Proctor and Mandy lay in bed that night as he explained what he knew about viruses.

“Even though the firepox is still out there my dear, we may still have a chance. You see, in order to thrive it needs human hosts. In a normal society shall we say, human transmission is readily available but take that away, and it dies out.”

“So what did you see when you were at this base?”

The doctor thought back.

“I used uncontaminated blood from the pilot and watched as amplification took place.”

Mandy looked puzzled.

“You will have to explain that one.”

He smiled.

“It simply means the virus multiplies my dear.”

An owl hooted outside and he had a thought.

“Do you have fish in your diet?”

Mandy nodded.

“There is a stream not far from here. Every so often, I throw a net across it. I try not to take too many though. Conservation of supply.”

“Good idea. Look, I’m just going to pop out for a moment. Stretch my legs.”

The rain had stopped by now and as he stood in the yard, he gazed up at the bright moon.

“Looks rather lovely. Who would think a calamity had befallen us?”

A sudden motor engine drew his attention and the appearance of two headlights sparked a terrible memory.

“That’s the damn camper!”

He dashed inside and slammed the door.

“Everyone up now!”

As they appeared, he called up.

“Get the kids to lie upon the bedroom floor. The guys who fired the copter have turned up.”

As the kids were made safe, Proctor and Mandy reached for the M3’s.
The woman grinned.

“Thankfully that gun shop had a few spare.”

Cheryl dashed back with her handgun drawn.

“How many do you think there are?”

“I really don’t know,” Proctor replied. “A camper could easily have two in the front and six in the rear.”

As they waited nervously, the gent’s voice called out.

“We know that you are in there and only want to chat.”

They glanced at each other, recognising the earlier voice.

“What about your sick friend?” Cheryl asked.

“He died I’m afraid. Your fault really.”

Proctor shook his head and whispered, “Don’t believe him. That was obviously a ruse.”

“We told you before,” Mandy shouted. “We can’t risk contact.”

“We just need to chat. There is no harm in that.”

“We are talking,” the doctor reminded him.

“I don’t like talking to a door mate,” the voice said.

“How many of you are there?” Cheryl asked.

There was a short pause.

“About a dozen I’d say.”

Proctor shook his head.

“I only saw the camper out there. He’s bluffing.”

“I’ll give you five minutes then we will just have to persuade you lot further.”

“What the hell do we do?” Mandy asked.

“Is the rear door locked?” Cheryl asked.

“Bolted too,” Mandy replied.

“This is what we will do then,” the cop said. Proctor takes the
kitchen area whilst we defend the lounge.”

“Okay then,” the doctor said dashing off.

“Time up ladies. Open the door.”

Cheryl put her hand on Mandy’s arm and whispered, “When they open up let me listen for a moment. Then we fire toward the flashes.”

Mandy nodded as shots rang through the air.

“Single shots,” Cheryl smiled. “We have the advantage.”

A series of shots blew out the window and the women crawled over.

“Just wait a moment,” the cop said.

From the kitchen, gunfire was heard and Cheryl yelled,” Conserve your ammo!”

“It’s not me!”

A volley struck the thick door and the woman returned the fire. As Cheryl watched, a gunman ran from a bush. She opened up and ducked down quickly.

“At least we got one.”

As the injured man groaned, the heavy rattle of Proctor’s M3 rent the air.

“Any luck?” Mandy called.

“Don’t think so.”

Cheryl glanced up as more lead smashed the wall.

“We should take the fight to them,” Mandy suggested.

The cop shook her head.

“We have a firm defensive position here. We can hold out. Just stay here a bit.”

“Where are you off to?”

Cheryl dashed for the stairs and into the front bedroom. Crouching at the window, she gazed down.

“Perfect view from here.”

She saw four gunmen lying flat and the outline of the waiting camper.

“We have to get our hands on that.”

She heard the rattle of automatic fire and the response. Cheryl suddenly stood and smashed the glass. A volley of bullets lashed out toward the bushes and a few screams was heard.

She waited for the reply but it did not come.

“What they playing at?”

She glanced down and saw that the remaining two appeared to be
edging toward the rear.

“So that’s their game.”

She dashed downstairs and grabbed Mandy.

“Follow me.”

When they reached the kitchen, the doctor was pinned down.

“We managed to take three out front but two more are coming your way.”

“I see Cheryl,” he replied.

They heard shouts as more bullets smacked the rear wall, followed by running.

“We got them,” the cop said lurching up and spraying wildly.

Yells and screams of anguish came in rapid succession as the cop cheered.

“Got the sods. Outside now.”

After unbolting the door, they dashed out to check injured.

“These three are dead,” Proctor whispered.

When they reached the front, they found the earlier visitor alive and groaning softly.

“He’s badly wounded,” the doctor said.

Cheryl gave him a kick.

“Why attack us?”

The gent shook his head weakly.

“He needs a hospital,” Mandy said.

“We don’t have one,” he replied.

Cheryl gazed down and simply blew his brains out.

“We should bury them somewhere,” she muttered. “The kids can’t see this.”

Her friends nodded and helped remove them to a patch of earth at the edge of the farm. After digging a hole, the bodies were simply tossed inside.

“I’m off to check the camper,” the cop said as the others looked on.

“Quite ruthless isn’t she,” Mandy whispered.

“I guess in this world you have to be.”

When Cheryl reached the cab, she saw the keys in the dash. Within the living area, she found cans of food and an arsenal of weaponry. Smiling to herself, she gunned the engine and brought it to the rear of the building.

As she entered the lounge, she showed them the keys.

“We have more than enough weapons now she said. We should store them
in here. Just in case others fancy having a go.”

“Who were they?” Mandy asked.

Cheryl shook her head.

“Who cares anyway?”
...
Within the CDC itself, Ned and Jenkins had waited for a call from the Raleigh government facility. When it never came, they checked.

“That doctor never arrived,” Ned muttered.

“You think something happened?”

“Seems like it. At least we taped his call. We had better review it.”

After listening to the doctor’s voice, they gazed at each other.

“I think we should repeat his experiment,” Jenkins suggested. “We
have mice here and you could use my blood.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ned replied.

After taking a sample, they returned to the lab once more. As they plodded within their suits Ned said, “We could well be onto a
breakthrough with this.”

“That’s what I hope,” Jenkins replied. “Just a damn pity the doc was not here.”

After preparing tissue, they infected it with their super virus and then watched the rapid amplification.

“Now to add two drops of your blood.”

He did so and watched for a moment. Then his face fell.

“The damn thing destroyed the host cells again.”

A thought struck his colleague.

“The doc was dealing with the original virus right?”

“He was.”

“We have samples of that here. Let’s repeat it.”

As Ned prepared another culture, his colleague was placing the scalpel inside the washer. As he did this, his fingers slipped.

“Oh sod it!”

Jenkins turned.

“What’s the matter?”

“I cut my glove that’s all. No harm done really.”

As he turned the washer on, a strange burning sensation struck. He
reeled and started coughing violently. Jenkins dropped what he was doing and scrambled over.

“You have it!”

As his friend collapsed, Jenkins cradled him. He watched as his super virus turned the face black, before it crumpled into ash.
Jenkins stood silently. Glancing around the lab, he saw the red light flashing.

“Oh that is just marvellous,” he hissed. “The ruddy virus is free and I’m sealed inside.”

This was a normal emergency system of course, but it meant one thing. Jenkins was going nowhere.

He felt his air supply being cut off by the computer, to prevent his exhalation getting beyond the lab.

“Oh sod this.”

He waited until his suit supply ran out before pulling the helmet off. As he breathed in, he too felt the first effects.

“What a damn way to go.”

He saw his skin produce the red blotches and the violent pain of the interior burning. As white smoke poured from his face, he collapsed upon the floor.

Outside that chamber, a pleasant electronic voice stated to no human listener, “Bio level Six sealed.”

The night wore on until the sun rose again.

That day would see yet another miscalculation.

The car had driven through the night and the young couple watched, as the pleasant countryside whisked past.

“Should be lovely today,” she said.

“As long as the rain stays off eh?”

They followed the track towards the stream and stopped.

“I think we should rest here for a while,” he whispered.

“That’s lovely Yardley.”

He gazed upon his young companion Zara. He had found her inside an
old train, just one of ten. She had come along happily of course. He was so charming after all.

“Fancy a quickie?” she asked grinning.

“What’s so exciting about a quickie may I ask?”

“We reach the plateau faster of course.”

He smiled as she plonked her rear upon his thighs.

“At least allow me to get him out first.”

She giggled loudly and opened the driver’s door.

“We need some fresh air.”

He managed to remove himself and tried to think of something interesting.

“I know what you need,” she whispered.

She reached down and started rubbing him across the crotch less region.

“This always works.”

He just looked and remained silent.

“Had many girlfriends?”

“About six I think. Only one of them was serious though.”

She squeezed gently and he groaned as entry was achieved.

“There my boy. You just relax and let me do all the work.”

She adjusted herself before doing what comes natural. As they groaned sweetly, the pack approached the stationary vehicle.

“I’m nearly there,” she gasped.

He was about to reply when a loud growl made them both turn and look.

“Oh crikey!” he yelled as the dogs leapt at the open car door.

Savage teeth gripped and tore as the couple fought for their young lives. One of the dogs tore his manhood off, as others sank their teeth and dragged them outside.

As arms and legs flailed helplessly, the pack tore them asunder before settling down to feast at their leisure...Continues Wed...