Chapter 10 - Virus
Clarissa observed the hospital records of those who had died in ward 7. There was nothing linking them together other than the fact that they all died within an hour of each other as a result of irreparable and fatal damage to various internal organs. The fault couldn't be with any of the hospital resources - none of the other wards had been affected. The only option she could think of was a viral infection, but where did it come from and why did it only affect this ward?
A forensics assistant approached Clarissa with various objects in plastic bags.
"You're the lawyer for Nicholas Black, right?"
"Yes, that would be me."
"Ah, finally. You have no idea how difficult it is to identify people in these suits... Anyway, we have some evidence we were meant to give you a while ago. Take what you can back to your office and we'll give the rest to you later." The assistant sounded all too happy to have the collection given to someone else to look after.
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Miles lay in bed, watching the soft glow of the morning light paint the city a shining gold. Amber lay next to him, breathing softly. He smiled. He could have wished for nothing more at this point.
"Miles..." Amber turned to stare him in the face.
"What is it, my dear?"
"Have you ever felt like you want something more in life? Like you have everything you wanted buy you get... well... bored of it?" Paranoia set into Miles' mind again, refusing to let go.
"...What do you mean? What am I doing wrong...?"
"It's not you, it's my life in general. What I'm trying to say is that I'm going away for a few weeks to sort out my thoughts. I don't know where I'm going, I don't know when I'll be back, all I know is that I will return someday." Miles put his arms around Amber's slim figure.
"And I'll be waiting for you when you do," he whispered. Amber laughed.
"You can be so cheesy sometimes."
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Darke stalked through the corridors of his company headquarters, Sunlight Pharmaceuticals. The newspaper he held could destroy his reputation, taking his very life down with it. That fool of an executive would pay for his stupidity.
The door crashed open as Darke prepared to direct his fury at the executive.
"MARSHALL!" The executive hurriedly stubbed out the cigarette in his hand.
"D-Darke... I have to say I wasn't expec-"
"What is the meaning of this?!" Darke threw the half-folded newspaper at the executive's desk. Marshall looked at the article:
"5 dead at Minerva Hospital
5 patients at the Intensive care unit in Minerva Hospital died yesterday in mysterious circumstances. Forensics suspect a viral infection, but have no conclusive evidence. The victims were linked only by..."
"You sent one of those 'infect' tags, didn't you, Steven Marshall?"
"I only wanted to see if the virus would work as well as we said it would. After all, we need more cadavers for our research, do we not?" Darke glared at him.
"We can find more 'cadavers' in any backstreet gutter, Marshall. I gave you a second chance at life and you repay me by blowing our cover?" Darke paused. "You sicken me. I feel tempted to break your sphere, drain your life force and-"
"Don't give me any of that crap, Michael!" Marshall appeared shocked at his own outburst. He quickly resumed his usual calm manner. "You know it's all a sham, this 'life-force' shit. Even if you were to break 'my' sphere, you would kill yourself as well. To kill me would be suicide." Darke stood silently by Marshall's desk.
"I don't think you have fully considered what I could do with the results I have gained from our experiments. Don't think that I share everything with my closer subordinates." Darke began to walk towards the door. "Don't screw up again, Marshall. You may encounter a fate worse than having your sphere broken if you do."
As the door closed, Marshall lit up another cigarette to calm his nerves. His hands were shaking uncontrollably.
End chapter 10