In a narrow hallway, crowded with over ten soldiers, Vincent spots a weary red-haired First Lieutenant. She breaks from the group and approaches the doctor. Her red hair is fastened in a tight bun on top of her head, and a fresh uniform fit her well. "Doctor Lance, we need to talk." She speaks, gesturing for Vincent to follow her into another room. She dismissed the other soldiers, telling them to take lunch. "Eris should be here any moment." Natalie starts to say when they're alone. Finally allowing her feigned calm demeanor to fade as an uneasiness took its place. "I know you have your priorities with Patient Five, so I won't keep you long. We've had four weeks without any problems… and now…" Natalie took a deep breath, letting it out again as she addressed the problem at hand. "Eight of my soldiers are showing symptoms of the contagion." She reveals. "It was reported two days ago. I didn't tell you because I wanted to be sure. If it were the common cold going around, I would be les
As far as his eyes can see, Tuck observes the old and forgotten buildings. Where creeping growths consume the heights of them. Rusted corpses of vehicles crowd the streets and parking lots. Glass and debris are littered everywhere. Leaning or torn street signs are barely readable. Though, Tuck didn't need the signs to know where he was going. After observing the streets, Tuck carefully made his way through them. Until he found an old market in similar condition to the other buildings. He pulled up his mask and clicked on a flashlight. Tuck pulls the door partially open. Peeking, before he slips inside the store. Inside, there's a barricade of shopping carts. Tuck made his way around them, eyeing the checkout lanes that are empty. Old registers emptied, computers torn and loose wires bleeding out of them. The rest of the store had similar damage. Some shelves were plucked clean, while others remained. Tuck shone his flashlight, looking for useful items. Or fun ones… "Oh, this is gol
With a final twist of a flathead, Vincent finished installing the new lock and secured the door to their shared bedroom. Adding extra supplies to the bathroom and hall closet, Vincent took one last look at everything. Mentally counting each item. He checks each spot where weapons were hidden around the room. Ensuring they were loaded before putting them back. A content sigh escaped him as he left the bedroom. Locking the door behind him to be safe. Doctor Lance felt a sudden vibration coming from his left wrist. He glanced at the alert on his tech wristlet. Which shows his patient's real time blood pressure. Rushing upstairs, Vincent quickly slipped on protection and entered Cole's bedroom. "Cole?" He calls out, his heart hammering hard within his chest. His green eyes scan the bedroom, finding there were things tossed everywhere, scratches and prints marking the white bedroom walls. In the far-right corner, Cole was curled up and hiding her face with a blanket. As she rocked on he
"My little girl…" A gruff voice draws Cole's gaze away from the sandbox full of sand and toys. Her innocent gray eyes find a tall man dressed in a business suit. The top of his head was bald, and he has round ears, a pair of thick brown eyebrows, and dark eyelashes surrounding his gentle brown eyes. A large nose, and dark lips that spread into a bright smile above his pointy chin. "DAD!" Cole dashes toward him, leaving behind the toys and the crowded school playground. "Baby". He coos, holding out his arms as she runs into them. "Oh god, people are staring". A tall teenage girl nears with a nervous look. Clutching the straps of her backpack. "Rosey!" Cole's infant voice echoes as she peeks over her dad's shoulder. After he picks her up for a hug. "Ro-sa-lie baby…" Their dad tries to correct. Rosalie shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to find the other kids and parents looking their way. "Let's go. Please. Dad?" Went Rosalie, her similar gentle brown eyes shift down. She decid
Curiosity pulls her to the window. Where her gray eyes could see where the green met the dark clouds on the horizon. Already, a faint rumble of thunder could be heard as the storm got closer. So immersed in the view and the sounds of nature. Cole doesn't hear when the bedroom door opens. A sudden grip on her shoulder draws Cole's attention away. She smiles when she finds it's Doctor Lance with a glass of water. "Thank you." Cole accepts it. Bringing it to her lips, Cole gulps it down. Once she finishes, she turns again to find he was staring, as if what Cole was doing was something rare and astonishing. "What is it?" Cole wondered. Vincent finally blinks when she speaks. Seeming to have been shaken out of his thoughts. "N-Nothing. It's… Well…" He stutters, shifting his gaze to look at the time. Taking a deep breath, Vincent seemed to be at a loss for words. "Vin, you can tell me. What's on your mind?" Cole grows curiouser when the doctor didn't rush to set up his kit. Neither did
Over the days, the weather got warmer. Vincent and Eris were hard at work, while Tuck spent afternoons skating in the halls. Often, he left to enjoy the sunny day. However, he always returned to see Cole. Vincent secretly worried Tuck was having too much play time with the patient. As he was much more athletic than Cole... Then one morning, he walked in to find the pair practicing the Warrior Pose and other less challenging exercises. Cole had a smile and hardly had to stop to catch her breath. Unlike the first week, when she could barely get across the room without panting. Today marked the 93rd day, and Cole's strength was returning. "That's it". Tuck smiled from where he posed on his yoga mat. Then he stood straight and watched as Vincent entered the room. "Come on. Not now Doctor Doom". Went Tuck. Meanwhile, Cole kept a smile on her face. "Good morning, Vin". "Good morning". Vincent set a tray of food down, gesturing for Tuck to leave the room. Tuck ignored it and plopped dow
A long hour of decontamination later that Vincent settled into his own bed. A journal in hand as he leaned back against the headboard. Jotting down notes of his patient's health. Tuck slept soundly in a twin bed opposite of his, and Audi on his own cushion beside it. The dog eyed the room before curling up on his bed. Vincent closed his journal after several minutes, placing it on a nightstand to his left. Trading it for one of Doctor Isla's journals which he kept in the drawer. In silence, he began sifting through the pages. Taking in memory of its contents until his eyes finally droop. Sleep takes him, like the breeze takes a candle's flame. Hours into the night, a quarter moon was at its peak over their Florida home. The only sound was the night air as it flowed through wild trees and grasses. The moon was near its fall when Cole got out of bed. Heavy with sleep, she peeked toward the bathroom. Her eyes half open as she drags her feet in the direction. Cole relieved her bladder
"Vin… Vin… BLONDIE!" Tuck's voice calls eagerly from his right. Vincent stirred awake, lifting his head to see that Tuck was pointing at his wrist. Where a similar tech wristlet was beeping away. "Could you turn that off? Jeez…" Tuck groans, rubbing his tired eyes as he was about return to bed. "Oh god…" Vincent stares at his wristlet, which showed an increase in his patient's heartrate. "Why is she awake?" He mumbled, forcing himself to sit upright. "It's 2am… Cole's never up this early." "She probably having a nightmare." Tuck guesses, throwing himself back in bed. Vincent chewed his lip as he thought about it. Eventually, he laid back down and silenced the wristlet. -- "SOMEONE!" Eris opened his eyes, instinctively pulling out his pistol from his clutter. Natalie did the same as she slipped from their bed and entered the hall. "That was Cole!” Tuck came out of his room but was yanked back in by his collar. "Don't leave the room". Vincent blocks him quickly and shuts the doo