The evening air was biting cold, sending shivers down Cole's spine. She was sure she'd turn into an icicle when, without warning, Vincent gently scooped her up. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he settled them both across the length of the bed, pulling her close as he draped an extra blanket over their entwined forms. A warm blush bloomed across Cole's cheeks as she became acutely aware of their intimate position. But Vincent, with his steady composure, seemed entirely unbothered, simply relaxing into the bed’s softness. "Get some sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that resonated in her chest. Sensing her gaze, he added, "The power will be back on once the damage is repaired. So… just stay close to me until then." Cole took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm. Slowly, she let herself melt into his embrace, resting her head on his broad chest. The faint scent of spring blossoms and cypress swirled around her, a fragrance that felt both comforting and familiar. She nestled closer, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill as sleep began to tug at her eyelids. With each steady beat of his heart, Cole felt a sense of peace she hadn't known she needed. She smiled softly, the rhythm of his heartbeat the most beautiful melody, lulling her into the comfort of dreams. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient.
View MoreLoud, motor-like snoring echoed through the room, emanating from a cell phone. Positioned on a pillow beside the sleeping patient. The screen of the phone illuminated the darkened room, casting a soft glow as it displayed the source of the noise: a partial view of a sleeping boy's face.
Lights activate and illuminate the chambers where the sleeping patient, a woman, lay curled up beside the phone, her head resting close to the device. Despite the noise, she appeared undisturbed, lost in the depths of sleep.
The nurse hesitated, her gloved hand hovering over the door handle, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. She glanced back at her colleague, a silent question passing between them.
"Should we wake them?" she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the hospital machinery.
Behind the nurse, stood a shorter doctor also suited up. An annoyed look grew on her face the longer she waited. “Either open the door Nurse Rue, or I push you through it.”
Rue bit her lip, then replied: “And a good morning to you, Doctor Isla.” Rue exhales out, then enters the patient’s room. Bright lights activate above and fill the room with harsh light. Apart from the tangled mess of toffee-colored hair that spills over the white bed sheet. The entire room was like a plain canvas. If it weren’t for the crowd of tech around the hospital bed beeping away, the room would be completely silent.
A tranquil melody played over the device. No doubt the reason both fell asleep on a call. The closer they got, Rue could see a red hair tie within the patient's grip.
Such a little thing had the greatest sentimental value…
“Can’t we come back?” Nurse Rue hesitates when they approach the bed. “The patient deserves rest, especially after yesterday’s events.” Rue looked to Doctor Isla who delivered a venomous glare.
“I decide what my patient needs, Ms. Rue.” Isla says in a hard tone. “What Cole needs is thorough and consistent care. She is one of six surviving patients, and this is the last hospital standing between Liberty Island and Malibu... Cole is one of thousands suffering. Most of the medical professionals we know have contracted the disease and are useless now or dead."
Nurse Rue turned her gaze to the floor when Isla mentioned the others. Then she lifted her gaze again, finding a pair of cloudy gray eyes staring up at her and Isla.
“This contagion will be the end of mankind if we stop what we are doing." Isla turns and starts to prep, unaware that Cole was awake, shaking fearfully in her spot.
“Cole?” A voice interrupts just when the snoring ceases. “What’s going on? Why are there people in your room?”
Cole was about to speak when the doctor spoke for her. “My patient is undergoing treatment. Talk to her later." Isla hits the 'End Call' button before the boy could say anything more. “Now, Cole…” she exhales and turns to find her tools. “Let’s start this.”
Cole’s gray eyes met Rue’s soft brown ones, just as the treatment began. It was a look that weakened her every time. The same look the other five patients gave before the process…
--
“There...” Nurse Rue carefully sets Cole in bed after helping her to the bathroom. She may not be particularly tall or strong, but she could lift Cole. “We got through another day, baby dove”. She whispers, moving the wild hair away from the patient’s face. Earning a soft sigh from the patient as she relaxes.
Cole remained silent as Rue tucks her in. Rue could understand the drained look she wore and didn’t try to press her to talk. “You’re leading the battle now... so don’t go fading on us yet. You’re almost through it”. Rue whispers before leaving.
Cole was already drifting into sleep when the door was shut. Sounds of rushing water and crinkles of plastic were faintly heard. A normal thing to hear while the nurse cleaned up. At the same time, a ringing tune played from Cole’s phone. She knew it was him calling again, but Cole couldn’t bring herself to answer it.
She was minutes into sleep, when a violent crash shatters the peace.
Crash!
“Oh my god…”
A loud metallic clash rang through the hospital. It stirs awake every patient on the 37th floor. Cole sat up, eyes darting around as she tried to see through bleary vision. “Rue?” She called out but heard no answer. Cluttered noises echo beyond the locked door. Seconds later, it's followed by screams and several bright red flashes.
“Oh my god…” She hears a gasp that turns into a scream. “No! Oh god!”
“R-Rue?” Cole shivers as she slips out of bed. The lights were no longer white, instead, Cole’s vision was a blur of red and black. A red-light flickers on and off again. Cole knew what it meant and paced with panic. Unsure of what to do.
Bang!
The unmistakable crack of a gunshot echoes. Cole gasps again as her fright doubles.
“STOP! Don’t shoot!” Someone screams. The sound makes Cole freeze, inches away from the glass door. From this distance, Cole could spot several shadows moving. Heavy footfalls rumble in the hall and screams erupt.
“Where’s everyone going?” Cole says out loud, her heart thumping with panic as Rue’s voice echoes over the other noises of commotion. “Hey asshole! There’s infected patients on this floor-”
Rue's shouts are followed by a separate scream and a clashing noise.
“AH! STOP! THAT’S OUR SUPPLY! I WON’T LET YOU TAKE I-”
Crash!
“N-No”. Cole shivered as glass shattered and a burst of gunfire cracks. Instinctively, she stoops down low. Looking up to the window, she could see the shadows of people falling, others fighting back, flashes of gunfire…
Chaos consumes the entire ward.
Then something hit the door of Cole’s room. She scattered away but could not find her bed. Cole crawled around the floorspace, until she felt the wall and pressed her back against it. Keeping herself as small as possible, she tucks her knees under her gown; close to her chest. Through noises of gunfire, she hears the chime of her phone as the same ringing tune plays again. Cole was too scared to go to it and stayed curled up, until the hospital went silent.
The lights continue to flicker red against the darkness. A distant buzz repeats over and over. Cole knew the alarm would not stop until the danger was gone.
Moments pass as silence settles, only to be broken again as a parade of footfalls tread. Crunching over shattered glass and debris.
Cole stayed frozen in her spot and listened. The footfalls were coming closer.
“There’s more on the 41st floor”. A male voice echoes. “Get it and find Doctor Isla. Don’t let her get away this time.”
“Doctor Isla?” Cole whispers to herself when the footfalls pass. A memory flashes through her mind. She remembered when Doctor Isla was attacked -months ago- by crazed attackers. A man with white hair was their leader. He left Isla with a scar across her neck. He would've taken her life, if a guard never intervened.
After a while of silence, Cole lifted her gaze and willed herself to move away from the wall. If only little by little. Cole felt around as she crawled, desperately trying to figure out the room; under intervals of red light. She observed the echoes from her left and remembered the door was there. Which meant the bed was to her right. She crawls toward the right, feeling the floor with her hands; until the tips of her fingers find another wall.
Bang!
“Ah,” Cole covers her mouth to muffle the sound that threatened to escape. A gunshot echoed near her room, followed by startled screams of other patients.
Tears well in her eyes as she thought the worst. She took a shaky breath and willed herself to move again. Cole kept going until she was close enough to see the silhouette of the bed. She crawls next to it and reaches up to grab her phone. Cole held it with shaky fingers as she dialed one of her contacts.
“Cole?” The call was answered after the first ring and a familiar face appeared on the screen.
A man, slightly younger than Cole appeared with a look of concern on his face as he sat up. He was shirtless and quickly got out of bed. Pacing the room as he questioned her. “Cole? Where are you? Why are the lights red? What is going on?”
“Oliver,” Tears spill when she opened her mouth to speak.
Bang!
Another gunshot.
Oliver froze from his pacing and stares at Cole. Panic was clear on his face. He watched as she trembled, her back against the bed while more shots echoed. One after the other.
“Oliver, s-something’s wrong. The hospital… T-There’s…” Cole took a shaky breath and continued to speak. “There’s people looking for Doctor Isla. I think it's the same people from before."
"Where's the others? Why are you alone? Can you get out?” Oliver wondered.
“I don’t know… Oliver”, Cole took another breath and then told him. “Oliver, I can’t see very well… a-and these lights are not helping… I… I don't know where to go. I d-don’t think I'll make it anywhere."
“Okay.” Oliver nods. “I understand. Rue told me about your eyes… Just…” It was Oliver’s turn to take a few breaths while he tried to keep his thoughts together. “Just don’t hang up. Okay?”
“Oliver, I need you to be my eyes. Please”. She whispers her plea, and immediately Oliver nodded and told her to hold up the phone.
With trembling arms, Cole held it up as she got to her feet again. She moved the phone around so Oliver could see the whole room. “Stop, right there... Move closer," Oliver instructed, “the door is too far away.”
“Okay”, Cole moved closer until Oliver told her to stop. “You’re in front of the door, the window is to your right."
Cole took a few steps to the right and held the phone to the glass.
“Christ...” was his first reaction to the sight of the bloody hall floor. “C-Cole there’s so many nurses. They’re not moving." His voice got shaky the more details he gave. “I... I see... I see a doctor among them... he- he’s holding keys."
“What else?” Cole whispered eagerly, moving the phone so that more of the hall could be viewed.
"There's someone to your right. I think she's evacuating the patients."
Cole waited, holding the phone more to the right so Oliver could see.
“That one." A female voice echoed. “That door, get it open."
Clank!
Noises of metal striking metal reached Cole’s ears as Oliver explained what was happening.
“Cole? They’re... They’re breaking into room... 209... Room 209... and... there’s nine of them wearing masks."
“Room 209?” Cole repeated. “Nathaniel is in there..."
Oliver pressed his hand to the side of his face. Disbelief mixes with shock as the group hauled out loads of equipment. "Cole... they're... they're looting."
Cole was speechless while she continued to listen. She never understood why some break in to steal, while risking infection.
“Stop!” A shout came from inside the room. The patient, a young boy, runs out and swipes a crutch from one of the deceased. He lifted it and swung, hitting a man’s shoulder.
A shot rang out, Oliver watched as the boy collapsed. Unable to blink as he spots a woman approach and stand over him. She levels her weapon again as she spots the slightest movement in his fingertips.
Bang!
"N-Nathan" Cole shivered hearing it, while Oliver’s eyes went wide. “Cole?” Panic grew in his voice, as a shadow moves in front of the window. “Cole! COLE GET AWAY FROM THE-”
Crash!
The window shatters, glass rained down like glitter as the moment stretched.
As if lightning struck, Cole was shunned backward, feeling the pain burn through her chest. Shock fills her mind while the blast filled her ears. After, there was ringing and the hard beats of her own pulse. They were in sync with the red lights, flickering on and off again. Her chest burned, while the force of the blast sends her body flying.
In her mind, pours a flood of glimpses of people she lost. As her feet are no longer touching the floor...
The phone slips from her fingertips. A current of toffee hair pours over her face. Just before her back slams to the hard floor. Cole's small body made a loud thump. Toffee hair falls around her small face. The wild strands obscure part of her vision. While fiery hot pain sears in her chest. Blood pools beneath her frail body.
Cole’s gray eyes stare at the ceiling. Terror frozen in them as shadows enter the room.
"Uh..." A long, dramatic groan fills the car as Vincent focuses intently on the road. He reaches for his water bottle, only to discover it’s empty. With a resigned sigh, he mutters, “Tuck, I thought you had your own bottle.” Tuck, slumped in his seat, replies with a strained voice, “Well, I ran out.” He shifts uncomfortably, his grimace deepening. “Oh...” His voice trails off into another groan. “Can we please pull over?” Vincent glances at the road sign, noting that Atlanta is just seven miles ahead. “We’re almost there. It’s just a bit further.” “I can’t make it that long,” Tuck pleads, his face contorted in pain. “Please, pull over.” Vincent’s gaze shifts to Tuck, who is clutching his stomach and visibly struggling. As the sun dips towards the horizon, Vincent realizes that driving any further could be dangerous, especially with the encroaching darkness. He weighs the urgency of Tuck’s condition against the need to continue driving. Finally, he clicks on the radio. “Doc t
Cole is lost in thought, zoning out as the van rolls along. The steady hum of the engine and the monotony of the scenery outside can be hypnotic. When the van finally comes to a stop, it's a small jolt that snaps her back to the present. She stretches and looks around, wondering where they are now. She watches as trucks fill a motel lot. Soldiers wander masking up before checking every room. Cole felt nervous, remembering the nightmare she had, discovering that the driver was not her real driver. It all seemed so real, until she woke up. Eventually, the team camped for the night. Most slept in their cars, while others stayed awake. Cole guessed they were keeping watch. The soldiers seemed to enjoy the cool night as they strolled in groups of twos, walking the stretch of the lot. Her driver, Doug, disappeared somewhere. Cole was suspicious, but she guessed he didn't want to sleep in the van. The night passes while Cole fails to sleep. Tossing and turning in the back of the van.
(6 hours after departure)Cole wakes in the backseat of the van, and immediately starts mentally obsessing on the driver. Percieving a partial reflection of his face in the rearview mirror.He wore a mask like everyone else, and remained silent while behind the wheel.Uncertainty shimmers in her gray eyes as she eyes his snow white hair."It was a dream," Cole finally realizes as the fog of drowsiness lifts from her head. She dreamt it all, the kidnapper, the blood, the gunshots...Cole couldn't remember the last time she had a 'good' dream.She took a couple deep breaths and sat up straighter. Hearing Tuck's voice call over the radio. "Hey Cole, there's a button on the left side of your helmet" He informs.Cole feels with her fingers until she finds it, then presses it. When she does, the helmet loosens and she was able to remove it. "Thank you, Tuck" Cole breathes in relief as she frees her head. Just in time when her watch beeps.She smiled as she remembered Eris set it to remind he
(April 10, 2054) Year of OutbreakCurled up in front of a tv, little Cole eats her breakfast. A cartoon about a tiger cub plays. Until Cole's father interrupts and turns it off. "Come on, Coco, I have to take you to school." He says, grabbing his keys and coat when a shout comes from upstairs. Followed by the loud footfalls of someone coming downstairs."Dad!" Rosalie shouts, she's wearing her school uniform with her dark hair tied up. Holding her smartphone as she rushes to turn on the tv. "Did you see the news?""No." He answers while helping little Cole with her shoes. "Rose we can see it later. We have to go.""N-No, Dad look." She urges, switching the channel.The news report shows Rosalie's gym teacher passed away from Malum 2. "Sixteen students have recently been hospitalized. The High School will be closed. It's recommended that students and their households quarantine until further notice." The news report concludes."I guess we're staying home…" Dad sighs, taking off Cole's
Two days pass on the road to West Virginia. Vincent follows the guiding Humvee in front him as he grips the steering wheel. With Tuck sound asleep in the passenger seat. He fell asleep to the loud hum of the truck's engine. A collection of steel cases are strapped in the truck bed. The sky above is darkened by clouds that seem to roll endlessly. They flicker with lightning and echo with soft rumbles. Eventually, the rain starts to pour. Gentle drops sprinkle all over, becoming larger and larger. Until a heavy pour soaks the road. Beating loudly on the windows and body of the truck. The collection of raindrops sound like microwaved popcorn. Windshield wipers swipe left and right. Allowing glimpses of the road. Vincent squints his eyes as he looks ahead."More rain?" Tuck sits up straight with a yawn. The rumble of thunder was enough to stir him from sleep."Ugh, I have to pee." Tuck groans as he ties his hair into a ponytail."We have a few miles before the next stop. With any luck, th
Cole rose from her bed. The sun had not yet risen. The bedroom is pitch black and silent. Apart from the soft tweets of birds that echo as the dawn approaches. Cole sits up anxiously and stares at nothing while twirling the end of her braid with her finger. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear when the bedroom door was opened.Only when the lights flick on, Cole snaps her gaze toward the entrance.There stood a figure suited in black, holding a bag in his left hand. “Hey Cole.” Tuck hesitates but nears her bed anyway.Cole watches as he set the bag down and unpacked its contents. He spreads each item on the white bed sheet. She stares at the strange outfits and mask. One outfit was black thermal with a hood to it. While the second was some kind of astronaut suit?“You’re going to have to change into this… Doctor’s orders.” Tuck explains. “This thermal one might be a little loose. I modified it to unzip in the back and the pant legs too. I have plenty of socks for you and gloves. T
"Cole. I need you to listen." Vincent tries to speak, but Cole was already on the verge of tears."You can't know that. I'm not going. Vin, I'm not going." Cole dodges his reach when he gets too close."Cole, I need you to put this on." Vincent sighs, growing impatient as he holds onto a suit meant for the patient."No. I don't need that cause I'm not going.""Cole, if we stay here you won't survive." Vincent finally says. "The people that attacked us took supplies. Some of them are damaged… We can't care for you properly if we don't have what we need."Cole fell silent while she processed it all. "I can’t go" She shakes her head, stepping back again when he stepped forward.“I won’t go”. Cole shivers out, emotions swirling in her dark gray eyes. “I won’t go” she repeats in a firmer tone."Cole." Vincent gave a warning tone. A tense look on his face as he stares at his patient. He steps forward, while Cole takes a step backward. Losing her balance when the back of her leg bumps the bed
After years of isolation, Cole got used to sleeping alone. Now there was someone snuggling her like a mama cat.It felt good.Safe…Vincent continued this every night, until the power was restored.The next few days felt like a month. Salvaging parts, fixing the power, doors repaired, broken windows boarded, and damaged walls patched. Cole was resting, Tuck was ordered to go scouting with a separate team. All while Vincent and Eris were summoned to the training room. They faced a restless 'Natalie' who was determined to train them harder. Both Eris and Vincent were back in training with Lieutenant Natalie Yuki. She went over close combat, weapon assembly, all types of potential escape routes and vulnerable points within the house. Plus, how to store explosives to keep from blowing the whole house up."I think I remember why… I chose to go to med-school…" Eris pants, laying on the training room floor. Right next to Vincent, who got tossed out of the ring as well by Natalie's best soldie
"I…" Cole blinked nervously, looking down at her hands in shame. Even though Vincent showed no sign of anger. "I think I overslept."Vincent was quiet and had an air of calm surrounding him. His seated form shadowed hers. Vincent was wearing a pair of dark blue trousers and the protective mask covering his face. Seeing he was shirtless and with wild hair of his own. Cole guessed he rolled out of bed and slipped on a mask. It wasn't proper protection, but Vincent did not seem to care."Vin, if you get sick, I'll never forgive myself". Cole spoke, peeking up at him. "You should go put s-something else on".Vincent took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he extended his other arm. Reaching, he cups her chin in his hand and brings her gaze to his again. "There are worse things to die from…" He says, chewing on his lip as a thought crossed his mind. Cole read the look in his green eyes as they traveled to the bruises on the side of her face. Pain surfaced in them, darkening the light i
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