The Genetics Department (Page 5)

~~~(POV: Samuel Grimm)~~~

~~~(Location: Genetics Department, Columbia University, New York)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time, Year: Thursday, January 11th, 8:38 PM, 2024)~~~

~~~(Age: 19 Years)~~~

Amanda stays close as she follows in my footsteps down the hall. She's within a step of my body in case she needs protection. The hall we're taking to reach Prof. Carnid's lab is covered with blood. Handprints and lines trail the walls.

The floors have clotting pools of blood, making them almost black. The smell is something fierce but not unfamiliar in the state the world is in. Lights flicker and flash from rooms we pass. Others are completely dark.

"It's so quiet... Do you think there are any of them in here?"

Her question is low and whispery. Making sure that she's not loud enough to draw any of the undead to us.

I don't know much about the zombies that I've encountered so far, but they seem to be attracted to sound and movement. Everyone that's been turned in this building must've followed the screams.

Leaving this place mostly empty, but it's not like there aren't a few stragglers. The turned female I encountered in the bathrooms at the dorms is proof of that.

"Yes, I do think there are some left over. Ones that turned after the hordes chased after the screams, but nothing that's a threat."

She moves a bit closer as I answer her question. My voice is spoken in a normal tone. If any of the undead are here, I have no issue with them coming. More biomass for me. We continue walking down the hall and eventually reach our destination.

Standing before the door, a sense of familiarity flows into me. Only for a moment, though. I don't have any memories triggered by looking at the door. I reach my hand out and grab the handle. Only to find the door is locked.

"There should be a key aro-!!"

BAM!!!

SLAAAAAMMM!!

CRACK!!!

Before Amanda can finish her suggestion, I kick the door off its hinges and it flies around the lab. Smashing glass, tables, and rearranging a portion of the room.

"What the hell!!?"

The aggressive whisper from Amanda pulls my eyes from the room, and I look at her with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes search my own for an explanation.

"I'm not scouring this place for a key when I can just do this."

There are better methods to getting around, even if it draws those who've turned. Besides, I don't hear any of the undead rushing to find the source of the sound. We even wait a few seconds, but nothing shows up.

Amanda is more on guard than I am. Her head turns back and forth. Checking both directions of the hall over and over.

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, and she jumps slightly. But doesn't push me away. I guide her into the lab, and search for a switch to lighten the dark room. Once inside, I instantly find what I'm looking for.

Flipping a switch, and turning the lights on. As I do, memories flood my mind. One is looking into microscopes and studying viruses.

Jotting down notes and progress and then logging them into a file cabinet and computer. My attention turns to the file cabinet, and I make my way over. It's also locked. Not wasting a second, I shove my fingers through the metal and tear it open.

"I've always wanted to see the inside of this place... I heard so many rumors about how the Genetics department did work for the military."

As I listen to Amanda talk quietly next to me, I admit she's more intuitive than I thought. She's probably putting things together just like I am. The alignment of my missing and death, the zombie apocalypse, and now this.

Once I've searched through all the files, I come to the conclusion that whatever I was working on here has been taken. Adding to my belief that Samuel had something to do with what's going on with the world.

"Do you think... You worked on something that had a part to play in what's going on..."

Her voice is cautious and slow. Taking her time to make sure she didn't say the wrong thing. Still on edge about whether I'll do anything to her.

What I thought earlier about her is proven by her question. She's a smart girl... Coming to the same conclusions I am. It's strange, though. The longer I stay in this lab, the more I remember about what I was.

The more I remember about Genetics.

But why was I working on viruses... That's what's got me really curious...

"Things are aligning that way. I'm betting that I worked on something that had a part to play in what's happening. Making Samuel a piece to the puzzle of what's going on."

I'm still having difficulty adjusting to addressing Sam and myself. I keep shifting between making him a different person and calling him me. To be fair, it's my first day as I am. I don't have a handle on this yet.

After answering Amanda's question, I can see that she's thinking. Probably trying to connect dots from what she remembers about Sam.

I pull away from the file cabinet and make my way to one of the computers. I try to turn it on, but there's no power. Meaning I can't access the files, but they were probably taken or deleted just like the handwritten files.

"What are you looking for now?"

Her question causes me to think about other possibilities where I can find answers. Among the memories I've unlocked, none of them pertain to where I can find the files. However, most universities, like Columbia, have servers onsite.

There is likely a server somewhere in this building. But I don't know where it is.

"I believe I've found everything I can here at the moment. There's no power to the computers, and I don't know if or where the server is to store and backup information and research onsite."

While I didn't get the answers to all my questions coming here, I'm not leaving empty-handed. More information and memories about Sam have unlocked, and I'm starting to learn information about his life.

And what role he's played in all this.

"Does that mean we're leaving?"

I can hear the hopefulness in her voice. She must want to return to where the survivor group is at the Auditorium. Instead of answering her right away, I turn in her direction and look her in the eyes. She gets a little nervous as I do.

"I'll give you three options."

She tenses up as I begin to speak. Fearing that I'm threatening her life.

"I can take you to the Auditorium where other people are and leave you there."

I watch her jaw clench at the realization that I won't be staying with her. I have no interest in dealing with other people. Especially if they know what I'm capable of.

"The second option is we part ways right now."

She doesn't like that option. Not one bit.

"Or, you can travel with me until you don't want to anymore. I don't mind your company, Amanda. The Samuel in me doesn't mind."

As the last option leaves my lips, I get an unexpected reaction. I watch her lips curve up, and she starts to smile. She steps forward and wraps her around my torse. Greatly emphasizing our height difference.

"The third option... I want to go with you."

She hugs me for longer than I feel needed, but I don't stop her. This girl was important to Sam, and I guess that also makes her important to me. This dynamic is strange to me, but I think I'm starting to get a hang of it.

"Okay, that's good. I was planning to head West across the Hudson, but I need to stay in New York until I find the answers to my questions. Are you good with that?"

While leaving Manhattan is the smart move. I know I can't leave until I've found out what's happened to Sam. What's happened to me...

"Does that mean we're leaving the campus, or are we staying here?"

That's a good question.

While I've found all the information I can at the moment, I know there are still answers here. So, for the time being, staying on the campus is the plan.

"Yes, but we're not grouping up with others. It's only gonna be us two. I know of some pretty private areas around the campus that'll be safe."

It's good that we've got a plan now. But I know the longer I stay here, the sooner the military will come searching for me.

Amanda won't be safe if that happens. And the thought of her dying now bothers me. A great deal.

"Okay, I'll do my best to help you. I'm not a great fighter, but if you need me too. I can try."

I don't know why, but that causes me to smirk.

In an apocalypse, there are many mindsets you can have. And I think she's got the right one.