So apparently when I uploaded this chapter it ended up being a bunch of code. Ironically this chapter is called 'Virus' so the glitch was perfect, ha! Anyways, I'm not too fond of this chapter but I'm trying to get out of this block I've been having. Let me know what you think...

VIRUS

Time and Location: Grade 12; Sheldon's new home and school in Newfoundland

"My name is Sheldon Schlepper - 'Locust' if you've been trying to find a way to beat this - and this is a warning. Even though everyone already knows what's happening right now.

After I moved from London to Newfoundland, I basically had to start over. I had to make friends all over again. And man, it was hard. It made me realize that no one at Thompson High really liked me, they just… put up with me. It also made me wonder if Emily, my little squirrel, love of my life and now, ex girlfriend, really cared for me.

But this isn't about that. I couldn't care less anymore because something much bigger is happening right now. Something that I caused. And if you're watching this, I may not be here anymore. Hell… no one may not be here. But I'm working on something that may work, that might get rid of this - this - virus. I'm really glad I went to computer camp.

This happened a few months ago. I was walking home from school that day and I found what looked like a busted hard drive. I figured I could use it for parts and what not. So I stuffed it in my bag and brought it home with me. I didn't actually get to it until the next day. I remember taking it out of my bag and setting it on my desk. I figured I'd get my old laptop to see if it worked because I didn't want any crap on my new one. When I plugged it in, I heard it whirl up and at the bottom of the screen was a notification bubble.

It worked, it actually worked. Drive C. I clicked on it and a window opened. There was nothing there. I mean there was but, all the folders were empty.

Suddenly, the screen went static like an old TV and a scream had come from the broken speakers of my old laptop before I slammed it shut. My heart was pounding. I wasn't too sure what just happened but I was scared. I still am. I'm not too sure what happened during the night but the next morning… It was weird.

I was in the library during lunch as I always was because, well… I didn't really have any friends. I mean the other kids in the science club weren't really friends. I actually considered them to be more of colleagues. I was working on my english assignment when my email opened all on it's own. I figured it could be a sensory glitch since my laptop was a touch screen and my screen could have been dirty. But then I realized that the touch screen was off."

He smiled. But it wasn't the friendly smile. It was like a sadistic smile. He even laughed.

"A blank email opened up and a file began to upload. I tried to cancel the upload but it was like someone else had taken over my computer. Hell, I even tried to turn it off but to no avail. I watched helplessly as everyone in my contacts were selected and then… 'send'."

He sat there in thought. Like he was still confused about what had happened.

"I had no idea what my computer had sent at the time but I was going to find out. At the time I thought that it didn't matter. I decided to go home for the rest of the day. I booted up my old laptop when I got home and logged into my email. I went to the 'sent' folder and… nothing was there. I know something was sent because my inbox was full of questioning emails and I even got text messages from people asking me what the email was about. Not being able to see what was sent, I couldn't tell them.

I couldn't answer any questions.

And over the next few weeks, I just ignored it all. I ignored all the people staring at me, I let people beat my ass; I basically let everyone do whatever they wanted to me. There was nothing I could really do. No one wanted to show me what was sent either. But one day, I received a text message from a blocked number. I opened it and it was a picture of a girl in my math class - or at least it kinda looked like her.

In the photo, it was daylight and she was wearing a purple shirt. But not the day the picture was sent. Her face was pale and she had dark rings under her eyes like she hadn't slept in weeks. And it looked like some kind of black sludge was dripping from her mouth. I closed the message and the next day at school, that same girl was walking across the lawn… in a purple shirt. I kept watching her and she suddenly stopped. I waited."

The look of fear flashed in his eyes as he looked at the camera. He looked worried, scared, sad, and angry. Helpless even.

"The girl… she started gagging. Everyone around her began to notice and tried to help. I just stood back and watched. Then this… this disgusting black stuff dripped from her mouth and she fell to the ground. She convulsed and someone called emergency. While everyone watched this girl pretty much die in the middle of the lawn at school, they were also looking at me too. Like it was my fault."

He sat there for a full minute before speaking again.

"I left school again. I had to figure out what the hell was going on.

When I got home, I noticed that my dad's laptop was open and so was his email. I saw the email that my computer had sent to him and I quickly sent it back to myself. I raced to my room and checked my email. I clicked on it and opened the attachment. I watched as a video opened and there was actually nothing but static. I continued to watch and then I saw myself on the screen.

The post-it note on my webcam was taped down so I have no idea how - anyways… suddenly behind me, was a shadow. At least that's what it was in the video. I turned to look and no one was there. I turned back to the screen and the shadow was closer to me. And honestly, yeah, I freaked out so much that I hit the killswitch on my laptop for the webcam and it turned off. But the image was still there.

I'm not really sure how to describe it either. I know it was some sort of shadow figure reaching for me. But the image of myself… it was weird. The image of myself was just sitting there. No expression at all. As I'm recording this, I can feel it getting closer."

He looked around and saw nothing. He sighed and shook his head.

"There were a few more deaths that I know of. And that's only because I witnessed it. I have an entire text thread with pictures of people I don't even know. I have pictures of people from back home in London too. Obviously I couldn't do anything about it though. I don't have a lot of pictures so it makes me wonder… I don't know who's still alive and if they are, where are they hiding? They're not gonna take me in."

He shook his head, sadly. He reached off camera for something and brought it back into frame. It was a gun. He spun it on his finger a few times and chuckled.

"I know this would make me a coward, but I keep seeing things. Ever since that first shadow thing, I've been seeing nothing but shadow things. I can't take it anymore. I've been in hiding in my own house. I've covered all the windows and doors with duct tape and sheets to keep them out but I'm not sure it's working. I think it's been two months since I've seen or heard from my parents which is why I wonder if they're alive since I didn't receive a picture of them."

As he said this, he loaded bullets into the chamber.

"I heard that if you go somewhere where there's no service, like in the middle of nowhere, you'll be fine. I don't really have the resources to go anywhere. I've also heard that if you hide where there is no light, you'll be fine too. And even though my neighborhood is completely dark at night, you can see shadows in the day. I know that if I stay here, I'll die, and if I leave, I'll die."

He smiled sadly. He grabbed something small and held it in front of the screen.

"In this USB drive, there's a code. If anyone one comes to raid my house, it'll be here. Make sure as soon as you're done watching this, put it in the hard drive attached to this computer and when prompted to, extract the file. If all goes well, you should get an email like before and if you open it, it'll release an antivirus and it should be gone. If you don't have service an email alert will pop up on the computer. Worst case scenario, you'll need to get somewhere where there is internet and I'm not too sure if you'll be able to find a place."

He shook his head, sadly, knowing all too well that the chances of this virus being removed would be very slim, depending on how long it'll take for someone to find him or the recording.

"I would do it myself but I don't deserve to be alive when the virus is removed. This is my fault, everyone is dead because of me."

He moved closer to the camera and froze. His eyes were looking off to the left of the screen. A shadowy figure slipped under his closed bedroom door. He turned to look behind him and then back at the screen. Suddenly, his eyes began to drip like he was crying. But tears weren't coming out, it was a thick black liquid. He wiped some of it away and looked at it on his fingers. Suddenly, with what looked like he was completely taken over by something else, he picked up the gun and put it in his mouth.

Before the trigger was pulled, the screen was full of static and then the recording ended.

Someone picked up the USB, looked back at the body covered with a sheet on the floor and then back at the USB in hand. Before they could even pop the USB in the hard drive, someone else had stopped at the open door.

"The sun is almost up," she said. "We're running out of time,"

They sighed and pushed the USB in the slot. The hard drive lit up and the laptop and they clicked on 'extract'. A few minutes later, an email came through on the computer. They opened it and left it alone.

"Did it work?" She asked.

"There's only one way to find out," he said.

"How long do you think he's been dead?" She asked.

"Not sure," he said. "I wish we got here sooner,"

"Derek, we tried," she said. "Emily called, she found a place where we can stay for a little while,"

He nodded.

"We tell her that no one was here,"

"Derek, we have to tell her what happened to Sheldon,"

"Casey, there's no reason to tell her," he said, "they broke up and she moved on,"

"Derek-"

"He wasn't here," he snapped. "The last thing I need is for Emily to have a breakdown right now,"

She didn't argue. The last time they argued they were set back on their journey for three days. He closed up Sheldon's laptop and put everything in a bag. Derek wasn't sure if he was supposed to take it but if the virus was originally set free from it, he wasn't about to leave it for someone else to let loose.

"I'll meet you out front," he said.

Casey nodded and left. He looked around Sheldon's room once more and spotted the group picture from Grade 11 prom.

"We didn't just put up with you," he said, "you were our friend, and we forgive you,"

He walked out and down the stairs. Casey was waiting outside, looking around, scared. He walked out and grabbed her hand. They walked in silence for about an hour before Emily pulled up. She went around and tried to syphon gas the night before.

"Did you figure anything out?" She asked him. "Did you find Locust?"

"No," Derek answered. "But I think everything is gonna be okay,"

He pulled the antenna out and put it back on the car.

"What the hell are you doing?" Emily asked. "You know we can't have a signal,"

"Trust me," he said.

Emily nervously started the car and there was nothing but static and everyone tensed up. After a few seconds, a radio station came in and they all relaxed.

"Where to?" He asked.

"Airport, a bunch of people turned it into a bunker," Emily said. "Who knows, maybe there's a pilot who can fly us pack home,"

Emily put the car in drive and drove off into the daylight.

Derek didn't really know what happened. And according to the video he had seen, Sheldon didn't know what happened either. He prayed that the original email was destroyed by the antivirus he had created. And by the sound of a clear radio station coming through, it seemed like it worked.

He just hoped that Sheldon knew that what he had created, saved what was left of humanity. And even though the survivors had to start over, Sheldon was the hero.