[BEKZ KICKS THE FERAL OFF BOARD SHORTS AND SHOOTS THE FERAL IN THE FACE THE ROUND RIPPING ITS JAW OFF]
[SUN DRESS] Oh thank you!
[BOARD SHORTS] What the cuss are those things?
[BEKZ] Furious rabies.
[TAKES THE ID BADGE OFF THE EMPLOYEE] Remember the outbreak back in oh-thirty?
[BOARD SHORTS] Yeah. Wasn't that during that East India epidemic?
[BEKZ] Yup. While social media rumors distracted you no one saw what was going on in our own back yard. Montana a company called Miromatrix was bioengineering pig organs for human transplants. You might have heard a small blurb about an odd strain of flu in a small town near the lab before the news anchors went back to talking about puppies. Then remember when the world went into lockdown? Full mandatory quarantine.
[SUN DRESS] Wait, those were connected?
[BEKZ HOPS THE COUNTER PRESSING BUTTONS ON THE RESISTER, BEFORE PRYING IT OPEN WITH HER KNUCKLE DUSTER] 2030, 2032, and now '33 are all the same virus. Just mutations as it adapted to the human vectors.
[SUN DRESS] And how do you know?
[BEKZ FILLS A COUPLE BAGS WITH ITEMS FROM THE STORE] I've been tracking this virus since the first news headlines when they were just science articles. My COs taught me to be a skeptic, a survivalist.
[BOTH BYSTANDERS WATCH HER CONFUSED]
[BEKZ SIGHS HANDING OVER THE BAGS OF SUPPLIES] A kook, a crazy person.
[THEY SMILE HALF HEARTEDLY WITH EMBARRASSED EXPRESSIONS, ACCEPTING THE BAGS] Oh.
[BEKZ GRABS ONE OF THE FEW PAPER ITEMS OFF THE RACK SPREADING OUT A FOLDED PAPER MAP AND DRAWS RED CIRCLES AROUND PHOENIX, TEMPE, GLENDALE, TUCAN, and FLAGSTAFF] Avoid populated areas.
[THE COUPLE LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER] Based on observation and reports this infection still exhibits traditional rabies behavior. My guess is a pig heart had a strain of rabies which infected the recipient of the xenotransplantation and then the person got the munchies. Why? How? I'm still piecing the puzzle together.
[BOARD SHORTS POINTS TO A FEW STREETS ON THE MAP] I'm PPD and we have riot control protocols to lock down these streets so you can assume these routes are blocked.
[BEKZ PEALS BACK THE STRAP ON HER FOREARM REVIELING HER MAP AND MARKS THE ROUTES WITH "X's"] Thanks. You on vacation?
[BOARD SHORTS] Something like that.
[BEKZ HANDS HIM THE FOLDED MAP] It only spreads through bite or saliva so avoid any mammalian creatures including humans if all possible. Avoid blood and other bodily fluids just to be safe. They can look healthy but can still carry the virus asymptotically. Be careful and find some place to hide sustainably. And be prepared to kill anyone who tries to take your sliver of sanctuary.
[BOARD SHORTS HOLDS OUT A HAND TO SHAKE] I appreciate the assistance. The names Sergeant Hensley and this is my wife Marisa.
[BEKZ NODS] Bekz. I'd shake your hand but always assume the other person is infected. It'll keep you and your family alive longer.
[BOARD SHORTS NODS IN AGREEMENT] Noted.
[THEY ALL EXIT THE GAS STATION]
[THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE VAN] Mommy! Daddy!
[BEKZ CALLS OUT AS THEY LEAVE] And never walk around unarmed!
[SGT. HENSLY WAVES]
[CONTINUE TO "STORAGE"]
YOU ARE READING
Macabre Gambit
Fiksi IlmiahThe world is ending but it's not the end for you and I... In the event of an outbreak you are faced with difficult decisions. Read through this fully conceptualized script and determine your fate in a world that literally changed over night.
