The Virus Within- Changing

Info

The web was down, but we had another system. Something like WiFi was at the base, and information was stored in servers at the server room. Every Stronghold had this system. The server rooms from all over the country could connect to each other to share information. It was called the Stronghold wide web, or SWW for short. SWW wasn't as widespread as the world wide web, so you couldn't search up what was the darkest planet, or anything like that. I knew this from experience. Instead, SWW was filled with information about how to survive in the world, like info about zombies, how to boil the virus, how to make the cure, etc. It was exactly what I needed.

Despite the fact that my room was on the third floor with a skylight, it was pretty dark. The moon wasn't very bright, and a gray cloud had covered it up. Despite this, I could see perfectly fine. I jumped on my bed and searched 'zombies stats'.

It was impossible for regular zombies to be sane, and since I had no control problems, I wasn't a Runner either. Nightstalkers apparently had a problem with too much light, and Terrors had problems with darkness. So far, I could be neither. I turned on the light and looked straight into the bulb. No problems aside from the black spot in my vision that lasted two seconds. I could see easily in the dark room.

Either the virus was evolved, or there was another rank. Or both. In either case, I could assume that more zombies of this rank would show up. I had to be prepared.

First of all, I needed a better weapon. I was well aware that many were still against zombies, and if the secret got out, it could not end up well. A baseball bat was highly ineffective against zombies. I needed a sharper weapon, like a sword or a dagger.

If another zombie like me showed up, I wouldn't know if they would scent me or not. Worst case scenario would be if they do scent me and reveal the secret, along with themselves, unless they found a way to reveal it without involving themselves. Now my brain hurt.

A few hours later, I had tried searching everything about the virus.

The Ophiocordyceps fungi, aka zombie ant fungi, was a lot like the zombie virus. The zombie virus would recognize the brain of humans, invade the mind, and take over the body. Then the sneezing stage came, and viruses would be released to spread elsewhere. Finally, the zombie would thirst for blood and would spread the virus through saliva and blood. It turned out that Runners had the rare, necessary chemicals to defend the brain, although barely. Nightstalkers had the combination of elements in their bodies for the brain to be defended a little better. Terrors had the formula in their bodies for the virus to be almost completely defended. This was why control and instinct varied from each type. Children very rarely had the necessary chemicals for this, and never in great amounts; that was why children were always feral. They also had a chemical not found in adults, which might have something to do with that.

Theoretically, it was possible for my body to have enough of the special chemicals and keep my mind sane. It explained why no children had turned by now. Or maybe they were in secret. It still wouldn't explain why I didn't fit any ranks. Maybe it had something to do with the element found in children. Or the virus was evolving, and I was one of the first.

I rubbed my eyes. It was twelve. Time to go to sleep.

The next day I expected to drag myself out of bed at seven, but I woke at five, with no sleepiness at all. I did my routine. Today was a free day. I could do whatever I wanted. First I snuck downstairs and replaced the laptop. Then I tried to read, but I was full of energy, so instead, I ran a few laps. My burn was becoming gradually worse, but I could still ignore it easily.

In a few days, I would have to hunt. I shivered. Better start planning.

At six, I scoured the fence silently. Picking a spot where the view of the fence was blocked from the two sentries, I climbed onto a nearby two-story building and stood precariously on the roof. I took a breath and ran towards the edge. As my feet left the roof, I sprang as hard as I could. My instincts kicked in and I immediately clung to the fence in the shadows. I slowly let my inner zombie grow and I had a red tinge in my vision again. My fingernails grew at superhuman speed, and in five seconds, were claws. I used my nails to dig into the fence and climbed to the top, using my nails to make handholds. In two minutes I had cleared the fence without the guard noticing. Now on the other side, I repeated the process.

I returned to my bed with my human disguise, as I called it, and read until I was too restless to stay.

During lunch, I overheard the people in the room below me.

"Did you hear about the claw marks in the fence? Near the south side?" A light voice said

"No, what happened?" This time a  male spoke.

"Dillon and Samantha both smelled a zombie at about six thirty today. They tracked it to the south end, but by the time they got there, the perpetrator was gone. Claw marks on the fence, both outside and in. No scent trail, either. Only the smell of a zombie."

Oops.

"Really?" the male was skeptical.

"Yeah. They're gonna double security, I think. And get this: they don't know what rank the zombie was."

This was bad. I would have to be more careful next time. I need a way out without exposing my scent. Maybe I could use my zombie abilities without my scent trail.

I need to take precautions in case they find me. I need a flashlight. One of the bright ones. If I can knock the welding glasses off and shine the flashlight at them... I could escape.

That was a thought for later, though. In a week I would try again. Hopefully, I could raid a nearby neighborhood before then for a flashlight. Hopefully, everything would go well.