Prologue

Outbreak

  It was a big day. John and Rachel were researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) and were about to create a vaccine for the “Lyssavirus”, a new strain of rabies. The virus causes humans to lose their sanity and become extremely hostile, oftentimes resorting to cannibalism. The virus had originated from China and was rapidly spreading, and while the virus had not yet reached the United States, within a couple of weeks, the virus managed to destroy the entirety of Asia and half of Europe. This was extremely concerning for the government. Every able body was working around the clock to find a vaccine. 

  The last thing that was needed to complete research was a living infected to gather samples from. It was found that when an infected dies, the virus dies with it, making it extremely hard to gather any meaningful information. Bringing a live infected was a risk that the government was reluctant to make, but given the circumstances, it was absolutely necessary to prevent an outbreak.

  The infected was being transported via aircraft from China. Capturing it proved to be much more difficult than anticipated since it doesn’t react to tranquilizers and are very hostile when threatened. The infected which the government nicknamed “Hope” had been restrained using metal cuffs on both arms and legs. 2 chains were strapped across its chest like an X. It was then placed in a metal box which was also locked and chained. There were 4 armed men guarding the box 24/7. The government was not taking any chances. If the infected somehow managed to escape, they would kill it immediately. 

  John and Rachel were waiting patiently at the lab with their coworkers. All of them are silent. None of them had actually seen a live infected before. Although the researchers had heard stories about the infected, none of them truly understood just how horrifying they really were. As a matter of fact, some of them were eager to see an infected with their own eyes. What they don’t realize is that the infected had already broken free from its cuffs. 

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  “The aircraft landed. They’re wheeling the bastard over here as we speak,” says the head researcher. 

  The armed men enter through the double doors. They promptly place the metal box flat on the ground. 

  “We’re going to open the box. The infected should be restrained on a metal tray. While you gather samples, we’ll make sure nothing happens. After you finish, we will kill the infected and incinerate it to be safe. If any of you get bit, we won’t hesitate to shoot you. If there aren’t any questions or concerns, let's get started.” The armed guard says.

  After getting the OK, one of the men pulls out a key and the lock clicks open. Slowly unraveling the chain, the 3 other men have their guns aimed at the box. Everyone in the room is tense. Waiting. The man opens the box. The infected is calmy inside the box. 

  “We’re clea-” but before he can finish his sentence, the infected leaps out of the box and takes a bite of the man's forearm. He screams in agony as his comrades open fire upon the infected. It doesn’t die immediately. It charges towards a researcher and rips off a huge chunk of his calf. It only takes three minutes for everything to spiral out of control. All of the researchers are screaming and running sporadically, desperate to escape. 1 of the 4 guards panic and start to open fire on the researchers. As the armed guards are firing at the infected, the ones that got bit are turning. It only takes 30 seconds. The newly infected join in, and within a minute, 5 more people are infected. In another minute, everyone is dead. Except for John. During the commotion, John manages to hide in the equipment room. He had left his wife Rachel to fend for herself. He knew that he would be dead anyway. He had to call his son. He quickly pulls out his cell phone and dials the number. The infected start to pound on the door. 

  “Come on Ethan, please pick up. Please.” 

  His phone gives him an automated message telling him he has no service. Inside the lab inside the equipment room, he was surrounded by thick layers of concrete. It only made sense that he wouldn’t have any service. 

  John turns off his phone. He barred the door with a metal shelf. As the infected pound on the door, he sits in a corner and cries. No one would know what had happened. No one would come to help. He would either die of starvation or get eaten alive by his coworkers. He couldn’t contact his son to warn him. He would die a slow and painful death alone.