"No," The president whispered in apprehension.
"We have to hurry up to him," Dr. Ren stated urgently.
"He's already here," A nurse announced from the door as she wheeled Cole through the door.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Just like they had been; he seemed normal, unaware of what was happening to him.
"Dad!" Cole called in relief as he saw his father.
The president marched forward and reached his son. He lowered to his sitting level and engulfed him in a tight hug.
"You'll be alright, Cole. I promise you," The president whispered.
Cole frowned, "It's alright, Dad, I'm fine; it was just a small push to the ground ."
"That's not what he meant, Cole..." Tate suddenly walked from behind.
The president stood, staring at his son with worried eyes.
Cole was confused, he looked around and discovered that everyone was staring at him with different looks in their eyes, but if there was something associated with all their looks, it was worry and fear.
"Dad...what's going on?" Cole slowly asked, his eyes going around everyone in the room, seeking answers in their stares.
"You have a scratch at the back of your ear," Cathy spoke behind him.
Cole frowned, "No, I don't... Ouch!" He winced as he touched his hand behind his ear and felt a stinging sensation.
"When did this happen and what does it mean?" He asked in a cracked voice
The president sighed and looked at Dr. Nix, who was still trying hard to comprehend the whole situation.
"We've been scratched by your colleague, Maddy, and so have you. I believe we now have some unknown virus multiplying in our system as we speak," Dr. Nix explained.
Cole could be seen shivering, goosebumps appearing all over his skin.
"Dad, Am I going to die?" Cole questioned.
"No, son, you're not going to die," The president assured.
"We don't know yet If we're going to die, but one thing's for sure; we're not going to remain the same, I feel it," Tate responded.
Ray nodded, looking at Tate and Ray.
"Cole, if you want us to find the cure to that scratch, we need to find out what it is first. From the tests, we'll determine what kind of virus it is, and hopefully, we have the cure for it," Dr. Nix informed.
Cole slowly nodded. "Okay, I understand."
"Dr. Ren, please," Dr. Kix pointed her hand to Cole.
Dr. Ren immediately understood what he was supposed to do and quickly walked over to Cole with a syringe in hand.
"I'm going to draw out some blood from you, Cole," He informed.
"Alright," Cole nodded and brought out his hand for him.
After drawing out blood into the syringe, he stood and nodded to Dr. Nix.
"Let's go, guys," Dr. Ren said to Tate.
Once again, they followed him out of the room.
Once they went out, the room was quiet for a few seconds before Cole decided to stand up from the wheelchair.
"No, no, son, you're not strong enough to-"
"He is, Mr. President, he has the scratch mark, and if I'm correct, all his wounds should have healed by now. Am I right, Cole?" Dr. Nix questioned.
She was forcing herself to get used to the weird things that were starting to happen around her.
Cole looked puzzled for a second before he slowly stood and pulled up his shirt, turning his upper body around to look behind him.
He stared at his waist and frowned, "My bruises are gone..." He murmured, looking at Dr. Nix for more explanation.
"For now, all I can tell you is that whatever virus or gene we got from that scratch has the ability to heal whatever ailment we've once had..." Dr. Nix walked over to a table and picked up her glass case.
She slowly raised her hand to her face and removed her glasses.
"This is unbelievable," She murmured as she placed the glass back into the case. She won't be needing it anymore.
"What else did you notice, Doc?" Ama asked curiously.
"Before, I dared not take off my glasses; I couldn't even see a giant even if he were standing in front of me; but now, I can see like a newborn; my visions are clearer than a 3D camera," Dr. Nix said with a chuckle in her voice.
Ama was amazed, and every other person looked at Dr. Nix like she was a weird specimen.
"As much as this whole thing is interesting, I'd like us all to see the bad side of this. What's the aftermath of this virus? Does it turn people into some kind of monster? Or does it just kill?" The president asked slowly.
He was very worried for his child.
"Yes, Mr. President, we shall start looking for the cure the moment Dr. Ren arrives with the test results," Dr. Nix cleared her throat.
She was getting excited for a second, she was glad the president reminded her of what was at hand.
"We're back," Dr. Ren walked toward Dr. Nix with an unreadable look on his face.
Everyone was eagerly staring at them as they walked back into the emergency room.
"What did you find, Dr. Ren?" Dr. Nix asked.
She turned and faced him, readying her mind for any kind of news.
Dr. Ren was about to explain when they suddenly heard a loud sneeze behind them.
"She's awake!" Cathy exclaimed and ran toward Maddy's bed.
"Hold up," Ama caught her arm and drew her back.
"I need to see how she's doing..."
"Trust me, one scratch is enough; you don't know what double of it would become," Ama shook her head at her.
Tate was staring at Maddy, observing how she was slowly stretching in bed.
"Move," Dr. Nix said to Cathy.
Cathy slowly moved out of the way as Dr. Nix and Dr. Ren walked over to Maddy's bed.
Ray came and stood beside Tate, joining him in staring at their friend, who was slowly regaining consciousness.
"Maddy, can you hear me? If you can move your left leg," Dr. Nix said.
Maddy slowly moved her left leg.
"She's conscious now," Dr. Nix announced.
"Can you open your eyes and focus on my fingers?" Dr. Ren asked cautiously.
Maddy was lying on her back with her eyes closed.
She could feel the bright light from the ceiling shining on her face, she didn't want to rush and open her eyes because she knew that the light would sting her eyes if she did.
Maddy had no idea where she was, but for some reason, she could hear different heartbeats all around her. She could sense the presence of everyone around her, and she could easily tell that her friends were in that room with her through their scents.
She was confused as to why she could suddenly feel, smell, and hear those things.
"Maddy, if you're conscious, please comply with us and open your eyes; we need to make sure you're alright," Dr. Nix spoke gently, not wanting to trigger any violent response from her.
Maddy slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry for a second as she tried to focus on the finger in front of her, but in the next second, her vision turned sharp like an eagle's.
"How many fingers do you see?" Dr. Nix asked.
Maddy smiled; she recognized the doctor. "It's two fingers, Dr. Nix..." She slowly raised herself to a sitting position.
"What's going on? I'm fine. Why is everyone staring at me like I'm some freak?" Maddy asked innocently.
Tate slowly walked toward Maddy's bed, surprise filled his eyes.
"You mean, you don't have any memories of how you got here?" Dr. Nix questioned.
Maddy shook her head, "The only thing I could remember is us trying to find our way out of the dark foggy woods...right, Tate?" She stretched her hand out to Tate.
Tate quickly went over to her, "Maddy," he held her hand tightly and scanned his eyes all over her body.
"You really don't remember what happened?" Cathy asked as she walked alongside Ray to Maddy's bed.
Maddy shook her head, "Did I do something?" She questioned.
"Wait," She removed her hand from Tate's hold and turned her wrist as if she was checking for something.
"The bite mark...it's gone. I was bitten by that man, right? That Zombie, right? Why can't I see the marks?" She suddenly panicked.
"Relax, Maddy, you have to be relaxed before we can tell you everything," Dr. Nix informed.
"Maddy," The president called from the door of her bed.
"M-Mr. P-President!" Maddy stammered as she suddenly realized that she was in the presence of the president.
"You've caused quite a commotion not to remember what you did..." The president spoke in a low tone.
Maddy lowered her face, "I'm sorry Mr. President," She apologized.
"You were infected from the bite, Maddy," Cathy softly informed.
Maddy frowned, "Infected?" She asked, confused.
Everyone was staring at her for some explanation and she was staring at everyone for an insight on what she had done.
"What's that?" Maddy quietly asked with horror in her eyes as she pointed to the wall in front of her.
Everyone turned to where Maddy was looking and pointing, which was at the television that was hung on the wall.
Horror immediately filled their eyes as they saw what was showing on the LIVE news.
"No way..." Cathy breathed shakily.
"What's going on?" Maddy questioned.
"That's the woman you had bitten," Tate replied.
"It's a Zombie outbreak!" Ray loudly announced.
"Order a complete shutdown of the mall!" The president barked at one of his guards.
"Yes, sir!" The security guy immediately spoke into his earpiece.
Maddy watched in horror as the woman Tate said she had bitten ran frenzied around the mall, sinking her teeth and tearing away people's flesh. And, after a while, those she had bitten soon turned frenzied with her, attacking anyone and everyone for a pound of flesh.