The Sixteenth

There was a certain feel about the day I woke up to, an ominous to be specific. Today had not been baleful or threatening, however it was just a sort of thought in the back of my mind. It was like the humidity before a storm or the tides rising, but all in all there could not have been a single day in my life so far with quite the same feeling. It was bad, but how could it be? There were no significant errors in my morning routine or even the slightest issue with my health, at least for now. I merely just left my house after all. 

From across the street I could see my friend, Mason, staring me down with a hint of concern in the wrinkles of his face. His eyes also looked as if he was about to cry. Instantly, I could feel a rush of guilt wave over me, though I did nothing wrong. I pressed the button for the crosswalk button faster. Strangely, there were no cars at the stoplight. When the light signaled my turn I folded my arms across my chest and walked briskly towards him. 

"What's wrong, Mason?" I questioned, noticing that his deep brown hair was slightly shorter as I did so. 

"I, uh, I don't know how to explain it but," he paused for a moment, as if he was having trouble finding the correct words, "something is off. I can just feel it. I feel extremely foolish but I have been waiting for you for an hour and not one car has passed by. All of the stores have yet to open and honestly it's freaking me out. Am I freaking out, Alli?" 

"No. Actually I've had the exact same feeling. Oh my gosh, and now that I think about it, I never actually made contact with my parents this morning. Not my little brother either, I don't even know if they're home. I-" I paused, just in the distance I could see something moving. It looked like my neighbor, but I was not sure. Mason caught my eyes and turned around, and let out a small sigh.

"Something is wrong," I whispered, and moved closer. Only as I did this, Mason grabbed my arm tightly and shook his head.

Suddenly I saw movement to the right of me, inside the glass store window. It was a man, crazed look in his eyes. Upon a more detailed glance I noticed a rather large bruise on the side of his face, blood sprayed on his face. I nudged Mason, but he was already looking. I could feel his grip tighten. 

"Gun" he whispered, eyes diverting towards the hand of the old man. 

He was right, he had a gun. And his hand was shaking with his finger on the trigger. Everything became slower, he raised the gun, towards the two of us. There was no time. I looked at Mason and in the moment I pushed him away from myself, with the force I stepped back too. He pulled the trigger and the bullet flew passed my face, and tore into the chest of my neighbor. 

My neighbor began convulsing on the ground before suddenly loosing all motion. I gasped and looked back to the store window. He was gone and the glass was shattered. I looked at Mason again, and that marked my first day of this apparent apocalypse.