Read Online Contagion: The Rising by John Carter - Free Book Online Page A

range of blood sugar that it thrives in. The only way we’d know for
sure is to drop someone’s sugar low with insulin, granted if they’re
non-diabetic, and see if that would either delay or eradicate the virus
completely. All of this would have to happen pretty quickly, since it’s
dangerous to have low blood sugar.”
    “I wish
I could volunteer as a control subject for that, but I’m pretty sure you guys
would hate that idea.”
    He
nodded, “Your sister wouldn’t be too happy with you. Besides that, we don’t
have a base reading to compare to.”
    “Well,
I’ll let you get to sleep,” Emma yawned and turned over. “I really appreciate
you being in here with me.”
    “Have a
good night,” Jeremiah laid back on the gurney and stared at the ceiling. He
listened to her heart monitor and let beeping lull him back to sleep.
     
    Mark
tapped Sarah on the shoulder to let her know it was time to switch. She stood
up and walked over to Rory who was sleeping in a sleeping bag. “Just let him
sleep. I’ll keep an eye on him,” Mark sat next to Rory and motioned for Sarah
to go inside. She smiled and opened the steel door slowly. She walked in to the
bunker and nearly ran into Dani.
    “Crap,”
Dani dropped a tool to the ground. “I’m so sorry.”
    Sarah
helped Dani pick up the tool, “It’s cool. Are you okay?” She held the tool in
her hands as Dani looked embarrassed.
    “I made
it,” she blushed. “It’s a sort of hand saw that’s hidden under a sleeve on your
arm. I’ve got it on a spring to activate when you move a small lever. See?” She
demonstrated for Sarah and showed her the lock that held the spring in. The
movement was quiet and seemed like it would work great while sneaking onto a
Riser filled area.
    “Wow, I
like it. Have you tried it out?” Sarah watched as Dani’s smile disappeared.
    “No,
unfortunately, my parents won’t let me venture out as much as I used to,” she
looked on disapprovingly. “It’s not fair since I’m older, but I get why they’re
doing it. It just sucks.”
    “Yeah, Emma
used to keep me inside all the time,” Sarah half smiled. “I never fully forgave
her for it, either.” Dani looked confused as Sarah moved the lever on the
weapon. “I was always so upset to never be allowed to go scavenging with her. I
was a lot smaller than her, even though I’m only 2 years younger.”
    “She
tried to protect you,” Dani closed the weapon.
    “She
always does,” Sarah shifted her focus towards the end of the hallway. She laughed
to herself, “Where’s Jeremiah?”
    Dani
smirked, “he’s sleeping in your bed. I never thought he’d ever like anyone as
much as he likes your sister.”
    “Is
there another bed I can sleep in?”
    “Yeah,
I think there’s a gurney in the lab, unless you want mine. I can take the lab.”
    “No,
it’s okay. I should be fine.”
    “Alright,
he’s got extra blankets in there too since it gets a little colder than usual,”
Dani turned to walk away.
    Sarah
walked over to the triage room and checked on Emma. The heart monitor continued
to beep and she relaxed as she watched her sister was quietly sleeping. The
sight of the wounds on her sister’s body angered her and she resented being the
reason for both painful reminders of how she’s failed Emma. She looked away and
walked to the lab. The bed looked awkward and out of place next to the old lab
equipment. She threw her pillow on it and covered up with some blankets. She
shivered for a few seconds before falling asleep.
     
    Tony
joined Mark outside as Rory woke up from sleeping on the ground. Mark nodded to
Rory, “Sarah’s inside, should be sleeping already.”
    “She’s
in the lab,” Tony said as he sat near Mark. “Oh. It gets pretty cold in there
so plenty of blankets on the corner of the hallway for you guys.”
    Rory
nodded and stumbled back inside the bunker.
    Tony
took the binoculars from Mark and looked at the valley. “Nothing yet, huh?”
    Mark
shook his