Tainted Cure (The Rememdium Series Book 1)

by Ashley Fontainne

  “What?” Dirk asked.

  “Oh, just glad I’m not the only one freaked out, that’s all.”

  Dirk took a swig of water and nodded. “No, you aren’t. I can’t speak for all of them, but I know I’ve seen some disturbing shit over the years. Human beings are the most vicious creatures on the planet, and capable of vile and disgusting acts. I’ve seen my share of people wearing the mask of humanity that hid the monsters inside them. You know, fools willing to slaughter others for one stupid reason or another. Political, religious, oil rights, territory squabbles, money, race, creed, or even no reason at all. We are a violent breed. The only difference now is the ones slaughtered don’t remain dead.”

  “No, it seems they don’t,” Everett whispered. Giving such an answer made him feel sick inside, like he’d slipped off the platform of sanity and was freefalling into madness. Deciding the moment was as good as any, Everett asked, “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what?”

  “Wasting your precious time getting to safety to let an old man rest. Risking your lives to help me. I mean, I’m worthless to you now. I’ve spent the last year trying to recreate a formula it took me ten years to make and haven’t had any success yet. Even if I had, it’s pointless now. I’m no longer useful.”

  Dirk raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Now is not the time to have a pity party, Dr. Berning. Just because the world never found out about your discovery doesn’t mean a damned thing. We know you did, which makes you invaluable at the moment.”

  “How so? I don’t think fighting drug addiction is still on the radar. There are more important things to fight for now.”

  “Exactly! And who better to help do so than the brilliant mind of the man who found a cure for drug addiction? Something no one ever thought possible except Drs. Thomas and Flint. Oh, and you.”

  Shocked, Everett gasped, “Are you crazy? Whatever in the hell is going on is way beyond my scope of knowledge. Besides, I don’t have a sample to test, or the proper facilities to keep such a volatile pathogen. And it took ten years for me to find that cure. I doubt I have another ten left in me.”

  “Excuses, Dr. Berning. A sample would be easy to obtain, and worrying about releasing a contagious disease on the population is sort of a pathetic joke now, don’t you think? I’m not going to even acknowledge your crack about age.”

  “No, no way. Again, out of my scope and expertise. Finding out whatever is turning people into…things…is a job for those at the CDC. A group, a team, all sporting a collective IQ in the thousands.”

  Dirk leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I call bullshit. You did what no one else could. The key words in that sentence would be you…did…it. With only two other researchers to boot! I know the loss of your family is what drove you to not give up. You spent ten fucking years, every day without taking even one day off. In my books, that’s determination. That’s grit. And that’s the kind of man we need working on solving this cluster fuck some lesser scientist got us in to. In other words, Dr. Berning, we are doing this because you matter. To us. To the world.”

  “Nice speech, Kincanon. Very powerful. Sounds eerily similar to the one Dr. Flint gave me many years ago.”

  Laughing, Dirk said, “Probably because I wrote it out and made her memorize it.”

  Everett shook his head. “Figures.”

  “So, pep talk over. You’re a genius and possibly the new savior of mankind. Back to our discussion about the current situation and why it’s happening. I know you said you didn’t have much time to watch the reports before the EBS took over, but what you did see—did it give you any clues as to what we are dealing with? In all my years of training, I’ve never seen or heard of a biological, even a weaponized one, react this way.”

  Everett shook his head. “None. I’m just as in the dark as everyone else. Venturing a guess would be just that—a guess.”

  “Do you think some twisted individual muted or combined strains of several things? Is it even possible to mix viruses like Ebola and Marburg together? Maybe someone created a super-strain?”

  Everett waited to answer until the screaming jets overhead passed by. The heavy rainclouds blocked them from seeing the planes, but he didn’t care. Just hearing them was enough. It meant there was still hope.

  “That’s one possible scenario. If a cell is introduced to multiple viruses at the same time, the viruses can recombine in one of two ways: genomic strands can be crossed over, or a re-assortment of the genomic segments. The results would be a new virus, and the physical properties of the new strain would depend upon how the recombination occurred. That rarely happens, though. Most of the time, the host suffers from the effects of both diseases until the deadlier one wins out. Viruses attack a host cell, not each other.”

  Dirk asked, “But it can, and does, happen, right?”

  “Yes,” Everett nodded. “The term is called antigenic shift. When two or more different strains of a virus, or even separate viruses, combine, the new pathogen created retains the surface antigens of both the original strains. That’s how the primate virus mutated and formed HIV.”

  “With all the insane fools in other countries willing to do anything to validate their twisted agendas, maybe some rogue scientist figured out how to combine rabies and Ebola? What I saw sure looked like rabid humans. Doesn’t rabies destroy the brain and make the infected go mad?”

  Everett shivered at the thought. “Yes. Rabies causes encephalitis in brain tissue. However, the incubation period after exposure is at least four days or more.”

  “Unless someone figured out how to modify it,” Dirk said.

  “Sir! You need to hear this!”

  Their conversation was interrupted by Kevin Warton’s panicked voice. Dirk and Everett both stood and joined the others. The men all wore the same shocked expression on their faces.

  “What is it, Warton?”

  Kevin Warton held the walkie-talkie to his mouth and pushed the button. “Repeat last transmission.

  Over the crackle of static, a male voice responded, “All of Camelot is down. Karate in place. Everywhere. We’re on our own.”

  “Who the hell was that?” Dirk yelled.

  “My brother-in-law. He’s Secret Service. Or, he was.”

  “What the hell did all that mean?” Everett whispered, though the burning inside his chest already knew the answer.

  Dirk reached up and rubbed his temples, the stress of the words apparent. “It means the White House and Pentagon no longer are functioning and all high level government and military personnel are incapacitated or dead. We are now under martial law.”

  Everett leaned against the tree closest to him for support, fearing he would faint. “This fast? I can’t believe it! God, it can’t get any worse, can it?”

  Dirk’s face hardened with determination. He pointed toward the trail. “We need to get moving and underground. Now. “

  The others followed the instructions and started to trot ahead. Dirk glanced over to Everett. “And yes, it can get worse. All of Camelot means the entire globe.”

  Overhead, another jet passed over, but this time, it was louder and much closer.

  “Take cover! It’s coming in hot!”

  Everett felt Dirk’s body slam into his and then smash into the hard ground. Dirk’s heavy torso covered his view of the sky, but not the sound of an engine closing in. In seconds, the noise was replaced by a deafening explosion. The wet ground rumbled underneath him.

  Dirk rose and helped Everett to his feet. “Welcome to Hell, doc. Now, find us a way out.”

  Dirk turned and jogged away, leaving Everett alone and frightened. Everett couldn’t think of anything to say in response. His mind was blank. He simply followed in the steps of the others, oblivious now to the pain in his muscles and joints.

  What have we done to ourselves? Everett wondered. And how long will we last? How long will society last? Will I have enough time to figure out how to stop this? What if I can’t?

  Min
utes later, when the ragtag group reached the entrance to the lab, Dr. Everett Berning was so numbed by the events he didn’t even smile.

  The weight of the world on his shoulders wouldn’t let him.

  PAINFUL CHOICES - Saturday - December 20th – 9:50 a.m.

  Though disgusted by the horrible sight in front of her, and the fact she was going to kill someone she’d known for over thirty years, Regina didn’t hesitate. She fired off three shots into the bald head of Sheriff Calhoun. He dropped to the ground with a sickening thud, blood and brain matter oozing from his destroyed head.

  “Dear God,” Deputy Allsop said behind her.

  “Shoot the head. Every last one of them. Right now. Can’t afford for them to get out.”

  “But that’s Malvern’s quarterback Raymond Wright!” Bailey whined.

  “Not anymore! Put him down!” Regina yelled.

  Bailey hesitated, his fingers and lips trembling. Turner stepped over and nudged him aside. “I got this, Bailey.”

  A single shot from Turner’s weapon silenced the monster wearing a Malvern Leopards t-shirt, running shorts and Nike’s.

  The same scene was played out ten other times with ten other names as the group made their way down the long aisle. Once familiar faces—people she’d seen at Walmart or the gas station or church or even pulled over—were now vile monsters. They stuck their arms through the bars, clawing, hissing, and biting at them until a bullet ended their suffering.

  The floor in front of the cells at the end of the hallway was covered in blood and gore. The screaming stopped. Only low whimpers filled the area.

  Regina wasn’t sure if they were from the living or dead.

  With Turner at her side, they walked the remainder of the distance. Reaching the front of the cell, Regina gasped.

  Three women were on the floor. Regina’s knees almost gave out from relief when she realized Jesse wasn’t among them. Glancing behind her, she caught a glimpse of her daughter in the other cell, relief washing over her. Turning back around, she saw blood covered the floor, walls, and their clothes. One girl was on the left side of the lady stretched out on the floor, holding a stiff pillow against what was left of an arm. The woman’s head rested in the lap of the other girl. Regina heard the faintest whisper of Amazing Grace coming from the girl’s mouth.

  Knowing the woman would turn any second, Regina had to get the girls out without sending them into a panic. They’d already been through enough. Glancing at Turner, she could tell he knew exactly what she was about to do. With a nod of his head, Turner stepped forward and unlocked the door.

  “Come on, ladies. We’re gonna get her some help now. Y’all have done a fine job. We’ll take it from here,” Regina urged.

  “Like hell!” the younger one yelled, continuing to stroke the blood-matted hair. “Look what he did to her! And y’all just killed everyone in here in seconds! Think I’m gonna trust you?”

  Regina noticed the legs of the woman on the floor twitch.

  No more blood was leaking from her mouth and nose.

  And the girl holding the pillow quit moving. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she began to shake.

  Shit!

  Regina burst inside and grabbed the girl to the right by her arm. Yanking her up from the floor, she noticed Turner had done the same to the other girl, who was now hurling a mouthful of cuss words even Regina didn’t recognize. With one girl safely out of the cell, Regina pushed the one she held onto up against the back of the wall.

  “Hold her,” Regina said to Bailey. He grabbed the girl and swung her around so she wouldn’t see her friends die.

  Thankful the woman’s features on the floor were so distorted she didn’t look human, Regina took aim and fired. One shot, dead center between the eyes. She fired off a second round, ending the life of the girl convulsing on the floor in the back of the cell.

  Regina ran to Jesse’s cell.

  “Mom!” Jesse whimpered from the floor.

  Curled into a ball in the corner of the room in pink pajamas, tears running down stained cheeks and eyes wild with fear, Jesse looked like a little girl. Fresh vomit covered the front of her pajamas and the floor. Grateful she was alive, knowing they arrived with only seconds to spare, Regina couldn’t unlock the door fast enough so she could hug her only child.

  “Baby,” Regina gushed. She wrapped her arms around Jesse’s neck and squeezed tight. “You okay? Sheriff Calhoun didn’t bite or scratch you, did he?”

  “No. Oh, my God…he ripped her arm off, Mom! Ripped it off and then ate it! When I saw that, I threw up and started screaming. I thought this was it…”

  Jesse fell apart, sobbing uncontrollably. Regina could tell she was in shock. She had to get her daughter out of there, but not before she calmed down. To escape, they would all need to be quiet.

  Motioning for Turner to come in, they grabbed Jesse’s arms and led her out of the cell. Turner cooed, “Shhh, baby. It’s okay. We’re here.”

  “Yeah, and so are we.”

  They all turned to the sound of Walter Addison’s voice. Lamar was right next to him and both men looked shaken. Regina’s stomach dropped when she noticed Walt was dressed in a fresh pair of fatigues.

  “Where’s Reed?”

  “Out front with Martha still. Got their hands full guardin’ a slew of grunts.”

  “Oh, Jesus! What happened in here?” Lamar asked.

  “Seriously, you can’t figure that out?” Regina snapped. “Walt? I thought y’all were standin’ guard outside?”

  “Yep, until two of them broke off to piss close to our hidin’ spot. Some heavy shit came across the radio. We’ve got a problem. Several actually.” Walt looked around and grimaced. “Dammit, I knew we shoulda left sooner!”

  “Really, Dad?” Turner added. He hugged Jesse closer, like he was trying to shield her from the words.

  Regina glowered at Walt, refusing to respond and add more fuel to the fire. They were all on edge for a variety of reasons. Dressing him down now wouldn’t help calm the flames.

  “Let’s get out of here first. The smell is makin’ me sick,” Bailey said. The young girl next to him buried her face into Bailey’s chest as they stepped over the remains of the sheriff. Bailey clamped his hand over her eyes, shielding her from the sight.

  Jesse touched Regina’s shoulder and squeezed. “Get me out of this hellhole, Mom. I don’t ever want to see the inside of a jail again.”

  The entire group left the cell block in silence, none of them willing to look at the carnage around them.

  Once out into the main waiting area and able to breathe without gagging, Regina grimaced. Reed and Martha had lined up the soldiers against the wall inside the first lock station. They were all handcuffed.

  “Turner? Trade spots with me. Chief’s bleedin’ again,” Martha said.

  “I’m fine,” Regina added. Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears because the two switched places.

  “Sit. We need you healthy,” Martha instructed. She turned her attention to the girl shaking in Bailey’s arms. “What’s your name, honey?”

  “Susie,” the young girl whispered.

  Regina gave Susie the once-over, guessing her to be about fifteen. Softening her tone, she asked, “Are you feeling okay? Any fever? Were you scratched or bit?”

  “We…all just got over the flu. We were on our way to Conway from Texas. We stopped at Walmart to get some medicine when the soldiers grabbed us.”

  “Was that your mom and sister?” Jesse asked.

  “No. Aunt and sister. We went to live with her after our parents died last year. Aunt Carrie just got a new job, and we were on our way to our new place,” Susie responded.

  The pain in her words made Regina’s heart melt for the poor girl. She was thankful the girl didn’t seem infected. “Any other family close-by?”

  Eyes so green and full of pain they shimmered, Susie looked at Regina and shook her head.

  “Don’t worry, Susie. We’ll take care of you. Promise
.”

  “Why don’t you and Jesse come over here and have a seat next to the Chief. Turner? Grab some paper towels from that bathroom. Get them wet and let’s get these girls here cleaned up,” Martha said.

  Turner disappeared inside the bathroom, returning with a handful of damp towels. He offered some to Jesse and Susie. Regina could see the young girl was too traumatized to reach out for any, so she nudged Jesse’s arm.

  “Here, let me help you,” Jesse said, wiping the blood and gore off Susie’s cheeks.

  Regina turned and watched the men on the other side of the bars. No, they weren’t men. They were boys, most looked barely old enough to buy alcohol. Their haughty attitudes from before no longer visible, it was clear to Regina from the looks on their faces they were scared.

  Forcing herself not to wince as Martha patched her up, Regina turned to Walt. “What happened?”

  Clearly worried, Walt paced back and forth in front of the reception desk. “Ain’t no way to say this easy, so I’ll just spit it out. The White House and Pentagon have been overrun and ain’t no longer runnin’ the show. The internet is down, and so are the land lines and cell towers. Power’s still on but at this rate, I don’t know for how long.”

  Regina’s mouth dropped open yet no words came out. She was too stunned to say anything. Instead, she reached out her hand and found Jesse’s.

  Walt continued. “Martial Law has been declared, and accordin’ to the conversation we heard between them boys and their lieutenant, all untested citizens are to be terminated immediately. They got a handle on the few infected that snuck inside the gym earlier, and now they’re just stayin’ put, barricaded inside, waitin’ for straggler troops to return. Once everyone is accounted for and they’re finished with carryin’ out the order, the troops are to evacuate the area and return to base.”

  “Ain’t no way! You musta heard wrong. They wouldn’t do that—just leave us on our own to fight those things—try and survive without help? No. No way. I don’t believe it. The government wouldn’t kill innocent civilians either!” Allsop yelled and ran over to the bars. “Right? Tell them they misunderstood!”