"What makes you think we can find a cure?" The man asked.

   I patted Laila's shoulder. "AB negative..."

The three doctors shared a look, mouths open.

"We were experimenting with AB negative when the infection first broke out." The other man said.

"It was looking quite promising." The first man said.

"But, we ran out of samples." The woman added.

Laila stuck her arm out. "Let's get some more samples then..."

   As the months passed, we realized the infection was in the blood. It attacked the blood stream, infiltrating the heart, giving its victim a fatal heart attack. It would continue through the blood after that, moving to the brain, taking over the complete central nervous system and reanimating the corpses.

Their need to feast on flesh was still a mystery. It wasn't necessary for their survival, but it fueled their actions. Whatever was left of their brains seemed to focus on only one thing; consumption.

We were able to create a serum that would fight off the infectious cells. We ran tests against the creatures' blood and it looked very promising.

Unfortunately, a cure wouldn't work on the dead. At this stage, their bodies were to far gone, the state of decomposition rendering vital organs useless. We trapped and injected one of the creatures. Once the infection was cleared, the brain lived for another four minutes before dying. However, it did work as a great vaccine for the living. I injected myself with the vaccine, then one of the creatures blood. Thankfully, the vaccine worked, killing the infection before it could spread.

The other doctors had a direct line to what remained of the United States government. They took refuge in giant, underground bunkers. The only semblance of civilization left in this world.

Once the vaccine was ready for mass distribution, the government agreed to pick us up via helicopter and fly us out to D.C. where we could live safely in the bunkers until we reclaimed our world.

They moved quickly, producing thousands of vaccines a day, using airplanes to deliver them to survivors on the ground. They even found a way to weaponize them. Kill squads scoured the streets, now protected by our vaccine, putting an end to every corpse that moved and picking up as many survivors as they could.

We still had a long fight ahead of us, but it was finally turning in our favor...

Day 2,347

   Laila joined me in our room, drinks in hand. "Here." She said.

   I took the drink, the smell of champagne filling my nose. "What's the occasion?"

   She sat down next to me. "Didn't you hear? Thirty-four states have been cleared. Work crews are moving out to start rebuilding. They estimate another fourteen months before the country is free of those things."

   I nodded slowly. "We really did it... I can't believe it..."

   She raised her glass. "To freedom."

   I looked at her before raising mine. "To the Corporal... We wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for her..."

   Laila let out a soft breath before clinking her glass with mine. "To the Corporal."

   We downed the drinks before getting ready for the day.

   We made our way out into the compound, immediately running into the female doctor from the lab. "Hey, Kenzie, we still on for later?"

   I flashed her a smile. "Definitely."

   She returned my smile before continuing on her way.

   I lowered my head a little. Even though we only shared one night together, I missed her. She was a special person in this world and I'm convinced I'll never meet someone like her again.

   Laila took my hand then. "Are you ok?"

   I gave her a small smile. "Yeah."

   She returned it, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "Iris wouldn't want you moping about her, you know."

   I nodded a little. "I know... I just wish she could see all this..."

   Laila patted my shoulder then. "Maybe she can..."

   Then, a group of her friends walked by. She looked to me. "You gonna be ok?"

   "Yeah... Now, run along with your friends, I have stuff to do." I replied.

   She pulled me into a quick hug before jogging off to catch up with her friends.

   I smiled after her before Arthur joined me. "Morning, doctor."

   I started to walk, him following next to me. "Morning. What's on the agenda for today?"

   "Well, for you? Nothing. Take the day off." He replied.

   I stopped then. "Arthur-"

   He put his hand up. "You've done enough. Now, go. Doctors orders."

   I chuckled a little and shook my head before walking off.

   I made my way up to the observatory, looking out over the grounds. Workers mingled outside. Not a care in the world. Not a drop of fear.

   "Well, Iris, it looks like we really did it." I said, running my finger over the dog tags she gave me so long ago.

"You know, you never told me where you got those?" Her voice rang out.

I turned, coming face to face with the female doctor. "Well, you never asked."

She smiled, pulling me into a quick kiss before looking out over the grounds. "We have time, why don't you fill me in?"

I leaned against the railing, smiling down at the tags. "Her name was Iris... She was a tough son of a bitch... But, she was soft and caring when she wanted to be... She was my egg..."

She took my hand in hers then. "What happened to her?"

A single tear rolled down my cheek. "She sacrificed herself to get Laila and I to the lab..."

She pressed a soft kiss to my cheek then. "I'm so sorry..."

I gave her hand a little squeeze before looking out at the horizon. "It's what she would've wanted... She was brave and willing to lay down her life for the safety of others... I'm honored to have known her... Even if it was just for a little while..."

We stayed in silence for a while, just watching the clouds in the sky, happy to be alive... Happy to have survived...

The End