by Maira Dawn
Her hand plunged into her bag but came out empty. She tried again. Fingers grasped anything that remotely felt like keys only to push them aside again and again in frustration.
My keys are at the bottom of my purse! These people will infect me! I will die because I ignored every woman's safety video out there!
Frantic, she continued to grab for her keys while running, but the two actions were at odds with each other, and she slowed. The Sick were so close now she could hear them gasping for air. She realized, as her hand felt the thin cloth as it lay in her purse, she was not wearing her mask.
If they catch me, I'm dead. All they have to do is breathe on me!
She sped up, hope against hope that her fingers would land on the keys in time.
A sudden screech of tires grabbed Skye's attention. A woman shouted, "Get in!" As she looked over her shoulder, Skye saw an open car door.
Not taking any time to think about it, she lunged for the vehicle. Her body bounced on the hard seat as she landed. The Sick surrounded the car, clamoring around it.
Before they could get to the open door, Skye reached the door handle and pulled it shut.
13
A Goner
"Are you infected?" the woman screamed at Skye as she floored her vehicle. With adrenalin still pumping through her veins, Skye had trouble focusing and didn't respond for a moment.
"Are you infected?" the woman shouted again.
"No! No." Skye said as she brought a trembling hand up to brush a few hairs that had strayed near her eyes. She dug through her purse for an anxiety pill and popped it in her mouth. Then squirted a bit of sanitizer on her hands as a shiver ran through her at how close they had gotten to her.
The woman's eyes flashed at Skye. "Why aren't you wearing a mask?"
"I... No one was around. The building was empty. I didn't see them until it was too late," Skye said waving toward the Infected. "I should have had it on." She gripped her knees to stop her hands from quivering.
"I would've." The woman was blunt and angry. "You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous! I wouldn't be but, well... no choice. You'd be a goner without me." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "We've met before. At that medical convention, the city had a while back. I recognized you, or I'm not sure I would have stopped."
Skye nodded, then with a thready voice asked, "Why were they coming after me?"
"Some of those in the early infected stages are banding together. They call themselves Assassins and other weird names. They can see their end, and they're bitter about it. They go after healthy people."
Skye's jaw dropped. "This is a thing now?"
"Yeah, it's a thing."
Skye's racing heart slowed some, but she still trembled. "I cannot thank you enough. I would've been dead, as good as dead if you hadn't stopped."
The woman's voice gentled as her temper cooled. "We healthy need to help each other now. If we don't, no one is gonna make it." She introduced herself. "Anna Lynn Fisher, ER Doc. We can come back later for your car."
Skye agreed and slipped on her white cloth mask. "How are things going at the hospital?"
Anna Lynn made a hard left into the emergency room parking lot, drove past the many parked cars and as close as she could to the ER doors, then turned off the car. She twisted toward Skye and gave her a hard look as if wondering how Skye would handle what she was about to see. "Well, we are in a mess of something or another, and it isn't good. Prepare yourself."
The hospital was far worse than Skye imagined. Anna Lynn told her that there were no Sick here. If someone became ill, a group moved them to the local high school a few blocks down the road. What little they could do for those with the AgFlu was there.
These people were those injured by the city's chaos. Frightened to be alone, or under medical care that was no longer available anywhere else, they had sought the best the city now offered. Still others had simply run out of food or had nowhere other than this to go.
The air in the building felt stagnant with a strong scent of sweaty bodies and dirty diapers. Though the hospital ran on emergency power, the air conditioner was not a priority and only turned on a few times a day. Skye looked around the room. Given the number of people in the lobby, it could be worse.
The open waiting area they entered was floor to ceiling men, women and children, young and old. Bunk beds lined the walls. Floor space looked as if it had been devoured long ago. Families and individuals sat on the tattered blankets and sleeping bags claiming their spots as they waited out the day. As Skye made her careful way through the room, she found it hard to find an empty place to put her foot down.
Noise came from every direction, and Skye stayed close to the doctor so she could hear her speak. Some parents tried to conduct some sort of schooling with their children while others rocked crying babies. Still others grouped together and visited. At least three different types of music played loud enough for the whole room to sing along if they chose to do so.
Skye gaped at the scene. Are things this bad? How did I miss that things are this bad? Although Colton had been hit hard by the AgFlu, it seemed it was also sheltered from the full effects of the turmoil. She realized she probably had Tom and his police force to thank for that.
"I didn't know," Skye choked out.
"Well, in your defense, the reporters stopped talking about us long ago. They are too busy spreading the more exciting news about fires and protests."
As they crossed the room, Anna Lynn told Skye about some of the patients. "George," Anna Lynn said, pointing out a healthy-looking older teen. Large squares of gauze covered his lower arms and a part of his face. "Pulled a bunch of glass out of him after he and a group of his friends smashed up the city a bit. George doesn't do that anymore, do you, George?"
"No, ma'am." George looked like he regretted the fact he wouldn't be smashing anymore.
"Amy Lee Smith. Mid-pregnancy." Dark hair covered part of Amy Lee's face as she smiled, dipped her head and rubbed her growing belly. "She needed a little medical care. Stayed, seeing as how things are now.”
She nodded to the next patient. "Old lady McGlothlin. Ran out of food. Too dangerous to be home alone." Old lady McGlothlin's red face stood out against her white hair and mask. Either she had a fever, or her blood pressure was high. Anna Lynn noticed it too and asked a nearby nurse to take the petite woman into one of the exam rooms.
"People have sorta migrated here. All the rooms, offices and even closets hold people now. The lobby was the only room we had left. Now it's gone. Not sure what we will do next," Anna Lynn said shaking her head.
Skye tried not to let her concerns show over what had become an oasis in this city. How anyone is getting any good sleep is beyond me. Tired, cranky crowds with nothing to do equal trouble. There's no place to walk around or get any exercise unless they go outside, and I just saw how that can go!
This group is only a small part of this. Ten floors of this is a real concern. How are they getting enough food? Are medical supplies running out? If someone becomes Sick, how do they get them out before they infect the whole floor?
Skye adjusted her mask tighter to her face. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"
Anna Lynn walked down the hall to what used to be a closet. Inside was a cot and a few of the woman's belongings. "This is my 'home, sweet, home' right now. That way I'm close if I am needed."
Skye's opinion of the doctor, which was already high after seeing her situation, went higher. The woman certainly could have commandeered a larger space if she'd wanted but she hadn't. That was admirable.
"I can tell you care about these people. You have done so much to help them," Skye said, "but this set-up..." She trailed off hating to criticize an impossible condition.
Anna Lynn grimaced. "I know, it's band-aids over a gaping wound. But it's all we got. I've tried to get help from Emergency Management, from anyone to get something better. But everything is so chaotic. We get food, and as far as places to go, they tell me this is one o
f the best."
Anna Lynn lowered her head and pinched the bridge of her nose before looking back at Skye. "It's not so bad, and hopefully, temporary. Everyone pitches in. We actually need more for people to do."
Skye nodded. "I can see how that would be the case, keeping them busy would help." Hoping Anna Lynn had answers for her, Skye changed the subject. "I want to ask... Well, I have a cousin that's a cop, and he keeps giving me all the warnings. But he doesn't hear everything from a solid medical standpoint. Just rumors. What do you know?"
Anna Lynn nodded her head, her gaze on the floor. "I have a friend at the Disease Control that's telling me what's going on, so here are the things I know. This disease has entered other countries."
Skye brought her hand to her stomach. She had hoped they, whoever they were, had contained the illness to the United States. That would've been bad enough. "Oh, no."
Anna Lynn nodded. "There's more. I know the AgFlu is hitting the U.S. harder than any other disease in its history. During the 1918 flu epidemic, almost everyone lost one or two family members. This time a family will be fortunate if that is what they have left. Disease Control is estimating that over 70 percent will get the AgFlu. There's little hope if you contract it."
Skye asked the question everyone wondered. "Did she tell you how it started?"
"I know that the flu mixed with the rabies virus, though not how. My friend has a theory that someone invented it for germ warfare but if it was the U.S. government or some terrorist act, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. If this doesn't stop soon, we may never find out."
Anna Lynn scrubbed her hand over her forehead. "I do know the world will never be the same and whether that is a good thing or a bad thing—Well, that everyone can decide that for themselves. I know if I were you, I would get out of this hospital and hole up somewhere safe as long as you can. Let the worst go through. Both the flu and the people. I know most are good. But there are others out there, like those on the street, that are trouble."
"And the immune?" Skye asked with hope in her voice.
"It stands to reason there will be some. Disease Control is banking on it. I've heard of a few getting cold-like symptoms that go away. Make a note of that, the symptoms must completely go away, or the AgFlu still infects them. A couple here claimed to get through it, but I wasn't with them at the time. Still, a couple out of countless isn't much."
Skye looked at the floor and clasped her hands together until her knuckles turned white. This was what she had feared all along. Her words came slow. "You watch these shows and read these books, and you think, 'Oh if that were me I would do this' as if it would be so easy. Or you imagine ways you could survive. But guess what? What really happens is you're just so—just so—disbelieving of the whole thing. You don't know what to do. I don't know what to do."
Skye bent her head and brought her trembling hands up to her forehead as the full impact of what this disease meant for her and for the world hit her.
Anna Lynn eyed her with sympathy. "You will know. When you need to, you will." When Skye looked up at her and gave her head the tiniest shake, the doctor repeated the words—slow and forceful. "You will know."
The two women looked at each other, countless thoughts and worries tumbled through their minds and reflected in their eyes. Each needed support from the other, but neither could verbalize what they sought. Sorrow was clear on their faces, both for what had already happened and what they understood was yet to come. Taking a deep breath, Skye gave Anna Lynn a slight nod which she returned.
Anna Lynn turned back to her brisk manner. "Look for these symptoms: Lips or ears turning blue, blackened feet, coughing up blood or foaming at the mouth, disorientation, stiffening of the limbs, convulsing, fever. Some go into a coma, some don't. Some die quick, and some take weeks, months even."
Skye made a mental note of everything Anna Lynn said.
Anna Lynn continued to rattle on, seeming eager for the visit to end. "Remember this: It is airborne, and the most contagious, when people have a fever so stay away from anyone with a high temperature. After the fever goes, it is no longer airborne, but still infectious through bodily fluids. A patient can catch the AgFlu, develop a fever, but few other symptoms for months so it may seem like they are okay. But if you see a lingering cold, or difficulty breathing, be concerned about that. Some have hidden what they are for a while."
Skye nodded. She supposed there were plenty of reasons someone would cover up having the disease.
"And watch out for the Infected that want to take you down with them." She sighed and spread out her hands. "That is what I know, all I know." Anna Lynn paused then clapped her hands on her legs before standing. "Now let's get you to your car so you can get on home."
As they walked back down the crowded hallway, Anna Lynn asked Skye why she had been out today. Skye told the woman about her two patients then added her need for a grocery store. Anna Lynn came to an abrupt stop, turned around and yelled out, "Tommy!" Tommy's head popped out from behind a door. "Get a few boxes of supplies for this lady. Put 'em in my trunk."
"No, you’ve done enough for me already! I’ll be fine."
"It's fine. We have plenty right now. Some organizations drop off food regular. They're aware we have a crowd of people in here, and there's no shortage of food right now." She made a face. "Fewer people eating it now."
Skye sighed. "I guess that's true. It'll save me having to stop. I appreciate that."
On their way back to Skye's car, Anna Lynn continued to advise her. "Once everything settles down, start planting. Eventually, all this canned food will run out. Gonna have to go old school now. You said you had a cousin that was a cop? Stick with him. He'll understand what needs doing if things get too bad. I'm hoping, really hoping it doesn't, but it is hard to tell. People being, you know, people."
Skye listened with care, nodding from time to time. Anna Lynn had saved her life and given her enough food for a while if she was careful. She could say anything she wanted to say, and Skye would take notice.
As they neared Skye's car, they first went around the block to make sure it was safe, then stopped at the back of Skye's vehicle and transferred the food.
Skye turned to the doctor. "I can never thank you enough. I will stay if you need help. If you need anything..."
"No, like I said, we have all the support we need. We're okay. You go and get yourself somewhere secure and stay there."
Skye moved forward to hug Anna Lynn in appreciation for everything she had done, but Anna Lynn moved back.
"Sorry, I am just not the hugging type." She shrugged and gave a little laugh.
"No problem. That's fine. It's probably safer, anyway. You stay safe too. I pray we both make it through this and meet again when things are better."
"That would be nice, real nice."
Anna Lynn’s gaze followed Skye as she got into her car and drove off. She hoped she'd given Skye the advice she needed to survive this thing. A small cough escaped her.
Slowly, Anna Lynn reached up and tugged down the car's visor and opened the mirror. She loosened the ties of her mask and drew it off.
Her eyes widened as she stared at her reflection. Tears flooded and ran down her face, over her blue lips.
She squeezed her eyelids shut, then reopened them, hoping the scene in the mirror would change. Fear seized her when it had not.
Anna Lynn laid her head on the steering wheel and sobbed. Then with an aching heart, she put the car in drive and turned toward the high school.
14
A Monster
Jesse bit his lips together. Things had been going good. For the longest while he could ever remember. Him and his dad hadn’t just got by, they were getting along. Almost like a real dad and son.
But something happened—like it always did. The AgFlu had ruined everything. Too many people got Sick at his father's company, so the company had, temporarily they said, shut down.
Guess no one needs concrete poured when they're tur
nin blue and foamin at the mouth.
Jesse flinched as a bottle smashed against cheap wallboard. Glass splintered into a hundred shards that tinged onto the floor below.
He's back.
Jesse lay huddled in his single, metal-framed bed trying to ignore the sounds coming from the next room. His chin trembled and refused to stop, no matter how strong his orders. Little ragged breaths huffed between his pale lips as he curled his small body into a tight ball.
Jesse pulled his knees closer to his chest and covered himself from top to bottom with his thin, frayed blanket. He wished with all his heart that his father would fall over and lay senseless until morning—not become the monster Jesse knew he could be.
"Pass out. Pass out," Jesse quietly chanted to himself.
The boy's mind screamed for him to run, but it was too late. The window had warped shut long ago. There was only one way out of this room, straight past him.
The squeak of the chair springs as his father rose caused Jesse to jerk. His slight body trembled despite his best efforts to control it. The sound of slow, unsteady footsteps scraping across the floor reached him. Jesse's body tightened. Bunching the blanket in his clenched fists, he yearned for Frankie to forget he had a son.
Turn left. Turn left.
The footfalls didn't turn left. They turned right. They came for him.
Jesse's bedroom door flew open. It smacked against the wall behind it. The boy peeked out from his false sanctuary. Tears streamed from his eyes as if the blows had already begun. He pressed his clutched fists to the side of his face.
Frankie's dark form filled the doorway. He was still for a moment, knowing something was wrong, but he was well past any reason.
Jesse sensed the next movement before the noise reached his ears. He heard the rattle of the man's belt buckle. The boy let out a small, almost soundless moan.