“And it took two of your fingers? Bite?” He already had the information, but was testing his mental state.
“Yes, it happened in a second, bit them clean off. I think it swallowed them whole.” Derek seemed almost impressed it could do such a thing.
“Derek, you know the prognosis isn't good?” He held the notes down and made eye contact with Derek.
“I know.” There was a tinge of sadness in his voice, but he’d accepted his fate, he’d be with his family soon enough.
“You will become one of these things. There won't be any physical pain, none more than you’ve already experienced, but the infection will take hold and reach your brain. It's there already. You'll start having urges and you will lose control. At some point you'll cross the line and not be yourself, you'll be something else.”
“So what happens, do I wait it out?”
“Well, you can, but I wouldn't recommend it. You can be anaesthetised and knocked out cold, you won't feel a thing, we'll run some tests then humanely end your suffering. You will be at peace.”
“No third option?”
“Well, we can give you a strong anaesthetic but you'll remain conscious, we'd open up your skull and monitor your brain whilst running a series of tests. It'd help give us a huge insight into what is happening.”
“You're a doctor?”
“Yes, but I'm also a scientist. We can't treat anyone until we know more. We've got plenty of infected who are too far gone and corpses to test on. But we can only learn so much. You're newly infected, what we could learn from you over the next six hours could help save humanity.”
“I won't feel anything?”
“Nothing at all, you'll be conscious and we'll be talking to you throughout, we can increase the pain relief if you begin to feel any discomfort.”
“I guess I can't say no.”
The doctor finished writing his notes and gave them to Diane before calling over two soldiers. “This one needs to go to research, she has the notes, she'll assist.”
“I don't do this kind of work.” Diane muttered to no effect.
“You think I did? This is new to us all, you're a fucking scientist, go help with some fucking science. We all have to get our hands dirty.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
KENNETH HADN'T BEEN in the lab before, he didn't relish it. The smell was something artificial and not at all pleasant. His reward for hogtying the creature that had condemned him to shooting his friend in the head was to accompany it and keep guard. It was a waste of his ability but the Major had insisted, this was a dangerous thing that needed watching, and might need putting down. Kenneth was the only man the Major had seen display the attributes that might be up to this task on his own, they couldn't spare a second guard when they were already spread so thin.
The creature hadn't calmed down at all since they secured it, now tied to a gurney, the hood remained on its head as it struggled to get at the mass of people around it in their protective masks. The scientists were eager to examine the creature. The lab wasn't originally set up to take a live subject, but at the crisis loomed the lab took delivery or more expansive equipment and those trained to best use it. They had been struggling with a few old samples sent across from the first recorded cases. The well prodded tissue sample and the small vial of blood had yielded no breakthroughs and they had learned very little. Now they had an infected live specimen, and a freshly slain sample to do with what they wished. But how to get started?
The giant soldier didn't speak, didn't move, he just stood over the creature, rifle ready to shoulder so he could kill it. He was both reassuring and a worry for those present. They'd all just seen the execution, they understood, they were men and women of science and too aware of the importance of their work. There was a contagion and one of the few things they knew was the method of infection, transmission of bodily fluids. This wasn't their discovery, this had come in the briefing pack. They trusted it, but not enough to readily breathe the same air as it without a mask.
Dr. Jana Srnicek was the woman in charge. She was born in Czechoslovakia in the sixties, moved to London in the seventies and stayed ever since. Raising two children, and now a grandmother. She was good at her job and this terrifying reality they were living in was a challenge that stimulated her immensely. She couldn't think of her family beyond using them as a motivation to succeed and to do so quickly.
Whilst the others stood back pondering, Jana stepped forward “Shall we get to work then people, I want fresh samples, I want a CT scan now and I want everything documented, that includes video.”
The white coats began scurrying around immediately putting into action her demands. Kenneth respected her authority and calmness. He'd dealt with civilians in Afghanistan and found he could put most into one of two categories, “twats” or “useful twats”. Dr. Srnicek was definitely in the latter group. His orders from the Major were simple, but not pleasant. If it escapes, put two in its head, if it bites, scratches or spits on anyone, they would receive the same treatment. Dr. Srnicek knew of these orders, but Kenneth doubted anyone else did. He'd rather have been outside with his fellow soldiers, not inside with the nerds.
“Would you like a seat, Lance Corporal?” An attractive young woman in a lab coat offered him a chair with a smile.
“No thank you ma’am.”
“Maybe a cup of tea?” She meekly responded.
“No, thank you.” Kenneth wasn't keen to fraternise with the girl, she was beautiful and Kenneth thought or at least hoped she was flirting with him. At best there would be flirtation and nothing else. At the worst, be might have to use two of his bullets on her. There was a moment of awkward silence before she sheepishly got back to her business.
Dr. Srnicek had noticed the exchange and approached Kenneth “That was a little cold soldier, she's just a girl trying to be nice when the world has turned decidedly nasty.”
“I have my orders Dr. Srnicek.”
“Call me Jana, and as I recall your orders aren't to be a prick to my staff.”
“But…”
“But nothing, I know you might want to keep a personal distance for fear of questioning your orders to eliminate any threat should you have to. But I want you to question it, if the time comes. Our world is seemingly full of unthinking, uncaring creatures, do you think you really should be aspiring to that?” Kenneth didn't get a chance to respond before Dr. Srnicek walked off.
She approached the girl and patted her on the shoulder before whispering something in her ear, they both looked at Kenneth who looked away out of shame.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
AMY SAT SLUMPED against the fence, close to where the attack happened. The civilians gave her and the corpse a wide berth. She figured that someone would probably come and clean it up eventually, but it was dead and no one would dare touch it, so it was hardly a priority. Looking at the wire, she could see another section being constructed, the workforce quickly assembling a new fence line under the watchful eye of the soldiers. Surely this would be the last expansion? Each fence was more hastily assembled than the last. The new addition was a little over twelve feet in height of chicken wire with a few fence posts. So eager to get the job done, they cut corners, not even clearing bodies, hoping someone else would do it. At least the previous section had barbed wire and was corpse free.
The number of people coming into the camp had dropped in the last day, trucks coming in held only a handful of survivors, those coming in on their own had completely stopped. The soldiers too, were taking a battering. She stood up and brushed herself down. Her baton was on the ground and she bent over and picked it up, looking at it in the light, the blood had a greyish hue to it. She walked over to the fallen creature and wiped the blood on its trouser leg before giving it a firm kick with her boot.
She started to walk away as a woman approached her distressed. “My daughter, she's not well!” She was in a panic.
Amy's professionalism overtook her anger, upset and frustration. �
��It's okay, where is she and what is wrong?” Calm and friendly.
“I think she's turning, she's eaten all our food, she's sweaty and angry, she's not right!” The woman was failing to calm down.
“I'm sure she's okay, can you take me to her?” Amy tried to give a reassuring smile before talking into her radio, “Checking on potential infected, assistance required. Low priority.”
The radio crackled into life. “Confirm and med team will assist as required.”
They would send no one further out into the camp unless they absolutely had to. The woman led her to a tent, Amy was hesitant to enter, if this girl was infected she wouldn't want to be in a confined space with her. The tent's flap was open and she could see inside, the girl was maybe fourteen, slim and plain, her clothes hung off of her and she was agitated. Her hands and feet were bound and were sore.
“Are you okay honey?” Amy was nervous.
“I'm just hungry. I need to eat.” She was desperate, she didn't sound angry.
“Do you have anything you can give her? Anything at all?” Amy looked to the mother.
“We don't have much left, we haven't been given a lot, and she’s already eaten almost all of it.” She started rummaging through bags, she got to the girl's bag and pulled out some clothes, a toothbrush, sanitary products and a box of FatBGone which took Amy's attention.
“Is she on any medication?” Amy picked up and examined the FatBGone box.
“No, that's some silly internet thing she wasted her birthday money on.” The mother was apparently unhappy at this decision.
“Do they work?” Amy seemed genuinely interested.
“It did, she lost seven stone, she was a big girl.”
“So it wasn't a total waste of money?” Amy felt it was an exaggeration, but obviously it had worked to some extent.
“Well, it was over five hundred pounds, she didn't tell me that. All her birthday money and she sold her iPad. She didn't tell me that either. All to lose weight for a month. Bloody kids.” The mother was exasperated, despite everything going on, she still had her motherly frustration at watching her child wasting money.
“Five hundred?” Amy couldn’t believe it.
“Five hundred.” The mother confirmed sternly.
Amy placed the box back on the floor. “I'll get a medical team to take a look.” Amy put her radio to her mouth. “Control, I’m…”
The mother stopped her. “Will they take her away?”
Amy knew the answer, this kid was infected. She was already showing the signs they'd been told to look out for. She'd be dragged away, to the same place as Derek, never to be seen again. She couldn't remain here, she was doing the family a favour. The girl would go fully insane, attack her family and condemn them too. No, there was only one thing to do.
“They will check her over, may take her in for some antibiotics but she'll be fine, I promise.” Amy lied. It was the kind and necessary thing to do.
Amy called it in and she waited with the woman and her daughter. Waiting for them to be separated forever. For this teenage girl to live out her last hours scared and alone. Amy put her arm around the woman, wishing someone would put their arm around her.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
A CACOPHONY OF muffled groans, moans and whimpers filled the air. There were only two soldiers guarding this area, both in the corner next to the entrance facing into the room. A small pile of sandbags gave them some cover and a place to perch their general purpose machine guns. If there was trouble, these two men could shred everyone in the room within seconds. This did not give Diane any comfort. There were maybe twenty people strapped to gurneys, some heavily sedated, a few nurses, doctors or scientists keeping themselves busy. Diane was walking behind the two soldiers moving Derek to a space in the middle of the tent. They locked the gurney into position and the soldiers returned to the treatment room.
“So what now?” Derek was still calm, but perhaps a little nervous.
“I'm sorry, I have no idea. I don't normally do this. I'm much more examine a glass of pee kind of lab technician.” This was probably nearly as uncomfortable a situation for Diane as it was Derek.
“I can pee in a cup if that makes you feel better?” He smiled.
“You're okay, thanks.”
A man in his late sixties wearing a lab coat approached and motioned for the notes and started thumbing through them.
“Ah, very good. I'm sorry Mr Jenkins, but you will help us greatly. I know this is tough, but I can't stress just how much you'll help us learn.” He tapped Derek's upper arm in a half-hearted attempt at comfort.
“Are you a doctor?”
“No. I'm head of research here, call me Andrew.” Technically, Andrew was Diane's boss, however in her few days in the camp she'd never spoken to him. She had been in briefings, received a group bollocking and observed Andrew at the top table with those in charge. He never came across as friendly so it impressed her he even bothered to try with poor Derek.
“Are you a nurse?” Andrew abruptly asked Diane.
“No, I'm in the sample evaluation team.” He didn't even recognise her.
“Well, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be testing samples?” Diane couldn’t agree with him more. “The doctor, he told me to bring him in.” She would have been happy to get back to her job. This was not a nice place to be, what if one of these patients broke loose and infected her? What if those soldiers with the big guns got jumpy and opened fire? No, back in her little makeshift lab was perfect.
“I'd like her to stay.” Derek smiled at Diane, oblivious to her discomfort.
“Well, then she'll stay.” Andrew scribbled his own addition to Derek's notes and placed them on his legs.
“We'll be back shortly and get started. Can we get you anything?” Andrew couldn't do comforting if his life depended on it.
Derek thought for a second, “I’d kill for a burger.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
THE RESEARCH AREA was very well lit, uncomfortably so. Diane now wore full protective clothing, gloves, a mask, and an apron. Others had come and fitted all manner of monitors and probes to Derek, the top half of his scalp had been removed and a man in a white coat gave it his full attention only glancing occasionally over to various screens set up around him. Derek was becoming agitated. Hours had passed since he'd been taken in, Diane hadn’t left his side for more than a few minutes, mopping his brow, feeding him the meagre rations allowed and putting the straw to his lips to take the allowed small sips of water. Diane hadn't found the courage to look at Derek's exposed brain. She didn't see the need to.
“How's it going?” Diane asked, she knew, but she needed him to speak, to say the words.
“I've been better Diane. How's it look back there?” If Derek could have squirmed with discomfort, he would have done.
“I'm sure it's fine.” Diane looked at the man in the white coat who made momentary eye contact revealing nothing.
“Can you take a look?” Diane resigned herself to looking at an exposed brain in a live man's skull. She walked around and looked, but wasn't shocked or disgusted. She'd seen such sights before, never in a live subject but it wasn't that much different. She looked closer and something took her attention. A greying residue had formed around the hypothalamus. She couldn't be sure if this was normal, as normal as it could be with an exposed brain, but it didn't look right. “What's with that?” Diane pointed at the affected area.
“That's it. We've taken a sample, and it's being tested. It started developing around forty minutes ago and is increasing. That part of the brain controls hunger.” The lab-coated man made carried on writing his notes.
“Is it just on the surface?” Diane tried to adjust her angle to see.
“No, from what we've seen from expired subjects, it is in the brain, the liquid you see is coming from inside.” He wasn't as interested in talking as Diane, it wasn't his job.
“Is that even possible?” Diane seemed doubtful.
“I'd
say so.” He pointed at the residue to suggest that was evidence enough.
“How's it looking Diane?” Derek had been listening and didn't seem so much interested as worried. He didn't know how much longer he'd still be himself. Diane walked back around to where Derek could see her.
“Honestly, it's spreading and fast.”
“Okay. I guess this is the final straight. Has this helped?” Derek didn't want to die in vain, he wanted his life to have meant something. He couldn't save his family, but maybe he could save some others.
Diane looked up at the lab-coated man, who again made brief eye contact saying nothing. Diane smiled as if she'd received a positive response and looked back at Derek. “Yes, this has been a huge help.” She lied. Derek smiled.
“Can you do me a favour?” Diane half expected him to ask her to end it now, he could see his usefulness was drawing to an end and must have some kind of desire to keep a little dignity.
“Of course Derek, just ask and I’ll see what I can do.” She was sincere, but prayed to herself he just wanted a sip of water.
“My fellow officers, Amy in particular, you need to warn them. They don’t truly believe that we’re fucked. There are some good people, they just need to be ready and they’re not. Just talk to them please do what you can so they know it’s not all foil hat, that trouble is coming.” Diane nodded, it could have been so much worse.
“I just need a few minutes fresh air. I’ll be back shortly.”
Diane made her way towards the treatment area, removing her protective gear as she went, as she approached she attracted the attention of the two machine gun toting soldiers who trained their weapons on her. She halted, frozen with fear, before both acknowledged she was no threat and pointed their gun barrels in a different direction. She carried on through until she reached the treatment area, discarding her gear in a medical waste bin, she didn't stop to look around, she knew what was happening. She walked outside and took a deep breath of what passed for fresh air.
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