The Aging: A Novel

by Jack Hunt

  He could see his brother coming to terms with it. No one wanted to believe that others would go out of their way to spread this but it was that or die. “You are saying once it spreads, the aging stops in the person who transmitted it? How can that be?”

  Josh piped up. “The World Health Organization hasn’t released an official statement. Online, people are saying it’s because it’s a nanotech virus. They use nanobots in medicine. Tiny machines were designed to prevent, treat, and repair damaged cells and organs, and wipe out diseases as well as slow aging. Except we assume something went wrong.”

  “No shit!’ Tommy got up and collected another beer. “As things always do when humanity gets involved. God. We’re essentially guinea pigs. Human trials.”

  “Whether this was released intentionally or not, I don’t know about that,” Ryan said. “But what I do know is if we stick around, eventually they’ll stop delivering food and supplies and will take drastic measures. You know what that means. They won’t ask who’s infected and who isn’t.”

  “Are you talking about mass genocide?”

  “I’m talking about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few.”

  Chapter Ten

  10 days earlier

  June 26

  It was called the AGING Alert mobile app. Touted as a way for individuals and the community to stay safe. It was rolled out before the internet became intermittent. With contact tracing being almost impossible to police, the CDC and the World Health Organization turned to neighbors, family members, the entire country. They expected everyone to report those who had been exposed to the Aging Syndrome to the public health authorities. Every day the app would check a list of random codes from those who had informed the app that they’d been exposed to the pathogen. This in turn would notify others to avoid certain areas.

  It was good in theory.

  Hotlines were provided and with curfews in full effect and the National Guard units responding to volatile areas, it showed a determination unlike anything seen before.

  But the app only worked to the extent that people knew about it or wanted to use it.

  Fortunately, they had a plan for that too.

  The announcement about reporting others was pushed to all phones, radio, and TVs, using the Emergency Alert System.

  It was meant to be the first step toward containment.

  If people didn’t have cell phones they could use a tablet, computer, or one of the local alert stations being set up in communities. The problem was getting people to use it when no cure had been announced. It made people wary — concerned that big brother was looking to swoop in and handle matters as they pleased.

  Initially, they were reassured that their privacy was protected and that GPS was not being used to track a user’s location, or for any other reason but to track the outbreak.

  There is no way for us to know anything beyond what a person choses to share.

  They lied.

  A flurry of posts on social media soon made the rounds, warning people to not use it. Videos were posted of EIS officers dispatched by the CDC along with soldiers wearing BSL 4 suits arriving at homes and dragging people out. Where they were taking them was anyone’s guess. Death camps are what some suggested.

  Conveniently enough, those warning posts vanished as quickly as they appeared.

  With fewer people choosing to use the app, that’s when the internet went black for a short time.

  Many believed it was done by the country itself — a nationwide form of censorship to muzzle the outspoken and silence conspiracy theorists. All commenting on articles was turned off. It was reported on TV that it was a situation facing the entire country and it had nothing to do with censorship, but no one was buying it. Some were even saying keywords were flagged to avoid any opposing content appearing online. It was hard to know what to believe but it was getting more difficult to hear the truth.

  After surviving the run for food at the grocery store in town, Josh never told his mother what happened. She would have only worried. Instead, he remained tight-lipped. Besides, there was no doubt that she was watching the chaos unfold from inside her room.

  With every passing day, she was getting older.

  Tired. Weak.

  The nosebleeds were becoming more frequent. She said it was the body’s response. Unable to handle the speed at which it was aging. It was breaking down.

  “We need to talk about where you’ll go.”

  “We have. You sent me the address. I got it.”

  “No, I mean if no one is there. There’s a chance that it might not go to plan in which case I want you to head to Florida. To mama and pops.” That’s what he called them when he was younger. He hadn’t seen them in several years. At one time they traveled down a few times a year or his grandparents came this way, but as age caught up with them it was getting more difficult to endure the trip.

  “Why don’t we just go directly to them? It would be faster.”

  “Because you must go to this address first.”

  “Why?”

  “I can’t tell you right now. You need to trust me.” A pause followed. “Josh, I know I’ve made mistakes as a mother but I’ve always tried to do my best by you two.”

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re not going to be around.”

  There was silence. “Listen, there will come a time when you’ll need to leave me.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  More silence.

  “You need to do something for me, son. You won’t want to. You will question it. You may even hate me for it but I need you to do it. I don’t expect you to understand but one day you will.”

  “If you are suggesting what I think you are. Nope. There has to be another way.”

  “I’m not spreading this to survive, Josh.”

  “Why not?! Everyone else is,” he yelled back.

  There was silence.

  “I don’t care what everyone else does.”

  “What about us? Huh? What about Lily?”

  “I’m thinking about both of you.”

  “Are you?” he said loudly through the door. “Because if you were, you would be looking at every avenue to survive, not die. It’s not your time!”

  He heard her chuckle. “Don’t you think that’s what everyone says when their number comes up?”

  “No. Some people have already lived a long life and are ready.”

  “Yeah? What about those with cancer? Those murdered? Those who end up in an accident? Don’t you think that they wish they could live longer, Josh? Listen, when it’s my time—”

  “Don’t you say that. Don’t you dare say that! This is not how you were meant to go out.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just do.”

  “You’re only sixteen, honey.”

  He paced the hallway and banged a hand against the door. “Why do you always do that? Act as if I don’t know anything.”

  “That’s not what I meant, Josh, and you know it. You have your whole life ahead of you. When I was sixteen, there were things that I thought I knew but then later realized we’re false.”

  “You’re not making any sense.”

  She sighed. Silence followed.

  A few minutes later, she said, “Listen to me. Go look in the backyard.”

  He clenched his eyes shut and groaned. “Why?”

  “Just do it. I want to show you something.”

  He grumbled and relented. He made his way down the hallway and she called him on the phone so she didn’t have to shout. “Do you remember mowing the lawn last summer and telling me about how some of the grass was overly thick and lush in areas and was causing the mower to stop, and in other parts of the yard it was thinner, patchy, and even non-existent?”

  “And?”

  “That’s like life, Josh. Some people get to live a lush, long life, others half of that, and some barely make it out of the ground. Just l
ike grass. There’s no rhyme or reason. You can say it’s unfair but it is what it is. We’re born, we live and we die. That’s it. And the cycle repeats.”

  “What has any of that got to do with you or us?”

  “Josh, we don’t decide how many years we get with someone but we can decide how we spend that short time with them. You might not understand this now, hon, but you will later.”

  Josh groaned. He was about to say something when Lily called out. “I’m hungry. Anything to eat?”

  “Lily, you have two feet. I’m not your servant. Get up and get it yourself.”

  “Look after her, Josh. She’s going to need you.”

  “I need you! We need you.”

  He hung up on his mother, clenching the phone tight. He understood that she didn’t want to turn herself in, as the health officials would return and collect them too, but if they didn’t have the pathogen, they couldn’t be held. Could they? He was beginning to realize why people were going out of their way to transmit the pathogen to others even if they could get reinfected weeks later. It meant more years, more time and when all was said and done, that was all humanity really had in this life. Time. No amount of riches could give you additional years. No station in life afforded you more of the most valuable commodity.

  Lily walked out of the kitchen with bread in her hand. “Josh!”

  His mind was lost in the future. What he would do and how he would raise Lily.

  “What is it?”

  “There’s a vehicle coming up the driveway.”

  His stomach tensed. “Go to where I told you to hide.”

  “Why? Who is it?’

  “Just go!”

  She scurried away.

  His mother had told Josh that someone from the hospital might show up. Contact tracing and all. When the incident occurred in town, most weren’t aware of what was causing it, how it transferred or how quickly the pathogen was spreading across the country. That’s why she figured no one had shown up, that or disorganization. The event was spiraling out of control faster than they could deal with it.

  Josh ran down the hallway to the gun cabinet and took out a hunting rifle. His mother had learned how to shoot from her father when she was young. While she didn’t have the time to do it, she still kept guns in the house because of living alone. As he was loading the bolt-action rifle, he heard the crunch of gravel under tires outside. As he passed his mother’s bedroom she said, “Josh, don’t do anything hasty.”

  “I’ll do whatever is necessary.”

  “Josh!”

  A knock at the front door followed.

  All entry points were locked and protected by additional furniture.

  He checked in on his sister to make sure she was where he’d told her to go before he made his way back to the front door. There was no way to see him on the other side. He expected anyone who approached the home to have a good reason as they were out of the way. They weren’t part of a suburb, a small neighborhood, or sandwiched between neighbors who were within earshot. He slowed his pace as more heavy knocks ensued. “Who is it?” he called out.

  “Josh. It’s Mrs. Banks. Danny’s mother. Your neighbor?”

  He remembered her. Danny was another kid that went to his high school. He’d often see him at the bus stop in the mornings. His parents were overly protective. The kind of folks that would have escorted him to his first date if they had their way.

  “What do you want?”

  “I saw you down at the grocery store the other day. Everything okay with you?”

  “Fine.”

  “And your mother?”

  “She’s good.”

  “It’s just I thought that she would have uh… been the one… to collect the groceries.” He could hear movement outside. Gravel. It sounded like she wasn’t alone. Multiple footsteps moved around the house. He saw shadows behind the curtains. He’d closed all of them to prevent anyone from looking in.

  “She’s working. A lot of overtime right now.”

  “Huh. That’s odd. Isn’t that her SUV?”

  “A work colleague picked her up. She’ll be home later.”

  He heard movement behind him and turned to see Lily standing there. Josh glared at her. He mouthed the words, go back.

  “And your sister? Lily okay?”

  This woman was sure persistent or… acting as a distraction. He heard the doorknob rattle. “Well, I brought your mother an apple crumble. I heard about the incident in town. Poor thing. She must still be in shock.”

  Shit. She knew about it. Who else did? Word traveled fast.

  “Mrs. Banks. I appreciate it. Just leave it outside.”

  “I’d prefer not. The bugs and all. Couldn’t you just open the door, Josh?”

  “I’m not dressed. I just got out of the shower. Sorry.” It was quick thinking but that still didn’t deter her.

  “Then maybe Lily could take this.”

  “She’s asleep.”

  “In the middle of the afternoon?” Her voice was deadpan. She wasn’t buying it for one minute. The door rattled hard. Mrs. Banks banged on the door. His phone buzzed. It was from his mother. Her text told him not to open the door.

  “Open up, Josh. This is very rude.”

  He said nothing and backed up, making his way into the kitchen, where he considered taking a large knife from the holder on the counter then opted not to. If whoever was with her was infected, an open wound, well, that wouldn’t be good. Instead, he set his rifle down and collected his metal baseball bat from the closet. The banging persisted as did her demanding he open the door. She was even threatening to tell his mother. He found that humorous. Life with her must have been hell. He pitied her son. That poor bastard.

  “If you don’t leave, I’ll call the cops.”

  A pane of glass shattered and he darted through the kitchen to the side door where a hand was reaching in to unlock the door. Josh brought up the bat and in one fast downswing, he broke the guy’s hand. One strike, that was all it took. The man fell backward, howling like a banshee.

  The front door sounded like it was being kicked in. He pulled back the drapes from the side door and saw the man groaning in agony. It was her husband. A council member in town. What an asshole. He was nursing a swollen, battered hand. He scurried away while at the front door the banging increased. Someone lobbed a brick at the window of the living room, smashing it. That was it. He snatched up the rifle and didn’t think twice. He aimed at the front door and fired a round, then darted into the living room and squeezed off two more rounds. He didn’t know if he hit anyone as the curtains were blocking his view, but he certainly made his point clear. He fully expected them to turn tail and flee but they were driven by desperation.

  It went quiet for a minute or two, and then they started unloading slugs at the door. It was a pump-action shotgun.

  “Open the door, Josh. We don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Oh, no, you just want to give me a VIRUS!” He returned fire, squeezing off two more rounds through the door, and then ducked back behind the wall. That’s when he heard more glass break. This time it was coming from the sunroom at the back of the house.

  He knew if they got in, that would be it.

  Moving fast, he peered around the doorway and saw their oldest son Brad, who now looked even older. Oh, yeah, that’s why. This was about him. Josh didn’t want to kill him. He wasn’t a murderer, at least not yet. Instead, he fired off one round shattering the glass. The bullet struck Brad in the leg. He hit the ground and cried out in agony, clutching his thigh. His parents came around and wanted to help but touching his body, getting close was a death sentence.

  So much for parental sacrifice.

  All that talk at parent meetings, city hall, helping the youth of our generation.

  What a crock of crap.

  They valued their own life over his.

  Josh fired another round, this time they got the message.

  Their son hobbled away, gripping a bloody leg, w
hile the husband nursed a broken hand. That would teach them to think twice about coming around here again. He waited and watched them get back into the vehicle and reverse out at high speed. That was the moment he knew his mother was right about leaving. He couldn’t stay here. It wasn’t safe anymore. He might have been able to hold them off this time but others would eventually show up and when they did, he might not be as fortunate.

  Chapter Eleven

  July 6

  “There’s strength in numbers,” Tommy said, trying to convince Ryan that they should let the few remaining people at the motel tag along. Josh knew where his uncle was going with this but he agreed with his father. It held too many problems. Besides, trusting strangers went against everything his mother had said before they left. Don’t trust anyone. He’d already broken that rule with Ryan and now Tommy but he figured they were family and she’d sent him here.

  “If we were staying, maybe, but traveling together? C’mon Tommy, not only would that attract a lot of attention, I didn’t come here to turn this journey into a damn convoy. Besides, we don’t know these people. When did you see them last?”

  He shrugged. “A few days ago.”

  “Yeah, and they probably have family, loved ones, people who are expecting them to return. Now we open this thing up to them and they might want to take a detour and collect other family members. No. We don’t have time for that. We have until the tenth of this month to reach St. George Island. That’s five days from now, bud.” He took a deep breath. “And there is no telling what the roads are like out there, or how much room they have on those boats.”

  “Then why go? What do you even know about this island, brother? Who owns it?” Tommy shot back.

  “I don’t know. Look, if Elizabeth felt it was safe enough for our kids, I trust her.”

  Tommy laughed. “You trust her now,” he muttered. “At the very least the people here deserve to know.”

  “So leave them a note,” Ryan added.

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Of course you can.”

  Tommy groaned. “I still think having them with us is better than not.”