Viral Evolution (Book 1): Retrovirus

by Winters, Leigh

  "Sean, help Mum!"

  Sean turns, looks at Charlotte and then to his mum who is now searching for the keys which fell down to the ground. Sean quickly unlocks the door and heads around to help his mother to look for the keys.

  "I told you to stay in the vehicle!"

  Sean appears to ignore his mother, however Sue knowing full well she needs to find the keys as soon as possible for the screams are coming closer and becoming more intense.

  Sean gets down on his stomach searching the ground underneath the vehicle.

  Sue looks back toward the city end for a moment, then looks down for the keys as more and more people flee toward then past them down the street either in their vehicles or on foot.

  Sean reaches in around the front wheel of the SUV while still on his stomach and finds the lost set.

  Clutching the keys in his hand he comes out from under as the infected come into view from the city with Sean standing up toward his mother.

  "Mum, got them!"

  Sue standing there for a second witnessing the onslaught coming toward them looks back to Sean who moves toward her.

  Sean passes the keys to Sue as he turns back, with her looking down for a brief moment and a sigh of relief at point of contact then takes the keys.

  As Sue makes her way to the driver door, she looks back up toward the city as Sean races around to get back into the vehicle with Sue also quickly doing into the driver's seat.

  Sean upon entry closes the door behind him, locking it then looking out toward the infected with Charlotte who is beginning to panic upon seeing them approach.

  In the chaos, a vehicle scrapes by the SUV as Sue is about to put the key into the ignition.

  The shunt from the vehicle causes Sue to hit her head on the steering wheel and drop the keys to the floor by her feet.

  As the infected move up within meters from the forecourt, Charlotte begins to scream on their approach.

  Terrified drivers with people on foot exiting out of the forecourt, as many leave without the gas they were intending to get on arrival to the petrol station.

  Sean voices through on seeing the incoming infected.

  "Mum!

  Sue upon regaining the keys in the process, placing one into the ignition and starting up the vehicle.

  "I’m getting there!"

  A panicked Sue then throws the SUV into gear, planting her foot on the accelerator to the floor as the infected come charging up behind the SUV bashing into the back and near smashing the rear window with Charlotte screaming out as she looks back and forth.

  "Go Mum!"

  Sue upon hearing her son and daughters voices, then sees Charlotte’s reaction in the rearview mirror as she looks back and forth over the onslaught.

  "Keep down Charlotte, don’t look!"

  Charlotte puts her head down while closing her eyes and placing her hands over her ears as the infected follow right behind the vehicle.

  The SUV hurtles out of the station screeching out onto the road as the infected move in behind them.

  The infected in the immediate area prey on those who remain behind, catching those running on foot and drivers trapped in their vehicles in the vicinity.

  Sue dodges fleeing people, and the few remaining vehicles to make it out into the clear as they race further down the road, although swerving obstacles at times toward the direction of home.

  John now closer toward home, unaware Jim is already in the air heading across to pick up him and his family from their house.

  The helicopter does a wide sweep of the suburbs closer to the city before moving toward John’s home for touchdown in the middle of the street.

  Jim with a few armed men beside him, get out and look around then walk up toward the house.

  The remaining people in the immediate area are also rushing to and throw while packing as many belongings or supplies into their own vehicles as quickly as they can before moving out themselves.

  Jim with his two armed guards head in toward the house to bang on the door checking to see if anyone is in.

  With no answer at the door, Jim then looks down the drive toward the helicopter and hoping John will turn up.

  As he stands there with a brief thought considering the possibility John and his family have already left they then move on out back toward the road.

  As Jim walks back out toward the end of the drive he, looks to his left and noticing a car coming toward them down the street.

  Then in relief with a smile beginning to appear, he sees it’s John driving the vehicle.

  John focused on driving toward home, although sees ahead along with his passengers who all look on toward the helicopter in the middle of the road when John’s attention soon moves slightly toward Jim and a slight smile appearing across his face as he sees his trusted friend.

  John speeding down the street pulls the car rapidly to a halt near Jim as the passengers lunge forward slightly from the momentum.

  John gets out of the car first as he moves quickly toward Jim, who then raises his hand with John doing the same as the two men meet shaking hands firmly and both glad to see each other.

  "It’s great to see you John!"

  "You too Jim! What’s going on?"

  The two men release hands upon shaking with them still looking at each other directly as John looks down the drive.

  "Sue and the kids, they’re not here?"

  John appearing to move toward the drive as Jim who gets his attention again on saying.

  "No, not yet."

  John throws both hands over his head with eyes closing on doing so, as his hands move up across his forehead and over toward the back off his neck in anguish before he opens them again looking to Jim before telling him.

  "Sue went for the kids and gas."

  "When was the last time you talked to her?"

  "Over an hour ago."

  "A lot has happened in that time, and that’s why I’m here!"

  Jim briefly looks to the helicopter, then toward the passengers, acknowledging Danny who he recognizes amongst the others who all now make their way toward John as Jim’s focus soon turns back to his worried friend.

  "How far is the gas station?"

  "Ten minutes on a good day?!"

  Jim stands there for a few moments considering what to do, knowing they will all have to leave the area very soon when John asks of Alpha 1 Unit.

  "You all made it out this morning?"

  Jim shakes his head although answers the question.

  "No, not all of us.. Do you still have the drive?

  John shakes his head in disappointment.

  "Sorry Jim."

  Jim looks over his roughed up friend standing there in his torn shirt before thinking of the next action to take.

  "We need an antidote."

  "We don’t have one?!"

  "Not even for the original?!"

  Mike listening in on the conversation moves closer to answer Jim on the question.

  "Our colleague was working on one, but they put a halt to that."

  Jim looks toward Mike upon hearing, as Mike turns to John.

  "I don’t think it was ready anyway, although I was willing to use it."

  Jim acknowledges Mike then turns back to John.

  "We need something to fix this. I want to go in before they take any final action."

  "Understood."

  John turns to Mike knowing he will need him to accompany them for an extraction.

  "I’m going to need your help."

  Mike pauses for a moment as John slightly raises his eyebrows.

  "Go in where exactly? What, are you thinking of going back to the lab?"

  John looks at Mike on his questions with a slight nod of the head.

  "Oh, you’re serious?! But I’m not really cut out for any military style extraction."

  "Maybe not, but you can get it if something happens to me."

  With the re
mainder of the group hearing the plan to go back into the compound, both Lizzie and Danny turn their attention toward John.

  "Shouldn’t one of you at least stay back while the other goes in to collect?"

  "Dad!"

  John quickly looks to Danny, although clearly heard Lizzie as Mike appreciates her concerns for their safety as Danny moves on to say.

  "None of you may make it out?!"

  All remain silent for a moment, Danny looks out to the side knowing of his father's responsibility, but still ponders the thought of his Dad coming into contact with the infected.

  The worry come across Danny’s face which Jennifer notices, as she then grabs at his hand before holding it tight for some form of comfort with Jim looking toward John then across to the young couple.

  With their attention somewhat drawn to Danny, who looks up slightly then points down the road in the direction of the service station seeing and recognizing a vehicle which has just turned the bend into their street.

  "There’s Mum!"

  Everyone turns looking to the SUV gaining speed on route toward them. John with Danny head nearer to his side moving slightly closer toward the direction of the SUV.

  John clearly relieved to see his wife’s wagon approaching them, which soon comes to a screeching halt as Sue then unbuckles her seat belt, opens the driver door and piles out toward John.

  John embraces his slightly bruised wife as they meet, as Sue holds a little tighter while Sean with Charlotte begin to exit the vehicle.

  "We saw them, I thought."

  "Aw love, I'm sorry."

  "Thought I’d never see you again."

  Sue is more than upset from her ordeal which shows, as Danny looks on and is more than happy to see his Mum alive.

  He then moves toward Sean with Charlotte who begins to show tears from the earlier terror and moving in to console her.

  Sue feeling safe in John’s arms pulls back slightly to look toward her husband as their eyes meet.

  "Those things. Some, they ripped them apart, and ate them. The people?!

  "At the station?"

  "Yes!"

  John looks deep into his wife’s eyes, then looks down slightly knowing what he and his team had created before looking over to Mike.

  Mike makes eye contact with John and they appear to both know each are thinking the same thoughts.

  Mike looks down slightly moving away from contact with John's eyes, which turn to Jim then back to Sue who begins calming in John’s embrace.

  Jim moving toward the couple briefly gets John's attention as he moves on to say with his attention directed at Sue.

  "I’m sorry you had to come into contact with them."

  With a slight nod of the head John follows on from Jim.

  "Me too."

  "I know."

  "If we’d known earlier, you wouldn’t of been down there."

  John knowing the infected are not far from their location turns his attention toward Jim.

  "We need to leave."

  Upon hearing this Jim moves in closer while agreeing with John. "That we do!"

  Sue loosens her grip on John, as the two slowly part with Sue turning to look toward Jim as John heads over to see his kids.

  "It’s good to see you you’re alright Sue."

  "You too Jim, and I’ll be great when this is all over."

  "Same here."

  The two along with the others move toward the helicopter as he voices to the group.

  "It’s going to be tight, but I’m not leaving anyone behind."

  Danny approaches Sue, then embraces his mother from the side as they move forward with her hand moving up to the back of his head and then with her leaning in to kiss him on the forehead.

  Sue acknowledges Jennifer overhead, who’s appearing somewhat embarrassed shying away, even though it appears they have both been forgiven with Sue smiling relief on having her family back together.

  The group all move into the awaiting helicopter which begins to power up, with Lizzie moving onto Mike’s lap, Jennifer onto Danny’s and Charlotte sitting on her Dad’s.

  The pilot radios through to command before it ascends, as all occupants remain quiet in their own thoughts with John looking to Sue who look over her husband.

  Jim nods his head while looking on toward his two friends with their children and thankful all are safe in his company.

  As the helicopter ascends higher over the residential housing they look to their house one last time, then begin to see the events before them in the surrounding suburbs toward the city.

  The streets clogged further back, trying to make out who’s who and whether it’s fleeing civilians or infected persons.

  John looks on out the side window toward the city voicing his disappointment as he thinks on the days events.

  "Damn it!"

  Jim looks toward John upon those two words, as Sue grabs his hand, holds it tight while John holds onto hers as he continues to look out the window down toward street level.

  "It was just a matter of time John?!"

  John hears Jim, and looks toward him as he shakes his head while Jim moves on to say.

  "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Humans have been playing with fire for far too long!"

  "But it was my assignment, I was in charge."

  From hearing these words from John, Mike disagrees and lets John know his views on the matter.

  "No John, Alex was in charge."

  Upon Mike's words, Jim agrees by nodding his head and knowing his friend was not at fault.

  "I understand what you might be feeling John, and I know you had good intentions.

  "Yeah, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. It escaped on my watch."

  "Alex took over our watch as soon as he entered the room, with no regard to protocol and leaving us to look after his mates as well as take the test."

  "What was he doing?"

  "Probably checking up on our work?!"

  John looks down while shaking his head on thinking of Alex’s actions leading up to the event, although it's obvious to everyone the disappointed in himself.

  Sue looks over to Mike, then Jim on their support, and back to her husband while holding his hand tighter which gets his attention as she looks over him.

  John looks at Sue, then holds her hand up to his lips and kisses while he thinks on what had been said as he moves their hands down together and sighs while still coming to terms of the unfolding events with him looking back out toward the city.

  CHAPTER 20

  Command Central

  The helicopter touches down on the tarmac, with Jim opening the door and all the occupants moving out safely.

  The General who was once Johns superior comes toward to meet on their arrival and although acknowledges Jim however the taller man of strong aging build with graying hair in his mid fifties quickly moves his attention to John.

  "John!"

  The two men meet, shaking each others hand with John happy to see him and in a safer environment.

  "Hello Sir!"

  "Glad you could join us!"

  "Thank you."

  "We need you on this, one hundred percent!"

  "It’s my duty to get things back in order Sir!"

  "You’re a good man John which is why we assigned you that position!"

  John looks on with Jim agreeing while nodding his head.

  "It was you Sir?!"

  "I was one of a few, and to have one of our own so to speak was part of the agreement for sharing the strain with Alex and company. We needed someone there we could trust and when I knew you wanted out, then you were our man for the job. It worked out well at the time, but it’s clearly most unfortunate however the way things have turned out."

  "Didn’t you trust Alex?"

  "No not really. He had a corporate agenda and was answering to the shareholders while only thinking of overall profit."

  M
ike overhearing jumps in on the conversation while knowing what became of Alex.

  "I don’t think he was thinking that in the end?!"

  John looks to Mike upon hearing the later as he stands close by with the General, who moves in to shake Mike's hand as they introduce themselves with John moving on to say.

  "Mike was working with me in the lab Sir, and came into close contact with the initial infected."

  "So you’re our 2IC then?"

  Appearing more confident upon meeting the General, Mike answers him while nodding as the General appears waiting for a response in favor of the task ahead.

  "Okay."

  "Good one!"

  Upon this, the general nodding his head soon turns his attention back to John.

  "I understand you had the files on drive."

  John looks briefly to Mike before replying.

  "Sorry Sir, we lost it evacuating the city, but between us two, we have all the information you need."

  "Well, the main thing is you made out it in one piece."

  The general turns his attention over to Jim.

  "Jim, could you please take Sue and the kids in to get something to eat then meet us back in the briefing room."

  "I’d be honored Sir!"

  John turns to Sue and his children as Mike with Lizzie on.

  "I’ll be seeing you soon."

  "Good!"

  John and Sue kiss. On parting Charlotte quickly goes over to her father as he gets down to her level while she moves in to hug.

  "Don’t be too long Dad."

  "I’ll be as quick as I can. Now Jim’s going to take you into the canteen for something to eat. There’s a gaming area there too."

  Sean overhears his Dad's words saying to himself on excitement, "Games room, yes!" although most hear him in the process with John looking toward his son with a grin before turning back Charlotte.

  "I’ll come see you shortly."

  "Okay."

  Sue motions forward with Jim, as Charlotte, Lizzie, Jennifer follow close behind as Sean then moves in toward John looking to high five on the go which John responds to well.