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The Weekend

"Actually, I'm thinking of running a few more tests, since the ones I ran yesterday were negative. I was in the cafeteria getting some coffee when it dawned on me to run tests for known diseases to see if they could have been the catalyst for the plague. Want to join me?"

"Sure. What else do I have to do?"

Ted and I head for the lab when suddenly the fire alarm rings. We look at each other, and I say, "What the hell! A fire! Come on, Ted, let's get down to the main floor and see what the hell's going on." The both of us run to the exit and jump down the stairs. We didn't have far to go to reach the main floor.

Once we were there, other CDC employees were already gathered around the information counter wondering what's happening. I lift my hand up for all to see and say, "Everyone, the front door shutters are open. Please exit the building, now. I don't know what's going on, but please, for your safety, get outside." Of course, everyone begins to moan because of the bitter cold and snow.

After ten minutes of standing out in the blizzard, a guard opens the door and tells us that everything is fine and that we can now re-enter. The CDC employees mumble and make comments wondering what set off the fire alarm. I see a guard and ask, "Is there a fire?" The guard takes my arm and pulls me from the crowd and whispers, "Dr. Bennett, you need to get to the lab. Something's happened there." I look at the guard and walk calmly towards the stairs to get to the lab. Ted sees me and runs to catch up.

"What's up, John?" Ted asks.

"The guard said something's happened in the lab. Don't look suspicious, Ted. I don't want the people to see what's going on. Okay?" I reply softly to his question. Not saying another word, Ted and I walk calmly to the lab.

When we reach the lab, the alarm light continues to flash. We look into the anteroom and notice that two hazmat suits are missing. Ted asks, "Who's in there, John?"

I continue to look through the glass, and quietly reply, "I don't know, Ted." The both of us continue to peer through the glass, when suddenly, we hear glass breaking inside the lab. After a few seconds, the lab door opens and we see someone suited up enter the anteroom. Mist bellows out from the lab as the door opens and quickly shuts. Ted and I stand still, hoping that whoever is standing before us is not contaminated.

The person exiting the lab begins to remove their helmet. Ted looks scared and stands close to the exit. I continue to wait to see who the mystery person is. After struggling with their helmet, they finally remove it from their head.

"Julie?" I say, surprised.

"John, Ted, good to see you both. So, how have you two been, and I can see you're both shocked to see me."

"Shocked? More like how in the hell did you get in here?" I ask.

Julie sets the helmet down on the table and begins to unzip her suit. As we wait for Julie to finish removing her protective covering, I nudge Ted on his arm and nod my head towards the lab window. Ted looks over and notices that the mist is nearly gone and sees that someone else is still inside. Ted rushes over to the lab window and says, "Who the hell is that, Julie? Are they dead?" Ted is impatient and wants Julie to answer him. "Well?" Ted asks.

"Yes, Ted. They're dead. Unfortunately, they were clumsy in doing their research and became infected."

"Who is that, Julie?" I demand.

"It's just a lab technician, John. Not anyone of real importance. They were the reason the alarm went off. When they became infected, they fell against the fire alarm causing it to go off. I need a hazmat team up here to remove the body."