Infectious

4~The Volunteer

-Emilia: 14

Present Day

Pantan Inc.

My short heels echoed against the tile. They added a few inches to my stature, but not enough to make me actually tall.

I was already late. I guess they should expect this from me. I mean, I'm a kid. I should be outside playing with friends or at a small coffee shop listening to badly written poems. At least I think that's what kids my age do...

I missed those experiences. At the age of twelve, I was already working at my parent's company. Pantan Incorporated is a secluded government agency. I guess no one really knows what it is besides the people who work here. My friends know I work for Pantan, but they all think it's a manufacturer for silverware.

Why silverware?

I don't know. Somehow it's worked to convince the public that it's peaceful. Really, we work on taking down threats to the government. I would love to tell you all I haven't had my life on the line before... but that would be a lie.

My parents thought it was a good idea to send their only child into the line of fire. Sure, I survived but I could have been killed in seconds. They thought a few years of training would make me as strong as the professionals.

I just want to relax. Instead of learning how to disarm a man in seconds, I should be learning Algebra. Instead of spending my evenings with boxing gloves, I should be singing along with pop stars in the shower. I sometimes despise my parents for what they've done to me. But I guess the best person for the job was someone they could shape and mold themselves.

Me.

I knocked on the soundproof steel door to the office. It opened a few seconds later and I saw the familiar face of my father looking down at me.

"Emilia, you're six minutes late." He started, shaking his head slightly. I could tell he was ashamed but I was used to it. It was almost impossible to get my father to show any emotion besides disappointment.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'll work to make it end here." I replied like a robot. What else was I supposed to say to him? He accepted my apology and I walked across the room and sat down in a black cushioned chair.

"Now that Miss Pantano is here, we can truly begin." An old man in a suit said, sending me a glare. I kept my face straight and he went on. "We have gotten informed of a strange presence in the North East. Sources have told us of that the people infected have no control over what they do. There have been police officers, children, adults, even toddlers contaminated. Their sole intention is to destroy those around them. From all the specimen we have examined, they all were infected through saliva. The virus travels through bites and it works its way to the brain in seconds."

"Do we have information on how it started?" My mother demanded. Her raven black hair was cut in a short bob that framed her thin face. Although we share the same genetics we look, and act, completely different.

My face is more rounded. My dark brown hair is long and travels down my back. It's thick and doesn't hold curls very well so I leave it be. As some wise man once said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

"The first sighting was in Miryborough, New Hampshire. It's a small town, close to the border of New York. We're betting it originated somewhere in there and we need a team to go in and get information." The man explained. He glanced around at the small group, daring someone to volunteer.

I mean, who would want to go into an evacuated town overrun by a virus?

"I'll go."

Those words spilled out of my mouth before I realized what I had done. My mother spun around in her chair to look at me.

"Alright Miss Pantano." The man started to say. I don't know what he would have proceeded with because my mother interrupted him.

"Mr. Williams, may I speak with my daughter for a moment?" She asked. I could tell she was trying to stay calm for her image. It wasn't working that well. She got the okay and pulled me out into the hallway.

"Emilia, do you have any idea what's out there?" She hissed. I shook my head slowly and felt red slipping onto my cheeks. I don't know what made me so impulsive but it keeps getting me in trouble. If only I could keep my big mouth shut.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'll just tell him I want to take it back." I mumbled. My eyes were cast down to avoid my mother's disappointed eyes.

"No, it's too late for that. You can't just go back on your word. You've practically dug your own grave!" My mother snapped. Her freezing hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me back towards the room. We entered in silence and I sat down. No one spoke for a few moments.

A sharp laugh cut through the silence. I looked up quickly and saw the man. His body shook slightly from the laughs until they finally died down.

"Did your bonding time go over well?" He asked with a slight mock in his tone. My mother nodded quickly, shooting me a harsh glare. I shrunk lower in my seat at the eyes staring at me. "Well then, we have a matter to finish. Miss Pantano will be taking a group of soldiers into the city tonight. We will have a specified team ready to go." He explained. With that, he nodded, signalling the end of the meeting.

I slowly got to my feet with butterflies throwing a fit inside my stomach. I had been in life or death situations before, but never on my own like this. Sure, I'd have a team, but when it all came down to it, everything was on my head.

"Emilia, we're not done with this." My mother demanded as she passed me in the hall.

I hurried to my office in silence. It didn't look like a 14 year old girl spent most of her time in here. The walls were black and the pristine tile floor was shining white. I had a small black desk pushed against the wall with papers in neat files.

I hated it here.

I never told anyone that. It was true, though. I hated every second here. It was too harsh. I was pushed around and never had a say in anything... well, until now. Still, this isn't the kind of independence I want.

I don't want to die. Seriously, I'm still a kid.

It's all too much.

AN

Hey dudes. Sorry, this was more of a short introduction to Emilia. Sorry there was a break since the last chapter. Things have been crazy but it's all cool now. I'll update as much as possible. It's almost Thanksgiving so Thursday may be crazy but I'll do all i can for you lovelies. Read, vote, comment, stay awesome!