Liz Virus by, Monei

Day 8

Dear Journal, today we walked about 12 miles non-stop. I could tell Nile was exhausted I was beginning to see the first signs of his sickness emerging. It was alarming to me but as the older sibling I had to keep clam for both of our safety. I was only five when he was born, wishing and praying for him to get here already not because I wanted to play but because I wanted the pressure taken off me. Growing up as the child of two scientific parents was hard work not to mention child abuse; they would always experiment on me. The picking, probing, and injections were just torture sometimes I would think that they had kids just so they could run test on us. Looking at Nile now I can see his eyes are scorched red and he keeps drinking water which means his mouth is dry. I don’t like to see him like this, hopefully with a little rest he can gain some strength to continue on in the morning.

Day 10

Dear Journal, We didn’t cover as much ground as I wanted to yesterday. Nile hardly got any sleep the night before and begged, “Wilhelm please, don’t make me walk,” but we have to walk, if we don’t he might not make it and that’s what I’m scared for. Not to mention we can be the saviors of our nation or what once was known as a nation. When virus 2k34 broke out no one expected it to become what it is today, we all just thought it would pass with further observation and care. My mom had to study the first subject who contracted the virus, everyday she would come home and tell us about Liz the patient and how it seemed like a different symptom every day. Being that I was still the guinea pig of the family my mom constructed this antibiotic vaccine that she claimed would “help with treatment of virus 2k34 and block it from entering the system” the injection hurt like hell I can still remember the pain to this day but maybe that's because it was only a few months ago. The virus had spread very quickly the illness would just overcome the host and kill them within a month. From what I recall the symptoms orders are: redness of eyes, dry mouth, body aches, migraines, confusion and loss of memory, mirages/illusions, insanity, and then death. Nile complained about his legs being soar but I just assumed it was from all the walking we were doing and not virus 2k34 a.k.a Liz virus.

Day 11

Dear Journal, reality struck me today, as we were walking through what had looked like an abandoned neighborhood do to the fact that cars were turned over and windows of houses had been smashed through and the grass looked like it hadn’t been cut in centuries we had an encounter with this women. The woman clearly had Liz virus she ran out of one of the abandoned houses and was shocked when she saw us. Her eyes were totally red yet her blood vessels bulged bright red, as she ran over to us she stop and hesitated she looked closer probably trying to justify that we were real and not a mirage. She came straight up to me not even acknowledging Nile which seemed weird. She grabbed my face and looked deep into my eyes as if she was peering through to my soul. Although this was a great invasion of personal space I felt her want and need for an explanation I told her about the vaccine I was given before Liz virus got out of hand and about how the cure to humanity was in my left pocket and how me and Nile was venturing to a laboratory where they would construct more of this vaccine. She shook her head in disbelief. “They said it was no treatment, they said life is hopeless and we should stay indoors, did they lie?” I couldn’t give her a certain answer for I hardly knew myself. I’m pretty sure the “they” she was referring to was the government, when the virus became an epidemic and people begin to panic the government left us with unanswered questions they actually left us literally. All the important ones who could afford it piled into space craft 2k31 and headed to the developing civilization on the moon. I told her we had to go now but she started yelling “The virus will kill you, I’m dying, it took the life of my family and I watched it as it happened, my children are gone.” Her voice faded as we walked further away. I could tell Nile was irritated because his head hung low, again being the older sibling I was to protect him. I ran back up to the lady and I spoke my mind, telling her

Me:"You think I've never lost anybody, you think that I want to just stand here and watch my little brother suffer. I get it you've lost people in your life due to this virus but so have I. Even though I didn't have a good relationship with my parents I watched them go through all the stages of the virus and now I have to see my only friend go through the same things".

Her:" You don't understand you're crazy, your mind is fried .

Me:"...No your mind is fried and you're crazy. It would be your best interest to follow use if you do they will be able to cure you."

She turned and walked away guess she didn't want to live or maybe Liz virus was messing with her mind to where she couldn't comprehend.  

Day 12

Dear Journal, We were only 5 miles away from the lab according to my  calculations. I told Nile we can set up camp early so we got wood and sticks so I could build a fire. I could tell he was pleased to hear that he would get about an extra hour of sleep by the way he ate his canned ravioli fast and laid down ready to sleep. I was also excited about this to, every since we left home I have been under stress and it was effecting my body physically. I couldn't keep my food down anything I ate I would vomit it up a few hours later, also my hair was shedding a lot. Hopefully when we get to the lab they will have something for my stress and be able to construct more of this antibiotic.

Day 13

Dear Journal, All night I couldn't sleep one minute it was hot and the next second it was freezing cold. Then this morning I was awakened by a "Non Stop Nose Bleed" as Nile called it. I wasn't thinking much of it I was more concerned about getting to the lab. When we got here it was like a breath of fresh air they greeted me at the door with full body suits on to make sure they were not going to be infected.  Then they led us to these showers where we were to wash and change into the bodysuits, I told them how I didn't need the body suit cause id dint have the virus but they insisted I where it anyways. They would then escort me into an examining room to test my blood and overall health but I noticed they didn't make Nile where a body suit or run any test on him . When they asked me for the vaccine/antibiotic I handed it to them as if I was handing off the Olympic torch. They proceeded out the room and I sat there for awhile until I had the urge to throw up. I ran to the bathroom and released but when I looked in the toilet I was confused to see blood. I went to wash my face off and look in the mirror, it had been 2 weeks since I had seen myself and I was once again  confused by the reflection. It looked like I had lost 10 pounds, my eyes were red, my hair was thin, and my skin was very pail. I could tell this was more than stress. I went back in the room and there were these 2 men dressed in their body suits, they commanded that I walk over to them slowly and keep my hands out in front of me. I was willing to do anything as long as they created the vaccines and help all those sick people including Nile. I asked Nile if he knew what was going on but he just seem to stare right through me. Now i sitting in what appears to be a jail cell by the way it constructed and don't know anything that's going on.

The girl that entered into our lab a few days ago died. She was already in stage 4 of Liz virus. We confiscated all her things including the journal she had been writing in for about  2 weeks and a perfume bottle that she claimed to be the vaccine/antibiotic her mother created. We in fact did some research on her and found out her name is Wilhelm Bass her parents were not scientist but they owned a car shop and her brother Nile that she talked about so vividly in her journal actually died along with her parent when they contracted Liz virus. We appreciate her enthusiasm to find a cure for Liz virus but we have yet to find it. Every since the government stopped funding us it's been hard but we are still keeping faith.