A Preview of Disease X - THE FALL

- 1 -

Natasha drove along the rain slicked interstate, her thoughts drifting to a happier time. A time before the virus, a time of innocence and ignorance. A time when all was right with the World. From the day she met Liam she’d felt in her soul that they would grow old together. They’d have three children, at least two more dogs… oh, and the grandchildren they’d have. They’d spend their golden years at the beach side cottage sitting on the back deck in their rocking chairs holding hands and smiling while they watched their grandchildren playing in the sand.

Max, who was sitting next to her in the passenger’s seat, barked loudly startling her back to reality.

“What is it boy?” she asked... “Damn it! I missed our exit, didn’t I?”

With nightfall quickly approaching it was imperative that they find proper shelter. The infected would be roaming the streets at dusk. She did a U-turn across the median and headed back toward the exit.

Her primary objective was still to find and punish those who were responsible for releasing this plague, however there were more immediate issues that had to be dealt with in this strange new world.

Four months had passed since the outbreak. There had been no phone or electric service for at least 30 days now. A typical nuclear power plant generally employs five hundred to one thousand workers. With sixty percent of the population infected or dead, there was no longer proper manpower in most cities to operate the power plants.

With no power, gasoline pumps no longer worked and fresh meat and dairy was a thing of the past. What few supplies the pre-apocalyptic rioters didn’t take from grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores and malls had been taken by survivors just trying to feed their families during Black Summer.

Homeland Security was working diligently to develop a plan to restore power and communication. She had faith that they would… eventually.

She turned onto the gravel drive and approached the massive wooden gates. Before she could come to a complete stop the gates swung open to allow her entry into the community.

Max chuffed, his tail thumping against the leather seat.

“I take it you’re happy to be home, huh boy?”

He barked twice.

***

The community did feel like home. As much as any place could these days. Driving along the cobblestone street, the little community looked a bit like a Norman Rockwell painting. A sharp contrast from the world outside those massive wooden gates. Sometimes, late at night, sitting in her cottage reading a book with Max lying at her feet, she could almost forget about the current state of the world… almost.

She backed the SUV up to the garage door behind the community storage center. Tyler Stevenson had already raised the door and was waiting there on the loading dock to help her unload the supplies. She exited the vehicle with Max close behind her. In fact, she thought he was going to run her over. He ran straight to his old friend Tyler.

“Hey buddy,” Tyler said, patting Max gently on top of his head. “Looks like you had a good day today.”

Max grinned and barked twice.

Natasha smiled at the pair; they’d grown rather close over the past few months. It seemed Max had adopted Tyler into the family.

“Is everyone in?” she asked.

“All except for Scott and Danny.” He replied, “but I’m sure they’ll be coming through the gate any minute now.”

“They’d best be,” she said looking up at the quickly darkening sky. The North star already visible. “I’m gonna go clean up and try to find a bite to eat. Call me if you need me.”

“Yes, y’all get some rest,” he said stroking Max’s golden fur. “Everything’s under control here.”

Climbing back into the driver’s seat she waved to Tyler, “Goodnight.”

- 2 -

Danny Parker searched frantically for an exit. The pharmacy’s main entrance was now surrounded by infected. His too dim flashlight found what appeared to be a door to a storage area. He slowly moved in that direction until he noticed what appeared to be the outline of a rather tall man standing in the doorway.

“Scott?” he whispered, “Is that you?”

The shadowy figure did not reply. The only audible sound Danny could hear was the rattling and scraping sounds coming from the front entrance.

It must be Scott; he’d never seen an infected stand so still. Or perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him in the dimly lit pharmacy. He continued to move cautiously toward the door.

The sound of shattering glass abruptly filled the room. He glanced back at the front entrance, the infected were now inside the pharmacy.

“Damn it!” He ran for the storage room door tripping over something at the end of the aisle. Quickly rising to his feet, he directed his flashlight to the object he’d tripped over…

“Oh no! God No! … Scott!”

Scott was lying on his stomach surrounded by a puddle of blood. The Shadowy figure in the doorway lunged toward him. The creature’s eyes shone bright yellow, it’s putrid breath smelled of sulfur, it’s pointed fangs dripping with blood from his last kill. Before Danny could fully comprehend what was happening the creature had sunk his teeth into his throat and ripped out his carotid artery… he fell to the floor beside his friend.

- 3 -

Magnus Nash hadn’t seen the sun or moon or felt wind or rain on his face since he entered the underground bunker four and a half months ago. He wondered if he’d ever see or feel those things again. Reports from European members of the Order were not good. Yes, the release of the virus had been successful in wiping out a large percentage of the population, but the altered strain of the virus had not at all accomplished what they had set out to do. We had created a brave new world indeed, a brave new world with flesh eating creatures roaming the streets.

His primary job was to do whatever it takes to protect the previous Vice President, the whiny little man bitch that was supposed to be the new commander in chief. What a joke... He would be a better ruler than this little pansy. How easy it would be to wrap his hands around the so-called Commander’s skinny neck and choke the life out of him.

“You look like a man in deep thought.” the Vice President said.

“Just more than ready to get out of this hole in the ground.” Magnus replied.

“I concur.” said the Vice President.

Magnus excused himself and retreated to the den to pour himself a glass of Woodford Reserve.

“Ahh, Kentucky’s finest creation.” he whispered to himself pressing the glass to his lips for another sip. “I guess this hole in the ground does have its good points.”