Quarantine

Take your time

Three weeks had passed since our arrival here, and Charles had always tried to get me to enter that room again. 57893 was what the code was, and we both knew it. I just didn't have the guts to go back there again.

They hadn't taken us back yet, and I was starting to think that they were bluffing. Rose had recovered from her life threatening injuries, but was still under watch. Jackson was in another bedroom in the opposite direction from us.

Four months, and no chance at civilization.

Other countries had fallen quickly once it broke the quarantine. Spreading through America like a wild fire, and then hitting the border even faster. Boats were the main way to escape, but even then the infected had gotten on. The boats would float on the sea, and some would make it across the world.

The complete world went dark, and only some places kept electricity. Australia was the last place to fall, but word over radio had spoke of a safe haven there. They had the most time to prepare, roughly two and a half months before it reached their shores.

I looked down at my tray that was covered with canned pork, and a slime like thing that passed for gravy. I picked up my fork, and took a bite, feeling my mouth dry up every time.

How does something wet make my mouth dry?

I grabbed the styrofoam cup half filled with water, and took a small sip. The water supply was still up, in the near 80% range, but they rationed everything anyways. There was only about twenty people here, and I didn't understand why they did so, but it wasn't my say on matters.

Charles had left for the room about twenty minutes ago, but when I went to put away my tray I found him walking swiftly over to me. He seemed in a hurry, and he glanced at some of the soldiers that were also enjoying a meal.

"Ethan. You need to come see this." He whispered it, and I had to strain to hear him.

"See what?" I asked softy while taking a glance at the men.

He just walked off, and I went to catch up with him. He pushed the button, and waited for the doors to open. We were in the hallway, and we walked back to our room, but instead of going in we walked past.

"No Charles. I already said that we aren't going in there." I started to complain, but he cut me off.

"I already have, and there's something they didn't show you." He spoke with excitement at this point, and didn't try to keep his voice down.

He quickly punched in five numbers. 57893. The red lock sign flashed green, and he pushed the door open. He waited for me to enter before closing it again, and waited for the locking light to turn on.

We walked past the now empty, and clean boxes, the smell of cleaning supplies in the air. He took steady steps as if he knew were he was going. The long walkway soon led to a turnoff to a lower level floor. He went down the stairs which rattled quite loudly, and I was suddenly concerned about getting caught.

He went to a white door that was unmarked, and opened it up. Inside of the room was a tunnel that led somewhere. I looked at Charles who stared at me.

"Where does it go to?" I asked him knowing that he had checked it out before getting me.

"You won't believe this Ethan. It leads outside, but somewhere you wouldn't expect. You know the highway where we crashed?" He looked at me with an excited gleam.

"No way. You don't mean?" I looked at him with doubt.

"Yes Ethan. There's also a camera on the outside. They caught the crash on surveillance. The road is higher than the field which was filled with those things. Ann could've gotten away because there is wreckage on the highway." He spoke these words with hope, and I hoped as well.