Time seems to stand still as Henry is lying on the bed, staring at the white ceiling. Resting seems completely out of the question, Henry's mind racing, and yet at the same time drawing a blank, not a single thought able to manifest in a coherent manner. Like trying to find a station on the radio, but it keeps cutting off and making noise, making the music unlistenable and a mess. He tried thinking of something that was less abstract, his mind settling on who Adam was. He had an interesting aura to him. Staying extremely professional and yet still somehow managing to feel off putting and almost dangerous. It made Henry feel uncomfortable about being in this place. He wondered if the woman, Emma, would be the same way. Maybe working with the virus, and zombies, somehow desensitized a person. Seeing a normal person turning into whatever Henry would become within the next few days. He wondered how it would feel, would he be able to tell that he had changed, or would it be like a different person taking his place, replacing him slowly? Luckily he didn't get time to linger on the question, as the door once again opened with a soft *click*.
Henry sits up, planting his feet on the ground. Only now does he notice the completely white garments he is wearing. He wonders where his own clothes are, but is interrupted by two soldiers entering the room, followed this time by a woman. She is a beautiful woman with long blond hair. She is wearing a lab coat similar to the one Adam had on, but a black shirt underneath, and blue jeans. Around her neck is a silver chain necklace. She meets Henry's eyes and gives him a warm smile that immediately manages to disarm him.
"Hi Henry, I'm Emma, I think Adam told you I'd be here?" she asks, maintaining her smile. Henry is taken aback by the sheer difference between her and Adam. His theory that the job was the cause of Adam's demeanor shattered as soon as it was born.
"Yes i was, though he didn't tell me much else" Henry replies, realizing he still hadn't really been told anything yet. Though he felt it didn't matter much, his life was already forfeited. He grimaces at his own thought process, was that really how he felt?
"Well, that's why I'm here" she says, stepping closer as she gestures to one of the guards, who moves out of the room, returning quickly with a chair. The other guard grips his weapon tighter as the other guard leaves and Emma steps closer to Henry, but she doesn't seem to notice or care. The guard places the chair around 3 meters away from where Henry is sitting, and Emma sits down. She takes out a pen from her coat, and moves her other arm up in front of her, holding a small block of paper.
"So, Henry Rush, 25 years old, two times stationed in Afghanistan?" she says, surprised as she looks up from the block at Henry. Henry simply nods. He had enlisted early, and with nothing else calling his name, he had felt a sense of belonging and purpose in the army. Emma continues;
"Impressive. Random construction work for the last two years. Is it right that you have no family?" Henry is surprised by the question. He hadn't really even considered family and friends with everything going on. He had always been well off on his own, and so he didn't really maintain any of his friendships. Of course he had some close bonds from the army, but they only talked on occasion. It was also true that Henry had no family to speak of. His father had passed away 4 years ago, while he was away in Afghanistan, and had been the last relative Henry had left. His mother had died when he was only 10, from a heart disease. The realization that no one would know he was gone hurt more than Henry thought it would have, but he quickly found his composure, shoving the thought to the back of his mind.
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"Yeah that's right, is that important?" he asks. Emma is quick to respond, and while she does, she decides to write something down on her block of paper.
"Just making sure our information is correct". The answer seems vague, but Henry decides to let it slide, as he had more pressing questions at the moment. As if reading his mind though, Emma continues before he can ask.
"So. We already took some blood tests while you were sedated, but we'd like to do a biopsy as well. And also some physical tests. I'm sure you've noticed that not all of your blood has turned black". She gesticulates towards Henry's arms, and he looks down at them, nodding as he does.
"This is not something we've ever seen before, and so that makes you quite the anomaly. Usually the blood turns black within the first couple of hours, but you were infected more than 12 hours ago". She leaves the observation at that, and continues; "When we've done the biopsy and physical tests, we'd also like to do some x-rays of your whole body, including an MRI as well". Henry didn't mind, he had been through a lot of medical tests in the army, both from injuries and from regular check ups.
"We'd like to do the tests quickly while you.." She pauses, looking uncomfortable. Henry realizes it's because she was about to say that they'd like to do it before he becomes a zombie. Luckily the news had already been delivered by Adam, who was less hesitant because of empathy, and more so because he had wanted to formulate himself well.
"Before i become 'unruly'?" Henry asks, giving Emma a forced smile, one that felt painfully fake. Emma examines Henry, then nods.
"Yes. We will be preparing for the biopsy immediately, so someone will come and get you in about 30 minutes. I'm impressed you can stay this composed, but don't hesitate to ask about anything". She adds the last bit as she gets up from her chair, and one of the guards, the one who had brought it, quickly grabs it and exits the room with Emma right behind him and the other guard as last man. Henry considers Emma's words as the door closes behind them, melting away into the wall again. He didn't feel composed at all, and yet he was surprised to realize that he didn't feel panicked or stressed about the situation either. It seemed possible that the whole charade had left him feeling somewhat numb, but something inside him became afraid as well. Was this because of the virus? Also, Emma had said that Henry had been infected over 12 hours ago, so then that gave him only one and a half days more before he'd start seeing red.
Even though Henry now knew what was going to happen for the next day or so, he still felt left in the dark. He didn't know what would happen after that, and he still hadn't been told how a zombie was even able to survive and escape from a facility of this caliber, and how Henry had survived the attack. The whole thing still felt off to him, but it seemed like it would be hard to do anything about it, considering the multiple guards and how quickly and proficiently they moved things along. He had to remember that this wasn't some random hospital, this was EVO Future, the company behind stopping and researching the zombie virus, nothing they did was half-assed. He decided he would bring up the topic after the tests had been run, and he knew a little bit more.
