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Contagion Spin Off- Chapter 1
"So no fatalities?"
I shake my head. "No, there haven't been any deaths. Most cases seem to peak around a fever of 103.4 and stop there. In a few more severe cases, it's gotten up to 104.2, but no higher than that." I explain, lacing my fingers together. I'm having a hard time hiding how nervous I am.
I'm scared. Honestly, I am. This illness is spreading faster than we can stop it. It's a virus- viruses spread quickly and it's hard to do anything without a vaccine.
"The most cases are in my faction, correct?" Johanna asks. I nod. It's because there's so much close contact and contact with dirt.
"Erudite comes at a close second. Candor and Abnegation have had the least cases, and they're all contained. There hasn't been any spread to Dauntless and that's due to the fact that it's too dark in that faction for the virus to live long on surfaces." I say. Max seems to be disinterested- it's quite annoying. I decide I'm going to call him out. "Max, you are aware that if this virus grows to an epidemic in your faction, you will have no idea what to do because you didn't pay attention in these meetings." I say, and it's harsher than I initially intended.
Before he can fire back with a comeback, Johanna holds up a hand and then lowers her hand and puts it on my shoulder.
"Jeanine, I know you are practically losing your mind over this, but it is okay. Just calm down." She says kindly, and I close my eyes. She's right. This is killing me with stress.
I haven't slept in days and I've spent all day working on this. I will not have my city overrun with viruses because I didn't do enough to stop it.
"I'd rather be over prepared than under prepared and cause more spread than is necessary." I say, and she sighs.
"Jeanine, we're all doing as much as we can until it gets replicated in a lab. You need to take a break and sleep. You look like you haven't slept in days." Jack says. I sigh. I'm exhausted.
"I'll be fine. Have we covered everything?" I say, taking the subject away from me. I don't want to talk about myself. I just don't.
"Should Abnegation continue doing what we're doing?" Marcus asks. As much as I hate him, we have to cooperate.
"Yes. Your precaution has helped the Abnegation epidemic stay to a minimal level." I say, forcing a smile.
He nods. "Why has Erudite had such a bad outbreak? You'd think it wouldn't be as bad." Johanna asks. "Over hand sanitisation. For fear of catching the virus, everyone has been overusing hand sanitiser. It kills some of the harmless bacteria that helps prevent illness, and therefore makes them more susceptible to disease." I say, and everyone nods in understanding.
I'm the mind behind all of this. All of this prevention.
I have to keep it up.
I look up at the clock, finding it to be nearly 9:30 pm. We have these meetings almost everyday, as it is necessary to make sure nothing has gotten worse.
"Meeting adjourned then?" Max asks. I sigh, nodding.
"Meet tomorrow, then?" I suggest? and everyone nods. Everyone slowly leaves, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
Until my assistant enters.
"Jeanine, go home. Please get some sleep. I know you haven't slept in days." she says, holding her hand out to help me up.
I get up on my own. "No contact. You never know." I tell her, and she nods, pulling her hand back.
"Now you ignored my statement." she says. I sigh. I was hoping I would get away with not answering.
"I'll be fine." I say dismissively. She puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Go. Home. When you're tired you're at more risk of getting sick." She says firmly. She's right, I suppose.
I sigh, straightening my blazer. I'm so tired. More than I should be, which scares me. I shake my head, snapping myself out of it quickly.
I walk with Nancy back to my apartment, where we say our goodbyes. She's always been kind and made sure I remembered to take care of myself amidst my life... I mean, my job.
I enter my apartment and shut off the alarm. Tonight is one of those nights I miss my dog... he'd have already run up to me.
That is... until he died last fall. It seems most things that mean something to me in life die out just as he did.
I drop my bag down on the marble floor, and stifle a yawn with my left hand as I begin to scoop my blonde hair into a ponytail. I tie it off, and decide I'm going to change out of my stiff work clothes.
Once I've changed into suitable sleeping attire, I fall back into the comfort of the couch that is unsurprisingly a shade of blue.
I can't bring myself to turn on the tv, as much as I may want to drown my problems in a netflix marathon.
Because yes, despite my seriousness, I am fairly normal in some ways.
I sigh, eventually convincing myself that I need to get up and sleep. I haven't slept much lately, and therefore I have to or I'll get sick.
I pull myself to my feet, my exhaustion weighing down on me.
I switch off the light in the living room and walk to my room.
I don't even click the light on- I just get into bed and fall asleep immediately.
I didn't know it then, but that was my last day of healthiness.

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Well here's chapter one! Whose POV do you want this to be in next? Please comment!
-Izzy

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