What Remains (Book 3): Epidemic

by Barrett, Tyler

  Red, emotionless eyes stared past Evans, to the ceiling above. Meika didn’t breathe, she didn’t move, only staring upwards.

  Evans knew what this meant. Her only friend and the only person she had known since being bitten, was gone.

  How? How could this have happened? We haven’t left in over two days, there’s no way she was bitten.

  Think. What could have caused her to become infected?

  It hit Evans like an entire house had been dropped on her. Evans had taken a drink from the water bottle before giving it back to Meika. She then took a drink of the water, then moments later became unconscious. That was the only thing that made any sense; after sharing the water with Evans, she became infected.

  But…that means…I’m not immune. I'm a carrier.

  NO!

  I’m immune! This couldn’t have been me; she must have been infected some other way. There’s some explanation for all this. THIS WASN’T ME! It wasn’t MY fault!

  Evans stood up, backing away from Meika. Her skin had already begun to lose its color, and her eyes started to dart around the room, trying to figure out where she was. Evans kept backing away, tears freely flowing, knowing that this wasn’t her friend anymore.

  “Meika?” Evans said softly.

  She turned her head toward Evans, hearing the call. Slowly, with robotic movements, she sat up, her eyes static. Fully standing now, Meika moved toward Evans with the same gait that all the infected shared. Evans ran for the door to the stairs, closing the door behind her. Meika made her way to the door, but stopped at it, staring blankly through the glass window.

  Evans watched her for a few moments, knowing that no matter what, her friend was gone. She was all alone, once again. Evans ran, not knowing what else to do. She ran and didn’t stop.

  Chapter 30

  Muller grabbed the headset plugged into the comms console, connecting to the headquarters to report their mission to Dr. Victoria. The dial only rang once before Dr. Victoria answered. Muller assumed she had been waiting for the past few hours for his call, eagerly waiting for some new information.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s me,” Muller said, jumping right into his report, “HVT secure, on route to HQ.”

  “Good,” Dr. Victoria sighed.

  “Shields is now in stable condition. No other injuries to report. Requesting Lab containment room be readied for HVT upon arrival,” Muller stated, more than asking.

  “Muller, how many times do I need to tell you. We aren’t the military, you don’t have to be so curt,” Dr. Victoria replied, audibly exhausted.

  “Sorry- The woman, she’s secure, but…”

  “But what?” Dr. Victoria asked, perking up.

  Muller looked toward the cockpit of the plane, making sure he was out of earshot of the pilots, “She…She attacked a man we had found while searching the building to retrieve her. There’s something off about her.”

  “She attacked someone?”

  “Yes, she tore into the man like one infected do. I honestly think the virus has fried her brain. When I spoke to her, it was like speaking to two different people.”

  Dr. Victoria was silent on the other end, clearly processing the information she just received, “I’ll order the lab team to prep a containment room for observation. So, do you think she’s what we hope she will be? Do you think we can work with her to create a vaccine or cure?”

  Muller thought about his answer for a moment. She shredded a man’s throat like it was nothing. She might be too far gone for all I know.

  “I think it’s best we observe her first before we place all our cards on the table.”

  “That bad, huh? Well, I’ll take a look at her myself when you arrive. Otherwise, I suggest you get some rest, there’s a real shit storm, as I’m sure you’re aware of in South Korea. There’s a lot of scared people wanting to do some not so smart things,” Dr. Victoria said, adding a loud yawn at the end.

  Muller leaned back against the wall, pausing for a moment, “Susan, did you know?”

  “Uh, know what?!” Dr. Victoria said taken aback by Muller using her first name, breaking his normal proper use of her title.

  “Did you know the HVT…she’s…It’s Evans.”

  “Who? Wait, do you mean… Evans, as in THE Evans from your mission in Japan?!”

  “Yes. It’s her. The woman we found, it’s Evans,” Muller stated, hoping that Dr. Victoria really didn’t know.

  “Jesus. No. I would have said something if I had known. I’m sorry Muller, I know it must be hard to see her like this,” Dr. Victoria said softly.

  Muller took a sigh of both exhaustion and relief, “Okay, well, we will see you in around seventeen hours.”

  “Alright. I’ll go order the preparations are made, and then I’m going to get some sleep myself if I’m lucky.”

  Muller ended the call, putting the phone back into his pocket, feeling conflicted about the outcome of the mission. He was torn between finding out Evans was alive, happy knowing she didn’t die. Also, at the same time, realizing she was the person who most likely started the second outbreak, possibly on purpose, and knowing that now there was a huge fight for the eastern hemisphere that was about to unfold.

  Finding Evans puts us one step closer to taking out some of the bite the virus has, but even then, it could be months, years before a vaccine is ready. I really hope that the world is ready to put up a fight against the Demon Virus. This is the defining moment for the survival of Humankind.

  Rubbing his temples, Muller stood up, moving back to check on Kenji and Evans, hoping that nothing had occurred while he was gone.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Dr. Victoria sat at her desk, returning from giving the order to the lab team to set up one of the containment rooms for observation. She had spent the past eight hours on various phone calls from different military generals and world leaders, all asking what their next move should be. Her head hurt from all the thinking and long-winded talks she had endured. With no end in sight, she was beginning to contemplate not answering her phone. She would have even more work once Muller's team arrived and needed some sleep.

  Her phone began to ring once more; it’s shrill incessant noise piercing into her skull. Dr. Victoria picked up her phone, keeping her eyes closed, hoping this wouldn’t be another repeat of the same conversation as earlier. She was met with a dial tone, and immediately knowing it was the other phone.

  Dr. Victoria jumped up, closing her office door before returning to her desk. A few moments later, after a few fumbles with the key to unlock the drawer, she picked up the red phone.

  “Dr. Victoria, I understand your team is returning with the woman you believe to be a carrier,” the Man on the other end stated.

  Always a step ahead…

  “Yes, she will be arriving in the next seventeen hours, give me a day after that to analyze her blood, see if it’s usable at all.”

  Dr. Victoria swore she could almost hear the man's smile through the phone, “Good. Keep me informed, I will call you in two days.”

  The line went dead before she could reply but didn’t mind. The less time speaking to whomever it was on the other end, the better.

  Before she had another moment to spare, her phone on top of her desk came to life.

  Sighing heavily, Dr. Victoria reached out to pick up her phone, “Hello- Ah, yes, Mr. President, I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  After countless calls, a massive headache, and a foggy mind, Dr. Victoria turned on her TV along the wall, hoping to decompress. Immediately a somber scene filled the screen. A Live TV and station logo filled the lower right corner. Beside it was a scrolling banner, giving facts. Dr. Victoria knew all these numbers, already having discussed them to the point of nausea. Death tolls, cities across South Korea sieged by the Demon Virus.

  Dr. Victoria knew they were losing the battle, and soon, the country would be abandoned, dead, just like Japan. Quarantine was already in place, but it
seemed to do little to stem the tide of infected swarming entire cities. By her best estimates, in two days, the Virus would reach critical mass. All attempts to reach North Korea were met with an uneasy understanding; however, things were tense.

  South Koreans flooded the border, attempting to flee the cities. Currently, North Korea was holding the border, fearing that it was a military ploy by its neighboring brethren at war. The UN had staved off the North Korean military from using its force upon the innocent South Koreans for the time being. Dr. Victoria didn’t expect much longer before the delusional military powers in North Korea would begin to exert itself into the situation.

  On live TV, scenes of people fleeing the city filled the background behind the reporter, who frantically tried to give updated details but was failing to keep concentration. The Reporter stopped reporting, followed by the camera shifting its focus to the right where the North and South Korean border came into view. Thousands of people pushed their way toward the crossing, and even though Dr. Victoria didn’t have the sound on, she could tell the unease peace they tried to work toward came crumbling down.

  Suddenly, the South Koreans that attempted to rush the border, quickly turned their course, fleeing away from the border. In the background, several bright flashes lit the distance. It wasn’t long before Dr. Victoria saw the scared faces of the people fleeing, and quickly pieced together that it was gunfire at the border.

  It seems like our peace talks didn’t work… All those people are trapped there, this is turning into a full meltdown. The North Koreans just signed their own death certificate.

  Several tanks came into view, rolling down the hill that separated the two nations, charging at full speed toward the sealed gates. The meager South Korean Forces, drained from redeployment to their cities, attempted to take down the armored vehicles, but couldn’t as artillery rained down upon their location. The crowds of people who had been trying to make their way north all ran, attempting to flee the current war that had just broken out.

  The reporter and the cameraman joined the mob running for their lives as the feed was cut.

  Dr. Victoria looked away from the TV as her phone rang once more.

  It looks like I’m not getting any sleep anytime soon.

  Chapter 31

  Kenji rubbed his eyes, yawning, moving toward the bathroom.

  My neck is a little sore, I wonder if it was from the way I was sleeping or if it was from the wreck on the highway.

  After relieving himself in the tight spaced bathroom, Kenji looked toward the cockpit. One of the pilots looked back at him, giving a quick nod before returning his focus back on the instruments. Stretching his neck, he decided to check in with Muller, to see if any news had been received about the state of the outbreak.

  Muller was sitting near Evans, who had fallen asleep, as were the others.

  “Muller, any news?”

  “On which topic?” Muller replied restlessly.

  Kenji looked over at Shields, “How’s he doing?”

  “The doctor said he will be down for several months, but he will live. He's lucky; it could have been much worse. The doctor doesn’t think there are any spinal injuries but wants to do some scans when we get back,” Muller said, standing up to stretch.

  Kenji nodded, “We all had a few close calls back there. Any news on South Korea?”

  Muller flopped back into his seat, “Yeah, it wasn’t contained. I got a report when we stopped at the airbase to refuel, it’s bad. The tension between North and South Korea led to open skirmishes along the border, which has allowed the virus to spread into North Korea.”

  Kenji stared open mouth, not knowing how to respond.

  The virus has made it past the quarantine. The virus now has free rein over the entire continent of Asia.

  “The Chinese are already amassing their forces along the border, and the Russians aren’t too far behind them,” Muller continued.

  “And what if they can’t stop it?” Kenji asked, taking a seat next to Muller.

  “I don’t know. We never really set up a course of action for a foreign soil outbreak. We have plans for the US drawn up, it’s complicated, but I think it’s too late for the East.”

  “This is my worst nightmare come true,” Kenji said, a chill running down his spine.

  “It’s looking grim for sure. Things are going to be chaotic in the upcoming weeks. Lots of planning, hopefully, there won’t be too much political red tape to stop us from doing our jobs,” Muller said with a yawn.

  “Why don’t you get some sleep? We’re what, five hours away still?

  Muller stood up, “That sounds good to me. Wake me up when we get into national waters.”

  Kenji settled in, glancing over at Evans, who was still asleep.

  She has to be the key to stopping all of this; she’s our only hope!

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Dr. Victoria stood just outside the hangar that housed the C140 carrying Muller and his team, waiting for it to return. It was late, and all she wanted to do was to find somewhere that had something relating to a bed and close her eyes. The pilots had radioed ahead, stating their arrival would be very soon. A small group of people stood nearby her, huddled together. Three medical staff glanced around at the two scientists from Dr. Victoria’s lab team, who shifted anxiously with a rustle of their plastic hazmat suits, waiting to claim Evans.

  One of the scientists held a small case, ready to give Evans a sedative as soon as she arrived to allow them to easily transport her inside the lab building. Dr. Victoria could tell they were nervous; she had decided to disclose the information about her attacking someone, who subsequently became infected.

  I can’t blame them. There are so many uncertainties right now. The world is on the verge of collapse, and we have the only thing that might be able to stop it. Only one problem, she’s crazy.

  Quietly the sound of the gargantuan aircraft could be heard, slowly becoming deafening as it approached. Dr. Victoria quickly covered her ears, blocking out most of the noise. Spotting the blinking lights on the underpart of the aircraft first, before she was able to make out the whole thing. Watching as the plane touched down on the airstrip, Dr. Victoria backed up to the inside of the hangar.

  A few minutes later, the plane was just outside the hangar, powering down. Dr. Victoria and the two scientists made their wait to the back of the plane, waiting for the cargo bay door to lower. The medical staff quickly brought over their gurney, rushing to move Shields to the medical wing. Muller’s team helped move the injured soldier while Kenji stood next to the woman, who was still handcuffed to the seat.

  Jackson helped the medical staff steer Shields toward the back part of the plane. Once the medical staff and Jackson, were down the ramp, loading into an ambulance, Dr. Victoria and her two scientists moved up the ramp toward the woman. Jackson climbed into the back of the ambulance, accompanying Shields to the hospital.

  “Be careful,” Muller said to the trio as they passed.

  Kenji used his knife to cut the zip tie cuffs, freeing Evans’ arms momentarily before putting another set on.

  “Is she willing to come with us?” Dr. Victoria asked Muller with a concerned face.

  “I am,” Evans whispered, just loud enough for them to hear.

  Dr. Victoria glanced at the woman, who was hiding behind her long greasy hair, “Okay, can you follow us to the vehicle?”

  Wordlessly Evans stood up, following the scientists who guided her outside.

  Kenji walked behind them, handgun un-holstered, “I’ll make sure she makes it there without any incidents.”

  Muller stayed behind, next to Dr. Victoria, “I know we are probably going to be reassigned to help out with the current crisis, but I am getting some sleep first. Can you keep me updated on Shields?”

  “Yes, I can. I’ll get to work on securing her. Don’t forget to go to quarantine first, then go get your rest, you’ve earned it.”

  Muller yawned, “What about you? You look like
you could use some yourself.”

  Dr. Victoria smiled, “I don’t get to rest, you know that. Too many people relying on me to somehow save the world.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Kenji sat in the back of the SUV beside Evans, who looked down at the floorboard. He never let his eyes wander from her, making sure that whomever Evans had become, wasn’t going to try and make a move like she had in South Korea. The vehicle stopped with a slight lurch as they stopped beside the main entrance to the lab building. Quickly leaving the vehicle, Kenji jumped out, jogging behind to the other side, opening the door for Evans.

  She slowly scooted out, standing still as Kenji closed the door. The two scientists followed shortly after, and one grabbed Evans’ arm, leading her to the building. The lead scientist walked quickly to the door, using their security pass, with a beep. Kenji followed them to the elevator, entering alongside them. Thirty seconds later, after the smoothest elevator ride, Kenji had ever been on, the doors almost silently opened to the laboratory.

  The layout was very open, as most of the walls were tiled, with the labs themselves being mostly open with glass, along with heavy-duty doors separating the different rooms containing various lab equipment. Kenji didn’t know what half of the machines and other apparatus inside each room was, but he didn’t have time to indulge with his curiosity. His sole focus lay in making sure Evans made it to the observation room and nothing else.

  “This way,” The scientist leading Evans said, moving down the hallway to a smaller room that was devoid of any furniture, besides a cot, a single chair, a toilet, and sink.

  It reminded Kenji of his month spent in solitary quarantine, and it sent an uneasy feeling down his spine but ignored it knowing that soon it would all be over. His worry could melt away once Evans was locked away in one of the most secure buildings on the west coast. The scientists lead her without issue into the room, Evans’ head hanging low the entire time.

  Kenji cut the zip ties securing her wrists, quickly pulling back, half expecting something to happen. Evans barely moved, only to place her hands in her lap, but nothing more. The two scientists placed a folded blanket with a new set of clothes next to her on the cot, before quickly retreating into the hallway. Kenji followed them, and they closed the door behind him.