Infected

2| The Zapatili Lily

VIVIAN

Opening the door, I got out of the passengers seat. I slammed it and the noise echoed, making it sound louder than it was in the quiet neighborhood.

I didn't give the place a second look as I marched up the stairs that led to our front door. Alana on the other hand seemed alarmed at my seemingly careless behaviour and scolded me "What the hell are you doing those things could be anywhere! You might as well get a tattoo saying 'Eat me' on your forehead."

I ignore her comment, sighing as I glanced around the abandoned neighbourhood, these people packed up and left the moment they heard news about a virus being spread. We were one of the many people who received a heads up that something bad was coming. Everyone in this neighbourhood was prepared.

Everyone exept us.

"Mom's flowers look...gross" Alana said, I looked at the pot filled with Zapatili lilies and saw that the insides of the normally white flower had turned a sickly green. It had been so when we'd left for the dance, Alana just didn't notice it before.

"You have nothing to say about this? Nothing at all?" She looked at me confusedly.

"I already told you, it's not safe to talk out here in the open" I reminded her once again.

Our mother was a scientist, she was known worldwide for her work. She was also obsessed with plants and kept a large garden outside our home as well as various plants around the house. I glanced at a pot filled with beautiful roses and sighed, knowing that soon they'd also take on the terrible appearance of the Zapatili lily.

Everything would.

I pushed the front door open, knowing that it was already unlocked. The house was empty like the way we left it. I walked upstairs and Alana followed closely behind me. I put in the code on a large white door which led to my mother's study. The door let out a beep before it was unlocked.

My mind was now occupied with worrying thoughts, how will she handle what I'm about to show her? Will she hate me for it? It's almost guaranteed that she will be angry, I just hope she doesn't take things too far. The most I can do is hope she stays calm enough for me to explain everything.

Even I know that's too much to ask of Alana.

The atmosphere in the room is crisp, the air conditioning unit hadn't been turned off and the cold breeze sent goosebumps over my skin. I walk over to mom's desk, that contained one of her journals. "Alana, you have to promise me something" I say turning around to face her.

Her ears perk up to the sound of me finally communicating with her. "Anything" she said looking into my eyes. "You need to listen carefully to what I'm going to say but before I say anything...promise me you won't get mad"

This seemed to make her a bit suspicious but she replied nonetheless "I can try..."

"This is mom's journal, she wrote almost everything concerning her studies in this book. On May 17th 2099, a group of scientists discovered the Zapatili lily. And of course mom was one of them. The flower was found in a swampy area and upon further experimentation, they found that it could survive almost every climate. They then allowed the cross pollination process to occur with the Zapatili lily and an ordinary rose. The bees transported the pollen from the Zapatili lily to the Rose and everyone was surprised to see that after only eighteen hours the Rose began to rot, turning slightly greenish in colour."

"So...the pollen from the Lily attacks other flowers' cells?"

"The bees weren't just transporting any old pollen, it was a mutated form of pollen that contained an unknown virus created in this very same lab. The pollen began to spread wildly from the Zapatili Lily and stuck onto every plant in sight. Everyone at the lab panicked and immediately burned all the plants to prevent further spread of the pollen that killed every plant it came into contact with. After this, they thought that everything was fine. They thought it only affected plants.