Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Fifteen: Anna's Secret

August 28th 2025

The Phoenixes had made a long journey throughout the previous day, they had driven across the entire State of Indiana and were now just a few miles away from Chicago. At an old gas station, owned by Shell, they had set up camp and had tattooed the Phoenix onto themselves. Sarah had been a tattoo artist before the Fall, so she had very carefully placed the Phoenix onto all of them. Michelle had of course chosen not to get her tattoo until after she gave birth, mainly because she was worried about what it would do to the babies. Anna had gotten her tattoo on her right hand and liked how the Phoenix was rising up through the flames. Phinehas had gotten his on his left cheek, so it would be easy for everyone to see. Everyone had gotten it, except for Louise, mainly because she was still only five years old. Bridge greatly pitied Louise, mainly because the little girl had been only three when the Fall began and had no memories of the world before the Virus. She was so little, yet she had already seen so much and John was especially worried about her mental well being. Louise had already had many nightmares about the quarantine camp where people died every day and about her father, desperately trying to get them back home to their family after escaping...but tragically dying half way there. Louise had cried for hours and if John had not found her and taken her in, who knows what would've happened.

The gas station was about as big as any other gas station and was on the outskirts of Chicago. In the distance they could see the towering skyscrapers of Chicago and the Willis tower. Bridge had of course always wanted to see it, but he and is host family had never gotten the chance to do so. At least now they could all see it.

Bridge, Anna and Phinehas had of course explained everything to their new members: the Virus, the Antidote, Anna's father Ivan, the Government's true plan and how they had only a few years more to release the Antivirus before the St Peters Virus re-emerged and killed them all. The new recruits had been shocked to hear all of it, but they were trying to process it as best as they could. About three of them had been infected and one of them had even suggested self isolation. But Anna assured them that the Virus was suppressed and would not harm them unless it mutated. Michelle was constantly looking at her large baby bump and knew full well that the babies would soon come. Phinehas had promised to help her raise the babies, as it would be difficult for her to raise twins in this broken world. Bridge and Phinehas had taken such good care of her for all of those months and had become like the two elder brothers she never had. It made sense why they wanted to help her raise her children.

Bridge and Phinehas were sitting at the radio in the first R.V and were listening in to any frequency they could detect. Bridge had found a military radio in Fort Purity and they had connected it to their radio so that they could listen in to military frequencies. Thanks to this, they had learned that down in Texas, a remnant of the Army had taken control of the State and were trying to restore law and order. It gave Bridge a sigh of relief that there was at least one functioning part of America that was still in order and a place where people could be safe. This army remnant, led by General Raymond Tucker, had re-established the State of Texas and were attempting to reform the government. On the radio, the broadcaster said in his deep Texan accent "We are proud to announce that the citizens of Texas have chosen Howard McCallister II as our new Governor. A surviving member of the Texas State Senate and lifelong Independent, Howard seeks to rebuild our once great State and then help rebuild the States of Oklahoma and Louisiana, re-establishing the U.S.A under the name "Democratic Union of America" and ensure that we will have a decent and honest Government. Unlike the frauds that ran this country and led us all to ruin".

Bridge seemed delighted and smiled as he said "Looks like the second U.S.A has just been born". Phinehas was a bit concerned and said "I just hope that Governor McCallister lives up to his promises". Bridge looked out the window next to them and saw everyone eating cheese rolls for lunch. The Children of the Divine Lord had grown wheat back at New Eden and had gifted some bread and cheese to the Phoenixes when they left. Most of them had not eaten bread in a long time and to them it tasted incredible compared to whatever they had been forced to eat in order to survive. All of them were gathered next to the now empty gas pumps and John was cracking his usual jokes. Some found them funny, others didn't. But John found them funny anyways, he had always had a strange sense of humour. The convenience store inside the gas station had long since been looted, so there wasn't really anything to scavenge from the old building. That was when Bridge saw Anna inside of the convenience store, holding something in her hand and looking very worried. Bridge looked closely and realised that she was holding a pregnancy test! 

Bridge immediately stood up and exited the R.V. He passed the other Phoenixes as John told a joke where a "Agnes's" mother in law was in town, so she wasn't and headed into the convenience store. Anna was standing next to a shelf filled with pregnancy tests and had taken one of them to do a test. Bridge walked over to her and asked "What are you doing?" Anna almost jumped as Bridge arrived and turned around with the test still in hand. Anna was silent for a moment, unsure on how to react, but then she said "Testing myself". Bridge then realised she was testing herself to see weather or not she was pregnant and asked "Why are you doing a pregnancy test of all things?" Anna looked into Bridge's brown eyes and said through slight tears "After Papa and I found out about the virgin mothers, he tested me and found out I didn't have the gene. But I'm worried the test was wrong and I do have it". Feeling worried for her, Bridge said "So you've been taking pregnancy tests at every opportunity?" Anna sighed and said "Yes, I've been worried at being in Michelle's situation, having a baby in this broken world". Bridge placed his hand on her right shoulder and said "It's okay, even if you do get pregnant due to the Antidote, I'm sure that it'll be fine". Anna seemed reassured and said "Thank you, I'll stop taking the tests from now on then". Bridge was about to leave, but Anna suddenly hugged him and said "I think you're really nice by the way". Bridge blushed a little and said "Thanks, I think you are as well". 

With that, the two of them left to re-join the others for lunch, unaware that in the Willis Tower, someone was watching them from the top floor. He could see them in the distance with his binoculars and could see Maxwell and Michael Seed returning to camp with some wood that they would use to create a small fire. Upon seeing this, the man lowered his binoculars, took out a lighter and cigarette and proceeded to take a long smoke from the intoxicating Tabaco that provided him the only semblance of pleasure he had left in these dark times.