The Mutation

It began with a news report. "This morning on CNM news, a new virus has been reported by the World Health Organisation. Its origins and symptoms have yet to be discovered, but scientists theorise that it may be a mutation of the flu...."

"Bullocks. Just a load of rubbish," muttered Sandra, as she turned down the blaring TV. The handsome reporter's voice gradually became a non-existent sound. Sandra turned to look at the clock on the wall. 7:40, it read. She still had 20 minutes to get to work.

Sandra P. Adams was a first-rate Doctor, and child prodigy. She wrote her first detailed report on the functions of the body at five, before earning her first degree at the age of seven. Now with multiple degrees, doctorates and PhDs, all in medicine, the 23-year-old was the youngest, but most respected, doctor in the entire hospital.

Specialising in numerous areas, from neurology to gynaecology, her abilities were unbeaten in her generation.

Which then made her the ideal person to comment upon such an absurd rumour of a new virus. If there was one, she would already have been informed.

Pushing the matter into the back of her mind, Sandra made her routine morning coffee and toast, before collecting her things and making the drive to Seattle Metropolitan Hospital.

As she drove, Sandra asked her Bluetooth system (connected from her phone to her car), to check any unread messages or phone calls. "You have two unread messages and thirty-four missed calls from Dr.Leon."

Sandra sucked in a deep breath when she heard the number. For Dr.Leon to call her so many times, meant something big was going on.

Sandra pressed the call button on the screen of the car, and dialled his number. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Dr.Adams. I called you yesterday to say that we would have a heavy influx of patients, due to this new virus.."

"Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. You mean to tell me that the virus is real?"

"Of course it is! Because of it, the hospital is currently overwhelmed. I was meant to inform you yesterday. We desperately need more hands to help."

"I'm on my way."

Damn! So she was wrong. Sandra had hoped the virus was just a rumour made to incide fear into the public, but it was indeed real.

She had a long day ahead of her.