Chapter 7: Shadow of Contagion
Geneva, Switzerland – WHO Emergency Operations Center
Michael Levinson stood at the command center, watching the red dots multiply on the digital world map. The numbers were accelerating—too fast.
“We’ve confirmed fatalities in Singapore, Dubai, and London,” Elise Moreau said grimly. “The virus is moving at an alarming rate.”
Michael’s hands gripped the table. “What’s the latest R-naught estimate?”
Dr. Samuel Greene glanced at his notes. “R₀ of 4.2 to 5.1.”
A hush fell over the room.
That was twice as infectious as SARS.
Michael clenched his jaw. “We’re dealing with a global pandemic—whether governments are ready to admit it or not.”
Elise nodded. “We need to push for travel restrictions now. If we wait any longer—”
“It’s already too late,” Samuel cut in. “The virus is in the global travel network.”
Michael exhaled sharply.
The world had days, not weeks.
“Get me direct lines to the CDC, NIH, European Centre for Disease Prevention, and China’s CDC. We need full transparency.”
Elise hesitated. “China’s CDC is… not responding.”
Michael’s stomach dropped.
That wasn’t a good sign.
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2
Pune, India – National Institute of Virology
Dr. Ananya Bose rubbed her temples as she stared at the sequencing results.
The virus had two distinct genetic markers that didn’t belong in nature.
“This was engineered,” she murmured.
Dr. Rishi Malhotra looked up. “We need confirmation.”
Ananya exhaled. “We need access to classified military virology databases. If a similar strain exists anywhere, it’ll be there.”
Before Rishi could reply, her phone rang.
It was Michael Levinson.
“Ananya, I just got intel that China’s CDC is going dark. No data, no response.”
Ananya’s pulse quickened.
If China was hiding information, that meant only one thing.
They already knew something the rest of the world didn’t.
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3
Shanghai, China – PLA Bioweapons Research Facility
Dr. Zhang Wei tapped his fingers against his desk, staring at the encrypted report on his screen.
The virus was spreading faster than projected.
And worse… it was adapting in real-time.
His orders had been clear: No information leaves this facility.
But Zhang wasn’t just a scientist. He was a doctor. And he had seen what this virus could do.
He reached for his secure phone.
It was time to break protocol.
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4
Dubai International Airport – Quarantine Zone
The air was thick with tension and the hum of biohazard suits.
Dr. Fatima Al-Farsi moved through the isolation unit, checking vitals. The patients—all recent travelers—were showing a new symptom:
Neurological degeneration.
One man, barely able to lift his head, whispered nonsense under his breath. His pupils were dilated.
“Doctor,” a nurse called. “We just lost another one.”
Fatima turned toward the sealed chamber where a woman in her forties had just flatlined.
Blood seeped from her ears and nose.
Fatima swallowed hard.
This wasn’t just a respiratory virus.
It was attacking the nervous system.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for her tablet to record the data.
The Crimson Strain was evolving.
And she had no idea how to stop it.
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5
London, UK – Heathrow Airport
Border security was in chaos.
Flights were being grounded. Passengers were being quarantined. Protests erupted outside the terminal.
In the control room, MI5 agent James Calloway watched the CCTV feed.
His focus locked onto one man—a traveler from Dubai who had been stopped at immigration.
He was sweating. Agitated.
Calloway turned to his partner. “That man… run his name.”
His partner typed quickly. Then his face went pale.
“Sir… he was on the same flight as the first case in Singapore.”
Calloway’s stomach knotted.
The virus was already inside the UK.
And if that man had walked through immigration just minutes earlier…
He’d already be gone.
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6
Washington D.C. – White House Situation Room
The U.S. President sat at the long oak table, flanked by his National Security Advisor, the CDC director, and top military officials.
The briefing was grim.
“We have confirmed cases in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago,” the CDC director stated. “Local hospitals are overwhelmed.”
The President’s face was unreadable. “Tell me straight. What are we dealing with?”
The CDC director hesitated.
Then he said:
“Mr. President… we’re looking at the deadliest engineered virus in modern history.”
The room fell silent.
Then the Secretary of Defense spoke.
“If this was designed, we need to consider the possibility that it was deployed as a weapon.”
The President’s eyes darkened. “Then we need to find out who’s behind it.”
His gaze swept the room.
“And we need to do it before it’s too late.”
SURBHI SINHA