People cannot rise from the dead. However, this new virus that recently emerged makes people have very violent behavior. In a way, I felt like I was thrown into a nightmare zombie movie.

Rabies was just a normal viral disease. That was until it mutated with the flu. It can now spread quickly through the air. The first signs were anxiety, confusion, hallucinations.  Paralysis would come anywhere from ten days to a year.

With enough changes, its incubation time reduced dramatically. We never thought rabies would develop traits like influenza. It quickly became known as the rage virus.

What they don't know is that my lab used genetic engineering technology to create it. It was accidentally released in the lab. We had no idea. The virus left with us when we went home. 

I, working in a different apartment, was not exposed. The Rage virus spread quickly. The victims become violent and hallucinate. In a way, it is scarier then the zombies we see on television. These people aren't dead. They are still alive. We can not shot them in the head and be done with them.

The virus spread rapidly. People could not take the lives of their loved ones. They try to restrain them instead and get bitten. Then the virus travels through saliva. Normal vaccinations, normal protocols, nothing worked.

Our corporation has been working on a cure. However, this cure is scarier than the disease. It's almost like we will be injecting them with Xylazine. The patient will be calm, go in and out of consciousness. They will also be helpless to stop whatever happens to them.

We had been working on this drug for a while. We named it Hamibe. With the riots and the threat ever growing I become fearful for Hamibe will be released on the market soon. It hadn't been tested. The company is losing money. This is the only way to save ourselves. It's the only way to save my job.

Time spun by quickly as I was trapped in my own thoughts. Night fell and I could not research anymore. Nothing I tried seem to lessen the effects of the drug we created. 

Exhausted, I made way to my vehicle. The parking garage had an eerie feel to it tonight. I shrugged off the chill and paranoid thoughts. After all, it was a locked and secured garage. The patients could not make their way into here.

Doctor Heartman had left just an hour before me. When my car came into view, I noticed his was still there. I walked to the side of my door and fumbled with my keys. In the poorly lit area, I had trouble finding the keyhole. Maybe, I should upgrade to a new car. I don't need to be driving one my grandma owned.

Finally, getting the door open I placed my purse and important files inside. I heard a loud thud. Looking around me, no one was there. I jumped into the seat of my car and slammed the door shut behind me. Fear had gotten to me. 

I turned on my engine and drove towards the gate. The booth next to the gate was completely empty. Where was the guard? I honked my horn but there was no answer. Hesitantly, I opened my car door.

I looked around me, peering into the darkness. I was cautious. I made my way towards the booth. If I can open the door, I could press the button to open the gate and let myself out. I grabbed the doorknob.

The knob wouldn't budge. It was locked. A feeling of panic grew inside me. The city was under curfew and the curfew time was fast approaching. Anyone found outside was assumed to have the Rage Virus. Uncertain of what to do next, I realized my only option to leave was to wait. 

Footsteps emerged from behind me. Looking up I could see the guard. A wave of relief washed over me. Never had I been so happy to see another man in my life. 

"Excuse me," I called out happily like a little school girl," I need to leave. If you could just unlock the door and hit the buzzer that would be great." As he came into the light, my blood went cold. 

Vomit drenched his shirt and pants. Looking up at me, his eyes darted back and forth. Sweat dripped down his face. Thick saliva dripped down his chin to the side of his neck. His footsteps were erratic. He walked as if someone picked him up and spun him around. 

He regained his composure for a moment. His eyes met mine. He screamed and in a mad dash came for me. I had to get to my car. It was my only hope. I ran for it. My heels hit the pavement. I grabbed onto the side of the door just as I felt his long fingers get entangled into my hair.

I let out a scream as he pushed me to the pavement. I couldn't fight back on my stomach. I could only scream. His full body weight was on my back. He took a bite of my left shoulder. When his teeth sank in, he shook his head back and forth.

I do not know why but all I could scream was, "Doctor Heartman!" I knew soon I was going to be dead. He released his bite on my shoulder and went for the back of my neck. I used my hands to guard but the bites to my fingers were more unbearable than the bite to my shoulder.

This is it, this is how I die. A metallic sound rang out behind me. The guard landed beside me. Doctor Heartman stood above me with a bat. He reached out his hand to me. Apparently, he had seen the guards strange behavior earlier and hid. Doctor Heartman confirmed he had changed hours ago and other staff members were his victims as well.

Doctor Heartman hid until he could run into the guard again and steal his key. My screaming alerted him to our presence. He took the keys from the unconscious man on the ground and quickly unlocked the booth and pressed the buzzer.

He hurried me to my car. We didn't know who else had heard the noise and my screaming. Surely, they were not friendly. The virus had breached our safe haven.

Seeing my injuries, Doctor Heartman, rushed me to the hospital. He assured me he would care for me himself. The hospital would be the first to test the vaccine. The Rage Virus was getting out of hand. We were officially out of time.

I was placed in the emergency room and put in restraints quickly. The time of mutation and incubation varies and they were no longer taking chances. I could hear the other victims of our mishap screaming behind the other curtains. One by one they were injected with Hamibe. 

The noise around me became quieter as the nurse stitched my shoulder and my fingertips. Doctor Heartman emerged in the room after helping with the other patients. I was the only one who hadn't gone crazy yet.

My anxiety was high. I was uncertain if this was the first symptom of the rage virus or if it was my emotions from the attack. I watched as they prepped the needle. I would be the first sane patient it would be tested on. I would be the first one who could tell if it saves lives. The other patients had already begun showing symptoms. They could not be saved. Only their passing could be less painful with Hamibe.

The injection stung much like the sting from a bee. My arm burned at the injection site. Slowly, I began to become calm. I could not remember what I was here for. In and out of consciousness I could only sleep. It was quiet.

I awoke to the sound of screaming. "They're loose." I heard a woman scream at the top of her lungs, "Everyone out immediately. They broke their restraints." In dazed confusion, I tried to call for help. My voice was gone. My vision was blurry. My body was weak. My arms would not do what I asked of them. Move, please, move. I watched in horror as a nurse was tackled. The patients swarmed her like a bee to fresh honey. 

Tears rolled down my face. Hamibe was a failure. It made them stronger. Those infected with the virus and show symptoms now can be sustained thanks to Hamibe. We made the virus worse.

I laid there, helpless. The tears rolled down my face. I could only watch in horror as they headed my way. Their eyes were bloodshot, their faces looked dazed. From behind them, I could see someone making their way towards me. 

Doctor Heartman pushed aside my curtain. He was one of them now. He walked towards me and I was helpless. My body wouldn't move. I could only look in horror as he made his way towards me.

Hamibe made the virus stronger. It deleted the symptoms that made them so easy to escape. In normal humans, like me, it turned us into nothing but cattle before the slaughter.

I laid helpless in and out of consciousness as death enveloped me.