Introduction and Foreword

My plan for this blog site is to create a living, breathing on-line story about a viral apocalypse. While the idea is not that original, perhaps my spin on it will be. The story begins on Valentine's Day 2013, why you may ask, read on and later in the story I will reveal why. I hope you all enjoy reading this on-going web series which will be presented in a type of on-going diary format. Thank you for reading and enjoy the story as it develops. Of course, please do comment so I can learn from you my readers about your tastes, viewpoints, praises, critiques, anything as it will help me to help develop the story.

And So It Begins...

Foreword:

Not that keeping this journal is going to return things to the way they were before, it is more for my trying to come to grips with what has happened. I woke up this morning on Valentine's Day 2013 expecting it was just going to be another day, take my wife out for dinner like I usually do and then go home to spend quality time together and go to sleep just like any other day. Today was so far from what I expected; I decided I need to keep a journal to make sense of it all.

Day 1 - February 14th, 2013:

I woke up like I usually do at 4:45 am this morning to head to my job with the government. Something today seems odd since my wife is not sleeping next to me, so I go out onto our balcony and look out, I see these people walking in such a strange fashion almost like shuffling and staggering. Some of them appear to have blood on their lips and faces; could there have been some accident with the above ground subway system? To find out, I turn on the news and find the emergency broadcast system issuing their warnings that say stay indoors and avoid contact with others who act strangely. I'm beginning to think zombie attack but then think, "no, that's impossible, there's no way." Still, my curiosity is getting the best of me so I then turn my attention to Facebook and voila, it's buzzing with status updates about people attacking and biting each other. The messages read like, "OMG, I've never seen anything like this, WTH is going on?!?", "Yep, the apocalypse is here! We're screwed!!!" and "If you get this txt, please send help, I'm at..." I text my wife and immediate family to let them know I'm ok and they texted me back, however my wife didn’t which is really strange.

I recall the EBS mentioning something about this infection being transmitted by body fluids like blood or saliva which means it can be transmitted by bites. It dawns on me that maybe my wife went down to one of the common areas in our building to be with our neighbors and may have been attacked. But before I go running out the front door of our apartment, I take a good look through the peephole. What I see shakes me to my very core. It's my wife standing there staring at the door speaking random words that make no sense, her eyes are bloodshot, she's coughing deeply, and she appears to be foaming at the mouth but upon a visual examination I don't see any apparent bite marks however they could be hidden. I'm starting to think that this could be some type of human rabies, but the scary thing is the speed at which it transmits and symptoms present. Normally, rabies takes at least 10 days but this is presenting within hours. Perhaps it is a genetically engineered version of a cross between rabies and flu? If so, that could mean it’s able to be spread through the air.

Before I decide to even think about proceeding into the hallway, I prepare myself by grabbing my entire assortment of paintball gear which is complete with full body armor and complete face shield. I figure if my gear can stop a paintball it certainly can keep the biters from getting me. I grab all my paintballs, air cartridges and my semi-automatic paintball gun in hand. I then grab several aerosol cans of hairspray and a lighter for makeshift blowtorches. I also pack my large throwing knife, bottled water and non-perishable food. I figure since the entire building where I live is compromised, I am going to either have to find better equipment or bail out and hit the road. I break out into the hallway trying to determine if my wife is violent yet, so far she is just acting spaced out, so I leave her alone for now though I'm pretty sure that may not last. I figure if the infected don't approach me, I leave them be. I'm thinking that if I attack one, that may cause more to come to the scene of the commotion. Let sleeping dogs lie, I say.

I proceed down the stairs since I don't want to get caught up in the elevators as I may need room to fight the infected. Not to mention if the power goes out, I don't want to be trapped. I suddenly hear, "bzzzzzzz boom!" The primary power goes out and the emergency lights kick on thanks to the primary generator. At least we have power until the diesel runs out. I carefully creep down the stairs and surprisingly didn't run into any infected. Maybe they lose their cognitive functions and can't remember how to open a door. I'm now at ground level and I put my ear to the door to determine if there is any activity close to the building's main fire door and hear nothing. So I slowly crack the door open just to take a peek. I don't see anyone close by so I proceed across the street to the police station. I figure at least if there is no one there at least I can get my hands on some real weapons. However, what I'm really looking for is a bow and arrows due to the fact when you go for the kill shot, it's completely silent and they never see it coming. I open the door to the County Sherriff's building, do some searching and calling out, it's completely vacant. So I proceed to find some weapons, anything at this point will do. I find two police issue handguns and a shotgun. I grab a sufficient stock of ammunition, load the guns and leave the police station.

I return to our apartment building to grab my car from the secured parking facility which is located in the building's foundation, so I have to be careful because I don't know who or what I may encounter down there. I proceed down the stairs to the parking level and at least this has a window I can see through. I slowly peek through the window and see no one. Perhaps trouble with doors might be a method to isolate those who are infected. I go to the scanner to swipe my card to get my car but find the unit is currently unpowered so I proceed to get my bicycle. At least on bike I have a better chance of not getting attacked then to be totally on foot.

I leave the building and start heading to the mall since I figure that if I get to one of the sporting goods stores, I can get more supplies and the weapons I need. This is also my first chance to see the current state of my town. The scene is much like what I've seen on the AMC series, "The Walking Dead" with abandoned cars, random buildings on fire and so on. I bike down Burke Avenue to York Avenue and turn left to the center of town. Being on a bike is actually better because all the abandoned cars make the route impassable by car. Maybe not having the car is for the best, for now anyway.

I get to the mall and make a beeline for the sporting goods at our super Wal-Mart. I take a look from around the corner with my pocket mirror to see if there are any infected and I only see a few of them. I slowly open the door to the store and toss in a lit flare to draw their attention away from me. My plan worked because they were immediately drawn to it. I slowly proceed through the aisles to the back of the store. Everyone raided all the guns but all the compound bows and arrows were left behind. I grab one bow and as many arrows as I can fit into my large backpack and duffel bag. I also grab the last remaining bottled water, candy and flares because I figure I'm going to need them later and proceed to the front of the store. The walkers are still staring at the red glow from the flare I tossed which is good news so I leave the store and exit the mall.

I then decide since the Sherriff's station is vacant, I may as well just go back there. I'm thinking that if there are any uninfected people, they will be thinking the same thing I am, go to the police station for shelter. Plus I know that the station has provisions like propane and the backup generator for power plus I found fifty barrels of diesel fuel from my initial investigation. I then proceed to lock all the doors around the station so I can grab a shower, get a bite to eat and try to come to grips with all that has happened and then turn in for the night. Perhaps tomorrow, maybe I will find survivors like me. I simply refuse to believe I am the last person on this planet.

Jailhouse Blues

I awaken this morning to the sound of something strange and unsettling. I hear a kind of banging sound coming from the floors below me. I quickly grab my protective gear, flashlight, and handheld weapons and proceed to investigate. It dawns on me that I secured the one floor below me where the generator and propane heaters are but I realize that the lower levels where the jail cells are has gone unchecked. I begin by examining the first floor of the station and find that it is clear, so far so good. I then go to the first lower level and find that is also clear. Still two more levels to this police station's jail apparently.

I begin to get an unsettling feeling that the lowest levels may hold some challenges and maybe some hope that there are survivors down below. I proceed to the stairwell and begin my very slow but steady descent into the bowels of the structure; these blind corners as the stairwell walls are cinder blocks which makes it impossible to see around. Also, my steps are making a little noise but I don't dare go barefoot. Also, because the infected are attracted by light and sound, I leave the guns upstairs. I stop as I hear a sniffing noise along with staggered footsteps. I press my body tightly against the inside wall of the stairs and wait; I swear I can hear my heartbeat.

The footsteps are getting closer so I brace myself. If it's a survivor, I would expect cautious steps but I wouldn't expect a sniffing noise. I don't believe that our sense of smell is that developed; maybe the infected end up with heightened senses. I can hear the breathing now, right around the corner, here it comes, I raise my knife and it appears from the darkness, a beautiful German shepherd. The dog seems to be friendly, too. I wasn't expecting to find this dog because I thought I had swept the place; at least now I finally have some form of companionship. I look at its collar and the dog's name is Max. I know police dogs are immensely loyal and I've always loved the breed so it’s a definite win-win. I offer Max some beef jerky which he seems very happy to have; I'm sure this poor boy must be starving. I whisper to him we will find his regular food soon and he wags his tail. I think Max actually kind of understands me.

I begin to move toward the lower levels again and the dog follows me but seems distressed, like it knows something bad is down there. I take the hint from the dog and become more alert of my surroundings. We slowly creep down the stairs taking the corners very slowly, carefully peeking. We arrive at the bottom level which has a fire door with a small window. The main problem with this little window is it is very dirty on the other side of the door. I now realize it isn't dirt, it's a blood splash that hit the window. Max begins to whimper a little, almost like he's warning me that there are infected on the other side of that door. The one good thing about this door is the locking system locks from my side. I put my ear to the door and I hear the moans, heavy breathing, nonsense chatter and such that is the hallmark of the infected.

I decide to return to the upper levels of the station to find some food for Max. I figure that they aren't going anywhere so it’s nothing to worry about, for now anyway. It may sound bad of me but since there isn't a cure for this thing at this point, what could I do for them other than put them out of their misery? Besides, they essentially are alive since I can hear them breathing. Until I actually can safely capture one of them, I can't determine if there is a heartbeat. Have to burn that bridge when I come to it. I still won't take the aggressor stance because I can tell they will attack if they see or hear me. My worry though is if Max encounters one of them, will he bark? If he does, I fear that may attract more of them. Again, another one of those I’ll burn that bridge when I come to it situations.

Let's Clean House

I hit the ground running this morning since I need to replenish my supplies. I still have the lowest level of the prison on my mind and wondering if there are any survivors down there waiting for rescue. Perhaps later today I will venture into the cell block to investigate. I surmise that if there was anyone jailed at the time of the outbreak, they may still be OK though I haven't determined the full degree of how the virus spreads. Could it be airborne; a body fluid pathogen; can you get infected by being scratched? I have so many questions but no answers it would seem. The only thing I can do at this point is presume that any contact could cause infection until I get my hands on one of them to do some checking. So far, this virus only appears to affect humans but that could change and impact other species as well; only time will tell.

One thing I have got to do is either get my car or steal a car. I grab some diesel fuel and bring it with me to get the generator next door to work. So I fill two 10 gallon gas cans, put on my gear and bring them with me. I take a look out the window to the road below facing my building and it is vacant. Even though it looks like I've caught a break, I'm still going to be careful anyway. I open the door to the police station and lock it with a set of keys I found on one of the desks. I slowly creep down the sidewalk looking all around for any sign of trouble; so far, so good. I have no choice since the other entrances are locked and the key fob won't work without power, so the lobby is my only option. However, the one nice thing is the plate glass windows so you can see what's going on inside.

I round the corner to the front of the building and take a peek into the lobby and I spot two or three infected stumbling around the lobby. Now I have to decide, go in with guns blazing or should I try to sneak? I decide to just go in but not use my guns, I'll use the hunting knife I found in the evidence room should I have to kill. It saddens me because these people were my neighbors but I have to stay alive. I kick the first and second set of doors open and run through the lobby past them. They've spotted me and they try to grab me as I run past. One actually touched me but I manage to squirm free. Too close for comfort if you ask me. I get to the roof access doorway and jump inside and lock it. Yikes, 18 flights of stairs in the dark to the roof where the generator is. At least coming down will be easier, though this is going to suck with the fact I have two gas cans I'm lugging with me plus my weapons. I turn on my flashlight which I have to hold with my teeth since both arms are occupied. At least I get my exercise today so I begin my climb.

Finally at the top, I open the door to the generator room. I hear a shuffling and realize someone is in here. I look around and spot the person who appears to be infected. This one must be recently infected because he is moving around pretty good, oh no, it's my neighbor John who works on the maintenance team here. He makes a run at me and when he gets to me, I grab him by the shoulders to stop him. Damn these guys are strong; I have no choice other than to try to disable him. I take my knife and strike his forehead with the handle end, he falls down and I think he's out cold. He's not moving but at least I can get a chance to see if these things have a heartbeat...they do at least from what I can tell with John. This is good news because it means that it could be cured.

I turn my attention to the generator and look for the fuel port. I pop the cap open and the generator's gas tank is filled to the top. Maybe no one turned it on? So I look around for the starting mechanism, I find it and hit the button, the generator starts up and the lights go on. At least I have a 20 gallon reserve of fuel later should I need it. You can tell the power has been out for a bit as the building is starting to stink from spoiled food in people's fridges and freezers. Now, let’s get the car and get a move on.

I make my descent into the parking garage down the 20 flights of stairs to the automated parking system. I open the door to the garage and fortunately there is no one around. I quickly move to the scanning station to request my car, punch in my code and it accepts it and fetches my car. The bay door opens after positioning the car and I jump in and pull out quick. I hit the garage door opener button on my remote and the door begins to open as I roll up the ramp to exit. The noise of the garage door opening has attracted some of the nearby infected and they immediately begin to run at the car. Fortunately I don't have to run any of them over as I am able to veer around them. Out the garage door I go and proceed to the street. I have to drive on the sidewalk in a few places due to road blocks caused by abandoned vehicles. I look at my gas gauge and it shows a half tank. That's good but I need to find a supply of more gas soon because it won't last forever.

I drive around for a little while trying to find a store with some food that hasn't already been stripped bare. I find a super Wal-Mart within about ten miles of home; strangely it looks like this one hasn't even been touched. I'm immediately suspicious so I have my guard up. I park on the sidewalk, grab my duffel bag and loaded shotgun and look inside to determine if I can see anything, stranger yet it's vacant of people. I break the window and begin entering. The lights are off but that is fine because daylight is illuminating the store some. The darkest part will most likely be the second floor since there are no windows up there. Good thing I have plenty of flashlights. I can tell people have been here before as most of the shelves are in disorder but there is still plenty of food like canned soups and camping supplies.

I fill my bag to the top with any non-perishable food I can find. I also grab some more arrows and ten boxes of 12-gauge shells so I don't run out of ammo. I think to myself, 'Uh oh, I'm going against that new gun legislation, oops. Oh well, let them write me a threatening letter', I laugh to myself and keep moving. Who's around to enforce that law or any other law? At this point, it seems like I'm a 21st century Adam, much like Will Smith was in that movie 'I Am Legend', being that he was immune to the viral outbreak. I on the other hand don't know if I am immune because I haven't been in contact with the infection yet. What's this...hey, I just found a great tool in the automotive department, a syphoning tool with a hand operated pump. The concept is you pop the cover to a car's gas tank, drop the hose down and pump the fuel into your tank. Just what I needed in this situation, sorry but Visa isn't going to get you where you're going anymore nor is American Express or MasterCard.

I leave the store and pump gas from several abandoned cars to fill my tank. Now I can branch out and see how far out this whole thing stretches. I plan to be on the road for a few days to search for survivors. While Max is great company, I still need human conversation too. I still need to keep in mind that I may very well be the only survivor at this point; I really miss my wife. However, there is no point in reminiscing right now because I have work to do and it's only just begun. 

Endless Road

I've been driving for what seems an eternity, though it’s only been a few hours so far. I'm heading to the south to see if I can find anyone out there. It's really sinking in just how far the impact of this virus has spread. Since there are no news updates and since the social media are down, information is pretty hard to come by. I've yet to find a city or town that hasn't been affected by this outbreak. Every so often, I've encountered pockets of the infected walking around aimlessly and then they hear my car going by and start running after it. They eventually give up trying to catch me though they do try. I do have to admit I've always enjoyed the scenery in the Carolinas. My goal is to drive as far south as I can on my quest to find someone who isn't infected. Once I reach the end of the line which is probably Key West, FL I will begin my journey back north; at least that is my plan for now. 

Reminiscing What Once Was...

I'm as far south as I can get, Key West, FL without using a boat. Man, I miss the way it used to be here. It's still beautiful and balmy like I remember when I came for my 15 year wedding anniversary. Those damned chickens are still around especially the roosters making noise like they normally do, all day long. It's so strange that I haven't found any people who aren't infected yet. I still won't give up, I can't. There are plenty of places to stay here, Key West is oddly vacant. Perhaps the authorities forced everyone to evacuate at the beginning of this whole thing? Maybe before I leave, I might toss back a few drinks in memory of what once was though I plan to steer clear of Everclear. In any case, it's time to head back north. I'll stop in DC or Maryland to rest and then make the migration north to see if I can find anyone. My hope is that there is at least one surviving member of my family, even a distant cousin would be good about now. I noticed that some of the infected are beginning to slow down; perhaps their brains are beginning to deteriorate. At this point, I'm thinking once I check on my immediate family, I'm heading to the nearest CDC location, if anyone would know what's really going on, it has to be them or maybe the local World Health Organization chapter might be another place to check. Then again, while I'm near DC I could stop in at the National Institute of Health over in Maryland. Perhaps they know what it is, how it started and what to do to stop it. 

Onward to The Agencies

I'm back in Maryland headed to the NIH. This is a sensible waypoint on my way up north to see who I can find. Best case scenario, I find some scientists and military presence but I'm not going to get my hopes up yet. So far, other than animals, I haven't found anyone non-infected. Whatever this stuff is, it must have spread like a wildfire. That's why I'm hoping that either the NIH or CDC can shed some light on what's happened, providing they are still there.

I pull up to the long driveway to the NIH, the gate is open so I can simply drive up but I approach slowly to avoid being shot if there is a military presence here. OMG, there are bodies all over the lawn here. I do not like the looks of this but I have to press on. The front door is covered by a blast shield with only a motion sensitive camera above it exposed. Perhaps someone inside will see me and open the door so I start shouting and waving my arms, trying to get their attention. I calmly explain that I'm not infected to reassure whoever may be watching, if there is anyone.

Man, this is hopeless, I've wasted the last ten minutes waving my arms and shouting like a lunatic and for what? Nothing, that's what; to hell with it, I guess my next stop is... what the??? Suddenly, the blast door opens and I find myself staring at a team of scientists are behind the glass door who are staring back at me. They ask me if I'm ok with "having a simple blood test to prove I'm not infected?" I assure them I'm not infected but they insist so I say sure. They are all dressed in biohazard suits and I think there are maybe 10 or so. They take me to a testing room and perform a blood draw for the test. They mention they may also need to do a spinal tap to test my cerebral spinal fluid for the presence of the virus. Though I am not looking forward to that at least I've found some people.

They come back several minutes later out of their biohazard suits and the test shows I'm completely healthy. I ask if I can bring my dog Max inside and they said the only condition was he has to undergo the blood test and he has to stay in my quarters which I agree to. Finally, I get a chance to actually get some real sleep since I've only been able to lightly sleep for the past week now. The first day seems almost a lifetime ago being on the run as I have been.

Max's blood test came back negative so he is also allowed to stay. I assure the scientists I only need a couple days here because I have to get to New York to check on my family. They are fine with this and suggest I get some rest after I get something to eat. It’s time to get some sleep for a change. They have hot showers and all and suggest I keep my shower time short, no problem. I'm usually in and out in about 5-10 minutes. I've learned to take quick showers since the outbreak. The last thing I want is an encounter while I'm unarmed and vulnerable. I've been breaking into hotels to take showers though they have been cold since there is no power. A hot shower is something I haven't had and am looking forward to it.

A Much Needed Rest

Man that was just the kind of rest I needed before heading up north, a couple days of not having to run or sneak around. The nice people over at the NIH did give me some valuable information that confirms some of the suspicions I had. First off, like I thought, there is a rabies component and it does spread much like influenza. They asked me how I deduced this and I told them I simply based it upon what I saw but had no way to test for that. They are actively working on a vaccine but it may be a while before its ready. I told them I hope it’s sooner than later because I don't know how much time the world has left which they agreed with. They told me if they can find someone who has a natural immunity to it or someone who fought this virus and beat it, they could create an antigen which could lead to a cure. I told them that if I find any survivors and if they were sick with it, I would bring them to the NIH or CDC depending on which is closer. Even though I have my syphon which gives me pretty much limitless gasoline I'm still taking a risk on getting attacked when I stop to fill my tank. The folks from the NIH were nice enough to give me food, water and supplies that should last me a couple weeks at least. Max has plenty of dog food as I got him six big bags of food from one of the stores I raided. I think I'm somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania, I believe this is Shamokin Dam where I am. The town looks like a continuous strip mall as there are no residences on the main road. Having to drive on the shoulder or the median when the main roads are blocked is really slowing me down though. Nevertheless, I will get to Upstate New York to check on mine and my wife's family to see if there are any survivors. I tend to think my eldest sister's family is the most likely to survive since her husband is a hunter and they have a generator. I suspect that my entire family probably headed to their place when the shit hit the fan; at least that is where I would have gone had it been me and we were still living in Upstate NY. If they aren't at their home, they would most likely be at their camp. I'm sure if they left, they would leave a note, at least I hope so. Once I check on them and rest for a bit I'll try to find my wife's family to see if they are ok. Chances are her mom will not have been impacted since she lives way out in the middle of nowhere and their nearest neighbor is over a mile away. Her sister and niece of course I am a little more concerned about since they live in a more densely populated area. 

The Arrival

It took some time to travel to Upstate NY but I made it finally. Though its been hard to sleep lately, I know I must to stay sharp. The last thing I need is to catch this virus and not sleeping is one way to knock out your immune system. I've been sleeping maybe a couple hours at a time, always trying to stay alert so I don't get taken by surprise. Driving down Lake Avenue is really weird; I'm not used to seeing so many cars with nobody in them. They are strewn all over the road like a child threw them around like matchbox cars. At least I'm able to maneuver around the cars; losing my primary mode of transportation right about now would really suck. If that ever happens, I'll have to hot-wire one of the abandoned vehicles and hope it works. At some point, I'm going to have to consider setting up a home base of some kind. Perhaps I may run into some survivors who have made a camp; maybe they will let me join them. All of this is in the name of hope right now. Other than the NIH, I haven't run into anyone that isn't infected. I'm approaching the road to my eldest sister's house. I'm really hoping at least someone from either mine or my wife's family has escaped infection. I can't hope for any more than one at this point and even that seems unlikely. The virus spread so quickly, unlike anything I had ever seen in my life. Pulling the car into the driveway, I see no signs of life outside the house, time to peek inside to see if anyone is here. I hope if they planned to leave that they are already gone to the camp. I look into the front window near the door, nothing. Let me move further down to the living room, still nobody. So, I'll knock to see if anyone hears. I try two or three times with no answer. I open the screen door to see if the front door is unlocked and it is. On the kitchen table is a note saying that if anyone has come here that they've left for camp. That at least gives me some hope they are alive. Now it is time to go check on my wife's family. 

Keeping Up With The In-Laws

After going to my sister-in-law's and niece's houses, I found no one around. They didn't leave any notes either, so at this point who knows where they are or even if they survived. My brother-in-law proudly spoke of his being a survivalist so maybe the whole family went to his mother’s? I don't even know the way there other than the town. I did check in on my mother-in-law, she and her husband escaped the infection. They watched the news and decided to barricade themselves indoors just in case they got any unwelcome "visitors". We caught up on what's happened so far and I had to deliver the news that my wife was infected. But I did let them know that the NIH in Maryland is actively working on a cure for it. My mother-in-law's husband recognized the symptoms being much like rabies as he is a retired animal control officer. He had a kit on hand where if someone got contaminated, they can give themselves an injection that may help them fight the infection. He gave me several vials of rabies vaccine saying that at least if I get bit or infected it may help me fight the infection but no guarantees. I thanked him for it and told them "I'm continuing on to the CDC to see what I can find there. I'll check in on you guys in a couple weeks" and proceeded to say my goodbyes and headed out the door. They wished me safe travels and good luck. I suspect I'm going to need it. 

Lights Are On but Nobody Home?

That was a long drive to the CDC. The car died so I had to take another; I found a close by gas electric hybrid which is good as I figure filling up less will mean less potential risk. The CDC was in lockdown mode so I have no way of seeing inside. All the doors and windows were covered with blast shields and the only form of communication was one-way via a camera mounted at the front of the building. I was trying my best to get someone's attention, anyone if there is anyone inside. I couldn't confirm that as there was no response at all. All I can do at this point is to try again later. I decided to find a place to lay my hat and after a while found a huge motor home. I had to "evict" the current occupants. I figure they are infected so why do they need it now? Once they got ejected by force, I locked it down. Sorry, but I don't need any surprise guests at this point. Should there be any one that is non-infected, I will certainly welcome them in. Sadly, Max isn't looking so well, I sincerely hope he hasn't become infected. So far I haven't confirmed whether animals get this or not but I can't be too careful. I will try the CDC again tomorrow. 

CDC Was a Bust

After a couple days of trying to get the attention of anyone at the CDC, I have come to the conclusion that either they are so paranoid of infection they won't let anyone in or they themselves have become infected. Either way, the end result is still the same. I was attacked several times and they got really close to biting me but keeping duct tape on my extremities keeps me safe from bites for the most part. The only part about it is when I have to remove the tape, ouch! Since the CDC is a total bust, I have decided to head west to see what I can find out that way. Currently I'm in Ohio and haven't found anyone. However, knowing that there are folks at the NIH and that I myself am not infected gives me hope and comfort in the knowledge that there has to be survivors somewhere but I've yet to find them. I will continue my quest westward until I hit the coast.  Then I will proceed to Southern California, head back east and then finally north to go back home to check on things. 

The Western Coast

Finally I have made it to the coast of Washington state. I ran into several pockets of survivors as I headed west. Some were so happy to see that they weren't the only survivors and welcomed me in while others were so paranoid, they would point a shotgun at me ordering me away. The reactions really aren't that shocking to me but it has been nice knowing I'm not the only one. My next move is to proceed toward Southern California and possibly dip a bit into Mexico just for curiosity sake.

I wonder what's going on back home. I miss my cats. I had to release them since it wasn't humane to keep them locked up. I suspect they have remembered how to hunt for birds and mice. It makes me a little nervous because for all I know they may have become rabid from the virus. In fact, I was reading an article a while back that said there was a rabies virus that spread much like the flu. At the time, it was isolated to the African Congo; I wonder if this is the same virus but a much stronger more mutated strain. I suspect that maybe the government knew about this virus and maybe they were planning to use it as some biological weapon. Perhaps they were testing it safely but suddenly it escaped into the environment. If this virus spreads like a cold or the flu, the airborne possibility definitely has me concerned. What if someone like me who didn't initially contract it either becomes a carrier or what if it lays dormant and comes on with a vengeance later? I have so many questions, but very few answers. I'll write more in a few days. 

Welcome to Hell

I've arrived at Imperial Beach, CA and while the weather is beautiful and warm, the number of infected here is beyond anything I was expecting. Thousands of people all wandering aimlessly to and fro, mutter to themselves. I'm not going to stick around here. Obviously, this city belongs to them now. A sobering sight is I see a number of deceased as well. Could the virus actually have mutated to the point of not only making people insane but could it be lethal now? I'll put up signs outside this area warning others coming this way to not proceed. I'll be heading east now back to the coast to see if I encounter anyone. 

The Awakening

I awoke in some laboratory, not sure exactly how I got here or how long I've been out. Last I remember, I slid down a large drain and hit my head at the bottom. I have no idea where I am now but I can tell I'm not alone. I can hear footsteps and shuffling outside the door of this large room. Looking around, I see video cameras which I would expect someone wearing a lab coat to be watching me through. I begin to wave my arms and shout at the camera trying to get someone's attention for several minutes but there appears to be no response. I hope someone comes into this room to tell me why I'm here and answer my questions; ‘am I a patient, guest or prisoner?’ ‘Did I end up falling to the infection?’ ‘Am I the only person here?’ Well, I'll just have to wait to see if anyone comes. If someone doesn't come soon, I'll have to try to break out of this room. I see there are air vents that connect to the duct work system. Perhaps I could get out that way. For now, I'll see if someone comes in and if not, I'll go from there. 

Finally Some Answers

My hosts have been taking good care of me by providing food and drink on a regular basis yet I've not seen a single person yet. My provisions arrive by way of a slot in the door. Somehow they are able to deliver food without my seeing them. I hope that someone will come down here to talk to me, I would like some answers. Suddenly, someone is knocking at the door. What a surprise, finally some information. I open the door and a group of medical scientists wish to come in. I of course invite them in; I have got to get some answers. "So, why have you been keeping me here?" I ask. The lead scientist explains, "We are searching for anyone who may have developed an antibody to the infection. Since we found you and you had no visible signs of infection we thought maybe you might be immune. We tested some of your blood and found that you are not immune; instead, you are either very lucky, smart or possibly both. We also wanted to see if you would develop symptoms while you were here. We had no idea what happened to you or how you were unconscious. But seeing that you are normal and not infected, we are going to release you." I explain that I wish someone had just come to my room to explain why this was happening, why I was being held. They agreed and understood but said they couldn't take a chance in case I was infected and just not had any symptoms manifest yet. At least in some ways this was a nice relaxing break which was much needed. I ask them exactly where I am which they say about 20 miles outside of Dallas, TX. I also ask how long was I out; they informed me that I was unconscious for about a month. I tell them I did appreciate their hospitality and explained if I find anyone who may possibly have immunity to the virus I would bring them here so the scientists could get a blood sample. They said even if the person won't come, just having a vial of their blood is enough to test with and synthesize a vaccine. I assured them I would keep this in mind. I proceeded to see them out of my room, got dressed and headed for the door. We said our goodbyes and the chief scientist said, "Remember, even a scratch is enough to infect you so please be careful. Should you need a place to run to, you are always welcome here." I extended my thanks and went on my way. They were nice enough to load my vehicle with a month's supplies and a full tank of gasoline. Back on the road I go, heading east for home. 

Home Again, Finally...

After traveling for several days by vehicle, the car broke down. So as usual, I go attempt to find another car. I open the first one I come to and try hot wiring it, nothing. I figure the battery must be dead so I go back to my car, grab its battery and bring it back to this one. Nothing. I figure this car must just be dead so I go try another and another, none of them work. It's the strangest damned thing I've ever seen. Why is every car dead? Then it dawned on me, perhaps the government fired an EMP weapon to attempt to control the infection? It was really strange because the car just quit suddenly, total loss of power. So, since that point I was riding a bicycle. Going cross country on a bike is not only slow, it is one tough mode of transportation. At least it's faster than walking plus I'm faster than the infected though I'm more exposed this way. I arrive back in my home town finally, just glad to be back. I pull up to the sheriff's station and find one of the windows has been broken in. I gather maybe the infected are starting to get smarter? Hmm, I'll reserve judgment on that one later.

So I slowly and very quietly enter the station using the broken window as to not make any noise. I plan to find whomever or whatever broke that window. I start like I usually do at the top and slowly work my way down each level. Creeping ever so slowly, I hear slow footsteps but not like the shuffling ones. Now I'm really curious and kind of freaked out. Could there be a survivor like me that broke in? Maybe that’s the case. I hear them coming closer and closer so I raise my bat. I don't want to kill them but I want information. They appear around the corner and just as I begin my downswing, I see it is one person I swore I never would again, my wife. I stop short of clubbing her over the head with my bat. She screams but then realizes I was just reacting in a way that would be normal considering the situation. I ask, "Hon, how? Why aren't you infected? I swear you were acting just like those things..." She stops me and says, "Apparently, I must have developed an immunity to this infection though I'm not exactly sure how." I agree but this is incredible news. Sadly, we have lost so many people to the disease that I figure 2/3 of the world's population is gone. The majority of those still alive are infected. She asks me about her family and I tell her the last I saw of her mom and step father they were OK. Her sister, brother in law, nephew and niece appeared to have escaped the city.

I then tell my wife about the NIH and how they just need a blood sample to create a vaccine to treat those that are infected but still alive. She seems skeptical but I assure her that they only need one vial of blood. Plus it's a place we can run to for food, shelter, showers, and a good night's sleep. She agrees to come with me but asks me to not let her out of my sight, I agree. Perhaps one of the cars in the parking garage across the street didn't get impacted by the EMP. And we're off to the NIH.

On Redemption's Road

We are now heading to the NIH though it's by bike and we've been riding for the last couple days taking our time, not killing ourselves as we don't want to get exhausted. This trek is about endurance and not speed. After trying nearly ten cars of different kinds, it would seem that my suspicion about the EMP weapon may be true after all. Nothing electrical or electronic seems to work, like it's all fried. It would appear that on bike we are able to travel about 12-13 miles per day. The NIH from us is about 60 so we have a couple more days ride. My wife tells me she doesn't remember much during her time of being infected. All she knows is she blacked out and woke up a time later, not sure if it was days, weeks or even months. I tell her she has no idea how lucky she is. I've never seen anyone I've encountered yet come back from this infection. She has no idea how rare she is. I did tell her I've run into a few camps of survivors that just were never infected like me.

One thing that occurred to both of us is although she is immune I am not so she may be a carrier of the infection. We agree not to be affectionate except for hugs. There is still so much we don't know or understand about this human rabies. We don't know all the ways it can be transmitted and we certainly don't understand why she was immune when no one else was. Hopefully the NIH can figure this whole thing out and if all goes well, my wife won't wind up being a carrier. Still, we must take all necessary precautions to avoid getting me infected. I'll write more once we get settled in at the National Institute of Health.

Return to Normalcy

We are finally settled in at the National Institute of Health located in Bethesda, MD. The scientists were very happy to see us. As expected, they did a blood draw on us and agreed that my wife & I can stay together as long as we follow infection control procedures. They have to determine whether she is immune or if she has become a carrier. They said the blood work will take a couple days due to the extensive testing to be performed. They asked my wife a long series of questions like, "Do you remember anything from being infected?" and "How long ago did you come around from the infection?" Their questions seemed logical enough; probably some are to determine if the infected have any cognitive ability. Surprisingly she did remember some things from her time being infected. She recalled speaking to me but my not being able to understand her.

I was curious as to what makes this infection tick as it were. While they don’t know everything, they did tell us what they do know. It was explained that when the infection takes hold, it attacks the cerebellum, cerebral cortex and the medulla oblongata. The cerebral cortex jumbles the words so you intend to say are like, 'the sky is blue' but it comes out as gibberish. The cerebral cortex also controls higher functions such as thinking, memory, and cognition. The cerebellum controls motor skills which are why people stagger when infected. The medulla oblongata, commonly referred to as the "reptile brain" is a more primitive part of the brain and if this part of the brain comes under attack, it can cause very violent behavior as it wouldn't function properly. So, when all three are attacked, people can appear to be in a zombie-like state however they are very much alive; a perfect "brain" storm as the scientists put it.

They hope to find out more about how this virus works thanks to my wife’s blood. I ask them how are they going to test the potential cure and they apparently have a few infected they captured down in the lab. They will test it on a couple animals first to ensure it is safe for testing. Their perspective is that we’ve already lost enough people; we should try not to lose any more. They then take their leave of us and we have pretty much the run of the place. The first thing we are going to do is take a nap since we have been on the go for days, sleeping only when it is relatively safe to do so by finding shelter along the way.

More Tests, More Results

We finally got some news about the blood tests. She is not a carrier; in fact her blood holds the cure. She developed antibodies against the infection unlike everyone else. They had to do numerous tests to see if the antibodies attack when the blood is exposed to the virus. The antibodies were so efficient at wiping out the virus, no traces remained in a matter of minutes. They were able to isolate the antibodies and through a process I don't quite understand, were able to generate several vials of the cure which were used to test on animals first, then on human infected. It took several tries to get the formulation correct to eliminate side effects like tremors and high fevers. The military and the NIH are still working out the particulars on how to perform a global-scale distribution to cure all living infected. Once that is done, the clean-up and mass-burial process can begin. It's absolutely staggering to consider how many people have died in the wake of this biological tragedy.

Out of curiosity, I asked the scientists what made my wife immune when no one else was. They explained that she was exposed to a milder form of this virus which presented itself as a very aggressive flu. During the winter of 1999, we were living out in the country and my wife came down with a very strong illness that by all appearances looked like influenza. This earlier strain works by attacking the bodies potassium supply in the brain. The brain is a great place for a virus or bacteria since there are less antibodies there.

I recall that brush with infection in years past. My wife was hospitalized for a week due to how strong this illness was. The attending physician told me that he'd seen this in several patients, none of which survived to this point. The reason they failed to survive was not getting proper medical attention in time. In my mind, I suspect it may have been some biological weapon that escaped from a lab though I have no proof of this. The delirium and high fever were the same but my wife survived it. Her temperature at its peak was 105.6 and her blood pressure was dangerously high. The attending put her in a room with a crash cart in case she had heart failure. They flooded her system with extra potassium to give her body a chance to fight. It was touch and go for most of the week, but she did make it.

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Life, Sort of...

It's been a week since the military delivered the cure as an airborne agent to the remaining infected. Some of the infected responded very quickly while others were slower to respond. Everything is beginning to get back to normal however the world governments have their work cut out for them. We have sustained so much infrastructure damage due to the infection and the military's use of an EMP weapon. The loss of life has been practically impossible to count; I can't even fathom how many lives that have been lost in this plague. To think, it all started with an infection that escaped from a laboratory and that the entire time, my wife would end up being the cure to the infection by being exposed to a lesser form of it years ago. Well, back to life somewhat like we knew it yet it is totally different now. All that we survivors can do at this point is work our way back to the way we were and it is going to take a long time before we get to that point.

Thanks For Reading!

I wanted to take a moment to thank you, my readers for taking time out of your busy lives to read my blog. As time permits, I will write more. As for this story, it has come to an end but in real life, this would only be a new beginning. Thanks and God Bless you all!