r/shortscarystories
16 days ago
Trash_Tia
The government just announced I'm sick.
I woke up to Mom crying.
She pulled me out of bed and led me downstairs, where breakfast was already on the table: orange juice and cereal.
The TV wasn’t on, and my phone was gone.
“Where’s my phone?” I asked, stirring my cereal.
Mom had only just agreed to buy me one. Fourteen felt way too old to be getting your first phone.
She stood with arms folded, shaking, her gaze locked onto oblivion, cheeks pale.
“Sweetie, you’re not going to have your phone today,” she whispered. “You’re not going to school, either.”
She saw me reaching for the TV remote and lunged forward, snatching it.
“No TV. Read a book, Star.”
She sent me upstairs to shower.
I grabbed my emergency phone from under my pillow, the one without parental controls, and swiped through my notifications.
A text from Mari read: Which level are you? I'm 2. Level 3 and below are in the green zone. They don't have this ‘Uncontrolled phenomenon’ thing. But Mom’s freaking out. Kaz from down the road is a level 5.
What was she talking about? I texted back, “Like on a test?” before another notification caught my eye:
Epidemic declared across the US: Government announces: “All children infected…”
Mom snatched the phone from my hands.
She was angry, but didn’t shout. Instead, pulling me into a hug.
“Go into your room and pack the basics,” she whispered. “No stuffed animals. Just clothes. Then go to the basement and get into the car.”
She handed me her keys.
“Do you remember your driving lesson with your father?”
I took the keys, my stomach flipping. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“If I don’t follow you, drive to Grandma’s,” she said. “You know the route.”
Before I could respond, a loud knock hit the door. Mom pushed me behind her.
“Basement. Now,” she hissed. “Get in the back seat and do not make a sound.”
I ran down to the basement. But three men in white were already waiting. They grabbed me. One crouched in front, clipboard in hand.
“Star Cameron,” he said, flipping through it. “Ah, yes. Level five. Autism Spectrum. ASD, which has just been declared a national epidemic.” He pulled out a spray can, spraying an O on my chest.
I could hear my mother screaming.
“Level 5 to 10s, also known as X’s and O’s, are authorized to come with us,” he said, cuffing my hands behind my back.
His breath tickled the back of my neck, almost like a laugh, when I tried to get away.
“Don’t worry, Star. You’re just sick, like all the other children.
He forced me outside, onto a waiting bus.
I was forced beside a boy with wide, unblinking eyes. There was a red X spray painted on his blue tee.
The man addressed us all with a too- wide smile.
“This epidemic can be eradicated with your cooperation! Don’t worry, kids! We’re going to fix all.”
u/Trash_Tia
Trash_Tia
OP
•
As someone with autism, I've had it my whole life.