The 3 A.M. Epiphany - Exercise 5
70
Life As We Know It - Nevermore
September 25, 2012
7:34 A.M.
New York, NY
Day One: It's the first day of my internship. I cannot believe I not only landed a job with such a prestigious news agency, but right when the story of the century is breaking. I'm excited and terrified at the same time. I've worked my whole life for this opportunity and now that it's here, the world looks like it's going to crash down around me. I wonder if there will be anyone left to follow the reports. I'm just glad my parents taught me survival and preparation.
Yesterday afternoon reports began coming in about patients in hospitals nationwide. All had symptoms of a highly infectious disease. It has many of the symptoms of Kuru, but may be mutated with a virus. Kuru being a prion disease of the brain. Symptoms include loss of coordination, dementia, paralysis, and eventually death. Kuru was not thought to be around since 2005. This resurgence is believed to be related to research being done with degenerative diseases.
Apparently, one "cure" being looked into was a type of virus that could "eat" the bad proteins. Instead, the virus mutated and utilized the bad proteins from the prions. Now, the disease is mutating to form a state much like one would associate with...I'll use the best term possible - zombies.
The affected patients are being quarantined and the highest precautions are being exercised. Still...
September 26, 2012
3:32 P.M.
New York, NY
Day Two: I thought I would have more time to journal. Since yesterday, it has been pure chaos. I am terrified and just praying my family is okay. In less than one day, all communications are down and emergency communications are exclusive to military operations. People are in a state of panic. We are doing our best to educate the public, but panic overrides logic. The patients are still in quarantine, but many are demanding the hospitals euthanize and burn the patients. If they only knew, patient zero hasn't been found yet...
I really hope my parents are safe - and my brother and his wife and their new baby. I hope they all go to the family cabin in our beloved Rocky Mountains. They should be safe there. We always "talked" about having an emergency plan in place, but never really took it further. Now, here we are without a set plan.
I hope they can feel that I'm okay. All that I can do is try to get the story and spread the knowledge...and pray.
September 27, 2012
6:50 A.M.
Somewhere in Pennsylvania
Day Three: I'm going home. I don't know what's going on outside of North America, but the United States and Canada are officially in a state of emergency. In my short time travelling with other media folks, I heard patient zero was finally found (and shot to death) outside a shopping mall in Minneapolis. An elderly man in the early stages of dementia, he was undergoing experimental therapy. He showed improvement and was allowed to live in his retirement community. While there, a mutation began and, after biting several residents, he escaped. For a couple of days the residents were fine. Then the symptoms appeared. First, it was tremors and stiff movements. Then, the thirst. Almost like rabies...they were so thirsty. High fevers followed - almost like they would burst into flames. Then, what appeared to be death. Only, hours after "death", they would awaken drooling and ravenous. They only wanted to eat and bit several attendants before being restrained.
Patient zero had bit several citizens while "missing" from the home. Of those bitten, one was visiting family from Los Angeles. Another two were at a business luncheon. After being bit, they returned to Chicago. A couple of others that were bit boarded planes for vacations to Miami, New York City, and Branson. From there, you can imagine the domino effect.
One of the girls from editing heard the Rocky Mountain region was still okay. I am still praying it's true. I told them I'm heading there. A few others have family in the Midwest. A couple are going to go toward Texas. We are all starting out together. There is safety in numbers...right?
I will continue to journal. This information might be important to someone someday. Right now, it is the last piece of my former, normal life I can hold on to. Life as we know it...knew it...is gone.
The Inspiration:
- 3 A.M. Epiphany: A Writing Challenge
Exercise improves your health - why not your writing skills?
The Exercise: Journalism
Write part of a story in the form of journal entries. 700 words
CommentsLoading...
Hi Jaykay37- Thanks for stopping by. This idea struck me out of nowhere. It started as an exercise only, but I might build on this one.
Yes you should continue it! Possibly making a second part, of your character arriving at the rocky mountains to discover ___________.
This is pretty interesting. I found a documentary on Youtube a while back-- don't remember what channel it was originally from-- but it was about what would happen in a scenerio much like the one you are describing. If you decide to do some research you might look into it. Anyway, can't wait to see how this one ends.
Thanks BrightMeadow. I actually got the idea watching something about Kuru. It meshed with a little bit of info (that I may not have remembered completely right) from Freshman Biology. Also, one of the scariest books for me when I was younger was Stephen King's The Stand. The thought of a super virus taking out most of the world is pretty scary. Thanks for reading.
Very interesting. At first prior to spotting the dates, I was wondering why I hadn't heard of "Kuru" before. Good job! Creative and imaginative. Thank you.
I think I may have heard it - it's similar to Mad Cow disease, but for humans. But I didn't remember until I watched a documentary the other day about cannibalism. Then, the imagination went wild (uh-oh!). Thanks for reading and commenting!
Just as I feared
IT IS THE Zombie Apocalypse....hellllpppp :) fantastic writing!!
Thanks! Zombies are fun. :) (I say now!)
The story is engaging, interesting and a bit frightening.
I don't want another new disease to break out. Let it remain a story
Good imagination:)
Thanks for SHARING:)
Thanks Thumbi7! I read that Stephen King writes about his fears. One of his most terrifying books (to me anyway) was The Stand. Everytime I got sick for the next couple of years, I panicked that it was the superflu. I was in eighth grade...so a little dramatic. However, outbreaks are still a pretty scary thought. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I have just read all of your exercises and they are all very good.
I love the way you wrote this one, it is a very believable threat. Look at the panic that erupted over the ‘bird flu’. People walking the streets and travelling with face masks. Gives me the shudders.
Very well written voting up
Thanks! I appreciate that you are reading them and your wonderful comment.
It is very scary. It's funny looking back how most of the "scares" turn out better than the initial outlook.
I really enjoyed your take on this challenge. I read it differently, where I thought there was supposed to be a story supplemented by journal activities; yet I love how the situation is clearly defined by the character. I like that the character showed what was going on and pulled us into the situation, causing a little excitement. I could feel the panic about missing the writer's family and the desire to write yet not understand if anyone would be around to read it. Very good.
Hi there! Someone asked me to list the challenges, which caused me to go back and re-read them. I agree with you. I realized that I should have made journal entries along with a narration. Oh well, next time! :) I look forward to reading yours!
I like how you did this one though. We can say creative interpretation! ;) Like I did with imperative! Ha ha We all have to have one, right? Oh..and so many more to go. Anyway, I did love it. I will post mine by end of week...I am deciding between two that I need to just pick one and finalize...or maybe I will post both. Not sure yet.
I cannot wait!
jaykay37 3 months ago
Good story! Lets just hope it remains a "story" haha!
"I will continue to journal" more to come? Officially following!