There were several projects being worked on within the Center of Disease Control. The different departments within the CDC were each given different diseases to work on until the virus was understood completely and had several different forms of cures or vaccines.

Joseph Lake was one of the twenty scientists that worked within the Japanese Division of the CDC, having been placed in the Department of Disease Experiments and Control. He, along with his entire team, was in charge of working on a disease that would physically change the appearance of the test subjects.

It was the morning after administrating the experimental phase of the disease, and Joseph found himself going to check on the test subject. With a clipboard in hand, he stood at the containment room. He took time noting the obvious differences visible on the test subject, and he wrote down any behavioral differences that he could see without tampering with the test subject. Once his overall examination was done, he used his pen to tap the glass wall. He didn't seem to be afraid of the test subject when it let out a frustrated noise and dove toward the glass.

"It seems to be coming along quite well, don't you think? We've already created something that completely changes the host's behavior." Joseph's coworker, Tyler was his first name, was arrogant as he stood beside him.

"The disease itself had a few quirks that need to be worked out, but we still have a long way to go. The higher ups really want this one to be unlike anything we've ever made." Joseph continued to fill out the pages he had on his clipboard. "We have to be sure we have a final product before we start working on a cure for it."

"It's still come a long way from where we started. We had barely even gotten the physical appearance to change last week, and we've already gotten it to change the host's behavior. Would it kill you to celebrate our success every once and a while, Lake?" Tyler scoffed and shook his head at his colleague's dismissive response.

"I'm not going to celebrate the creation of something that can potentially wipe out the entire human population. If it had been something simple like a different strain of the common cold, I would take a drink. In this case, I'm more depressed that we've been given the orders to make something so deadly to humans that it kills them." Joseph once again tapped his pen against the glass, causing the test subject to bang it's head on the bulletproof glass. "This is no longer a person, and it never will be until we can make a cure that can return it to its prior state."

"Do you always have to be such a buzzkill?"

"Do you always have to celebrate the death of humanity?"

The two looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity, Tyler eventually breaking the awkward gaze and turning to head into the containment room. Joseph grabbed his arm immediately, forcing the man to stand in place.

"What do you think you're doing?" Joseph questioned.

"Well, someone has to see what it does when it encounters a human. You're too much of a coward to do it, so I will." Tyler answered.

"I'm not a coward. I'm just not dumb enough to go into a room with a hostile being." Joseph let go of his arm. "If you insist on putting yourself in danger, go right ahead."

Tyler huffed as he reached for the door handle. Joseph tapped his pen against the glass for a third time to distract the test subject, and Tyler took the opportunity to slip into the containment room as the test subject lunged for Joseph.

"This may be the end of me." Tyler muttered.

The sound of his voice attracted the attention of the test subject, and Joseph's heart began to race as the creature launched itself toward Tyler. The man moved out of the way just in time, adjusting his clothes as he quickly exited the containment room.

“Are you alright?” Joseph asked. “It didn’t get you, did it?”

“No.” Tyler huffed. “I’m alright. I guess you can add ‘hostile toward healthy humans’.”

The two men watched the test subject for another hour, discussing possible improvements to the disease before heading separate ways. The two later left the building at the same time, both getting washed down before leaving to ensure that no disease they were working on would be released into the opening. Joseph watched Tyler for a few moments as the older man got into his car and drove off, and he sighed as he did the same.

Joseph felt as though the time had passed in the blink of an eye. He had gotten home during the middle of the night, and it wasn’t long before he was getting up to get ready for work once more. Joseph turned the television on as he dried himself off from his shower, listening to the news like he did every morning. He was dressed and brushing his hair when he froze in place at what the news reporter was saying.

“Several citizens have called the police to report that a man, in his late twenties or early thirties, has been attacking innocent bystanders at a local grocery store. Police say that he had taken several gun shots to the chest before they called the situation in to the news station, and he has continued to advance on civilians and officers. We are also getting updates from officers on the scene, and they have told us that the civilians the man has attacked are beginning to behave similarly to him. We recommend that all civilians stay away from the grocery store that is currently under lockdown. If you see anyone that matches the description of the man, grey skinned with red boils covering their bodies in any way, contact the police and stay away from them.” She said.

Behind her were several images and videos of the situation she was talking about. Joseph let out a shaky breath as he recognized the face of the man who had started the attack.

“Tyler?” He whispered in disbelief.

He hurried to finish getting ready, throwing on his lab coat and grabbing his car keys from the wall hanger by his front door. He drove into the heart of the city, stopping only once he reached the CDC. He was quick as he sprinted across the parking lot, being careful not to run into any of his coworkers as he ran.

“Slow down, Lake! What’s the rush?” His project leader scolded him as he ran into his division’s laboratory.

“You haven’t seen the news?” Joseph was surprised.

“I’ve been here since yesterday night, Joseph. I haven’t had time to watch the television.”

“Tyler let it out.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The disease we’ve been working on! Tyler got infected with it yesterday and somehow got out of the building, and he turned! He’s causing a massive outbreak.”

The look on his superior’s face went from amused and playful to shocked and disbelieving. Joseph scrambled to the lounge that was located in the division. All of the scientists and doctors present gathered in the room with him as he turned the television on, the same news reporter once again giving the same information he had learned minutes prior, only adding that the outbreak had spread beyond the grocery store Tyler had gone to.

“Alright. Nobody panic. We need to begin work on a possible cure or vaccine. Be quick and precise.” The project leader ordered.