Red Death: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller Read Online Free Page A

from the public, allowed one sick nurse to fly on a major airline potentially infecting hundreds. And still they would not shut down the airlines, although that’s what most people wanted.
    Over the next several weeks, the budding epidemic reared its ugly, infectious head. First, it was only a mention here and there on the news. The cases kept growing, spreading, in every state, big cities and little towns. And that’s about when my next door neighbors died. But it was kept quiet, secret. Not many knew.
    After that, I watched with interest each story that leaked out, and even checked in with some of the conspiracy theory websites. There were some real nutbags on there, but every so often, some normal-sounding American told a story. Like the woman who took her elderly father into the ER just a county north of our small town. Only to find them handing out gloves and masks to everyone who entered, telling them a child was there being quarantined for Ebola.
    The concern generated over that first handful of American cases increased panic and triggered stock market declines. Mostly because everyone could tell the few official press conferences were a clear contradiction to what was actually happening. The CDC thought we were so stupid, they thought they could spin it and tell us anything, and we’d buy it. Well, most people did buy it, because they didn’t want to be bothered. They wanted to be in denial. However, those who understood the ramifications, well, we knew better.
    Then the internet began buzzing with rumors of people sick across America, of hundreds of thousands of  FEMA coffins lined up in hastily assembled FEMA camps located around the country, empty as of then behind their barbed wired perimeters, but pregnantly awaiting “something.” We knew we were on our own. And that’s a bad feeling, when you fear your own government.
    I researched a little bit, finding that dehydration leading to shock was the main cause of death from Ebola. I found the recipe for homemade Oral Rehydration Solution, the lifesaving liquid used to replenish lost fluids and possibly keep you alive: one-half teaspoon of salt, one-half teaspoon of baking soda, and four tablespoons of sugar to one liter of water. And you must drink four liters of this a day. To make a gallon, quadruple the recipe: two teaspoons of salt, two teaspoons of baking soda, and sixteen tablespoons of sugar. A gallon was just a little less than four liters, but drinking a gallon of ORS while vomiting incessantly was very hard to do.  I measured out enough for ten gallons, storing it in baggies in the cupboard, just in case.
    Not long after that, an “Ebola Czar” was appointed, and if there had been any doubt before, his first efforts made it clear that a media blackout was underway. They couldn’t let the big red, white, and blue money machine come screeching to a halt. The conspiracy websites were monitored, and everyone had to beware of posting very much. Certain words or phrases triggered an immediate response and the post was taken down. Was it NSA? CIA? CDC? No one knew. Rumors spread of much worse censoring. I became more paranoid.
    Still, many went about their daily business blindly. Only a small fraction of us seemed to know what was happening.  I was one of them, and so was Mary. We called across the street to each other a couple times, and exchanged information.
    I did some research. I ordered more supplies for Lee and me: a crank weather radio, N-100 masks, a couple of full Tyvek suits and hoods, a fire starter. I read of a military study where colloidal silver solution killed Ebola virus, so I bought a large bottle. I figured what the heck, might as well get it all. I had stocked up on cans of food early on, but not nearly enough. I still didn’t believe anything would really happen. I totally sympathized with those who didn’t prepare—because I didn’t want to believe it could happen either.

Chapter 3
     
    Tara was just carrying the first bags