Infernal Friday.
That term is so natural now. It's actually funny to me. Because I remember how the term was first coined for that cursed day. It was a fluke, really. I was trying to be dramatic with the current trouble that was rapidly consuming the United States. I wanted to make it as big as possible, because it was the juiciest story I'd been given to date. And yes, that was what was on my mind. Not the victims, not the families, just the story I was going to tell about it. The day the infection swept across the country, I didn't give one thought to anyone suffering because of that damn super-virus. I didn't care at the moment.
What was really bad was that the reason I got the story is because the best reporters had all fallen ill as a result of the virus. I knew that, and all I could think about was the fact that this story may be the one to get me noticed. Nice, huh?
I was a selfish bitch, and deep down, I think I always knew that. Hell, I think I still am. Always, my thoughts were focused on myself and on my career. Nothing more, really. With the exception of occasional thoughts of my family, and even those were rarer than I'd ever like to admit. But it's true.
By all rights, I should be dead. With all the circumstances, the odds, I know I should be dead in the ground. Or... the alternative. But not alive.
Yet, I'm still here.
Maybe that's why I'm still alive. Because I'm meant to suffer for my lack of compassion, my selfish and cold ways, my shallow life. Perhaps my surviving this whole thing was karma's way of kicking me straight in the ass, right down to hell. I wouldn't be shocked.
Because all those who died? Man, do they have it easy.
Friday, April 13, 2012
10:00 p.m.
"Seriously? Really! Josh, that's... well, not great ‘cause they're sick, but that is fantastic you're giving me this chance." Riley paused to listen to her station's producer as she drove down the roads of Tampa. "I'm on it. I'm not too far from Tampa General anyway. Get some rest; you sound awful. Tell Mare I hope she feels better!" She clicked off the Bluetooth clipped to her ear and flipped her Jeep in a sharp U-turn with a smile. She had just landed the best story she'd ever gotten.
"I can't believe my luck," she mused to herself. "Everyone else is either on location or sick themselves. What is going on, anyway?" The news, for part of the day, had been reporting that there had been some strange jets up along the east coast, specifically around Washington, D.C. Then came news of a strange new illness sweeping the northeastern part of the country. Today was actually supposed to have been her day off, but mostly, as she’d done some errands, she’d kept the news station on her radio so she could keep up with what was going on.
That was until about 4:00 p.m. Suddenly, there was no news being told. No one was able to get in contact with anyone up north. Even stations like CNN that were set up in cities like New York and even Washington D.C. went off the air, with only the Atlanta headquarters left to deliver any news. And they kept repeating how they couldn't contact their sister stations. You could turn on any cable station news show, radio station, anything stationed further north than Georgia or the Carolinas, and you'd get either dead air or a blank screen. It was a media blackout unlike anything Riley had ever seen. One that would probably scare her if she wasn't so focused on the fact this could really make her career.
Many were falling ill, and fast. No one had seen anything like it. Definitely headline or top story worthy, and it was hers. Riley was a bit concerned that she would catch it like her colleagues had, but that was overridden by the fact that she wouldn't get another shot like this. Not anytime soon, anyway, perhaps not ever. At that very thought, her foot pressed down harder on the gas pedal, and she felt herself accelerate.
After driving a bit, Riley also turned her Bluetooth right back on, as she dialed a familiar number. She had to call. "Dad? Oh..." Her face fell as she got the answering machine. "Dad, it's Ri. Look, do me a favor. Stay HOME. Don't leave the house. Tell the boys that, too, for me. I don't know what's going on. But some bug... it's bad, I'm hearing. I don't want you guys getting it, okay? So... please, when you hear this, stay home. I love you... bye." She sighed in defeat. Well, she’d tried. And she would again later, just to be sure.
The young blonde tried turning on the radio, just for some music to fill the air, and was surprised to find nothing but static on the local stations. She thumped her radio once as she stopped at a red light. "Jeez, what gives?" Riley muttered, with thoughts that it was just her radio that had problems. Whatever had caused the blackout up north couldn't be happening down there in Florida, could it? No, no way, she tried to convince herself. Whatever happened up there is different.
"Oh, forget it." And she plugged in her iPod, switching it on to Hinder. She beat her head to the music as she continued down the road. The streets were oddly still, especially for a Friday night. Usually, all the college students were out and about, since the college didn't sit too far from the hospital. Riley's sharp, blue eyes glanced around warily at the empty streets. She felt like she was living in a ghost town.
Research tonight, and the story would air tomorrow. It sounded perfect to her as she finally pulled into the parking lot of Tampa General Hospital. After she grabbed her recorder and camera, she climbed out of her car. Swift, confident strides carried her through the large doors of the facility.
Riley wasn't prepared for what she saw.
What she saw was death, or at least the doorway to it. The hospital was in chaos, no one able to truly help the ailing the way they should be helped. People were lying on the floor, having sporadic convulsions. Many were covered with festering, deep violet lesions that oozed a darker fluid. What truly disturbed her was the sight of one patient foaming at the mouth, like he had rabies. Something animals were supposed to have, not people. She saw a doctor collapse before her eyes and nurses rush to help the man as they coughed heavily themselves.
And what did she do?
Riley simply just turned on her camera.
