Rid City (another chp added)

[BrownEyez]

(John is Taker)

John walked the dark streets of Rid City; keeping to the narrow paths. It seemed to fit his mood to travel this way, he didn’t want to have people look at him. The only people who hung in these alleyway like streets, were people who didn’t see others in the first place. Rid City was the type of city where dilapidated buildings were normal, if not expected, and where dreams went to die. Rid City wasn’t always like this; in fact it use to be a clean and wonderful place to live. That all changed when there was a barrage of attacks on some of the people leaving there. Rid City is positioned right next to a very dense forest. The first attack was reported to have happened to a couple that went hiking one day. The man survived to tell of the sight he saw.


In a modest two bedroom apartment, where one bedroom has been converted into a lab/examination room.
Vanessa stood peering into a microscope and writing results into a journal. John walks up behind her and speaks, “Hello, Ness.” “Oh. You scared me,” she replied as she turned around. John sits down and rolls his right sleeve up, “Well, lets get this over with.” Vanessa gathers a stethoscope, thermometer, and other medical supplies. “Now It isn’t so bad,” she checks his temperature, blood pressure, and other vitals. “Everything looks good, you seem to be doing just fine” she says while recording on a clip board. “I’m more concerned with how you are doing?” John says while placing his hands on her shoulders. Vanessa is momentarily soothed by this gesture and then moves away from him, “Well I have realized the effects of the virus are discriminate, only attacking male humans, yet it appears in both animal genders. Julius’s notes didn’t leave much, it became increasingly difficult for him to control himself. Well enough to write what he was going through. The treatment seems to be working on you, but I’ve seen that under certain stress the virus can mutate, the treatment might not--” suddenly John firmly says, “Can I speak to my wife! for once.” She replies with a sigh “What do you want John? I don’t have much to say, I’ve been here for months.” “I don’t see you except for these check ups, I’m more than a patient” he steps to her. She looks up at him and gazes, “I know that John, and I am sorry. It was important for me to stay on task, and what happened I-” “I said I was sorry, I never wanted to hurt you,” John cuts her off and caresses her face. “I believe you. Please understand, it isn’t easy for me. I love you and that hasn’t change, but there’s a part of me, that’s…,that’s afraid of you.” “ The Org Virus, you were right about it mutating. They found a woman this time. She attacked some men hunting. The government has reason to believe that the origins of this thing can be found in Death Valley” Vanessa is slightly shocked and holds him, “Let me guess, they’re sending whoever was already infected by the virus there?” “Yes. That’s what they ordered,” he responded.

[susanlovestaker]

Nice start. Looking forward to see the next chapter. :)

[Speed Demon]

Good job, Brown Eyez....I'll take over from here.


John sat in the couch of his motel room and turned on his T.V. The mayor of Rid City, Michael Gianclone was giving a speech about the Org Virus. Vanessa would be the one doing a summary about it.



To him, the virus was starting to consume his whole life. He was a threat to the enviroment, albeit a desecrated shabby one. He missed Vanessa the most. He missed her scent and her warm smile. She was so serious nowadays. He hated only seeing her during checkups. He hated having to stay in some God forsaken motel. But it was all for the best.


Gianclone approached the podium. He was an average sized man with rat like features; Mousy brown hair, big ears, small watery eyes and a pointed nose. He cleared his throat.


"Citizens of Rid City, we have a crisis at our hands," said Gianclone. "There's a slight epidemic going on. We have discovered a deadly virus known as the Org Virus. Here to give us summary is Dr. Vanessa Calaway."



Vanessa stepped up to the podium.

"The Org Virus is a pathogen that feeds off of testosterone, rendering the subject inable to simple rationalization, making them violent and giving them a short attention span. One of the symptoms is a lethally high fever. It is highly contagious, spreading to blood.


"There is only a few records on the Org Virus all made by one doctor, Julius Everett. He died before completing the notes. Right now there is no known cure.



"Little is known about the cause of the Org Virus, but it is believed that the origins are in Death Valley."


Vanessa stepped down. Gianclone resumed the podium.



"There are 18 known people infected," he said. "One of them being Mrs. Calaway's husband John. To stop this Org Virus from spreading, we are ordering the infectred to depart Rid City immediately, starting tomorrow. A bus will be waiting at Lycan Park at 10:00 p.m. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen."


John turned off the T.V. and sighed. It was official. He had to go to Death Valley. He never thought he would step foot in that place again. None of his experiences were good in Death Valley. But as he said before, it was all for the best.


He needed to clear his mind. He got in his black Dodge Charger and headed to the forest.


As he stopped at a red light, he looked around at all of the boarded up buildings. He remembered when the whole street was thriving. When he and Vanessa were newly weds, they would always go to the ice cream parlor.


Dammit, he thought as he gripped the steering wheel. There I go thinking of Nessa again.


He reached his destination. There was only one good thing about Rid City nowadays. The city lay near a magnificent forest. A beautiful thicket of trees and red dirt.


John stepped out of the car. He inhaled deeply, taking in that nice fresh piny air. He began to walk amongst the forest. He knew his way around so well, so he didn't have to worry about getting lost.


This is relaxing, he thought as he walked deeper into the forest. He stopped at a nearby oak trees. In the bark was carved J and V '86 4 L. He smiled at the tree.


Suddenly, he began to feel a blinding pain in his head. He let out a cry that echoed throughout the forest. He gripped his head and feel to his knees. It was too much. Never had he felt a pain so intense in his life. It was crippling.


Then the pain was gone. As quick as it came, it was gone. He got up and brushed the dirt off his knees. He was slightly shaken. He went back to his car and drove off.


As he drove up the highway, he noticed a cop car was tailing him.


"Dammit, now what?" he said as he pulled to a stop.

The cop got out of his car and approached John's. John rolled his windows down and got out his license and registration before the cop even asked for it.


The cop looked at it before speaking directly to John.


"Do you know why I stopped you?" he asked.


"No," said John in a quiet, but annoyed tone.


"Well you were doing 70 in a 55 mile per hour zone," said the cop, writing a ticket and giving it to John, "next time, drive within the limit."


John looked at the ticket.


"Three hundred and fifty-two dollars?!" he said outraged.

He got out of his car and went toward the cop, who was half way in the car.

"Hey god damnit!" he said. "What the hell is this?"

"Sir, you don't want to raise your voice with me," he warned John.

"Well a speeding ticket doesn't usually cost three hundred and fifty-two dollars." John snarled.

"It's called inflation, buddy," said the cop, smirking. "Got a problem with it? Take it to the courts."


Something came over John. He couldn't explain it, but before he knew it, he grabbed the cop by his throat and clamped down as hard as he could. The cop's face began to turn blue and he began to sputter and gasp. John finally came to his senses and released the cop. The cop fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes wide open. Horrified, John kneeled down beside the cop and felt his pulse. There wasn't one.

John tried CPR. But to no avail. The cop was dead. John couldn't stay there. He got back into his Charger and sped off, back to his motel.

[susanlovestaker]

Nice job S.D. I always love the way you write. :)

[BrownEyez]

Some months ealier...

Vanessa stuggles to get the door open as she steps into her and John's home. She drops her briefcase and a box filled with files onto the entryway credenza. Reverberating from the basement, were the sounds of metal hitting metal. She followed the sound. In the basement, things were thrown about and at the place where the hot water heater went was a bunch of pipes and metal judding out. It looked like a truck ripped through the place. John was furiously slamming a sledgehammer at a brand new hotwater heater. "Honey? Are you alright?"
he said nothing and kept his backed turned to her, he was focused completely on the heater. "If you are angry that I spent another long day at the labs, I'm sorry. Julius is making a break through on neuro-communicators-" "Julius," John said and dropped the sledge hammer. Vanessa was horrified at the sight of John, his eyes were red and veined , he was pouring sweat. Vanessa backed up and John grabbed her "You think I'm stupid!" John screamed. "You're burning up. What's wrong with you?" Vanessa said concerned and John slapped her. Vanessa hit the ground and slid towards a corner. "You've been seeing your little doctor behind my back haven't you?!" John knelt over Vanessa and gripped her throat. Vanessa struggle to breathe she saw nothing but pure hatred in John's eyes. "I didn't do anything-" she tried to get out the words but John cut her off and squeezed harder "you lied to me!"
Vanessa knew by the way John was acting that something wasn't right. Maybe he took something or some other outside force was happening but this wasn't him, it wasn't John. Vanessa wimpered and with her last strength said "Please John you're hurting me," tears escapes her eyes and lands on his arm, steam rises from them.
John couldn't see reason, he felt a heat brewing around his face and head. Everything was a blur. When he heard Vanessa speak his name and felt her tears on his arm he realized what he was doing. He felt her weakening and let go of her, he was confused and shocked at his actions. She flinches as he reaches out to her and he stops, "Nessa, I don't know whats going on, I can't-" his heartrate and blood pressure increases, his tempurature spikes and he passes out, the last thing he saw was the worried look on Vaanessa's face.


At the present ...

Remembering that night and how fast it happened, Vanessa stood in Gianclone's office. "Mrs Calaway," Gianclone said as he stepped in and closed the door. "I don't need to tell you, that what I will say here is only for your ears, you understand?" he shuts the blinds. He was a man of a questionable background, and carried himself as those gangster did in the old black and white gangster movies. Vanessa clears her throat "uh, yes, I understand. I brought all the information I could, but I do think that I should remain a head of any medical investigations." "The only thing I ever planned to do is transport and removal, like the trash, Mrs Calaway," he sits at his desk and Vanessa slowly sits as well. "Are you saying that you haven't any intentions of helping those people? Those dads, sons, and..husbands? They're citizens of the this city!" "Don't get me wrong, i know you have personal stakes in this, but I'm thinking of the hundreds of people in my city that aren't infected, that have to go to work every day, those dads, sons and husbands. I can't waste my time on the few who have some illness, that came from nowhere." "Then why did you ask for my research?" "You have a treatment, if we can maximize it, and monitize it, we may have the finances we need to keep this city from diving lower." "You are going to profit of the sick, you're not willing to really help?!" she stands up and takes her things with her and opens the door. A cop steps in and stops her. "The city's government has the right to certain properties of its citizens," she gave up her research materials relunctantly. "We may stop by your place of residence, if we suspect you of continuing any studies, give our apologies to Mr. Calaway," Gianclone said. Vanessa walked out of his office and calmly out the buliding. Once outside she ran to her car and started it. She pulled out her cell phone and called John, he didn't answer so she left a message, "Listen its me, I don't know where you are, but we need to talk, meet me at my place when you get this," she ended the call and drove to her apartment. Those people were going to be led to their deaths all for profit and she had to to try tp stop it.

[Speed Demon]

Good job, Brown Eyez. Here's my part.


John woke up, sweating profusely. His skin was stuck to the bedsheets. He got up. He felt achy. He checked his phone. There was a message from Vanessa. He played it.


"Listen, it's me, I don't know where you are, but we need to talk, meet me at my place when you get this."


John went into the bathroom and took a shower. After he dried off, he got dressed and packed up his belongings. He checked the room to make sure he didn't leave anything behind. He checked out of the motel and headed to his old home.


He knocked on the door. Vanessa answered the door. He followed her into the kitchen. She observed him for a few seconds.


"You look paler than usual," she said. "Sit down, I'll fix you up something."


As Vanessa busied herself at the stove, John sat at the table. He missed eating Vanessa's cooking. Nowadays, he ate at Burger King, because he couldn't cook a lick.


Vanessa returned a few minutes later with two cups of tea. She gave a cup to John.


"Drink that," she said, "it'll make you feel better."


John took a sip. It was like ambrosia.

"Wow, this is good," said John, "what kind of tea is this?"


"It's goji berry tea," said Vanessa.


"What?" John said.


"Goji berry," Vanessa repeated. "Wolf berries. They are native to Southeastern Europe and Asia. They are very high in antioxidants.


John chuckled.


"You and your exotic fruits." he said.


"Remember, I was a pomologist before I decided to do this," said Vanessa


"So, what was it you wanted to talk about?" John asked.


"It's Gianclone," Vanessa said, "he basically told me he's not going to help the people infected with the Org Virus. He's just throwing everyone infected out of his hair. Furthermore, he's stopping me from doing any further research. They took my papers and everything."

John gripped his tea cup until his knuckles were paper white.


"Tell me this," John said, his voice full of rage. "How can we find a damn cure for this thing when he took the little bit of information you had?"

"Gianclone could care less," said Vanessa. "He just wants to make it seem like he's doing something, but all he's doing is sweeping the hole thing under the rug. Right now, I don't have the cure, but when I do, he'll use fundings to back it."


"That way he can take credit," John said angrily. "That no good piece of slimy shit!"

There was a knock at the door. Vanessa answered it. The cop that had been at Gianclone's office was at the door. Dread filled John. Were they there for him?


"I'm here to confiscate any other research you might have," the cop said.


"Very well," said Vanessa cooly. "Search away."


The cop searched far and wide for documents. He checked her laptop. He didn't find anything.


"You were lucky this time," he said. "But if we find out you're still doing research, we will take it and you will be arrested."


"Is that all?" Vanessa said. "You may show yourself to the door."


As the cop left, John let out a sigh of relief. Vanessa caught it.


"Are you okay, dear?" she asked.


"Ness, I have something to tell you."

"What?" Vanessa asked.


"Last night, cop pulled me over for speeding and gave me a ticket. I flipped out over the price of the ticket. I lost control and I killed the cop."


Vanessa's eyes widened.

"Oh my God, John," she said.


"I know," John said, "I don't know what came over me. "It was like when I......" he trailed off.

Vanessa went over and rubbed his shoulders. She then looked at his watch.


"Christ!" she said. "The bus is due to arrive at Lycan Park in fifteen minutes!"

She gathered up her belongings. John slipped his coat back on.

"We'll take my car," he said.


They both got into the Charger. When they got to Lycan Park, the bus was just pulling up. John looked at Vanessa and said. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Take care of my car, will you?"

"Do you think I'm leaving you in Death Valley alone?" Vanessa said. "I'm going to need to observe the patients and take notes."


"You heard that cop," John said. "You can't do any research."


"What those cops and Gianclone know won't hurt them," said Vanessa. "And the research papers were only copies. I have the original research on a flash drive, which I keep on my at all times."


"Genius," said John.


"C'mon," said Vanessa


The two got onto the bus. John took his seat near the window. Vanessa sat next to him. John looked around at the other guys. Some of them were pale and sweaty. Others looked like they were on edge, rocking catatonically.


The busride to Death Valley was long and uneventful. When John saw that Death Valley was five miles away, dread came over him. How he hated that he was forced to come back here.


The bus pulled up in front of the entrance to Furnace Creek. Everybody got off of the bus. One guy bumped into another as they were getting off. The guy turned around and punched him. Everybody held the guys back before a full scale fight broke out.


John and Vanessa got off the bus. At the door of Furnace Creek, stood a man who John knew from childhood. He was tall with long black hair, high cheekbones, dark eyes and dusky skin. He was called Little Thunder.

Little Thunder's father was the owner of the Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch. He was part of the Timbisha Shoshone tribe that inhabited Death Valley. John had known him from his days when he used to work at the inn as a teenager.


"Welcome to Furnace Creek Inn," Little Thunder said. He had one of those voices that could be heard clearly, even if there was alot of noise. "Now, under these unfortunate circumstances, we have allowed you into our complex. All I ask of you is to keep this place the way you would keep yours. That is all. Thank you."


As others went inside the inn, Little Thunder looked at John and said, "It is a pleasure to see you after all of these years, John Calaway. It is unfortunate that we have to meet this way, but it is still good to see you after so long."


"Likewise old friend." said John. "Perhaps we will talk soon."


"Yes, I would like that," said Little Thunder, "until then, get settled in."


John and Vanessa went into the inn. They passed the kitchens and looked for a room. They found one at the end of the hall. It was a nice cozy room with two beds, a T.V. set and a couch. John and Vanessa settled in. Then, John headed toward the door.


"Where are you going, dear?" Vanessa asked.


"Just going to take a stroll in the garden." he said.


"Will you be okay?" Vanessa asked.

"Hope so," said John. "I'll call you if I need you."


"Okay," said Vanessa. "See you at dinner."

[BrownEyez]

(nice chapter SD, hope this addition isn't too bad)

Vanessa tried to calm down and relax in the room but couldn't; her thoughts jumped back and forth, What was going to happen now?... What was her next step? ...Could she stay here and finalize a cure or find the origin of this virus?... Could she live in close dwelling with John after this long time apart?...She can't think about that now Gianclone may be a rat who has given up but she wasn't going to and she may have to indanger herself to do it but at least it was only her ...She took the last flash drive she had of any of her information and hid it in the secret compartment in the heel of a pair of boots she hollowed herself and sat them a corner. She stood and saw the view out the window. The far landscape that shown in the background, was enough distraction for a little time. The various brown and orange hues rippled and blended together, the horizon swayed over it like an oil painting, and the particles of sand and dust moving through the breeze looked almost inviting. She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard the sound of kids running through the hall. Three children were slightly away from her door when Vanessa looked from her doorway. They weren't running but dancing. She stepped further out from her door, entertained by the children's playing, but when they saw her they froze in their spots. "I'm sorry-" the kids began to run away. One of the children slipped and scrapped her knee and instantly looked sadened, "Oh dear. Let me help," Vanessa pulled a cleaning wipe from her pocket and a bandaid and tended to the child's knee. "There we go, what's your name ?" Vanessa asked with a smile. The little girl didn't answer but smiled and continued to dance as she moved away. "Ayita is her name," a man said as he returned from a closet at the opposite end of the hall. "Oh? that's a pretty name," Vanessa turned to see who had answered. The man was a fit and slender built with something dignified about his countenance. "She doesn't speak much but over time she will. I am Wahchinksapa a new worker of the house," he held out his hand "I'm Vanessa. So what sort of work is there to do here?" she asked. "There are many jobs here to do. We don't have help from outside our small location, so we rely on one another for support. You are skilled with wounds?" he inquired. "I suppose you can say that, I mean much of what I know is in research of medicine, but I have studied biology and triage, however very unimportant," she looked down and shuffled her right foot. "A skill learned that can be used for the betterment of another is seldom seen as unimportant to that other," he said as he lifted her face to make eye contact and continued "Come, if you are not busy I will show you around," he turned and directed her steps with his.

"This is where the elders converse and share stories," he showed her a room with soft wooden carved chairs, a couple of small tables and simple lighting, "No child is permitted there," he continued. They walked around and Wahchinksapa greeted everyone he saw, with friendly and confident stride, "Um I sorry but I forgot your name," she hurried next to him and he paused with a gentle smile "I understand it is hard to say Wahchinksapa, but you can call me Wahchi if it is easier" "Here we have the children's room, where they have lessons and play," he said and she smiled to see the colors and the hand made dolls and boats as she stood in the doorway. Vanessa heard the slow movement of someone from another room behind her and she turned to see an older woman gently step her way from one room and then to another while carrying a basket of cloths. The woman wore her years on her face and moved ever so quietly. "Nokomis, she helps the infirm and child birthing," Wahchinksapa answered in a whisper and Vanessa nodded. They made their way outside at the side of the house where there were tools and a couple of horses, "You all really live the old school life out here," she said as she eyed a rocking chair that was newly sanded and polished, "Is there something wrong?" he eyed her. "Oh no, I didn't mean that it was a bad thing, just a...thing....this is a nice chair," she changed the subject "It is a gift for Nokomis, for when she sits outside," he nodded and led her to sit in it. "You made this?" she questioned and he nodded yes. She sat in it for just a second and then stood, "Well it is very nice," she turned to walk away. "You do not enjoy rest or silence do you?" he asked and she turned again "I'm from a busy city, its what I know," she shrugged. "I can see," Wahchinksapa walked up to her and stared a surveying stare that made Vanessa nervous but still at the same time, "Wahchi, you are very interesting".

[Speed Demon]

Well done, Brown Eyez. I will try to get a chapter in by next month.

[Speed Demon]

I know I said I would try to have it back in March, but I've been balancing work, married life, father time, and health issues for the past few months, so didn't have much time to write. But I finally finished a chapter. Here goes.


John walked through the Golden Tunnel, leading to the garden oasis, saying to himself, "How the hell am I'm going to survive in a place with seventeen other people? People who were all infected and unpredictable. He only hoped Vanessa could find a cure soon. The sooner the better.


John, you're not here to dwell, he thought. You're here to relax and rid your mind of aggravating thoughts.



Even though John had hated Death Valley all of his life, the only thing he liked about it was the beautiful oasis that surrounded the inn. He had come to it many a times to get away from his parents. They were always fighting. He couldn't tolerate it. He would walk amongst the oasis for hours. The most calming thing about the oasis was the small pond, which was filled with water lilies to which John would just stare, entranced.


He stood between two palm trees and stared at the pond. He didn't notice someone standing behind him.


"Just like old times," said the voice.


John turned around. Little Thunder was standing there.


"Yeah, just reminiscing a little," said John. "How's Big Thunder?"


"Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago." said Little Thunder. "His prostate went bad."


"So sorry to hear," said John. "You're chief now?"


Little Thunder nodded.


"So, what have you been doing since you left here many years ago?" he asked.


"Well, I moved to a place called Rid City," said John, "I went to college there. That's where I met my wife. We've been married for fifteen years."


"What did you do in Rid City?" Little Thunder asked?


"Well after college, I started out as an intern for Harper Industries, a shipping company. Gary Harper took me under his wing and taught me about the business. Eventually, I worked my way up to CEO. When Harper died, I took his job. My company was the one of the only few thriving companies in Rid City. The city was destroyed by political corruption, crime, taxes, and what not.


"Then I got ill with this damned virus. It's literally driven my wife away from me. I had to stay in a hotel for months. There was a time when we were inseperable."


John sighed.

"And now I'm back here, the last place I want to be."


"Yes, I can remember the days when you vowed to leave Death Valley and never step foot in here again," said Little Thunder. "But we must learn to never say never. Perhaps fate has bought you here, John."


"You're probably right." said John. He looked at his watch.


"Almost time for dinner," he said. "I better get going."


"Nice talking to you, John." said Little Thunder. "If you have a chance, I would like you to meet my wife and children."


"Sure," said John. "Tell you what, let's do it tomorrow night. Mesquite Springs."


"The old campgrounds," said Little Thunder. "I have been avoiding that place, but nonetheless, I will go."


"Why have you been avoiding it?" John asked.


"The coyotes have been acting strange for months," said Little Thunder. "The wildlife in Death Valley are usually calm and peaceful."


"Wow," said John, "that sounds weird."


"Yes," said Little Thunder. "Let's get back to the inn."


John followed Little Thunder back to the inn. He then went into the dining room. Everyone was there, waiting to be served. John found Vanessa by the window. He sat across from her.


"How was the garden?" she asked.


"Wonderful," John said. "How do you find the place?"


"It's very nice," said Vanessa. "You know, John, I don't understand how you can hate this place. It's like paradise."


"Yeah, well, you haven't lived here for the first seventeen years of your life," said John. "With crazy parents and working here, dealing with snobby, ill-tempered tourists."


"I saw you walking with your old friend." said Vanessa.

"Oh, Little Thunder? John said. "Yes, he caught up with me in the garden. We were just catching up on old times. He invited us to meet his family. At the old camground I used to go to. Mesquite Springs."


"Wonderful," said Vanessa, "I miss the days you and I went camping every Saturday."


"So do I," said John. "I miss doing things together, period."


"Well, hopefully, we'll be able to do those things again," said Vanessa.


Dinner finally came, a delicious rib roast with potatoes and carrots and Merlot. Dinner went without incident. It wasn't until dessert did something happen. A guy fell out of his chair and started jerking uncontrollably. A few people rushed to his aid. He was foaming at the mouth and choking. This went on for a few more seconds before the guy stopped jerking and laid motionless. Vanessa kneeled down beside him and felt his head.


"He has a high fever," she said. "And he has gone into cardiac arrest."


Vanessa administered CPR to the man. The man was still unresponsive. She administered CPR a few more times, but to no avail.


"Call an ambulance someone," she said.


Little Thunder and Wahchi went into action. Little Thunder told everyone to go to their rooms until the situation was handled. John went to his room, while Vanessa stayed with Little Thunder and Wahchi.


"It was a half hour later when Vanessa returned to the room.


"He died in the ambulance," said Vanessa, "his name was Warren Lane. I contacted his immediate family. He had no history of seizures. I guess I will have to add to the notes."


She got out her lap top and turned it on. John left her alone for a while as she typed up her notes. But he couldn't hold it in any longer.


"Vanessa, you know, next time that might be me." he said.


Vanessa looked up at him. For a moment, just a moment, John thought he saw fear in her eyes. But it was gone before he could confirm it.


"Well, let's hope not, John," said Vanessa, "I'm doing all I can to figure out this virus."


"I hope so," said John, "Because I don't want to go out like Julius or that Warren guy. I want us to grow old together."


Vanessa smiled. She hadn't done so for ages, she was always so serious nowadays. John had forgotten how the effect made her even more beautiful than she already was.


"You always know the right words to make me smile." said Vanessa. "I needed that, thank you."


She walked over to where John was and kissed him.


"God, I needed that," said John, his eyes closed. "You barely even tough me these days."


"I know," said Vanessa. "It's getting late, maybe you should get some rest."


"Alright," said John. "Good night."


He got in the bed. It took him a while, but he eventually fell asleep. As he slept, Vanessa observed him. He started to sweat profusely. Vanessa went over to where he lay and felt his forehead.He was burning up. Vanessa watched him for a while before finishing up her notes. At one in the morning, she finally fell asleep.


Around seven in the morning, Vanessa woke up to sounds of groaning and retching. She got out of her bed and went into the bathroom. John was on his knees, hovered over the toilet. He was very pale and sweaty.


"John?" Vanessa said.


John shook his head and continued to vomit into the toilet. This went on for two minutes. After he was done, he fell against the wall, shaking.


"I'm going to see if they have any Gatorade in the kitchens," said Vanessa. "Stay in here and wash the sweat off of you with a cool rag."


Vanessa headed to the kitchens. The door was looked. She knocked on the door. There was no answer. Vanessa was about to head back to her room when Wahchi entered. When Vanessa saw him yesterday he was wearing a rawhide vest, jeans and moccasins. He was now wearing a tracksuit with headphones.


"Hello, Vanessa," said Wachi. "Just got back from my morning jog."


"I used to jog every morning,' said Vanessa, "but I've been busy for the past few months."


"I see you're trying to get into the kitchen," said Wahchi.


"Yes, my husband is very sick right now," said Vanessa, "I need something to revitalize him."


Wahchi said nothing. He just got out a key and unlocked the door to the kitchen.


"Do you have Gatorade?" Vanessa asked.


"Yes," said Wahchi. He took a large bottle of lemon-lime Gatorade and gave it to Vanessa.


"I hope your husband feels better," said Wahchi. He smiled back, to which Vanessa returned.


"Thank you, Wahchi," said Vanessa.


She went back into her room and into the bathroom. John was leaning against the wall, his eyes half closed, the sweat just pouring down his body.


"John, drink this," she said.


John took the bottle, opened it and took three large gulps. He drank it until it was gone.


"John," Vanessa started, "how do you feel?"

"Like crap," John said. His voice was hoarse as if he'd smoked a whole carton of cigarettes.

"Can you stand?" Vanessa asked.


John stood up, though his knees were shaking.


"Take a cool shower," said Vanessa. "I'll put your clothes on the bed."


John nodded. Vanessa walked out of the bathroom. She opened John's suitcase and got out a white t-shirt, dark gray jeans, and a pair of red boxers.


John emerged from the shower, twenty minutes later. He was no longer sweating, but he still looked very pale.


"How do you feel now?" Vanessa asked?


"Somewhat better," said John, the hoarseness in his voice gone. "Thank you."

He puts his clothes on and sprayed cologne on him. Vanessa inhaled deeply. She'd always loved that cologne. Before she could stop herself, she went over to him and buried her head in his chest and inhaled again.

"Ness, this is the closest you've been to me for ages," John said.


"I know," said Vanessa. "I didn't mean to distance myself from you, John, I thought it was for the best. I should have been there with you the night you killed that cop."


"Ness, it's not your fault," said John. "Not your fault I have this damned virus and not your fault I killed that cop. You were right to distance yourself from me, I was becoming unbearable."


"But it wasn't you," said Vanessa. "It was the virus. You didn't know what you were doing."

"John kept quiet for a while. So long, that it worried Vanessa.

"John?" she said.

"Yes, dear?" he said.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," John said. "Was just thinking."

"About?" Vanessa asked.

"About when this is over," John said. "When you find a cure for this Org Virus and if I survive, I want us to have a baby. I know we've been too busy to have one in the past, but this virus has made me realize how short life is and how we humans take it for granted. What do you say?"


Vanessa looked John into those pale green eyes. Those eyes were the reason she fell in love with him.


"You will survive," said Vanessa, "I'm going to find a cure for this virus. And yes, I have always wanted to be a mother."


John gave a grin. Vanessa always loved the way this skin around his eyes crinkled when he did.


"I love you, 'Ness," he said.


"I love you too, Johnny," said Vanessa.


"Johnny?" John repeated. "You haven't called me that since college."





A little in the evening, John and Vanessa packed up their things and got into the jeep that Wahchi had provided for them. John took the wheel.


The sun lowered, giving the sky a magnificent orange red color..


The Jeep pulled up into the Mesquite Springs. There was another Jeep there. John and Vanessa got out. Little Thunder was there with a woman, a boy and a girl. The woman was petite with long hair plaited into a single braid. The boy looked like his was in his mid teens. He resembled Little Thunder in every way possible. He was nearly the same height as him. The girl looked more like her mother and was small and thin with intense dark eyes.


"Hello, John," said Little Thunder, shaking John's hand. "It's good to see that you made it."


"Thank you," said John. "This is my wife, Vanessa."


"Hello, Vanessa, it's nice to meet you," said Little Thunder, "this is my wife, Ailen, my son, Tangakwunu, and my daughter Huyana."


"Hi," said both of the kids. They shook John and Vanessa's hands.


After they all finished greeting each other, John and Little Thunder started a fire. Everyone sat around it.


"John, I have something for you," said Little Thunder. He gave John a battered guitar case.


"Christ," John said. "Is this my father's steel string acoustic guitar?"


"Yes," said Little Thunder. "Before your father died, he gave the guitar to me. He told me to give it to you, once you returned to Death Valley."


"My God, Little Thunder," John said, opening the case. The guitar was in pristine condition. "Thanks alot."


"You're very welcome, John," said Little Thunder. "Perhaps you could sing some songs after dinner?"

"Sure thing," said John. "But what's on the menu tonight?"

"I bought some buffalo steaks." Little Thunder said. "And some other things. You will have to wait until they are cooked. That will be a while."


"To kill time, why don't you tell us some of the stories your father used to tell us?" John asked. "I enjoyed them as a child."


Little Thunder smiled, a thing rare in itself.

"Very well," he said.


He told stories about the Rainbow Crow, Coyote and The Columbia, and Fire. All the focus was on Little Thunder. Tangakwunu and Huyana's eyes were wide as their father told these stories.


Finally, the steaks were done. Little Thunder served the steaks. Ailen presented wild rice with cranberries. Everyone ate heartily and washed the food down with sassafras tea. For dessert was blueberry wajapai, which they put on fry bread.


After everyone was good and full, John picked up the guitar and started playing and singing America's 'Horse With No Name'. Vanessa thought John looked so happy and at peace, like he used to just before he became infected with the Org Virus. She smiled to herself as she listened to John's rich baritone voice.


After John finished singing, everyoone settled down in their tents. After John put out the sleeping bags, Vanessa put hers closer to John's. John looked at her and said, "You sure you want to be that close to me?"


"Positive," said Vanessa. She climbed into the sleeping bag as John got into his. They grabbed each other's hands and fell soundly asleep.






It was in the wee hours of the morning. Vanessa was awake. She turned on her side and tried to go back to sleep, but she became restless, so she got from out of the sleeping bag and got out of the tent. She walked along the cotton top cacti, admiring their beauty. She then looked up at the indigo sky, the stars shining brightly. She remembered when she and John were dating, they would drive to the lake and sit at the edge and look up at the stars. John would try to count all of them in vain. Those were good times.


Footsteps told Vanessa she wasn't the only one present. She looked around. Standing a few feet away from her was a coyote. Vanessa saw that it's eyes were red, its lip pulled back into a snarl. It was about to attack. Vanessa knew she couldn't run; Coyotes had alot of stamina and would chase her for hours.

Sure enough, the coyote charged. Vanessa panicked. There were nowhere to go, she was done for.


Before the coyote could sink it's teeth into Vanessa, it froze in its tracks before falling over. Vanessa wheeled around. Little Thunder was standing behind her, a tranquilizer gun in his hand.


"You saved my life," she said. "Thank you."


"It's no problem." said Little Thunder. "As I told John, the coyotes have been behaving very strangely. They usually run at the sight of a human. And their eyes are not normally red. It's as if they're possessed.


A sudden thought came to Vanessa.


"Little Thunder, do you think it would be okay if I take a sample from this coyote?" she asked.


"Sure," said Little Thunder," I don't see why not, but hurry up before the coyote comes to."


It was a good thing Vanessa had brought along her tools. She got out a Vacutainer neddle and a blood collection tube. She walked over to the coyote, crouched down and set up the neddle. She then stuck the neddle into the coyote's vein. She attatched the collection tube to the neddle.


"What're you going to do with that?" Little Thunder asked.


"I'm going to take a blood sample from John and others, and take this to the nearest lab," said Vanessa. "I think I may have a breakthrough in this Org Virus."


"Well, the nearest lab is the Clinical Pathology Lab," said Little Thunder. "I will get Wahchi to take you."


"Thank you," said Vanessa. The sooner, the better."

[BrownEyez]

July Journal entry number 12

These are my own findings, after the journals of my boss discontinued to be updated, due to the virus taking over his faculties, and after my notes were taken.
This is known of the virus. 1. It feeds off of testosterone as a form of sustenance. As a result, men are more prone to becoming afflicted. 2. The virus boosts and depletes levels of energy and needed vitamins of the host, seemingly of its own whim. 3. Treatments help, just as long as the person maintains a healthy routine. 4. Symptoms are vast, if the afflicted person was particularly unhealthy to begin with, then debilitating sickness is almost inevitable. If the afflicted person is more prone to anger problems, or instability, then those traits are amplified and subdued along with the levels of energy and testosterone, mentioned before. I've studied animals and humans alike, at first, I thought that it was a simple virus, but on further inspection of the facts known, I believe there is something quite different. It grows, feeds, and reproduces. It leaves waste, which must be what creates the flu like symptoms. Using the definition of what a “€Living” creature is, I have no other choice but to conclude that we are dealing with an entire species of living creatures. Tiny living beings that can't be seen under normal microscopes. There's only two microscopes powerful enough to magnify the samples I have. I am certain of the location of only one, The Colossus, in- on second consideration, I shouldn't divulge where as to protect this delicate operation. Regardless, how do I get there without being spotted and dragged back to either Rid City or Death Valley? I don't know. I won't tell John, but I shall leave these journal pages in a place where only he can find them. Of course there is the possibility of being wrong, but that is why I must go and see for myself. Now if my hypothesis is correct, then I can finalize my conclusions for a cure. When I surveyed the coyote carcasses, I saw maggots. I am kicking myself as to how simple I have been at not seeing this before. Maggots eat dead flesh, or bacteria on healthy flesh, while leaving behind the healthy flesh and their waste is more clean than what they take in. Now if I can create a synthetic substance that eats the waste left by the supposed species, or better yet, a substance that eats the species itself, then inject said substance into a willing test subject, I believe I can cure the affliction completely in the host. I'd have to formulate a procedure safely; I'll do so after my trip.

End of journal entry 12.

Vanessa folded the papers and hid them. She went into the bathroom and took a shower, as she thought over all she had to do. She might be risking everything on a hunch, but she was the only one who could start the trial. She packed a small bag sat it behind the bathroom door, she knew she would leave in the morning, but there was one thing she wanted to do before she left. She stepped out of the bathroom and saw John sitting on the bed, playing a guitar. “I forgot how much I enjoyed playing music,”€・ he said with a slight smile. “€What are you playing?”€・Vanessa asked and he replied “€Spanish Rain. It is an easy song to play, but I think thats why it's special.”€・ Vanessa smiled while sitting behind John, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “€Will you teach me a little?”€・ she asked and John was pleasantly shocked at her request. He handed the guitar to her and gently placed her hands on the neck. “This is the high E string, this is the 7th fret, 5th fret, 3rd fret, 1st fret, and open fret. Strum the strings like this,”€・he moves her fingers along the frets. “€Ah, I'm playing,”€・Vanessa happily said. John let go of the guitar and held Vanessa, enjoying the moment. Vanessa breathed in his scent and rested her head on his shoulder, she whispered, “€廾ut of everything, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me,”€・she softly kissed him and pulled his shirt over his head.

It was 5:30 am and the sun hadn't risen yet and Vanessa awoke in John's arms. She silently slipped away and smiled, while giving him one last kiss on the forehead. He didn't stir, as she tip-toed to the bathroom and grabbed her bag. She left the house and quietly found her way to the road. She hitched hiked her way from city to city and town to town, under a fake name.

She made her way to Philadelphia, two days later, she contacted scientist, Dr. Brandon Mckidd, of the Institute for the Genetic Sciences, (IGS). She traveled in the night as to not be seen. While in the labs of the IGS, “Vanessa, I haven't seen you in...how long has it been?”€・Mckidd pondered while looking at her fake ID. “€Since we needed to use those fake ID's to get into parties,”€・she said while admiring the 20ft tall microscope. “The Colossus, able to magnify up to 10,000x what the human eye can normally see,”€・ Mckidd said. “€I need to take pictures of what is on this slide and print it out, and I need to have never been here, you understand?”€・she said. “Lana Williams was never here, and you owe me one,”€・he said, while handing Vanessa her ID back. They secured the sample onto the platform and turned The Colossus on, it was a powerful machine but not a quick one.

Three hours later, “€I was right, ha!”€・Vanessa exclaimed, “They move so quickly, but I have a clear enough picture to prove my hunch,”€・she showed the picture to Mckidd. On the slide, were thousands of small bug like creatures that fed and spawned. “You know, to fight these things, you will have to slow them down enough for your cure to attach to them,”€・ Mckidd said. His remarks dampened Vanessa's happy mood. “€How am I to do that without harming the host? I could stop the heart, but that would stop oxygen from being pumped into the brain,”€・she reasoned. “and that would cause mental damage or death,”€・Mckidd added. “Listen, you know a lot more than what I wanted you to,”€・she said while burning the print and boxing the sample, “€I want you to be careful for the next week or two, but I won't be in this city after a few hours,”€・Vanessa finished. “What have you gotten yourself into?”€・ He questioned. “A little of this a little of that,”€・and with that she was gone.

The Mutter Museum was a place where she visited a couple of times and knew she could blend in as a medical student, if she needed to. The museum was a place for people to see medical abnormalities, everything from two headed babies, to the only cast of the original Siamese Twins; medical students practically lived there. Vanessa could still pass for a later year medical student, so she made herself look like a student as much as possible and went into a tour. If she remembered correctly, there's a few back rooms that wouldn't be open to the public, and she could hide out there. While she felt no one could have followed her, she wanted to dip out of sight to figure out the cure procedure, and Philadelphia was a big enough city to remain hidden in.

It is better to be cautious than dead. She thought.

[Speed Demon]

Hey. Just finished writing Rid City. It was a pleasure working with you, BrownEyez, thank you for the opportunity of letting me work with you. Hope you enjoy this.



Vanessa looked over her notes. It all made sense now. She remembered Julius feeling really sick after a trip from Death Valley. He said he had been scratched by a coyote, but thought nothing of it. He must have been scratched by the infected coyote. It was passed on by blood. She was trying to remember how John got it. Then she remembered; John had gotten his tattoo done over the week before it was discovered that he had the Org Virus. The tattoo needle must have been tainted with the blood of an infected tattoo customer. Why didn't she see all of this in the first place?

When she got back to the lab, she would isolate the virus and try some antibiotic and antivirals. First, she would use Rocephin, which she knew would weaken the cell walls of the virus. Then she would use Bicillin LA and Lomatium to finish it off.She completed the notes and left the lab.

On her way out, she ran into Brandon again. He looked at her and joked, "We've got to stop meeting like this lady."


"Brandon, you got a few minutes?" Vanessa asked. "I'm going to give you that favor I owe you. A quick bite to eat?"

"Sure," Brandon said. "I know just the place."







So are you going to tell me what're you doing here?" Brandon asked as they sat in Tony Luke's. It was very noisy so nobody would bother eavesdropping.

Vanessa took a deep breath.

"I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to say anything." she said.

Brandon smiled and made a zipping motion across his lips.

"There's been a breakout of a strain of virus where I reside." Vanessa said. "My husband had been infected. A doctor whom I was close to actually died from it. I've been trying to find a cure for it for months and I think I've finally got a breakthrough on it."

"This wouldn't happen to be the Org Virus in Rid City, Nevada, would it?" Brandon asked.

Vanessa looked at him.

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"Funny story," Brandon asked. "Let me tell you all about it....."









John awoke, expecting Vanessa to be back in the room, but she was nowhere to be seen. John got up and looked around, but she was nowhere around. He got up and looked into the bathroom. She wasn't there either. John sighed and went back in the room. He looked at his watch set on the dresser. It was 8:30. He decided to get showered and dressed. He went to get some fresh clothes out of the drawer.

Vanessa had been gone for two days. He had gotten so used to Vanessa being around for the past few days. Sadly, he went into the bathroom to take his shower.


During breakfast, John just played with his food. He didn't have much of an appetite but he forced himself to eat. While he was eating, Little Thunder approached him.


"Hello, John," he said. "You seem troubled."


"Ness has been gone for two days," said John, "she said she would be back by nightfall, but I can't stand to be without her. I couldn't stand it when we were apart back in Rid City."


"I know how it is, John," Little Thunder said. "When I am away from my wife, it feels like a part of me is lost."


"That's exactly how I feel now." John said. "I feel complete."


"Perhaps a round of golf should make you feel better." Little Thunder said.


"Yes, I would like that," John said. "Ready to take a good licking?"

"As I recall, John, you were not very good at golf." said Little Thunder with a shadow of a smirk creeping upon his face. "So I will not worry about you defeating me."


"During my internship at Harper Industries, Mr. Harper was a golf enthusiast who taught me a few pointers of golf along the way," said John, "so you will have to worry."


The two men continued their trash talking all the way to the golf course. John insisted that Little Thunder go first. Little Thunder lined the ball up. Then, he hit the ball. The ball rolled slowly before sinking into the hole.

"A hole in one, John," he said. "Try and top that."

John lined his ball up with the hole. As he went to go hit the ball, an intense pain shot throughout his whole body. It caused him to cry out. Then he began to sweat profusely, and knew that his temperature had spiked again.

"John?" Little Thunder said. "What's going on, are you okay?"


John turned around to face Little Thunder. His vision had become blurry.


"Little Thunder," John gasped. "What's happening to me?"


The pain and John's temperature increased. He collapsed on the grass. Little Thunder ran to John's side as he started to convulse. He quickly phone Waichi and then called the paramedics. Then he went into John's pockets and searched for his cell phone.






Vanessa felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulder. She now had things figured out and she had a secret weapon against Mayor Gianclone. She made it to the airport without incident.


Vanessa's cell phone went off. She reached in her purse. She saw tha it was John and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Vanessa," said a voice that wasn't John's

"Little Thunder?" Vanessa said. "What are you doing with John's phone?"


"John is in the hospital."


"Oh my God, what happened to him?" Vanessa asked, fearing the worst.


"He collapsed while we were playing golf," Little Thunder said. "And he went into convulsions."

"What hospital are you in?" Vanessa asked.


"Desert View," Little Thunder said. "Third floor."

"Okay, I'm about to board the plane," Vanessa said, "I should be there in a few hours."

"Okay," said Little Thunder, "I will still be here."

As Vanessa got in her seat, she said a prayer, asking God to keep John alive.

"I'm coming John." she said.





Vanessa quickly hailed down a cab the minute she got off of the plane. She told the driver which hospital to go to. She feared she might be too late. When she got there, she took the elevator to the floor Little Thunder said John was on. She saw Little Thunder waiting outside the room John was in.

"How is he?" she asked

"He had a fever high at 106," Little Thunder said. "They gave him some fever reducers. It has helped, but not much. He's still sweating heavily."

Vanessa went in the room. Waichi was in there, sitting at John's bedside.

"Hello, Waichi," Vanessa said.

"Hello, Vanessa, good to see you," Waichi said. He saw that Vanessa was looking at John.

"He fell asleep 15 minutes before you got here." he said.

John was very pale and was sweating so much, that his gown was soaked. He had a few fever blisters on his face.

"They gave him a few cool cloths, but he dried them up quickly." Waichi told her

"My Lord," Vanessa said. "I need to talk to the doctor, is he here?"

"Yes," said Waichi. "His name is Dr. Levine."

"Okay," said Vanessa, "I'll be back."

She walked to the nurse's station.

"May I help you, ma'am?" said one of the nurses.

"Yes, I'm Dr. Vanessa Calaway," Vanessa started, "and I am the wife of your patient, John Calaway. Is it possible I can speak to Dr. Levine for a few minutes?"

"He is busy attending to other patients at this time." the nurse said. "He'll be with you in a few."

"This is urgent." Vanessa said.

"If I had a dollar for all of the times I've heard that, you'd be talking to an empty chair." the nurse said.

"Please, miss, I have some important information concerning my husband's condition," said Vanessa. "As I have said before, I am a doctor and can help him improve my husband's current state."

"Very well, ma'am," said the nurse, "wait right here."

The nurse got up and went to get Dr. Levine. A few minutes later, Dr. Levine appeared.

Dr. Levine was tall, almost as tall as John. He had thinning blond hair, a rather pointy nose, and behind the wire rimmed glasses he wore were light gray eyes, just like Vanessa's.

"Hello, Dr. Levine," Vanessa said, showing him her doctor licenses. "I am Dr. Vanessa Calaway, may I please speak with you in private?"

"Sure, Dr. Calaway," Dr. Levine said, "but it has to be quick."

Vanessa and Dr. Levine went into his office, where Vanessa explained everything to him and gave him the blood samples she had. Then Vanessa talked about calling for the things they needed.

"I can do that," Dr. Levine said. "However, this may take a few hours."

"Do what you have to do," Vanessa said, "but I cannot, will not lose my husband. He's all I have."

"I understand, Dr. Calaway." Dr. Levine said. "But I'll try my best to hurry with the supplies."

"Thank you, Doctor," Vanessa said as she walked back to John's room.

"I thank you guys for waiting and looking over John," she said to Little Thunder and Waichi. "I need you guys to go back to Furnace Creek and tell the others that I have found a cure and I will have them treated sometime during the week."

"Okay," Little Thunder said, "please keep us updated."

"I will," Vanessa said. "Thank you guys so much."

As Little Thunder and Waichi left, Vanessa felt John's head. He was burning up so bad.

"John?" Vanessa said. "Can you hear me, dear?"

John's eyes fluttered open. They were red as if he had really bad allergies.

"Ness," he said hoarsely. "You're here."

"Yes," Vanessa said. "Just thought you'd know that I have discovered a cure for the Org Virus."

"You have?" John said. "That's great news. I knew you would find a cure."

"It may take a few hours to get here." Vanessa said. "When it gets here, they'll give you the treatment."

John's expression became grim.

"Ness?" he said.

"What is it, dear?" Vanessa asked.

"Do you think I will make it before then?"

Vanessa gripped John's hand tight before she answered.

"Of course you will," Vanessa said.

"Don't think I will," John said. "I feel so awful. I think this is it for me."

"Don't talk like that, Johnm" Vanessa said. "You're a strong man. You can get through this. Just keep holding on. I don't want to lose you."

John understood why. Vanessa was just eight years old when she lost her parents in a fire. She and her brother were shuffled from foster family to foster family for the next nine years of her life. She lost her brother, Adrian in a car accident on her 19th birthday. John was the only thing she had."

"I don't have many friends, John," Vanessa said. "You're my best friend as well as my husband. This past few days have made me realize that. I love you so much."

Tears were falling rapidly down her face.

"I love you too, Nessy," John said.

Vanessa smiled through her tears.

"You used to call me that when we were dating." she said.

There was a brief pause. Then John looked Vanessa straight in the eye and said, "Vanessa, the night I struck you. I want you to know that I'm sorry about that. It's been at the back of my mind for ages."

Vanessa saw that tears were welling up in his eyes.

"It's okay, baby," she said. "You weren't in your right mind."

"I know," John said. "But I told you years ago that I would never hurt you. I broke that promise."

"Don't worry about it, John." Vanessa said. "I don't want you to upset yourself."

She ran her hand through his hair with her free hand.

"We're going to get through this." she said.

"I hope so," said John.

Vanessa stayed by John's side and refused to take a break. Not even to go to the bathroom.



Few days later....


John was out of the hospital a few days later. He was completely cursed of the Org Virus. Vanessa was observing him right after he was given the Rocephin and Bicillin LA injections and Lomatium. The effects were almost immediate. The Rocephin went after the host and destroyed it. The Bicillin LA and The Lomatium killed off the rest of the virus. After a few days, there was no sign of the virus in John.

Despite having nausea (which were common side effects) John felt like a new man. He like like he had been born again. And he owed it all to his dear wife.

John and Vanessa got back to Furnace Creek with more doctors. They administered the injections and Lomatium to all who were infected. Within a week, the Org Virus was no more. The formerly infected stayed a few more days before Little Thunder called for a bus to drive them back to Rid City.

The day the bus came, John and Vanessa were the last to go on. Before they did, they walked up to Little Thunder and Waichi.

"It was a pleasure seeing you after so many years, Little Thunder," John said. "Thank you for allowing us to stay here."

"Do not think anything of it, John," said Little Thunder. "It was a pleasure seeing you as well."

"Perhaps we will see each other again sometime this year?" John said.

"Yes, I would like that," Little Thunder said.

John shook Little Thunder's hand. Then he shook Waichi's hand.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Waichi," he said.

"Likewise," said Waichi.

Vanessa shook both men's hands.

"Thank you guys for all of your help." she said. "If you hadn't informed me about the coyotes, I would have never found a cure."

"Glad we could be of help," Little Thunder said. "You both should get going now."

"See you around, friend," said John.

"See you around," said Little Thunder

John and Vanessa got on the bus. Little Thunder and Waichi watched until the bus was out of sight.

5 Hours Later.......


Michael Gianclone was going over a speech he was preparing for budget cuts, when his secretary phoned him.

"Mayor, John and Vanessa Calaway are here to see you," she said.

"Send them in," Gianclone said.

John and Vanessa walked in. Vanessa was smiling serenely.

"What do I owe the pleasure?" Gianclone asked.

"Hello, Mayor," said Vanessa, "just thought you should know that no thanks to you, I discovered an antidote for the Org Virus and everyone who was infected, including John, is no longer so."

"An antidote?" Gianclone said. "So you went and did research, even after you were ordered not to?"

"That's right," said Vanessa still smiling. "You see the reports you confiscated were mere copies. I had the original reports with me on flash drive the whole time."

Gianclone turned red as he made his way to the phone.

"You, Dr. Calaway, are about to find out what happens to people who disobey me." he said. "Stay right there until the cops come."

Before he could dial the number to the police, Vanessa said, "Oh, you will not have me arrested, Mayor."

"Oh really?" Gianclone snarled. "Watch me."

"If you call the police, you will be sorry." Vanessa said.

"And why is that?" Gianclone sneered.

Vanessa's smile grew wider.

"Does Kelly Dupree ring a bell, Mayor?" She asked. "Or perhaps Norma Lee Or Jenna Levy?"

Gianclone's face went starchy white. He mouthed wordlessly.

"Yes, I know all about your mistresses, Mayor," Vanessa said. "I wonder if Mrs. Gianclone knows about how you contracted gonnorhea from Jenna Levy. Better yet, does she know you fathered two children with Kelly Dupree and Norma Lee? Better yet, I wonder how the public will feel to know that their dear mayor is spending their hard earned tax dollars on wild yacht parties, hard drugs, and call girls?"

"You scumbag," John said in disgust.

"If you arrest me, I will go public with all of this information," Vanessa said. "And if you don't think I can get proof, try me."

Gianclone looked at the two with a look of pure hatred. But nonetheless, he put the phone down.

"That's what I thought," Vanessa said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home to cook a nice well deserved dinner for my husband."

"By the way, Gianclone," John said. "I'm stepping down as CEO of Harper Industries and throwing my hat in the mayoral race. See you in November....Mayor." he made sure to put as much contempt in the last word as possible.

The two held hands as they walked out of Gianclone's office.


A year later......

"I now declare this park officially reopen." said John as he cut the ribbon.

Everyone clapped as they entered Everett Park-formally Lycan Park. John decided to name it in honor of Julius.

John was now the mayor of Rid City. He had defeated Gianclone by a landslide. Since he had became mayor. Rid City had begun to prosper again. He had more police patrolling the streets and parks at night, weeded out corruption in the office, put more funding in the schools, and cleaned up the rivers and lakes. No longer were there boarded up shops. No longer was there gloom and despair.

"I'm so glad to see this city back on its feet," John said as he watched the children playing with their parents.

"So am I." Vanessa said. "You've done a very good job, honey."

"I was thinking, Nessy," John said. "The home we have is nice, but I was thinking of moving somewhere more spacious."

"That would be a great idea," said Vanessa. "We'd have room for the baby."

John looked at her, lost for words.

"You mean.....?"

"Yes," said Vanessa smiling. "I found out this morning. We're going to be parents."

John let out an excited whoop and lifted Vanessa in the air. Then they embraced each other in a kiss.

"Oh, I love you so much, Nessy," said John after they pulled away.

"I love you too, Johnny," she said.

John looked at his watch.

"It's 12 after," he said. "Little Thunder and his family will be arriving soon."

"Yes," said Vanessa. "They will call when they're here. Until then, let's join in the festivities today."

"Sure," said John, "Let's blend in with the residents."

The two of them shook hands and conversed with the people of Rid City. After all the two had been through last year, it was great to see how things were going now. John would get what he always wanted. Same for Vanessa. Life was good.


The End