Young Writers Society

Sitting in the Osprey, he fastened the gas mask to his head, and checked to assure himself no skin was revealed to the world outside his thick clothing. He stared at the ground, unable to shake himself and his mind of the words and images that haunted him.

He walked down the isle between the two lanes of seats, turned to his left, and sat. The room was quickly filled with the men who had been assigned to the task that lay ahead. John River reached into the right pocket of his jeans, and moved his hand around. He felt nothing. He reached into his left pocket. Nothing. He patted down his entire pants, still nothing. Then he remembered. He reached into the pocket of his shirt that lay over his heart, and pulled out a folded wad of paper. He unfolded it and stared at his girlfriend, the one thing he had of value to him.

She had misty blue eyes, and multiple freckles that were only a shade or two darker than her normal skin tone. Her long brown hair weaved together, hanging over her back, shoulders, and body, to her upper torso. He rubbed his thumb along the edge of the picture, thriving to be home with her, sitting by the fire, reading, watching American Idol, holding each other, warm, secure. At home.

A loud voice interupted the silence, and John looked up, while he silently and quickly refolded the paper and tucked it away.

"As you know, the 3,417 of you were hand selected, because of your abilities in intense and dangerous situations. You have been given a brief explanation or two of the happenings in southern Florida, which has unfortunately spread. With me is viroligist Bill Waters, a near expert of the... this virus." The built man nearly spit out the word 'virus' as if it was a piece of unwelcome dirt in your mouth that you'd eject onto the smoldering pavement in July.

"Thank you, General Cross. Well, the news has done a fair, or well, I guess, job in explaining the situation, but-" The viroligist was interupted harshly.

"We don't have the whole world, Mr. Waters. Cut to the point, if you would ever so kindly." The general looked at the ground as he said this.

"Of couse, general. Now, this virus origins were located in the general Middle East, specifically near the southern border of both Iraq and Iran. Now, this virus was contained in multiple substances blended together. That is another story, we, we can talk about that some other time. Back to the point, it could survive for ages in this mixture, an estimated 49 years. This mixture of solids and liquids was implanted in bombs, which were sent to Cuba in a secret manor. We intercepted this data when it was too late unforunately, because the Cuban recipiants of this package were paid a high amount of money, for them to smuggle it into America. They snuck into Florida, where they planted the bomb in a bar restroom facility, and set it to go off. When it went off, a large explosion erupted into flames, while launching the virus in a 2.5 mile radius.

"The event was reported, and many rescue workes were sent, unaware of the fatal, or so called fatal disease. They became infected, did their work, went home, which for most was over 10 miles away, and spread the virus unknowingly. The next morning a reported 2,578 humans were infected.

"Of course this was 8 days ago, and now most of Florida is over run with this monterous plague. We have found this information out by combining our country's top viroligists, scientists, reporters, researchers, and historians in a mix to fix this A.S.A.P. We found enough to feel secure on the topic. The recent information I shared has a 92.4% chance of being true. But now comes the true stuff, that we are certain of.

"And is unfortunately the scary stuff, as well."

The room went silent, as all eyes beamed at Bill Waters.

"This virus, is ingenious. It is inteligent on it's own. Take HIV, and give it brains, the power to kill, and more. That's what we've got here. In America. It enters the host, and is capable of destroying it's victim's immune system in a matter of hours. It then attacks the body, but slowly, nearly painfully, yet you cannot feel this demon. It literally eats away at tissue, destroying your knowledge as the brain is targeted first. Your ability to think, act resonably and interact with others is destroyed. Everything else seems to be taken away slower.

"No known cure is available. It is near unstopable. Then only way to stop this virus is to kill the host, because we are most certain this infection is unable to transfer without a living home. It will die within minutes without the vital supplies it needs. This is why you are being sent to Florida, to hold the state borders, to kill all who inhabit the state. Yes, it is brutal, but necessary. If you or a fellow soldier is infected, shoot them. Then again. Then again. Then again. Until no blood near moves from the man. How do you tell if they are infected? Sore throat, weakness, coughing, gagging, and the most obvious of them all. The skin turning to a sickly gray.

"We ask of you to succeed in doing this. Otherwise America, and all of North America, and possibly South America could be destroyed and rid of natural life as we know it. The unconnected continents may survive, especially the safest one, Australia, but if any virus reaches them, and we don't prove this thing can be beat, we have no hope.

"Except for the hope that this virus gets back at the idiots who made this thing."

John was elbowed by a man next to him, and pointed to the flashing red light. He nodded, stood up, and put on the parachute pack he was handed. The Osprey's jump door lowered, and he looked out at the dozens of tactical vehicles around them hovering in place, with men jumping out.

He dared himself to look down. And wished he could go home. Nothing was moving. Florida looked dead. Smoke rose from a few houses, but light was barely anywhere. He noticed a man running and raving his arms at a soldier with his gas mask tightened on his face. The man ran, and stopped, as the soldier walked forward.

Then there was a crackle, and the man fell to the ground.

*Originally the Ospreys were helicopters, because I had used the wrong term. I edited the fix. Ospreys are tactical planes that are able to swing up their wings to hover/fly as a helicopter. Thanks to those who pointed out my mistake!