Viral Smile

Over two weeks into the virus outbreak, 15 days to be exact, and we are finally running out of food. I am trapped in my apartment with my husband, somehow living off of ramen noodles and bottled water. The water shut off last week and we suspect the electricity is soon to follow.

"Honey, we need to leave. Soon. Who knows how long this virus will last, and ramen noodle cups cannot be the only thing we eat," Daniel says. 

"But... But Tyler's still outside," I reply, looking at the front door. 

Around a week into this terrible outbreak, our son left to get some food. No matter how much I begged and pleaded with him, he left the safety of our home. Hours later, and Tyler is banging on the door. I peered into the peephole only to see something, or someone, biting into his arm. The bag of groceries falls to the floor as he tried to wrestle whoever it was off of him. But then, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed. Unable to tear my eyes away from the peephole, I stood, stunned for a little while longer. Tyler eventually got up, but his eyes told me that he had changed. This virus had taken ahold of my son. His eyes which had been a stunning blue, like his father's, had turned completely white, with no trace of any colour left over. Then, he started banging his head against the door, still trying to get inside. “If you stay inside I can deal with him and we can be on our way,” Daniel suggests, pulling me out of my memories. 

“And what are you going to do, kill him?” I exclaim. “What about after? Where are we going to go?” 

As if to offer a solution to at least one of my questions, the radio suddenly turns on to a nation-wide broadcast. “As of the start of this broadcast, all major hospitals are open as a free refuge to escape this virus. 

“Accommodations include bedding and food. Upon entry, there will be a body search as well as a blood test to ensure the virus has not already entered your body. You are allowed access on a first-come, first-served basis, so get to a hospital as quickly as possible. 

“On one last note, by command of the federal government, most buildings will be shutting off water and hydro soon if it has not already occurred. Have a good evening, and stay safe.”

Giving me an apologetic look, Daniel speaks, “Just stay inside, Kristina. I’ll be quick.” 

Almost on command, the apartment lights turn off as he walks to the door with his fingers tightly gripped around the handle of Tyler’s baseball bat. As soon as he is out the door, I hear a gasp followed by a thud. After what feels like forever, when the front door opens once more, Daniel walks back in. “You heard the radio. We need to get to the hospital before they fill up. Grab a knife, too. You never know.” 

Hearing the urgency in his voice shocked me back to reality, and I stuff my phone in my back pocket, heading to the kitchen. I grab a butcher knife and make my way out of the apartment, and onto the stairs where Daniel was waiting. Unfortunately, we live on the 10th floor and, with the power shut down, we have to walk down. Luckily, the nearest major hospital is about a 30-minute walk away.

Making our way down the staircase, I peer into the window leading to the 8th floor. Beside the window, a woman is being devoured by someone infected. Directly underneath the window, I see baby stroller with little hands reaching out. The woman spots me looking at her baby, and the look in her eyes screams back at me. Silently, she mouths a few words that mean the world to her, knowing that she was unable to accomplish her goal. “Help my baby.” 

I look back at Daniel, who is almost on the 7th floor, and I know what to do. Being cautious not to attract the attention of the zombie-like creature, I creak the door open and roll the baby stroller towards myself. Once the stroller is in the staircase, I shut the door and look back at the woman. Or what was left of her at least. Even if she wasn't there to thank me, I could imagine the gratitude on her face. Picking up the baby, I rush down the stairs all the while trying to hush them. 

“I couldn’t just leave a helpless baby all alone,” I quickly explain to Daniel when he questions why I have a baby with me all of a sudden. 

Soon we reach the ground floor and look into the hallway. It is crawling with infected people. Daniel appears shocked for a brief moment before turning to me. “I am going to distract them by running to the opposite staircase. You need to get out and into the car,” he begins to explain as he hands me the car keys. “It’s parked right outside and it should have enough gas to get you the hospital.” 

When I don’t respond, Daniel hugs me tighter than he ever had before. “I love you, Kristina. I always have.” With that, he kisses me and opens the door. 

I watch him run, being chased by what seemed like hundreds of people and a path to the car opens up. Not wanting his sacrifice to go to waste, I dash towards the car with the baby in my arms and keys in my hand. 

When I finally shut the door to the car with me and the baby inside, I take a moment to recover. I look back towards the apartment, hoping to see Daniel walk towards me. But that doesn’t happen. 

Eventually, with the baby in my lap, I pull out of the parking lot as quickly as I can as to not draw attention to myself. As I make my way towards to hospital, I see people lining the streets. But they all look dazed and upon further inspection, they seem to be infected. Not a single car other than mine is on the road so it is a quick trip down to the hospital. 

Once the hospital is in sight, I decide to take a look in my rearview mirror. To my horror, there is a horde of people trailing after the car. I speed up to reach the hospital faster and drive into the parking lot. Only it’s not a normal parking lot anymore. To get into the lot, I had to pass through a tall metal gate which led to a long white tunnel, presumably into the hospital. 

“Please step out of the car. You must continue to the hospital on foot for us to check you over to ensure you are not infected.” instructs someone in decked out in a hazmat suit. I get out of the car with the baby in my arms. 

Just as I am about to enter the tunnel, I hear a crash behind me. Turning around, tears begin to well in my eyes. I thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of me on the street, smiling at me. Or at least it seemed like it. The blue in his eyes was gone and now look white, just as Tyler’s had looked when he became infected. The man I was married to, planned to spend all my life with is gone. 

With that thought, I walk towards the man in the hazmat suit and hand him the baby in my arms. “That is my husband. I can’t continue,” I say regretfully. “Make sure the baby gets in safely.” 

Carefully, I open the metal gate and slide through, looking back towards the hospital one last time. Even though I know it will be the last thing I do, I cannot resist hugging Daniel before he bits into my shoulder. I begin to see black and then I feel myself lose consciousness.