Read Online AM13 Outbreak Series (Book 2): Forgotten by Samie Sands - Free Book Online Page B

step in the right direction.
    From my current findings, I can safely assume that the body cannot fight off this virus at any stage, as it has evolved past our bodies’ capabilities. Specimens should not be able to progress to the third stage, after all the organs — including the heart — stop functioning, it has always been impossible for a human being to continue moving and living after this has happened, but somehow AM13 has defied all our current understandings of biology.
    However, it’s notable that there’s still minimal brain activity, even in stage three, which is obviously very significant. Some of the victims seem to retain the ability to speak and have memories—for a short time, at least. I need to concentrate on trying to understand the virus, and work out how to eliminate or prevent it, rather than bogging myself down in details and questions I may never be able to answer. There is simply no time for this. Illogical as AM13 may be, it’s right here in front of me and that’s what I need to grasp.
    With that in mind, I have been running some tests with the seven specimens, to determine what motivates them, if it isn’t the hunger for human flesh, as previously assumed.
    I have given all seven specimens access to different meats, even number five — although the look she gave me suggested that my efforts were pointless. This includes animal meat, flesh from a human that has been dead for a while, and a more recently deceased human. Only the specimens in stage three showed any real interest, but I’ve come to some conclusions regardless.
    The results I’ve drawn from these tests, and from my prior knowledge, is that their main desire and purpose is to spread the AM13 virus. The bug wants to move and grow. The victims want to contaminate others. As one bite appears to infect victims — they immediately start the process of running through the three main stages — specimens will, at least half the time, stop then, moving on to another target. This information does correlate with the brain scans I ran before. If ‘hunger’ was their main objective, they would continue ‘eating’ until there was no flesh left on their chosen target.
    It appears to me that they can smell the virus running through a person’s system, which is why they are only interested in the uninfected. They can also smell the difference between human and animal flesh, live and dead flesh. Although I did not notice any unusual perception in the olfactory or limbic system during the MRI, it is a common phenomenon that loss of one scent heightens others and in this case, it seems smell — and to some extent hearing — is all that has survived AM13.
    Of course, this completely negates all of the images we’ve seen of people being ‘eaten’ by the infected. My personal opinion is that this is down to a competitive ‘pack mentality’ often witnessed in the animal world. The instinctive reaction is to assert dominance and strength over others. I cannot test this idea further without live bait, but I feel confident in my personal assessment — at this stage, anyway.
    Although nothing I write down in this report can be 100% proven fact, I will stand by everything I note down. To the best of my ability and working with the knowledge I have, my findings are correct.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 20
     
     
    ALYSSA
     
    I start humming to myself as I walk down the road. It’s still cold, but nowhere near as frosty as it was last time I was outside for a long period of time, which can only be a good thing. I’m brimming with positivity as I step along the muddy path. It feels so good to have a purpose again. It beats sitting around waiting for time to pass me by. I’ve never been still for so long before, it was driving me insane. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what made me stay for so long.
    I’m also a lot more confident in my chance of survival with my new fighting tool. Any security I felt with that golf club