DEPOSITION. The act of deposing someone or something.
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It feels as if I’m being stabbed.
…
My eyes shoot open as I startle awake. Disoriented and exhausted I lie awake for another morning.
A nightmare. Just another nightmare.
Yet the pain in my chest is real. It’s been hell for the past 2 weeks.
These dreams just won’t go away no matter how many damn pills this stupid government gives me.
My eyes wander to the bedside table that’s been provided. It’s a slick white with little to no unique qualities. Bland. Like the entirety of this room. The orange medication bottle lies on its side and hasn't been touched since I put it there.
How long ago was that? Months? Years? Everything feels like an eternity in this place. Time moves slowly without hope.
I drag myself out of bed not bothering to think about my work and head to the small bathroom located on the left of my provided room. They didn’t even bother having a door as they knew I wouldn’t be having company anymore.
The bathroom is already cramped as it is. Any additions would just make my claustrophobia worse.
Dark blue tiling lines the floor stretching up into the walls. It’s comedic how sad it is. Reminds me of those families I used to see on TV. Always obsessed with living in small spaces.
Who the hell would want that? You have the beautiful outside world yet you’d rather be cramped in a dusty RV stuck staring at the same walls every day. I’d kill to be out of this hell hole yet here I am. People are crazy for subjecting themselves to such torture.
…
We are all crazy. I don’t know.
As I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror it's evident my lack of sleep. Bags burrow under my eyes like trenches. Slowly I turn on the sink and watch the cold water run down the silver drain.
A breakthrough is evident.
That's what I keep telling myself as I let the cool water run down my hands. My body feels so sore. Health has been the least of my concerns with the cure being at the forefront.
The virus was discovered almost 5 months ago. It struck so quickly that it's yet to have a name only being referred to by its medical code.
EZS-23
Or otherwise Enzyme Suppression Virus. The number stands for the date on which it was discovered. March, 23rd XXXX. The virus targets the amino acids that create the enzymes for the human body. Inserting its RNA into cells, it's able to completely overtake polypeptide creation. It forces the cell to create viral parts leading to a vicious spread as it replicates itself. For whatever reason this strand of virus is incapable of doing the same for plants or animals despite similar processes. It targets humans and uses other organisms as carriers. EZS-23 is recessive naturally. The majority of symptoms shown by patients are extremely similar to the common cold yet it advances beyond that, leading to a large fatality rate. Its quick and sudden nature left the virus undiscovered until nearly half the population was infected. With no other choice, the powers of the world came together to assemble all resources including people. I was one of those ’luckily chosen' to work under the new world government.
Except I wasn't a medical scientist. Nor was I ever in this work field. I was a vet! I took college courses in biology and chemistry of course but never to this extent of knowledge! I worked with animals, not human beings. To expect my family and I to commit to such a tremendous change was crazy but I had no other choice. The mere knowledge of knowing of the existence of EZS-23 was enough for the government to take all of us into this facility. And now…I'm alone.
The hair on my neck rises as I look up into my reflection.
How long will this last? How long until I'm home again? With…my kids. My wife. This must be a terrible nightmare.
Water suddenly drips onto the floor as I come into realization. The sink has flooded.
…
After draining the sink and drying the floor I quickly get ready for the day.
There's work to be done. Humanity has never been one to lie down and accept death. We are resilient creatures by nature. It is in our blood to persevere. But to what extent? We've harbinged our own chaos. Can we create our own peace? Humanity has never been as united as it is now in the face of extinction. Yet, it may be too late.
Slipping on my lab coat I check my leather watch.
6:54 am.
7 minutes until he'll be here.
Once he arrives, we will go to the lab as usual, hopelessly working on something unachievable. Though…there's a glimpse of something. An idea I threw out in conversation sarcastically.
“There'd be no need for a cure if we were all just animals. Hell, we are practically caged in this tower like mock ones.”
I remember seeing his green eyes light up. Undoubtedly I had inspired an idea. One that I'll be forced to tackle with him.
Knock knock knock.
He's early. Should've expected it from such a dedicated young adult. How does he stay so hopeful in such a dire situation?
I sigh in frustration and walk towards the door to let him in. Opening it, I look down and see him beaming up at me.
“Morning, Dr.K!”
Another morning with Dr. Serris. God I'm going to need a lot of coffee.
YOU ARE READING
Moral Chemicals
FanficA doctor is left alone in the aftermath of a world ending disease. His humanity as well as his morality is tested to his limits as he tries to grasp what's truly happened to the world he knew. Cover art made by notraixxo on Twitter! (Or X) Check my...
