Pandemic

Chapter 4 - Bullet

4

Before everything went to hell, scientists all over the world had started searching for a cure. They needed months, but were given weeks. Turned out they had days, which then showed off to be hours. In the very end, they ended up kidnapping civil people, both sick and healthy. The plan was to explore the virus, placing it into bodies to try figure out how it evolved and what it was. As communication became harder and harder, cooperating became impossible. So did finding a vaccine or a cure. All labs have been evacuated; all search for a solution have been given up on.

 At least rumor has it so.

Dr. Lemmon does not believe it for a second. 

He doesn’t think any surviving scientist or doctor with any self-respect would drop everything and leave just because people started dying. Maybe some wimps decided it would be easier to escape, but there has to be a lab somewhere. One where there still is a spare tank of electricity and brave souls. A place where the pride hasn’t left and understanding and explanation are being found.

 And he is going to find that place. Cost may the cost be.

 There are dead bodies in every corner. People are lying in their own blood pools of blood alongside the walls of the hospital. They are the people he failed to save. It is hard to think of all the panic and tears, knowing that he was never able to help anyone. What had been hardest would be watching colleagues trying to treat the sick, just to get infected and die themselves. His best friend, Andre Dove, went with his family very soon after the illness started spreading. He doesn’t blame him, but he certainly isn’t happy to be left alone. Being the only survivor who stayed at the hospital doesn’t please him.

 He is just about to walk out the main entrance, when three kids walk up to him. It turns out to be four, but the last one is so little so he didn’t notice her right away.

 ‘I’m Aria. We’re looking for an explanation,’ the tallest girl says. Her dark hair falls in small curls around her shoulders, and every little snowflake landing in it makes an eye-catching contrast. She clearly has some attitude to show with.

 He gives her a wry smile. ‘So am I.’

‘Are you a doctor?’ The little one asks. She isn’t exactly little, but definitely a pre-teen. Aria gives her a mean look.

 Dr. Lemmon feels bad for her so he answer. ‘Yes. My patients refer to me as Dr. Lemmon, but you can call me John.’

 The girl starts giggling. ‘It’s like Dr. Lemon! Like the citrus fruit,’ she says. ‘I’m Amanda.’ What a sweet kid.

 ‘I’m Matt and this is Claire,’ the boy says and goes for a weak smile. It doesn’t seem to convince either of us, but I appreciate his effort.

 Claire, which her name apparently is, elbows Matt and scowls up at him. ‘I can introduce myself, thank you.’

‘Ignore them,’ Aria says and takes a step forward. John overpowers the urge to sigh in frustration. He doesn’t really have time for these teens, but they need someone. What would be better than a highly educated Doctor? Most anyone who could give them the answer they want. ‘Do you have any ideas or something?’ She tries to stay though and cool, but John sees small glimpses of desperation in the constant twitching of her fingers.

He shakes his head. ‘Nope. But I’m heading to find out.’

‘Can we come with?’ Matt asks. Aria turns to face him, but Matt doesn’t even flinch. John knows he would have.

These kids won’t do anything but slow him down from finding what he is looking for. Yet, it feels very wrong to even think of leaving them behind. He already feels like he knows all of their bad sides, and he dares doubting that there is anything more to them. Claire is rude. Matt seems like a nice guy, but there’s something off about him. The dark haired girl with snowflakes in her hair seems determined and cold. He can’t seem to remember her name.