Variant-Z

GIFT, GIRL, ZOMBIE, SADISTIC.

One Week Ago

The ruined world burns on all sides and decomposing bodies litter the apocalyptic streets. Her rifle held at the ready, aimed its ever glowing target in search of roaming bodies, between the rubble and stagnant objects. All moving shapes are considered a threat, whether dead or alive is irrelevant. Evening approaches, and in the amber glow of dusk there would soon be no silence whilst the creatures sought out their prey. Shouts, pleas and primal calls fill the night, and not all life will see the light of day.

Her night vision was stolen in the last ambush and she was low on ammunition. It was now a race, to find safe hiding before the sun slipped below the horizon. Salina had to admit Contagion Z had the most beautiful sunsets, exploding vibrantly across the skyline, unlike any reality she’d ever seen.

In the knick of time, she found a suitable hiding spot with sealed entrances on all sides and a lifted fire escape in the ally. She could only pray it had good vision from the rooftop.

Before she stepped over the ledge off the fire escape, she came face-to-face with an ample bust. The females clothes wrapped so tightly around her athletic frame, one could see rippling muscles peaking through the torn holes. And whilst ogling the accentuated figure, she was too oblivious to witness the machete falling onto her head.

It had been long time since she was last killed, previously she trusted a team that promised to get her to the Sacred Temple. Only after the ambush, where they took all their possessions and killed everyone, did she realize no one could be trusted. Unlike last time, however, she now had a Checkpoint Revival, so would luckily not have to return to homebase.

The dome sunk to darkness, and a skull and cross-bones with crimson letters flashed:

@RoraMa$hete killed @Salikzer6 by machete.

And as her XP points dropped exponentially, her heart sunk with it.

Thursday

“Organize records. Investigate discrepancies. Email suggestions. Maintain data. Reexplain policies. Resolve discrepancies. Analyze trends. Prepare statement. Email client recommendations. Resolve…”

In the dark corners of the annex, Sal typed out her résumé. It was the second time before turning a calendar page, previously having not been touched for a decade. The month before she was in a stable job, with financial security, and a familiar atmosphere. Most importantly people kept to themselves, and that fantasy could not have lasted more than ten blissful years.

The cost of too many offices, and with so great a number of contacts, was beyond the risks the company could afford. So they closed half the firms and pooled only a handful of staff into the remaining branches. They fed some bullshit story of how she was an asset they couldn’t lose, so she typed out a resume the first time. Using tips recalled from a Guidance Councillor back in 2014, who tossed an accounting brochure when math was mentioned in the slightest.

But the joke was on Sal, because after all their grovelling, she would be placed in the worst firm of all. It wasn’t the work load or the calculations, she actually loved punching the numbers and uncovering inefficiencies. And there wasn’t anything wrong with location, it was only a five minute walk from the nearest TransPod station. Her team was even more ambitious than the last and she felt fulfillment from her tasks, so it wasn’t those either.

Sal was burnt out, already entering the third decade of the twenty first century, into her thirty fourth year of life.

As her mind faded, she typed absentmindedly, “…Fixing oversights. Emailing. Soothing client tantrums. Emailing. Taking the assail. Email. Resolve. Email. Resolve. ” She didn’t really intend to use the resume anyway. She couldn’t quit, not for a quick impulsive urge, she didn’t really have it in her.

“Hey Salina?” A voice drew her back from far away, “Salina? The donuts for Tina’s birthday just flew in. Wanna join?” Megan asked.

Sal reeled herself back, it was a lot easier to daydream with the Domes on, especially with the external noise mufflers on. “Sorry, way too focused on my files. Donuts? Um yes, I’d love some!” She answered a little too high pitched for sing-song, over-enthused at the invite.

In the breakroom one donut was placed inside each of their Iso-vented cubes. Sal picked at the rainbow sprinkles on her pink frosted donut, relieved to have the dome off her shoulders. There was a Happy Birthday song and, as per usual, equal discomfort was felt for the singers as well as for Tina on the receiving end. But some satisfaction came in those moments of normalcy, as one could almost imagine humanity had not been entirely lost to the state of affairs. Sal found all her joy in the simple things, like sunsets, perfectly pressed coffee, playing her online games; and finally satisfying that craving for donuts. Once she finished eating, the dome was quickly replaced, as she didn't intend to stay long.

“Did you guys see the Live Drone Feed” Megan announced. “My cousin sent me the latest footage, apparently on the coast the numbers are out of control. I can link you all later if you’d like.”

“I thought the Domes were supposed to prevent the spread.” A short woman with an even shorter temper, gestured dramatically to her helmet.

“Well, thats what they said… but seventy five percent of them had Domes, yet that didn’t stop the spread, and now they can’t even contain the sick population. The hospitals are overflowing and riots have started in the streets.”

Sal gripped the light glass orb sealed to her shoulders, like an astronaut who discovered their suit didn’t provide oxygen.

Megan asked, “Salina do you keep up with the LDF?”

“No, not really,” Sal felt out of place, “I try to avoid the news. I find its all the same, and it puts a damper on my mood for the day.” She almost mentioned gaming instead, but thought better of it.

The room nodded in unison, hummed and hawed, but ended the conversation where it lay. At that moment, whether to save Sal from her discomfort or worsen it, they were interrupted.

The boss with her sleek black hair barged into the breakroom with an air that demanded attention. A slitted pencil skirt enwrapped her sculpted physique and a ruffled low V-neck accentuated their already very round breasts. Even her specialized Dome shone opulently, with a lighter weight and a more intricate respirator on the back. A voice with the likeness to Barbie declared, “what, you guys thought you could have fun without me? No way, you know I’m the life of the party!” She released such a fake laugh, it could have been mistaken for a rather inappropriate act of pleasure.

The crowd remained awkwardly silent, but Vanessa continued, “well, its fine I didn’t really want an invite,” her mopey tone said otherwise. “I can’t eat that stuff anyways, not if I want to keep a tight bod’.” Her tone escalated, “Speaking of, Sal, you used to have such a sleek figure in High School. Agh, I was so jealous,” she gritted through teeth a bit too forcefully to be playful. “Sal and I played on the same basketball team. We would have never made it through that one qualifier game, if you hadn’t filled in for our best point guard after her injury,” and she gave a pout of false gratitude. “You know I still run every morning. My mom used to always say I could run before I could walk, but you guys already knew that. Anyway Salina, what got you away from fitness? Have you been doing ok?”

One big tomato head, would have been what the room saw, if they hadn’t been trying so hard to avoid eye contact. Sal stumbled over some foolish reply of how she was fine and still did yoga on the weekends, but wished she had the confidence to shut it down completely.

*****

Back at her desk Sal typed feverishly at her resume again, but with more eloquence than before. The only distraction from her hyper focus came as a globe of frizz and acne. It was easy to forget she wasn’t alone in the exile of the Annex, with such a bizarre neighbour.

Tod, who’s bushy locks filled more space than air in his bubble, bobbed over the cubicles too quick and reverberated off the edge with a vibrating hum.

In the act he scared Sal out of her wits.

“Sorry,” he yelled past the ringing, “I can’t see anything with these Domes on. I hated when they made them mandatory.” Then looking wide eyed, he stuttered, “not that I - uh-don’t believe in the virus or anything. I-I swear I’m not one of those people who resist the Contagion Prevention Protocol. ”

Sal said flippantly, “you could do with a trim, ” and then flushed at her blatancy. She redirected, “don’t sweat it, I had a hard time adjusting to the protocols too. Its been what five years? I miss walks in the park and the fresh morning air…” Sal trailed off trying to recall that word for the smell after rain. Petrichor, thats it, a cool earthy sensation tickled her nostrils nostalgically.

The man was still talking, “ya, Mom used to cut it, but as you say, the epidemic and all.” Tod attempted to toss and blow his hair out of view, but quickly forfeited in a sweaty mess of bamboozlement. “I guess I just miss meeting people, no one wants to talk to strangers or strike up a conversation anymore. Its become a very lonely disconnected world.”

“Megan said this morning that most people on the coast were infected even though seventy-five percent of them had domes.” Her voice sounded far away, as the vision of a post-apocaliptic world drew nearer. Crumbling streets littered in abandon, an approaching dusk which echoed the screams of night.

Tod snapped her out of it, “don’t listen to a thing Megan says. She swears by the LDF, and that stuff is entirely propaganda, based off ignorant assumptions alone. My family lives on the coast and that outbreak was not as unexpected as we were made to believe. The riots were provoked by the Anti-Dome 'Freedom' Defenders, if anything the seventy-five percent were actually going against protocol.”

Discovering the origins of this outbreak did nothing to qualm her anxieties.

Tod noticed this, “trust me, the Domes are working. Most people in our city are protected, so those problems are miles away. Anyway enough of that dreary stuff, I was only going to ask how you’re liking your first week.”

It took a moment to come back to their reality. “Oh, thats so nice,” she said, regretting her frankness. “Umm… its still so much to take in really.”

“You get used to her,” Tod motioned to the sound of staccato breathy laughter assaulting their ears in the Supervisors office.

“Sounds like a porno in there,” Sal's hands trapped over her mouth, “I mean-“

Tod laughed daringly, “your secrets safe. Hey, you knew Vanessa before didn’t you?”

Sal replied, “ya, she used to be called V or Nessie,” after the Lock Ness monster I assume, she thought. “We had school together, but we didn’t really hangout, different friend groups.” There was only ever one group, Vanessa’s, and she made sure to keep it that way.

“Has she always been this way?” He asked.

From the beginning Vanessa had always been the bane of her existence. Although Sal was nothing but nice to V from the start, somehow her compliments and pleasantries would not be construed as such. Sal’s last name Likzer didn't do her any favours either, but after Nessie had her way, it became a token of adversity. In the tenth grade, “Lick’s Her” was edited into all five hundred yearbooks under Sals name. Unfortunately students were no better than a flock of sheep, so she would be avoided like the plague, on a false pretence that she was somehow interested in Vanessa, of all women. Nessie never actually faced punishment, even so, she was the Head of Council all through high school. That master manipulator had everyone, along with administration, wrapped around her little finger.

Sal calculated a response, “ya, she never really got into any trouble and seemed to just know everybody,” quite literally.

Tod gave a sincere look of knowing, and it unravelled a few of the many knots in her stomach.

*****

It had been a week since last logging on, yet her dignity still felt tender. It took almost a month of hardwork to reach level 19, including highjacking a helicopter and detonating it, while crashing into an heavily infested skyscraper. She had been only 500 XP away from levelling up to 20, that is before she was sliced down the middle by a machete wielding bimbo.

Sal had always loved games, since young she played everything from Angry Birds to Zelda. Her favourite, however, was the first person shooter game “Contagion Z” since it came out a year ago. Video games were safe and comfortable, at least emotionally they were, not considering all the warfare and treachery. In real life one has to constantly fit societies mold, and Sal found it utterly terrifying to face the scrutiny of peers and up-keep social norms. But with her games she could be who ever she wanted, and no matter which terrible things happened on the screen, in the end she could always just log off and walk away.

The Dome illuminated with a font that looked to have been smeared by bloody shredded fingers, it read Contagion Z. Just below in a less gruesome manner, a tiny stick figure stumbled his way from the left side of the screen, escaping a pack of other disheveled looking stick figures. Once they reached the little guy on the opposite side, they pounced and ripped him to shreds. After it was loaded, a chilling voice resonated on queue, “are you ready to meet your fate?” Sal gave the affirmative, and the game commenced.

A character materialized, not unlike herself. They had a healthy build and the high black shorts and loose tank were what Sal would have worn on weekends before the lock down. They both had slate grey eyes and dark blonde hair, nothing extraordinary about it. But she liked it that way, with no desire to stand out.

Much less care was put into the design of characters than the game plot anyhow. It wasn’t uncommon to see alien faces, with animal parts, and bodybuilder biceps. This was a place of thievery, murder, and betrayal after all. Sal had witnessed allies feed each other to the dead, and betray one another in the name of gaining XP points. But the worst of them all were the Thumpers; categorized by over enhanced features, amble breasts or muscular bodies, whom often extorted players for points by means of blackmail. It seemed even the fantasy world could not escape the criminals.

Since time in the dome had its own reality, it continued into the dead of night. Which meant she was again severely exposed, as a short sharp wail escaped the darkness ahead. Sal pulled the rifle off her back and crouched around the corner. She peered into the darkness but couldn’t make out the shapes without her night vision. Cursing silently to herself she pulled out her last flare, and hesitated in consideration of sparing it. But the subsequent snaps, slurps and snarls forced her to send a crack of light across the alley.

At once a dozen blind carcases flipped their noses away from the small mound of guts and torn flesh. The closest one at a mere fifteen feet, let out a shrill blood-curdling scream and every creature darted in Sal’s direction.

Instinctively she bolted the opposite way. The virtual world seemed so real after all, and anxiety told her she was soon to be mauled to death. But then she remembered that pounding heart was not her own, nor were the panting breaths. No matter how real they seemed, the details of bloody dripping whiskers and limbs of rotting flesh were only part of a game.

Sal stopped running and turned on the pack of Zombies with a weapon much greater than her confidence. With venomous furry she forced every last one of them back, pumping lead bullets straight through their bodies. A bullet below the neck could maim, but a shot to the head was always fatal. She used up every round of ammo until only a still mound of a dozen figures remained.

When the smoke cleared, and both Sal and her characters hearts stilled, she realized what had been done. The shots would call every creature within earshot and that could have been for miles. There was no night vision, her last flares were used up, and she now held a very scary gun without any bullets. I am fucked, she thought.

*****

An ear-splitting knock throughout the Dome broke Sals concentration, and she recognized the sound immediately. At lightening speed, she shut down the game, although it would do her no good.

The tiny artificial nose of her superior pointed down at her through two layers of plexiglass, “I assume you weren’t sorting through files in there?” Vanessa smiled in a sadistic manner, almost glad to have caught Salina in the act. Since the screens blacked out externally in virtual gaming, a spectator couldn’t have seen what she was actually doing.

“Umm…” Sal raced through excuses for her insubordination, checking personal emails, or a family member had an emergency. But she knew the use of Dome functions were prohibited in the office. And the game controller in hand was kind of a dead give away. “I’m so sorry, I’ve never done this before at work, I swear. I just got through so many tasks this morning and thought I would just take a peak at Contagion-Z. It was a total laps in judgment, I swear it will never happen again.” Sal cringed at having revealed her guilty secret to Vanessa.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk clicked off the woman’s tongue,“you were pretty into it, we watched you squirm for a minute or two before intervening.” The boss motioned to Tod, and he tried to look as apologetic as possible.

Sal returned the look with a stern glare of disapproval, he made the wrong enemy of her.

“Save the excuses for upper management, they’ll be in tomorrow,” her managers words cut like a knife, draining the blood from her body. Was she going to be fired?

Pretending to be unaware, Vanessa vented, “agh, my step sons play those games too, I just can’t understand the thrill of it, seems so childish to me. I really had to put a strict schedule on them, with all their free time being homeschooled.” Then winced in disgust, “by the Nanny not me, Becky, bless her heart. I don’t care to spend more time with the twins than I have to. Anyways, I hope I don’t need to start monitoring my employees like I do 12 year olds. And I trust that we won’t be bringing that controller to work anymore.” Her tone was that of a preschool teacher.

“Yes. I mean no, as in, I promise I won’t bring it anymore,” Sal sputtered in humiliation.

“Good. I have to say I really didn’t expect this from you. Just do better,” she waved her hands dramatically, “it really makes my job easier.” As though Vanessa was running a Correctional Facility for the particularly insane.

When that insufferable rant was over the menacing Manager finally took her leave. And Sal returned to work without so much as a peek at Tod in her periphery. But she felt his slimy gaze on her the rest of the day, whilst she fought anxieties of the repercussions to come.

Before it was time to wrap up, Tod finally got her attention. Her external noise was turned to zero passive aggressively, but also to silence his incessant hacking and coughing.

“What,” Sal snapped more intensely than anticipated.

“I’m sorry about what happened, she didn’t have to be so terrible about it.” He sounded more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs.

She almost pitied him, but couldn’t help the boiling sensations of spite.

“I just wanted you know that I didn’t rat on you,” Tod continued, “I would never. I even tried to warn you, by throwing a pencil at your Dome, but she was already on my heels before I could do more.”

Salina was the master of jumping to conclusions, she scolded herself for being so mean to such a vulnerable creature. “I guess it wouldn’t have been entirely wrong of you to report me, even if you had. But thank you for throwing things at me as a warning,” she called a truce with a laugh.

“I’m not as bad as they say, I’m actually a nice guy once you get to know me.” It sounded like a compliment taken from his mother’s mouth.

“Oh, I don’t know what you mean,” she mumbled awkwardly.

“You don’t have to dance around it, I know they all think I’m weird here. I don’t mind, they’re not really my kind of people.”

“Oh okay, well they say that you clip your toenails on top of your desk. That can't be true, is it?”

Tod flushed, “well… I only did it, because it got rid of them hanging around in the annex. Gives me space to focus on my studies.”

Trying to not look repulsed she inquired, “what do you study?”

“Psychology, I take classes on the weekends.”

She couldn’t prevent her questioning look when she examined his anxious features.

He acknowledged, “ya, I’m not the most personal looking guy but its always been a dream of mine. I just want to do something bigger than punching the numbers, you know? And now after constant uncertainty in this Pandemic, I feel like there’s no room for doubt anymore. I want to really connect with people again, and if not now, then it might not be ever. You know, any of us could be taken at any moment. And the Mrs is a real supporter, couldn’t do it without her.”

It took a moment for Salina to process that Tod had said he was married. And here she was thinking of his faults, when she was the single one, eternally it would seem. “Wow thats really amazing actually, good for you Tod.”

“See this isn’t so bad, is it,” he teased.

“I guess I could take friendship into consideration.” She wagged a figure only half joking, “but only if you give up the toenail clipping act.”

He threw his hands up in surrender, “deal.”

Friday

Once the city settled, before the morning light touched the glass, it was Sals favourite time of day. Hours before work she brewed an extra foamy latte with a dash of cinnamon, and plopped herself in front of the balcony. Of course it was nothing like the balconies of only a decade earlier. All openings to the outside were shielded over by the Dome to, “protect the unaffected,” as they say. Built from the same technology as the helmets, but they encase our outer home limits as well. One can materialize a back drop to the hearts content- memorabilia, beaches or geometrical shapes- but she always wanted to see reality when she could.

So there on her couch Sal sat sleepy eyed and cozy every morning, watching the sun peak over the horizon, beyond the boundaries of her hometown. Sal exhaled, relieved to be in her happy place again and fell deeper into her many fluffy cushions. She gave no residence to the daydreams ahead.

It’s hard to believe, but there used to be days one could run through the river valley, smell the greenery and feel the rush of wind in your hair. Back when we could still mingle without the encumbrances of room or facial dividers. Things we once took advantage of are impossible now; cheek to cheek hugs from loved ones, dancing in sweaty messy bundles at the bar, or getting a first kiss after a romantic date. But no thanks to the epidemic, those fantasies now came with the risk of breathing the contagion of death.

In the beginning things didn’t seem so bad, we washed our hands, and changed our masks as many times as there were peaks and valleys of the pandemic. The virus seemed like nothing more than a common flu, but it mutated over time. Different strains developed from every country, there didn’t even seem to be enough letters in the alphabet to name each Variant. They tried to inoculate the greater population, but in such short time society became profoundly distrustful, and the time for immunization fell away.

The virus eventually mutated and evolved, passing from one host to another. Then it was a really bad flu, and there were extended sick leaves, and symptoms worsened to when people fell violently ill within hours. There were deficits and if you survived at you might have diseases, disorders and psychological disruptions.

Colleagues, neighbours and loved ones changed, becoming volatile overnight. People were drowning in their own lungs, their veins rotted black from the inside out, and mortality rates climbed to ten digits, wiping out an eighth of the worlds population. One could see the human race was fighting against its most advanced enemy, and it seemed we would lose the war.

If not for the Dome corporation, we wouldn’t have survived. Five years ago the wealthy employed a group of leading scientists to create the glass barriers that surround us. Equally as important, they specialize in respirators for the domes, and filters for ventilation in every breathable space. Without replacing said filters and respirators monthly, we risk infesting the clean air with the toxic atmosphere. Thankfully, we have the most powerful technology this world has ever seen to battle our menacing foe.

Of course, the virus still isn’t contained, but those who take the right precautions can protect the few remaining. It wasn’t so bad switching from hand held devices to 3D surround imaging, with everything a cell phone can do and more, but there would always be things Sal missed about life before the Pandemic.

Suddenly a great snort woke her from a dream she wasn’t conscious of having. What time is it, she thought, 0830, holy shit I’m so late! She dressed at lightening speed and bolted out the door without a bite to eat. Luckily with everyone already at work, she was able to maneuver the TransPod tunnels at ease, and arrived no more than forty-five minutes late. When she slipped into the office it was eerily quiet, sans the muffled words in Vanessa’s office. Everyone diligently worked like lines of typing machines.

Sal scrambled to set up her cubicle as though she had been there all morning, hoping to slip under the radar. Before yesterday she hadn’t so much as typed an error in her digits, but then she was caught playing Contagion Z, and now this. The greatest fear of all came when she recalled Vanessa’s scold, “save the excuses for upper management,” they’ll be in today. It took every ounce of willpower to not faint or scream in that moment. And suddenly the muffled voices in the managers office were deafening.

Finally after an hour a group shuffled out of the office and circled Sals desk like a pack of vultures, Vanessa in tow.

This is it, Sal told herself, if all you can keep from being fired is your composure, so be it.

“It's Salina right?,” seemed to echo from them all, “how are you liking the new position?”

She fell dumbstruck, it seemed rather patronizing to ask, before taking her job away. But she remembered her manners, “I’m just so grateful for the opportunity I was given here… even if I couldn’t live up to those expectations.”

The circle of orbs laughed together, “don’t be so humble, I’m sure you were told the good news?”

Feeling lost Sal failed to decipher Vanessa’s sour demeanour, and answered “I’m sorry, I’m not sure I do.”

“We’re the ones that should be thanking you. Your recommendations to allocate funds has completely optimized our financial capabilities. Salina you singlehandedly saved this branch thousands of dollars with only your first week resolving data.”

“I did?” She sputtered, and then announced with false confidence, “I did.” Work became so automatic, it was easy to miss the details. She knew of the difference she made- that was obvious, whomever she replaced left a trail of errors a mile long- but she had been oblivious to the actual scale of the numbers.

Vanessa was nearly purple now, her nostrils flaring and her face contorted, trying to hold back. Sadly, resistance was never her strong suit. Vanessa burst out, in her obnoxious laughter, “oh, we so adore Salina here. She is such an asset to the team, and deserves all the recognition. But of course you already knew that.” Vanessa switched from bubbly to scolding hot in a second, “once we straighten out getting her here on time, and keeping her away from all those games on shift, things will be just perfect.”

The award for ‘the only person to successfully make an entire management team awkward’ goes to Vanessa Binette. That slimy bitch, Sal thought.

Management was conflicted between disapproval and discomfort. “We’ll be making our way around the office yet. We just wanted to pay you a proper welcome, and…thank you for your time Mrs. Likzer,” the tone dropped, and there was the disapproval.

It was hard to say who looked more absurd, Salina flip-flopping between pride and shame, or Vanessa hiding her rage behind a taut-lipped smile.

*****

“…you should join us.”

By only the fuel of vending machine snacks, Sal functioned in a daze most of the day. Her senses were so dulled, she missed the entire discussion with Megan in the break room.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Its ok, you’ve been through a lot today. No one thinks you deserved that this morning. We’ve all made mistakes, especially Vanessa, she just likes to cover up her own with ours. ”

Great, everyone knows, Sal thought.

Megan leaned in to whisper, “Vanessa’s husband is filing for divorce, and she got really mean with the last one. I’m pretty sure she’s just jealous because you have a fun life through gaming and she doesn’t even have a life in the real world.”

Sal was unsure if it was intended to be consoling or condescending.

Megan finished, “what I was saying, was the rest of us are going to the Social Pods for some drinks tonight. If you’re up for it you could join us.”

Validation suddenly melted away all previous suspicion, “yes actually, I think that might help.”

But the universe had other plans, news came in the form of an email:

The Acherman file must be closed this weekend, Management has asked for you to review and resolve all errors. Your immediate diligence on this is appreciated.

-Vanessa Binette

Managerial Accountant, CPA, B.Comm. Hons.

There was no more perfect punishment, then to exclude Salina from the team and cancel her entire weekend, as though she had plans in the first place. While the others filtered out at the days end, there she remained late into the evening.

Of all the distracting thoughts- I swear I’m going to quit. God I hate her. I need to eat real food- one was louder than them all. Play. And the thrill of disobeying Vanessa once more could not be refused.

*****

All went black, that foreboding question was asked, and then she rebooted. In Contagion Z, with half as much light as a normal day, you have to be nocturnal to survive. The game dropped her straight onto the pile of dead bodies from her rampage earlier. As her vision came into focus Salina realized, too late, of the vulnerable position she was in. Her gunshots from earlier, called every creature of the night to feast on the remains and await her arrival.

Sal tucked herself deeper in the bodies, having a horribly surreal image of a decomposing face with maggot eaten eyes and a jaw torn from flesh.

There must have been fifty of them, even with ammo it would have been a death wish, and she couldn’t afford to lose another rank. The best she could think was to cause a distraction. Only one of the dead’s shoes could be reached, however, which came off with the foot when she tugged. Sal resisted the urge to retch.

Then out of nowhere, a man dressed in full clown costume- makeup, squeaky nose, floppy feet and all- whipped out a pack of giant fireworks and lit them up. All of a sudden the mass gathering of the dead, cleared from near Sal and moved to the intruder.

One by one the man knocked out bodies with his fountain of colourful rocket propelling grenades. It almost looked like stop-motion with flashing images of bozo the clown blasting fifteen or so bodies to smithereens. But as quickly as it came, it went, and Sal was again blinded by darkness. The mans shouts were muffled by screeches and tearing flesh.

In that chaos, the rumbles of a Jeep tearing up the street had been missed. And when a woman’s voice called from the drivers side, Sal almost pissed her pants.

“Hey Chick-y, do you want a ride or not?”

Without realizing she was standing exposed, she escaped into the SUV’s passenger side without question. She then witness the woman, who sliced her head in two a week prior, slam the gear into drive and tea them away.

Neither spoke toward the parking garage of that building, or up the ten floor staircase. Which, thanks to endless gaming endurance, she actually made it to the top of. At the summit was an abandoned rooftop bar, with fun tropical themes and a bean bag lounge area. Over the edge of the patio Sal saw the sunrise cutting across the city skyline like colourful shards of glass.

“I’d offer you a drink, but there’s no alcohol, and its not like you can taste it anyway,” the woman boldly broke their silence

Sals heart fluttered, she wasn’t as good at small talk, but no one here had to know that. Sal copied the girls confidence, “well I appreciate the offer, but I would half expect it to be poisoned, considering how our first meeting went.”

“Right, ya I guess I did fuck you up pretty bad,” the woman chuckled. “How was I supposed to know you were harmless? I heard something approaching my hideout, and so I disposed of the presumed threat.”

Sal huffed, “ya because a machete is such a effective defence. And who says I’m not a threat, if I wasn’t such a respectable guest I could have disposed of you by now.”

“One: A machete is the single most effective weapon in the Z-verse. And two: you’ve already added, you ‘appreciate the offer’ and you are ‘a gracious guest’ to your so called threats… ya, there’s not a mean bone in your body.”

Sal curled her lips, knowing it to be true. “Fine then, but you still can’t say why a machete is useful. No one in their right mind would want a close range weapon, when you have to fight off those things,” she gestured to the general darkness below.

“Coming from a girl who’s all out of ammo, I would have hoped you’d understand. Pro tip number two: you probably shouldn’t let your empty clip dangle, when you are trying to threaten someone,” her character batted eyelashes. “In truth this machete saved my ass more than any person has, game world or no. And the name wouldn’t have as much of a ring to it as, @RoraMachineGun.”

“Oh so you’ve decided you’re a pro gamer now, have you Rora? Is that even your real name, or is it part of the hot bimbo act? Honestly I expected you to be a twelve year old boy jerking off in your parents basement, or a Thumper.” Sal eyed the heavy chest and torn muscly figure.

“Now thats a fucking insult, good one.” The woman winked, and laughed in a way Sal never had, unguarded. “Didn’t say I was a pro-gamer, pro-insulter perhaps, some might even refer to me as a giant arse. And, I picked this look because it was the most outrageous looking. To be completely honest I signed up for all this ironically, and now its been like three months, and somehow I’m still here.”

“You’ve only been in the game three months and you’re already level 20? I’ve been playing for a year and it took hard work to get to level 19.”

Roramachete replicated the chilling voice in the game, “perhaps it wasn’t you’re fate.”

Sal’s character stifled laughter, because she was trying to be mad. But she soon found she couldn’t be upset with that woman for very long.

“The reason I’ve welcomed you into my abode,” the woman continued in a very bad British accent, “is because as extravagant as it is, its utterly boring being here alone.”

Sal suspected more, “really that was the only reason?”

“Well… actually I was going to make an example of the fucker who decided to make a national celebration of my neighbourhood. I remember that mission, kill thirty zombies with only a pack of fireworks, but my outcome was a little less dead,” she looked off dreamily. “Anyway in all that chaos, I saw a helpless creature failing to hide, plotting what was likely to be a failed escape. So I felt obligated to assist.”

An eyebrow raised like Sal’s own, “how heroic.”

Roramachete mumbled in a low growl, “and maybe I felt sorry about slicing you in two. Fine there I said it.”

Smiling wholeheartedly, Sal said, “thank you. I accept your apology.”

Her rescuer gave a dramatic eye roll, “well you’re at a safe checkpoint now, and its getting pretty late, in the real world I mean. I have to be up early, so lets talk later. Oh, and if you must know my friends call me Rora.”

Before it got interesting she had signed off, and Sal was left alone considering what she was allowed to call her new acquaintance.

The Weekend

Normally Sal left the Dome off in the morning, but she couldn’t help throwing it on first thing Saturday. Immediately she was greeted by a friend request from @Roramachete, and her stomach lurched with nervous excitement.

Thoughts spiralled around several replies. “Thanks for the friend request, Rora,” seemed too desperate, only adding to a feeble first impression. And, was it too soon for nicknames? What even is her full name? After running a few failed scenarios, she chose no response to be the lowest risk.

Before noon she was isolated in the office again, analyzing and correcting data. She felt confident after her praise, so long as there were no more mistakes, she might have a chance at solidifying her place in the company. It wasn’t an exciting thought per say but it satisfied her enough.

A full-toned dun interrupted, denoting another notification from Contagion-Z.

@Roramachete has invited you to a private chat.

Without thinking she clicked the notification and activated the chatroom. Staring at the empty page, Sal let out a silent scream. Rora had sent the invitation and started the chat, it would only be fair for Sal to initiate conversation. But she never knew how to start it.

Dots appeared, Rora was typing. She can do it all, Sal admired.

@Roramachete: Hows the day treating you?

@Salikzer6: Lame, stuck working for another weekend. How’s yours?

@Roramachete: What a coincidence, as am I! What sort of job do you deem worthy of sacrificing your freedom for?

@Salikzer6: Just accounting, a lot of demand and little reward. But it pays the bills.

@Roramachete: Damn, to give up weekends, it should at least be worth it! And why “just” accounting?

@Salikzer6: Well I recently got positive feedback on my work, that was nice. And I said, just accounting, because most people think its boring.

@Roramachete: And what do you think?

@Salikzer6: I mean it has its low points, but doesn’t every job?

@Roramachete: Ya, but what do you actually like about it?

The candid questions were astonishing, no one asked Salina what was to like about accounting, she just did it because she was good at it.

@Salikzer6: Does one really have to like their job to do it?

@Roramachete: Not necessarily, most people work half-assed jobs so they can enjoy their freedom. But if you don’t enjoy it AND you don’t have freedom, then, in probability terms, its all risk and no reward.

@Salikzer6: Well then, what do you do thats so worthy?

@Roramachete: Well I wouldn’t say its worth while either, but I’m a prison guard now. I’ve done lots of things though, installed shields, tried Trans-pod conductor but a monkey could do that. I guess nothing ever really felt right.

@Salikzer6: First of all, thats badass. Sometimes I feel like my office is a prison, perhaps I can relate. Second, how could you say the job has to be worth it, if yours isn’t either?!

@Roramachete: I said, “should be”, I didn’t say mine was, doesn’t make it any less true. I have other plans anyways, I want to move towards criminal law I think. We’ll see, I like to change my mind a lot.

Sal wasn’t certain if she was laughing from humour or frustration. The things Rora said almost seemed clever, but also like she just stated the first thing that came to mind; it was comical yet endearing.

@Salikzer6: Wow, your life sounds so exciting. I think it would suit you. You ask all the hard questions already anyways.

@Roramachete: Haha, do I intimidate you @Salikzer6? ;)

@Salikzer6: You intrigue me, and my name is Salina Likzer, but you can call me Sal.

A flurry of butterflies exploded in her stomach, leaving Sal with nauseating heartburn.

@Roramachete: Sal, I like it. So do you often get stuck in the office on weekends or do you do other things too?

@Salikzer6: Not always, just when my boss is out to get me.

@Roramachete: What did you do now, ya rebel?

@Salikzer6: I was caught playing “Contagion Z” on the job, and then showed up late. But its not all my fault, honestly she’s been a bitch since before PreK.

@Roramachete: Goodness, mine innocent ears. So this chat is quite the risk to you then? I like this new Sal, I’m honoured you revolt on my behalf.

@Salikzer6: The honour is all mine.

As a reward for finding resolve in her work, Sal allowed intermittent messages to Rora through the day. She let the walls of her fortress soften, and was more honest than would normally be permitted. Sal ranted about Vanessa’s insolence, and hinted at her unhappiness of her monotonous lifestyle. Rora awoke Sal from a numb oblivion with her twisted comedy and honest analogies. The last hour of work approached quicker than the sun could part a cloudy day, and little coaxing was required to place them back into the Z-verse before work came to a close.

*****

Contagion-Z mimics every detail of the modern world, like placing yourself directly inside an apocalyptic Google Earth. For no reason other than Sals comfort she never extended the game beyond her own reality. Knowing the circumference of her hometown most, she never thought to seek the unexplored. In fact, previously it would have terrified her, but Rora brought a enthusiasm that made anything seem feasible.

Out of the blue Rora manifested extraordinary ideas, one such as seeking the popular attractions along the U.S. coast. Amusement parks are a thing of the past now, as the funding was insufficient for maintaining the paradigm of contagion prevention. But in the game world, they only needed their looted rewards to activate any mechanism. They could enjoy simulations of rides, watch the sunset from a suspended air balloon, snag a billionaires yacht and sail off as far into the ocean as they pleased, and so they had.

Whilst they battled zombies and built an alliance, they were spared the hindrances of fatigue, death and worst of all the mundane. A new sensation came alive in Sal, one for adventure, and the Z-verse offered her a boundless map to explore. As they sailed toward the European continent, it seemed no one existed but her and Rora in that expansive world.

Once they tired of sailing the Mediterranean, they ditched the boat in the Venice canals. Then they highjacked a train on a whim to explore the Alps in Central Europe. Rora was strangely skilled at finding modes of transportation, and went ahead to clear out the train-cars of zombie infestations for Sals peace of mind.

“Whats the plan after this?” Sal asked once they settled in the Locomotive train compartment.

“Plan? You’re in a world with no rules and you need a game plan?” Rora paused- from flipping random switches, knobs and dials- to gape.

Sal sighed, “well it would be nice to know whats next, a plan gives you something to look forward to.” Sal’s next words fell out unfiltered, “also we’re hopping from unpredictable place to another, and I feel like I’m the only one worried about the risks.”

“Excuse you,” Rora puffed up her amble chest to make a more convincing case. “Who was the one to scout the train so you could feel safer?”

“Ya, ya, thanks. Did you check every door and corner like I asked?”

“Well not every crevice but I scanned the compartments well enough.”

“How could you possibly find any threats if you only scanned around?”

“Oh hush, stop worrying. This is a game remember, you can’t actually die, just might lose a few points.”

Rora’s flippant manner stirred Salina, “oh I’m sorry, I forgot I was in the presence of a Contagion-Z god. You know some of us can’t get to level 20 by just lazing about and being infuriatingly-” But she was interrupted before deciding what Rora actually was.

The door smashed to the floor and an undead body convulsed inside. Milky eyes rolled in blind sockets, out every orifice a tar-like sputum oozed with the bloat of decay.

As Sal hugged the corner, the creature cocked its neck with a crack and sniffed in her direction. All at once, the zombie pounced from all fours snarling from its throat, and landed on top of her. For a moment it writhed there, but the screen didn’t go black as was anticipated with death.

Braving a glance Salina looked into a spurting neck and saw the decapitated head spinning a few feet away. Rora’s machete dripped with a black gunk that now also coated the front of Salinas character.

“See,” Rora brandished the weapon, “knives are far more effective on the draw. Sorry you were saying something about me not being able to protect us?”

Sal thought gratingly, we wouldn’t have needed protection, if all the compartments had been thoroughly checked. Instead she swallowed her pride and mumbled something of a thanks.

“Have you ever seen them with that black blood before?” Rora asked.

“No, they must have incorporated it to add to the hysteria of the epidemic.”

“Nice touch,” her friend laughed.

But Sal couldn’t help feeling perturbed by the anxiety in at her chest. Even after logging off, her stomach didn’t cease turning late into the evening.

*****

“…see its a multipurpose killing and slicing tool,” Rora said, cutting a path through the tropical brush of the jungle.

After spending most of yesterday in Europe, Rora became bored of abandoned cities and sought terrain untouched by civilization. Sal didn’t love the idea of leaving their safe hideout, but as Rora stated, “whats the point of playing if your not earning your place.” So they gave up their penthouse suite to battle the dead across the continent. At some point along the Adriatic Sea, Rora stole a fully equipped private jet and managed to crash it somewhere in South-East Aisa.

If Sal could survive Rora’s adventures, she figured they would be invincible. But she had to admit the details in the jungle were impeccable. Dew drops glistened on the undergrowth and the greenery shifted as though following a breeze. Sal took the deepest breath she could muster, and thought she could almost smell the fresh air and sweet greenery. A pleasure she had not experienced in years.

In the real world, the virus had grown to survive on all surfaces and in more extreme temperatures. It was so aggressive people were infected from recycled oxygen even weeks later, and eventually breathing fresh air became a risk too great. There was no stopping it, but shielding ourselves in from every possible angle. In the end, to preserve life we had to take away all the things that made it worth living.

Rora speculated, as she often did, “you know how they made the zombie blood black all of sudden in the game? Well I’ve been comparing some other tendencies too. Last night I did a bunch of research about the effects of this new variant. Apparently the numbers are increasing at ten times the rate, and they cause behavioural changes too. It turns out people weren’t just overcrowding the hospitals, they were also turning into angry fiends and showing super strength. On the Live Drone Feed I saw a seventy year old woman in a nursing home, toss a cafeteria table like ten feet at the staff. But I mean its hard to say whats real now a-days, anyone can edit something to seem realistic.”

The discussion only added to Sals anguish, “so what if this pandemic really does cause the Z-verse to become reality? What then?”

“Don’t you worry babe, we’re already miles ahead of the rest with all this training. Trust me, if we stick together,” Rora released a primal yell, “we can rule the world!”

They hiked a while, Sal piecing her thoughts together silently-hiding her excitement at being called babe- while Rora did the opposite. When suddenly they stumbled on some very man-made looking structures. Though they were damaged like the general apocalyptic theme, these had been in ruins far longer than recent civilization. Every inch of the stone walls were carved in fine detail, on top narrow spherical towers reached for the sky.

Sal explained, “a millennia ago the kings commissioned temples across the empire, and there’s thousands of them still today. They designed them to look like the home of the gods, Mount Meru; the highest mountain at the centre of the universe.”

Rora stared blankly.

“I heard some rumours about The Sacred Temple, supposedly its the ultimate Easter egg of the Z-verse. You find the Temple, you’re eternally protected, and then you beat the unbeatable game. I did some digging, turns out its just a bunch nonsense. I think they made it up to keep things interesting, there’s no secret safe haven in this hellish world” Sal was a bit triggered remembering the ambush, people she thought she could trust. Then she saw Rora’s face, “well don’t look so surprised that I know something.”

“No, not surprised, just impressed. I love tidbits like that. But you’re wrong about it, the Sacred Temple I mean, its real.”

Sal rolled her eyes, “Oh so that you believe.”

“Ya,” Rora nodded without conviction, “everyone needs something to believe in, it just adds a dash of sparkle to life, ya know?”

Sal was placate by nature, but internally she doubted the thrill of chasing impossible feats.

Rora declared, “I feel like I’ve been doing all the talking again, I hardly know you Salikzer6! I don’t even know where you’re from yet!”

“I can’t tell you that! You said yourself anything can be edited now a-days. So how do I even know that you’re who you say you are, I don’t even know what your full name is. For all I know, you could be a twelve year old boy, who edited his voice to sound like a hot chick. Or worse you could be a serial killer.”

Rora laughed seductively, “oh so you think my voice is hot?” Avoiding the question of her name all together. Without leaving time for discomfort Rora announced, “fine, I have an idea. I’ll name a landmark near me, and you can try and figure out where it is... Walterdale Bridge.”

Salina froze in knowing, there was Walterdale Bridge nearby, only an hour trip by Transpod. What were the odds the universe brought a virtual soulmate and placed her in a neighbouring city? “Um, I’ve never heard of it,” Sal lied skeptically, and thought, I’m sure there’s loads of bridges with the same name.

“Oh I have another idea! We’re in a safe enough checkpoint, why don’t we do a Videocall?”

Salina’s heart dropped, though she was unsure why. “I don’t know, I really should be getting back to work soon and-“

“Come on, you’re always busting my chops. So let me finally prove to you that I’m real.”

Not before long Rora’s profile was ringing on the screen. Salina dreaded every possibility, What if I’m not as interesting as my character? What if she hates the real me? But there wasn’t much time before the call was answered.

Though Rora’s character had similar striking features, they were flat compared to the animated version. The real woman had more vibrant almond eyes and a shinier button nose, and even those lips were a richer pink in contrast to her intoxicating dark hair.

“Well don’t just sit there so silently, you’re making me nervous,” the video announced.

“You, nervous? That can’t be,” Salina had to take a moment to collect her wits. But once in Rora’s presence, anxiety seemed to dissipate, just like when they talked in the game. “I’m sorry, I guess I just didn’t expect you to be so pretty,” left Sals mouth dumbly.

“Oh common, you’re making me blush,” which was surprisingly true. Rora countered, “wait are you saying my personality made you think I was less attractive.”

Sal felt goofy trying to be as slick as Rora. “No that wasn’t my intention at all. It’s just that, of the few people I’ve known to be attractive, they were never as fun and silly as you. They usually keep such perfect reputations of themselves.”

Rora mocked a barbie-doll voice eerily familiar, “nah, they’re just trying to match their symmetrical features with symmetrical lives.” More seriously she said, “the real ones, they know how to make a fool of themselves. But I strongly believe attractiveness has nothing to do with how others see us, its about how we see ourselves. Confidence is the most attractive quality in the world.”

Sal blurted, “well thats easy to say, for someone who’s got it all.” It was supposed to be a joke, but didn’t sound like it on the delivery.

Thankfully Rora always chose comedy over controversy, “well you’re the one who lied to me! You said your character looked the same as you, that was a compete understatement. You’re far more attractive in person, that gorgeous blond hair, and dang how I’d kill for those sultry eyes and plump lips! Guess it wasn’t I, who was Cat-fishing after all.”

“And how do I know this isn’t just a video of some other woman, who’s almost too pretty to be real,” Sal prodded a last time.

Rora huffed, “is there nothing that will convince you?”

Sal thought, “well, I do have one idea.”

After about five minutes of drawing on paper to show the camera, Rora threw up her arms. “Ok, if this isn’t working nothing will.”

“No, I believed you after the first one, I just couldn’t resist watching you do everything I said.” Sal laughed with less reserve.

“Alright smart ass,” Rora quickly recovered, “will you at least tell me where you work?”

After revealing the address of her office, Rora announced, “sent.”

“Wait what's sent and why?”

“If you can show me the item in our next video, then I’ll know you’re real too. But I can’t tell you what, or you could just go out and buy one. Besides its a gift, so my lips are sealed. I will say, as a corrections officer it’s my duty to suggest you not open it in the workplace… or anywhere in public.”

Every waking minute they spent together over that weekend, went at lightening speed and gathered into what seemed like a lifetime. It was a new experience for Sal, to be honest without fear of judgement. So she shared everything, about her traumatizing past, her fears of the unknown and even dreams for something other. Rora had all the perfect reactions, giving reassuring words and looking shocked on all the right notes. They were so vulnerable and emotionally intimate, it didn’t seem like there was a screen or any miles between them. Laughing until it hurt and feeling each others sorrows, they connected on a deeper level than either of them could fathom.

When they finally did hang up it was well past five. Salina completely lost track of the work day, and had barely touched the file due the following morning.

Monday

The office gathered in the break room, in some kind of celebration. Everyone had a piece of cake, all except Sal.

The team then turned on her, taunting, “Sal you never show up on time, and you always play your stupid games. You don’t deserve this job, you should be fired!”

Signs across the walls read, “No More Salikzer6!!” And a gloating Vanessa in the background began that torturous high school chant, “Sal Licks Her, she likes chicks!”

Sal tried to shout, scream, anything, but her lips were sown shut, she couldn’t even defend herself.

Then Rora was there too, joining in on their terrible chant, “Sal Licks Her, she likes chicks!” Desperately looking to her coworker Tod for sympathy, everything suddenly went dark.

The mood changed from shame to sheer terror. A freezing chill stabbed her skin and the hair stood up on the back of her neck. The corner of the building had been smashed away, and the lunch room was in rubble, with two exposed walls letting in the toxic atmosphere. The back of Tod’s curly hair blew in the wind, he stood at the bare ledge looking ten stories down, screams and crashes echoed from the city below. The apocalypse had begun.

Sal was petrified, there was an urge to run, but her hand moved of its own accord to tap his shoulder. She didn’t want to see him, her stomach wrenched, it all felt wrong, she needed to escape.

When he turned to face her, it was horrendous, but she couldn’t look away. His eyes were rotted black, teeth mangled and bloody, flies swarmed his head and the stench was unbearable. His teeth lurched toward her neck and she felt herself shake awake.

She was still in the office, it was dark, but this time she was alone and the building was still intact. Sans the cleaner vacuuming the halls, it was rather quiet. Her cheek felt a sharp pinch, where square keys were now imprinted, nothing seemed to rub them away.

Working late she must have passed out in the office. There was no recollection of finishing the file but she saw the closing email to Vanessa typed, unsent. It was signed, “—’’’’’/lu8;l.ipk,,,,,,,,,,,lkppppppppppppppppppp…”

Salina sent the corrected email off with haste. Since it was only a half hour before the team arrived, the day would go on in her grey lounge suit.

She settled on a pink cardigan from the Lost and Found, that smelled the least of nicotine and mothballs. Between reeking and wearing pink she didn’t know which she hated more, but the risk of the current Pyjama attire was so much worse. So she regretfully slipped it on, trying not to think of what could be growing under the sleeves.

Thankfully Vanessa wouldn’t arrive at her usual time in the early morning. It was rumoured she was on a “business” trip with someone of upper management. The team made a point of taking multiple coffee breaks before noon to gossip over the boss’ sordid affairs.

Megan exclaimed, “I think its disgusting really, she flaunts herself around for any man who will look and then is outrageously mean to anyone without a cock.”

Tod cleared his throat deeper than was accustomed to him.

“Sorry Tod, of course we don’t mean you." She waved, "I’m just saying its not our fault her marriage is a sham, I don’t know why we have to face the consequences of her insanity.”

There was an awkward silence mostly of those who were too scared to agree. Then the discussion led to the weekends events.

“…first major groups were overtaken by the disease, like government buildings and workplaces. Then the cities went into lockdown, and everyone was forced to isolate like how it was before the Domes.”

“Ya I heard this new variant is aggressive enough to penetrate even the most specialized respirators.”

“…so they contained the infected inside the hospital and the military monitors the outbreaks, thats what happened on the coast.”

“It's only a matter of time now, with protests spreading, the first outbreaks have already reached our city limits.”

“Did everyone watch the Drone Feed from this weekend?”

“Ya its insane, the way that man looked afterwards,” Megan shivered, “gives me the creeps.”

Sal chimed in, “sorry what happened?”

“You haven’t seen it? OMG you have to watch, during one of the protests to shut down the Dome mandates, one of the infected went rogue. Gives to show how safe it is out there without the shields. I’ll cast it to your Dome.”

The image was loaded on her screen, before Sal could express any of the things she would rather be doing.

The footage played out chaotically, but she could distantly hear a man shouting obscenities. The noise grew louder and clearer until her ears hurt, “they’re eating me inside. It burns, help me!” The video stilled on a distressed man, curled in a ball, his eyes shifted to each unprotected person in the crowd and then stopped on one. In a millisecond he pounced like a lion and tore into a bystander. It took four able-bodies to hoist the creature off the female, but it was already too late for the right side of her face. The rest was a nauseating blur, the man was forced into a cop car, and the woman was bandaged and sped away by ambulance, but the footage didn’t stop there. The drones buzzed at the window, watching the man with black veins, smeared in blood, manically laugh for an eternity.

Back at their cubicles, Tod expressed his view, “thats just the way the world works, over time things evolve, and eventually we can no longer kill viruses as quickly as they can us.”

“Aren’t you scared at all? Like, that this could very well become the apocalypse, and it might be the end of civilization as we know it?” Sal said.

“A part of me is, ya, but its just speculation really. For all we know, this virus might disappear one day as quickly as it came, or maybe the next thing will seem like the end of the world too.” He thought deeply for a moment, “we can only accept that today is today, and right now it doesn’t seem as bad as tomorrow. But by dreading so hard, we make the fears of tomorrow come faster. Do you know what I mean? Like, enjoy the now, because we only have so much of it left.”

Seeing through Tods quirky exterior she uncovered his endearing soft centre, “ya, I think I do, thanks. You know, you’re going to make a really good Therapist one day.”

Tod could only blush at the compliment, before they were interrupted.

“Salina Likzer,” the mailboy chuckled, “is that your real name?”

Sal ripped the heavy rectangular package from him more angrily than intended.

Underneath her work address, was written in bold letters: DO NOT OPEN IN PUBLIC. Sal stifled laughter and tucked it into the bottom drawer of her desk for safe keeping.

*****

After work, Salina and Rora had arranged their time to respawn at the exact same moment in the Z-verse.

Sal counted down the seconds to six o’clock, “three, two, one, go.”

Once the rainforest came into view she instantly knew something was wrong. There was an encampment that hadn’t been there before. A force suddenly pushed her character, freezing her in position, and no matter what she did the controls wouldn’t work.

“You could smash the controller and it still won’t make you move. We put a stun trap on your checkpoint, so you won’t be able to do anything unless we let you.”

“We?” Salina asked the disjointed voice.

A group of the most outrageous characters stepped into view. There was a human size rabbit with skimpy jean shorts and a bathing suit top that barely covered her furry breasts. One of the other characters had flaming red hair and a sword, in a body suit that could have been vacuum sealed onto his muscles. The third of them was almost normal, if not for the cobalt skin, in reflective sunglasses, a white track suit, and heavy gold chains.

“I don’t understand, how could you know where my checkpoint was going to be?” Sal asked.

The bunny shook her large floppy ears, “isn’t it obvious? We’ve been following you. Ever since that bitch stole our private jet in Croatia, where is she any way?”

Sal suddenly flushed with anger and shame, wondering the very same thing. Rora was supposed to meet her at exactly 6, but another five minutes would pass before she showed.

“Sorry I’m late,” Rora materialized, “I got caught up researching the Sacred temp- Hey whats going on here?” Her character froze before fully loading.

“Lookout, Thumpers,” Sal muttered dryly.

Noticing she was unable to move, Rora threatened, “who the fuck do you think you are, shut this off.” Then she turned to Sal, “was this your plan all along? Get me to like you, then lead me to your possy so you could betray me? I’m fucking out of here, I’m logging off.”

“Ya,” laughed the group, “good luck with that. None of your controls will work.”

Rora mimicked their high snotty voices angrily, “it won’t work. Then I’ll just reboot.”

“I wouldn’t do that either,” the girl sang.

“Listen,” Rora exclaimed, “I’m not taking advice from Saturday morning cartoons! Look everybody we’ve got Lola bunny and her entourage, Lion-O and ghetto fucking smurf!”

“Fine be my guest,” the rabbit smirked.

There was a minute of awkward contemplation, Rora finally gave in, “ok why don’t I want to reboot?”

“Because this handsome genius,” the bunny batted lashes at her partner, “managed to hack a glitch into Contagion-Z. So if you die or try to reboot while stunned, all your data will be wiped from the system.”

“Sorry, can’t turn my head, whos behind the lost member of Blue Man Group? Because you cannot mean that ugly thing.”

“Shut up! Swipe them,” the girl snapped.

Rora said dramatically, “no swiping swiper!”

The guy looking like Conan the Barbarian, cut their packs off with his sword. He sorted through the possessions, “we got zombie deterrent, flares, and about five life-packs between the two of them. There’s enough ammo for each of us, but I think I’ll take the machete as my share.”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Rora seethed.

“And what are you going to do about it?” The man held its blade to her throat, his pistol dangling dangerously close at the hip.

“I’ll show you the Sacred Temple instead.”

There was a long silence, then the team burst into obnoxious laughter, “thats a fucking myth, its not even real.”

“Yes it is, and I know where, why else do you think we’re in the middle of the jungle. If you let us go and give our stuff back, I’ll take you there. You’re sponsored aren’t you? The higher the XP points the more money you all make. Well I can promise you eternal life in the Z-verse, imagine what you could achieve with that.”

“I think she’s full of shit,” Conan said.

The blue man considered, “I don’t know, I’ve heard its the ultimate Easter egg in the game. There are loads of people hunting it. And she’s right, we could make a fortune, its worth a shot.”

“Shut up you two,” the girl shouted, “where is it then?”

Rora said in her most condescending voice, “I can’t just tell you, because then you’ll kill me.”

“Fine, take us, and if you can’t find it we’ll kill you anyway.”

It all happened so fast, the second the stunners were turned off, Rora attacked. Before the team could even think of a counter, she slaughtered the couple with the pistol from Conan the Barbarians waist, and made sure to cut his neck slowly with the machete.

Sal couldn’t get over the realism of the game, starring into the blood spurting neck until his body evaporated.

“Phew, that was a close one. Anyways, I was being completely serious about the Temple, I’ve been doing tons of research. And I think I figured it out, lets go find it.”

“Are you kidding me?” Sals tone was soft but her face was full of rage.

“What, you don’t want to?” Rora was completely oblivious to the weight of the situation.

“No, I don’t want to go to a stupid made up Temple, I told you already its not real. I’ve been down that path before and it only got me in trouble. Are you seriously trying to go on like there’s no problem here? This whole situation is your fault. When were you going to tell me you stole that plane in Croatia from a gang of Thumpers? Because of you they tracked us here and nearly wiped all our data. And you had the audacity to threaten me with betrayal?”

“I don’t understand why you’re so upset, they’re dead, problem solved. They probably made all that shit up anyways. In the heat of the moment, we all say things that aren’t true.”

“No, not solved,” Sal motioned a big X with her arms. “Because I keep running into situations that you don’t care about my feelings at all. You keep going on, without acknowledging me, and acting like its not a big deal, when things just work out for you. Well my life isn’t like that, things don’t just fall into place. Theres a ton of risk involved for me, I don’t like to make decisions willy-nilly. And I especially don’t like to be left out of them completely. I like to stick to plans, I like to be on time, and I like to be comfortable-”

“-OK,” Rora threw up arms, “well maybe this isn’t working then, maybe were just different people. I usually go it alone anyway, thats fine with me,” her face was unreadable.

It was even more of a blow to see Rora unaffected by it all, while Sal was already swimming in a screen of tears. Her emotions were like a broken faucet, once they burst there was no going back. Sals voice cracked, “is-is that it then? You’re just going to leave?”

Rora shrugged, “Yup, guess it is,” and then logged off without so much as a goodbye.

Tuesday

Sal never cried so hard in her life, through the night, gut wrenching sobs transitioned from grief, to pleading and regret. Then finally ended on anger, when she vowed to never play that stupid game again.

The morning was triggered by a wail that seemed to spiral from all corners of the room. First thinking it came from herself, she clutched her chest, but then recognized the emergency tones.

The Civil Defence Alert broadcasted “WARNING,” in red text, which dragged across every transparent surface in the apartment. The trailing words exclaimed, “CONTAGION RISK LEVEL: HIGH. HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: BIO-PHYSICAL CONTACT, ATMOSPHERIC EXPOSURE, UNVENTILATED/SHARED SPACES, SOCIAL-PODS, AND DOME REMOVAL. PLEASE PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES BY FOLLOWING ISOLATION PROCEDURES UNTIL THE THREAT CAN BE CONTAINED. STAY SAFE. STAY CLEAN. STAY ALIVE.”

Instead of following the latte and sunrise routine, Sal opted for the snooze button and a hasty breakfast. Little could be done for her puffy face, but she had reached a level of numbness that wouldn’t allow further discomfort. Sal left her apartment without a public facade to mask her truth.

Even the hesitant greeting of her elderly landlord Leona, did nothing to embarrass Sal, “oh, my Dear. You look awful, are you well? You know there’s this terrible sickness going around, you really should take better care. I for one am not letting my fur babies out today.” Sal did not reply, only made her way to the busy Trans-pod station. Which was most inconveniently delayed, with people unable to share the two person compartments.

Work was worse than ever lacking the anticipation of playing Contagion-Z, or sneaking a message to Rora. Her weekend had allowed a blissful escape from current events, but in the office Sal was unable to avoid the rumours. It turns out returning to the mundane was no easier for the rest of her company. Feeling it her duty, Sal fell down the rabbit hole of the internet to discover what had been missed.

Since the face eating lunatic, there were more outbreaks on a larger scale then ever before. The cities overwhelmed by the infected crumbled into chaos. The military and its capable citizens were forced to wage war against lunatics at large. It was unclear if the protestors were driven to insanity and destruction by the disease or from their own misjudgments. No matter the cause, it resulted in civil wars not just in the country, but across the entire world. Killing amongst themselves, they only made it easier for the sickness to pluck out the remaining few. Luckily few cities still managed to keep the unmasked vigilantes at bay, including their own for the time being.

How could they act like nothing was amiss, when civilization was endangered, and they could very well be the next to collapse. As of yet, all they could do was follow safety procedures and hope it kept them safe. Some thought it too much and others too little, but who was to know the extent of the threat. Sal was reassured knowing most felt the precautions necessary whether the rumours were true or not.

Noon greeted them with slams and shouts, so Salina joined the rest in witnessing the exhibit. Desk contents flew across the room, it seemed the boss’ delicately crafted persona had finally cracked.

Vanessa screamed in a sweaty rage, “are you really too stupid to think I wouldn’t find out? The anonymous report had your grimy little hands all over it. How fucking dare you weasel your way into my life. I always knew you were jealous, but this? It’s too desperate, even for you.” Her manner cooled enough to settle the purple veins around her face and neck. “Luckily I have good connections and my word is much more valuable than yours,” Vanessa smiled with razor teeth, “but you already knew that, didn’t you.”

Megan held her ground more brave than any other in their midst, “I only thought the company had a right to know what its managers were up to over the weekend. The scandalous behaviours were bound to come out anyway, especially with the heightened precautions. Really, I did you a favour, your marriage is already in shambles and you obviously hated those twins. And its like your, what, third divorce, I’m sure you’ll be fine,” the final words scathed Vanessa’s hot cheeks.

The crowd gasped, less in reproach and more for fear of Megans life.

“Here let me help you clean up,” the boss’ cold tone was even more terrifying. Vanessa dove in the girls direction but instead of attacking, she overturned the final contents of Megans desk onto the floor. “Thank you for making it so much easier to fire you, get the fuck out of my office.” Then her red eyes turned on her viewers, Vanessa stomped and shrieked in a tantrum, “what are you all looking at, everyone back to work. And if you so much as think about speaking to her, I’ll fire every last one of you.” With an odd end, she stormed to her office and mumbled, “is it lunch yet? I’m fucking starving.” And then slammed her door so hard, it shook the windows and echoed through the halls.

Sal offered a helping hand but Megan whispered, “don’t you dare, I won’t let her punish you for my actions.” Seeing Sals expression, she waved a hand, “don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. My boyfriend’s sick and I wasn’t going to get the time off, so this works out. I was planning on quitting forever anyway, and if you know whats good for you, you’ll find a way out too.”

Despite the threatening orders, everyone in the office managed their goodbyes to Megan. Although it shouldn’t have been the total end, something about the state of things made it seem more final.

There was no way to continue working with an air of anxiety buzzing like a colony of bees. When the second jarring Defense Alert blasted across their domes, there was almost a sigh in relief at being freed from the tension.

It read, “CONTAGION RISK LEVEL: CRITICAL. CRITICAL RISK ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: ALL HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES, ALL SHARED SPACES(INCLUDING VENTILATED), AND ALL CONTACT OUTSIDE THE HOUSEHOLD. PLEASE PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES BY FOLLOWING ISOLATION PROCEDURES UNTIL THE THREAT CAN BE CONTAINED. STAY SAFE. STAY CLEAN. STAY ALIVE.”

They were all immediately sent home, work was shutdown indefinitely. At least one good thing came of it, Vanessa would not get her satisfaction in firing Megan once the Isolation Compensation Laws came into effect.

After all the madness Salina wanted nothing more then to tell Rora about her day, but a pang in her gut reminded her that they didn’t do that anymore. Or a least Rora didn’t want it anymore.

...Weeks Later

At first they worked from home, but clients dropped like flies, from bankruptcy or forced closer from so few staff. Once they had no clients left Sal’s company shutdown and they were indefinitely laid off. “Indefinite” was the infuriatingly famous word of the epidemic. What was the point of stating the outcome was uncertain if everyone already knew it was uncertain. It was like saying, “we’re as clueless as you are!”

After learning that the city was going into lockdown, Salina dissociated along with it. She muted all her notifications on the escalating conditions of the pandemic and downright refused to watch the news. While reality once comforted her, it had become only a painful reminder of how evil the world really was. The usual views of the city on the glass surfaces were replaced by a dry meadow with distant storm clouds. Setting her walls to sound proof, Sal breathed in a relief at finally having silenced the world.

Salina was zoned out while the television filled in as background noise. She had watched everything worth seeing on each platform that existed over the past few weeks. Done in hopes of numbing herself until the world could return to its boring mediocre self. Going back to work even seemed more enjoyable at this point, than a moment more of that indefinite isolation.

Her hygiene habits would have completely gone out the window, if there was one that could open. And the only time she left the couch during the day, was to get her food by Drone Delivery. Which was supposed to have delivered her tacos by now, but her last trip to the door proved fruitless. She then realized she was unsure of whether it was lunch or supper.

Putting her Dome on, Sal decided to check one more time, and then would chalk it up as lost among the many isolation orders. All hope seemed lost, however, went she saw the empty doormat again. But then spotted a scrap of brown paper on the stairwell. On inspection, she heard the harsh crinkling of delivery bags overhead. Sal bolted up a level yelling, “hey what do you think you’re doing?” But then stopped when she saw a frail body hunched in the corner, making noises of distress. “Sorry, Leona, I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought that someone stole my food. Is everything ok?”

The old woman froze, after a pause, her head kinked sideways to look at a brutal angle. A mix of tacos, fur and god knows what other dark juices littered her mouth and hands. Though she had just devoured Sals food, there was still a ravenous hunger in her eyes. Then suddenly the old woman was up and running toward her with an agility that shouldn’t have been possible. Thanks to Contagion-Z, Sals instincts kicked in.

When she came to her senses, she was leaning on the inside of her apartment door, which reverberated with snarls, scratches and shouts. Her mind raced, was this reality? Was it a dream, or had she started playing a simulation on the Dome without knowing it? Sal settled on the idea, that the last few weeks had finally gotten to her and she was now having horrifying hallucinations.

Heading back to the safety of her couch, she wrapped herself in blankets and tried to muffle the growls both from the door and her stomach. That was when the full-toned dun echoed through the room. Sal had turned off all notifications except the ones of the Z-verse, because she hadn’t expected to receive any.

All the worst case scenarios played out. It could be an angry message, to make some final hateful points before the official end. Or perhaps, she thought regretfully, that Rora might be in danger and needed Salina’s help. Of course it could very well just be the Z-verse notifying her than she hadn’t played in a while, but it would do her no good in making assumptions. Her anxieties made her stomach plummet, but this was nothing compared to actually reading the message.

I know you’re mad at me, but I can’t leave it like this. I can’t even begin to express how sorry I am for being oblivious to your concerns, I should have recognized them and been more considerate. You say I act like nothing matters, but thats not true at all. What you don’t realize is that everything matters, all the time. I feel every emotion, I’m plagued by constant worries, and I can’t seem to make any sense of them. Those emotions get so overwhelming sometimes the only way I can cope is by putting on a mask of total calm. It seems like I’m indifferent on the outside, but on the inside I’m a terrified nervous wreck.

We’re so different in so many ways, you like structure, and I’m impulsive. But thats why we need each other! Without you my irrational thoughts would float me off into the ether, but you’re that sense I need to ground my fantiasies and make them reality. We disagree on everything, but I like that you challenge me and open my mind to new perspectives. Don’t even get me started on how much fun we have together, it feels like we’ve known each other forever. You give me this everlasting power-up, and it makes me want to be the best version of myself.

And I think you need me too, to help you loosen up sometimes. No offense! It’s not that there’s something wrong with you, its just that your mind carries you off in different ways too. Where my imaginations run wild, you hide behind yours, too afraid to reveal your honest self. But thats who I strive to drag out of you, because the carefree, silly, playful, witty version of you, thats the one I love. I wanted you to know that before I left.

We’ve been trapped in this mirror of reality for so many years, and I just can’t sit idle anymore. I need to get out. The defences have collapsed and with these rumours of the Dome warehouse being overtaken, the city air will pollute faster. I’m going to search for the Sacred Temple, the real one. I think its been a message all along that there is a safe haven out there somewhere. I know you don’t believe in things unless there’s evidence and a certain level of security, but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith to discover the best things in life. For fuck sake, I’d take a life time of uncertainty, over having to wait another second in isolation for this inevitable end.

I’ll be at the southern most Transpod stop on highway 2 until midnight tomorrow. If you don’t show by then, I’ll take it as a no, and I’ll never bother you again. But I hope you do come, because I would really benefit from your help, and I miss you. I promise to protect you at all cost, and to always take your concerns seriously, because I can’t even imagine the risk of losing you again. No matter what you decided, I wish you nothing but the best in this new world.

-Aurora Mitchell(Your Machete Warrior)

Rora’s full name was finally revealed, she liked the sound of it on her tongue. It was everything she could ask for in a letter. Sal rolled her eyes comically, leave it to Rora to write the perfect apology too. Before she could consider an answer she was struck by the news, that she had worked so hard to avoid. Hiding in her oblivion waiting for time to heal, she never considered the possibility that civilization might not be able to recover. In a flurry of nerves Sal turned her notifications back on and updates pinged endlessly, reeling up the screen.

First the protests went rogue, discarding their protections and wreaking havoc through the city. Drones were shot from the sky, glass barriers smashed to release the clean air, and then they went for the Dome manufacture warehouses. Without new filters, the system would collapse, all sources of clean air were sure to be exterminated. They demolished buildings and cars, looted stores and attacked the officials that had been placed for their protection. But the protestors faced no worthier rival than the virus, and within 24 hours they turned on each other, until only death remained in their wake.

Sal watched thriving cities fall to rubble in a few weeks span, people went mad, and not just from the chaos. Though little was known about the new variant, some things were clear. Along with a savagery, victims of the illness developed incredible hunger in the first few hours. But it wouldn’t be satisfied no matter what substance touched the stomach, until their insides were tortured by pain, and they were driven to insanity.

Its like a type of rabies that boils your blood until your veins are burnt black. After a day or two your brain cooks, and dies, but the infection keeps your body moving like some kind of parasite. Unfortunately once homes ran out of food, the next best thing was flesh of a roommate, a pet or a family member. How ironic that the long list of alphabetical strains finally reached their last letter. They call it Variant-Z.

Sal immediately cast away the stormy projections in her surrounding windows. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the colourful dusk, but then she saw the living nightmare. Her heart tore from her chest and a quake of sobs wracked her ribcage. Safely hidden on the tenth floor Sal had silenced the end of existence itself.

It was a morbid wasteland of ruin and despair, any and all reflective surfaces had been smashed to dust. There was so much ruin, it seemed that nothing in the world would ever be whole again, not even her. At first Sal thought the debris along sidewalks and streets were more cement from the crumbling buildings, but then she saw the disfigured faces and limbs. There were hundreds of bodies, dead and dying, others probably something in between.

The ruined world burns on all sides and decomposing bodies litter the apocalyptic streets.

Once she wrung the last tears from her eyes, Sal was overcome with anxiety. No it was not just anxiety, it was anger too; and fear, hatred, passion, determination, and grief, all coiling like snakes inside her. She sat idle too long, escaped in her comforts too long, watched a meaningful existence pass her by for far too long. It was time she got off the couch and fought for a life worth living. Better late then never, she thought in a comical Rora-esque tone. A warm weightless sensation spread through her at last, it made her feel serene and dauntless. Finally she felt the satisfaction of knowing what to do next.

The juxtaposition of the Trans-pod stations running smoothly through the rubble were striking, as though the end of the world was irrelevant to them. Of course being run on renewable energy, it was only the sun they could not outlast.

Still in her untouchable trance, Salina got off at her usual stop and passed through the main office doors. Once reaching her desk, she pulled out the bottom drawer, and found the forgotten gift from Rora. She shook it nostalgically and felt its contents rattle and scrape the packaging. Upon opening, a glint of silver winked and gleaned off her Dome. Sal slipped through the knuckle guard handle and measured its weight and length in her hands. The shape of the handle fit comfortably in her palm, so she slashed and stabbed the air with giddy excitement, hoping to look something like Rora in Contagion-Z.

Then she tested its hacking abilities on the computer, keyboard, drawers and file folders, until her desk was as much in rubble as the rest of the world. But before she could admire her work, a blood-curdling shriek filled her ears, and brought reality flooding back.

The stench passed through the doorway before the jolting limbs did. She walked on a deformed ankle and reached out only one arm, as the other had become a maggot infested stump. A thick black substance pouring from her eyes made it appear like she had cried streams of makeup down her front, on to the same pencil skirt and pink halter top from the day work shutdown. And she still had that identical sadistic smile rot on her zombie face.

Before the creature responded, Sal stated plainly, “aww, Nessie you don’t look any different at all, just as cold and lifeless as before. Hey I forgot to mention… you’re a fucking bitch!” And then in one fluid motion she crossed the room and struck the machete down, cutting Vanessa’s head clean off. Sal mimicked her plastic bubbly laugh and said, “but you already knew that, didn't you.”

The analog clock on the wall read, two hours to midnight. With a renewal of energy and her life at full bars, Salina strut out of that office never to look back.

THE END

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Written by the author of,

The Nyctophilia Diaries,

Alexis Halloran