"Kim!" Kayla yelled into her end of the phone line as she heard a crashing noise on the other end. She could hear sounds on the other end, including painful cries for help, but Kim didn't respond. "Kim!" Kayla repeated, but there was no answer. She closed her eyes for a moment and then her training took over.
She hung up the phone, whirled around, and pointed at one of the nurses standing nearby. "Tell the trauma center we have a reported toxin attack at the Spectator. Tell them to prepare for multiple victims and they better have quarantine areas set up."
The nurse stared at her for a moment. "Go!" Kayla yelled. "Now!" The nurse nodded and moved quickly towards the trauma center.
Kayla took a deep breath and looked down at the receptionist at the desk. "Call 911 and tell them about the report of the toxin attack. Tell them we need all available paramedics and ambulances to assist."
The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone. Kayla could hear the woman making the report as she ran towards the stairwell.
Saying a quick prayer for Kim and the other victims, Kayla ran down the stairs to the immunology lab. She prayed that Carly was already there, so she wouldn't have to be tracked down. Kayla didn't have time to waste.
When she reached the lab, she automatically began entering her code into the door lock, then cursed when she remembered she no longer had clearance. Kayla then began pounding on the door, hoping that somebody would answer.
After a few seconds, Carly opened the door. "Kayla," Carly said, clearly surprised. "What is going on?"
Pushing her way in and ignoring the surprised looks from the workers in the lab, Kayla rushed directly towards Carly's office. "Kim called," she said over her shoulder as she moved. "There's been a toxin attack at the Spectator. We need to get the antidote and get over there."
"Oh my god," she heard Carly say behind her. When they reached the office, Carly opened the door and immediately began gathering boxes off the shelves behind her desk. As they gathered the boxes, Carly said, "The antidote is already in pre-measured doses. They are measured out for an adult at an average weight of 150 pounds." Carly paused. "But there is no guarantee it will work, you know."
Kayla nodded grimly. "I know. But right now, it's the best chance we have."
Carly nodded in return. As they headed through the lab, Carly told Brian Rothschild, the other researcher, and the lab workers to take the remaining boxes of anti-venom to the trauma center and get them on a truck to the Spectator. Those orders delivered, she followed Kayla out the lab and they carried their boxes up the stairs. As they ran through the trauma center to exit the building, Kayla could see people frantically working to prepare for casualties.
"Kayla!" she heard the shout behind her and slowed. Neil Curtis was running toward her. "What the hell is going on?" Neil asked.
She quickly explained the phone call from Kim. "Carly and I are going to the Spectator to treat the victims. I'll call in when I have more information. Can you see that more of the antidote gets over there?"
"Okay," Neil agreed. "Be careful."
Kayla nodded and took off again. As she and Carly exited the building, she could see two paramedics running for an ambulance.
"Wait!" she called out, running towards them with Carly following. "Are you going to the Spectator?"
"Yeah," the paramedic said. "We have to go now."
"I know," Kayla agreed, reaching the ambulance. "But we're going with you."
Without waiting for a response, Kayla opened the back door of the ambulance and placed the boxes she was carrying inside. Carly followed suit and they both climbed into the back of the ambulance and closed the door. Once inside, she pounded on the side and yelled, "Let's go."
She felt the ambulance pull away and heard the sirens start. For the first time since Kim's phone call, she allowed herself to breathe. She looked over at Carly and saw her own fear and concern mirrored on Carly's face.
"Do we know how many victims there are?" Carly asked softly.
Kayla shook her head. "No. But it's a normal workday at the Spectator. Plus there are other offices in that building." She looked at the boxes. "Do you think we'll have enough antidote?"
"We have 100 doses," Carly replied. "It's going to have to be enough for the first group. We'll set up a triage outside the building. These doses will go to the most seriously affected. By the time we finish with these ones, we should have more boxes. We'll need to make sure everyone in the vicinity of the attack gets a dose just as a precautionary measure. With this stuff, we can't take any chances."
Kayla remembered the video, so she understood what Carly meant. She sighed and leaned back against the side of the ambulance. A sudden weariness washed over her and, for the first time since the call from Kim, she let herself think of Steve. She silently prayed that he was okay and then, as the ambulance screeched to a stop, pushed him out of her thoughts and focused on what she was about to face next.
As soon as the ambulance stopped, Kayla and Carly moved together to the door, opened it and jumped out. Kayla immediately heard the cries of people in pain and quickly looked around.
The Spectator parking lot was filled with people, coughing, crying, and some lying all too still. Turning back to the task at hand, she heard Carly issuing orders to the paramedics and began handing out boxes of the antidote.
Taking a box for herself, Kayla began running towards the victims closest to the building. As she ran, she kept looking for Kim. Suddenly, Kayla spotted her. Kim was lying on the ground, not far from the entrance to the building.
Running faster, Kayla quickly reached her sister's side. As she dropped down beside her, she spotted Jack and Jennifer just a few feet away.
"Kim?" Kayla called, trying to get some response from her sister. But Kim did not respond. As Kayla got closer, she could see that Kim's eyes were open and she was gasping for breath. "Kim?" Kayla repeated.
Kim's head lolled slightly. "Kay-" The word turned into a sickly cough that obviously caused her pain. Kayla could see a spasm shake Kim's chest and she cried out, but the sound came out only as a whimper. Kim looked up at Kayla. "It hurts," she breathed, her voice barely audible.
Cursing, Kayla ripped open the box and quickly pulled out the pre-measured dose. Saying a silent prayer she injected Kim, and waited, hoping for some sign the antidote was beginning to work.
"Come on, Kimmie," Kayla begged. "Don't you dare give up now."