The morning news droned in the background as Adrian moved through his small apartment, buttoning up his shirt, still half-awake. On the TV, a stern-faced news anchor announced grimly:
"Breaking News: The 'Crimson Decay' virus continues to spread, claiming thousands of lives each week. This strange infection begins with severe fatigue and violent coughing fits, but rapidly worsens. Victims develop feverish, burning skin, strange red lesions that seem to eat away at flesh, and within days, are left bedridden as their organs begin to shut down. So far, no cure or effective treatment has been found. Hospitals are overwhelmed…"
Adrian paused, his hands frozen over his collar. He'd seen the damage firsthand. People he knew—neighbors, old friends, even a few of his distant relatives—were among those affected. The world was changing in front of his eyes, people reduced to statistics on a screen. But he wasn't helpless. He was part of the team that could make a difference.
He shook himself out of his thoughts, gathered his bag, and headed out the door. *
"This time, I'll find a way."
At the lab, Adrian joined a somber crowd of colleagues gathered in the conference room. The head of research, Dr. Fielder, wasted no time, his voice sharp as he addressed Adrian.
"We need more progress, Adrian," Dr. Fielder said, his tone cutting. "As lead scientist on the experiment, this is your chance to do something historic. The world is watching—and counting on us. You're on the brink of something big. You just need to push harder."
Adrian felt the weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders. This virus wasn't just some challenge; it was a deadly threat tearing through society, and every minute wasted meant more lives lost.
He gave a curt nod, trying to mask his exhaustion. "I understand, Dr. Fielder. I'll keep pushing."
Hours turned into a blur as Adrian immersed himself in his experiments, losing track of time in the quiet hum of his lab. He'd been testing countless substances, hoping something would show promise against the virus. Experiment after experiment—all failures.
He settled into his lab chair, exhaustion evident as he clicked the recorder on, his voice heavy with the weight of endless hours of work and countless dead ends.
"Experiment 125... date is July 10th, 3:04 p.m. Initial formula combines serum X with Compound-6. Goal: neutralize viral activity without damaging healthy cells." He noted the time again, glancing briefly at the clock on his desk as if to reassure himself that he still had time to make a breakthrough.
Carefully, he injected a few drops of bright green liquid into the petri dish holding the infected cells. Leaning forward, he narrated his observations into the recorder. "Starting with low exposure, observing how cells react in stages." His voice had a tentative hope, as if this might finally be the formula he needed.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a thin red line crept across the cells like a sinister vine, consuming everything it touched. Adrian clenched his jaw, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Negative reaction… virus has overtaken the solution. Formula not viable. Marked as failed."
He turned off the recorder and scribbled hurriedly in his notebook:
Formula: Compound-6 ineffective in halting viral spread. Cellular degradation escalated. Try reducing sulfur derivative for future testing.
Determined to keep moving forward, he grabbed another vial, this one filled with a pale blue liquid, and resumed recording. "Experiment 126… adjusting previous formula. Lowering sulfur derivative to 2%."
He watched as he introduced the new sample to the petri dish. At first, everything remained calm, the cells appearing undisturbed.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled him down, his head drooping over his desk. In seconds, he was out cold, surrendering to a much-needed rest.
When he finally stirred awake, the clock read 2:37 a.m. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the ache in his back and neck, and reached for the nearest vial. His hand slipped, and a vial of thick purple liquid tumbled from the shelf, splattering across the table and into his latest experiment.
"Damn it!" he muttered, reaching for a cloth to wipe it up, but paused when he noticed the screen monitoring the experiment.
The radar, which usually went haywire at any interference, was holding steady. He stared, disbelief creeping over him. The levels on the screen displayed stability across the board.
P H Levels : Normal.
Temperature Stability : Consistent.
Cell Activity : Normal—no sign of viral mutation.
Cll Viability : Improved.
Adrian's heart raced as he cautiously turned to his testing equipment, quickly gathering a cage that held a small infected rat, its breathing labored, skin mottled with red lesions. With shaky hands, he injected a few drops of the mixture into the creature.
At first, the rat convulsed, its body twitching, wracked by spasms. Adrian's heart sank. Another failure—he'd dared to hope for too much.
But just as he was about to write it off, the rat's twitching slowed. Its breathing became steady, the color of its skin returning to a healthy gray. In a few minutes, it opened its eyes, peering up at Adrian, almost as if it, too, was surprised to be alive.
Adrian laughed, an exhausted, exhilarated sound that filled the empty lab. " I did it." The virus, for the first time, had been beaten.
Without hesitation, he rushed to his computer, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he typed up a report, sending an urgent message to Dr. Fielder:
Subject: Breakthrough on Project Crimson Decay Cure.
"Dr. Fielder, I need you to see this. I may have found the cure. "
Adrian leaned back, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. This wasn't the end—no, this was only the beginning. He could already see his name on the news and newspapers. ADRIAN HAYES.