Through the years I've been able to satisfy Mr. Chow's curiosity about the zombie virus. I've made all sorts of strains with flukes built in. Tom and I made a zombie strain that put the zombie in eternal slumber, like sleeping beauty. We made a laughing zombie, even a screaming zombie. My personal favorite was the quickly rotting zombie. I showed him on the computer model, it would make a stereotypical zombie, which would quickly deteriorate. Mr. Chow wants a virus strain that will produce aggressive, hungry zombies. He wants it to be contagious through bites. I did as he asked. He did agree not to test on people, at least. He brought me a chimp. After the injection, the chimp turned. Within minutes, he was rotting. All his limbs fell off, all his teeth fell out. It went according to plan. "My investors will not be happy." Mr. Chow said.
"Tell them we are close. It works as you specified, the specimens just don't live very long." I replied.
"It's just a minor kink that needs to be researched a little further. We are getting closer every day." Tom said. If Tom wasn't so close to Mr. Chow, he might have tested a virus on me as a punishment for our failure.
Chapter Six
Emma & Madison eavesdrop
A few days have passed since Ben Hudson turned into a zombie and I saved him. I cured him with an antidote that was developed by my parents and refined by Mrs. Norris. Ben found six vials containing the zombie virus at Frank Buchanan's house. Frank's dad is named John. His mother's name is Linda. The vials of virus were in a spare refrigerator in the garage. The FBI was able to retrieve the rest of the vials. Frank's mom & dad were interrogated. After questioning them all night, they let them go. Frank's parents claim they didn't know it was there, that someone must have planted it. The FBI is digging deeper. They're looking into their bank statements and internet searches and past whereabouts, but for now there's no evidence pointing to either of Frank’s parents being a suspect. Frank's father was a weapons development engineer for the government. He even worked with my parents on a couple projects. Other than that coincidence, there was no evidence. His mother is actually a psychologist for the FBI. I think they placed her on paid leave until they found out more. Frank’s parent’s said that the FBI told them the vials contained tools of biological warfare but didn't specify what was.
It's a typical school day. The morning passes as normal. Now it's time for science class. Madison and I are walking there.
"You don't think you can trust him? Do you? A tiger doesn't lose his stripes overnight you know." Madison says.
"Ben might have been a bully. I think since he was turned into a zombie, he has a different perspective on life. Being a bully is at the bottom of his to do list now," I say. Madison is worried Ben will blab about what he knows and cause a panic. Personally, I doubt it.
We are seated in science class. Frank & Ben are sitting behind Madison & I. This is the first time I have heard Frank say anything about his parents. He doesn't know we can hear them. Frank whispers to Ben "My mom and dad were interrogated by the FBI a few days ago. My mom is really upset. She's one of them, you know."
"Wow. I don't know what to say. Sorry to hear that man." Ben whispers back. Then he asks, "Do you know why? What did they do?"
"The authorities found some dangerous substances in their garage refrigerator. I don't know if it was my parents or not. But it's obvious someone snitched on them." Frank says. Ben shifts nervously in his seat.
"I don't think someone snitched on them." Ben says in a defensive tone.
"Who knows? I asked my mom & dad several times what was in the fridge anyway. They said they didn’t know. I believe them. The FBI won't tell them what it is exactly. They just call it a 'dangerous substance' that could be used for 'biological warfare’." Frank explains.
"Well, it was probably just drugs. Drug dealers use a rendezvous point. They drop it off and someone else picks it up. Better tell your dad to start closing the garage door." Ben says.
Madison and I were glad to hear Ben on our side. If Frank’s parents were involved, or guilty, it would be in our best interest to keep everything underground a secret.
Chapter Seven
Science Club – All Hands on Deck
M adison eagerly joined the science club. Everyone was there; Katie, Jack and Debbie. We even saw some new faces. It was a large group, about thirty-five students total. The phrase ‘zombie virus’ was whispered through the room. Mrs. Norris gave us all a stern warning.
"We all know Emma found a dangerous virus. It's a zombie strain." Some students gasped. Some oohed and aahed. She continued.
"We don't know who is behind it. It's best we prepare by making antidotes & antiviral medications." The room fell silent. She had everyone's attention. “You are all more than capable. I need all hands on deck. A zombie outbreak is imminent. We must prepare. Although the success rate from my research on the antidote was low, it saved Ben. Who knows how many lives we can save?" All eyes went to Ben. He looked embarrassed.
Katie blurted out, "This is so awesome!" Typical Katie. Everyone laughed.
"This way to the laboratory!" I shouted.
"What ? No way! This keeps getting cooler and cooler." Katie said. Many students agreed.
Mrs. Norris and I split the students into two groups and gave our tours in two separate directions. Mr. Thatcher also helped usher students around. I don't think anyone knows he's a zombie yet. As we finished showing students around, a man ran into the main living area where we were all assembled. He was out of breath. He must have been running hard. He was frantic. He was dressed nicely. One might think he was a teacher. I didn't recognize him.
"Thank-God-you're-here-Debra." He gasped between breaths.
"Who is Debra?" Katie blurted out.
"Mrs. Norris has a first name you know." Jack replied.
"Zombies-outbreak-China." He puffed out. Everyone gasped. Some screamed. Some were crying. Some were talking amongst each other. It quickly became very loud. Mrs. Norris took him by the arm and lead him somewhere quiet to talk. Madison and I followed behind. I grabbed Ben and said, "Let's go." He was the first zombie of this strain; his intel could be useful.
Mrs. Norris handed the man a bottle of water. We were in a medical room down the hall. It was nearly identical to the one Ben stayed in after he was bitten. The man sat on the exam table. "Emma, Madison, Ben this is special agent Patrick Fitzgerald of the FBI."
He said it again but more calmly; "A zombie outbreak has started in China. It's only a matter of time before it reaches us."
"Emma, what do we do?" Madison asked me. They were all looking at me. My best friend, Ben, Mrs. Norris & Patrick of the FBI. They were all looking to me for leadership and answers. I wasn't the zombie experts my parents were. No matter what, I knew I had to try. "We do as Mrs. Norris said. Prepare as many antidotes and antiviral medicines as we can. We can't save everyone. But we have to help as many people as we can."
"Emma saved me. And your parents who started the research." Ben said, "Because of you and your parents I'm alive. We avoided an outbreak here. We knew it was only a matter of time until it was elsewhere." Ben said, it was a side to him that we'd never seen. I was glad he was growing out of his bully phase.
"Is there anything you can remember that would help us fight this, Ben?" Patrick asked.
"I don't remember being a zombie." Ben replied.
"What about before you turned? Any suspicious vehicles? Or people you didn't recognize? Anything?"
"Nope, Sorry." Ben said.
"It seems a systematic release of this virus was planned. Seattle was the first location. We stopped it. Now it's China. Even though the whole country is on lockdown, this still can be released elsewhere. People are going to sneak out of the country and spread it. We still don't know who is behind this. No terrorist organizations have claimed responsibility."
"All we can do is prepare for the inevitable." I replied.
We all walked out into the main living area. Students were gathered around the TV, watching live news footage. The new
s reporter was in a helicopter, watching the outbreak spread. They keep pointing out a strangely dressed Chinese man. He was wearing a flashy zoot suit. He was hard to miss. He had a hat with a feather. He was marching around with a zombie on a leash and a gun in his hand. He was actually walking around making the zombie bite people. He was clearly insane. Who was this strange man?
Chapter Eight
Karen and Tom's Anniversary – Two Weeks Ago
I t's a morning like any other. It feels like Groundhog Day. Every day the elevator descends and opens at six AM. It contains food and other supplies. At eight AM supplies for our research arrive. Everything sent down in the elevator is always placed neatly on carts with wheels. We pull them out and load the empty carts from the previous day.
The cart that came at eight o'clock had something we've never had sent down before. A dozen red roses and a heart shaped card that said, "Happy anniversary." Tom and I were dumbfounded. "It's not our wedding anniversary." Tom said.
"Let me check the calendar," I replied. Being stuck down here, all of the days and months had blended together.
"Nope it isn't." I replied. I had a really bad feeling about this. We'd never had any Birthday, Christmas or anniversary presents sent down before. A few hours passed. I heard the hum of the elevator descending. A ding, then it opened. Out waltzed our captor, Mr. Chow. He had a bunch of balloons that also say, "Happy anniversary." He threw some confetti out of his pocket. He was dressed flashy, as always.
"What are you up to this time?" I asked, with my arms crossed.
"Happy anniversary." Mr. Chow replied.
"It's not our wedding anniversary. You must have made a mistake." Tom said.
"Not you two. Us three." He replied. He puts an arm over each of our shoulders. Mr. Chow kissed Tom on the cheek. That didn't surprise me. "Yoo-hoo! Don't be shy, come on out. Welcome home." Mr. Chow approached the elevator.
"A new recruit. It’s been ten years since you came here. Happy anniversary. And-"
I interrupted him, "You kidnapped us."
"Karen is always so technical. I hate the word kidnapped. How about adult-napped, or borrowed? Anyways, it was ten years ago today we three came together to create a virus. It’s not that you haven't produced interesting results. They just aren't what my investors wanted." Mr. Chow said.
"You're crazy. You always refer to these investors. Who would pay for a virus that would destroy the world?" I snapped. Although Tom talked to Mr. Chow regularly, I always avoided him as much as possible.
"Karen, you're smart. You know people would pay for this. Just like how you had investors & backers to pay for your little projects back home. Our investors want a return on their investment. That's why I brought him here. I figured a fresh pair of eyes would help. This is Robert Johnson. A smart scientist like you guys." Robert was cowering behind the balloons.
"Tom, turn on the computer. Show him your models. Show him the pictures from the microscope." Tom did exactly as he was told. I was glad Mr. Chow didn't feel the need to flash his guns around since my husband and our captor had a strange friendship.
"Karen, get your notebooks and let Robert take a look." I did as I was told. Robert spent a couple hours looking at everything. Mr. Chow didn't go anywhere. It was a long period of silence. No one said a word, until Mr. Chow finally asked Robert, "So, what do you think? Is the movie zombie possible?"
"What they've accomplished is quite impressive. All of these different strains. There's just a few things that needed working out."
I started to sweat. I'd never written down or recorded that we were purposely engineering flukes in these viruses. I had a feeling someday someone would be looking over our work and notice it. The evidence was there. I was hoping he would keep his mouth shut.
"Kinks? How long until you can fix these kinks?" Mr. Chow asked Robert.
"Well, they are so close already. They've done all the hard work. I would say, two weeks tops." I was hoping staying here all these years would keep the world safe. Tom and I sacrificed our lives to protect the world. Before I could say anything, Robert Johnson the coward started asking Mr. Chow. "You will let me go? If I give you what you want, you'll let me go?"
"Don't be a fool, no one gets out." I said to Robert.
"Give me what you want. I'll let you go." Mr. Chow said. He turned and walked into the kitchen.
"You two made your choice. I'm giving him what he wants. I won't stay down here for 10 years." Robert said to me. He knew about our purposely engineered flaws. Mr. Chow didn't hear what Robert said. Mr. Chow was eating in the kitchen.
Tom finally said something, "If you do this, the world as we know it will be over. There won't be anything for any of us to go back too." Tom told Robert.
Mr. Chow walked into the elevator.
"I'll send down our guest here a camping cot and some bedding. You won't be staying long, right?"
Chapter Nine
Tom & Karen – Creation & Execution
I t's been two weeks. Karen and I have tried to sabotage Robert Johnson in every way we can. It hasn't worked. He's taken over the lab. He locks himself in. Although we are captives, the lab has a lock on the inside. It's a standard safety precaution, so that someone doesn't walk in and get exposed. He's done what he promised. Karen and I can't sabotage his progress. Everyday Mr. Chow picks up a USB jump drive with everything loaded on it. He won't risk losing everything when he's so close. Mr. Chow isn't stupid.
Finally, the big day is here.
"I'm so excited !" Mr. Chow exclaims.
I grab Mr. Chow by the shoulders. I'm several inches taller than him. I give him a small shake. "Think this through Don. If you sell this to your buyers, what will they do with it? It will be the end of everything. This isn't drugs or ivory; this isn't illegal guns." I said.
"I will be richer! This is worth a billion dollars, Tom,”
"I understand. But at what cost? Don't think about the dollar amount. When society crumbles, where can you spend that money? Where can you fly your plane? There won't be any more Cancun vacations, no more Las Vegas gambling, no fancy clothes stores."
"You worry too much Tom. Sometimes you’re just no fun," Mr. Chow replies.
"What about all the schools and hospitals you funded? What about the children?" I ask.
"I thought Robert promised me it wouldn't infect most kids?" Mr. Chow asks, looking at Robert.
Robert corrects Mr. Chow, "Depending on the immunity & health of the child. Not all will be spared."
"Guess I can build more hospitals. I can afford it." Mr. Chow says. He’s blinded by his greed.
Robert has a large quantity of vials containing the virus. Mr. Chow walks over to take a look at them. "Ok Robert, time to test this and see if it works." Mr. Chow says.
"It will work, I showed you on the computer models. Even the bites are contagious. We don't have a test subject." Robert replies, looking around the room.
"Yes, we do." Mr. Chow simply replies with an evil grin. Mr. Chow puts on some rubber gloves, picks up a syringe and a vial. He plunges the needle in the top on the vile & begins to suck the liquid up.
"What are you doing?" Robert asks, panic in his voice. Mr. Chow approaches Robert. Karen and I watch in horror. We tried to warn him that Mr. Chow was insane.
"I thought you said you were going to let me go? You promised."
"Oh, I am going to let you go. A free zombie. You'll be free to do as you please. Karen, there's something I almost forgot. It's in the elevator. Please get it for me?" Karen goes to help retrieve the items. There is a metal box with holes drilled in it. It has a round circle opening at the bottom, within it is a leash and a collar.
Karen gives the leash and collar to Mr. Chow. He places it around Robert's neck. "I better put this on first. Don't you like it?" Mr. Chow asks Robert. He places the metal box on his head. It closes around his neck.
"You can't do this! You promised to let me go! Use it on her!" Robert points to Karen.
"Here goes nothi
ng, you spineless coward. I don't respect cowards." Mr. Chow says as he plunges the syringe into Robert's arm and injects him with the virus. Within a minute he has turned into a zombie.
"It works! Let's go see if he can bite and make more zombies." Mr. Chow says, ecstatic.
"No Don. This isn't a video game. There is no reset button." I shout.
Mr. Chow walks the zombie Robert to the elevator. "Well, let's go. It's show time. You don't want to miss his debut, do you? I'm not turning you two into zombies. I've got too much time & money invested in you two. I’ve even got feelings invested in Tom. You can stay here if you want." Mr. Chow says.
All four of us get into the elevator. Robert the zombie is growing through the metal box. The elevator ascends several floors. There is cheesy music playing. Karen and I are shocked we aren't blindfolded, and that are hands aren't bound. We don't say a word about it. We are both shocked that we are actually leaving. We don't know how long we will be leaving for. Hopefully for good.
Thanks for reading ! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
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Patient zero
Before the outbreak
Creation and execution
Outbreak
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Virus Z | Book 3 | Creation & Execution Page 2
