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Prologue
“It’s like a red rash only it’s a red mark that spreads from the neck on. It really is getting worse. Ever since Karrie Wayne’s lab in San Diego exploded we’ve been having problems, its spread from California to Maine
*
24 hours. That’s all it takes for the poison to set into your skin and start spreading. It doesn’t last long. You’re only ill for around 2-3 days before you slowly stop breathing. Apparently that Karrie Wayne was trying to help people who had trouble breathing, especially infants. Something went wrong inside and the place blew up. Karrie went with it. Now we suffer from her malfunction. She wanted to help us breath easier, instead she made it far worse. For some it hits immediately. Minutes after the 24 hours is up, it stricks. Impulsive spreads and doesn’t stop in till you’re covered in the hot, flesh burning disease, and then it attacks your lungs. Some don’t have problems; instead they fall asleep, and simply never wake up again. But others suffer without end.
It was different for Rosie, my oldest sister. She came home late one night, crying that her best friend was gone. Her throat was raw and red. A sure sign she had it. We waited up all night with her, the whole 24 hours we sat and watch re-runs of American Idol. We laughed at the ones who couldn’t sing, and cheered when we saw our favorites. When we got tired of hours of horrible singing we watched Lost and Survivor in till we fell asleep. The minute the 24 hours was up we watched to see that the red mark of death was disappearing. Finally with clear and happy minds we slept. The next day Rosie showed no signs of having Impulsive. Relived we headed into our normal routines. No need to worry. Once it hits 24 hours that’s it. You have it or you don’t. It spreads, or it doesn’t.
Rosie died 2 days later. No sign of having Impulsive, in till moments before her death. The once safe zone was no longer the safe place we thought it was. The news announced stage two:
“It’s hitting strong. Stage two is getting through clean and preserved air tanks and is killing hundreds in a matter of hours. It only takes 24 hours for the disease to get in or out of the system, but that was stage one. Stage two has other ideas. It only takes 24 hours for Impulsive to enter your system. The mark fades away. Then it only takes a few days for your system to fail or defeat the disease. Stage two has earned its new name. Invisible Pulse.”
*
Invisible Pulse hit even harder then Impulsive. So hard that it took my dad only days after losing Rosie. Mum woke one morning to find the red mark on her throat, and that was all I needed to be sent to a new safe location. She wore gloves while she packed my bags; she even wore a mask so I didn’t have to. She scrubbed the house from top to bottom while I waited for the bus. The bus that would take all the kids in our once paradise and take us to a ‘safe zone’. My story doesn’t start now, but on the bus. Moments before we reach the safe location. The moment my life takes another turn for the worst.
My name is Christina. I am the third stage, and this is my story.
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