CONTAMINATE

7. Lockdown

GARETH

Gareth was extremely worried. He could not believe that Rachel would just leave like that. If she really returned to the above world, he can't just follow her. But he needed to see her. Tell her how he feels. And besides, it would take a minimum of at least one month to give a department head like Dr. Monroe clearance for her to return to normal life. And Gareth knew that there was no "normal" life that she would want to return to. She did not have family above. No husband, no boyfriend. Gareth knew because before they became lovers they were friends first. She told him things about her life that her leaving like this seem preposterous. In his mind, Gareth knew that Rachel is still underground and in BCDC premises. He made a promise to himself that whatever it takes, he will find her in this labyrinth.

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The next day Gareth roamed each and every building in BCDC compund. He did not have any trouble with access because as one of the head chemists, his proximity card is universal and works everywhere.

He had been to a couple of buildings from the farthest end of the compound when he decided to call it a day and returned to his own building. He was just about to swipe his way in when a loud beeping sound filled the air. Flashes of red went in tune with the beeping noise.

"It can't be!" Gareth told himself. That beep only meant one thing.

Human contamination requiring quarantine of the perimeter where said contamination came from. 10 minutes following the alarm would mean Code Yellow. Try locating the source. If after 10 minutes and it has not been located, it's Code Orange. And just 5 minutes after Code Orange would be Code Red. Total lockdown of the entire premises. No one can leave and would have to stay where they were for an unknown period or until contamination is contained.

Gareth swiped his card and entered his building. His heart was racing and he felt like it would burst from his chest any minute. Only a handful of them knew what this alarm is really all about. If the contamination is not contained, it will spread and according to Rachel, it would spare no one. She created the Frozen Z Virus and Gareth felt limp just imagining the horrors it would bestow upon every living being in this underworld community if not contained immediately. God help them. God help them all.

He entered the locker area which was just a few steps away from his office in the chem lab. He decided to stay just there because at least if Code Red hit them, there are food and water in his locker. He is anticipating that in case of lockdown, electricity will also be shut off.

He was not even finished thinking of lockdown when a voice came loud and clear through the piped in system:

"Attention everybody! Attention everybody! BCDC is now in Code Red! Repeat, BCDC is now in Code Red. Lockdown will begin in 3..........2...........1! Everybody is advised to stay put in your current location until you are cleared by members of the contingency team. Do not attempt to leave your current location nor allow anyone to enter your secured area. Contamination was detected in the Testing Chamber of the Chairman and CEO's building. Those who are locked down in that area are advised to exercise extraordinary care and maximum tolerance. Guns and ammunitions will ve made available to those locked in the Chairman and CEO's building shortly."

Gareth felt his mouth go dry. He got a couple of bottles of distilled water and some biscuits from his locker and went to his office at the innermost area of the chem lab.

Why was there contamination in the Chairman's Chamber? No one was supposed to know its exact location. And even cleaners were blindfolded first before brought there to clean. Even he, never saw that chamber yet. He just found out about its existence from Rachel, when she told him about a testing chamber where she would try her virus on a human subject next week. They were still waiting for the subject, a convict on death row with no family. The guy was made to sign the necessary waiver documents freeing BCDC from any liability resulting from said test.

"Oh my God! Rachel! Are you in there? Were you locked down in the testing chamber building?"

Little did Gareth know that his thoughts were not very far from the truth!