A rumbling noise, like the shaking of windows before a space shuttle takeoff, permeated the air. At first she thought the laboratory was under attack, but it was only a half-second before she realized what was happening. It was an earthquake. Alan. He was the first thing that came to her mind, and as she pushed herself upright in bed her thoughts raced a million miles an hour. Was he in danger? Then she remembered what she had learned in the past few hours, and she was at her feet instantly, her body flooded with adrenaline. She stumbled to the doorway, feeling the floor tremble and shake underneath her. It would be over soon, she thought. Looking out into the hallway, she saw Dr. Fielding running down toward Alan’s room. The ground stopped moving, and she blinked the sleep out of her eyes. Alan. Without hesitation, she took out the syringe, quickly filling it with the interferon serum. It was the only weapon she had, and she hoped she would not have to use it. She held it tightly, her hand stuck in her pocket, and walked out into the hallway.
