This is…This is very strange. I have no idea where that came from. IT appears to be some sort of diary entry. However, I don't remember writing that. It's rather obvious that this was written by Ben Gates, but I don't understand any of it, like how it could possibly have come from 2012. That this comes from somewhere else is unquestionable, but that is not to say I do not question it. Whether you question it or not, I hope you at least attempt enjoy this strange account.
With all due respect,
Michelle
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Date:
March 19, 2012
Days after Outbreak:
-2
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"In other news, Dr. Joseph Blackwell, a renowned scientist, has developed what he believes is the cure for all illnesses. He has given the injection to 20 different people from different nations in order to exp-"
Riley switched off the television and sighed. "There's nothing good on." He announced.
"Well there is more to life than computer and TV, Riley." I reminded him, looking up from my book. Riley gasped in fake horror.
"How could you say such a thing?!"
I rolled my eyes. "The kids will be getting up soon." I reminded him. His face blanched as, right on cue, tiny footsteps came from the floor above.
"Hide me!" He ducked behind the couch, but not before the twins, Thomas and Elizabeth, saw him.
"UNCLE WILEY!" They both ran behind the couch and tackled him. He let a little yelp.
"Get these little monsters off me!" Riley screamed from behind the couch. I just chuckled as the children continued to attack. Finally, after about a minute of this I walked behind the couch and grabbed them.
"OK, that's enough, you two." I picked up Beth in my arms.
"Good morning, Daddy!" She said with a grin.
"Yeah, morning!" Tommy cried.
"Morning, guys." I set Beth down and knelt down beside them. "How about some breakfast?"
"YEAH!" The two bounded off to the kitchen as Riley pulled himself to his feet.
"Ow." He said weakly.
I grinned at him, and he scowled back. "Enjoy your daily attack?" I teased. He just scowled again. He walked up the stairs, muttering something about 'little devils'.
I shook my head and walked into the kitchen, where the twins were busily preparing their breakfast of Pop tarts and orange juice.
I poured myself a cup of coffee when Abigail bustled into the kitchen. "Has anyone seen my cell phone?"
"It's in the 'frigerator." Beth said.
"Next to the grape juice." Tommy added. Abby opened the fridge, and sure enough, there was her cell phone.
She put her hands on her hips. "How exactly did it end up next to the grape juice?" Thee was a pause.
"NOT ME!" The twins exclaimed simultaneously. Abby shrugged, giving me a peck on the cheek as I handed her a mug of coffee.
"Thank you. Hey, Ben, don't forget that I've got a meeting today, so you're going to have to handle dinner."
I groaned inwardly, but forced a smile. "OK, love you."
"Love you too!" Abby flashed me a smile and then she was gone.
Meanwhile Riley entered the kitchen. "Did you hear about that guy who thinks he found the cure for all illnesses and what not?"
"Yeah, it was on the news right before you turned it off."
"Yeah. I just hope it doesn't turn out like that movie that came out a few years ago, what was it?" Riley pondered.
"I Am Legend?" I suggested. Riley nodded. "I agree. That movie gave me nightmares." I shuddered a bit.
"A little horror movie scared Ben Gates? I'm shocked." Riley feigned surprise. I rolled my eyes and set down my coffee mug.
"Hey guys, later today, Uncle Riley's going to go swim with you, OK?"
"Really?!" Beth asked. Riley looked at me with a small scowl.
"Sure….."
On the outside he acted angry, but I could tell he loved the kids like they were his real niece and nephew. I looked at the scene in front of me as I sipped my coffee, and felt a smile tug at the corners of my mouth.
If only I'd known at that moment that everything would be turned upside down only 2 days later with the most unusual discovery….
--
Date:
March 21st, 2012
Days after Outbreak:
Outbreak Day
Riley came downstairs, looking rather confused and worried. The twins had just gone down for naps, though it was against their will.
"Ben, turn on the news."
"Why?" I asked, marking the page in book.
"I think you should take a look at this." He answered.
I did as he asked and flipped on the television.
"Dr. Joseph Blackwell, who recently developed a vaccine that was believed to cure all illness, now believes that this vaccine has actually created a virus. All 20 test people, plus nearly 50 others around the world that the vaccine was not tested on have been exhibiting strange symptoms such as fevers that rise and plummet quickly and complete loss of color in the skin, causing this disease to be named 'White Fever'. Doctors all around the world are stunned by the quickly rising number of people contracting this disease, and they have no idea how this disease is transmitted. We will give you more in formation on this topic as it becomes available."
Riley switched off the TV and looked at me. I just sat in the chair, as if I were paralyzed.
"This is very unusual." I admitted finally.
"Unusual?" Riley asked, as if he couldn't believe his own ears. "Ben, this is a crisis! Some disease has been unleashed on the world by some doctor who obviously had no idea what he was doing, and it's been transmitted to 50 extra people, and the world's greatest doctors don't even know how! Plus, if it was just created, there's no cure! This could end up like that horror movie!"
"I'm sure it's not that serious, Riley." I reasoned.
"Not that serious?" He repeated again. He threw his hands up in the air then headed back upstairs.
"Where are you going?" I asked as he walked away.
"Research, Ben. Research."
--
Date:
March 24th, 2012
Days after Outbreak :
3
"Daddy?" I heard a weak call from down the hall that morning as I first awoke. I shook off the cobwebs of sleep and left the room, walking down the hall to where the twins slept. Beth sat up in her bed. "Daddy?"
"I'm right here sweetheart." I sat down on the edge of her bed. "What's the matter?"
"I don't feel good." I looked at her closely. Her face looked rather pale. I placed my hand on her forehead.
"You do feel warm." I murmured. "Stay right here and lie down. I'll get the thermometer." She nodded weakly, laying her head down on her pillow. I walked into the bathroom when heard a door open and close in the hall.
"What are you doing, Ben?" Abigail asked me. "Something wrong?"
"I think Beth's got a bit of a fever. I'm just going to take her temperature." I assured her.
"Ben?" She asked cautiously. "You don't think it could be that fever, do you?"
"No, probably not. She gets sick a lot, I'm sure it's nothing serious." I attempted to reassure her, but I could still see her forehead creased with concern.
"I'm going to make a doctor's appointment just in case." Abigail said, and I heard her footsteps walking down the hallway and downstairs. I went back to Beth's room and put in the thermometer. A few seconds later, the device beeped. I pulled it out.
"100.6. That's not so bad. I'll get you some medicine." I patted the top of my daughter's head and walked back to the bathroom. As I dug around in the medicine cabinet, I could hear Abigail talking to her softly.
...strange symptoms such as fevers that rise and plummet quickly and complete loss of color in the skin…
That couldn't possibly be it. Could it? I shook the thought from my head and walked back into the bedroom with some medicine for her fever. Abigail had already placed a damp cloth on Beth's forehead. I recognized the way Abigail was biting her lip. She often did that when she was worried.
"She has an appointment tomorrow afternoon. The receptionist said we were lucky to get an appointment at all, because a lot of people have been calling in." she said softly. I handed the little cup to my daughter, slowly drank the medicine, and then set the cup down on the table next to her bed.
"Don't you have to get ready for work?" I asked quietly as I headed towards the bedroom door.
"I think I'm going to stay home today. I've been working a lot lately." She replied. I nodded at her.
…complete loss of color in the skin...
I turned back to look at Beth. She did look rather pale for a common fever. I shook my head again. Riley's paranoia must have been getting to me. Ever since he'd seen that report a few days ago, all he seemed to talk about was the numbers concerning the fever.
I softly shut the bedroom door behind so I wouldn't wake Tommy, who seemed to have slept through the entire conversation.
As Abigail headed downstairs to make breakfast, I went back into our bedroom and got dressed for the day.
I had no idea at that time what would happen over the next few week, but I have often wished that I had. If only I could've known what would befall my family. If only I'd known….
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Any thoughts on this account?