Until The End

by Brown, Derek

  February 24, 2014

  We made it home last night and both of us fell into a fitfully sleep barely sleeping. On the way home we barely spoke both of us lost in our own thoughts about what the repercussions of China’s attack might mean for us. Not to mention the vicious attacked we had seen. Neither of us fully understood what was going on in the world, so of course we got up and turned on the news like millions of people in the world that day. UN relief efforts were underway at this time; the full scope of the attack was still unknown. The Paramount Leader of China Hum Cyntao came on the air and gave a speech that he had only attacked Russia because they had threatened to use nuclear force against his people and therefore he was simply responding in like kind to them. He had a responsibility to protect the men, women, and children of his country. He asked how anyone could really blame him for trying to protect his country and his people. A reporter in the crowd apparently did feel like asking how he could go to such extremes. Hum responding my stating that the late President Valka had once been a prisoner at a Siberia Prison he had been placed there for heinous acts of violence. It was discovered though that while imprisoned he had escaped and therefore Hum felt that Valka was very capable of carrying out acts of violence and was considered unstable. So he only took preemptive steps to protect his country and did what he and his advisors thought were necessary. Then the broadcast was interrupted by another news anchor who came on to tell us about a riot that broke out in Arizona over their controversial bill banning gay couples from using certain businesses. The riot was be led by the Gay Freedom Act fighters and several people were injured and so far two people had been killed both of whom had been huge advocates of the bill. I couldn’t believe the pure senselessness of the violence I mean honestly what difference it made to anyone, what someone wants to do in their personal life. I also didn’t understand what rioting would do to get people on their side; it was all just a bunch of nonsense. I really felt like the world was crumbling before my eyes and I felt powerless. I mean look at our society 25% of the US population is on welfare and doesn’t work and are like leeches sucking on the life force of the other 75% of the population who are actually trying to make their lives better. You can’t go to an intersection in town without someone asking for money. I just can’t believe it, I understand that being homeless is difficult and I understand that things happen but come people get up and put the work in. Between the war and the weather and the riots the world was in chaos. It was as if it was ticking time bomb just waiting for the right spark. I was lost in thought when my wife suddenly gasped and clutched my arm.

  “Did you see that? Read that scrolling news caption on the bottom.” She said. It said that CDC officials were now releasing a statement that they had discovered a new bacterial infection that attacks the central nervous system. So far they had three confirmed cases; they were warning people to stay away from others with fever and flu like systems. So far the three cases were isolated to the Lake Tahoe area one doctor, a mental health worker, and a CDC official doctor who had been researching the bacteria. The CDC officials were still trying to discover the link between the three individuals. They said to learn more about the bacteria to visit their website. They are calling it NiteFury or NF6, my wife already had her Apple Pro-book out and was pulling up the website. There was a link on there and it led us to page that had a list of symptoms starting at Day 1 the infected person will begin to have a fever and just generally not feel well before the end of day 1 they will begin to vomit and be unable to eat. On day 2 the infected patient’s skin will begin to take on a jaundice appearance (yellowish brownish) and their eyes will begin to sink inwards. The patient will start vomiting blood and will still be unable to eat. Their mood will become unstable and alternate between fits of rage and deep sadness. Day 3 the patient will become violent and start losing their hair and begin to bleed internally. The patient will begin to lose control of their body, yet they will still move around and can talk somewhat. Day 4 the patient dies but the bacteria will continue to feed on the patient’s body you will still see jerky movements. They warned if you are experiencing these symptoms to seek expert medical advice and if anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms to get them to the hospital right away. As of yet there was no fighting this bacteria, no medication we have as had even the slightest effect on it. All three patients had died and been transported to the CDC’s main office in Atlanta, GA for further testing. I was getting very worried about everything going on. I talked to my wife about trying to get my daughter’s mother to stay with us until this all blew over and while she thought it was a good idea she doubted Emma’s mother would agree. I had to try so I called her and as usually my wife was right Emma’s mother said that they had a plan to go to the church disaster site it was called The Brothers of the Cross. I begged and I pleaded but she would not relent on this subject. I didn’t know what was going to happen now but I know I would feel safer if my daughter was with me not having her here scared me to the very core of my being. I fear that tonight I will not sleep well at all. I am so scared about everything going on and I still feel powerless to do anything.

  February 26, 2014

  So much has happened the last two days.. Where do I start? The riots in Arizona are still going on and they have now become deadly the death tow running into the thirties now with victims on both sides of the debate. There was no word from Russia and China at this time. China has closed all lines of communication. Since the discovery of the Nitefury plague as they were calling it all travel has been suspended within AmErika. It was becoming an epidemic now with 10 more deaths related to the bacterial infection in the Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas. There were strange stories of the victims of the plague getting up and continuing to attack people after being pronounced dead but I chalk those up to tall tales as did most people. I still felt uneasy though and my wife agreed and so we went to the store along with half of Clovis and began to buy canned foods, water, and all kinds of supplies. I also started going through the weapons I had and the gear that Michael’s wife had given us so I could take stock on what we had. Then this evening we saw that there had been an outbreak of the NF6 at San Quentin and the prisoners were rioting and it was taking everything the guards had to keep them under control. The world was going to hell in a hand basket. We were scared and we didn’t know what to think anymore. It was all just getting out of hand; no one knew what to do anymore. Environmental specialists were informing the world of the consequences of China’s actions would be even more severe weather across the globe. They stated Tsunamis would occur and lightning storms unlike anything ever seen before would rage across the heavens. Religious groups were hailing this as the rapture and all the sinners and non-believers would pay the price in God’s eyes. It truly felt like the end of the world to me.

  February 28, 2014

  On the news today the rioting at San Quentin was finally under control today the correctional department had announced the news but officials said the loss of life was still being assessed at this time. It was announced that several of the prisoners were going to be dispersed to city jails all over California until San Quentin was repaired and all damages were assessed. My wife and I began to organize what we had and how much we had of everything just in case. The first case of the NF6 in Europe had been discovered a businesswoman from Italy who had been in LA for a conference, had gone home not feeling well but believing it was just the flu had been diagnosed with the infection. So far it was an isolated incident and officials were telling the press that there was no cause for alarm. She was currently being held in an isolation ward for observation and safety Italian officials stated. China was still not communicating with the United States or any other country. They had completely closed their borders to any and all and had gone off the grid. Russia was still dark no word from the country since the attack, had reached the USA. Doomsayers were lining the streets in major cities in the United States with boards that said the end is coming; not even GOD will save you sinne
rs now, and we are all going to die. Researchers from the CDC were investigating every possible lead for a cure for the NF6, but no luck so far. It was beginning to look bleak and everyone was on edge, my wife and I decided to not to work until things had settled down more. I was calling my daughter twice a day I was worried sick. The world was at its boiling point and I could feel that the eruption was going to happen soon. A freak thunder storm in Arizona had sparked a raging wild fire and it was speeding across the state. Government officials were trying to handle the situation but with the riots going on they were stretched too thin. President Powa was activating the nation guard and sending them in for relief efforts. It seemed like the world was going mad and no one knew what to do. It was if the world was holding its breathing waiting for the breaking point.

  March 1, 2014

  Stephanie called us today she wanted to say hello and see how we were doing. She told us that she had finally gone to the doctor and it turned out she only had the flu. She was really said and missed Michael so much. She kept saying how much she wanted to be with him. It was such a difficult conversation to have but she was so sad and she said she had no one else to talk to and she felt we of all people would understand. We tried our best to comfort her and be there for her as much as we could be. At the end of the conversation we said goodbye. My wife and I just sat there clinging to each other not saying a word just being in the moment with one another. Neither of us could imagine a world without each other.

  March 2, 2014

  The first video of the riot at San Quentin was going to be released today; it was supposedly leaked somehow to the public and was not an official release. My wife and I sat down to watch as the newscaster came on he looked shaken his face was lined with worry and he said

  “If you have children in the room it would be best if they left due to the images you are about to see. They are very graphic, this is the completely unedited and uncensored footage.” After a brief pause the man whose eyes were blood shot red. Said “Okay start the video, what I am going to explain now will be difficult however I will do my best to get it out. Here is the video.” It was the video from a guard’s tower it overlooked the yard where prisoners took yard and they were just walking around. On the screen you could see a lone black prisoner begin to shamble towards another inmate, who was white. The black inmate’s movements were jerky and although the camera was blurry I could see the inmate looked sick but he continued to move and he came up behind the white inmate. Then he paused for the briefest of moments he stood there swaying before he leaned his head back and then he lunged forward and bite into the exposed neck of the white inmate. What happened next is hard to believe there as a flurry of activity on the ground as the inmate that was being attacked was struggling to get away. Other white inmates were attacking the black inmate and trying to get him off the guy. Then other black inmates began to attack the white inmates and it looked like a war was going on. The Correctional Officers began yelling over the intercom to get down and while many complied with the command. Others did not and they kept attacking each other, then the Officers fired pepper gas down into the crowd and the inmates began coughing started to get down. There were still a few fighting including the first black inmate was still biting on the other inmates neck. The Officers said they would fire next and sent a few shots into the air to make their point known. Every single inmate got down on the ground except for the first attacker but his victim was dead at his feet and he was covered in blood. From his mouth all the way down his shirt he was covered in blood and he was the only one still standing. He was looking around dazed then he started shambling towards another black inmate lying on the ground about five feet away. The Officers shouted at him to stop stating they would use deadly force if he did not stop. He took another step towards the man on the ground and again the Officers gave him a chance to comply. He took another step and then an Officer fired a single shot and it hit the man in the man in the chest and he slumped over from the force of the impact and fell on his hands and knees then finally fell head first into the ground and stopped moving. It seemed it was all going to be over and the guards breathed a sigh of relief. Then the man’s body began to convulse almost like a seizure and he slowly got back up and looked around the yard. He saw the man he was going after before and he began to limp towards him as blood poured out his chest wound. The yard interrupted in chaos with inmates just trying to get away from the bloody man. The Officers kept screaming for everyone to get down so they could get a clean shot but no one heard them. Then a young officer leaned over his tower and took careful aim and squeezed the trigger and somehow through all the confusion his shot hit the bloody man in the head. The first attacker dropped like a sack of potatoes and began to shake for a couple seconds before you could see the last breath leave his body. As the camera was zooming out I caught a glimpse of what I thought looked like Lt. Michael in the shadows on the field, but it couldn’t be, could it? Officials at the prison were not available to make comments on this incident but a source that did not want to be identified did say that the inmate had been diagnosed with the NF6 infection. They did say that if you were looking for a loved one that may have been at the prison that you could visit their website to see where the inmates had been transferred to. My wife and I sat in stunned silence watching the reporter fade out as the television went dark. I don’t think either of us moved for several minutes. Then she collapsed crying in my arms and I just held her close and we clung to each other as if we were the last people on Earth and we fell asleep just like that.

  March 3, 2014

  We woke up on the couch the next day all tangled up together. It was a quiet morning and I tried to call Emma again but her mother didn’t answer. I was getting extremely concerned but my wife told me not to worry that everything was going to be okay but her words sounded even hallow to herself I think. I went online and checked out the website at San Quentin and I typed in Michael Clay and I froze it said he had been transported to Fresno County Jail until the repairs were made at San Quentin; he had been transported to the Psychiatric Health Ward of the jail. This news was disturbing and I was getting an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. While I realize he wasn’t being housed with the general population I still didn’t like it, too many occurrences of Nitefury were following him. I told my wife I think we needed to invite Danielle, Anthony, and Dallas over and that it would be safer with us in Clovis then them staying all the over off the 99 highway in Fresno. She called them and I couldn’t help but overhear her talking and said “Hello?” then a brief pause “Hey you guys should come over…No we haven’t turned on the news this morning… What? No fucking way… Honey turn the Television on real quick will you?” I turned it and it was a special address from President Powa.

  “Good morning folks as some of you may know there is a new flu strain going around and as of yet the CDC and all the great minds of AmErika have been unable to find a cure. I and the CDC officials are recommending that you stay indoors and away from public areas. By their calculations the Night Fury 6 Flu strain will be all over the west coast by tomorrow evening reaching from Washington to California then from California to Arizona and up to Montana. Due to the circumstances of how the NF6 effects people it is highly recommended that you avoid infected individuals at all cost. I am told that the infected persons are extremely aggressive. They will display symptoms including a browning or a yellowish tint to the skin. Their eyes will become glassed over as if the person is seeing but not really seeing. They will be experiencing a high grade fever and will begin to have seizures. There have been some unidentified sources claiming that infected will move around even after suffering a mortal wound. So far that is an unconfirmed report. In response to this new threat we are declaring Marshall Law in the west coast states and a border is already being erected as we speak and no one shall be permitted to enter or leave the Quarantined Zone if you try to enter or you try to you leave you will be met with deadly force. The Quarantine Zone will run from Canada
around Montana through parts of Idaho and Utah then come east into New Mexico and to the Mexican Border. It is my intent to express to you of you that we have our best and our brightest working on a cure and we firmly believe that our specialist at the CDC Center in Atlanta, GA will have an answer to this horrible sickness. To those of you in the new Quarantine Zone you are not alone, our thoughts and prayers are with you always.” The question on my mind, what does that mean?

  With that the reporters went crazy and asked a million questions. “What about Russia?”, “What about China?”, “Are you really turning your back on the citizens in those states?”

  “Folks no more questions go home to your families now and be safe.” The President turned his back and walked behind the blue wall and the symbol of the AmErikan People and it looked like his shoulders were slumped in defeat. Danielle, Anthony, and Dallas came over later that day and when they arrived we sat down to discuss what we were going to do. It was decided that we needed more supplies not only food, water, but weapons as well. I suggested that Anthony and I go to the Outdoor Sporting Goods store and get everything we could fit in the truck tomorrow first thing in the morning. Scarlett didn’t want us to go but she understood the need.

  March 4, 2014

  While we were gone I told my wife and Danielle to make a list of the food items we were going to need so that we could go and get those tomorrow. So Anthony and I got into the truck and drove over to the Store on our way it looked like a ghost town it was so quiet and eerie. The streets were empty except for a few people driving here and there. I guess people were really listening to Powa and not coming out. We passed a few stranglers out they were walking huddled over and doing everything they could to keep to themselves. As we pulled up to the store we found it was dark inside and the front doors were locked. We are just about to give up when Anthony had a suggestion.