Godead

XXII

As Blair and Claude raced through the woods, a shadowy, bespectacled man sat in a dark room, writing away at something under a small desk lamp.

Reinhart's Log, September 17, 20XX — Entry #276

It's been six months since the discovery of the Paleface Virus, and no one could've predicted the madness this finding would bring.

Our research team is finished. What started as twelve scientists commissioned to research the virus has been reduced to three. Flood, Larson, and myself are all that remain. The rest have become afflicted, attacking anyone on sight whilst moaning and wailing. We've managed to corral most of them into one of the laboratories, but it's only a matter of time before they break free.

The research facility is no longer safe. Larson and I have agreed to make our escape. Flood insists on staying, claiming the others are harmless and that we're being cowards. I hesitate to mention, but I fear Dr. Flood has lost his mind. The man's always been rather eccentric, but his behavior grows more erratic with each passing day. He seems to take pleasure in studying our afflicted colleagues, and at night, we hear him talking to them through the walls.

Larson and I must escape. If not from fear of our colleagues, from fear of Flood.

As the scientist finished writing, he stood from his desk, gathering his belongings before preparing to leave. As he approached the door, he paused, soon heading to a nearby filing cabinet. He slid it open, skimming through its contents before removing a sheet of paper. As he placed it under the light, he looked it over, soon adding notes to the right of the page.

Paleface Project Research Team:

Fred Loomis                          —           Lead Researcher (Afflicted)

Timothy Saunders              —           Researcher (Afflicted)

Donovan Larson                  —           Researcher

Janet West                           —           Researcher (Afflicted)

Zachary Powell                   —           Researcher (Afflicted)

Craig Johnson                     —           Researcher (Deceased)

Sam Reinhart                      —           Researcher

Barbara Coburn                 —           Researcher (Afflicted)

Alex Flood                           —           Researcher

Michael Davenport           —           Assistant (Afflicted)

Amanda Crenshaw          —            Assistant (Missing)

Dan Taylor                         —            Assistant (Afflicted)

Upon writing "Afflicted" near the final name of the list, Reinhart paused, adding a closing line to the bottom of the sheet.

As of 9-17-20XX, the conditions of surviving members are listed above. Dr. Johnson was too unruly and had to be disposed of, and the reason for the violent behavior of those afflicted is yet unknown. I now take my leave of Meadowbrook Research Labs, accompanied by my colleague, Dr. Larson.