Apocalypse [Pentatonix AU | Kavi / Scomiche]

Chapter 8 - Reflections

Kirstie took one last look at the gorgeous mansion behind her, knowing Avi and Scott wouldn't be patient for much longer. In so little time she'd made so many memories there. Reuniting with Scott, finding a newfound friend in Avi, regaining at least some hope. It would be the first place she'd actually miss in years.

Hurrying to jump in the back of the prius, Kirstie slung her bag next to her, shotgun on her lap. Avi and Scott were in the front, with Scott driving. He'd told them that the prison was a little over 150 miles, no longer than a two hour drive if they made good time.

"So Scott," Avi said once they were on the main highway. "What did you do before all of this?"

"I worked at the CDC operated Quarantine Station in Los Angeles. Public health analysis." Kirstie noticed Scott smiling at Avi's shocked expression.

"The CDC quarantine? You serious?"

Scott nodded. "Yeah. Around the time of the second wave, we knew we didn't have much time before the government sent people to shut us down. Sure enough they did, gunned down half the staff. Before they got to my wing, though, something happened. I didn't know it at the time, but the people they'd gunned down, they came back, attacked. Our section went into lockdown, no one in, no one out.

"After about a month we finally opened the doors. I had my suspicions about what had happened, but seeing the biters for the first time... that feeling was indescribable. I'm sure you can relate. Anyway, my team and I eventually started killing the biters one at a time, taking them into our labs for analysis. At that point there were only five of us left.

"We ran every test, every analysis. We were able to identify it, but were still working to find a cure when..." his voice trailed.

"When what?" Avi prompted.

"That building ran on fossil fuel, gas energy. Once it runs out, the system recognizes that there's a problem. We kept things in that building, things that could wipe out the entire human race in days. So when the security is breached, when fuel runs out, the place implodes. Blows itself up. Somehow the five of us got out, before the implosion. But all of our work was completely gone, obliterated instantly. And now there's only two of us left." Kirstie watched as Scott nodded his head toward her.

Avi turned to look at her, a realization in his eyes. "You worked at the CDC? You told me you were a behavioral scientist, a psychologist."

Kirstie shrugged. "Never said where."

Avi turned back to Scott. "So you never found a cure?"

"We were close, but no."

"But you identified it?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"It's a virus, transmitted through unidentifiable bacterium that develop in the enamel and keratin of the infected."

Avi nodded, understanding. "That's why if you're scratched or bit-"

"You change, right. Except it's also important to note that it varies slightly between the enamel and keratin. If transmitted through a bite, it'll be a quick, almost immediate death. If transmitted through a scratch, it's much slower, and the victim will often experience hallucinations and intense chronic pain. But the disease itself, it's unlike any we've seen. It poisons the bloodstream, gets into the immune system, induces dramatic fever. It literally burns you out. And then, once you're dead, it restarts the brain stem. It brings the brain back, but only part of it. The person infected is gone, only a corpse remains."

"But there could be a cure?"

"Maybe," Scott sighed. "But now there's no way to find it. That hope has been lost."