Disclaimer: The fabrication and writing of this story is solely for fun and to practice my writing. I do not make or plan on making a profit on this story any time soon.
The Walking Dead, its universe, characters and original dialogue belong to its rightful owners and AMC.
If you are reading this odds are that I'm dead.
Well, let's try and keep an optimistic perspective, maybe I lost my notebook or perhaps you are goingknow that this composition book is my life. It is the reason why I have remained sane in the midst of this chaos. The reason why I even bother writing the daily events of the apocalypse after the spread of the virus which I, myself named, "Nekros Apodosi" is so maybe it can help you or someone else in the nearby future.
Now, I don't mean to brag, but I have lived a remarkable life and so have some of the closest people in my life.
Perhaps you can learn a thing or two from us so that you may avoid the same mistakes and survive.
I begin this anecdote with the day zero spread of the NA virus.
Day 0: Beginning
- NA Outbreak begins in California.
- NA Patient 0, also known as Gloria, becomes infected and begins the worldwide spread of the virus.
Day 1:
- The Nekros Apodosi Virus spreads to five states in the United States, people are becoming infected and death tolls are rising.
- California's fall begins with traffic jams, choppers traffic the area and the military begins arriving as police officers become compromised.
Day 2:
- Infected area's begin loosing electricity amongst other basic services such as plumbing.
- A victim in Los Angeles rises up and ravages neck of an EMT worker. The infected Undead attacks the officers around him and is resistant to police fire. People are starting to go missing.
- NA makes people violent.
- Riots begin. Chaos is unleashed in the city, local governments can no longer control the masses.
Day 3:
- My story begins on this fateful day.
- Airplanes and other means of transportation become obsolete.
In order to properly describe the following accounts I will be narrating this story from a "Third Person Point of View."
This if so that you may have an unbiased full description and a pretty good idea of who I am and what I'm like.
Location: [Palo Alto, California]
A woman walked around her kitchen anxiously. On her left hand she was holding a dull coffee mug that had a bold "S" in college font printed on it.
"You've gotta be kidding me," she rolled her eyes stomping around in her heels.
"My flight leaves in an hour. I'm already late. I wanted to have this taken care off before I left to Georgia."
There was a silence in the room as somebody spoke on the other line. Meanwhile she sipped her dark coffee. A small, brown dachshund dog looked at her with a confused expression. She sighed, putting the mug down rubbing her temples.
"Listen-" She said sternly.
"I'm not the type of person that can just spare time. Specially with the current circumstances. For Pete's sake! We've been living separately for the last four years. Why can't he just sign the damn divorce papers?!" She shouted into the phone.
Again, there was a pause.
"Listen. I am not paying you, just so you can sit and moan. I know he's a hard man to keep track off. I don't care where he is I don't care if he's in Cambodia, Oymyakon, or the Pitcairn Islands. Just get him to sign the damn papers."
The person on the other line continued speaking.
"Wait-" she said suddenly as her phone screen began glowing.
"That's Q, he's here for me." She stated.
"Sorry for my outburst, I just- I just want to get this over with it's exhausting..." She added some goodbyes and hung up.
Everything in the luxury condo was extremely meticulous. A beautiful view of the city of Palo Alto stretching in the morning landscape.
"I have to go," she said picking up her dog and placing kisses all over its head as it attempted to lick its her face. She cooed some goodbyes in baby talk to her dog before her phone began to ring again.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way down," she uttered as she got a hold of her luggage and made her way downstairs to the car that would be outside waiting for her. The dog-sitter shouldn't be long to pick Millie up.
"Sorry, I got hogged on the phone," She said shaking her head removing her sunglasses as she stepped into the back of the black suburban.
"Legal issues?" Q said as he flipped through some papers.
"The worst." She responded impatiently. "Where is it that Ted finds himself in now a days?"
"He's in prison," He stated dully.
"For what?" She said unamused not batting an eyelash.
"He willingly established himself in Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Leake County Mississippi. Was doing some research on the youth, wanted it to be unbiased without the Hawthorne effect," Q explained briefly.
Sloane shook her head "Typical…" She muttered darkly.
Qurban Samman, he is Dr. Sloane Gadsden's right hand and esteemed apprentice. With dark hair and brooding eyes hidden behind some sharp glasses he always stood to the Doctor's side. Always keeping busy with research, always willing to do anything for
his mentor, and always at her side. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I have the plane tickets, we have an appointed lunch with Dr. Candace Jenner and her husband, a scheduled conference on at the end of next week and a visit to your mother afterwards. We have two separate rooms at the Emory Conference Center Hotel. Thoughts?"
He said almost in one breath.
"Show me what you got there," was the only thing she said sighing as she took the thick manila file from him.
Qurban and the doctor made way to the airport and made it to Atlanta without any trouble. The only issue they encountered was when Q had to pass his diabetic medications through security. Wearing her reading glasses Gadsden read over the reports that
Q had handed her. They all retold different versions of the same story. A flu like disease, with symptoms such as vomit, fever, exhaustion and diarrhea was spreading around like wildfire. There was footage of undead victims rising and harming EDM
officers in Los Angeles. They bite. They are immune to bullets. The disease had three days of being noticed since "Patient 0" came to the attention of medics in California and in such short time the disease had already spread to five different states.
Whatever the hell this thing was, it was out of this world, people were rising from the dead and killing each other. It was almost like a sci-fi film.
Due to her impressive resume and her knowledge in the fields of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, she had been personally contacted by the director of the C.D.C to step up and provide her insights into whatever this mysterious disease was.
When they arrived to Georgia both scientist realized that the ambiance here was not as chaotic as it was back in California. Presently, choppers were flying day and night shooting people, areas had started to blackout, mobs were rioting, the military
had started to invade. Meanwhile, Atlanta seemed at ease. People were out and about laughing and dining the night away. They reached their hotel rooms and called it a night.
"Cute," Sloane said as she took a peach from the fruit basket that had been sent to her room by Candace and her family. A note read "Welcome to Georgia!"
Day 4:
- California declared to be in state of emergency.
Location: [Atlanta, Georgia]
"Dr. Gadsden! Dr. Gadsden!" The banging on the door awoke the doctor.
She groggily rubbed her eyes and wrapped a robe around her pajamas as she headed to the door of her small hotel room.
She opened the door to reveal Q standing there with a panicked expression on his face.
"This better be good," she grumbled stretching her arm allowing him in. He wasted no time and turned the TV on the news channel.
There was no available footage. However the headline read "CA: Governor of the State of California passes an executive order declaring a state of emergency."
"Q…" She turned to face him who was shouting in Arabic onto his phone.
"Dammit, service is down in California. I don't know where my family is…" he said running a hand through his hair nervously. A distant look was frozen in his dark eyes.
"I didn't think things would get this bad…" he said slowly.
Sloane was unsure of what to say to him (and not wanting to deal with his emotions).
"Qurban, if you feel the need to be with your family. Leave, I'll still pay you. We are in a time of crisis," she said calmly in a cool tone. Without any hesitation he sprinted out of the room to who-knows-where.
The doctor cursed and decided to dress up.
She continued doing her research on the disease the final reports read, "Contagion: exacerbated death tolls, a significant increase in violent crimes, an excess of bio-hazardous waste, and mass hysteria resulting in widespread power outages."
The document also mentioned evacuation programs and revealed that the Who had declared a public health emergency. Other reports read that the disease was spreading like wildfire in China, Ecuador, Mexico and the French were already working on a cure.
"What is this…" She said to herself shaking her head.
She had to get to a lab ASAP. By the time she had finished her research it was time for lunch so she made way to meet Candace and her husband. Qurban had decided to return to California and had not been seen since the morning. Sloane waited at the
restaurant impatiently. She was amazed at how calm everyone appeared to be. She knew that the government often times had a way of handling things and either the disease hadn't reached Georgia yet, or the government was doing a damn good job
hiding it.
"Dr. Byrnes?" A voice suddenly made her snap out of her train of thought.
"Ah! Yes, Dr. Jenner." Sloane stood up to greet a tall woman with chestnut colored hair and her gray sleeked-hair husband.
"Dr. Byrnes it is a pleasure and an honor that you are available to join us for lunch," her husband, who had introduced himself as Edwin, said. Sloane hadn't taken the time to notice the elegant ambiance of the restaurant.
"Pleasure is all mine. Oh, and I no longer go by Byrnes, I divorced." She said with a nervous smile before taking a sip of water.
"But, yes- thank you so much for the invitation. I just hope that we are able to make a difference soon- with the state of things in California…" she said trailing off.
"Sloane," Candace began.
"I can assure you that we are doing everything we can right now. We only have small samples to work with. However, we are having some corpses and possible, some infected victims soon."
The doctors would engage in small talk about the local area "Glad you liked the peaches. I'm not from around here, so I have become rather fond of them," Edwin explained.
Sloane smiled tightly. She was biting her tongue. It was hard enough to keep her mouth shut about the disease or California. It was the thing a top of her list and she felt so useless not being able to do anything at the moment. She felt as if her
blood was on fire. Feeling nauseous she didn't eat much. She attempted to distract herself by analyzing the relationship between Candace and Edwin. She could tell they were really in love. They still had that twinkle in their eyes when they looked
at each other. Candace was all smiles and giggling and Edwin just seemed to glow. She couldn't help but wonder if she and her ex-husband had ever looked that way to others. They were halfway through the meal when she saw a familiar face in the restaurant.
/"Q?" She wondered.
"Dr. Gadsden!" He exclaimed rushing over to the table. He caught the attention of a couple of snooty people who glared at him due to his misconduct.
"What happened?" She said not trying to make a scene.
Candace and Edwin looked at the man before them confused.
"All flights to California have been canceled."
He sat down uninvited.
"A plane came down today in Los Angeles. All airports and marine ports have been closed. There is nowhere to land."
It was unavoidable, the lunch turned solemn and dark. All the scientist barely even touched their food. Dr. Gadsden still couldn't stomach the gravity of what was happening to the world. There was an awkward silence looming even after Q apologized for
his behavior. Dr. Edwin Jenner paid the check and with cordial goodbyes everyone went their separate ways.
In the drive back to the hotel Q said nothing. Sloane had already come to terms with it.
"Have you realized yet?" She began.
He remained silent. They paid no mind to the taxi driver.
"Everyone and everything you know in California is gone. Friends, family… even if you return. Nothing will be the same." She explained.
Q broke down into a mess of tears. He wailed uncontrollably. Sloane kept her back straight facing forward to the road ahead with dead eyes. Q didn't reply only continued crying.
"I'll miss Millie," she suddenly said.
"DAMMIT!" Qurban suddenly snapped aggressively.
"The world is ending and the only thing you can think about is your damn dog?!"
She narrowed her hazel eyes at him, "Well, what am I supposed to think about? Death is only natural. If there is something that is certain in this life is that everything that lives eventually dies. It is absolutely unavoidable, despite how much we like
to pretend we can play God."
Sloane noticed they had reached their destination when Q tenaciously jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind him.
"Hey!" She shouted at him catching his attention.
"What are you going to do?" She said shrugging her hands into her pockets.
"Unlike you," Q began. "I am human and I need to mourn."
He continued wiping some lost tears of his handsome face.
"I need time to rest and miss my people." She looked at him with an absent expression.
"Ok," She responded with a tight-lipped smile. The fake smile that she would flash others in uncomfortable situation. She said nothing else and made her way back into the cab. Frustrated and feeling humiliated Qurban stormed back into the hotel.
Day 7:
Location: [Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA]
Much to Sloane's dismay. Two complete days had passed and she still had not heard anything from Edwin and Candace. She figured that due to air and marine ports shutting down in California it would become rather arduous to obtain an infected body. She
hadn't heard any other reports from California. No one in the area answered. She had already accepted that everyone she knew was wither dead or in hiding. She had also come to terms with the fact that she was probably unemployed. Presently she was
standing in front of a tank in the Georgia Aquarium observing the sharks swimming in the massive wall like tank before her. They swam gracefully and in harmony with other fish.
She felt a familiar presence behind her.
"Interesting, don't you think?" she inquired in a soothing voice. "I've always found it interesting how prey and predator can interact together…"
"I have been looking for you EVERYWHERE. Why haven't you been answering my calls?" She turned to face him with a blank expression.
"Well, I thought you said you needed to 'rest.'" She said still holding that bored expression while doing air quotes.
As soon as she turned around he noted her ridiculous attire.
"W-What are you doing?" Q asked with wide eyes.
Sloane was currently wearing a pair of jeans, an oversized t-shirt that read "Georgia Aquarium" and had a turtle logo. She wore a cap with the Aquarium logo and she was wearing an obnoxious Coca Cola watch.
"Nothing. Killing time, touristing." She said shrugging.
"You? Not working?" He said amazed.
"I've come to terms with it. There is nothing I can do until the bodies get here from the West." She said shaking her head. "By the way you are fired." He looked at her in shock.
"Well-" she began, when her phone suddenly started ringing.
"Ann?" She said into the phone. Qurban still stood in front of her flabbergasted.
"Yeah," She said. "No, I don't want you to come down. No-No, weird things are going to happen... I would rather you stay home with mom. I have to give a talk next week. In the meantime I'll be working on fixing this mess. Yeah- and I'll drive up,
don't worry. A'ight see you later." She hung up.
"Fired?" Qurban repeated in disbelief.
"Well," she began as they walked away from the shark tank.
"In case you haven't come to terms with it. Everyone you know in California is probably dead. Including my boss, meaning that I have nothing to pay you with. Hence, feel free to stick around. But don't expect a payment anytime soon. Enjoy your week
in Georgia." She said casually. Q sighed in relief and shook his head.
"Doctor. I have never seen you not working. If what you are saying is true. You are one of the few people that can make a difference for those who are still trapped in the West and for whatever is coming for us…" he swallowed the knot that
had built on his throat.
His gaze briefly stopped on a fieldtrip of children that was pointing at a sea turtle nearby. The guilt he felt became almost unbearable. He looked at their round cherub faces which were glowing with their innocence. He knew that they would be ill with
that flu that was killing everyone. And there would be nothing they could do about it.
Day 8:
Location: [Center for Disease Control]
The next day, regardless of the infected bodies having come in to the C.D.C or not. Dr. Gadsden and Qurban went to work with Candace and Edwin.
Day 12:
- Survivors in California are being kept in "Safe Zones" and curfews have been established for safety reasons.
Location: [Center for Disease Control]
- California remains in an emergency state. Miraculously some reports by the military have come in. Those alive and uninfected are being kept in "Safe Zones" with extreme curfews. There are also "Dead Zones" which are forbidden. The disease has not
reached Georgia-yet.
It was presently 4:32 AM at the C.D.C in Atlanta. Many scientist had decided to return home and be with their loved ones during these times of hardships. Leaving the remaining scientist to stress with the on going research of this disease.
"What do we know so far?" Sloane said running a hand through her hair brown hair. She was feeling exhausted. She had just removed her contamination suit and grabbed the coffee that Q had brought the other researchers.
"Just-just talk. This is not presenting numbers. If anyone disagrees with a statement they may reference their own results and numbers. I know it is an unusual way to run a meeting. However, it will be most efficient." She added.
"To begin with, we know the disease is neither a bacteria, a parasite or fungus." Edwin began.
"We have ruled out the possibility of it being a parasite, prion or even a bio-weapon," Another scientist spoke.
"Are we conclusive that it is a virus?" Candace nodded. The few scientist in the conference room all nodded in agreement.
"And evidence we managed to receive from Hawaii states that the virus has reached this state. Since flights from Hawaii have been closed since California declared a state of emergency can we concur that the virus is airborne. Evidence gathered from the
spread to other countries such as China, Mexico and France at such rates confirm this theory."
"Due to transportation complications from the West we are currently working on receiving a body from the Southwest."
The team was dismissed for whoever wanted to opt out for the day.
Day 15:
- Operation Cobalt is declared by higher powers and the entire West Coast is bombed in order to prevent outbreak.
Location: [Center for Disease Control]
Unknown to the scientist in the C.D.C... The outbreak starts becoming out of control. Operation Cobalt is declared by the higher authority. Confidential documentation is produced to provide instructions on executing it. Military personnel are
told to pack lightly and are given assurance of their safety. Specific steps are given to be followed, and soldiers are to avoid arousing suspicion in the civilian population in the safe zones. Instructions regarding the handling of civilians and
quarantined patients will follow separately.
Patients are beginning to become euthanized and bodies are being incinerated.
"In other news…" The woman on the television news began with a wide smile.
"California is no longer in a state of emergency. Trade, tourism and commerce will soon once again commence."
Qurban clapped his hands in relief and looked up to the heavens as if he was thanking God. Sloane on the other hand, looked down in fear. It was a gross lie. She knew the worst was yet to come...
Author's Note: Ah! The first chapter of the story. I began writing this story in May of 2016. After more than a year of writing I have just finished this story! So I hope I can upload and edit all the chapters soon.
I appreciate honest feedback. Thank you so much for reading.