Chapter 2 - The Quarantine
The harsh buzzing of the electronic lock echoed off the sterile white walls.
I stared at Dr. Evans, my mind struggling to process the horrifying words he had just spoken.
"Open that door right now," I demanded, stepping aggressively toward him.
Dr. Evans retreated to the far corner of the room, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"I cannot do that, Sarah," he stammered, his eyes darting toward the security camera in the ceiling.
"That thing inside your daughter's neck is not a biological infection."
Chloe let out a soft whimper, her small hands clutching the edges of her sequin sweater.
I rushed back to her side, wrapping my arms tightly around her trembling body.
"Then what is it?" I yelled, my voice breaking with desperation.
"It is a synthetic neural parasite," the doctor whispered, looking terrified of his own words.
He explained that the hospital had secretly seen three other cases this week, all children from Oak Creek Elementary.
Before he could explain any further, the heavy steel door suddenly hissed open.
Four men wearing heavy black tactical gear and full-face respirator masks marched into the room.
They did not look like medical professionals.
They looked like military contractors, and they were carrying suppressed assault rifles.
"Target acquired," the lead man said into his radio, pointing a gloved finger directly at Chloe.
Dr. Evans stepped forward, raising his hands to intervene.
"Wait, she is just a child, you cannot just take her!" the doctor pleaded.
The lead soldier did not even hesitate.
He raised his rifle and struck Dr. Evans brutally in the chest with the butt of the weapon.
The elderly doctor collapsed to the floor, gasping for air as he lost consciousness.
Two of the men grabbed my arms, ripping me away from my daughter with terrifying strength.
"Mommy!" Chloe screamed, her eyes wide with absolute horror as the other men lifted her off the table.
I fought back with the ferocity of a wild animal, kicking and scratching at the armored men holding me.
I managed to sink my teeth deep into the wrist of the man on my left, tasting blood and thick leather.
He cursed loudly, loosening his grip just enough for me to tear myself free.
I grabbed a heavy metal oxygen tank from the corner and swung it as hard as I could into the second man's helmet.
He went down hard, dropping his weapon onto the linoleum floor.
I snatched the heavy rifle, my hands trembling as I pointed it at the soldier holding Chloe.
"Put my daughter down, or I will kill you right now," I screamed.
The soldier slowly lowered Chloe to the ground, but he was laughing behind his dark mask.
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"You are making a huge mistake, lady," he chuckled darkly.
"You don't even realize that your daughter is the one who called us."
