N87 Virus | Book 1 | After the Outbreak

by Kadin, Karri

  Once she regained her equilibrium, she looked around. Trees, trees, trees as far as the eye could see. “Great,” she said out loud and then listened as her voice bounced around the foliage. Her tongue stumbled over the word like it had forgotten how to form words. She twisted it around in her mouth, unnerved by the foreignness of it all. “Where the hell am I?” Her voice echoed back to her. She gazed at the world around her, taking in all the varied shades of green as she realized just how alone she was.

  Fear crept into her gut then rose upward, tightening around her throat, making it difficult to swallow. If she let in the dread, it would consume her. She closed her eyes and forced herself to swallow, loosening the lump in her throat. One, two, three—stay calm—four, five, six—stay focused—eight, nine, ten—don’t forget to breathe. When she opened her eyes, the fear dampened but still waited right below the surface for the perfect opportunity to devour her. The middle of the woods was not the place to have a meltdown. She’d lose it later, when she was safe, clean, and clothed.

  Allison needed to get out of this forest. She thought back to the one camping trip she went on during her brief stint in Girl Scouts. Head north, everyone says. Head north if you’re lost. She looked for the sun, finding it to the right of her, resting in the soft blue sky. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, right? Or does it rise in the west and set in the east? Allison couldn’t remember with the throbbing in her head drowning out her own thoughts. There wasn’t a road, a trail, or anything symbolizing civilization. She simply picked a direction and started walking. Nowhere she could end up would be more remote than this.

  How did I get here? Allison looked for any mode of transportation. Not a car, bike, or even a damn horse anywhere in sight. Did Gabby leave me? They always promised not to leave each other at parties. She couldn’t imagine Gabby just leaving her stranded. Allison looked down at her naked, battered body. Did someone hurt me?

  A chill trickled down Allison’s spine. What if Gabby’s in trouble too? Warm tears rimmed her eyes. She covered both her hands over her nether regions. Was I raped? Her stomach rolled. She squeezed her thighs, no discomfort. She shook her head pushing away the thought. Being angry was better than being worried. Allison chose to be angry.

  She walked for at least thirty minutes; her surroundings stayed the same. Trees, trees, and more trees. She came to a slight clearing and sat in a shaded area on the grassy ground. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged, taking note that her perfect pink pedi was long gone now, replaced with thick calluses and jagged nails. How long would it take for my feet to look like this?

  Allison pushed the thought from her mind. She needed to focus on finding civilization. Her entire body ached, the same way it had the day after the car accident when she was sixteen that totaled her mom’s Jeep, but her headache had improved.

  The vegetation was fresh and green. Birds filled the warm, sweet air with gentle melodies. A soft breeze brushed across her skin. What happened to the fall? How long have I been out here? Her surroundings were the least confusing aspect of her situation. She ran her hands through her matted hair. How long would it take for my hair to grow this long? An icy wave rushed down her spine, causing every strained muscle to shiver. Allison wrapped her arms around her torso, trying to steady herself.

  A lump formed in her throat. Tears spilled out of her eyes, creating muddy rivers down her cheeks. Allison scratched at her arms, peeling dry muck off in patches. She glanced at her nails. They were broken, jagged with black goo under each one of them. She examined the rest of her body. This isn’t right. Dark, thick hair covered everything below the waist. Her hand ran down her ribs, feeling each one protrude from her skin. Allison shuddered. She had always been thin. One of the many things she inherited from her mother. She’d eat all day and lose a pound. But now her frame was anorexic thin. Her skin, marbled with abrasions, bruises, and scars, had no significant injuries. Her tremble grew so violent that she’d rip apart if it didn’t stop, so she pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them, holding her body in a tight ball. But the shaking came from her core and pushed its way outward. She couldn’t control it or stop it. Something horrible happened. She cried.

  Allison’s tears turned to dry, heaving sobs before progressing to a low whimper. Crying in the woods while ants bite my ass will not help me figure out what has happened. I have to find people, anyone. Someone who could help her find out where she was and what had happened to her. With renewed motivation, she walked again.

  As she walked she saw very few animals, nothing big, just some rabbits and squirrels. She heard some birds but never placed an eye on one. The dense forest had little underbrush and the flat ground only had an occasional rock or twig disturbing its smooth surface. The walk was easy, as if walking barefoot on sticks and unknown substances is considered easy. Fear slithered in her gut, sending shivers throughout her body. She stopped and dropped to her knees. Her eyes squeezed shut as she cradled her shaking body and rocked. The fear tightened its hold. Allison pushed back against it. You have to keep moving. She forced her eyes open and stood. Focus on something else. Her thoughts raced until she found the memory. This is like hiking with Mom and Tyler. Yes. Hiking. Sadness washed over her as she remembered her mother and brother but her feet moved forward again.

  The trees and underbrush freshly bloomed, the air was filled with the scent of spring. Flowering plants full of colorful blossoms scattered across the ground. She walked at a hurried pace for a few hours, never tiring. The light faded away, limiting Allison’s vision. The forest filled with shadows and noises that sent shivers of fear throughout her body.

  She became dizzy again. Water, I need water. Then a faint rumble. Allison froze. The sound grew louder. She recognized that sound. It’s a car! It was in the distance, but it was there. Her heart quickened, and a smile spread across her face. She bolted through the forest in the sound’s direction. Sharp objects jabbed in her feet but she kept running. Every breath burned like fire in her chest as her numb legs carried her closer and closer to the sound.

  The ground in front of her dropped into a steep slope. She dug her heels into the earth, leaving deep grooves in the rich dirt, trying to stop her forward motion. The drop-off was too steep. Allison’s feet left the ground as she tumbled down, rolling head over feet toward the pavement at the bottom. She screamed as she fell down the forty-five-degree incline, rolling over the uneven ground. Her head slammed into rocks and logs as her body picked up speed. A cloud of black dirt followed her; stones and twigs rocketed into the air as she rolled. Sharp bits of nature jammed into her flesh, drawing blood, turning her body into a pin cushion. The ground evened out, slowing her momentum. Her body came to an abrupt stop as she hit flat pavement.

  The rumble of an engine roared near her. Close, too close. On instinct she rolled the way she had come, back off the pavement. Her hair waved in the rush of air as the car zipped by her, filling her nostrils with exhaust fumes. The breaks squealed as the car came to a stop a few yards up the road.

  Allison lay on the side of the road, the beat of her heart filling her ears like metal drums. A fierce heat flamed alight in her belly, swelling up, threatening to spill over. She gritted her teeth as she clenched her hands into tight fists, digging her nails into her palms till she bled. Her face flushed, and she clenched her jaw as a growl escaped her lips. What the fuck was that? She gasped as she tried to push the inner heat back to her center.

  This day was just getting better. She was naked, confused, and now had almost been roadkill. Allison took a few deep breaths and pushed down her anger from a fury of hate to a manageable irritation. She sat up, examining her painful body. Her grimy skin was now marred with bleeding scratches, and the purple beginnings of some fresh tender bruises tinted her flesh. Wetness gathered at the nape of her neck. She reached her hand back and found a gash hidden in her hair. She applied pressure to the wound as she glared at the car.

  The windows lacked tinting and made the two figu
res in the front seat clearly visible. They gestured wildly back and forth with raised voices, arguing. Allison, unable to make out what they said, strained to hear their words as anger built inside her. I could have died! And no one is even going to check on me? What is wrong with these people? She tightened her fists again to avoid flipping off the car. They are people and I need people right now. It’s better to not piss them off. She stood up and started walking to the car. She hesitated for a moment. What if they are serial killers or rapists? Allison looked back at the steep hill she had just rolled down, sighed, and began walking toward them again.

  The smooth pavement warmed by the sun burned her feet. The people in the car continued to argue. As she approached the side of the gray sedan, they continued to gesture frantically at each other not noticing Allison. A man sat in the driver’s seat with a woman on the passenger side. All that was visible of the woman was her head. Her rosy hair barely grazed her shoulders. Even from a distance the color clearly was not a gift from nature but purchased from a bottle. The man had little hair swept over to one side, scalp peeking through his wispy comb-over. His color was not sold in a bottle because everyone had it, and nobody wanted it. He continued to speak to the woman next to him.

  Allison stepped up to the window, preparing to speak to the couple. The round, red-headed woman screamed and the man’s face drained of all color. She jumped, losing her footing as she stumbled back a few paces. Allison and the man stared at each other for what seemed like a long time, while the woman whimpered and prayed, raising her arms toward the heavens in the seat next to him. His sharp, upturned nose separated eyes that were a little too close together.

  Allison backed further away from the car to give the couple some space. She did not know why, but they were afraid of her. The man placed his hand on the whimpering woman’s leg and looked in his rearview mirror. He then looked all around as if he was surveying the area for danger. Relief crossed the man’s face, but the woman continued blubbering. At least she had stopped praying, a sign that her fear was lessening. The man’s Kentucky bluegrass-green eyes peered at her from beneath his furrowed brow. Allison took a step toward the car and raised her arms in the air the way criminals do when cornered by the police. A trickle of blood seeped from her head wound, so she pressed on the wound to slow the bleeding to it again as blood trailed down her arm.

  She then spoke in a quieter voice than she had intended, “I won’t hurt you.” The man looked her over, his gaze firm and unwavering. After what seemed like hours the man rolled down his window just a sliver.

  He spoke in a hushed voice, “What do you want?” Allison’s mouth fell open as a flare of anger ignited her again.

  “You almost hit me and you’re asking what I want?” The window closed. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m lost and I’m hurt. Please help me!” Allison’s voice was ragged and desperate. The window rolled down to a crack again.

  “How are you hurt?” It wasn’t the man who spoke. It was the woman. She leaned over into the man’s lap, peering at Allison with wide eyes. The woman’s stare made Allison remember her lack of clothing and she tried to cover herself as best she could with her arms.

  “My head has a pretty big cut in it from rolling down that hill.” Allison pressed her hand to her head. The sticky blood mixed with dirt already matted into her hair.

  “You weren’t bitten or scratched by one of them, were you?” the woman asked, her voice unwavering.

  “Um, no. I don’t know who ‘them’ are. But I haven’t been bitten or scratched by anything except the ground,” Allison said.

  “Them, the Infected! Don’t you know the Infected!” said the man.

  “No. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know…” she trailed off. There were too many things she didn’t know to list them all now. “All I know is that I don’t know much, and I need help. Please help me,” Allison whimpered. The man reached to unlock the door, but the woman grabbed his arm and stopped him.

  “One more question,” the woman said. “What year is it?” Allison almost smiled. Finally, something she knew.

  “It’s 2048.” The woman and man both turned green. The woman bowed her head, and the man shook. His piercing eyes looked cloudy, his lip trembled. The woman rested her hand on his cheek. “What? What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Oh, honey, it’s not 2048. It’s 2051,” The woman said. She lifted her head and looked at Allison. “Get in.” 2051. Allison’s knees buckled, and she caught herself on the car. 2051. She braced against the side, letting it support her weight while her legs regained their strength. 2051. Allison was not sure what was happening, but getting into the car would not make things any worse. The man unlocked the doors, and she climbed on wobbly legs into the back seat behind the man. The doors locked again, and the car rolled forward.

  Allison relaxed against the seat and sighed. Although still confused, she was no longer alone, and that brought a comforting warmth into her body. The woman in the front turned around in her seat to face Allison. A deep sadness filled her eyes, gleaming with a hint of fear she tried to hide. “My name is Sandra. This is my husband, Dave.” She motioned to the man in the driver’s seat as she introduced him. “There’s a blanket on the floor you can cover up with. There should be a first aid kit, too.” She pointed behind her seat where a folded blanket sat on top of a red and white box. Dave gave a brief nod in Allison’s general direction but never took his eyes off the road. He probably didn’t want to take a chance on making someone else roadkill that day.

  “My name is Allison.” Her voice stated it steadily although she trembled on the inside. She picked up the dark blue blanket. It was soft and smooth on her skin as she tucked it under her arms so it covered her breasts and stretched down to her knees. It felt wonderful for her bare skin to be wrapped in the blanket, less vulnerable. Sandra nodded, acknowledging Allison’s introduction. Allison’s eyes shifted to look out the window, and her mind raced.

  Three years have passed. It had been three years since the party. That explains why my body is different, but why can’t I remember the last three years? Did no one look for me, miss me? My parents, Gabby, teachers, freaking anyone, someone should have looked for me.

  They drove in silence for a time. Allison watched the landscape pass outside her window as she wrapped her head with gauze, leaning her head on the seat to keep pressure on the wound. She saw no other people or animals. Allison loved spring and summer, but seeing all the green out her window now made her stomach flutter and her hands shake.

  “We still have about an hour of driving ahead of us. When we get to the clinic someone will find you some clothes,” Sandra said with a slight undertone of worry.

  “Thank you for picking me up,” Allison said.

  “You’re very welcome.” Sandra smiled. “We couldn’t just leave you there with everything going on and all.” The corners of Sandra’s mouth turned downward as she averted her eyes from Allison.

  “What is happening? You said it was 2051. How is that possible?” Allison’s voice was cracking, anxiety building in her chest, climbing to her throat, threatening to make her mute. Her convincingly calm voice was no longer possible to convey. The reality of her situation was sinking into her core. The comfort of no longer being alone was wearing off.

  Sandra looked at Dave, her eyes glossy and pleading. Dave glanced at Sandra and shrugged. “She will find out eventually. Might as well be now,” Dave said. Sandra was obviously uneasy but looked back at Allison with a sigh.

  “It is 2051, sweetie. There has been an . . . incident.” Sandra hesitated while avoiding eye contact with Allison.

  “What kind of incident? What in the hell are you talking about? What incident could have caused me to miss the last three years of my life?” Allison could barely choke out the words as she swallowed back her sobs.

  “Oh honey. It was a medical incident. A disease spread through the country. The world, actually. It infected millions of people. Most
of the Infected died, including our daughter.” Sandra looked at Dave with weary eyes. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it softly before releasing it. “You have survived. Thank your lucky stars.” Allison’s eyes locked with Sandra’s and there was a look of despair in her mossy green eyes. Allison knew she didn’t want to be asked any more questions. So, she slumped back in her seat while questions ran through her head. She was more confused than before, but she didn’t want to push her luck. For all she knew, if she pressed Sandra too far she’d end up kicked out of the car, alone again. Sandra faced forward and started turning dials on the radio. Dave continued staring at the road ahead, but his knuckles had turned white on the wheel. Allison wished she could read his thoughts.

  She looked out the window at the blur of green foliage and realized she was tired. There was something more underneath the tiredness that was nagging her, a craving trying to push its way to the surface, begging to be indulged. She didn’t know what it was till she felt pain in her gut. Allison was hungry. The hunger was more than just an urge, it was a desire like drugs for an addict. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in years, but she knew that couldn’t be true. She faded into a deep sleep wondering why she felt a powerful longing for a bloody, rare steak.

  Allison awoke to screeching tires and screams. The car swerved, throwing her across the back seat. She slammed into the car door. Allison’s head cracked against the window. Spots crowded her vision as the world became fuzzy. Stay awake, Allison! She forced her eyes open, filling her vision with light to fight back the dark haze engulfing her mind, trying to drag her into unconsciousness.

  Sandra cried as she grasped the emergency handle above her head with both hands, knuckles white. Allison braced herself against Dave’s seat as she steadied her throbbing head. She gripped the door with her hands and pressed her knees against Dave’s seat as the back end of the car fishtailed across the road. Allison jerked wildly with each swerve of the car. Dave held tightly to the wheel as he pressed on the brake with both feet. His eyes widened and he reached down, fumbling for the emergency brake.