I clicked the remote to turn my TV off, tuning out from the news that was focused on yet another virus that was on the rise in France, reporting that the first case of infection had been diagnosed in New York City. I was tired of it, the world barely getting through the first pandemic of my lifetime before there was talk of another to come.

The sun wasn't up yet since I always woke early on days when my nerves were higher than normal, already dressed and plopping onto my couch with a bowl of cereal while I dialed Shelby from my recent call log.

"Hi!" I smiled at her cheery greeting. Though it was a little too early for that level of energy, I'd become used to talking to her first thing in the morning over the past six years.

"Good morning, what time do you start teaching today?" I asked between chewing.

I could hear her shuffling around as she got ready for the day, taking a minute to respond. "Not until ten, but I've got an early meeting and then my office hours before class, but that doesn't matter. How are you feeling about your first day?"

"Nervous, you know how I am with new things." I replied.

"As you should be. You know how I feel about you going to work at a prison." She brought up her earlier protests to my new job quest, and I imagined the way her mouth would curve from a hard-pressed line into a small smile as she tried to remain positive, amending her response. "But either way, I know you'll be amazing at it. You've got this."

I chuckled at the sudden change in her attitude. We'd been supporting each other since we met, when we moved into the same apartment during graduate school, together through every competency exam and excessively long paper until we'd both received our doctoral degrees.

We finished up our call so I could start the thirty minute drive into the secluded area where the Powhatan Correctional Center was located. I parked in an empty spot and headed through the initial security area of the prison, more anxious about interacting with my new coworkers than meeting the inmates I would serve.

After a short meeting with the warden I was introduced to a senior officer who would facilitate my introduction to the inmates, giving a tour of the facility and leading me down to my office. I expected it to be bland, the grey walls leaving the space dull with only a desk, small bookshelf and two chairs filling the room. I would have to get creative with decorating but was glad there was a small window, the open blinds giving a view of the far side of the lawn and barbed fence.

"Are you ready to meet the inmates?" Carla, the senior officer, a woman with broad enough shoulders to intimidate any man, sharp cheekbones, and soft eyes asked as we walked toward the first unit.

"I am, is there anything important I should know?" I replied, sure that she'd have some insight with many years of working her way through the ranks.

She chuckled. "It's important to establish authority and respect with them immediately, especially as a woman. You'll learn how to recognize when someone is trying to get over on you because we have some crazies in here." The term she used made me cringe, though I didn't correct her. If there were "crazies" as she called them, they would surely need me for support. Most of all, I wanted the opportunity to see them as people. "We'll do this introduction a few times today in the different units." She swiped her badge before using a key to unlock the door that led into the first unit, the crowd of men dressed in beige jumpsuits ignoring our entrance.

"Inmates!" Her voice thundered through the room, demanding the attention of everyone in sight, and I watched as their heads turned, a few whoops being called out as they set eyes on me for the first time. "Come on, I don't want to hear that disrespect."

The room fell silent as she continued and I fought against the discomfort of so many eyes on me. "I want to introduce you to Dr. Monroe. She's joining our team as the on-site psychologist." She kept her introduction short and simple, nodding at me to give any more information.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know you all. I will be reviewing files and collaborating with the other medical staff over the next few days. I may pull a few of you to my office to talk a little more, but if you need anything, feel free to let any of the CO's know so that we can set up a meeting." I gave a warm smile.

"I've got something you can pull on!" An inmate with strawberry blonde hair called out, cuing the others to erupt into laughter.

The screeching of a chair being knocked over took everyone's attention, another inmate standing so that he towered over him. "Don't disrespect her." His voice was low but threatening, dark hair buzzed as close to his head as it could get.

There was a tension and silence for a moment before Carla spoke up again, her voice like the boom of a drum. "Back to it inmates!"

I followed her out of the unit and she led me through the hallways until we reached my office, letting me use my badge and key to enter as she answered a call on her radio. "I have to go out into the yard for a bit, but I'll be back to get you for our next round." She nodded, pulling the door closed behind her.

Four boxes with files had been placed on my desk so I slumped into the chair behind my desk, starting with reading the largest file in the bunch, recognizing the inmate who stood up for me when I opened it to the first page. I spent the day reading through files, getting familiar with charges and possible mental health concerns between Carla and my ventures to the four units in the center.

At the end of my first workday I stopped by the grocery store, many of the shelves bare as the reports of a potential second pandemic created chaos that had people stocking up on items.

"You know the government is about to shut us down again, but worse this time. No one will be able to leave their homes. It's all just a way to control us. They're the ones releasing this virus and infecting people in the first place." I half listened to the man who was checking out a few customers ahead of me, the young cashier who waxed her gum ignoring his theories while she scanned items.

On the ride back to the townhouse I was renting the radio news informed me that there were now ten reported cases of this new virus, apparently more dangerous than anything seen before.

There seemed to be something that was hidden from the public as people took to social media, reporting a significant discrepancy between the amount of deaths and identified cases, extreme videos being uploaded of New York in chaos, riots and short clips of people who believe it or not, seemed to be waking from the dead.

"I overheard some of my students talking about it today. One of them said that his family is from New York and the weird zombie stuff is all edited. Apparently the virus is similar to the last but a more fatal mutation." Shelby told me on a video call closer to the end of the week.

"People will really make up anything." I laughed, thinking of how useful those editing skills could be for making sci-fi films. "Do you think they'll shut down the school?"

"Probably not until there are some cases here. You know they are so resistant to another lockdown around here." She shrugged, taking a bite of pizza while I took the meat out that I'd been thawing.

I laughed at her stuffed mouth, the bite tucked into the side of her cheek. "You make me want to order pizza, but if things get worse you should come here. You can work from my place if you need to." I suggested.

"Just order a pizza, and I will. Let's see what it looks like in a couple of weeks and I'll decide if I'm going to drive up." She replied. She never had to work too hard to convince me, especially when it came to ordering out instead of cooking. I shoved the package of meat back into the refrigerator and immediately put in a delivery order while we caught up on the week.

By the beginning of the following week, the virus was all anyone was talking about. Inmates were requesting meetings with me, complaining that their concerns weren't being taken seriously. There were eerily familiar staff meetings where the warden attempted to assure us that things were under control and there was nothing to worry about. So much information was coming out, constant updates that provided little clarity and only heightened my worry. Cases of the virus were moving quickly, spreading to more populated states first, though we knew it wouldn't be long until there were reports nationwide.

Shelby should have come earlier, travel becoming restricted and more challenging as the number of infected grew. Since they couldn't shut down a prison, I kept working, taking as many precautions as I could and thankful that there hadn't yet been any reported cases.

Everything changed within a day, going from manageable to impossible as a CO was hospitalized and then another, reports of infected inmates reaching my email by the middle of the week. Panic started to set in when I was paged by one of the physicians, having to cover myself in protective equipment to join the medical staff as we lost the first inmate to the illness.

"When we let the inmates know what's happened I'm sure some of them will need a space to talk about it." The warden let me know just after the time of death was called.

"Of course, just come grab me when you're planning to release the news. I'll be there and can arrange to have a support group." I offered, leaving on my mask and removing the rest of the protective clothing before heading back down to my office.

When I plopped down into the chair behind my desk my shoulders slumped with exhaustion. I put my head down for a few minutes because after the past week and a half with this job, I deserved it, not realizing that I actually dozed off until I was jolted awake to the blaring of an alarm, buzzing so loudly that my ears rang.

I moved into action quickly, peeking my head out the door to see a bit of commotion at the end of the hallway, the warden's voice coming through the speakers overhead with an announcement. "Inmates, report to your units immediately." His tone was sharp and commanding.

The alarm kept sounding as I plugged my ears with my fingers, walking toward the crowd of people at the end of the hall to help manage the crisis. I recognized Carla's tight, low bun as she seemed to be arguing with a few inmates, my breath catching in my throat when I saw one of them point a gun to her head, pulling the trigger without a second of hesitation.

I blinked a few times, my hand covering my mouth as I took a few steps back, the prisoners attention turned on me. He held up the gun and my vision blurred from the tears that welled in my eyes, frozen in place as he pulled the trigger once again.

He groaned, dropping the gun from which Carla took the last bullet, the half scream and breath of relief that left my mouth echoing down the corridor. Just as they took their first step to come after me my body moved into survival mode, and I sprinted down the hall back to my office, bolting the door as soon as their fists started to pound on the other side.

I moved quickly, propping a chair under the handle for added security before stepping back, listening to their calls through the door.

"Let us in, pretty lady!"

"We just want to talk!"

"Open the door and we won't hurt you."

My heart raced at the sadistic sound of their laughter until one of them gave in. "Come on, we've got better people to take care of than the new girl."

The sound of their feet pattering away from the door gave me permission to let out the choked sob I'd been holding in. I kept a hand over my mouth as I crawled under my desk, dragging the corded phone down with me. My hand shook while I keyed in the extension to the warden's office, a beeping picking up that wouldn't let me complete the call. I dialed 911 next, getting the same response before trying Shelby, slamming the phone against the wall at hearing the tone.

"Okay, there's a riot happening. All I need to do is stay here and wait for help to come. Someone will come." I talked to myself, putting a hand over my chest as I tried to control my breathing.

I wouldn't dare move from the crouched position I was in under my desk, even when my legs started to cramp after a few hours. I listened to the screams, gunshots, and sound of people running back and forth, registering other odd sounds that were left behind, slower footsteps accompanied by a low groaning and grumbling.

From the spot I was in I could see that the light from outside was changing as it turned from day to night, and even though I didn't pray much, I clasped my hands, begging for someone to save me from whatever was happening on the other side.
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Author's Note: Here we go with this new story! Let me know what you all think of the first chapter. This type of story is a new venture for me since I'm mostly a romance writer (though this story will definitely have some romance) so I'm excited to see people's response to this one. A shoutout and dedication goes to my bestie, 4everSherlocked who is literally my ride or die supporter through my writing.