It's Coming Around | Lawrusso

It's Coming Around Chapter 1/10

"Its official name is Human Adenovirus Type 5-20, but you may know it as the Karma Virus," the reporter said cheerfully. "Or at least that's what the public were calling it when the virus spread across the UK, where it was first identified.

There are no reported deaths from this virus, even though it infected almost the whole population of England, and most people reported only minor symptoms similar to a mild cold or hay fever, so there's no need to panic.

The virus though is remarkable for one of it's symptoms, something that Doctor Charles Pearson of the CDC is here to talk to us about today."

The camera pulled back, revealing a man in suit sat to her side, as she said, "Good morning Doctor Pearson."

"Good morning, Christina," he said with a smile.

"So what can you tell us about the Karma Virus?"

"Well, this virus, or HAd-20 as most of us call it, is simply an Adenovirus, which is one of the most common viruses in the world. At some point during their lives everyone will have had one of the many forms of Adenovirus."

"And how does it work?"

"Well, this is where it gets interesting," the Doctor said with a twinkle in his eye. "Some Adenoviruses can travel from the nose to infect the brain and that's what HAd-20 does."

"That sounds very serious, Doctor Pearson."

"Yes, but in this case it isn't, or it isn't if you've been a good person," he said with a smirk.

"So you're saying this virus only infects bad people?"

"Well, no, the virus infects everyone, and believe me this virus is so infectious that everyone in the world is going to catch it, but it's strangest symptom only effects people who have hurt others in the past."

"And by that you mean people who have inflicted physical pain on others."

"That's correct, and here's where this gets really interesting," he said. "People involved in physical sporting events, such as boxing, aren't experiencing this. The symptom only expresses itself in people who hurt others deliberately."

"So how exactly does a virus know who those people are?"

"A virus isn't a living thing and doesn't know anything. It infects the part of the brain that holds emotional memories, the Amygdala, and somehow causes these memories to be replayed in a physical sense and fools the body into believing it's really happening."

"A physical sense?"

"I'm saying that in the past, if you deliberately broke someone's nose, you're going to experience the feeling of breaking your nose. In some cases the effect can be so strong there may even be bleeding, and in one case in Italy a man who had broken someone's ribs in the past experienced muscle spasms so strong that his own body actually broke his own ribs."

"Look at this asshole," Daniel complained, standing in front of the television. "He looks like he's enjoying the idea of a disease spreading across the world."

When Johnny didn't reply Daniel glanced over at him, noting the way he was leaning forward with his shoulders hunched.

"You OK?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're looking kinda serious over there."

"Yeah, yeah," Johnny said, sitting back. "It's just this stupid virus thing is weirding me out."

"Well, if it's as infectious as they say it looks like we're all going to catch it, but it doesn't sound like its anything to worry about."

Johnny was quiet for a second, then he looked up at Daniel and asked, "Did it hurt?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow and asked, "What?"

"When I drove my elbow into your knee at the tournament," he said. "How much did it hurt?"

"Is that what you're worried about?" Daniel asked. "They just said it doesn't work like that. They said it doesn't affect boxers, so Karate should be the same."

"But I did it on purpose, Daniel," Johnny said, looking up at him. "If I catch this thing, and I probably will, I'm gonna get to know exactly what that felt like for you."

"Shit," Daniel said. "I honestly never even thought about that. Maybe it won't effect you like it is other people."

"Why would I be any different?" Johnny asked.

"Because we worked through this when we got together," Daniel said. "I mean, you do know I've forgiven you, right? I know it was Kreese who taught you that shit and your Step-father didn't help."

"Yeah, Kreese might have told me to hurt you, but I was the one who actually did it," Johnny said quietly. "I was the one who pushed you off your bike. I was the one who beat the shit out of you at Halloween. It was me, Daniel. I did all that to you."

Daniel paused a moment, frowning as he took in the way Johnny's foot was bouncing and the anxious way he held himself. He moved across the room, and sat next to him, placing a hand on his knee.

"We'll deal with it when it happens, OK?" Daniel said softly. "I'm sure all the top scientists are working on a cure right now. Try not to worry about it too much."

"OK," Johnny said, nodding his head. "I'll try."