Kura
twitter.com/puccarts
- 10,940
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- 20
- Years
- Age 35
- London, UK (orig. Toronto, Canada)
- Seen Aug 30, 2021
I am rating this science fiction short story PG-14 for adult subject matter. Based on a film compilation entitled "Memories" and also based on the true story of Gloria Ramirez (I believe that was the name.)
I put it in this section instead of the "fanfiction" section even though it's completed because.. it's not fanfiction, it's simply fiction. But mods can feel free to move it anyways.
The Pill
"Well, what's wrong with you?" I was greeted with a monotonous tone as I walked into the clinic. The usual evaluation routine proceeded.
"Um.. like.. um.. I t-think I have a cold," I said with tissues stuffed up my nostrils- it wasn't a flattering face that he was examining. He sighed and I could see a smile through his mask.
"This year's cold has been a bugger- be careful you don't develop any complications. This shot should do the trick, but I suggest you stay home and rest today. I can give you a week's prescription just in case."
I cringed as the needle was issued, but it was over in a few seconds. "I-I can't.. I've used up the last of my sick days- w-weak immune system, y-y-y-you know. I can't afford to miss another day."
"Well just be sure to get your rest." Ah yes, rest. I didn't get much sleep last night- my sneezing had kept me up.
"I will, Doctor."
He nodded, "take care, Miss Fields."
Ashley Fields, that's me. I'm a 23 year old computer networker at a biological testing lab- and am also, unfortunately, battling the flu.
It's early morning and my head is killing me. I had been sitting in the lobby walk-in clinic before work; it's flu season so I had been waiting awhile to see the doctor, and I didn't get much sleep last night- my sneezing and sore throat had kept me up. Needless to say I was feeling more than a little feint, but I really couldn't miss another day at the lab. I plan to take a nap at lunchtime, since caffeine isn't going to help much at this point.
As I walked into work my eyes were instantly drawn to the front desk. The reception area was quiet, as usual, but Matthew the cutie receptionist, was in.
"Oh, hey Ashley! Are you feeling better?"
I replied with an involuntary sneeze, and he laughed.
"I'll take that as a no."
I blushed. "I still have a pretty bad fever.. it's too bad I don't have a nice man to take care of me."
He gave me a wink, "Well if you ever need anything, you know I'm just a call away."
"Thanks, Matty."
It was quite the regular morning despite the countless sneeze attacks and the obvious headache. I was working with a few of the other guys who were setting up the computers for the new bio analysis complex in the building; I believe it is part of the new J-wing. A few of the doctors took up spots here, too- it felt like this place has had a huge boom in business lately since we are having so many expansions within the building. I was working away when a particularly loud sneeze caught the attention of one of the lab technicians.
"Ashley you're sounding pretty bad, are you sure you don't want to go home?" He asked as I threw another tissue into the overflowing trashcan beside my seat.
"Yeah I'm fine, don't w-" an involuntary snort, "-don't ah.. worry,"
"Well I think you should take lunch a little early, then."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Oh, and you should try that new over-the-counter fever medicine we're putting out soon- I heard it worked wonders. I saw a sample of it on the boss' desk, and it'll probably work even better than anything else we've got since it hasn't been diluted for sale yet. Taking one of those should work right away."
It was kind of a Godsend that I worked at a medicinal firm. With my weak immune system, the boss here takes a bit of pity on me and he lets me take home some medicine for free. I would've been in so much debt due to my health if it wasn't for him. So popping in and asking if I could try some of the new stuff sounded like a fantastic idea right about now.
"Yeah," another one of the guys yapped out, "and I heard this new stuff will put an end for lining up for all those lousy flu shots. Get one early, Ash!"
"Yeah.. I think I'll go and do that. My head is killing me.."
I walked down the hall a floor below to the boss's room and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again and waited for a response, but got nothing, so I assumed that the boss was out, and I let myself in. The office was a bit dark and cluttered, but I was able to maneuver myself to the main desk. The desk was a bit messy and disorganized; there were a few glass containers and plastic bottles full of different capsules scattered on the tabletop, and I examined their labels for one that had a SAMPLE label and picked up the appropriate one. I poured out a few of the peculiar red pills into my hand and popped one of them in my mouth. I didn't need to take any water to swallow it down- I'm used to taking medication, but it's unfortunate that I have such a weak body. I decided to lie down for a bit since my head had been spinning for a while- I thought it would be a good idea to let the medicine settle and help my body recover.
Walking back to the waiting room, I passed by Matt.
"Oh hey, Ashley, are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah.. come better" I lied, I felt like throwing up.
He paused and pulled a face.
"W-what? What is it?"
"Oh.. no nothing.. it's just.. do you smell that? It smells delicious. I wonder where it's coming from.. "
"Ah.. Really? I don't smell anything.."
"Haha.. I guess I'm just hungry. Hey, did you eat already?"
"I don't think I could hold anything down. I'm just going to take a short nap."
"Sure thing. You rest up. I'll see you later." He winked at me again. I love when he does that. With my energy stores on reserve, I headed to the lounge to rest up.
I laid my head on the couch, and overwhelming drowsiness took over my. I heard someone scrambling onto the PA system, but at this point no voices were coherent. It garbled down into a muffled hum until all sound drowned entirely. I was asleep.
---
The director scrambled onto the PA system. "Everyone!" He yelled and seemed panicked. "Everyone must head to the meeting room on the first floor. Now! It's urgent!"
I must admit: I was a bit surprised. I was about to head to lunch after talking to Ashley. That delicious smell I had experienced minutes ago had me ravished. I contemplated leaving now and pretending I didn't hear him, but I was sure to get hell later. So, I went upstairs, pushing thoughts about lunch for another time.
As we all piled into the meeting room, I glanced over at the boss. It looked like he was sweating buckets. He turned, and yelled louder than the PA system on maximum.
"Who did it? Who touched my desk?"
We all looked to each other. Someone squeaked.
"I said, who went into my office?" The boss seemed angry.
The director always runs routines like this- they're sort of like fire drills just to make sure we're always attentive. I didn't pay it any mind, but everyone else went silent. The mood of the room instantly changed. One of the guys behind me piqued up.
"I.. I think Ashley Fields went in there a little while ago.. to take some of that new flu medicine. She wasn't feeling very well an-"
"She what?!" The boss looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "Where is she now? Tell me!"
"A-ah.. I don't know," the man behind me stammered.
"You don't know?! How could you be so irresponsible? You are her mentor, aren't you?" "Uh, maybe.. maybe she checked out with the receptionist?" He pointed a finger and all faces turned to me.
"She just went to take a nap in the lounge." I said, matter of factly. This all just seemed like a big joke- another one of the boss' ploys to keep us on our toes and make sure we're getting stuff done and not slacking. "She's sick again. Why? What's the big deal?"
The director stiffened up. "Everyone just.. go back to whatever you were doing before. I need to handle this."
I think everyone was a bit dumbfounded. As people were clearing out of the room, I started smelling that delicious garlicky scent once again- lunch was finally calling me. All the employees cleared out surprisingly quickly (they probably wanted to eat as badly as I did,) but at this time the boss was still frantically pushing through people to get out the door. I then heard a woman's voice.
"Is there something wrong with that new fever medicine?"
"Fever medicine? Who told you it was that?" The director hollered before running out of the room.
---
My eyes opened slowly. It was pretty dark outside, so it must've been evening. I was still feeling pretty stuffy, but I was a lot better than earlier. I stretched and rubbed my face, and I sat up. It must've been about 5PM, and I wondered why no one came to wake me, but I guess the boss must've pitied my sorry sick state and let me sleep. I wanted to at least wish Matthew a good night before he went home. I walked down to the lobby and saw him slouched on his chair, looking down and probably texting.
"Matty! Hey!" I surprised him by gibing him a nudge on the shoulder, and he, without facing me with playful banter, instead fell like an expressionless lump onto the ground. It was then that I realized: he was dead.
I only knew Matthew for a short while, but we were close, closer than I had ever been with a guy. It was hard to hold my emotions back, but I didn't want to go into hysterics; I may admit to being absentminded at times but I knew enough to realize that freaking out wasn't going to aid my situation. I shouted for help while fighting back tears, and I choked on my own breath. I ran down to the closest room to tell someone, anyone who was still here, and to call the police. I got to the first room that I knew would have someone and burst through the doorway. As I was about to yell that there has been an emergency, I noticed that the room was silent. Everyone in there was slumped across the desk the same way that Matthew had been- they were all dead, too.
Hysterics caught up with me. I found myself repeating the words "Oh God, Oh God" to myself while trying to fool this plain shock into disbelief, but it wasn't a joke. And as I encountered the same scenes when rushing into the next few rooms, everything in front of my eyes became more and more real and frightening.
I ran for a way out, and thought that maybe someone from outside knew what was going on. When I turned the corner I discovered my worst fear. I discovered that we were on lockdown. A grand metal sheath was barricading the exit doorways, and I slammed myself against it in an idiotic effort to get myself out. I ran around past the empty receptionist chair to the entrance, in a state of panic, only to discover that this was blocked as well. I hadn't noticed it earlier because of my preoccupation with what might've happened to Matthew.
After a few moments of deep breathing and an attempt to calm myself, I did the most rational thing I could think of and I picked up the phone. I dialed for the Operator because I knew that calling the police wouldn't be of any good. I needed to talk to someone in charge, maybe someone who's at the head of this whole company. I just needed to know what was going on.
The phone was quite a bit static-y when ringing out but I thankfully got a quick response.
"Hello, the Operator wishes to be of assistance toda-"
"..I-I.." I interjected, and for a moment I forgot how to use my voice. Snap out of it, Ashley. "I.. Th-there's been an emergency."
"The Operator requests you leave a message. This is an automated system. Calls are being monitored. Responses will be delivered in terms of call importance and call times-"
"W-what? No! Automated? When did they do this junk?"
"- Please be on standby. Leave your message after the tone."
"A-Ashley Fields!!! M-m-my name.. That's my name. And.. there's been an accident." I don't know what prompted me to respond to the stupid dial tone. I guessed it was panic, and that I needed to talk to someone. "A big accident.. I'm at the Novartis testing building in Guilford. I n-need help. I.. need to talk to someone. The president! Just.. someone who knows what's going on! Please!"
After yelling into the earpiece I waited. I waited for some confirmation that maybe my message went through. My head was swimming with thoughts and nausea.
"Ashley Fields," a response came so quick it caught me off guard!
"A-a..ah.. I'm here," I fumbled with the receiver as I replied to the man, "O-Operator."
"No. This isn't the Operator. I'm the top leader from this government's military force."
"G-g.. gov-"
"How are you still alive?" A demanding tone.
"I don't know what you mean.. I just.."
"You should be dead."
I broke down in tears.
"You should be dead! How are you alive?!" He demanded more forcefully.
"I don't know!!!" I exasperated. "I'm here alone.. everyone else.. everyone's dead! I don't know what happened! I just took some medicine and I fell asleep."
"What medicine?"
"But.. how.." I stifled my tears, "how could y-you assume I'd be dead?"
"What medicine, Miss Fields?"
"I-I don't know.. just some.. new medicine."
There was a momentary pause, like the man was thinking long and hard about how to phrase his next demand. I was quite thankful of this little break in interrogation since my mind overwhelmed and nausea was kicking in hardcore. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare, and I pleaded for this day to be a dream. Maybe I'm still sleeping on the lounge couch. Maybe this is just a lucid dream- a side effect from the medicine.
"What did you take it for?" The man interrupted my thoughts.
"Uh.. t-take what for?"
"The medicine? What else?" He sounded both intrigued and irritated.
"My flu. I took it… took the new sample stuff.. and… I fell asleep.. and when I woke up.. there was…" I looked over to the receptionist's desk and couldn't finish my sentence, the tears were welling up in my eyes again. I may not have been dead, but I certainly felt like death.
Another pause, and a response ensued. "Ashley. You don't work at an ordinary cold and flu testing plant."
I didn't know how to take this statement, so I let him continue.
"We've been using your building for a while. Using it for our own tests."
A paroxysm of panic engulfed me. "Using it for what?! You know what happened to Matthew?"
"Not specifically." How could this man be so calm?! "Your building does have a small manufacturing division, but most of it is just for testing for side effects, right?"
"What are you getting at?" The panic was apparent in my voice.
"Then we have the desired side effect," he sighed.
"What are you getting at!?" I yelled into the telephone.
"Your building was requested, by us, to manufacture a new military governmental bio-weapon. It was put under a murder weapon. My knees went weak. "No.. it's not true." I lied. I knew it was restricted access and rumors were spread for fear of suspicion against the company, so we made up a story: it was a new flu medicine, something so effective that it was going to change the world. And.. change the world it will."
"You mean.." I now knew what had happened to Matthew and the rest of the people in the building; I was what happened to them. The pill I took wasn't medicine. It was true.
"Thank you, Ashley. For taking such a great risk to test the pill for us. We know it's useable. We know the approximate radius that the radiation you now emit will effects, too. You're a respectable soldier."
"No!" I slammed a fist against the wall, "I don't want to be no damn soldier!!!"
"Ah, but you are! No one can come near you, now. Or instant death will come upon them. Don't you see? The desired results were as expected! You're our new bio-soldier!"
"You can't just.. use people!"
"We don't use people; they just volunteer! And ah! Think of it! A human that emits radioactive agents! This is a breakthrough! But of course, we'd control it. Put you in biosuits was the plan! We could direct the radiation only at our enemies! Think of the things you could do for your country! We could stop terrorists! No wars would ever be pitted against us! We'd live in peace!"
I swore into the speaker. It couldn't be true. A bioweapon that they were secretly manufacturing? And me? Some deadly person trapped inside my own workplace? What will happen if I get outside? Will I kill even more people?
I had been pacing for a while with the cordless phone and I found myself in front of the Boss' office. I placed a shaky hand on the door, and there was no doubt that the man on the other end could hear my unstable and hoarse breathing. I entered the office. This is where everything started. I found the Sample pills sitting there, on the empty Director's desk, like as if it was a bowl full of candy placed for children to take freely.
"You said we manufactured this thing?" I asked the military figure.
"Yes, of course. We needed a good place with a lot of smart and talented engineers and scientists to produce this."
"So this place is the only one with... successful results?"
"We finally found people smart enough to produce it at your building."
I bit back at him. "Yeah, well now they're all dead."
He gave only a forced laugh.
"They're dead! Everyone here is dead!"
"Casualties," he said cockily, "come with everything. Look at our success! We've developed a new edge on nuclear warfare."
I was about to bite back again, but held my tongue and continued calmly, "And what if I were to swallow the rest of these things? There wont be any left, will there?"
I only heard silence from the other end of the line. "You know, that at this point, I don't care if I die," I stated darkly as I grabbed a handful of the pills.
"You don't want to do that."
"Oh yeah? Well of course you would say that! Your precious experiments mean more to you than.. than innocent people! It means more to you than Matthew did to me- which is impossible! And now he's gone!" I was in hysterics. The calm voice was only a mask that I put on for the man, but it was crumbling. I didn't want to face death, but I knew it had to be done. "Well I'll make your love gone, too!"
"No!" The man interjected. "I said you don't want to do that! Don't do that! If my predictions were correct then it w-"
"Shove it, old man." I put the phone on speaker, tossed it aside, and shoveled the pills down my throat. He must've heard me gagging, since I heard him pleading for me to stop. I think I almost heard him cry, but I didn't care- I couldn't let them have these killing tabs. I swallowed them all, but found that I felt perfectly fine after I had done so. I had absolutely no overdose effects and was feeling as refreshed as if I had taken a drink of water instead of a jarful of medicine.
"The 'medicine'," I heard the man say. "The 'medicine.' Your genetic makeup.. it.. will keep changing."
"Yeah, so?"
"It smells.. I can smell you."
"What?"
"Garlic. Death smells like garlic." The man coughed. "You've killed all of us."
"I just saved all of us!" I argued.
"No. You've just swallowed enough radiation to.. probably.. who knows.. kill the country. Maybe even the world. Heh."
He must've been lying. It doesn't work like that… does it? The man suddenly sounded as if he were coughing up organs. It sounded bad. It sounded like he couldn't breathe anymore. It sounded like a genuine struggle, and it didn't sound like a lie, but how could I have affected him? I couldn't have killed everyone in the world just by swallowing a few pills no larger than my fingernail. That was ridiculous.
I heard a thump from the speakerphone, and my eyes snapped to the device in fear.
"Hello?" I called to the man, but heard no response. "Hello?" I repeated it over and over, desperately.
---
Since then I had made many calls to the outside world- all with no luck. No one ever picked up the phone.
---
I've been sitting here for a while, thinking back and reflecting on what's happened. I wrote a note on what has happened hoping that someday someone will have a chance to read my story. I really do hope it will end up being read by someone out there. Who knows? Maybe this whole thing will become some myth like Noah's Ark. I just needed to let people know that they can't let themselves become an experiment of society. We can't do things for power or money or to have a certain edge on someone else- because that'll just kill us all in the end. Just remember this every time you get a whiff of garlic. I writing this to anyone who might be out there, but for now I live my life in solitude.
The End
I put it in this section instead of the "fanfiction" section even though it's completed because.. it's not fanfiction, it's simply fiction. But mods can feel free to move it anyways.
The Pill
"Well, what's wrong with you?" I was greeted with a monotonous tone as I walked into the clinic. The usual evaluation routine proceeded.
"Um.. like.. um.. I t-think I have a cold," I said with tissues stuffed up my nostrils- it wasn't a flattering face that he was examining. He sighed and I could see a smile through his mask.
"This year's cold has been a bugger- be careful you don't develop any complications. This shot should do the trick, but I suggest you stay home and rest today. I can give you a week's prescription just in case."
I cringed as the needle was issued, but it was over in a few seconds. "I-I can't.. I've used up the last of my sick days- w-weak immune system, y-y-y-you know. I can't afford to miss another day."
"Well just be sure to get your rest." Ah yes, rest. I didn't get much sleep last night- my sneezing had kept me up.
"I will, Doctor."
He nodded, "take care, Miss Fields."
Ashley Fields, that's me. I'm a 23 year old computer networker at a biological testing lab- and am also, unfortunately, battling the flu.
It's early morning and my head is killing me. I had been sitting in the lobby walk-in clinic before work; it's flu season so I had been waiting awhile to see the doctor, and I didn't get much sleep last night- my sneezing and sore throat had kept me up. Needless to say I was feeling more than a little feint, but I really couldn't miss another day at the lab. I plan to take a nap at lunchtime, since caffeine isn't going to help much at this point.
As I walked into work my eyes were instantly drawn to the front desk. The reception area was quiet, as usual, but Matthew the cutie receptionist, was in.
"Oh, hey Ashley! Are you feeling better?"
I replied with an involuntary sneeze, and he laughed.
"I'll take that as a no."
I blushed. "I still have a pretty bad fever.. it's too bad I don't have a nice man to take care of me."
He gave me a wink, "Well if you ever need anything, you know I'm just a call away."
"Thanks, Matty."
It was quite the regular morning despite the countless sneeze attacks and the obvious headache. I was working with a few of the other guys who were setting up the computers for the new bio analysis complex in the building; I believe it is part of the new J-wing. A few of the doctors took up spots here, too- it felt like this place has had a huge boom in business lately since we are having so many expansions within the building. I was working away when a particularly loud sneeze caught the attention of one of the lab technicians.
"Ashley you're sounding pretty bad, are you sure you don't want to go home?" He asked as I threw another tissue into the overflowing trashcan beside my seat.
"Yeah I'm fine, don't w-" an involuntary snort, "-don't ah.. worry,"
"Well I think you should take lunch a little early, then."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Oh, and you should try that new over-the-counter fever medicine we're putting out soon- I heard it worked wonders. I saw a sample of it on the boss' desk, and it'll probably work even better than anything else we've got since it hasn't been diluted for sale yet. Taking one of those should work right away."
It was kind of a Godsend that I worked at a medicinal firm. With my weak immune system, the boss here takes a bit of pity on me and he lets me take home some medicine for free. I would've been in so much debt due to my health if it wasn't for him. So popping in and asking if I could try some of the new stuff sounded like a fantastic idea right about now.
"Yeah," another one of the guys yapped out, "and I heard this new stuff will put an end for lining up for all those lousy flu shots. Get one early, Ash!"
"Yeah.. I think I'll go and do that. My head is killing me.."
I walked down the hall a floor below to the boss's room and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again and waited for a response, but got nothing, so I assumed that the boss was out, and I let myself in. The office was a bit dark and cluttered, but I was able to maneuver myself to the main desk. The desk was a bit messy and disorganized; there were a few glass containers and plastic bottles full of different capsules scattered on the tabletop, and I examined their labels for one that had a SAMPLE label and picked up the appropriate one. I poured out a few of the peculiar red pills into my hand and popped one of them in my mouth. I didn't need to take any water to swallow it down- I'm used to taking medication, but it's unfortunate that I have such a weak body. I decided to lie down for a bit since my head had been spinning for a while- I thought it would be a good idea to let the medicine settle and help my body recover.
Walking back to the waiting room, I passed by Matt.
"Oh hey, Ashley, are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah.. come better" I lied, I felt like throwing up.
He paused and pulled a face.
"W-what? What is it?"
"Oh.. no nothing.. it's just.. do you smell that? It smells delicious. I wonder where it's coming from.. "
"Ah.. Really? I don't smell anything.."
"Haha.. I guess I'm just hungry. Hey, did you eat already?"
"I don't think I could hold anything down. I'm just going to take a short nap."
"Sure thing. You rest up. I'll see you later." He winked at me again. I love when he does that. With my energy stores on reserve, I headed to the lounge to rest up.
I laid my head on the couch, and overwhelming drowsiness took over my. I heard someone scrambling onto the PA system, but at this point no voices were coherent. It garbled down into a muffled hum until all sound drowned entirely. I was asleep.
---
The director scrambled onto the PA system. "Everyone!" He yelled and seemed panicked. "Everyone must head to the meeting room on the first floor. Now! It's urgent!"
I must admit: I was a bit surprised. I was about to head to lunch after talking to Ashley. That delicious smell I had experienced minutes ago had me ravished. I contemplated leaving now and pretending I didn't hear him, but I was sure to get hell later. So, I went upstairs, pushing thoughts about lunch for another time.
As we all piled into the meeting room, I glanced over at the boss. It looked like he was sweating buckets. He turned, and yelled louder than the PA system on maximum.
"Who did it? Who touched my desk?"
We all looked to each other. Someone squeaked.
"I said, who went into my office?" The boss seemed angry.
The director always runs routines like this- they're sort of like fire drills just to make sure we're always attentive. I didn't pay it any mind, but everyone else went silent. The mood of the room instantly changed. One of the guys behind me piqued up.
"I.. I think Ashley Fields went in there a little while ago.. to take some of that new flu medicine. She wasn't feeling very well an-"
"She what?!" The boss looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "Where is she now? Tell me!"
"A-ah.. I don't know," the man behind me stammered.
"You don't know?! How could you be so irresponsible? You are her mentor, aren't you?" "Uh, maybe.. maybe she checked out with the receptionist?" He pointed a finger and all faces turned to me.
"She just went to take a nap in the lounge." I said, matter of factly. This all just seemed like a big joke- another one of the boss' ploys to keep us on our toes and make sure we're getting stuff done and not slacking. "She's sick again. Why? What's the big deal?"
The director stiffened up. "Everyone just.. go back to whatever you were doing before. I need to handle this."
I think everyone was a bit dumbfounded. As people were clearing out of the room, I started smelling that delicious garlicky scent once again- lunch was finally calling me. All the employees cleared out surprisingly quickly (they probably wanted to eat as badly as I did,) but at this time the boss was still frantically pushing through people to get out the door. I then heard a woman's voice.
"Is there something wrong with that new fever medicine?"
"Fever medicine? Who told you it was that?" The director hollered before running out of the room.
---
My eyes opened slowly. It was pretty dark outside, so it must've been evening. I was still feeling pretty stuffy, but I was a lot better than earlier. I stretched and rubbed my face, and I sat up. It must've been about 5PM, and I wondered why no one came to wake me, but I guess the boss must've pitied my sorry sick state and let me sleep. I wanted to at least wish Matthew a good night before he went home. I walked down to the lobby and saw him slouched on his chair, looking down and probably texting.
"Matty! Hey!" I surprised him by gibing him a nudge on the shoulder, and he, without facing me with playful banter, instead fell like an expressionless lump onto the ground. It was then that I realized: he was dead.
I only knew Matthew for a short while, but we were close, closer than I had ever been with a guy. It was hard to hold my emotions back, but I didn't want to go into hysterics; I may admit to being absentminded at times but I knew enough to realize that freaking out wasn't going to aid my situation. I shouted for help while fighting back tears, and I choked on my own breath. I ran down to the closest room to tell someone, anyone who was still here, and to call the police. I got to the first room that I knew would have someone and burst through the doorway. As I was about to yell that there has been an emergency, I noticed that the room was silent. Everyone in there was slumped across the desk the same way that Matthew had been- they were all dead, too.
Hysterics caught up with me. I found myself repeating the words "Oh God, Oh God" to myself while trying to fool this plain shock into disbelief, but it wasn't a joke. And as I encountered the same scenes when rushing into the next few rooms, everything in front of my eyes became more and more real and frightening.
I ran for a way out, and thought that maybe someone from outside knew what was going on. When I turned the corner I discovered my worst fear. I discovered that we were on lockdown. A grand metal sheath was barricading the exit doorways, and I slammed myself against it in an idiotic effort to get myself out. I ran around past the empty receptionist chair to the entrance, in a state of panic, only to discover that this was blocked as well. I hadn't noticed it earlier because of my preoccupation with what might've happened to Matthew.
After a few moments of deep breathing and an attempt to calm myself, I did the most rational thing I could think of and I picked up the phone. I dialed for the Operator because I knew that calling the police wouldn't be of any good. I needed to talk to someone in charge, maybe someone who's at the head of this whole company. I just needed to know what was going on.
The phone was quite a bit static-y when ringing out but I thankfully got a quick response.
"Hello, the Operator wishes to be of assistance toda-"
"..I-I.." I interjected, and for a moment I forgot how to use my voice. Snap out of it, Ashley. "I.. Th-there's been an emergency."
"The Operator requests you leave a message. This is an automated system. Calls are being monitored. Responses will be delivered in terms of call importance and call times-"
"W-what? No! Automated? When did they do this junk?"
"- Please be on standby. Leave your message after the tone."
"A-Ashley Fields!!! M-m-my name.. That's my name. And.. there's been an accident." I don't know what prompted me to respond to the stupid dial tone. I guessed it was panic, and that I needed to talk to someone. "A big accident.. I'm at the Novartis testing building in Guilford. I n-need help. I.. need to talk to someone. The president! Just.. someone who knows what's going on! Please!"
After yelling into the earpiece I waited. I waited for some confirmation that maybe my message went through. My head was swimming with thoughts and nausea.
"Ashley Fields," a response came so quick it caught me off guard!
"A-a..ah.. I'm here," I fumbled with the receiver as I replied to the man, "O-Operator."
"No. This isn't the Operator. I'm the top leader from this government's military force."
"G-g.. gov-"
"How are you still alive?" A demanding tone.
"I don't know what you mean.. I just.."
"You should be dead."
I broke down in tears.
"You should be dead! How are you alive?!" He demanded more forcefully.
"I don't know!!!" I exasperated. "I'm here alone.. everyone else.. everyone's dead! I don't know what happened! I just took some medicine and I fell asleep."
"What medicine?"
"But.. how.." I stifled my tears, "how could y-you assume I'd be dead?"
"What medicine, Miss Fields?"
"I-I don't know.. just some.. new medicine."
There was a momentary pause, like the man was thinking long and hard about how to phrase his next demand. I was quite thankful of this little break in interrogation since my mind overwhelmed and nausea was kicking in hardcore. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare, and I pleaded for this day to be a dream. Maybe I'm still sleeping on the lounge couch. Maybe this is just a lucid dream- a side effect from the medicine.
"What did you take it for?" The man interrupted my thoughts.
"Uh.. t-take what for?"
"The medicine? What else?" He sounded both intrigued and irritated.
"My flu. I took it… took the new sample stuff.. and… I fell asleep.. and when I woke up.. there was…" I looked over to the receptionist's desk and couldn't finish my sentence, the tears were welling up in my eyes again. I may not have been dead, but I certainly felt like death.
Another pause, and a response ensued. "Ashley. You don't work at an ordinary cold and flu testing plant."
I didn't know how to take this statement, so I let him continue.
"We've been using your building for a while. Using it for our own tests."
A paroxysm of panic engulfed me. "Using it for what?! You know what happened to Matthew?"
"Not specifically." How could this man be so calm?! "Your building does have a small manufacturing division, but most of it is just for testing for side effects, right?"
"What are you getting at?" The panic was apparent in my voice.
"Then we have the desired side effect," he sighed.
"What are you getting at!?" I yelled into the telephone.
"Your building was requested, by us, to manufacture a new military governmental bio-weapon. It was put under a murder weapon. My knees went weak. "No.. it's not true." I lied. I knew it was restricted access and rumors were spread for fear of suspicion against the company, so we made up a story: it was a new flu medicine, something so effective that it was going to change the world. And.. change the world it will."
"You mean.." I now knew what had happened to Matthew and the rest of the people in the building; I was what happened to them. The pill I took wasn't medicine. It was true.
"Thank you, Ashley. For taking such a great risk to test the pill for us. We know it's useable. We know the approximate radius that the radiation you now emit will effects, too. You're a respectable soldier."
"No!" I slammed a fist against the wall, "I don't want to be no damn soldier!!!"
"Ah, but you are! No one can come near you, now. Or instant death will come upon them. Don't you see? The desired results were as expected! You're our new bio-soldier!"
"You can't just.. use people!"
"We don't use people; they just volunteer! And ah! Think of it! A human that emits radioactive agents! This is a breakthrough! But of course, we'd control it. Put you in biosuits was the plan! We could direct the radiation only at our enemies! Think of the things you could do for your country! We could stop terrorists! No wars would ever be pitted against us! We'd live in peace!"
I swore into the speaker. It couldn't be true. A bioweapon that they were secretly manufacturing? And me? Some deadly person trapped inside my own workplace? What will happen if I get outside? Will I kill even more people?
I had been pacing for a while with the cordless phone and I found myself in front of the Boss' office. I placed a shaky hand on the door, and there was no doubt that the man on the other end could hear my unstable and hoarse breathing. I entered the office. This is where everything started. I found the Sample pills sitting there, on the empty Director's desk, like as if it was a bowl full of candy placed for children to take freely.
"You said we manufactured this thing?" I asked the military figure.
"Yes, of course. We needed a good place with a lot of smart and talented engineers and scientists to produce this."
"So this place is the only one with... successful results?"
"We finally found people smart enough to produce it at your building."
I bit back at him. "Yeah, well now they're all dead."
He gave only a forced laugh.
"They're dead! Everyone here is dead!"
"Casualties," he said cockily, "come with everything. Look at our success! We've developed a new edge on nuclear warfare."
I was about to bite back again, but held my tongue and continued calmly, "And what if I were to swallow the rest of these things? There wont be any left, will there?"
I only heard silence from the other end of the line. "You know, that at this point, I don't care if I die," I stated darkly as I grabbed a handful of the pills.
"You don't want to do that."
"Oh yeah? Well of course you would say that! Your precious experiments mean more to you than.. than innocent people! It means more to you than Matthew did to me- which is impossible! And now he's gone!" I was in hysterics. The calm voice was only a mask that I put on for the man, but it was crumbling. I didn't want to face death, but I knew it had to be done. "Well I'll make your love gone, too!"
"No!" The man interjected. "I said you don't want to do that! Don't do that! If my predictions were correct then it w-"
"Shove it, old man." I put the phone on speaker, tossed it aside, and shoveled the pills down my throat. He must've heard me gagging, since I heard him pleading for me to stop. I think I almost heard him cry, but I didn't care- I couldn't let them have these killing tabs. I swallowed them all, but found that I felt perfectly fine after I had done so. I had absolutely no overdose effects and was feeling as refreshed as if I had taken a drink of water instead of a jarful of medicine.
"The 'medicine'," I heard the man say. "The 'medicine.' Your genetic makeup.. it.. will keep changing."
"Yeah, so?"
"It smells.. I can smell you."
"What?"
"Garlic. Death smells like garlic." The man coughed. "You've killed all of us."
"I just saved all of us!" I argued.
"No. You've just swallowed enough radiation to.. probably.. who knows.. kill the country. Maybe even the world. Heh."
He must've been lying. It doesn't work like that… does it? The man suddenly sounded as if he were coughing up organs. It sounded bad. It sounded like he couldn't breathe anymore. It sounded like a genuine struggle, and it didn't sound like a lie, but how could I have affected him? I couldn't have killed everyone in the world just by swallowing a few pills no larger than my fingernail. That was ridiculous.
I heard a thump from the speakerphone, and my eyes snapped to the device in fear.
"Hello?" I called to the man, but heard no response. "Hello?" I repeated it over and over, desperately.
---
Since then I had made many calls to the outside world- all with no luck. No one ever picked up the phone.
---
I've been sitting here for a while, thinking back and reflecting on what's happened. I wrote a note on what has happened hoping that someday someone will have a chance to read my story. I really do hope it will end up being read by someone out there. Who knows? Maybe this whole thing will become some myth like Noah's Ark. I just needed to let people know that they can't let themselves become an experiment of society. We can't do things for power or money or to have a certain edge on someone else- because that'll just kill us all in the end. Just remember this every time you get a whiff of garlic. I writing this to anyone who might be out there, but for now I live my life in solitude.
The End
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