with a similar body build to Ryan and dark hair, demanded the boys hand their bags over. When they refused, he ordered two of his equally tough looking men to beat them. Jack, now freed from his bonds, handed his bag over, followed by his brother. The man flashed them a smile, which creeped out Jack, them said "We got what we need, now let's go. You know the drill."

The sickening sound of the victims fate came back into Jacks ears. He felt like being sick. But worse, he realised, was he was about to face the same fate. He was going to be killed.

A man drew a knife out of his pocket, showing no sign of feeling any emotion. In a attempt to stop him, to make him think about what he was doing, to stop the man killing his brother, Ryan said "Do you enjoy killing people? Do you like watching them die?"

But the man didn't stop. He didn't show any sign he heard the words. He raised the knife over Jack, who thought about resisting but decided it wasn't worth it. So he closed his eyes.

And nothing happened.

Jack had never believed in God but for a the moment he fought he was in heaven. Then he opened his eyes. There were no Angels around him. Instead the man above him was now on the ground, out cold. His gang had turned around and as Jack realised what had hit him, it happened to the others. There was a syringe in his arm. It read VTR4. From somewhere he recognised it. He had seen it in a newspaper four years ago. It was a virus.

Then it was in all the other figures arms and they dropped down like stones. Jack watched as a young adult jumped out a window and walked towards them. He gave his hand to Jack and he gripped it, pulling himself up. He did the same with Ryan and then introduced himself.

"Good to see you’re alive." The man said. "Nice to meet you. I'm Craig Donnely."

 

Link to Part 2: (https://www.abctales.com/story/trans4mer/lurranus-stories-boy%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9868-part-2)