Loud, motor-like snoring echoed through a cell phone. Belonging to a sleeping patient as her head lay beside it. Its screen still on, showing the source of the snoring. A partial view of a sleeping boy’s face.
“Should we wake them?” A nurse, already fitted in her protective equipment, hesitates to open the door to the patient’s room.
Behind the nurse, stood a shorter doctor also suited in her protective layers. “Either open the door Nurse Rue, or I push you through it.”
Rue bit her lip, then replied: “And a good morning to you, Doctor Isla.” Rue exhales out, then enters the patient’s room. Bright lights activate above and fill the room with harsh light. Apart from the tangled mess of cedar-colored hair that spills over the white bed sheet. The entire room was like a plain canvas. If it weren’t for the crowd of tech around the hospital bed beeping away, the room would be completely silent.
A tranquil melody played over the device. No doubt the reason both fell asleep on a call. The closer they got, Rue could see a red hair tie within the patient's grip.
Such a little thing had the greatest sentimental value…
“Can’t we come back?” Nurse Rue hesitates when they approach the bed. “The patient deserves rest, especially after yesterday’s events.” Rue looked to Doctor Isla who delivered a venomous glare.
“I decide what my patient needs, Ms. Rue.” Isla says in a hard tone. “What Cole needs is thorough and consistent care. She is one of six surviving patients, and this is the last hospital standing between Liberty Island and Malibu... Cole is one of thousands suffering. Most of the medical professionals we knew have contracted the disease and are useless now or dead."
Nurse Rue turned her gaze to the floor when Isla mentioned the others. Then she lifted her gaze again, finding a pair of cloudy gray eyes staring up at her and Isla.
“This contagion will be the end of mankind if we stop what we are doing." Isla turns and starts to prep, unaware that Cole was awake, shaking fearfully in her spot.
“Cole?” A voice interrupts just when the snoring ceased. “What’s going on? Why are there people in your room?”
Cole was about to speak when the doctor spoke for her. “My patient is undergoing treatment. Talk to her later." Isla hits the 'End Call' button before the boy could say anything more. “Now, Cole…” she exhales and turns to find her tools. “Let’s start this.”
Cole’s gray eyes met Rue’s soft brown ones, just as the treatment began. It was a look that weakened her every time. The same look the other five patients gave before the process…
--
“There...” Nurse Rue carefully sets Cole in bed after helping her to the bathroom. She may not be particularly tall or strong, but she could lift Cole. “We got through another day, baby dove”. She whispers, moving the wild hair away from the patient’s face. Earning a soft sigh from the patient as she relaxes.
Cole remained silent as Rue tucks her in. Rue could understand the drained look she wore and didn’t try to press her to talk. “You’re leading the battle now... so don’t go fading on us yet. You’re almost through it”. Rue whispers before leaving.
Cole was already drifting into sleep when the door was shut. Sounds of rushing water and crinkles of plastic were faintly heard. A normal thing to hear while the nurse cleaned up. At the same time, a ringing tune played from Cole’s phone. She knew it was him calling again, but Cole couldn’t bring herself to answer it.
She was minutes into sleep, when a violent crash shatters the peace.
Crash!
“Oh my god…”
A loud metallic clash rang through the hospital. It stirs awake every patient on the 37th floor. Cole sat up, eyes darting around as she tries to see through bleary vision. “Rue?” She called out but heard no answer. Cluttered noises echo beyond the locked door. Seconds later, it's followed by screams and several bright red flashes.
“Oh my god…” She hears a gasp that turns into a scream. “No! Oh god!”
“R-Rue?” Cole shivers as she slips out of bed. The lights were no longer white, instead, Cole’s vision was a blur of red and black. A red-light flickers on and off again. Cole knew what it meant and paced with panic. Unsure of what to do.
Bang!
The unmistakable crack of a gunshot echoes. Cole gasps again as her fright doubles.
“STOP! Don’t shoot!” Someone screams. The sound makes Cole freeze, inches away from the glass door. From this distance, Cole could spot several shadows moving. Heavy footfalls rumble in the hall and screams erupt.
“Where’s everyone going?” Cole says out loud, her heart thumping with panic as Rue’s voice echoes over the other noises of commotion. “Hey asshole! There’s infected patients on this floor-”
Rue's shouts are followed by a separate scream and a clashing noise.
“AH! STOP! THAT’S OUR SUPPLY! I WON’T LET YOU TAKE I-”
Crash!
“N-No”. Cole shivered as glass shattered and a burst of gunfire cracks. Instinctively, she stoops down low. Looking up to the window, she could see the shadows of people falling, others fighting back, flashes of gunfire…
Chaos…
Then something hit the door of Cole’s room. She scattered away but could not find her bed. Cole crawls around the floorspace, until she felt the wall and pressed her back against it. Keeping herself as small as possible, she tucks her knees under her gown; close to her chest. Through noises of gunfire, she hears the chime of her phone as the same ringing tune plays again. Cole was too scared to go to it and stayed curled up, until the hospital went silent.
The lights continue to flicker red against the darkness. A distant buzz repeats over and over. Cole knew the alarm would not stop until the danger was gone.
Moments pass as silence settles, only to be broken again as a parade of footfalls tread. Crunching over shattered glass and debris.
Cole stayed frozen in her spot and listened. The footfalls were coming closer.
“There’s more on the 41st floor”. A male voice echoes. “Get it and find Doctor Isla. Don’t let her get away this time.”
“Doctor Isla?” Cole whispers to herself when the footfalls pass. A memory flashes through her mind. She remembered when Doctor Isla was attacked -months ago- by crazed attackers. A man with white hair was their leader. He left Isla with a scar across her neck. He would've taken her life, if a guard never intervened.
After a while of silence, Cole lifted her gaze and willed herself to move away from the wall. If only little by little. Cole felt around as she crawled, desperately trying to figure out the room; under intervals of red light. She observed the echoes from her left and remembered the door was there. Which meant the bed was to her right. She crawls toward the right, feeling the floor with her hands; until the tips of her fingers find another wall.
Bang!
“Ah,” Cole covers her mouth to muffle the sound that threatened to escape. A gunshot echoed near her room, followed by startled screams of other patients.
Tears well in her eyes as she thought the worst. She took a shaky breath and willed herself to move again. Cole kept going until she was close enough to see the silhouette of the bed. She crawls next to it and reaches up to grab her phone. Cole held it with shaky fingers as she dialed one of her contacts.
“Cole?” The call was answered after the first ring and a familiar face appeared on the screen.
A man, slightly younger than Cole appeared with a look of concern on his face as he sat up. He was shirtless and quickly got out of bed. Pacing the room as he questioned her. “Cole? Where are you? Why are the lights red? What is going on?”
“Oliver,” Tears spill when she opened her mouth to speak.
Bang!
Another gunshot.
Oliver froze from his pacing and stares at Cole. Panic was clear on his face. He watched as she trembled, her back against the bed while more shots echoed. One after the other.
“Oliver, s-something’s wrong. The hospital… T-There’s…” Cole took a shaky breath and continued to speak. “There’s people looking for Doctor Isla. I think it's the same people from before."
"Where's the others? Why are you alone? Can you get out?” Oliver wondered.
“I don’t know… Oliver”, Cole took another breath and then told him. “Oliver, I can’t see very well… a-and these lights are not helping… I… I don't know where to go. I d-don’t think I'll make it anywhere."
“Okay.” Oliver nods. “I understand. Rue told me about your eyes… Just…” It was Oliver’s turn to take a few breaths while he tried to keep his thoughts together. “Just don’t hang up. Okay?”
“Oliver, I need you to be my eyes. Please”. She whispers her plea, and immediately Oliver nodded and told her to hold up the phone.
With trembling arms, Cole held it up as she got to her feet again. She moved the phone around so Oliver could see the whole room. “Stop, right there... Move closer." Oliver instructed, “the door is too far away.”
“Okay”, Cole moved closer until Oliver told her to stop. “You’re in front of the door, the window is to your right."
Cole took a few steps to the right and holds the phone to the glass.
“Christ...” was his first reaction to the sight of the bloody hall floor. “C-Cole there’s so many nurses. They’re not moving." His voice got shaky the more details he gave. “I... I see... I see a doctor among them... he- he’s holding keys."
“What else?” Cole whispered eagerly, moving the phone so that more of the hall could be viewed.
"There's someone to your right. I think she's evacuating the patients."
Cole waited, holding the phone more to the right so Oliver could see.
“That one." A female voice echoed. “That door, get it open."
Clank!
Noises of metal striking metal reach Cole’s ears as Oliver explained what was happening.
“Cole? They’re... They’re breaking into room... 209... Room 209... and... there’s nine of them wearing masks."
“Room 209?” Cole repeated. “Nathaniel is in there..."
Oliver pressed his hand to the side of his face. Disbelief mixes with shock as the group hauled out loads of equipment. "Cole... they're... they're looting."
"E-" Cole was speechless and continued to listen.
“Stop!” A shout came from inside the room. The patient, a young boy, runs out and swipes a crutch from one of the deceased. He lifted it and swung, hitting a man’s shoulder.
A shot rang out, Oliver watched as the boy collapsed. Unable to blink as he spots a woman approach and stand over him. She levels her weapon again as she spots the slightest movement in his fingertips.
Bang!
"N-Nathan" Cole shivered hearing it, while Oliver’s eyes went wide. “Cole?” Panic grew in his voice, as a shadow moves in front of the window. “Cole! COLE GET AWAY FROM THE-”
Crash!
The window shatters, glass rained down like glitter as the moment stretched.
As if lightning struck, Cole was shunned backward, feeling the pain burn through her chest. Shock fills her mind while the blast filled her ears. After, there was ringing and the hard beats of her own pulse. They were in sync with the red lights, flickering on and off again. Her chest burned, while the force of the blast sends her body flying.
In her mind, flashed glimpses of people she lost. While her feet are no longer touching the floor...
The phone slips from her fingertips. A current of cedar hair pours over her face. Just before her back slams to the hard floor. Cole's small body made a loud thump. Cedar hair falls around her small face. The wild strands obscure part of her vision. While fiery hot pain sears in her chest. Blood pools beneath her frail body.
Cole’s gray eyes stare at the ceiling. Terror frozen in them as shadows enter the room.
"Recording us?" A stranger's face entered Cole's vision. He leans over her, a gun in his grip as he studied the female patient. Looking over her from head to toe. Faint breaths escape her lips. As she tried to resist the cold grip that crept up each of her limbs. The man lingering looked years older, with wild hair tousled on his head and a beard. His light hair appeared as red as the flashing lights, but Cole guessed it had to be silver. Strands of his beard dangle below his chin as he speaks. His voice is gentle at first, and slightly husky. The stranger’s eyes are a deep dark, like looking in a bottomless pit. They wander over her vulnerable figure, taking in the sight of her dying state. In the corners of her vision, Cole vaguely spots four others. They wander the room in silence. "Little girl. What were you recording? Uh? You doing that for your friend...? Can’t you see, she’s abandoned you? Just like the others. Just like my boy...” He says with a hint of pain and resentment i
"You…" Cole breathes in and out, calming her heart which was beating too fast for her to focus. "You said you were a doctor." She mentioned."Y-Yes." Vincent reaches into his back pocket. "I can show you."Cole tensed, but when Vincent took out his work badge and wallet her shoulders relaxed. "Look", Vincent spoke as he held up the badge. "That's me… Vincent Lance."She studied the badge with her eyes. His name and picture were on it. "Saint Hallman?" Cole read the top of the badge. "Saint Hallman's Hospital was destroyed four years ago." She looked at him curiously, remembering how the building glowed in the night. Like a torch against the night sky, Saint Hallman burned while Cole and Doctor Isla viewed the horror from the safety of a helicopter."You were there?" Cole wore a look of disbelief."Yes." Vincent pressed his lips together after admitting it."Then you knew a doctor…" Cole hesitated, then decided to describe the doctor. "She's not very tall… Brown hair, long, usually wit
"Cole?" A voice echoes in the darkness of her mind. Slowly luring her back to consciousness. Cole opens her eyes partway to see a worried young boy leaning over. A plastic rod in his hand, he pokes at her thigh as if checking to see if she was alive. "Hey. Can you hear me?"The patient tilts her head, looking through foggy vision to see there were others entering."What the fuck happened, Tuck?" Eris says when he sees the patient."I don't know, man. I just found her I swear." Tuck says."Fuck, I don’t need this right now." She hears Eris grumble while he steps away. Cole thought both of them were going to leave, when he re-entered the bathroom with a pink throw blanket. "Hey kid." Eris speaks softly, despite the clear annoyance in his gaze. "Let me help you up."Cole's gray eyes peek to see Eris extend his arm toward her. His tall frame shadows Cole's smaller form as her eyes fill with dread. Cole's heart beats harder the more he neared. Reeling to the surface, the memory of their fi
"She's asleep..." Vincent whispers to a curious Eris, who re-entered the room with a tray of food.“Great", Eris sighs, "An hour in the kitchen and two flights of stairs...""Guess there'll be leftovers". Vincent whispers as he tucks in the patient. Carefully gathering her long hair with his hands, before slipping on a hair tie. This allowed him more access to her neck as he wipes away the perspiration on her pale skin with a clean towel. "She's got a temperature of 110." He tells Eris, wiping away the sweat from her face as well."Infection?" Eris wonders."It's too early to tell. For now, let's let her sleep." Vincent decides.The pair exit the bedroom, turning off lights as they went, and washing up in an adjacent room. A single bedroom made into two… Modified to fit the living requirements of a fragile patient and prevent the risks of a domestic outbreak. Time passes as the pair vigorously clean and prep for the next day.Only when they part from the purgative room and enter the h
Cole sat up in bed, her pulse beating wildly as her gray eyes look around the pitch-black room. Sweat leaking down her forehead. Travelling down the curve of her neck and soaking into the collar of her gown. She lifts her right arm, trying to locate the bedside lamp when the noise comes again.Bang!She jolts in her spot, and immediately recognizes the noise as a gunshot. This time there was no mistaking it.Dread poured over her body, flooding down to the tips of her fingers and toes. She trembled uncontrollably, her gray eyes watering as she could not think of what to do.Cole stayed put for the duration of the silence that followed. Until a multitude of footfalls echo past her bedroom. She finally slipped from bed. Sliding off the side of the mattress and onto the cool tiled floor. Cole shifted her gaze toward the bedroom window. Observing the ray of pale moonlight that filled a spot on the floor. Then to the right of it. She could faintly see the pile of luggage in the corner of t
Eris's voice comes from Vincent's radio as he says something in his native language. Cole listened curiously as Vincent responded, chatting back and forth until Eris finished. Saying: "Entendi, obrigado." "You're so quiet…" Vincent observes, while he carefully wraps her shoulder with new bandages. "Are you in any pain?" He wondered. A look of concern surfacing in his green eyes again. Cole secretly thought his round eyes resembled a timid stray pup. How can a grown man look so… adorable? She stares senselessly into the pair of eyes, admiring the lush green of them. "Cole?" Vincent blinks nervously as he stops what he's doing to look at his patient. "I want to know what's going on", he whispers, "but… it's kinda hard when you don't talk." Cole shifted her gaze at last. Pretending to find the bathroom floor interesting, before she comes up with an answer. "I… It's just… you're so different from Isla… More…" Cole struggles when the heat rises to her cheeks. "More… what?" Vincent's
"I- I am wearing gl-gloves." Cole barely manages to get out. Rambling: "It's only cards. Tuck assured me they were sterile. He even brought me this bed-tray, so nothing touched the sheets…" Vincent looks at his patient in silence. Shifting his gaze to the cards, which were set on a firm bed table, and Cole was indeed wearing latex gloves too… With a deep breath, Vincent set the food aside. "Alright…" He speaks softly, the crease between his brows slowly disappears as he neared. "Let me take that so you can have your meal." Cole glanced one last time before setting the cards down. The doctor seemed calm… at least that's how he appeared now. "Leave the gloves too." Vincent points with his eyes, to which Cole understood and discarded them. She watched as Doctor Lance took the table and set it with the other items. Then he brought her the food, carefully putting it on the bed where she could reach. "It’s not a five-star meal so… if you don't like it, don't eat it." He says, turning to
Before the sun rose on the horizon, Eris was up. He sat in his office chair, eyes glued to the current document he was reading. With his free hand he took notes on a pad. Listing all of Cole's past symptoms and the recurrences of them. After, Eris researched the incident reports written by Rue. He listed those by date and a brief description of the incident. Next, Eris began sifting through the patient's lab results. And finally, he reviewed Cole's cognitive tests. Which were performed daily as Cole never seemed to suffer the more severe symptoms. "She's strong, she wants to live." Doctor Isla says on a recorded log. Which Eris played out of curiosity. The conference video showed Doctor Isla in plain clothes. She was sitting in her own living room, while talking to an interviewer. Other unnamed individuals were a part of the virtual conference, but only their names appeared below. "What was going through your head when you took her in as a child?" An interviewer asks. "She needs m