Thursday, 24 December 2009
Disclaimer
The story published on this blog throughout December is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real life people and/or events is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 24
After many hours Kingsley emerged from the kitchen, announcing that the ether was done. Everyone stood up and looked at each other a bit confusedly.
“So… Do we test is or something?” Sasha asked
“I suppose we should. To see if it works.” Ridley said
“Any volunteers?” Dalton said
Everyone was silent.
“Uhm… No offence to your chemical skill Kingsley, but I don’t really trust this substance…” Asher said
“It’s the whole vacuuming hose thing that bothers me.” Sasha said. “God knows what might have been in there to mess things up.”
“All right. I’ll test it myself.” Kingsley said
Everyone followed him into the kitchen, where he took a towel and dipped it a bit in the surprisingly large container with ether. He sat down on a chair and put the towel to his face and started breathing through it. He nearly instantly passed out.
Dalton hurriedly removed the towel and gently shook Kingsley a bit. Kingsley came too and shook his head.
“That must have been purer than I thought it would be.” He said, looking very proud
“Ok, so I guess we’ll have no trouble sleeping for… The next twelve months.” Lance said and nodded towards the ether.
“Yeah, I suppose.” Dalton said
“It seems a bit excessive.” Ridley said. “Surely this whole thing won’t last that long.”
“I certainly hope not.” Mac said
“Uhm… Boys.” Asher said suddenly. He was standing at the window, peeking out through the blinds.
“What is it?” Dalton asked
“Come and see for yourselves.”
Everyone walked over and discovered what had caught Asher’s attention. In the field outside their building there were about fifty persons. They were mostly wandering about aimlessly and wore the telltale marks of being infected.
“I wonder…” Kingsley said
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Lance said
---
Drew, Kenzie, Aidan and Boris were still hiding in the far end of the field when suddenly they saw two persons bursting out from the building where Ridley and the others lived. They ran screaming straight towards the field and the mob of people in it. The people in the field stopped wandering about and looked up at the two madmen screaming at them. As soon as they started moving towards them the two persons started running quickly in a wide circle, effectively gathering up the infected people in a tight mob.
Then one of them threw what looked like a glass bottle high into the air that landed in the middle of the mob and broke. The two men kept running in a circle, and they moved much quicker than the mob. After a few seconds some of the infected started falling over, and within a minute they were all lying on the ground – not moving a limb. The two men stopped running.
At that point Drew and the others had emerged from their hiding place and were walking up to the men. They had finally recognized them as their dear friends Dalton and Lance.
“Oi!” Boris called out
“Boris!” Dalton said in great surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting Ridley, what are you doing here?” Boris asked
“Dito.” Lance said
“More to the point; what did you do with them?” Drew said, pointing at the lifeless mob
“We knocked them unconscious with ether.” Dalton said with a shrug
“Ether!?” Kenzie said. “Where on earth did you get that from?”
“Kingsley made it.” Lance said with a smile
“Kingsley is here too?” Boris asked
“Yeah, we met him on the airport.” Dalton said
Aidan had been standing to the back, not saying much at all, but now he felt it necessary to interrupt the friends from their chit-chat.
“Excuse me. Hi. I was just wondering; will they be all right?” He said, pointing at the pile of unconscious people
“Oh, yeah.” Dalton said. “The ether will have dispersed by now. They’re just sleeping.”
“Oh, ok.” Aidan said.
“I’m Dalton, by the way.” Dalton said and shook Aidan’s hand
“I’m Aidan.”
“Ah, from our neighboring country.” Dalton said, referring to the nationality of Aidan
“Yes.” Aidan answered
“I’m Lance.” Lance said and also shook Aidan’s hand
At that point Asher opened the front door to their building and called out.
“How’s it going?”
“Perfect.” Dalton replied. “Everything went according to plan.”
“Ok. Good.” Asher said. “Who’s that with you?”
“Drew, Kenzie, Boris and Aidan.”
When Asher heard this he left the doorway and came up to them. He looked at Drew and Kenzie.
“I thought you went to the safe-zone.” He said grouchily
“We did, but we came back.” Kenzie said
“I have a message from us all; You are all bastards.” He turned to Boris, “Hello Boris, nice to see you.” And then turned to Aidan. “I don’t know who you are; but nice to see you anyway.”
By now all of the people from the apartment had gathered up in the field.
“Hi all, I hate to interrupt; but what are we going to do with them?” Ridley said, pointing at the pile of infected
“We should probably get them to the hospital.” Sasha said
“Yes, I agree.” Dalton said
Kingsley went to the road and waved at a military patrol that happened to be passing by. He pointed at the people in the field and the military turned around and drove up to them.
Once they had surveyed the situation, they decided to call for ambulance transport for what turned out to be 56 persons. Needless to say neither of our friends felt it necessary to inform them of exactly how the mob had come to fall unconscious.
Ten minutes later the first ambulances arrived, and from all of a sudden Jackson and Shae arrived.
“Hey! How did you get here?” Kenzie asked
“Once I had my wound patched up,” Shae said, pointing at a band aid on her cheek. “the staff asked us for our address, and we told them we were living with you guys.”
“When they got the call for the ambulances, they brought us along.” Jackson said, and started hugging everyone
“Wow!” Mac said. “This is kind of great, we’re all gathered up!”
“And it’s Christmas!” Sasha said with a huge smile
“Yes! I believe it is!” Aidan said
Suddenly Boris started singing a Christmas song, and everyone joined in. The ambulance personnel looked at them with amusement and some of them even joined in. The military decided not bother about the transgression of the curfew these young people had made – after all it was Christmas.
“So… Do we test is or something?” Sasha asked
“I suppose we should. To see if it works.” Ridley said
“Any volunteers?” Dalton said
Everyone was silent.
“Uhm… No offence to your chemical skill Kingsley, but I don’t really trust this substance…” Asher said
“It’s the whole vacuuming hose thing that bothers me.” Sasha said. “God knows what might have been in there to mess things up.”
“All right. I’ll test it myself.” Kingsley said
Everyone followed him into the kitchen, where he took a towel and dipped it a bit in the surprisingly large container with ether. He sat down on a chair and put the towel to his face and started breathing through it. He nearly instantly passed out.
Dalton hurriedly removed the towel and gently shook Kingsley a bit. Kingsley came too and shook his head.
“That must have been purer than I thought it would be.” He said, looking very proud
“Ok, so I guess we’ll have no trouble sleeping for… The next twelve months.” Lance said and nodded towards the ether.
“Yeah, I suppose.” Dalton said
“It seems a bit excessive.” Ridley said. “Surely this whole thing won’t last that long.”
“I certainly hope not.” Mac said
“Uhm… Boys.” Asher said suddenly. He was standing at the window, peeking out through the blinds.
“What is it?” Dalton asked
“Come and see for yourselves.”
Everyone walked over and discovered what had caught Asher’s attention. In the field outside their building there were about fifty persons. They were mostly wandering about aimlessly and wore the telltale marks of being infected.
“I wonder…” Kingsley said
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Lance said
---
Drew, Kenzie, Aidan and Boris were still hiding in the far end of the field when suddenly they saw two persons bursting out from the building where Ridley and the others lived. They ran screaming straight towards the field and the mob of people in it. The people in the field stopped wandering about and looked up at the two madmen screaming at them. As soon as they started moving towards them the two persons started running quickly in a wide circle, effectively gathering up the infected people in a tight mob.
Then one of them threw what looked like a glass bottle high into the air that landed in the middle of the mob and broke. The two men kept running in a circle, and they moved much quicker than the mob. After a few seconds some of the infected started falling over, and within a minute they were all lying on the ground – not moving a limb. The two men stopped running.
At that point Drew and the others had emerged from their hiding place and were walking up to the men. They had finally recognized them as their dear friends Dalton and Lance.
“Oi!” Boris called out
“Boris!” Dalton said in great surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting Ridley, what are you doing here?” Boris asked
“Dito.” Lance said
“More to the point; what did you do with them?” Drew said, pointing at the lifeless mob
“We knocked them unconscious with ether.” Dalton said with a shrug
“Ether!?” Kenzie said. “Where on earth did you get that from?”
“Kingsley made it.” Lance said with a smile
“Kingsley is here too?” Boris asked
“Yeah, we met him on the airport.” Dalton said
Aidan had been standing to the back, not saying much at all, but now he felt it necessary to interrupt the friends from their chit-chat.
“Excuse me. Hi. I was just wondering; will they be all right?” He said, pointing at the pile of unconscious people
“Oh, yeah.” Dalton said. “The ether will have dispersed by now. They’re just sleeping.”
“Oh, ok.” Aidan said.
“I’m Dalton, by the way.” Dalton said and shook Aidan’s hand
“I’m Aidan.”
“Ah, from our neighboring country.” Dalton said, referring to the nationality of Aidan
“Yes.” Aidan answered
“I’m Lance.” Lance said and also shook Aidan’s hand
At that point Asher opened the front door to their building and called out.
“How’s it going?”
“Perfect.” Dalton replied. “Everything went according to plan.”
“Ok. Good.” Asher said. “Who’s that with you?”
“Drew, Kenzie, Boris and Aidan.”
When Asher heard this he left the doorway and came up to them. He looked at Drew and Kenzie.
“I thought you went to the safe-zone.” He said grouchily
“We did, but we came back.” Kenzie said
“I have a message from us all; You are all bastards.” He turned to Boris, “Hello Boris, nice to see you.” And then turned to Aidan. “I don’t know who you are; but nice to see you anyway.”
By now all of the people from the apartment had gathered up in the field.
“Hi all, I hate to interrupt; but what are we going to do with them?” Ridley said, pointing at the pile of infected
“We should probably get them to the hospital.” Sasha said
“Yes, I agree.” Dalton said
Kingsley went to the road and waved at a military patrol that happened to be passing by. He pointed at the people in the field and the military turned around and drove up to them.
Once they had surveyed the situation, they decided to call for ambulance transport for what turned out to be 56 persons. Needless to say neither of our friends felt it necessary to inform them of exactly how the mob had come to fall unconscious.
Ten minutes later the first ambulances arrived, and from all of a sudden Jackson and Shae arrived.
“Hey! How did you get here?” Kenzie asked
“Once I had my wound patched up,” Shae said, pointing at a band aid on her cheek. “the staff asked us for our address, and we told them we were living with you guys.”
“When they got the call for the ambulances, they brought us along.” Jackson said, and started hugging everyone
“Wow!” Mac said. “This is kind of great, we’re all gathered up!”
“And it’s Christmas!” Sasha said with a huge smile
“Yes! I believe it is!” Aidan said
Suddenly Boris started singing a Christmas song, and everyone joined in. The ambulance personnel looked at them with amusement and some of them even joined in. The military decided not bother about the transgression of the curfew these young people had made – after all it was Christmas.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Chapter 23
As the helicopter took off our friends gathered up in their seats. Boris, Jackson and Shae were utterly confused and astonished.
“Where are we going? Why are we going? And; A HELICOPTER!” Jackson shouted
“They didn’t tell you?” Drew asked
“Duh!” Boris said angrily
“I can’t believe it!” Kenzie said
“We’re going back to my place.” Drew said
“Why?” Shae asked. “Didn’t you just leave from there because of the virus?”
“Yes.” Drew said. “Yes we did.”
Everyone fell silent. They were all too confused and astonished to speak for a long while, until finally Aidan said: “I don’t understand anything!”
“I… hmm…” Kenzie said. “Why did we get on the helicopter?”
“I have no idea.” Jackson and Drew said in chorus
“Ok. But now that we are, maybe we should – I don’t know – plan what we’re going to do when we get there?” Boris said
“Yeah. I suppose.” Drew said
“Any ideas?” Kenzie asked
“Maybe we could go and visit Ridley and Mac and the others?” Shae suggested
“An excellent idea!” Boris said
“Who are Ridley and Mac?” Aidan wondered
“Some friends that live in the same city as I do.” Drew said
“Are they good friends? Can they be trusted?” Aidan asked
“Oh, yes! Very good friends.” Drew said
“Of course they can be trusted!” Jackson said
“Then why didn’t you bring them in the first place?” Aidan asked
“Yes, why didn’t you?” Boris asked
Everyone looked at Drew and Kenzie, who looked very uncomfortable.
“Well…” Drew said
“We kinda thought they would do fine without us.” Kenzie said
“I didn’t. But I thought maybe it would be too dangerous to go there?” Drew said
“Oh, yeah. Maybe…” Kenzie said
About one hour later they landed at the hospital in the city and immediately faced a major problem; how to get past the guards and out into the city. Before they could do anything, however, the problem was solved for them. The old man needing surgery was rushed off by a medical staff in hazmat suits, and the others started walking towards the entrance.
As Shae walked out of the helicopter the woman behind her fell forwards and pushed Shae in the back. Shae and a man walking in front of her lost their balance and fell hard to the ground with the woman on top of them in a pile. The woman started screaming with pain, and the guards looked hesitantly at the mess and then left their posts and rushed over to help. The rest of our friends were already outside the helicopter waiting, and could not do anything to help Shae.
“Oh no! Do you think Shae got hurt!?” Aidan asked
“I hope not!” Jackson said worriedly
“The guards are running over.” Boris said
“We could get away right now.” Kenzie said. “But…”
“We can’t just leave Shae.” Drew said
“You go, I’ll stay with her.” Jackson said
“But…” Aidan said
“Don’t worry; we’re in a hospital – we’ll be allright.”
“Are you sure?” Drew asked
“Positive. Now hurry and go! Say hi to the others from me.”
“Will do.” Kenzie said
Jackson ran up to the crowd and the others started running towards some bushes. They discovered somewhat to their surprise that the area around the hospital was not very heavily guarded. They had no problem whatsoever slipping past the remaining guards and out into the nearby park.
“Does anyone know the way?” Drew asked
“Yes, I do.” Kenzie said. “But we shouldn’t go through the city center.”
“No, that seems rather stupid.” Aidan said
“Ok, we’ll go over there.” Kenzie said and pointed down the hill
They started half walking, half jogging through the city. Every now and then they saw a police car or even the odd military vehicle, but they were always able to hide somewhere until it had passed. It took them over two hours to get to Ridley’s apartment, going in a wide semi-circle. Eventually they arrived at the far end of the field outside the apartment building, and they faced another problem; there was a rather large gathering of people on it. They looked very dirty and rough.
“Shit!” Kenzie said
“How the hell are we going to get past them?” Drew said
“Are we going over there?” Aidan asked, pointing towards the building
“Yes.” Boris said
“Damn.” Aidan muttered
“Where are we going? Why are we going? And; A HELICOPTER!” Jackson shouted
“They didn’t tell you?” Drew asked
“Duh!” Boris said angrily
“I can’t believe it!” Kenzie said
“We’re going back to my place.” Drew said
“Why?” Shae asked. “Didn’t you just leave from there because of the virus?”
“Yes.” Drew said. “Yes we did.”
Everyone fell silent. They were all too confused and astonished to speak for a long while, until finally Aidan said: “I don’t understand anything!”
“I… hmm…” Kenzie said. “Why did we get on the helicopter?”
“I have no idea.” Jackson and Drew said in chorus
“Ok. But now that we are, maybe we should – I don’t know – plan what we’re going to do when we get there?” Boris said
“Yeah. I suppose.” Drew said
“Any ideas?” Kenzie asked
“Maybe we could go and visit Ridley and Mac and the others?” Shae suggested
“An excellent idea!” Boris said
“Who are Ridley and Mac?” Aidan wondered
“Some friends that live in the same city as I do.” Drew said
“Are they good friends? Can they be trusted?” Aidan asked
“Oh, yes! Very good friends.” Drew said
“Of course they can be trusted!” Jackson said
“Then why didn’t you bring them in the first place?” Aidan asked
“Yes, why didn’t you?” Boris asked
Everyone looked at Drew and Kenzie, who looked very uncomfortable.
“Well…” Drew said
“We kinda thought they would do fine without us.” Kenzie said
“I didn’t. But I thought maybe it would be too dangerous to go there?” Drew said
“Oh, yeah. Maybe…” Kenzie said
About one hour later they landed at the hospital in the city and immediately faced a major problem; how to get past the guards and out into the city. Before they could do anything, however, the problem was solved for them. The old man needing surgery was rushed off by a medical staff in hazmat suits, and the others started walking towards the entrance.
As Shae walked out of the helicopter the woman behind her fell forwards and pushed Shae in the back. Shae and a man walking in front of her lost their balance and fell hard to the ground with the woman on top of them in a pile. The woman started screaming with pain, and the guards looked hesitantly at the mess and then left their posts and rushed over to help. The rest of our friends were already outside the helicopter waiting, and could not do anything to help Shae.
“Oh no! Do you think Shae got hurt!?” Aidan asked
“I hope not!” Jackson said worriedly
“The guards are running over.” Boris said
“We could get away right now.” Kenzie said. “But…”
“We can’t just leave Shae.” Drew said
“You go, I’ll stay with her.” Jackson said
“But…” Aidan said
“Don’t worry; we’re in a hospital – we’ll be allright.”
“Are you sure?” Drew asked
“Positive. Now hurry and go! Say hi to the others from me.”
“Will do.” Kenzie said
Jackson ran up to the crowd and the others started running towards some bushes. They discovered somewhat to their surprise that the area around the hospital was not very heavily guarded. They had no problem whatsoever slipping past the remaining guards and out into the nearby park.
“Does anyone know the way?” Drew asked
“Yes, I do.” Kenzie said. “But we shouldn’t go through the city center.”
“No, that seems rather stupid.” Aidan said
“Ok, we’ll go over there.” Kenzie said and pointed down the hill
They started half walking, half jogging through the city. Every now and then they saw a police car or even the odd military vehicle, but they were always able to hide somewhere until it had passed. It took them over two hours to get to Ridley’s apartment, going in a wide semi-circle. Eventually they arrived at the far end of the field outside the apartment building, and they faced another problem; there was a rather large gathering of people on it. They looked very dirty and rough.
“Shit!” Kenzie said
“How the hell are we going to get past them?” Drew said
“Are we going over there?” Aidan asked, pointing towards the building
“Yes.” Boris said
“Damn.” Aidan muttered
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Chapter 22
Eryn did not stay awake for long before she slept again. She was not showing any sign of getting worse again, but the others were worried that she might have infected them with the mysterious virus. As she was sleeping they discussed their options.
“It seems like sleep in itself is a remedy.” Ridley said
“Yes, it does appear so.” Dalton said. “Is that possible?” He asked Kingsley
“Very unlikely, but definitely possible. If the virus itself only causes a mild insomnia that inhibits the body from battling the disease properly it might even be a cure.” Kingsley said
“A very odd virus that shuts down the speech center and causes insomnia, but nothing else – not even fever.” Lance said
“So what we need is sleeping pills?” Mac asked
“Yes...” Lance said
“Or better yet; anesthetics.” Kingsley said
“But we don’t have those, do we?” Dalton asked, and everybody shook their heads. “So we need to get some.”
“At the hospital, maybe?” Sasha asked
“Yes of course, except for the curfew.” Asher said. “We’ve been lucky so far, and haven’t run into any patrols. But if there is one place we can be sure to meet them it’s at the hospital.”
“He’s right.” Kingsley said. “And I doubt they will include it in the rations package…”
“So we’re just going to sit here and hope for the best?” Sasha asked angrily
“If I had some strong, pure alcohol, I could make some ether…” Kingsley said
“Really? How?” Lance wondered
“It’s rather easy, I just dehydrate it.” Kingsley said
“Ok, I’ll be right back.” Lance said and went out the door
Everyone looked after him confusedly.
“Where is he going?” Ridley asked
“I have no idea.” Asher said
“I have.” Dalton said and smiled amusedly
A few minutes later Lance came back, carrying a box that Kingsley and Dalton recognized. He put it down on the table and opened it. It contained nothing but bottles.
“Pure alcohol, ey?” Asher asked
“Yes. Since the curfew set in there is a huge profit in selling black market alcohol.” Lance said. “I would take this home and dilute them to about 30% and sell them for a reasonable price.”
“And make a fortune, no doubt. You’re a true entrepreneur, my friend.” Dalton said
“But now they will come to better use.” Sasha said and smiled
“Indeed.” Lance said
“Ok, let me see here…” Kingsley said and started looking through the kitchen
He gathered up a variety of glass jars and pots. Then he did the same in the rest of the apartment. Anything he could use he confiscated, and started building a chemical apparatus. He used duct tape and rubber gloves to make it air tight. Finally he was finished and they all gathered to marvel at his creation. Obviously it wasn’t very pretty, but it would serve its purpose fine.
“Ok, let’s get started.” Kingsley said and started pouring the alcohol into the apparatus
Everyone was standing around him, following every move he made.
“Uh, guys… This is going to take a while. Hours and hours. So you may want to find something else to occupy yourselves with…” He said to them
“All right, let’s go; to the living room.” Dalton said
“This might not be the best time, but is anyone up for a game of mafia?” Ridley asked
“Don’t be silly, this is a perfect time! Come on, let’s get the deck out.” Dalton said
“It seems like sleep in itself is a remedy.” Ridley said
“Yes, it does appear so.” Dalton said. “Is that possible?” He asked Kingsley
“Very unlikely, but definitely possible. If the virus itself only causes a mild insomnia that inhibits the body from battling the disease properly it might even be a cure.” Kingsley said
“A very odd virus that shuts down the speech center and causes insomnia, but nothing else – not even fever.” Lance said
“So what we need is sleeping pills?” Mac asked
“Yes...” Lance said
“Or better yet; anesthetics.” Kingsley said
“But we don’t have those, do we?” Dalton asked, and everybody shook their heads. “So we need to get some.”
“At the hospital, maybe?” Sasha asked
“Yes of course, except for the curfew.” Asher said. “We’ve been lucky so far, and haven’t run into any patrols. But if there is one place we can be sure to meet them it’s at the hospital.”
“He’s right.” Kingsley said. “And I doubt they will include it in the rations package…”
“So we’re just going to sit here and hope for the best?” Sasha asked angrily
“If I had some strong, pure alcohol, I could make some ether…” Kingsley said
“Really? How?” Lance wondered
“It’s rather easy, I just dehydrate it.” Kingsley said
“Ok, I’ll be right back.” Lance said and went out the door
Everyone looked after him confusedly.
“Where is he going?” Ridley asked
“I have no idea.” Asher said
“I have.” Dalton said and smiled amusedly
A few minutes later Lance came back, carrying a box that Kingsley and Dalton recognized. He put it down on the table and opened it. It contained nothing but bottles.
“Pure alcohol, ey?” Asher asked
“Yes. Since the curfew set in there is a huge profit in selling black market alcohol.” Lance said. “I would take this home and dilute them to about 30% and sell them for a reasonable price.”
“And make a fortune, no doubt. You’re a true entrepreneur, my friend.” Dalton said
“But now they will come to better use.” Sasha said and smiled
“Indeed.” Lance said
“Ok, let me see here…” Kingsley said and started looking through the kitchen
He gathered up a variety of glass jars and pots. Then he did the same in the rest of the apartment. Anything he could use he confiscated, and started building a chemical apparatus. He used duct tape and rubber gloves to make it air tight. Finally he was finished and they all gathered to marvel at his creation. Obviously it wasn’t very pretty, but it would serve its purpose fine.
“Ok, let’s get started.” Kingsley said and started pouring the alcohol into the apparatus
Everyone was standing around him, following every move he made.
“Uh, guys… This is going to take a while. Hours and hours. So you may want to find something else to occupy yourselves with…” He said to them
“All right, let’s go; to the living room.” Dalton said
“This might not be the best time, but is anyone up for a game of mafia?” Ridley asked
“Don’t be silly, this is a perfect time! Come on, let’s get the deck out.” Dalton said
Monday, 21 December 2009
Chapter 21
Three hours after he had left in a hurry, Drew’s father returned to the house.
“Come on you all, you have to go.” He called as soon as he opened the door
“What’s going on? Is it bad?” Drew asked
“Where are we going?” Kenzie wondered
“No time for questions, come on now!”
They hurried to the hallway and quickly put on their clothes and followed Drew’s father out the door. On the drive way they found two police cars waiting for them.
“What about our cars?” Aidan asked
“Leave them here.”
Suddenly they were all very worried about what might be going on. But they did not have time to discuss anything before they were ushered into the cars. As soon as they had closed the doors the cars went off as pull speed, with the sirens on.
“Is that really necessary?” Shae asked the driver in her car
“Yes, of course. There is no curfew up here.”
“Why not?” Jackson asked
“There hasn’t been any need for it. Until now.”
In the other car Kenzie and Aidan motioned to Drew to find out what was going on.
“So… Where are we going?” She asked her father
“To the school. There will be a helicopter there to pick you up.”
“What! Why?” Drew asked
“An old man has gotten very ill, and needs to get surgery. Only the military is allowed to fly at the time, and the helicopter they’re sending can take 20 passengers. We’re sending some more people with health problems. It’s going to your city and there is room for six more persons, so I’m sending you with it.”
“But I can’t leave you and mom when the virus has come here!” Drew protested
“It’s not a question.” The way he said it made it clear that he would do whatever was necessary to get her on that helicopter
In the other car they were not so lucky though. No matter how they tried they could not get any answer from the policemen in the front seats. Actually, they did not even bother to answer. Boris thought they were very rude.
After a while they arrived at the school and drove straight to a large field. As they arrived they could see a huge crowd of people gathered around the helicopter. In the middle were a group of policemen trying to keep people away from the prepared landing site, but it was not easy. As the two police cars drive arrived the crowd turned around and came running at the cars. They were shouting and started banging at the windows. The car up front honked the horn, but the people would not move. They were all desperate to get on the helicopter.
“When I find out who the hell leaked the information about the infected ones I’ll…” Drew’s father cursed
“What about those infected persons?” Drew asked her father
“As soon as we found out about the couple those incompetent guards let in we brought them into custody. They had not been in contact with anybody except the guards, and they did not get very close to those. They are the only people who have gotten ill.”
“What do you want me to do?” The driver asked
“Hold on.” Drew’s father called the policemen at the helicopter and told them to help clear the way, but it was hopeless.
“The pilot wants to take off right now.” They reported
“Ok. That’s it.” Drew’s father said. “Fire a warning shot.”
The policemen did so, and some of the people backed off. Those who didn’t, however, went berserk and started kicking at the windows of the cars, trying to get into the cars.
“Drive on!” Drew’s father ordered. “But slowly. They can’t keep the car from moving forward.”
Slowly the car pressed on. The people up front were squeezed as the car pushed from one side, and the people behind in kept pressing towards the car. The policemen in the middle started wrestling people and tearing them away so that finally the two police cars could get through.
As soon as they arrived at the clearing the policemen made a chain to hold people back so that the people in the cars could exit and get to the helicopter.
“Ok. Hurry!” Drew’s father said
“Don’t you dare go and get hurt!” Drew said
“Come on you all, you have to go.” He called as soon as he opened the door
“What’s going on? Is it bad?” Drew asked
“Where are we going?” Kenzie wondered
“No time for questions, come on now!”
They hurried to the hallway and quickly put on their clothes and followed Drew’s father out the door. On the drive way they found two police cars waiting for them.
“What about our cars?” Aidan asked
“Leave them here.”
Suddenly they were all very worried about what might be going on. But they did not have time to discuss anything before they were ushered into the cars. As soon as they had closed the doors the cars went off as pull speed, with the sirens on.
“Is that really necessary?” Shae asked the driver in her car
“Yes, of course. There is no curfew up here.”
“Why not?” Jackson asked
“There hasn’t been any need for it. Until now.”
In the other car Kenzie and Aidan motioned to Drew to find out what was going on.
“So… Where are we going?” She asked her father
“To the school. There will be a helicopter there to pick you up.”
“What! Why?” Drew asked
“An old man has gotten very ill, and needs to get surgery. Only the military is allowed to fly at the time, and the helicopter they’re sending can take 20 passengers. We’re sending some more people with health problems. It’s going to your city and there is room for six more persons, so I’m sending you with it.”
“But I can’t leave you and mom when the virus has come here!” Drew protested
“It’s not a question.” The way he said it made it clear that he would do whatever was necessary to get her on that helicopter
In the other car they were not so lucky though. No matter how they tried they could not get any answer from the policemen in the front seats. Actually, they did not even bother to answer. Boris thought they were very rude.
After a while they arrived at the school and drove straight to a large field. As they arrived they could see a huge crowd of people gathered around the helicopter. In the middle were a group of policemen trying to keep people away from the prepared landing site, but it was not easy. As the two police cars drive arrived the crowd turned around and came running at the cars. They were shouting and started banging at the windows. The car up front honked the horn, but the people would not move. They were all desperate to get on the helicopter.
“When I find out who the hell leaked the information about the infected ones I’ll…” Drew’s father cursed
“What about those infected persons?” Drew asked her father
“As soon as we found out about the couple those incompetent guards let in we brought them into custody. They had not been in contact with anybody except the guards, and they did not get very close to those. They are the only people who have gotten ill.”
“What do you want me to do?” The driver asked
“Hold on.” Drew’s father called the policemen at the helicopter and told them to help clear the way, but it was hopeless.
“The pilot wants to take off right now.” They reported
“Ok. That’s it.” Drew’s father said. “Fire a warning shot.”
The policemen did so, and some of the people backed off. Those who didn’t, however, went berserk and started kicking at the windows of the cars, trying to get into the cars.
“Drive on!” Drew’s father ordered. “But slowly. They can’t keep the car from moving forward.”
Slowly the car pressed on. The people up front were squeezed as the car pushed from one side, and the people behind in kept pressing towards the car. The policemen in the middle started wrestling people and tearing them away so that finally the two police cars could get through.
As soon as they arrived at the clearing the policemen made a chain to hold people back so that the people in the cars could exit and get to the helicopter.
“Ok. Hurry!” Drew’s father said
“Don’t you dare go and get hurt!” Drew said
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Chapter 20
Dalton, Ridley and the others parked the car right outside the door to the apartment house. They figured the risk of parking tickets minimal, and it would be better if they needed to get away quickly. They opened the trunk and carried Eryn inside. Anybody could see that she was exhausted.
As they entered the apartment a smaller chaos broke out. To begin with, Asher and Mac were happy to see Ridley and Sasha back in safety. Then they were stunned when they realized who the person Dalton carried was.
“Eryn!” Asher cried
“Oh my God! What’s happened to her?” Mac asked
“Let me in, so I can put her down.” Dalton said and walked towards the living room. Just as he passed through the door Kingsley stumbled and fell on Dalton’s back. Dalton, in turn, fell over and knocked the poor Eryn’s head into the door post.
“Dammit!”
“Oh my God! Is she alright?” Sasha asked
“What happened?” Ridley asked (he was standing behind Lance and did not see Dalton fall over)
Dalton got up and carried Eryn to the couch. Then Kingsley stepped in and they started examining her. To their great relief she was breathing steadily. She was, however, unconscious.
“Ok, at least she’s breathing. That was a pretty hard hit she got on her head.” Kingsley concluded
“Should we try to wake her up?” Mac asked
“We should check if she’s just unconscious or in a coma.” Lance said
“Give me a flashlight.” Kingsley said. Asher went to his room and fetched a small but bright flashlight that he handed to Kingsley. Kingsley took the flashlight and pulled up Eryn’s eyelids, one at a time. “It’s ok. Her pupils are responding just fine.”
“Her eyes are all red though.” Lance pointed out
“Yes. They are.” Kingsley said
“What do you think it means?” Sasha asked
“Technically, it means that the blood vessels in her eyes have burst.” Dalton said
“Which happens, for example, when you haven’t slept for days.” Ridley said
“Exactly.” Dalton said
“So we should let her sleep.” Kingsley said
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Sasha said. “She might have a concussion.”
“True enough.” Dalton said. “Let’s wake her up then.”
And so they did. But Eryn remained unconscious. She did stir a couple of times, but she did not wake up. Finally they decided to let her sleep and hope for the best.
Twenty hours later Eryn finally woke up. Her eyes were still bright red, but she seemed much better, somehow.
“Ehrr.” She mumbled
“Eryn is awake!” Mac called to the others, who were in the kitchen
“Water.” Eryn said hoarsely
Mac went to the kitchen and filled up a glass of water, which Eryn emptied eagerly.
“It’s… such a relief… to be able to talk again.” She said after a while
“What do you mean?” Kingsley asked
“I couldn’t talk. It was so strange; I could think perfectly clear (at least in the beginning, before I got too tired) but whenever I tried to speak I just couldn’t. All that came out was random sounds.” Eryn explained
“Sounds like your speech center stopped working. Can you tell us what’s happened to you?” Dalton asked
Eryn started describing her past twelve days. When the infection first started spreading she had remained healthy. Unfortunately she had been infected after a week or so. She did not notice right away, but she started having trouble sleeping. Eventually she found that she could no longer talk, and she could not get more than a couple of hours of sleep every day. She ate what she had at home, and when she ran out of food she started going out to try to find some.
But by now she was so exhausted from sleep deprivation that she could no longer think clearly. She started following other people around, in the hope that they would find something to eat eventually. The crowds grew larger and larger, and everyone was infected. Once she’d found something to eat she would go home and try to sleep until she got hungry again. But never getting a good night’s sleep.
“That’s horrible.” Asher said
“But now you have probably infected us too.” Kingsley said
“Probably.” Eryn said sadly
“We’ll have to wait and see.” Dalton said
“But what will we do when we can’t sleep?” Ridley said. “We can’t just hit each other in the head all the time.”
“Is that what happened?” Eryn asked. “That explains the headache. By the way, where’s Drew? And Kenzie and Jackson and Boris?”
“Jackson is probably with his parents or something, and I have no idea of where Boris is.” Mac said
“Drew and Kenzie, apparently, decided to ditch us and go to some safe zone that Drew’s father is running.” Ridley said
“Bastards.” Asher muttred
As they entered the apartment a smaller chaos broke out. To begin with, Asher and Mac were happy to see Ridley and Sasha back in safety. Then they were stunned when they realized who the person Dalton carried was.
“Eryn!” Asher cried
“Oh my God! What’s happened to her?” Mac asked
“Let me in, so I can put her down.” Dalton said and walked towards the living room. Just as he passed through the door Kingsley stumbled and fell on Dalton’s back. Dalton, in turn, fell over and knocked the poor Eryn’s head into the door post.
“Dammit!”
“Oh my God! Is she alright?” Sasha asked
“What happened?” Ridley asked (he was standing behind Lance and did not see Dalton fall over)
Dalton got up and carried Eryn to the couch. Then Kingsley stepped in and they started examining her. To their great relief she was breathing steadily. She was, however, unconscious.
“Ok, at least she’s breathing. That was a pretty hard hit she got on her head.” Kingsley concluded
“Should we try to wake her up?” Mac asked
“We should check if she’s just unconscious or in a coma.” Lance said
“Give me a flashlight.” Kingsley said. Asher went to his room and fetched a small but bright flashlight that he handed to Kingsley. Kingsley took the flashlight and pulled up Eryn’s eyelids, one at a time. “It’s ok. Her pupils are responding just fine.”
“Her eyes are all red though.” Lance pointed out
“Yes. They are.” Kingsley said
“What do you think it means?” Sasha asked
“Technically, it means that the blood vessels in her eyes have burst.” Dalton said
“Which happens, for example, when you haven’t slept for days.” Ridley said
“Exactly.” Dalton said
“So we should let her sleep.” Kingsley said
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Sasha said. “She might have a concussion.”
“True enough.” Dalton said. “Let’s wake her up then.”
And so they did. But Eryn remained unconscious. She did stir a couple of times, but she did not wake up. Finally they decided to let her sleep and hope for the best.
Twenty hours later Eryn finally woke up. Her eyes were still bright red, but she seemed much better, somehow.
“Ehrr.” She mumbled
“Eryn is awake!” Mac called to the others, who were in the kitchen
“Water.” Eryn said hoarsely
Mac went to the kitchen and filled up a glass of water, which Eryn emptied eagerly.
“It’s… such a relief… to be able to talk again.” She said after a while
“What do you mean?” Kingsley asked
“I couldn’t talk. It was so strange; I could think perfectly clear (at least in the beginning, before I got too tired) but whenever I tried to speak I just couldn’t. All that came out was random sounds.” Eryn explained
“Sounds like your speech center stopped working. Can you tell us what’s happened to you?” Dalton asked
Eryn started describing her past twelve days. When the infection first started spreading she had remained healthy. Unfortunately she had been infected after a week or so. She did not notice right away, but she started having trouble sleeping. Eventually she found that she could no longer talk, and she could not get more than a couple of hours of sleep every day. She ate what she had at home, and when she ran out of food she started going out to try to find some.
But by now she was so exhausted from sleep deprivation that she could no longer think clearly. She started following other people around, in the hope that they would find something to eat eventually. The crowds grew larger and larger, and everyone was infected. Once she’d found something to eat she would go home and try to sleep until she got hungry again. But never getting a good night’s sleep.
“That’s horrible.” Asher said
“But now you have probably infected us too.” Kingsley said
“Probably.” Eryn said sadly
“We’ll have to wait and see.” Dalton said
“But what will we do when we can’t sleep?” Ridley said. “We can’t just hit each other in the head all the time.”
“Is that what happened?” Eryn asked. “That explains the headache. By the way, where’s Drew? And Kenzie and Jackson and Boris?”
“Jackson is probably with his parents or something, and I have no idea of where Boris is.” Mac said
“Drew and Kenzie, apparently, decided to ditch us and go to some safe zone that Drew’s father is running.” Ridley said
“Bastards.” Asher muttred
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Chapter 19
Aidan, Jackson, Shae and Boris were sitting at the dinner table in Drew’s parents’ house. They were drinking hot chocolate and waiting for Drew’s father to come home. None of them was in the mood for small talk though, so it was dead silent. They all had a feeling that great things were about to happen, and so they were very tense.
They had arrived about an hour ago, and were told that Drew’s father was expected at lunch.
Meanwhile, Kenzie and Drew had finally arrived at the guarded road block to the safe zone. They were greeted with a lot of suspicion, and the guards did not want to let them in.
“I’m sorry, we can’t risk it. If we let anyone from outside in we risk the safety of everyone in the safe zone. It has remained safe for a reason.”
“Look, I’m sure you mean well and all, but I don’t think my father would approve of this.” Drew’s namedropping made the guards a bit nervous
“You’re the Chief’s daughter?”
“I am. You should give him a call and tell him I’m here.” Drew said
The guards hesitated a bit. Last week they had fallen in ill grace with Drew’s father when they let some people from the south into the safe zone (they too, had claimed relations to some important people). On the other hand these girls were asking for the Chief in person.
“All right. Wait here.” One of the guards said and went into a car and picked up the radio. About ten minutes later a car arrived, from which Drew’s father emerged.
“Dad!” Drew called out
He smiled at them and quickly ordered the guards to let them pass. Seeing that the girl was who she claimed to be, they let them pass.
“Let’s go home.” Drew’s father said.
They drove off, Drew with her father and Kenzie in their “borrowed” car behind. Soon they arrived at the house and went straight into the kitchen.
“Hi!” Jackson called out in joy. “You have no idea of how glad I am to see you!”
Many hugs later they were sitting at the table, listening to the stories they had to tell each other.
“I can’t believe they kidnapped you!” Aidan said, in reference to the strange cult Drew and Kenzie had encountered. “What do you think they were going to do?”
“I have no idea.” Kenzie said
“I can’t believe you were chased by zombies!” Drew said to Jackson and the others
“Actually, I’m not entirely sure they are zombies.” Aidan said with contemplation
“But they did behave very oddly.” Jackson said
“Perhaps I can offer some enlightenment.” Drew’s father interrupted. “The people you have seen are infected with an odd virus that spreads very quickly. It is not lethal – in fact, it doesn’t even hurt them.”
“But why are they running about then?” Aidan asked
“As far as the latest reports from the government they seem to be very restless. Reports and tests indicate that their speech centre is shut down somehow.”
“Whoa, that’s weird.” Kenzie said
“What about the red eyes?” Shae asked
“For some reason the infection seems to make it impossible to sleep properly. The sleep deprivation would in fact explain much of the odd behavior of the infected persons.”
“Oh.” Jackson said. “We though they wanted to… kill us or something.”
“A natural reaction when seeing a bunch of strangers running towards you.”
“Fight or flight.” Drew said
“Let’s hope most people choose flight.” Drew’s dad said with a concerned look on his face
Suddenly the phone called, and Drew’s father disappeared into the other room. Less than a minute later he came back to the kitchen.
“I have to go again. The virus has breached the safe zone. Those two incompetent guards let some infected people through a few days ago.” He turned to Drew. “Stay here.”
They had arrived about an hour ago, and were told that Drew’s father was expected at lunch.
Meanwhile, Kenzie and Drew had finally arrived at the guarded road block to the safe zone. They were greeted with a lot of suspicion, and the guards did not want to let them in.
“I’m sorry, we can’t risk it. If we let anyone from outside in we risk the safety of everyone in the safe zone. It has remained safe for a reason.”
“Look, I’m sure you mean well and all, but I don’t think my father would approve of this.” Drew’s namedropping made the guards a bit nervous
“You’re the Chief’s daughter?”
“I am. You should give him a call and tell him I’m here.” Drew said
The guards hesitated a bit. Last week they had fallen in ill grace with Drew’s father when they let some people from the south into the safe zone (they too, had claimed relations to some important people). On the other hand these girls were asking for the Chief in person.
“All right. Wait here.” One of the guards said and went into a car and picked up the radio. About ten minutes later a car arrived, from which Drew’s father emerged.
“Dad!” Drew called out
He smiled at them and quickly ordered the guards to let them pass. Seeing that the girl was who she claimed to be, they let them pass.
“Let’s go home.” Drew’s father said.
They drove off, Drew with her father and Kenzie in their “borrowed” car behind. Soon they arrived at the house and went straight into the kitchen.
“Hi!” Jackson called out in joy. “You have no idea of how glad I am to see you!”
Many hugs later they were sitting at the table, listening to the stories they had to tell each other.
“I can’t believe they kidnapped you!” Aidan said, in reference to the strange cult Drew and Kenzie had encountered. “What do you think they were going to do?”
“I have no idea.” Kenzie said
“I can’t believe you were chased by zombies!” Drew said to Jackson and the others
“Actually, I’m not entirely sure they are zombies.” Aidan said with contemplation
“But they did behave very oddly.” Jackson said
“Perhaps I can offer some enlightenment.” Drew’s father interrupted. “The people you have seen are infected with an odd virus that spreads very quickly. It is not lethal – in fact, it doesn’t even hurt them.”
“But why are they running about then?” Aidan asked
“As far as the latest reports from the government they seem to be very restless. Reports and tests indicate that their speech centre is shut down somehow.”
“Whoa, that’s weird.” Kenzie said
“What about the red eyes?” Shae asked
“For some reason the infection seems to make it impossible to sleep properly. The sleep deprivation would in fact explain much of the odd behavior of the infected persons.”
“Oh.” Jackson said. “We though they wanted to… kill us or something.”
“A natural reaction when seeing a bunch of strangers running towards you.”
“Fight or flight.” Drew said
“Let’s hope most people choose flight.” Drew’s dad said with a concerned look on his face
Suddenly the phone called, and Drew’s father disappeared into the other room. Less than a minute later he came back to the kitchen.
“I have to go again. The virus has breached the safe zone. Those two incompetent guards let some infected people through a few days ago.” He turned to Drew. “Stay here.”
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