Liam Marlowe, a high school senior, and his family

Disclaimer: All characters in this story are at least 18 years old. I recommend reading the exceptional original story branch by MonsterInNeed, which inspired this story and its setting.

Liam

I wiped the grit from my eyes as I slowly wandered into the kitchen. Mom and Penelope looked at me as I slumped down at the table, muttering “Good morning” weakly.

“Morning, honey… You really should get some more sleep. You know school starts again soon,” Mom said as she looked at me with worry in her blue eyes. Her long curly auburn hair was pulled back behind her ears. She passed me a cup of coffee as I filled a bowl with cereal. Penelope was sitting on her phone while fiddling with the bangs of her shaggy red bob.

“It’s fine, Mom… Blake insisted. We just had to play another game,” I explained as I put a spoonful of cereal in my mouth. She was clearly dressed for a business meeting over video, her unbuttoned white shirt accentuating her large chest.

“How’s Blake? Haven’t seen him here in a while,” Penelope said teasingly, looking up from her phone. She knew that I hated the thought of my twin sister being interested in my best friend. And she loved to remind me about it. I knew she wasn’t serious about it, of course, but the thought of them together made me cringe involuntarily.

“Shut up, Penny,” I responded as I put the coffee cup to my mouth. Penelope giggled at my reaction as she stood up.

“I’m going to the mall later. You wanna join?” she asked me, giving me that cute pleading look that always seemed to work on me.

“Eh, sure. Not like I have anything better to do.” After the constant losses last night, gaming with Blake didn’t seem that enticing.

“Nice. It’ll be good for you,” she said with a big smile on her face as she kissed me on the cheek before leaving. “You really need to leave the house more, Bro.” I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at her chest and toned butt as she left the kitchen.

I knew my family was hot and that it was weird to lust after them, but I couldn’t help it. I’ve long had fantasies about Penelope, Mom, and even my older sister, Ashley. Who wouldn’t with perfect bodies like that? But it didn’t matter. It’s not like I would ever tell anyone or act on it.

“Ashley called. She’s coming over to stay next week,” Mom told me as she turned around to clean up. “Also, I have a meeting later today at two, so don’t call me unless it’s very important, Liam.”

“Yes, mom…” I responded while ogling her ass.

It was afternoon when we left the bookstore at the mall. Penelope had bought one of those sports magazines that she loved to read while I perused the manga section. The mall was surprisingly packed with people who mingled through the shops.

My sister was wearing a white low-neck t-shirt and denim shorts that hugged tightly to her ass and showed off her toned legs.

“Why don’t you start jogging with me?” she asked as we sat down near a water fountain. “Then you wouldn’t be so tired all the time.”

I let out a short laugh. I wasn’t the athletic type like my sister. “You and Mom seem way too worried about me lately.”

“Come on, Bro,” she said, nudging me. “You won’t find a girlfriend if you stay in your room all day… Or a boyfriend for that matter.” She looked at me with a teasing smile as we shared a laugh.

I looked at the ground shyly. “I-I don’t know. There’s not really anyone I’m interested in right now.”

“Sure,” she said, clearly not believing me. “By the way, Abby’s throwing a party next—” She suddenly stopped mid-sentence. I turned to look at her as she stood frozen with a completely empty expression, staring straight ahead.

“Penny?” I said, but she gave no response. “Come on, Sis!” I said as I gently pushed her shoulders. She didn’t flinch or blink at all. I felt a pit in my stomach as panic began to grip me.

I quickly picked up my phone to dial Mom. I looked around as I held up my phone and quickly noticed the commotion around me.

Women everywhere in the mall stood completely still, just like Penelope. The same empty look in all their eyes. Completely unresponsive. I saw men just as confused and panicked as I was as they tried to wake the women around them.

“What the hell is going on?!” I thought out loud in panic as Mom didn't answer my call.