Devolution

[Kepic]

Project : Neanderthal... after years of research, it had been closed down. A leak had caused the black-lab military research to be closed down, funding cancelled. My brainchild, my experiments, stopped.

At least, that's what they thought. Getting another job in a private company, with my credentials, wasn't difficult. Geneticists were in high demand these days. Or rather, back in those days.

So, alongside the work the company gave me, I quietly continued my pet project. As department head, it wasn't difficult. I even got onto the board of directors, key to the executive washroom, access to a private gym...

My fellow board members, if any were still alive, wouldn't be making any more executive decisions, that was for sure.

It took several months to finish my work. Of course, I developed a protective serum adjacently with the genetically tailored virus. I had no intention of sharing the fate of the billions about the world. There would be a few who were naturally immune - 1 in a million, I estimated.

Introducing the virus into the world populus was surprisingly easy, in comparison. It amazed me what people would do for money - a bribe here and there, to turn a blind eye, or do a little task. They weren't to know that, in a few short weeks time, money would no longer be a concern for mankind.

The news reports over those short weeks, at least as long as the broadcasts remained, as the panic that set in, and the riots spread, were fascinating to watch. Civilisation crumbling, society degenerating. The devolution of mankind.

All those people, who suddenly found themselves... forgetting things, as higher brain functions ceased, leaving just the so-called 'reptile brain' dominant. To those few who were unaffected... what was it like, to see family, friends and loved ones become little more than animals, hardly able to walk upright, let alone run on two feet?

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Why would someone do this? Why would they cause so much pain, anger, and fear? I didn't understand any of it. What I did understand was that I was not changing. I watched my brother and sister slowly become something not quite human.

When it had first started, I had cried until I was sick, and then the anger had set in, and I swore to myself I would find who did this, and somehow find a cure. I set out on my journey, knowing it was dangerous. This was no longer the world I had grown up in. No more little girl dreams, only cold reality. I only prayed I could save my family.

 

[Cryo]

Something is wrong. THe scienists that dilli8gently monitor the stasis chamber were not present. The programming falls into dissarey, and the pod begins to open. WHatever the slipup, it was costly. FOr now the great evil force was released and Omega Blue is once again free! MUAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH Hey, what's going on?

Mike was just getting to the good part in his play when he noticed that everyone around him started to change. Noone was paying attention to him, or even to anything around them. it's like they were all reptiles or something. The change frightened him, as he seemed to be the only one unaffected.



In the dead of night, he sometimes lost his fear, and took advantage of the situation. Theft, rape, dancing naked in church, etc... were just some of the things that he was able to do unhindered, But it was done very rarely and quite often while he slept. Unfortunetly, he began to miss his friends chatter and his parents cooking, so he packed what his adventure book told him to, and set off to find other survivors or possible cures.

 

[Kepic]

I got out of the jeep, carrying the tranquiliser gun ready loaded, looking for another suitable subject. No need to keep my experiments limited to chimpanzee's anymore, after all. I was having to drive further afield from the lab for new specimens now, as the roaming 'packs' of humans nearer to 'home' were learning to keep their distance from me.

A young adult female - I was coming to think of the devolved humans as male and female, not men or women now - in her early twenties, I guessed, caught my eye. She was naked, hunched over the remains of a wild dog - the only real competition that humans had now - filling her stomach with raw meat. I had brought the world peace, yet it was still survival of the fittest. No more governments to dictate to the masses, determine peoples fates.

She tilted her head to one side as she saw me approaching, and pulled her lips back into a snarl. When the dart hit her, she whimpered and collapsed. A quick examination told me she was in fine health, though not a virgin. I'd have to clean her up some, her hair was matted and her skin grimy with dirt and sweat. Back before the change, she'd probably have been quite the centre of attention.

Securing her in the cage in the back of my jeep, I started back to the lab. She would learn to associate certain things with pain and pleasure, and soon become docile enough.

It was getting dark, and I was surprised to see another set of headlights in the distance as I drove back.

A survivor? I hadn't come across any yet... hadn't really expected too. I'd have to be careful how I'd play this. I pulled to a stop, watching the lights growing closer, and picked up the rifle, loading another dart. I checked my pistol as well, in case they proved hostile. I'd never shot anyone before - at least, not anyone 'sentient'.

 

[Isolde]

The specimen under the microscope blurred and ran together and I stood back from the microscope. I was tired. I had been working on unlocking the meaning of this unkown virus from the time it had been 'discovered'. That wasnt the proper word because whoever had invented this had taken every precaution in hiding his or her precious invention from detection.

I sat down and half expected to hear Cody behind me, massaging my neck and back and telling me to take it easy and get some rest before I killed myself. But then I remebered that Cody, my parner and lover, had been one of the first to be taken down by this disease and I put my head on my desk willing the tears to come.

They wouldnt though. I had cried herself dry weeks ago and now all she had were her specimens and a desire for revenge on whomever had destroyed my world.

Getting to my feet, I stumbled over to the cot that I had placed in my lab. I had not left this room for weeks and I swore I would not leave until I tracked the maker of this bio hell down and exacted revenge for all those who had suffered. Falling down on the cot, I let exahustion take hold of me.

I felt I was so close to pinpointing where the virus had originated from and I couldnt afford any mistakes. I would get a few hours of sleep and continue when I woke up. I didnt care how long it took me-there was nothing now to keep me from my goal.

 

[Angelus]

Troy

As I walked down the streets and looked around a sad smile came to my face. It wasn't meant to have happened like this but what this virus brought around was pure heaven for me. I saw a man and woman snarling at each other as they fought over what looked like the remains of a horse and laughed. I walked over to the male and kicked it in the ribs, getting a yelping sound from it.

The female looked at me and snarled but I just looked straight into her eyes and saw the fear that was there. It was not her fault the way that she was and I had to find out who. Just then I heard a shout, not a snarl behind me and turned quickly to see a woman running up to me shouting out, "Oh thank god, I thought that there were no longer any other humans left on the planet."

"And who is to say what human really is lady," I said as I turned and began to walk away.

OOC: My character is not a bad person, he is just like the antagonist of the thread. The one that you love to hate type of person.

[Edited by Angelius on 01-28-2001 at 11:49 PM]

 

[LittleRedDevil]

I looked at myself in the mirror. I resembled the girl child I had been when I had first gotten out of prison. They had put me in a real penitentary at the lowly age of 16. Thought I was to dangerous to be in a child prison. They were probably right. I closed my eyes, trying not to let the memories rob me of my will to stand. If I hadn't of killed the old bastard, he would have hurt my brother and sister. I had been protecting them. Now, I had to protect them again. Someone had stolen the lives I had killed to protect.

I packed my gear and headed out. The old jeep and I had been through a lot, hopefully it would get me through this.

I should have paying more attention, he was lucky I didn't hit him. I was lucky he wasn't a reptile. I was still burning mad.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you lost all sense? You could have been killed you fucking idiot!"

 

[Cryo]

Mike made his way across the alps, the sahara, the bermuda triange, And every other sitge in his geography book trying to decide where a good place to look for other humans would me. Eventualy, he decided to leave the task up to the gods of fate.

Mike was a strong beleaver in the concept of fate and luck. That everything happens for a reason. On that end, Mike has been Very lucky in years past, his surviving only furthering his beliefe.

He opened up a world map, and through a quater. It landed in America.

He then opened up a map of the US, and through his lucky quarter. It landed in NY.

He took out a large roadmap of NY and through his quarter. It landed in a remote place of the NY mountains. That was where he would go. Marking the spot on the map, he packed the SUV he "borrowed" from a neighbor, and set off.

 

[Angelus]

I turned around to see the jeep with the woman looking straight at me and shouting at me, "-you could have been killed you fucking idiot!"

I walked towards the jeep and when I was close enough leaned in and said, "But I'm not, now am I. And you could do with a little bit of manners."

Before the woman could say anything I walked away from the jeep and down the street, heading towards a place that I knew well; the gun shop. As I headed towards the building a smile came to my face.

 

[Celestiale]

Trista Davidson

I had watched in horror as the small, close-knit, community I had grown up in quickly vanished. Left in it's place was a horribly skewed variation of life as I had known it. Men, women, and children had all become savage and mindless, wandering around in search of easy prey and shelter from the elements. My friend's...my family, were now lost to me, engulfed in a witless stupor. The first few days alone had been the most difficult. Mr. Stanley, our town's pharmacist, had been my last coherent companion until he too succumbed to the "virus" or whatever it was. Coming to terms with all that had happened and the fact that I was now alone was not easy, but what was worse was that it was becoming apparent to me that I had not escaped the contamination unscathed. My mind seemed in tact yet deep down inside I knew I was no longer the same...

My senses were ablaze, it was almost painful at times. The noises...the scents...all bombarded me. I found myself knowing when danger was near before I ever caught sight of it...my heightened conciousness was keeping me alive when all the odds were against me. I knew that it was time for me to leave, there had been too many close calls. I needed to head somewhere that had once been more populated in hopes of finding others...surely there were others...

I waited for daybreak after packing some essentials...including my father's handgun, and quietly made my way to the large pick-up truck in the driveway. The sound of the motor turning over startled a small group of sleeping beings and I let out a yelp as they came angrily towards me. Luckily, I had locked the door behind me and had the gearshift in 'drive' before they even got close to the vehicle. Trembling, I sped out of there leaving behind a thick trail of dust and dirt, and headed east as the sun rose before me.

"Please please PLEASE let me find someone before I turn into something scary..."


OOC: I hope it's okay that I just jumped in here, I'm new on these boards

[Edited by Celestiale on 12-31-2000 at 02:00 AM]

 

[Kepic]

OOC: Welcome one and all... where should we take this? I was thinking about someone trying to make a broadcast, hoping that someone would hear it... try and gather tose unchanged people together.

IC:
The lights of the other vehicle turned in my direction, and drew closer, then it - it looked like an old pickup - also slowed to a stop.

I let my engine tick over, watching the driver - a young woman - slowly get out of the pickup. The catch behind me had woken up, though still dazed, and the cage was rattling quietly.

"Hello?" she shouted out, and I raised my empty hand and waved, keeping my pistol and rifle on my lap for the moment. I saw she had a pistol tucked into her worn jeans, and a hand curled into the belt near it.

"Hello" I replied aloud. It was strange - a kind of stand-off, meeting with someone still 'sane', trying to guess their motives, feelings about the way the world had become...

"My names Adam Kennet" I shouted out - refraining from using my doctor title yet, "who are you?"

 

[Angelus]

OOC: I think the idea of someone trying to get all the uninfected people together is an excellent me but I elect that I don't do it. I want to be a type of antagonist and a follower, not a leader.

 

[Celestiale]

Trista Davidson

I smiled tentatively at the man...my heart racing...my body trembling with excitement and fear. I kept my hand at rest near the loaded gun I'd shoved brazenly into my jeans, unsure as to how I might approach him. I'd seen so much happen in such a short period of time, I knew I couldn't fly blindly into his arms, a weeping mess of uncertainty...not after all I had been through.

I blinked back tears of relief and tried to gain some kind of perspective about the man - Adam? - yes, he had said his name was Adam...ironic that the first person I should meet was the namesake of the very first man on earth. I was too far away from him to catch his scent, and too weary to keep my guard up much longer.

"He doesn't seem to have been affected...and I don't want to be alone anymore..."

"I'm Trista...Trista Davidson..."

I tried to smile as I slowly walked toward him, but it was crooked and I was still afraid.



[Edited by Celestiale on 12-31-2000 at 04:10 AM]

 

[Kepic]

I opened the door and stepped out, slinging the rifle over my shoulder.

"I wasn't sure there'd be anyone left" I said, "thank god I'm not the only one."

Of course, I wasn't naturally immune, but she couldn't know that.

I walked forward, offering my hand. "Pleased to meet you, Trista" I said, smiling, "guess I don't have to talk to myself anymore. It's not as if the... others... are intersting conversation."

I jerked a thumb back towards the cage sat on the back of my jeep.

"I'm a doctor... I've been trying to work out what's wrong... not having much luck though, with only my blood to look at, trying to find natural immunities..."

 

[Celestiale]

"I am very pleased to meet you too!"

His hand felt warm and strong in my own as I grasped it gratefully, but I pulled away much too quickly as the overwhelming scent of fear invaded my nostrils. I almost jumped back as I saw where it was originating from...some poor creature was locked in a cage in the back of his Jeep. It looked female but was curled up into a fetal position. I sensed confusion and fear...the stench of it seeping into my pores.

"Oh my god...you're actually trapping them?"

I had lost all tact as my senses were overloaded by the creature.

"I mean...I..."

I stuttered, unsure of myself.

"He did say he was a Doctor after all, pull yourself together girl!"

I tried to ignore the creature and study the man. It was odd, he gave off no scent...at least none that I could detect while in the presence of the caged girl. He seemed normal, though his eyes hid something deeper inside them. I watched his smile...which seemed quite genuine...and finally smiled back.

"I'd like to help you, if you wouldn't mind the company. You're the only sane person I've seen for miles...maybe we can help each other?"

"Maybe he can figure out what it is that's happening to me too...maybe he can stop me from turning into one of THEM."

I tilted my head, running my fingers through my long, tangled, auburn hair, and watched his face for an answer.

 

[Kepic]

"I'd apprectiate the company, for sure" I said, "and if you'd like to help out, then that'd be great. Running the lab on my own is proving a little more troublesome than I first thought it would."

I smiled reassuringly, seeing her concern over the caged female, "and don't worry... I don't hurt them. They're still human, even if they don't know it. They have better food and lodgings than out in the damned streets, thats for sure. Anyway, she was alone... if one of the roving packs had come across her first..."

I let my voice trail, turning to look at the specimen, then back to her.

"I've seen them... do some horrible things" I said, frowning, my voice low.

 

[Isolde]

OOC: I've got it Kepic...

IC: I stood up from my sample of infected blood samples and swore. Nothing...what was I doing wrong? Before I could answer myself, my stomach rumbled and I sighed. It didnt seem to know that I couldne afford the time away from my 'project'.

"Oh, well," I muttered as I left my lab and headed out the door and down the stairs to the cafeteria. Entering I went over to the sandwich machine and opened the front. I had jimmied it open a few weeks into my self imposed confinement. The sandwiches were sealed and so nothing could contaminate them.

I then grabbed some of the change from the coin box and slipped it into the coffee machine, watching the cup drop and hearing the whirl of machinery as the coffee spilled into the cup.

Taking my lunch to one of the tables I sat down. No one else was around. It seemed that when the transformation was complete the only thing the creatures could think about was getting out into the open spaces. She had mangaged to sedate a few and get samples but had released them shortly after-she could not stand thier howling and banging at the cage doors. It made her feel like a complete asshole.

As I ate my mind wondered over my research results so far. I couldnt believe that samples from the uninfected blood was giving me no clue whatsoever to the nature of the virus.
What was I missing? What was the difference between them and me? Why hadnt I changed too?

My coffe cup had come almost to my lips when my hand stopped and my eyes went wide. Of course! I had been going about it the wrong way. I had been concentrating on the infection instead of the differences between those infected and those not.

I put down my coffe and sandwich. I was no longer hungry. "You idiot!," I said to myself,"You ignored the first rule of science. You have to have test subjects of both kinds to compare the differences."

I pushed my chair back so hard that it fell over but I paid it no mind. A thousand thoughts were going through my head at that time and I had to concentrate to bring them under control.

There was a military communications station just outside of town. I could use that. If I could broadcast out to both radio and television stations I would be sure to contact at least a few of the uninfected and I could ask them to come and help my with my research. Everyone unchanged would have family and friends that had undergone the change and I knew I could get some to agree.

My steps quickened as I headed back up the stairs to my lab. I felt more energized than I had in a long time. Reaching an equipment locker I swung it open. I had ceased locking it long ago-what was the point? Out of the locker I took a tranquilizer gun and several treated darts-just in case I ran into any of the creatures.

It took me some time to find my keys in a desk drawer. I had not used them for some time now and had forgotten the last place I had put them. Grabbing them, I almost ran out to my car in the covered carport.

A few of the creatures looked up at me from the shadows and growled but did not attack. They usually came in here after feeding or mating to rest out of the sun so they were sated either way and not inclined to bother with anyone passing unless attacked first.

Getting into my car, I pushed the gun over to the passanger seat and started the engine. I peeled out of the carport and into the sunlight. It was bright and hurt my eyes but slowly I adjusted to it. Avoiding the creatures was time consuming but I couldnt make myself injure them so, more slowly than I would have liked, I headed to the outskirts of town.

 

[LittleRedDevil]

I jumped out of the jeep and ran after him. He was the only other uninfected person I had found, and I couldn't let him just walk away.

"Hey!" He kept walking, "STOP!!" Well, I thought to myself, at least he stopped, but he didn't look happy about it. "My name is Hunter Reynolds." I waited but he just stared at me, seeming to size me up. I wasn't much to look at, my long blond hair was pulled back at the nape and braided, my body was strong, I had made it that way in prison. My eyes were blue but they didn't sparkle anymore, not since this whole thing had started. The only other marking was the barbed wire tattoo that circled my right bicep.

I extended my hand to him, "Don't you think it would be better if we stuck together? Maybe we could figure out what's going on and if we can stop it."

 

[Cryo]

What an adventure. WWeaving imbetween inocents nad evils alike, killing anything that mooved. Bang Bang BANG Die you horrid mutants, die!!!!

"Damn, the power went out. Well, it's about time!" Mike was playing the Mutant Mutilation Mayham Marathon game in the local arcade of a town in Pennsylvania. His trip had taken him northward for about 5 hundred miles, and he still had a ways to go. So far he had not met any other survivors, and decided to take a temporary entertainment break to clear his thoughts. He was suprised that the town still had power when he arrived, as it seemed that there was noopne to run the powerplant. His thoughts caught up with him jsut before he was about to kill the final boss (actually he was getting mutilated by the first flunky. Boy mike sucks at fighting games).

With the interlude over, he got something to eat from a grocery store, and set off once again for the NY mountains

 

[Isolde]

I reached to installation and walked right in...who was going to stop me right? The place was huge...and a bit confusing. "Figures," I muttered,"Damn government." Then the fact that there was no more 'Damn' government to complain about hit me and I got to work finding the control room.

The back up power source had automatically come on when the power went out just as it had in the lab so everything was working.

The place was a mess. It looked like a pack of wild animals had torn through the place...and it was probably close to the truth. I hoped with all her heart that the place hadnt been torn up beyond use and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the dials and meters working.

I sat down at the control panel and tried to think. One of my long term relationships had been with a guy who was a fanatic on the workings of communication equiptment. He would babble on endlessly about how they worked and, when he was not talking about them, he was building them. I would have dropped him long before I actually did except that he was a dynamo in bed.

Well, now was the time to see if I had absorbed enough of his prattle to be useful. Studying the panel for a minute, I then got to work.

Several hours later I had everything working...I hoped. If I had done things right, I would be able to broadcast to every radio...be they in a house or car...and every TV. The power outage was a problem but I assumed that some people and businesses would have a back up power source like that in the lab and government building.

Combing through my red hair I faced the tv monitor. I knew I looked haggard and pale but right now I didnt care. Thinking carefully about what I was going to say I spoke.

"My name is Nancy Kenan," I begin,"And I am a scientist. I have been working on trying to find out the reason for this terrible disease that has swept our world but I cannot do it alone. Please, I need your help."

"All of those within the sound of my voice who are unaffected by this disease please heed my words. I need willing voluteers to come to my lab and give me samples so that I can continue work on an antidote for this thing."

"For some reason some of us are immune to this awful 'virus' and I need samples to find out why. Again, please help me. There just may be a way to reverse this thing...or at least track down where it came from and destroy it. I need all those that can to come to my aide and those of every surviving human in this world."

I then proceeded to give the location of my lab and directons for finding it from the state highway. After that, I clicked off the equiptment and begin working on setting up a continuous feed.

Hours later I stepped out into the darkness of the night having set the controls so that my message would be broadcast over and over again at 15 minute intervals. I hoped beyond hope that it would reach someone...anyone.

[Edited by Isolde on 01-01-2001 at 03:23 PM]

 

[Angelus]

I looked at her hand and said, "My name is Troy. Look if you want to help me then fine but if you become a burden to me then I will leave you behind. Is that find with you."

The woman, Hunter just nodded before I turned and began walking towards the gun shop again. I looked over my shoulder, "Are you coming or do you want to stand out here and get attacked by a pack of those things."

She quickly rushed up to where I was as I reached the door of the gun shop. I tried the door handle and found it locked but looked at it and thought, Not a problem before I kicked the door open then walked in. What I saw was beyond my wildest dreams, I was like a kid in a candy store and it was a really big candy store.

I asked Hunter to help me as I walked quickly behind the counters and grabbed a couple of rifles, a shotgun and two pistols. After I grabbed all the ammo that I could manage to carry I walked back out of the gun store, turned to Hunter who was placing a clip into a pistol she had picked up and said, "We are taking your jeep and going on a little ride. But first we are going to grab some supplies."

 

[Cryo]

oH NO! Godzilla-sama kaerimasu! Help! Godzilla has come back! he's burning the city! Aaaaa! where's an alien or mutant to battle him when we heed them? WAhahahahahaha CGHCHCH My name is..... and I need help...... of you have sirvived, come to this place........

Mike was watching an old japanese movie on someone's television when the broadcast interupted the best part. It was live, and from a survivor, which was encoureging to mike. When she gave her location, he simply smiled and nodded. The gods of fate never steer Mike wrong. Her lab was in the NY mountains, in the exact spot he was heading anyway. Though the building he crashed had a powerfull two way radio (which he was sure he could figure out) He decided to not sent a reply message, as he would meat her in person in 3 hours anyway.

 

[Celestiale]

I frowned, remembering some of the horrible things I'd seen these creatures do to one another and other living things. Seeing them tear raw flesh from a recent kill...watching as the strong devoured the weak...it was enough to turn even the strongest man's stomach.

I looked up at Dr. Kennet, my dark, hazel eyes searching his once again. I still was not certain I could find the comfort and solace I was searching for, but what he had to offer was my only option, and it seemed he did have the technology and the knowledge to help me...

"You're right, of course" I said. "Let me follow you back to the lab and you can tell me what needs to be done."

"I feel relieved...but I think I'll hold off telling him about the recent changes within me until I know more about him."

I smiled as my hand relaxed, moving away from the only protection I had.

"Should I call you doctor...or would you prefer Adam?"

 

[Kepic]

OOC: Description for the good (yeah right) doctor - mid to late thirties, dark haired, blue-green eyes, well toned physique - likes to keep a healthy body as well as mind.


"Call me Adam, please... I don't think such formality is necessary. Okay, it's a little drive back to my lab. You can jump in my jeep, if you want, or follow in your own vehicle."

I saw her attention turn back to the female caged in the back of my jeep. "I think I'll take my own, if you don't mind" she replied.

"Very well, not at all" I said, "I realise she must make you feel a little uncomfortable. Hell, it's not as if they don't unnerve me at least a little, either."

I looked back at the cage. "She's only my second female specimen - the males are harder to deal with - more aggressive" I said, "and pretty uncooperative in general. I've had to go out scavenging to replace several bits of lab equipment because of their tempers. The females are more docile, on the whole - though I've seen dominant females running a few packs."

I paused, seeing her look.

"I'm sorry... it's been getting difficult for me of late to think of them as... well, people. Their nature now is more animal the human... even though I keep telling myself that once they were like me... um, like us..."

I saw a look of worry crossed her face briefly. "But, given time, hopefully I'll be able to crack this damned virus" I added, "don't worry... and another pair of hands will certainly be of help."

I turned and opened the drivers door of the jeep, and got in, looking at her and nodding, giving her a cheerful smile. "Lets go, then. Its a few hours drive, and I'd rather not stay too long out in the open like this. Glad to have met you, Trista."

 

[Isolde]

I reached the lab once again and hurried inside, placing the gun and darts into the locker once again. With any luck, I would be hearing from some survivors soon. I planned to check my continuous feed each day.

Catching a look at myself in one of the lab windows, I couldnt believe the sight that greeted me. I certaintly did not look like a scientist-I almost looked like one of the creatures roaming around out there.

My red hair was in tangles, my green eyes stared back hollowly-dark circles under them, my cheeks were pale, my lab coat stained and wrinkled and my dress...well I had not changed my clothing since Cody had... But I was not going to think about that right now. I must prepare.

Going to my personal locker, I took out the change of clothing I always kept there in case of spills and a clean lab coat. Heading to the shower room, I took a long shower, letting the water run over me and soothe my tense muscles.

Stepping out, I toweled off and dressed, feeling a bit better for my clean state. I ran a brush through my thick hair as I headed back to my lab where I applied a bit of make up to cover the fact that I had not eaten or slept properly in weeks. Finally satisfied that I presented a more professional appearance, I started to lay out the equiptment I would need for anyone responding to my message.

As I did so, I found myself thinking,"God, please let someone have heard. Please."