[BtR] Public; backdated to Georgia's arrival
To anyone who can see this post, please read it in its entirety. I can not overemphasize the importance of this. It is not a joke or a prank or an extremely elaborate delusion. This is real, and it may mean the difference between life and death for you and anyone you care about.
This isn't an easy post to make. For me, this story was broken before I was even born, and explaining basic facts of your existence isn't something anyone ever prepares for. I hardly know where to begin, but let's start here:
My name is Georgia Mason. I'm a journalist, I am 23 years old, and when I woke up this morning, I was in Sacramento in the year 2040. I've been in Chicago for less than a day, and between what I've seen here and what's been explained to me, I know three things.
First: It's not uncommon here for people to be dragged out of their worlds and times by some random quirk of this universe. I understand that there are others here like me, as well as people native to this world with unusual physical attributes and abilities.
Second: Most people in this world don't know about these things. Hell, I wouldn't believe them if the facts weren't staring me in the face, and that's the only reason I'm posting about this here rather than finding a connection to the internet and screaming about this to anyone who will listen. I'm still seriously thinking about it, unless someone can give me a very compelling reason not to, but for now, I recognize that my best chance at finding someone who will listen is here, with the people who already believe what no one else would.
Third: This world has never heard of Kellis-Amberlee, and never seen a zombie outside of fiction. It is my extremely dubious honor to inform you that that's all about to change.
When I came here, I carried a virus with me, and I'm certain I realized that this city, this world is vulnerable to it too late to lock myself in a room alone until someone could effect a quarantine. The virus is airborne, and it is 100% infectious. I've been out on the street, the people I've spoken to have doubtless come in contact with other people by now, and there's no taking it back. The virus is out there, and it's spreading already, so the most I can do is give you the knowledge that might help you survive.
Where I'm from, in 2014, two man-made viruses were released into the world, met, and combined to form Kellis-Amberlee. The first of the viruses, Marburg Amberlee, was designed to cure cancer; the second, the Kellis flu, was a cure for the common cold. The combined virus still does both - congratulations on never having to worry about those again, by the way - but with one deeply unpleasant side effect: the dead get up, walk around, and try to eat anyone who's not dead.
The rules are exactly like every zombie movie you've ever seen. If you haven't seen a zombie movie, go rent one, watch it, and take notes: I'm partial to Dawn of the Dead, but they're all pretty much the same. You die, you become a zombie. You get bitten, you become a zombie. You get a zombie's blood, saliva, or any other bodily fluid in your mucus membranes or open wounds... you get the idea. Early signs of infection include dry mouth and throat, dilated pupils, lack of motor control and/or pain sensitivity, confusion and disorientation. Do not touch or approach anyone you believe may be infected. Humans are not the only ones affected: any mammal over forty pounds can amplify and become a zombie. Personally, I'd suggest getting rid of your dogs right now, and stop eating any meat that came from a mammal while you're at it. You'll thank me later.
Killing them is just like in the movies too: shoot them in the head to destroy the brain. Despite the temptation, do not set them on fire - that will kill them, eventually, but it's not the brilliant idea it sounds like. They'll hunt in packs if there's any significant numbers in one place, and the larger the pack, the smarter they are, but they'll usually start to moan when they approach a living person. Try to move away from the sound of the moans, remember you're faster and smarter than them, and please, please do not go poking them with a stick just to see what happens. The zombie will bite and convert you, and then you'll both go looking for more people to bite. That's what always happens.
I can't say how long it will take before the first zombie shows up here. That will depend on how quickly the dormant virus takes to spread, and how long it takes for the first person with a dormant case of Kellis-Amberlee to die or undergo spontaneous amplification. I can tell you that the Rising didn't begin until several months after the Kellis flu was released in my world, but factors are obviously different here. For one thing, the Rising happened in summer, and it's autumn here - and like any other flu, it's more easily spread in the cooler temperatures.
I'm sorry for bringing this here. I'm sorry for what's coming. I understand the temptation to disbelieve me, especially if it does take a month or more, but please. Take me seriously, because you can't afford not to. Tell your friends. Tell everyone you know. Get a gun and learn how to use it, build a kit of emergency supplies and keep it somewhere you'll be able to get to it, make sure your homes and offices are as secure as you can make them and that you know where every exit is at all times. It will keep you alive.
If there are any medical professionals on this network, or anyone good with tech, I'd like to speak in person as soon as possible. Thank you.
This isn't an easy post to make. For me, this story was broken before I was even born, and explaining basic facts of your existence isn't something anyone ever prepares for. I hardly know where to begin, but let's start here:
My name is Georgia Mason. I'm a journalist, I am 23 years old, and when I woke up this morning, I was in Sacramento in the year 2040. I've been in Chicago for less than a day, and between what I've seen here and what's been explained to me, I know three things.
First: It's not uncommon here for people to be dragged out of their worlds and times by some random quirk of this universe. I understand that there are others here like me, as well as people native to this world with unusual physical attributes and abilities.
Second: Most people in this world don't know about these things. Hell, I wouldn't believe them if the facts weren't staring me in the face, and that's the only reason I'm posting about this here rather than finding a connection to the internet and screaming about this to anyone who will listen. I'm still seriously thinking about it, unless someone can give me a very compelling reason not to, but for now, I recognize that my best chance at finding someone who will listen is here, with the people who already believe what no one else would.
Third: This world has never heard of Kellis-Amberlee, and never seen a zombie outside of fiction. It is my extremely dubious honor to inform you that that's all about to change.
When I came here, I carried a virus with me, and I'm certain I realized that this city, this world is vulnerable to it too late to lock myself in a room alone until someone could effect a quarantine. The virus is airborne, and it is 100% infectious. I've been out on the street, the people I've spoken to have doubtless come in contact with other people by now, and there's no taking it back. The virus is out there, and it's spreading already, so the most I can do is give you the knowledge that might help you survive.
Where I'm from, in 2014, two man-made viruses were released into the world, met, and combined to form Kellis-Amberlee. The first of the viruses, Marburg Amberlee, was designed to cure cancer; the second, the Kellis flu, was a cure for the common cold. The combined virus still does both - congratulations on never having to worry about those again, by the way - but with one deeply unpleasant side effect: the dead get up, walk around, and try to eat anyone who's not dead.
The rules are exactly like every zombie movie you've ever seen. If you haven't seen a zombie movie, go rent one, watch it, and take notes: I'm partial to Dawn of the Dead, but they're all pretty much the same. You die, you become a zombie. You get bitten, you become a zombie. You get a zombie's blood, saliva, or any other bodily fluid in your mucus membranes or open wounds... you get the idea. Early signs of infection include dry mouth and throat, dilated pupils, lack of motor control and/or pain sensitivity, confusion and disorientation. Do not touch or approach anyone you believe may be infected. Humans are not the only ones affected: any mammal over forty pounds can amplify and become a zombie. Personally, I'd suggest getting rid of your dogs right now, and stop eating any meat that came from a mammal while you're at it. You'll thank me later.
Killing them is just like in the movies too: shoot them in the head to destroy the brain. Despite the temptation, do not set them on fire - that will kill them, eventually, but it's not the brilliant idea it sounds like. They'll hunt in packs if there's any significant numbers in one place, and the larger the pack, the smarter they are, but they'll usually start to moan when they approach a living person. Try to move away from the sound of the moans, remember you're faster and smarter than them, and please, please do not go poking them with a stick just to see what happens. The zombie will bite and convert you, and then you'll both go looking for more people to bite. That's what always happens.
I can't say how long it will take before the first zombie shows up here. That will depend on how quickly the dormant virus takes to spread, and how long it takes for the first person with a dormant case of Kellis-Amberlee to die or undergo spontaneous amplification. I can tell you that the Rising didn't begin until several months after the Kellis flu was released in my world, but factors are obviously different here. For one thing, the Rising happened in summer, and it's autumn here - and like any other flu, it's more easily spread in the cooler temperatures.
I'm sorry for bringing this here. I'm sorry for what's coming. I understand the temptation to disbelieve me, especially if it does take a month or more, but please. Take me seriously, because you can't afford not to. Tell your friends. Tell everyone you know. Get a gun and learn how to use it, build a kit of emergency supplies and keep it somewhere you'll be able to get to it, make sure your homes and offices are as secure as you can make them and that you know where every exit is at all times. It will keep you alive.
If there are any medical professionals on this network, or anyone good with tech, I'd like to speak in person as soon as possible. Thank you.