A Cure for the World. Sample from Twisted Tales of Terror

A Cure for the World I removed the needle from my arm and sighed, relieved that I’d finally developed the right serum. So long had I been stuck in my homemade lab trying to find the right formula. Those idiots I worked for at Biotropy had fired me for not following company procedures. They had other plans for my research, but I had my own agenda. They said I was self-destructive and walked me out. What did they know? Everyone in the world would see what I had created, and understand what I’d accomplished. I smiled and blotted the blood off of my arm with a cotton ball, certain that everything would be fine. I’d really done it this time; the lab rats reacted favorably to the final tests I performed. Stupid assholes at Biotropy had no idea I had snuck several samples out from under their noses. But what did it matter? This was my creation. And I’d use it how I originally intended. I sat down and felt the warmth of the injected liquid coursing through my body. Just relax and let it do the job. I’ve discovered the cure for mankind. I couldn’t wait to share it with the world. Suddenly my blood felt like it was boiling. Sweat poured down my face. I screamed in agony, dropped to the floor and began to convulse. “Take the pain; this is for the good of mankind,” I moaned out loud and then passed out. When I woke, my body screamed with aches. I pulled myself up off the floor. Fever had set in, and my legs wobbled as I walked. Looking up at the clock on the wall, I saw that I’d been passed out for the entire evening. Hints of sunlight beamed though the curtains. I smacked my lips. They were dry; I needed something to drink. It took me a while in my weakened state to make it up the basement stairs. Once in the kitchen, I poured myself a glass of water and hungrily consumed it. I noticed that my hand had red splotches on it. I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. They were all over my body. Already. That was fast, I thought. Still burning up, I splashed cool water on my face. My long black hair was making the heat worse, so I pulled it back into a ponytail. I noticed my eyes had developed reddish lines around the irises. How strange; I had never noticed this symptom. My clothes were covered in sweat, so I decided to change before I went out. Time to let them know about my discovery. I tried to drive as fast as I could, but my eyesight was getting blurry. I wondered if this was normal. I pulled the car over and got out. At least I’d made it downtown. So many people were walking around at this time of day. I began to walk as well. The sidewalk was so packed with people that I kept brushing up against others and would graze their hands with mine. Some people looked at me strangely, probably because the blotches on my hands had gotten worse. I’m sure my face looked the same. My throat began to burn and fill up with mucus. I started to cough like crazy, and saliva flew into the air. More people began to look at me. This was all happening so fast. I had to make it to Biotropy. I kept walking and bumping into crowds of people; it was a game of human bumper cars. I laughed a little. I wiped the mucus away with my hand as it dripped out of my nose. One man looked at me with disgust. I reached out for him, and he backed away. I needed help to get to the lab, because my eyes were watering so much as to impair my vision. I coughed harder. Someone spoke to me. “Do you need some help?” It was a male voice. “Yes, please. I’m trying to make it to Biotropy labs. Can you help me?” I asked. He took my hand and guided me. He spoke, but I did not listen to his words until he asked me, “Is this the place?” I could barely see the front of the building. My legs went numb, and I fell to the ground. The stranger asked if I was OK. I could feel a wedding ring on his hand. “I’m here, thank you. Go home to your wife and kiss her,” I said. He released his hand from mine, and I smiled. I could hear a familiar voice. “Ms. Smith, are you OK? It’s Hal from the front desk. I saw you as I was walking into the building.” I was coughing like crazy as Hal tried to help me up. Someone yelled, “Dial nine-one-one!” Then I blacked out. I woke up in a hospital bed and could hear people chattering. I gathered that they had no idea what was wrong with me. I tried to lift my head and could see blurry images of other patients around me in the ER. I coughed again and tasted blood in my throat. I moaned. The pain was so bad I could hardly take it anymore. The nurse put a needle in my arm, and I started to feel numb. I was glad; the pain was getting to be too much. Trying to remember … Did I make it to the lab? Then a memory flashed of Hal helping me. I remember him walking back into the lab after he’d had contact with me. Good, I thought. I was let go from the lab because of the kind of research I was doing with a virus. This particular virus had almost killed off an entire monkey species. My co-workers discovered that I was trying to create a form of it that would infect humans. The virus in monkeys had no cure: 100% airborne and lethal, except in the case of a few monkeys that had a natural immunity. Biotropy had no idea that I had taken samples home and created a virus that would cleanse this wretched world. We needed a cure for the human race and a fresh start. I had infected enough people today to cause a world pandemic. They had no idea what I had unleashed upon the world. I laughed as I began choking on my blood. As I faded away, I could hear someone say, “She’s delusional and laughing from the fever.” If they only knew. Soon the world would know.