The Beginning of the End by Lorana Hoopes (readict txt) 📕

“Please come and see me if you have any questions. We will grant one hour for you to gather up all your supplies, but then it is important that you leave campus.”

Lily glanced to Mrs. Fox as Mr. Shane ended his speech. Fear and dismay swam in her normally warm gaze. “Mrs. Fox?” Lily asked, raising her hand.

The students around her quieted down as Mrs. Fox wiped the corner of her eye. “Yes, Lily?”

“Will they let us return if we don’t get vaccinated?”

“Yeah, I want to know that too because I heard Bradley died from a heart attack caused by the vaccine,” a boy in the back added.

“From what I’ve been told, the answer is no,” Mrs. Fox said, her voice marred with sadness. “The governor is pushing for mandatory vaccinations by the end of the year, so it is with a heavy heart that I tell you I won’t be returning either.”

A chorus of confusion broke out in the room with students shouting, “What?” “No!” “You can’t!”

Lily didn’t know why, but suddenly she felt God telling her to speak. She stood up in her chair and held her hands up. When everyone quieted down, she took a deep breath. “I don’t know how many of you lost someone in the disappearances, and I don’t know what you believe about what caused them, but I believe it was the rapture. That means we are now in the tribulation period and things are only going to get worse. I know this is scary, but I belong to a group called TruthSeekers. You can find them online. Look them up, watch what they say, think for yourself, and if you think I’m right, they’ll tell you how to find us.”

For a moment there was silence as the room stared at her with wide eyes and open mouths. Then suddenly, the flood gates opened, and the room began peppering her with questions. The corners of Lily’s mouth curled into a soft smile. Raven had been right. They might not save everyone, but many were looking for hope and truth.

Raven pulled her mask on as she approached the entrance of the store. She wished she could be like some of the believers she saw in more conservative states and just refuse to wear it, but here she would be refused service. And for now at least, it was important that she get supplies.

She slowed though as the door opened, revealing a guard of some sort standing just inside. He held only a clipboard, but that did not put Raven at ease. What was going on?

“Have you been vaccinated, Miss?” he asked as she stepped through the door.

“How is that any of your business?”

“I’m sorry, Miss, I’m just following orders. I was told to ask everyone who entered a few simple questions. We’re taking no personal data if that makes you feel better.”

It didn’t. “What happens if I refuse?” Raven asked. She would go to another store if she had to, but she had a sinking feeling that even if they weren’t like this one today, they would be soon.

“Then I’m afraid I can’t let you enter.”

“Are you kidding me? First, you asked for fifteen days, then you asked for face coverings, then double masks, now vaccines and questions?” A few people nearby turned at her raised voice.

“I’m sorry, Miss, I really am.”

The man shrugged, and Raven sighed. He probably was just doing his job. He was a sheep, doing what the government told him, but it wasn’t his fault really. He had probably never been woken up. “Fine, I’ll answer your questions on one condition.”

His brow furrowed, but his curiosity won out. “What is that?”

“You check out my website. That’s all. Look it up, watch a few videos. You do that, and I promise I’ll answer your questions and make no further disturbance.”

The man seemed confused, but he agreed, taking the card she held out to him and placing it in his pocket.

“No, I have not been vaccinated,” Raven said, answering his original question.

He marked something on his clipboard. “Do you plan to be?”

“No, I do not.”

With a nod, he marked again. “I am required to now tell you that this store, come the first of the year, will no longer allow entry to someone who has not been vaccinated.”

Raven had known this was coming, but this timeline was only a few months away. “And how exactly will you know if I’ve been vaccinated? I don’t see them handing out papers when you get one, and I’m not walking around with my vaccination record.”

“That won’t be necessary, Miss. We’ll be able to scan your arm with a blacklight and see the vaccine markers.”

“I see. Well, thanks for the warning. After today, I’ll be sure to take my business elsewhere.” As Raven grabbed a cart and began loading it up, her mind played back over the public vaccinations they’d seen and the ingredient list she’d looked at both from Lily and later online as she researched. Neither had listed Luciferase. So were they lying to the public and deliberately failing to mention it? She wouldn’t put that past the government or Daman Caturix at least.

She paused to grab vitamins and first aid supplies from the shelf and that’s when it hit her. The Band-aids. Caturix’s initial patent had been for an implant system - a patch that people could apply themselves. What if he’d put his implant system on the Band-aids they were giving people after the injection? It would be a way for them to inject people with Luciferase without anyone raising concern over it being in the vaccine. But how would he get the infected Band-aids to them and how would he know which people would be giving out the shots? Unless…

A sick feeling settled in the bottom of her stomach as she examined the box of Band-aids in her hand. What if every Band-aid was infected with his implantation system? It would be the only way