The Apocalypse Strain by Jason Parent

Author:Jason Parent
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, genetics, biological, Suspense, supernatural, thriller, horror; gothic fantasy, dark fantasy, creepy stories
Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing
Published: 2020-07-13T12:55:37+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The incessant clamor of the fire alarm was beating a migraine into Clara’s skull. “Do you still think we should sit tight?” She massaged her temples. “The entire building sounds like it’s on fire. Anyone remember our assigned evacuation route?”

Dr. Werniewski looked to his assistant. “Anju, grab the scanner. We’ll just check out the hallway and make sure it’s safe, see if we can’t find someone from ASAP and get an update.” He peeked out into the hallway. Flashing red light cascaded into the room. “Where are those jerks from ASAP when you actually need them?”

Anju strained as she lifted the cumbersome apparatus of her own making. Jordan moved to help her, but Anju smiled and nodded him off. Still, Clara thought it nice to see at least one man who hadn’t given up on chivalry in the face of feminism, or worse, who used feminism as an excuse to be lazy.

Dr. Werniewski and his grad-student accomplice disappeared into the corridor. They left Jordan and Clara in awkward silence, notwithstanding the unrelenting fire alarm.

“Initiating scan for biological contamination,” the scanner announced from somewhere outside her room. She didn’t say a word or even move until she heard, “Scan completed. No biological contaminants detected.”

“What do you suppose they would have done had the scanner picked up something?” Jordan asked, chuckling. “Can you picture ol’ Dr. W. taking on anything bigger than a hamster?”

“Hopefully, we’ll never have to.” Clara’s severity wiped the grin from Jordan’s face. She knew she was being unfair to him, but the time wasn’t right for levity. The fire alarm was driving her insane, and people were infected with an organism that could alter their genetic makeup, herself included. She had no way of telling if the organism was contained or if it even could be contained.

The thing that made her heart sink lowest was that Monty had been right all along. She’d been blind to his observations, deaf to his warnings. She doubted he was waiting somewhere out in the halls for her to pass just so he could say he told her so. That’s not Monty. The poor, poor man…. She did hope he was somewhere out there, still Monty, still alive and well.

She hadn’t realized that Jordan had risen and was standing by the door until she heard it click open. The sharp sound snapped her from her reverie. Jordan poked his neck out into the corridor.

“That’s funny,” he muttered. “The guard’s gone.”

“What are you doing?” Clara asked.

“They’re not back yet. It’s making me restless.”

“They’ve only been gone for a few minutes.”

“I know. It’s just…. I don’t know.” Jordan slapped his sides. “This whole thing’s kind of crazy, huh?” He laughed, but his eyes didn’t. A shaky edge underlined his tone. “We never have these sorts of issues back at Stanford. Our idea of excitement is a clogged toilet or an extra umbrella in our umbrella drinks.”

Clara tried on a comforting smile. It didn’t feel right on her face, but it seemed to settle Jordan.

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