Epidemic (part2)

"It's a fairly straightforward flu-like illness, which starts off with severe headache and severe watery diarrhea. It's then followed by a rash, a very, very sore throat--which feels like someone's rubbing a rope up and down inside and that is then followed by severe bleeding which can come from external orifices such as the nose, gums, the rectum and also from the uterus. But there is also severe bleeding into the gastrointestinal organs as well, with severe damage to the kidneys, liver and also the spleen."

Margaret's lifeless body laid on the floor of the hospital, a pool of blood started to extend from her body as it flowed from her nose, mouth, eyes and even her ears. The nurses didn't seem to know what to do, they all just stood there.

"Mom!!" screamed Holly. "Why are you just standing there? Help her!"

The nurses knew it was too late, they also knew what they had to do, but no one was brave enough to step forward and be the first to move the body. This case happened faster than they could imagine, usually there was more time to monitor and separate the dying patient from everyone else to reduce hysteria.

When the orderlies finally came to move Margaret, her kids were screaming. They couldn't believe she died right before their eyes, she was just talking to them and praying for them. The orderlies lay the white body bag next to Margaret and unzipped it. One stood by her head and the other by her feet, as they leaned over to get a hold of her, Margaret gasped for air and immediately sat straight up! Everyone screamed, the nurse fainted and a patient tripped over a wheel chair trying to run away.

She stared blankly at the kids, her eyes wide open and blood shot, she mumbled something and coughed up blood. She appeared to be choking on the blood as she coughed violently then passed out again. Needless to say the entire ordeal scared the living daylights out of everyone who witnessed it, especially the kids. For the first time since the epidemic started, people were rushing to get out of the hospital instead of in.

An old lady had a heart attack and people were trampled trying to get out. The army who were standing guard outside, were not only there to keep people out... but to also keep them in. As the stampede broke through the door of the Accident and Emergency, they opened fire. This was not a situation to stop and ask questions, their orders were to contain the outbreak within the hospital.

The barrage of gun fire rocked the building, shattered bones and shredded bodies. Limbs were blown off and one or two people were even decapitated. No one by the door stood a chance, even some that were still inside the hospital were wounded as the bullets ripped through the walls. The genocide was surreal, when the dust settled a mass blob of body parts, organs and blood was all that remained.

"Broken Arrow! Broken Arrow!" screamed one of the soldiers into the hand radio.

"Broken Arrow confirmed," replied a voice from the radio followed by static.

Within minutes a battalion appeared, and one by one they entered the hospital to finish the job. The hospital had failed to treat and or contain the outbreak and now it was the military's turn to fix it. Their order? Shoot anything that breathes and the clean up crew would follow up with flame throwers. The military was deployed all around the island, and anyone that even looked sick, seemed threatening or coughed was shot and burned... no questions asked.

Hunter, Riley and Holly were still in the hallway near Margaret's body and heard the sound of gun fire getting closer and closer. There was a row of cabinets across the hall and Holly motioned for her siblings to follow her. They hid and through the small openings of the louvers, watched as people ran by screaming. A woman fell right in front of them and they watched as the soldier stood over her and without a word, shot her once in the chest and once in the head.

Holly immediately placed her hands over their mouths and urged them to keep quiet, to close their eyes and to cover their ears, but to never make a sound. ...Then it came, The intense heat from the flame thrower, it felt like it was directly on them. The hair on their hands and parts of their head started to melt, their clothes started to burn and the air in the cabinet got heated and dense, and it was as if they were breathing the fire. They tried to scream but the intense heat they inhaled damaged their larynx, and through it all Holly grabbed them as tight as she could, because she knew what waited outside was much worst than what was happening to them at that moment.

They hid for three hours after that, staying as still as they could, Holly still not releasing her grip on her siblings. She was proud that they were hiding so well, and when she started to move to nudge them, she realized that the skin on her fingers were fused to their clothes from the heat. She pried her fingers free, removing the top layer of skin from her finger tips and woke Riley, who jumped up thinking it was all a dream. Hunter on the other hand, didn't wake up. His little body and lungs were no match for the heat.

Holly and Riley were now the only two living persons in the entire hospital. They left Hunter hidden in the cabinet and slowly made their way to the entrance of the hospital. It was night time now, outside was dark and no wind was blowing. It was strangely quiet... too quiet. Holly had no idea what to do next, or where to go, half of her family was still inside the hospital, but she had to stay strong for Riley.

They made their way into the city to Independence Square, they walked cautiously but saw no sign of life. They wondered what had happened to all the people, where the army was and why it all happened. They boarded a sport fishing boat that was docked near to the bridge and hid below deck for safety till morning. Maybe then they would find out what was going on. With Riley nestled close to her, she cried herself to sleep. Cursing life, god and the military for destroying her life and her family.

The sun rose the next morning, it was a breathtaking sun rise with clear blue and sparkling sky. The birds were chirping and there was even a leather back turtle swimming nearby. As the sunlight crept into the compartment they hid in, the light bounced off the glass and had a prism effect. After such a horrible experience, this was the perfect morning to wake up to... the type of morning that brought hope of something better to come, ...but alas, Holly and Riley would never see the wonders of the day and all it's glory. They both slipped away into eternal slumber during the night, the virus had already destroyed their immune system. They laid there, huddled together, below deck of a fishing vessel in a pool of blood.

Who will miss them?
Who will remember them?
Life is cruel, but when man plays god, the ending is usually catastrophic.