The Three-Day Fix
A Short, Short Story By Lo Brewer
Hikers on the Halema'uma'u Trail © NPS (National Parks Services-Hawaii)
Note: This story was entered in Writer’s Weekly’s 24-Hour Contest, where writers are given a topic, lead-in paragraph and 24 hours to write a story under 850 words. It was recognized with a non-monetary prize.
Cell phones all over the world simultaneously shrilled that morning. After scanning the emergency alert, citizens scrambled to gather their families and prepare. Meanwhile, in the national forest, there was no cell phone access. The Stephens family had just put out their breakfast campfire and were preparing for their hike, seemingly unaware of what was happening in the world around them.
The mass text had been carefully worded. The powers that be wanted to maintain order and not cause panic. However, they did need everyone to act swiftly. A super virus had been detected in a small South American village and was slowly spreading to the cities. While the cause was unknown, scientists had created a vaccine that would inoculate the world’s population from the threat. The vaccine would be given out in phases. Those not included in phase one had to be patient.
The Stephens family hadn’t been on a vacation since the twins, Bobby and Jim, were toddlers. The boys were now sullen teenagers who complained about everything. Their most recent complaints surrounded taking this hiking trip. Grace felt like a single parent because Derrick’s job kept him away from home so much. They both were keenly aware that their family was slowly disintegrating before their eyes. So when Derrick suggested they take this trip, Grace was elated. She’d never been much of a fan of the outdoors. But this trip felt like the start of something new, something good. And Derrick, knowing that his job would eventually be the end to them all, knew that he’d have to make some changes and do somethings that were uncomfortable, to save his family.
By the second day of the vaccinations, chaos began to break out in the streets. Those not included in phase one of inoculations started to riot. With no hard date of when they’d receive the serum, many feared that it would never come. As military states were enacted, rioters were gassed, arrested and gunned down by the tens of thousands.
The Stephens family wasn’t fairing very well in their endeavors either. The boys had begun to fight. They complained incessantly. They wanted to stop every few feet to rest. Grace was getting weary as well. She was starting to wonder why she’d agreed to this trip in the first place. If Derrick wanted to bring the family back together like he claimed, why couldn’t he do that in Aruba? But Derrick soldiered on. He knew that this three-day hike would turn things around. His dedication to his job had broken them. But he was going to fix all of that. He decided that after this trip he wouldn’t have a job anymore; he’d be home with his family for good.
The third day after the phase one vaccinations, a report was issued online. There were mass casualties due to the rioting. Additionally, anyone who received the vaccine was now dead or dying. The vaccine was found to be a time released poison, and now nearly two thirds of the population was dead. The scientists who created the vaccine were being held responsible. However, currently, all 25 scientists and their families were missing.
“Derrick, when we get to that clearing up there, can we just put up stakes for the night?” Grace asked. “The boys are tired. I’m tired of the boys. And despite your promises that this trip would somehow bring us closer, you’ve been distant the entire time. You’re so focused on this hike, that you haven’t said more than three words to me in three whole days.”
“I’m sorry Gracie. This trip has been more important than you could ever imagine. And yes, we can put up stakes when we get to the clearing. It’s our final destination,” Derrick said.
At the large clearing, they saw a makeshift camp site with several small cabins and some people milling about.
“Dad,” Jim said, “What is this?”
“Derrick, I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Grace asked.
“Gracie, it’s the project I’ve been working on at the lab. The government found a superbug. They wanted me and the other scientists to come up with a vaccine for it, which we did. We were in the early stages of mass producing it when we were told to stop. They were only going to give it to an elite few. They realized that this virus would also solve the global overpopulation problem that we’re facing. They only wanted to save the ‘best of the best.’ And they were using us, the science team, to do it. We wondered what other horrible things they’d used our work for. We decided as a group that we weren’t going to be used anymore.”
“Oh my God! Derrick what did you do?!” Grace said with a horrified look on her face.
“Look it’s Mr. James from Dad’s job!” Bobby said.
“You’re here!” Bill James said as he walked over to greet the Stephens family. “You’re the last ones to get here. Come on over, I’ll show you to your cabin and we’ll get you all settled in.
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