At night Allison flipped through the same old magazines looking at the people with their snow-white smiles, designer clothes, and botoxed faces. When she first found the magazines on a bookshelf in the living room, Sandra gasped at the sight of Allison holding one of them. The realization that these had belonged to Sandra’s daughter rushed over Allison and filled her with guilt. She quickly placed them back on the shelf, turning to walk away, when Sandra’s gentle touch stopped her.
“You can have them,” she said. “There is no reason you can’t enjoy them; someone should.”
Since then Allison had flipped through the same pages every night. She caught herself imagining that the world was still normal, still the same as she had always known it to be. But then the nightly news would come on the radio, reminding her that nothing was the same anymore. Dave always sat in his big recliner, leaning back, quietly listening to the newscaster. Allison noticed that anytime the government or Collectors were mentioned he would clench his fists or get up saying he needed a glass of water. Sandra would sit on the couch looking nervous and wringing her hands together for the entire broadcast. Allison would listen intently to everything being said, slowly piecing together the last few years.
The world was in chaos after the virus hit. Mothers attacked their own children, firemen attacked those they were sent to rescue, NFL players attacked each other on the field during a live television broadcast. The list of occurrences went on and on.
In 2050 a Dutch scientist discovered a vaccine for N87. He became an international hero overnight, but it wasn’t in time to save the millions already dead or infected. The vaccine was a success eighty percent of the time, causing newly infected rates to plummet to all-time lows. The lower numbers of Infected resulted in smaller infected areas, which meant more area for the healthy. People resumed normal-ish lives. Scientists continued to work on a cure, although it was speculated that one was impossible to make.
The radio often portrayed the Collectors as the average man’s protectors. They gathered up Infected, escorted supplies to towns in infected areas, and offered medical care to those who needed it. But to the average citizen they were friends who stabbed you in the back as soon as it was in their best interest.
One evening Dave was quieter than usual. He had been in town, but had not spoken of the visit. Allison could tell his silence was bothering Sandra. When he heard the radio host spew his admiration for the Collectors he stood from his chair. “Sandy, the damn Collectors hit Mt. Kline for supplies again. They took over half of their food supplies. It’s just getting worse.”
“Oh dear. That is awful. Did anyone get hurt?” Sandra asked.
“Not this time. Thankfully, everyone cooperated. We all know the Collectors shoot first and ask questions later.” Dave looked at his wife. “Sandy, if they ever come here we aren’t going down without a fight, ya hear? We aren’t cows at a slaughter-house,” he snarled. He turned to Allison. “And you run like hell. If they show up you don’t hesitate, you run.”
Sandra said, “Well, if it comes to that, I’m taking as many of them as I can down with me. You remember what happened to Bill. We play the long game and protect ourselves.” Sandra reached over and squeezed Allison’s hand.
“Poor Bill. God rest his soul. He was a brave man.” Dave bowed his head.
“Have you heard anything else about that rumor from a few weeks ago? The Collectors selling Infected?” Sandra asked. Allison’s stomach dropped.
“No one has proof. But they say they sell them off to the highest bidder. I can’t imagine anything good happens to those poor souls.”
Allison sat and listened quietly, afraid if she spoke they would clam up and stop talking. They always stopped talking when she showed an interest in the gritty details of the dark activities that occurred in his new world. Billy was still a mystery to Allison. She never had the courage to ask about him.
“I’m sure it’s true,” Sandra said as she flipped a page in her Betty Crocker cookbook. “I bet Dr. Neff has something to do with it. Ever since the CDC assigned him here, he’s been nothing but trouble.”
“That man is an evil liar!” Dave shouted as he stood up and trudged back to his and Sandra’s bedroom. Sandra watched Dave walk down the hall and waited until the door closed before she looked at Allison. “I know you’ve been listening to us over there just like you do most nights. Dave wants to spare you the details, but if you want to ask me something, here’s your chance.”
“Who is Billy?” Allison asked. Sandra sighed and closed her book.
“I thought you’d ask about him. When Dr. Neff first started demanding mandatory health checks, people weren’t too keen on the idea. Some even skipped the appointments altogether. Those who missed their appointments, Collectors would show up at their doors and take them away. Some did not return.” Sandra closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Billy questioned Dr. Neff about a family we knew that was taken for missing their health checks. Dr. Neff said they had become Infected and had not survived. Billy insisted he had seen the family the day before they were taken and none had shown symptoms of infection. He told everyone he could that Dr. Neff was up to no good. Billy went all around the county trying to convince people to stand up to Neff. He wanted that man gone. He even held a town hall meeting about it. Dr. Neff showed up and sat in the back just
