“Betty, Dr. Wilkes needs you outside. If they are bleeding or have something broken, they go on the right. If they have anything minor, they wait on the other side of the parking lot. When I send one patient out, you send the next one in. You are doing a great job. You can do this.” Valerie hugged the woman before sending her out the front door.
“Oh, my garsh. Oh, my garsh. I can’t believe this is happening. What is going on?” Betty muttered as she scooted her feet out the front door.
Valerie collected various medical supplies into a bucket. She paused for a moment, and for the first time since the accident, she took her cell phone out of her bag. The battery was dead. The Denver Airport was a twenty-minute drive from her home. If planes were going down, they might have gone down there. She had no way of contacting Scott or Gia. Her baby was home, and she was a hundred miles away. If Scott were back, she would be less anxious.
“Valerie! We need some help back here,” Roy announced, flustered. “Girl, nothing is working. All the equipment is being crazy, and I need your help.”
Roy saw the phone in her hand and the emotion on her face. “We all got people. But I need help.”
Valerie slid the phone into her pocket and followed him, once again turning off her personal concerns.
“The equipment works fine until you try to hook them up. So, we have to get manual vitals on all these people,” Roy said, throwing his hands in the air.
“They don’t need vitals right now. Expose their wounds and write on the board what their chief complaint is. We will just patch them up and send them home. No X-rays, no labs, no medications. Okay?”
Roy nodded in compliance and went to work.
Valerie returned to the lobby. Some people left as others walked in to take their place. By the time she got to each patient, their blood had dried, and their wounds had disappeared without explanation. Valerie kept her calm outward resolve, withholding her disbelief. Inside, she repeated what August had told her: This is not the most bizarre thing that has happened today. Seeing no need to document the patients, since no interventions were needed, they were dismissed.
A group waiting to be looked at chatted in the area. They took turns recapping their version of the same story:
“I was cooking breakfast for my girlfriend, and then I got lightheaded. The next thing I know, I wake up on the ground covered in fried eggs. My girlfriend said I passed out for, like two seconds and the pan fell right on my head,” he explained with a cold pack held up to the right side of his face. He pulled it away to show the others, but they studied him and shrugged.
“It doesn’t really even hurt anymore,” he said and set the ice pack down on the chair beside him.
The person listened to the story repeated by another. “I kind of felt this coming. Crazy, huh? I felt weird all morning. Now my body just feels heavy.” The patients all had similar experiences with only variance in activity or location. Some people were driving and wrecked. Others were at home.
“I wonder why everyone didn’t feel the electricity. I saw those planes go down in a field behind my house. No one could have survived any of those crashes, but at least they didn’t go down in the neighborhoods,” one man continued rambling. “An EMP, maybe? But that would have affected everything, not just random things.”
Valerie tried her hardest to focus on the assessment she was giving a woman who fell in the grocery store and busted her chin open on a cart. Her thoughts were the loudest of any voice around her. Caleb. Caleb. CALEB. She wanted to run out, get in any random car, and drive home. She wanted to panic but had to focus. Any minute, the more severe trauma patients from the crashes could come pouring in.
“This was definitely an attack,” one man spoke up to the others. “Russia, probably. Couldn’t have been an EMP because not every car was affected. I had to drift my car to the side and use my e-brake. And I saw others freak out and do the same, but some cars kept going. My phone doesn’t work either, but other people were talking on theirs. They targeted certain people. Maybe we all know something we shouldn’t.”
Valerie stood to politely ask the man to stop making radical speculations in the waiting room. The last thing she needed was the mass hysteria to work its way inside the ER doors.
“Valerie, come here for a sec.” August walked through the waiting room and motioned her to the nurse’s station out of earshot of the patients. She abandoned her confrontation and followed him as he gathered the team into a huddle.
“I have never, in over twenty years of medicine, seen people just heal themselves. Something is not right here, and all these people need to go home and stay there. We are running out of supplies fast using them on people who don’t need treatment. Betty, how many people are still waiting?”
“Um, a handful of mothers with small children. They are not willing to leave until the little ones are checked out. They all seem fine to me.” Betty had done an excellent job, just as Valerie knew she would.
“Excuse me? Who is in charge here?” a firm voice came from the reception desk window. A man stood in a navy-blue security type uniform with the letters CDC in white on the front.
August whispered a curse under his breath and approached the man. They spoke for a moment before August returned to the group. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the ground.
“Change of plans. All patients will go with the CDC for quarantine. Everyone claiming to have passed out will go for observation. Betty, please make a copy of the patient list, if you have one. I know things escalated fast. When you can throw one together, please give whatever you can gather to the gentleman over there. They have trucks in the parking lot and are already loading people up. If anyone has questions, direct them to the people in blue.” August walked back to his office and shut the door.
“That must have been what the email from the main hospital said,” Betty mumbled as she went to work.
Valerie heard August engage the lock on his office door. Just as earlier, she wanted to rip the door off the hinges. Something was wrong, but how typical of a doctor to protect themselves and leave everyone else to figure things out. As the only nurse on duty, she took charge and assisted Betty with compiling the list. Concerned mothers parted with children. Husbands kissed their wives before being separated. Valerie had not told anyone how she lost consciousness before her car wrecked into the mile marker. She had a feeling a trip with the CDC would postpone the reunion with her family.
The emergency room emptied of patients. The CDC collected the pedestrians waiting outside, helping them all into blue package trucks with the CDC logo.
“Did you hear him say twenty years? I think ole girl over here and him have the same baby-face condition.” Roy sat behind the desk talking up a storm with Betty, trying to calm her down.
“What I find quite off,” Valerie began, “is they are in security guard uniforms, and not hazmat suits like you would expect from quarantine. Something is not right.”
Valerie was cut off by the television in the lobby. The monitor sprang to life loud enough to startle her from the nurse’s station. The three of them rushed to see what it had to say. Two news anchors sat at the desk, a man and a woman apologizing for interrupting the regularly scheduled program.
“At exactly 12:46 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, an electrical surge passed over the surface of the Earth, what is now being referred to as ‘the Event.’ The CDC has put out the following statement:
“The cause of the wave of electricity is unknown but is believed to have multiple points of impact all over the globe. It is uncertain why the Event occurred or what the permanent effects will be. All airborne vessels were disabled, and we have received reports that over 4,000 planes have gone down as a result. Most motor transportation is also affected.
“The current of electricity has affected certain individuals as well. Quarantine has begun for those affected by the worldwide electrical surge. If you or someone you know has fallen, experienced a loss of consciousness, or has reported a s
trange sensation over their body, the CDC requests these people contact them at the 1-800 number on your screen.”
The news anchors continued to talk as the three stood in silence. Inner turmoil wore visible on their faces as they each seemed to be fighting a mental battle: to stay or to go. The phone rang and surprised the group. Gia’s name showed on the caller ID, and Valerie ripped the phone off the hook. Silence.
“Gia? Hello?”
Curses flew from her mouth with tears and anger. Betty put an arm on her shoulder and pulled her in to hug her.
“Shh. If you need to go, now would be the time. There is no more good any of us can do here. You have a long drive.”
Valerie did not ask permission. She did not look at August’s closed door or Roy or even acknowledge Betty’s words. Valerie gathered her things and walked out the front door. Within five steps she remembered her car did not make it to the parking lot.
Valerie screamed so loud she thought her throat would bleed. She had no time to process what had happened, had no way of knowing if her husband and son were even alive, and no way to get back to them. She collapsed onto the asphalt and sat there. Mulling over multiple what-ifs. She was stuck. She finally considered going to her father for help.
“Dammit,” she said, unable to think of any other way around it.
Valerie’s childhood was one of extreme structure. Her father gave her and her older brother Kevin endless lessons on survival. This took away from weekends and holidays all through her adolescence. Mike taught them how to survive in many different situations. Her least favorite exercises were the four-day hikes. He showed the two how to find water, and forage if needed. He also taught them how to avoid being detected and how to apply camouflage. She honestly believed him to be a paranoid lunatic because he was so much harder on her than Kevin. It must have been a punishment for not being like her brother, a son. Mike was never mean to her, but he never showed her affection like dads on TV. He did not encourage her or ever call her princess. He just always wanted her to do better, try harder, and stop crying. Kevin would eat it up. He could not get enough of living on the land. One summer, he slept every night in the tree in their backyard, showering only when forced. Valerie was the opposite, which frustrated her father.
As an adult, she let go of most of her teenaged animosity, though Mike did little to change. She could imagine his response to her showing up on his doorstep. He would just watch her throw her tantrum without an offer of condolence and wait in silence for her to figure out a solution herself. She threw punches into her bag at the thought of having to face him. She had one last option before having to walk to her dad’s house. Blood pumping, she stood up and walked back into the building.
“Roy, I need a ride. My dad lives twenty minutes from here,” she yelled across the counter as she made her way through the facility to the break room, stepping around glass from light bulbs that had burst with the electrical wave. Though only a couple of hours had passed since she had fainted, the whole incident felt like a terrible distant dream. Her adrenaline was wearing off, and she had had just a few moments to piece together everything that had happened since she woke up that morning. There was a gaping disconnect between what her life was the day before and the reality of what she faced ahead. She was going to walk home, one hundred miles, whatever it took to get back to her son.
Valerie was still deep in thought when August drifted back into her mind. She snapped back to her task, fighting off the distraction he had caused during the entire ordeal. Her heart did a small flutter, and the feelings returned. She ignored them and maintained her determined standoff. Inhale, exhale.
August cleared his throat to announce his presence, but he did not catch Valerie off guard. Strange enough, she felt him enter the room.
“The roads are blocked with stalled cars. There are no clear routes. You’d be lucky to even get a vehicle out of the parking lot at this point.”
“I can’t just stay here and wait this out. I’ll walk. My dad’s house isn’t far.” Though the doctor was casual with her, she maintained her distance. He seemed to be genuinely concerned, but it could have been Valerie’s wishful thinking. She continued to shove crackers and various other snacks into her bag. Though she was determined to get home, the idea of staying with August lingered in her mind like the sweet scent of a dessert enticing her to indulge.
He continued moving closer to her, “The president declared the entire country in a state of emergency. They have instituted martial law. It’s like this everywhere.”
Valerie looked up at the young doctor. She studied his face but was unsure what he was getting at.
“You don’t think I am capable?” Valerie challenged. She wanted him to insult her, to piss her off. She wanted to hate him and be offended because everything in her wanted him closer.
“I don’t think the CDC has anyone’s best interests in mind. FEMA should have responded, not the CDC, and all federal aid takes almost twenty-four hours in any disaster. But I do think we should stick together. I want to show you something.” August pulled his cell from his pocket and placed the device on the table. When he pulled his hand away, the phone sprang to life, blinking and vibrating with incoming messages. He brought his hand back to the phone, and the commotion stopped. “You try.”
Valerie could not move. Her pounding heart was making her stomach sick, yet she did not shy away from his approach. She was afraid of what he was trying to tell her. More fearful of what she would see on her phone if the power came on.
“I’m going to take a stab and guess you’re older than twenty,” he said.
Valerie could feel him studying her reaction but did not meet his gaze. “I’m thirty-five.”
“It’s all right. I’m not going to turn you in.”
“You’re not twenty either.”
“Not by a long shot.”
Jaw clenched, she white-knuckled the phone in her scrub pocket for a few more moments before putting it on the table next to his. She lifted her hand away. Just like August’s phone, hers sputtered and lit up. The list of messages grew until Gia’s name appeared. She reached for it, but just before her hand touched the device, both phones cracked and caught fire.
“No!” she screamed into the small fiery piles on the table. She did not understand how she had caused them to explode, just like the computer. Could she have also caused the planes to go down?
“I don’t know,” August said to himself, less distraught about the damage she had caused. “There’s like a six-inch bubble. When I get within reach of anything electronic, the power stops working. Explains why we couldn’t hook up those patients to the monitors. And it isn’t just you and me. The majority of those people were affected but in a different way. I don’t think any vehicles we try are going work either. The cars didn't malfunction. It’s the people in them. I’m just happy I wasn’t on a plane today. I’m sure people like us are what brought them down.”
“So, you woke up this morning looking like this?” She tried to be casual, waving a hand, deep down dreading the moment she would have to take her eyes off him.
“It’s an improvement. Believe me.” He smiled, and she believed him.
“I shouldn’t have even come to work today. Do you think what we have is different from everyone else though?”
“Think about it. They all had injuries before coming here. If everyone were the same, the people would have started healing themselves before I was even able to see them. Tell me. How bad was your wreck?”
“I don’t know. I. . .”
“Passed out? And woke up without a concussion or even a scratch?”
“You passed out, too?”
“I just think it’s different for you and me. Why didn’t you tell the CDC and comply with the quarantine?”
“Why didn’t you? Or if you knew about me, why not give me away?”
“Because I needed to talk to you and try to figure this out.” August straighten his posture.
“I still hav
e to leave. I don’t have a choice. I can’t stay here. I have to go,” Valerie pleaded out loud with her own heart and to him, hoping he would break her of the spell. His eyes reflected the same.
“Grab some Gatorade from the fridge. If things are as bad as they are saying, I can go with you to make sure you are safe. I just feel drawn to, I don’t know, protect you? Make sure you’re safe? Letting you leave alone just feels wrong.” He looked away, hands deep in his pockets. He was getting at something, and Valerie could only assume what.
“Dr. Wilkes. I understand this is a traumatic and intense situation, but let me clarify something. I am a happily married woman. I have no clue what might be going on between us,” Valerie motioned to the space between them, fighting against herself to narrow the separation, “but I do know it is completely inappropriate. I can manage on my own.” She hoped that saying the words out loud would help to strengthen her resolve. She wanted nothing more than to jump into his arms and fall apart into a million pieces. No doubt he would let her.
Embarrassed, Valerie left without giving August the opportunity to argue her accusation. She knew if she was right, seeing his reaction might very well change her mind.
Valerie’s bag was heavier than she anticipated as she flung the weight over her shoulder. The tote was impractical for her trek. She would need to get to her brother’s townhouse before trying to walk to her father’s. Kevin would have military gear more suitable for her trip than her two-strapped mom bag. He would also have guns, though she hoped she would not need them.
As she crested the only hill along her route, she saw the wreckage of the first plane that went down. The Colorado Springs Airport was a thirty-minute drive from where she was. Every single aircraft was brought down with the Event, leaving first responders sadly inadequate to rescue everyone. Only one firetruck was present spraying water on the flames which engulfed the nose and first half of the plane. The other end crushed like a soda can. Survivors of the wreckage were still on the scene. Others lay lifeless on orange rescue slings while the living just sat watching in shock, probably waiting for transportation to the nearest hospital. Valerie could not look any longer. The moment her eyes studied on even one child, she knew she would lose her resolve.
Apparent Power: DiaZem Trilogy Book One Page 3