by N. M. Black
Contents
Playlist
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Pandorum © 2019 N.M. Black
All rights reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used factitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission for the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
Editing © Jennifer Anderson
Cover Design & Formatting © Black Widow Designs
The Blackest Day ~ Lana Del Rey
Beautiful Hell ~ Adna
Paralyzed ~ NF
Colorblind ~ Counting Crows
Madness ~ Ruelle
Toronto ~ Tusks
Living Dead Girl ~ Rob Zombie
Down with the Sickness ~ Disturbed
Zombie ~ Bad Wolves
I Stand Alone ~ Godsmack
Break Stuff ~ Limp Bizkit
The Man Comes Around ~ Johnny Cash
God Jammit ~ Buried Alive
Nothing Else Matters (Instrumental) ~ Apocalyptica
Army of Me ~ Bjork
Get UP! ~ Korn ft. Skrillex
Scared ~ The Tragically Hip
Hopeless ~ Halsey
Walk Through the Fire ~ Zayde Wolf, Ruelle
The Resistance ~ Skillet
Listen on Spotify:
https://spoti.fi/2HC90Jk
February 14th
One year ago…
"She's got a fever again." My wife Mattison says as she as comes out of our daughter Olivia’s bedroom with a concerned look on her face. "I'll get an overnight bag together; can you call the doctor?"
Great. There go our Valentines plans, and another night spent at the hospital. There is never a good time to have a sick child, but is one holiday or occasion with no trip to the emergency room too much to ask?
My poor little princess suffers from Lupus, an autoimmune disease that instead of attacking bacteria or viruses, it attacks her own body. I know it seems selfish of me to be worried about my plans, but Mattison and I haven't had a break since Olivia was born, four years of constant worrying, hospital trips, fevers, treatments and what not.
But we NEEDED this night. We have not been the same since she was diagnosed.
"Ya, I will call. Does she need anything?" I ask.
"No, she’s sleeping right now, and I have a cloth on her forehead. I think we caught the fever in time." Mattison responds sullenly.
I am thankful that we may have caught the fever, but I’m still concerned about how this will impact our marriage. I know it’s only one night, but our lives have been made up of cancelled one nights, trading hours of sleep for our baby, and only seeing each other in passing when one relieves the other. I don’t regret being everything I need to be for my daughter, but I miss my best friend. I miss my wife.
We pack up the car and head to the hospital. The staff aware we’re coming and what to expect. I reach over the center console and lace my fingers with Mattison’s, giving her a gentle squeeze. She looks over at me and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I can see she is exhausted, we both are, but I can see there’s more to it. I can feel her pulling away from me, from us. I pull her hand up to my lips and gently kiss the knuckle of her ring finger, hoping she can feel my love and support through my actions. But I get nothing in return, just silence.
I have tried, on many occasions, to get Mattison to go to therapy but she refuses. I even offered couples counselling, but she says there’s nothing wrong with our marriage. I feel she may be having some coping issues with our daughters’ constant decline in her health but how do you force someone to see something they don’t want to admit in themselves?
It’s lonely with no one to talk to anymore, and now more than ever we need to be together, for as long as we have left. But the more I push her, the more she pulls away leaving me desperate for affection. I sometimes find myself wondering if it weren’t for Olivia, would I still be here? Would I have stuck around this long? Don’t get me wrong, I am a one woman man, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been intimate, or even close with Mattison, and I miss her. I never used to notice other women, Mattison was my everything, but lately I feel more of a connection with my secretary than my own wife, and I think that’s dangerous.
I’m so lost in my own thoughts, I barely notice when the signal for the Canadian Broadcast Emergency System comes on. Mattison is the one who leans forward to turn up the volume as the message starts to play through the speakers.
**Attention Signal** “We interrupt this broadcast to bring you an Emergency Action Notification. All broadcast stations and cable systems shall transmit this Emergency Action Notification at the request of Parliament Hill to participate in the Canadian Broadcasting Emergency Alert System. The Prime Minister of Canada will appear shortly over the Emergency Broadcast System to deliver important precautions and instructions. During this emergency, most stations will remain on the air to provide news and information to the public in assigned areas. This is CBC. We will continue to serve the Toronto Metropolitan and surrounding areas. If you are not in this local area, you should tune to stations providing news and information for your local area. You are listening to the Canadian Emergency Broadcasting Alert System serving the Toronto Metropolitan Area. Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines should be kept open for emergency use only. The Canadian Emergency Broadcasting Alert System has been activated.
**Attention Signal** This is a National Emergency. The Public Health Agency of Canada, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and their counterparts in various countries have reported cases of high fever, nausea, death, and even cannibalism. Please seek shelter now and stay indoors until further notice.” **Attention Signal**
Seek shelter? Right now, that is not an option for us. My goal is to get us to Sick Kids Hospital as quickly as possible.
Next thing I know, our phones go off showing the symbol for Alert Ready, the emergency alert system for wireless devices.
The system proceeds to populate the screen with what type of emergency we are under and what it’s affecting. Biological information flashes on the screen. In all my years, I have never seen a biological emergency come up. As an ex-military officer, I am aware of what protocols will be put into effect for almost anything.
I punch the gas of my truck, throwing my wife’s head back into her seat, knowing that I need to try and beat the soon to be in place barricade outside all hospitals and government buildings. Olivia’s condition will not be considered an emergency if we are under a province wide state of emergency.
**Attention Signal** Please stand by for the Prime Minister of Canada. **Attention Signal**
Fellow Canadians, it is with great apprehension, that I am addressing you at this time. I have just been made aware by the U.S. Government that we are experiencing a massive Biological and Viral Outbreak,
necessitating a state of emergency. Waterways have been compromised, evidence indicates, by a botched experiment. During this time, it is strongly advised DO NOT drink the water. Bottled or otherwise without boiling it. There is a possibility that it may be airborne as well but we have no confirmation as of yet. We have no idea to the extent of the contamination at this time. We do not have a time frame as to when this will be neutralized. There will be ZERO tolerance for unruly, violent or disruptive behavior. All those in question will be removed by will or by force. Do not go outside. Do not open your door. Please take emergency precautions until given further notice. **Attention Signal** This is a message from the Prime Minister of Canada and the Emergency Broadcast System. **Attention Signal**
Three blocks from the hospital I see the guns, the orange flares, cones, and a lot of army issued camo.
FUCK! We’re too late. The barricade is already in place and a large crowd of people have started to gather. I slam my fist on the steering wheel causing Mattison to flinch.
"Hey, maybe they will let us through? The hospital is expecting us and some of them may know you." She rests her hand on my forearm, trying to calm and reassure me. I smile and nod, but I already know we aren't getting anywhere near that hospital, no matter what.
I pull up to the officer and roll down my window. "Good evening officer. We are heading to Sick Kids Hospital. My daughter is a patient there and the staff is already aware we are coming. Is there any way you can call over to let us through?"
I see him look in the back seat at my daughter and he turns around to radio someone. I was sure there would be more of a fight, but he seems to be understanding.
As we wait several minutes, I see 4 more military officers holding guns come our way. So much for understanding.
An older man comes to my window, "Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to step out of the vehicle please."
"What? Why?" I demand.
"Sir, this is protocol and I'm gonna have to ask again for you to step clear of the vehicle".
"It's fucking winter, and -28 and my little girl is sick. She needs to be seen by a doctor. Let’s not add frostbite to her already mounting illness. Please, I am begging you. Radio the God damned doctor."
"Sir, right now we are under a state of National Emergency. All precautions are to be met, no matter the circumstance. Again, I will ask you to step out of the vehicle. This is your final warning."
Fuck. I know I need to step out, I’ve been in his shoes, but this is my little girl and she is declining quickly. I step out and grab my coat to throw over me. The officer steps forward and pulls out a device and holds it towards me.
"I will need to get a quick sample of your blood to ensure there is no infection and wait for clearance before you will be escorted in. Please comply."
I hold my hand out while he pricks my finger. I see out of the corner of my eye that another officer is now escorting my family from my truck and administering the same procedure on them.
"Sir!" The gentleman holding my daughter calls over to the officer in charge. He walks towards him and they speak softly together. Not today boys.
"What is going on?" I ask with authority in my voice.
"Your daughter has just tested positive for the virus. We must take all necessary precautions at this time and have her quarantined and shipped to our base." He states calmly as though this isn’t a major issue.
"The fuck you are! She needs a doctor! She has Lupus and it will show up as other viruses. It's just a fever!" I shout.
"Sir, we have confirmation from the doctor that the child is being seen for what the gentleman has stated, and this is normal." I hear a woman officer say next to us.
"I don't care. She has a fever. We can't take any chances." He says as though it is final.
"Would you stop that?! You’re scaring people!" The woman warns the commanding officer as she looks around at the ever-growing crowd of spectators. She looks at me with kind green eyes, as she tries to calm the man, but is quickly shut down.
“There is a massive virus outbreak wiping out the nation. Pretty sure this IS the time for them to get scared, don’t you think?!” He practically spits at her, as though she is being ridiculous.
While I heard what he said, I just didn’t have the time to register it or be rational because in the distance, I see Olivia’s doctor come running down University Avenue.
"Doc!" I shout as loud as possible. He picks up his pace, only to be apprehended 50 feet away.
Mattison is absolutely frantic and I'm now fighting to get to Olivia who is being pulled towards another army vehicle. Away from the Hospital.
Four automatic weapons are pointed directly at my head as I'm forced to the ground and my hands are hog tied behind my back. Taking a moment to calm myself, I try to co-operate as much as I can so that my daughter is not put in more harm or sees something happen she shouldn't.
But as Mattison continues to lose her shit at any and everyone, I feel absolutely helpless as they begin to restrain her. I know deep down this is not going to end well for anyone here. This is not my first time seeing this happen. The only difference is, that I was always on the other side of the rifle.
"Ma'am! Don’t make me hurt you! Calm down!"
"How can she be calm when you're denying her child care and threatening her and her family." I hear the doctor challenge the military officers that have now circled around us.
They take Mattison away in cuffs and put her in the back of an army wagon. Two guards are posted to either side as she continues to struggle to try and reach our daughter. I have had enough at this point.
"Let me the fuck go and call your superior. I am Sgt. Lochlan Rivers. DO IT NOW!" I shout.
"Sir, calm down before...." Ya fuck you, that's not happening. Before he can finish his sentence, I jump to my feet and head butt him. He goes down hard and fast.
I turn to take the next one out when I'm suddenly hit by a blunt object upside the head. I don't pass out, but the edges of my vision go blurry and I drop back down to my knees.
I watch in horror, as my little girl is kicking and screaming, being corralled towards another vehicle with no care. My heart breaks as the look in her tear-filled eyes fades and she passes out from whatever they’ve just injected her with.
I hear shouting beyond us and see a guard falls out of line as he stumbles and leans as though he can't hold his own body up. Everyone is screaming at him to fall back in line, but he keeps moving, staggering closer to where the officer in command is shouting orders.
With the guard no longer monitoring his post, the crowd of people are pushing through the barrier to get to the emergency services that have been blocked off.
An officer close to the guard takes a shot, trying to put him down, but he staggers back to his feet as if he were drunk and 2 more shots are sounded. People begin to panic as chaos ensues and everyone starts to scatter in all directions, no longer concerned about the army men with guns trying to direct them.
I notice that most of the officers leave their posts as they try to get the barricade back in place and control the unruly crowd, but there is no control in these situations.
The guard that’s been shot at least 5 times now, is still moving forward. Shouts from nearby people ring out as he passes them. The crowd too thick, I can’t see what is happening. All I know is the guard is still making his way in our direction as the people closest to him begin to give him a wide berth.
The female guard grabs my elbow to help me stand. I glance at her for a moment and nod my silent thanks. She flushes pink from the neck up, and for a moment I bask in the feeling of being the reason it happened, that I could still elicit some type of reaction from a woman.
The sound of her radio pulls me from my trance. I can’t believe that I was so easily distracted by a set of innocent green eyes and an empathetic smile. This is not the time or place to be feeling sorry for myself, and definitely not to be thinking thoughts of another woman.
Pulling myself together,
I notice the rogue guard is heading towards where they’ve taken my daughter. I try to get to her, but he’s too close and I’m too far.
Another guard steps forward to try and keep me back and grabs at my shoulders. I rear my head back and slam it forward as hard as I can, effectively breaking his nose and spraying blood everywhere. As I get closer, I see all the bodies that litter the ground like a trail that leads straight to my daughter and the rogue guard is hovering right over her.
Suddenly he lurches forward at my daughter, shrieks of fear from those around her ring out above the noise. I shout over to get the rogue guards’ attention away from my daughter and as he looks up, I can see blood covering his hands and face. It's then that I see his eyes are black as night. There is no life left in them at all.
He suddenly lunges directly at me and without a second thought, my military training kicks in and I take him down at the feet. We are both tumbling on the ground. My arms are still tied and I am doing everything I can in order to keep him from getting at me.
He’s snarling and snapping his teeth as though he were rabid. The screams of people clamouring to get away from us fill my head. Suddenly the woman military officer is beside us and puts a single bullet in his head. Blood and brain matter splatters all over my face and sidewalk, but he finally goes down. For good this time.
“Aim for the head. Over.” I hear her radio to the rest of her team. She walks over to the guard on the ground and puts one more round in his forehead. Just to be sure.
“MacNair, make sure that one is dead as well.” I hear the commanding officer say from beside us. She hesitates, earning her a direct command. Tears filling her eyes, she turns and looks directly at me as she turns her gun to the left and shoots another round. In all the chaos, I didn’t even notice there were more like him.
