The Virus

I woke up with a throbbing headache, stressed about today. After getting up to brush my teeth and comb my hair, I looked at myself through the smudged mirror, “don’t fuck this up,” I said. Walking down the hall, I said good morning to my little brother before walking to the kitchen. He let out a big yawn and mumbled, “morning Aiden” hearing his voice always put me at ease. Every interview, job, and failure. It was all worth it. To see him healthy and happy. After fixing breakfast for us. We sat to watch a little TV before I went. “Here in downtown Amityville, a man was arrested for deadly assault via a bite to the face, fatally injuring a young woman.” “Not the best start to my day,” I thought. I got on my suit and tie and went to another job interview. Before I could comb my hair, I glimpsed at the clock, “9 already!?!?” I grabbed my keys and sprinted outside the door, slamming it behind me, not even saying goodbye. When I got to my car, my head started to race. I’d never been good under pressure, thinking to myself, “shit shit shit shit shit.” After finally arriving, I sprung out of my car and ran to the doors. The place seemed lovely. There was a fancy break room. It had this huge flat-screen TV, a deluxe coffee machine, and a half-full box of donuts on the counter. In a lobby, beaming with smiles all around the room. I felt so welcome at this tech company. I took a second to pray and made my way to the elevator. Nervous, I was fidgeting with my hands while the elevator took me higher up the building. I almost got light-headed from how high I was. When the doors opened, I saw a computer and a tiger rug, and there sat a woman in a large red velvet chair. I spoke, “Hi, my name is Aiden Mallor. I’m here for the interview”. She glared at me. “Ah yes, mister Mallor, please sit, “she said in her monotone voice. I took the chair and sat down. “I’m so sorry for my tardy-” before I could finish, she pulled out a clipboard and asked, “do you have any computer experience at all?” I felt the atmosphere thicken. I nervously replied, “I-I went to Granite U for a two-year course.” She looked me in the eye as if staring into my soul; and said, “are you good at social interacting?” I sweat. “Uh, well I have had little experience outside of high scho-” she interrupted me, “stop. I’ve heard enough.” She was silent for a few minutes. Writing on her checkboard. She finally sighed and said, “listen, Aiden, was it? I don’t think this job is a good fit for you.” I tried my best to hold my composure. So, I could keep some dignity as I stood up, said thank you, and walked out the door. During the ride home, I was deep in thought. My parents would be ashamed of me, of the man I turned into, always scolding me for how I was too sensitive for a man. I thought of visiting them so I could tell them of my failure. I went to the graveyard, walking up the cracked path to look down at the tombstones where my parents rested. feeling the cold wind on my face, I heard the leaves cracking beneath my feet as I came to a stop. I felt an overwhelming sensation come over me like a wave, and I sobbed uncontrollably at the fact I’d let my family down. With tears hitting my cheeks, I broke down as I begged forgiveness. Deep in my head, I knew they would probably kick the absolute shit out of me by now for messing this up; and letting down my younger brother. As I took a few deep breaths, feeling the cold autumn air in the back of my run through my hair, I got up and walked back to my car. As I reached for the door handle; something felt off. Like I was being watched, I turned around; and saw a man. He was large, surly, he looked as though he was drunk, facing me, but looking straight to the floor. Startled, I asked, "Sir? Are you ok?" Without responding, he began limping toward me; I thought he was hurt, so I let go of the door, "Is there something I can do for you?" After I said that, he stopped dead in his tracks. He looked up at me, and I saw his face. It was... Pale, his eyes we bloodshot, and drool fell from the sides of his lips. I could feel my heart began to race, so I placed my hand back on the door and slowly opened it. The man noticed. Then ran full speed directly at me. Adrenaline pumped hard into my heart, and I threw myself in the car and slammed the door behind me. I tried so hard to jam the key into the ignition, but my hands were shaking. As soon as I started the car, the man busted through the window; spraying glass all over my lap. I was frozen, it felt as though my entire body was in shock; the man slumped over and fell to the sidewalk, blood dripping out onto the pavement. I wanted to go, to drive home; but I knew I couldn't just leave this man here. I cautiously stepped out of my car and made my way to the man. He was motionless, so I turned him over with my foot. His neck was open, and blood started gushing out. I panicked and dragged him into the back of my car. Speeding to the hospital I thought to myself, "why me, why now, fuck..." After arriving I dragged him out and yelled, "HELP, HE'S BLEEDING!" A nurse spotted us, and pushed a stretcher outside, alongside two other nurses. One told me to sit in the waiting room while they took him into the emergency room. There I sat, anxious, scared, the last thing I needed was for people to think I assaulted the man. One of the nurses came in to question me, she asked how I knew the man, and I told her the full story. She gave me a look and asked me to wait there for the police to arrive so they could get my side of the story. I nodded, and sat down, fidgeting my hands. The nurse went back to the emergency room, and began operating on the man, "Doctor, this patient has gone through extreme blood loss from the jugular vein." The doctor turned to the other nurse, "lets stitch him up, and prepare him for a blood transfusion." Just as the doctor turned to receive the thread from the nurse, the man twitched. Shocked, the doctor said, "I thought you said this man was out cold" the nurses eyes widened, "he was, unconscious." The doctor ordered the other nurse to sedate the man, but as she pressed the needle into his forearm; the man grabbed her by the face and tore off the side of her cheek. Terrified, the other nurses tried to restrain the man, as the doctor tended to her. Before he could even apply gauze, the man broke free of the restraints and tackled another nurse, biting her right on the nose, tearing it clean off. The doctor yelled, "CALL SECURITY." But before she could leave, the first nurse grabbed the doctor's waist, and tackled him to the ground. I remember hearing someone running into the lobby, it was the same nurse who questioned me, making a break for the exit, but before she could reach the doors, another patient grabbed her legs and began clawing at her stomach. My fight or flight kicked in, and I ran outside, and into my car. I remember driving as fast as I could home, stopping for nothing. When I finally got there, I ran to my house, threw the door open, slammed it closed and locked it behind me. Still shaking, I shouted, "JACK!" Only to find him sitting in front of the TV, motionless, as white as a ghost, I went over to see what he was watching. I will never get this image out of my head; people, running, screaming... eating. Tearing into each other like animals. It was nightmarish, as if the gates of hell opened on our town. I turned the TV off, grabbed Jack, and went back to my car; I wanted to leave the area, get somewhere safe, all that mattered right now was getting Jack safe. I turned the key, *vrrrrrrr, again, *vrrrrrrr, reality sunk in, and my face felt numb, "I had run out of gas...