Chapter 8: National Emergency

  Small droplets of water incident against my skin felt muted somehow. The shower blasted my body with a rush of chilly water, yet my arms still tremored from the rush of adrenaline brought on by my bout with the creature.

  I slathered my arm over the circular faucet and turned it off in a shaky movement. The room outside was lined with crimson droplets leading from the unhinged door to the bathroom.

  With a small sigh, I avoided the ominous line and made my way over to the clothes. The orange t-shirt sat dully splayed across the bedsheet. Brown pants burrowed sneakily under the shirt made it seem even duller. Nevertheless, I put them on and made my way downstairs.

  Mil stood near the end of the dark hallway with a wet mop in her hand. I noticed the floor was spotless. Hiding even the smallest hint of our hard-fought battle. The blood was completely gone and yet, the crimson tinge remained.

  "That was quick." I muttered to myself. Mil squinted at me confusedly. "What do you mean? You were in there for quite some time." The statement caught me off-guard. 

  I turned to the clock hanging off the living room wall and nigh gasped at the time. 3 P.M, it read innocently. I was in there for 30 minutes?

  I gulped audibly. Maybe I was too dazed at the moment. Mil sighed at my predicament. "You should rest. It's been a long afternoon." She muttered. Her gaze turned back to the small area of unmopped floor.

  Not so fast. There was much to discuss, much to talk about and more so, to decide. "We need to talk, Mil." She glanced at me and nodded. "I'll be there in a minute."

  Turning on my heels, I walked into the dining room. The TV still showed the white screen of non-chalance, and I scoffed at the display and plopped down on the seat.

  I could hear Mil dumping the cleaner and the mop in the storage room under the staircase. She walked straight into the living room and pinned me with an expectant look.

  I sighed. "I think it's time for us to move." I started. The look of confusion on Mil's face stopped my monologue.

  "You got about 500 grand to spare?" I eye-rolled at the suggestion. "Technically, we could have any house we want." I muttered.

  Mil glared at me but relented. "You wanna become a squatter?"

  I pursed my lips. "Moving on. My point is, we're living in a house where the creature." Mil visibly tensed at the mention. "frolicked merrily. We even have its blood all over the place. It's not safe." The jest in her demeanour faded slightly.

  "Hell. I could already be infected!" A powerful slap hit tightly across my skull. "Idiot! Don't say that!" She bellowed over me. My head lowered in response, and I cursed silently. 

  "I'm trying to be practical." I tried to defend but her hand raised ominously once more, highlighting that the point was now mute.

  "Circling back to my original point once more, we need to move," I almost yelled. Mil furrowed her eyebrows. "Do you not understand? There's nowhere to-" The TV suddenly clicked stopping Mil's words.

  The white screen ominously turned black which attracted our undivided attention.

  I grabbed the controller from the tabletop and sat with a hunched back waiting for the broadcast to begin. Mil grabbed a chair and joined my side.

  "I don't -  if this is getting broadcasted." The crackling voice began. Witnessing a national broadcast buffer is unnerving. Something is definitely off.

  "Dear citizens of NYC." The old manly voice held an air of resignation that resonated with me. "This is your police chief, Nathan Brown." He paused for breath.

  "It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that we have lost the city."

  The controller threatened to slip from my arm. What is this, an alien invasion? What do you mean we lost the city?

  I turned to Mil who mirrored my reaction of confusion and fear. 

  "Time is limited." "What do you mean?" I said aloud earning a 'shush' from my side.

  "We still do not know much about the virus that is currently ravaging our city. All I can tell you is this: If you come across an infected, do not make the mistake of assuming it to be human." The man's voice turned harsh and raspy.

  My eyes widened in surprise. The chief of police is encouraging murder on national television. The situation must be in dire straits. Mil's palm came to rest on my forearm in a comforting manner.

  "Before I divulge our plans of rescue, I must inform you of this. The virus spreads by bodily fluids. This includes blood, saliva, and mucus. If possible, carry a long reach weapon on your person at all times." My blood turned cold.

  I was almost drenched in the man's blood. It was entirely possible that I was now infected.

  "If you can hear this clearly right now, it means that you are not infected. The incubation period of the virus is about 1-2 minutes at max. The time may vary depending on the person but from our observations, it does not exceed the stipulated maximum."

  I released my breath. Mil's hold on my arm turned deathly hard. "Thank goodness." She muttered under her breath. 

  "Once a healthy body is infected, the virus quickly takes a hold of your nervous system and terraforms your body into a suitable environment for itself. It acts so quickly that your immune system has no time to defend. As a result, natural immunity against the virus is a nigh impossibility."

  The controller once more threatened to slip from my fingers. What the hell is he saying? The entire premise of a vaccine is to train our immune system to tackle the virus. If a vaccine cannot be made, there is no hope for mankind.

  "The creatures have been documented to try and bite the nape of your neck so as to maximize the efficacy of infection. However, being bitten on any part of the body leads to a maximum infection time of 2 minutes."

  Mil turned towards me. "We need to board up the house. Not leave." She advised with a serious face. I almost scoffed at the idea, but the man started again.

  "The city has been completely cordoned off by the National Guard and will continue to remain so until the survivors are checked to be 100% free from the virus.

  Until such a time, the Army has decided to set up secure operating bases with the help of the National Guard in three places across the city." Paper rustled from the other end of the transmission.

  "I will now announce the names of the bases. Please head to the nearest one at the earliest.

  The 113th Precinct," The man paused.

  "The Museum of Natural History," He paused again, and I twirled the controller in my palm frustratedly.

  "And finally, the BTHS." A loud exhale crackled over the speakers.

  "I also have to inform you of this. Many cities across the states have been ravaged by the same virus. I urge you to ensure own and family safety through the internet." Once more, Nathan Brown's words confused me. Why encourage scouring information over the internet? Why not just tell us?

  Loud knocks came bursting through the other side. My heart almost stopped at the nightmarish sounds.

  "May God bless you and our great nation." The man's voice stopped; however, the transmission continued for a brief few seconds.

  "Cut the feed. They don't need to hear this." This time, his tone was much colder. With this, the transmission cut off and the screen remained black. Deafening silence pervaded between us. Mil turned towards me.

  "Was that the voice of Nathan Brown?" I needed to confirm some facts. Mil nodded fervently. The 113th Precinct, the museum and the school all lie in different regions of the city.

  It seemed like a well thought out plan. Other than that, his information mostly checked out. There were some tidbits that were hard to believe to be coming out of the mouth of police chief, but I relented.

  "Which one do we go to?" I questioned with a silent prayer. Please not the school.

  "What do you mean? We're going to your school." Mil's answer cut deep.