The Vaccinated

Merrion’s Errand

Merrion woke up early this morning it was barely 2:30am, and while her girls were sleeping, she wanted to get down to the food distribution center before they ran out again. It would be another few weeks before they would be back. And in these times people were becoming increasingly violent. With rate of deaths from of COVAX increasing then declining and repeating this cycle with each new strain becoming deadlier over the past 4 years. Humanity seemed to be doomed. And between the crashed economy from people being forces to stay home, businesses closing, the rising death toll, failed government assistance, the destruction and looting it was not getting better. Just over 4 years into this nightmare finding running water and electricity was spotty and dangerous. One of the few aids still available were the infrequent food drop offs from Nozama Corp. A few days ago, she heard the announcement on the radio that they would be back in the area. Merrion’s youngest was sick last time, and she was desperate be one of the first in line. She checked her gear, put on her full-face mask and pulled her hoodie over her head. Merrion crept out of the barred, covered back door and secured it behind her. She checked her gun one more time before she placed it in her back above her waistline and headed out into the dark morning.

An hour later Merrion arrived at the distribution center exhausted but hopeful because there were only maybe a dozen people in line and the truck was just being unloaded. As she approached the line, she noticed two men dressed in lab coats arguing near the second entrance. She could not make out what was being said but one of the doctors noticed her, stopped talking and ushered the other man inside. A few minutes later the line started to move, this meant she would make it home before the girls woke up. With everyone maintaining 8 ft. distance from each other she did not see the man in the lab coat or the heavily armed military men until she was right at the entrance. Your name? Merrion Rivera Cruz. Age? 49. Symptoms? None. Marital Status? Widowed. Children? 2. Ages? 12 and 22. We have changed our policy and now require recipients to get vaccinated as way to slow the spread of the virus. You can refuse, but you forfeit your right to assistance. How do you wish to proceed? Merrion like everyone else was desperate with no options, I consent to the vaccination. Please step forward to the station on the right and wait to be called. As the doctor pulled the back the curtain and let the person in front of her got into the food line, she noticed another armed guard right next to the line. Please have a seat and remove your jacket. He cleaned her arm where he would be injecting the vaccine and told her “This will sting right after”, “but it is normal”. He was right it did sting, but it was more of a burning that went up her entire arm. Merrion felt lightheaded and off balance she stood up to leave and had to sit back down until it past. She had just gotten her food package when her ears started to ring, and she heard some commotion from one of the partitions and then a sizzling noise that she could not make out where it was coming from. She did not care to know what it was she had got what she came for and wanted to get back home to the girls.

The next hour went by in a haze Merrion was sweating and out of breath more than usual for the hike home. She kept to the shadows and shortcuts, but she had a migraine that had her wanting to rip her face mask off, but she thought better of it. The sun would be up in an hour, and she was almost home. Her oldest would be up and heading out soon and the little one will be ready to eat. Merrion was hungry herself and kind of nauseous too. But she decided when got home she would lay down for a bit before she put up their food, just until her headache subsided a little . When she came to, she was in the kitchen, and her little one is there smiling at Merrion and reached out to hug her. Merrion’s instinct is to grab her daughter up but instead something else came over her and she blacked out. The next thing she hears is a choked scream; her eyes turn blood red as she turns her head, and she sees someone is watching her.

It was 4am and Sam could not sleep, but she did not want to. She would see it again and hear her mother chewing while her younger sister twitched in her arms. Sam was paralyzed with fear and reliving it is something she could not bear seeing every time she closed her eyes. From her window she watches the ash fall from the sky and blanket the streets below. It is the ash of the dead being disintegrated. The night watch on the towers shoots the undead that approached with high powered exciplex ultraviolet lasers. This is life now. Full of either the undead, a brutal death or traumatized survivors. The latest COVAX 30 nearly whipped out 75% of the population within 3 years. And then the vaccines turned 10% of its recipients into raging rabid zombies. By the time Kcizer discovered what its vaccines were doing to people it was too late. No one knew what caused some people to have severe reactions to the vaccines or who would be next. Some of the vaccinated had an immediate response to it while others turned hours or even days later. It was pure terror. It took nearly a month of living hell before the new military Corp Nozama were able to secure several buildings, ridding them of their undead nests. And reinforcing them from attack by day and then setting up a quarantined housing for survivors. Most cities were not that lucky to have a place to go and wait out the nightmare. Before all this Sam had a thriving YouTube channel and gave advise on makeup and lifestyle hacks, now she is a patrol guard for the Nozama Corp delivering whatever few unturned humans that are out in the city to the only secure center for shelter. And in the past few months finding any survivors had almost stopped. She hated this life, but she did not live it for herself anymore. Yesterday they brought in a small child, and that gave her hope.

You said you found her outside next to a dead body. How did she survive out there without being attacked or contracting the virus? She is not rabid; she shows no signs of being of infected, and the autopsy on the women shows she died of heart failure. And she had no signs of infection either. For six months there has not been a single person that has had complete immunity. How did these two survive this long out there and not be exposed? The conditions are inhabitable at best, the city is desolate and crawling with the undead. And neither of them shows signs of being malnourished. What else can you tell me about her? Like I said doctor the morning patrol found them, no identification on the women and child had that heart shaped locket around her neck with the photo of a man and the decease women we found her with. We are running their photos now but that could take some time. Look officer, she is different. Different how? She is just a child. She is, but she is, more. She seems resistant to disease. Officer Rivera, is there something you are not telling me? No, doctor, I am only following orders and trying to understand how they were able to survive and evaded being brought into quarantine sooner. Dr. Matsu is it a leap to think that maybe because for the past decade before this pandemic people developed some mutations to adapt. And that is what might have helped these two become resistant to the infection. Officer Rivera, there are makers in her DNA I do not recognize. To be completely honest I am not really qualified to give you a full analysis on what we are dealing with here, but among my few remaining colleagues, Dr. Albizu is, she will be able to assist you. She is a geneticist. I will get in touch with her this afternoon. What happens to the girl until then? She will stay here for observation.

The CEO of Nozama Corp

She was angry, her blood boiling, destructive angry, the air around her became still and thick. She closed her eyes while taking a deep breath and upon exhaling she released the air around her as well. Letting her anger subside, she willed herself to relax her mind and focus on what can be done. What outcome she wanted. She rocked back in her chair and cracked her neck to the side, three men across town died instantaneously. She exhaled slowly tapped her Bluetooth and said yes, Dr. Albizu, your samples will arrive on time. Please do not hesitate to let me know how they suited you. Good day doctor. Over coms Dariox says "Ms. Tress, Dr. Matsu and Mr. Boling are here for your 1p meeting". Ah, yes, send them in please. Avion turned in her chair to face and greet them as they entered her office. Gentleman, I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice, please have a seat. Can I offer either of you a refreshment? Both men said no and Dariox retreated from her office. All the light and politeness drained for Avions face as she asked, “Have either of you seen the report this morning”? Dr. Matsu felt the air become thick and the hairs on the back of his neck rose, but he cleared his throat and said, “Um yes, Ms. Tress I have seen the report”. Avion then looked to Mr. Boling who shook his head no. Avion took a deep calming breath and said, “Gentleman my property has been stolen and I need it back, now”. Avion smiled at them, and Dr. Matsu noticed how white and sharp her teeth appeared with her mouth stretched into a smile that did not reach her eyes. From where he sat her smile seemed more menacing to him than anything else. He was aware now that he was uncomfortable being nearly alone with her. Mr. Boling’s deep voice cut into his musings and removed the smile from her face. We put a tracking device on her, we will find her. Mr. Boling for your sake that confidence better yield quick results. She smiled again this time it did reach her eyes. Gentleman your dismissed. As they rose to leave, she said "Mr. Matsu how is our other project progressing"? He turned slowly to face her and said, “we are on schedule and will begin trials this week ma’am”. Excellent news, good day, Mr. Matsu. That was the second time that day Mr. Matsu lied. But this time it could cost him his life.