Emily looked at Jack with a glint in her eye. "I mean, maybe the answer isn't out there...yet."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, confused.
"Well, think about it. Before the outbreak, scientists were working on all kinds of cures and treatments for diseases. They were making progress every day. Who's to say that they're not still doing that somewhere?"
Jack's face lit up. "You're right! We have to find a way to contact them."
Mike chimed in, "But how do we do that? It's not like there's an internet or cell phone service anymore."
Emily thought for a moment. "Well, there are still ham radios. We could try to find one and see if we can reach anyone."
Jack nodded. "Let's do it."
Over the next few days, the three of them scoured the surrounding area, looking for a ham radio. They searched abandoned houses, businesses, and even the local radio station. It was Emily who finally found one, tucked away in a corner of the station's equipment room.
"Got it!" she exclaimed, holding up the radio triumphantly.
They rushed back to the camp and set up the radio. Jack started broadcasting, hoping that someone, anyone, would hear them.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? This is Jack, Emily, and Mike, survivors of the outbreak. We're looking for any information on the virus or a way to contact other survivors. Please respond if you hear us."
They waited anxiously, listening for any response. But there was only static.
"Just keep trying," Emily said, trying to stay positive.
For the next few days, they broadcasted the same message, hoping that someone would pick up their signal. They talked to each other about what they would say if someone finally answered, and Jack even made a list of questions he wanted to ask.
Finally, on the fifth day, they heard a voice come through the static.
"Hello? This is Dr. Sarah Adams. I heard your broadcast. Are you still there?"
Jack jumped up and grabbed the microphone. "Yes! Yes, we're still here. Thank god, we thought we were the only ones left."
Dr. Adams sounded relieved. "No, there are others. We've been broadcasting for months, trying to find anyone who's still alive. It's good to finally hear a response. Where are you located?"
"We're in a camp outside of the city," Jack replied. "We've been surviving on our own for months."
Dr. Adams paused for a moment. "I have to warn you, it's not safe to stay in one place for too long. The infected are always on the move, looking for new prey."
"We know," Jack said. "We've been on the move before, but we've managed to create a safe haven for ourselves. We just want to know if there's any hope for a cure."
There was a long pause on the other end. Jack wondered if they had lost the connection.
"Dr. Adams? Are you still there?" he asked.
"I'm here, Jack. I'm sorry, but there's no cure. Not yet, anyway. But we're working on it. We have a team of scientists and researchers who are studying the virus, trying to find a way to stop it. We've made some progress, but we're still a long way from a cure."
Jack felt a pang of disappointment. "But is there anything we can do to help? We want to do whatever we can to make a difference."
Dr. Adams sounded impressed. "That's a noble goal, Jack. Actually, there is something you can do. We need more samples of the virus. If you come across any infected individuals or animals, we need tissue and blood samples for our research. It's dangerous work, but it's essential if we want to find a cure.