17 The story of the pendant

2 days had swiftly pass since the holographic show installed from the pendulum. Apart from the artificial scene generated by the peculiar machine, the necklace remained exactly of the ordinary. Moreover, no additional secrets could be further found from the oddly made snowflake item.

All we know is that this necklace must've been a key of some sort for the creation of the said anti-virus, especially on the word itself "SPECTRE" that could mean a different meaning on the eyes of a practitioner.

But why would this thing be brought by an average girl out in the open? Why would Claire give the valuable necklace to Pura instead of her colleagues and other co-workers? Placing ourselves inside her shoes, she might've been avoiding any suspicious individuals to counterfeit their abominable plan. Is there some sort of confidential strife happening between the government and the scientists?

We don't know.

What we do understand is that we need to find Mrs. Claire ASAP and create a vaccine before Andrew Turner does.

The question is

WHERE THE HELL IS CLAIRE EVEN?

From the past two days we had formulated an intelligent guess from the whereabouts of the missing scientist, Claire Wattson. From the previous articles disseminated by the media, it was said that three notable researchers had been declared dead from the explosion. Logically speaking, no human could walk out alive from that massive detonation. The laboratory itself might be enforced with strong walls and such. Thus, it was clear as day that the report shown are validated by the journalists and other officials, hence the declaration of the death of these few people.

Another interesting topic that needs to be discussed is about James Newton, another researcher who had been the first to be zombified from the experiments held by Andrew himself. Rotten vines covering his whole body which was nowhere near from the imbecile Lich we had encountered. Putting the Lich apart, these horde of zombies accumulated the ability to adapt and evolve under certain degree, despite their absent mind of constant hunting for human prey, as we've seen from the previous experience. The mode of transportation of the virus itself travelled directly into the veins of James, with the use of a syringe, which made him transform faster than the regular bites created by the zombies.

Furthermore, from the video awhile back, James still had the ability to communicate between the two individuals, Claire and Turner, which was the most puzzling piece left unsolved.

Normal college students like us could only comprehend into such degree of the current topic. We are powerless and unable to do anything in the preceding matters. Thousands of scientists world-wide might actually figure out a potent cure for the pandemic's disease, still, the situation right now are far too unbearable for them to concentrate and gather the supplies needed for the antidote; especially from the commotion outside caused by the swarm of maddened protesters… er, zombies.

Clinton will be the one in charged in finding the clues and other branches that can lead us to the residents of Claire.

On the other hand, I'll be the one who would gather all possible leads linked towards Andrew Turner.

Of course, discretely from Paul and Venice themselves. Just knowing these information might spark a turmoil between the country of New Zealand and the Scientists Association. The data perceived will stay hidden from our hands and… later on, find an opportunity for the backing of this country's officials.

It was a blessing in disguise that the 'Wharf' has functioning generators that could last up to a year. Although we have all the time needed for us to search about future Intels and such, the apocalyptic state of our world could diminish the population of human kind. The sooner we find Claire and Andrew, the better.

"Should we ask Paul or Vincent to borrow one of the computers at the main office?" Clinton twirls around from his office chair that he had found and queers me a question.

"I don't know. If they've found out what we've been researching about and soon question us regarding Claire and the pendant, who knows? And perhaps one of them could actually be a spy sent by Andrew himself, right?" optimistically speaking, the risk itself was too ludicrous at first, but the item in hand could possibly be an ace behind our cards. Later on, achieving our goals might include the destruction of the scientist's organisation or the rise of power between the corrupted business minds. A cure could sell thousands of cash all over the country—if handled well by the benefactors. Amidst from all these, human nature are bound to be greedy with endless limits. The power behold from the greatest cure that man-kind could offer can turn the tides of the world, becoming a pseudo-god for the matter.

"Right right… but how are we going to gather all the necessary data? Using our phones?" Clinton then shakes his phone, wondering from the thought itself.

"We'll sneak our way in" I responded with a sinister smile.

"And what will happen if we're caught?"

"What happens, happens. Come on, it'll be fun"

"Right"

Clinton heaves a sigh of defeat, as he scratch his chin from the reckless idea. If they caught us out, then we'll explain everything; if they didn't, we get to observe spies hidden in our small group of survivors. Not only that, we must also stay vigilant at all cost for our futuristic endeavours. If we knew them, they probably knew us too. Pura is still the daughter of the great scientist, and once Andrew gets his hands from the secrets of the pendant, then there'll be nothing left to stop him from the impending growth of his wealth. Tracking Pura's remains will lead them straight to us, after all.

'Even after death you're still annoying as ever' I gave out a soft chuckle from my personal monologue, followed by a teardrop escaping my eye.

Another week had pass in the blink of an eye. This time around, all of the works done by me and Clinton are strictly locating the two missing people, Claire and Andrew. Amongst the files he had found were bits of scraps unrelated from our objective. I wasn't excluded, fair enough, the data of each of their backgrounds are highly guarded, and the only visible identification written on their templates are the names and job description across the database. Even so, when the moon shines it brightest, we head out and diligently search for valuable specifics that can lead us closer to the impending truth.

I've searched for bountiful hours but still caught nothing from my tiresome efforts.

But then again, after reaching an anonymous site called "Bluedit", where normal citizens can actively reach and talk about their life, a single person commented about something that blew our minds; and that something glimmered the hope beneath our hearts.

"Andrew…has a son?"

It was written from an anonymous site where the mysterious person had witnessed Andrew talking to a young boy who was active from his school projects and global competitions. After earning the right to his exclusive titles, he then asks the media to hide the truth about their lineage, blocking any possible conflicts and facts from their lives.

"Check this out, Clinton. Andrew has a son named 'Grey'. Do you think we can find something about him?" I ponder on the thought, flashing over a confusing look towards the man who was so occupied on apocalyptic news and world-affairs; which I think was related to our job.

"Sorry, uh, what? Ah, right. Grey. He's the son?" Twirling once more from his four legged wheel, he began imitating my profound look and forced out a displeasing demeanor.

"The most intelligent man and the most tactful mother forged into one, Viola!" He spits out his gum towards the nearest bin and scornfully stare at the video, which appears to be an interview special for a famous late-night news aired inside the country of the Philippines.

"I'm sorry, but my mum is currently in a business trip right now. Any sort of interview must be scheduled on a later date, thank you"—Grey Turner

And thus ended the video. His appearance was nothing more like an ordinary student. With his auburn hair cut in a trimmed gentle-like manner, paired up with a casual white shirt, made the most out of your average Joe found elsewhere. But his charisma released from his kind manner had brought his image to an outstanding appeal towards the other side of the camera.

"Grey Turner" I murmured, repeating once more his name.

"Any idea where he could be?" Clinton leans closer towards the screen, seemingly studying every physique of the teenage boy. His expression never changed, as he began chewing a new set of gum right from his pocket, mindlessly gnawing down the soft indistinguishable texture of the pink slimy candy.

"It says here that he's still in the Philippines. Do you think that the virus had landed on several islands around the pacific?" It was a rhetorical question which came out from my mind. The South East Asian countries could be free from any sorts of undead invasion, but then again, the vines and spores sprouted from the few infected individuals proves it to be wrong. According to further articles shared last 3 weeks ago, these contaminations are caused by viruses, A.K.A. Ophio-Virus. But the thing is, other related documents claimed that these specimens are linked from the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a zombie-ant fungus that infects carpenter ants, as it grows through the insect's body, draining the nutrient's host while hijacking its mind.

This was sent by…

"James…"

The article was written by Dr. James Newton himself…

"Ophio virus, a bio-weapon created by the US government, led by Dr. Andrew Turner. Turn around and you'll all die. Hand over the pendant, Yuki, Fleur"

A voice of an old man reverberates inside the room, followed by a click from the gun (from its safety cap) which was steadily aimed towards my behind.