Element Z

Chapter 1: I hate Mondays

The light was beaming on my eyes through the window, the sun was rising and although I did not want to accept it I knew that my alarm would go off soon. As I opened my eyes to stare at the ceiling my alarm went off a second after, I sighed as I sat up turning it off and getting out of bed. As I was looking for my shoe a car crashed into the light pole across the street, I fell onto the ground as I tried to keep myself together. "Jake you can't afford to lose this job, especially since the accident has him in the hospital.." I slowly stood back up as I did my morning routine and walked by my tv, getting ready to leave the house as I stopped. 

"That's right, according to the speculation the CEO of Element is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to a number of workers coming forward claiming their work under Element has been illegal."

A picture of some old millionaire on the tv was shown as the news kept going on, but something didn't feel right. That person they were showing on tv did not look like the CEO we were told about. "It's a joke right?"

"When reached out to for comment, the CEO declined. We are still awaiting more information on what the company has been doing behind the public eye, as well as what the Federal Bureau of Investigation finds. But apparently he has been placed under arrest until the situation is solved."

I turned the tv off and left my apartment as I drove to work, getting stuck in traffic. "Well it wouldn't be a Monday without having to cover someone's shift, and getting stuck in traffic now would it?" I pulled down the sun visor looking at my face. "What the hell? How did I not see that at home?" Looking closer I felt the bruise on my face from the night before. "Shit! That hurts, I need to cover this." I looked through my glove compartment as I found my first aid kit and quickly got a band aid out, putting it on. "That should be go-" I was cut off by the car behind me honking their horn, I jumped dropping the first aid kit and everything fell out into the floorboard.

Across the road I noticed a person bent over puking what looked like a black liquid, an ambulance pulled up as I began to question it in my head. "What the fuck?" Before I could think about it more I was honked at once again, I shook my head and put my foot on the pedal. As I pulled into the parking lot I tried to shake the thought out of my head, I did not want to think about what I had saw at all. But the fact that an ambulance arrived so quickly, it felt faster than usual. When were they called? The response time wouldn't have been that fast, seeing as the nearest hospital was twenty minutes away. Parking my car I looked at the building and there they were, the new interns for our company.

Making my way to the building I looked at my watch noticing that I was fifteen minutes early, so why were they already here? "Are you guys the interns for Element?" Two of the four nodded as the other two were just staring at me. "Come on, what's the matter? Are you unable to speak?" I sighed walking towards the door as the one with glasses spoke up. "Didn't you see the news sir? About....the CEO?" I stopped before unlocking the door as I glanced back at the intern. "Yeah, what about it?" He looked at me in the eyes, he was so nervous for some reason. "Well if the CEO has been arrested....there are two problems and we haven't even started.."

Before I could respond to him I noticed someone in the distance, towards the end of the parking lot. It looked like they were just watching us, I gulped as I quickly unlocked the door. "Look I understand you may all have concerns, let's walk and talk. We can get the tour over with and answer all your concerns regarding recent events.." They walked inside as one noticed my change in attitude. "Is everything alright, sir?" I walked in behind them shutting the door and locking it. 

"It's nothing, I just wanted to get the tour over with." I smiled softly trying to reassure them, knowing that I was lying straight through my teeth. "Let's get started shall we?" We began the tour as I showed them around the office space where they would spend most of their time. "I know you guys are probably concerned on what you will be doing, seeing as the news reported that the CEO was arrested on account that multiple workers came forward on doing illegal work on behalf of the company." Once again the intern with glasses looked me in the eyes, he looked worried for his life. "Sir, I have no issue with doing what I have to do to make ends meet.....but I just worry that the company may be shut down and we might be out of a job before it starts.." 

After patting him on the back with a comforting smile I brought them down the hall to show them the labs, during the walk I looked back at him and the others. "I can reassure you that no matter what happens to the CEO, the way this company is structured our jobs are safe. Besides-"
I cut myself off thinking that I probably shouldn't share the information I know because not all interns may be on the same page as glasses. "Sir, what were you about to say?" Looking forward to avoid eye contact I tried to think of an excuse to cover it up before they start asking more questions. "I was just going to say that no matter what happened at that other facility that was reported on the news, the work we do here is not illegal."

"Well that's reassuring, but may I ask why you don't look like the person we were informed about?" I let out a yawn before looking back at them. "Something happened and they weren't able to come in today, so I had to cover their shift. Anyways here we are, the labs." They looked through the window at the many test tubes and other stuff sitting unpacked. "Sir, what is all this stuff going to be used for?" Remembering the oath I took but at the same time not knowing a damn thing I sighed before walking back down the hallway signaling for them to follow me. "Truth is, I don't know myself. That's where the scientists are going to be working. Anyone who isn't a scientist, such as myself and you guys will never be informed on what goes on in there."

"Wait but then they might be hiding something illegal, l-like the news said. Right?" They looked at me funny when I chuckled. "Well look who finally started talking, I wouldn't know though. I guess you might have a point, but that's not our issue to worry abo-" Before I could finish my sentence a EAS alarm went off on the tv in the break room next to us. "Huh, let's go see what that is." As we walked into the room and glared at the tv, it read out.

"Attention all residents, a virus known as 'Element Z' has spread around your local area. This virus is considered a threat to all, as the current infected patients have been reported to attack others. The government is issuing a lockdown, and recommends taking shelter as well as barricading exits to prevent entry from any of the infected. The California State guard has been deployed per request of the Governor of California and they will be working with the incoming United States military to eliminate the threat. Please stay ins-" The tv was cut off by some power outage as an intern grabbed my shirt by the neck looking me in the eyes. "You knew about this, didn't you?!"