The Jab - Chapter 1

There were about fifty of us in that room, including the nurses. We were scattered all about. It was more like a classroom than what you would expect for getting vaccinated. There were rows of long folding tables with chairs every six feet, you know, because of social distancing.

Some of us were standing in groups, and others were sitting on the tables talking to others who were sitting on chairs. It was really all very casual feeling and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. I mean, who wouldn't be if it meant that we were going to be exempt from all the draconian rules after this?

"Ok, we're about to get going. We're just waiting on the last few vials of the vaccine to be brought into the room, then you can each line up by row and we'll make this as quick and painless as possible," said one of the nurses. She was apparently the one running the show, or at least liked to believe that she was. She was about fifty years old, wore two masks as she had been told, lavender scrubs, and her hair cut in a bob type style that was just below the ears. She wasn't bad looking, but also didn't look like the type that had been in the gym in the last.... year. Her name tag said Betty.

Just then, the door cracked open and a quiet voice came from the other side. "I think we're ready for the drill. Make sure they stay in here." And straight away the door closed.

I don't think we were supposed to hear that, and Betty looked a bit nervous. I think she realized that some of us heard what was said. She quickly looked around the room to see if anyone had noticed. She could not risk any of us getting suspicious.

Roger, who I had met just moments ago, turned to me and whispered, "I don't think we should stick around. Let's grab our wives and get the fuck out of here before they do whatever the fuck they are planning."

"Yea, I agree. Let's get outta here," I whispered back. I could feel my pulse quickening at the thought that we might be stuck in here for God knows what reason.

I never had much of a poker face. My wife straight away could tell that there was something wrong. "Why are you so nervous all of a sudden?" she asked while turning away from the group.

"I have a bad feeling. Did you hear what was said by the person on the other side of the door?"

"Other side of the door? Why would someone say something from the other side of the door?"

"I don't know. They said something about a drill. Roger and I think it would be best if we get out of here unless we want to get stuck here for however long that drill takes. I'm not even sure if they're really planning on giving us the vaccine at this point. We've been here for over two hours. Why would it take this long for them to get the vaccines into the room. Shouldn't they have been set up for this?"

"Yea, it is a bit odd. Ok, if you want to go, we can go. Let me just exchange contact info with Jill here. We may go biking on the trails next weekend."

"Sounds good. I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied with a smile. She quickly whipped out her phone and plugged in Jill's information then let me know that she was ready to get going.

I gave Roger a nod, who had also wrangled his wife, and we started heading for the door. Betty spotted us and looked even more nervous than before. Almost panicked. She gave quick glances to the other nurses, but they were too busy gossiping with a few of the other participants.

"Where are you all going? Don't you still want to get the vaccine?" Betty asked. She was clearly trying to figure out a way to get us to stay. It was written all over her face.

"We have plans to get to. We were told that this would take less than half an hour, and we just can't miss the other appointment. We'll make sure that we get another slot scheduled as soon as possible," Roger replied. He was as cool and collected as if he had dealt with situations like this every day of his life.

With that Roger pushed the door open and we all followed him through. There were military personnel standing around in the hall. It was confusing to say the least, but we decided to not look at them directly and act like nothing was out of the ordinary. I could fell the sweat dripping out of my armpits and down my sides I was so nervous.

I could feel the eyes following us as we walked down the hall. Every muscle in my body grew tense as I just tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. It felt like everyone in that hospital was in on whatever was going to happen to those people still in that room.

No one stopped us. It must have been a calculated risk. If they let four of us go without making a ruckus, then no one else would give them any trouble. Poor bastards. If I just had the courage, I would have grabbed a few more people. Hell, if it hadn't been for Roger, I don't think I would have made it out. I would have just sat there frozen, like a mouse cornered by the house cat.

Then it hit me why they didn't stop us. They knew exactly where they could find us. But at least we made it out, this time.

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Index