The Snot... I Mean Plot, Thickens

[Likesn]

This project might be a bit different than my previous ones. It's certainly one the most ambitious ones I ever wrote (even compared to the musical). Those of you who read the latest story I wrote probably noticed that I almost rushed to end it these past few days. The truth is I was pretty much done with it and I really wanted to get to this project, so I posted the last few parts in just three days. Now, let's talk about what I plan to do here.

To be honest, I'm not really sure. I mean, I have the basics figured out but this story could develop in ways I can't even think about now. For example, just this day I thought of a character that I want to be one of the main ones (Tatiana Williams, I'm writing here name here now in case I forget it later 😅). I've been thinking about this story for at least a month and that character only popped into my head today. That's just what this story is gonna be like - all over the place in more than one way. Jumping between places, characters and times, it's gonna be one wild ride. Do you want to join me?

The idea for this story was influenced by Starpollen's awesome AU story in the adult section. I decided to write my story in the open forum but some future parts might go into the adult section as well, depending on whether or not I decide to incorporate other fetishes or adult elements. That is all to be determined later. I will say that other from this being a story taking place in an AU with a plague that is very "convenient" to us female sneezes lovers, this will be a very different story than Starpollen's. Honestly, this story can go many different ways, so I can't promise too much, but I do mean it when I say it will be different than the one that provided the initial spark of inspiration to it.

Some basic terms before we plunge into the story itself:

I.C. - Initial Contagion: The time the plague first appeared. An event used for time references, since this story won't advance in a linear path timewise. Some parts of this story will take place before it (B.I.C) and others after it (A.I.C).

G.P. - Global Pharma: The AU's largest pharmaceutical conglomerate, operating worldwide.

H.I. - Health International: A rising pharmaceutical conglomerate, aspiring to challenge G.P. for global dominance.

R13: Short for "Rhino 13". The virus causing the plague. It's named after the 13 days that passed between I.C. and the acknowledgement of R13 as a global plague.

W.R.C - World Resources Company: The conglomerate in charge of mining and distributing various valuable resources around the world. Global economy of the AU is very much dependent on resources W.R.C provides.

That's all you need to know for now. I might add more terms later.

One last thing: Even though this story is about a global pandemic, it has nothing to do with Covid or any real events happening in our world. I know this is fiction written in a fetish site, but I still feel it needed to be explicitly said before we start.

Part 1:

There was no "ground zero", at least not one scientists were able to pinpoint. The first cases appeared in various locations around the world at roughly the same time. Even though there were some places (mostly in Africa) were R13 didn't take hold, there was no place around the globe that was completely safe from it. The more "western" or "developed" parts of the world were where it struck hardest. Once it struck there was no stopping it. Even masks didn't really help. The first three or four months were complete chaos, but after that things started to calm down a bit. It's not that the virus disappeared, it was very much still present, people just learned to live with it around. R13 wasn't deadly, didn't cause any serious medical conditions and only affected women between certain ages (cases under the age of 20 or over the age of 50 were extremely rare, close to zero), so eventually the world just shrugged it off and moved on. Well, most of it at least. The conspiracy theorists continued to claim it was a scheme and refused to let the matter go, but they were a minority. It was harder to move on if you were at risk of getting infected. Even though it was "just a very bad cold", it still made life hard for the ones who caught it, especially since you could catch it more than once even after having it for a long time.

Unknown Location, B.I.C

"Are you sure we shouldn't press harder on the African front?" the man in the suite asked his suited colleague.

"And risk W.R.C cranking down on us? I think not" his colleague replied. "Besides, I think Africa has been messed with enough, wouldn't you say? Now come on - let's get this over with. This place gives me the creeps".

Out in the hallway, the two men met doctor Gerard Labeouf, how was assigned to show them around. Gerard didn't know their names but they knew all about him.

"Right this way gentlemen" he said and led the two suites into a room. The wall in front of them was a big window with one-way glass. They saw a woman standing in a mostly empty room.

"Cad I have sobe A Ptshoo, Aaa Ptshooo, A Ple Tshooooooooo! bore tissues please?" asked the woman in the room. It wasn't clear whom she was speaking to, but the redness of her large nose was very clear. Her uncovered sneezes sent tidal waves of spray across the room.

"We'll send you some soon" Gerard said, pressing a button to speak into a speaker on the wall in the woman's room. He then turned to the suits.

"As you can see, the results look very promising" he said. "This is just a small example of our success".

"And you're sure it will function the way it is designed?" asked suite B.

"Positive" Gerard replied. "Our work has been perfected through rigorous testing".

"Pla Tshooooo! Cad you please hurry? I deed to *sniffle* blow by Ple A Tshooooooooooooooooo! dose" said the woman in the room.

"Notice how her sneezes increase in strength and wetness" Gerard told the suites. "That is no coincidence".

"We don't need to know the technical details" suite A said, his face showing disgust.

"Isn't that what you're here for?" Gerard asked.

"We're here for a quick demonstration, just to make sure it's working as it should" suit A replied and then turned to his colleague. "Do you believe some people are actually into this stuff"?

"I believe our marking people" suit B replied.

Chicago, Illinois, USA, A.I.C

"He A Tshooooo!" Oh god, gross!" Molly called. She took off her glasses, rubbed the bridge of her ridiculously congested nose and let out a tired groan.

"I ab so dode with this" she said to herself.

This was the fifth or six time she caught R13 and it wasn't getting any easier each time. At least the first time she caught it she was allowed to stay home from work and nurse herself, since little was known about the virus at the time. Now her bosses at the newspaper would show little to no understanding to her situation. People kept treating it as a cold but Molly had colds before and that wasn't it. R13 was not only much worse than a normal cold, it was unfair. Why was only a very specific part of the population susceptible to it? And why did she, Molly Ferguson from Chicago, had the misfortune of being included in that part of the population? It almost felt personal.

"That's it Ha Tshooooooo! I deed to get to the He Tshoooooooooo! bottob of this" Molly decided.

[Immorticia]

Wow, sounds like the start of an amazing story. I'm really interested to see your world building in action with all the possibilities of an AU.

10 hours ago, Likesn said:

tidal waves of spray

I love how you describe her spray as a tidal wave. Really gives me a powerful mental image.

[Likesn]

Part 2:

UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA, B.I.C

"He Ishoo, Ye Ishoo!" Tatiana Williams sneezed into a dirty handkerchief, trying not to spray her books. She was busy studying for a big test, but the sneezes and congestion kept interrupting her.

"Another cold, babe?" her boyfriend, Drake, asked as he walked into her dorm room.

"Yeah *sniffle* add at the worst possible tibe *sniffle* as usual" Tatiana replied.

"Didn't you just have a cold like a week ago?" Drake asked.

"Last bodth" Tatiana said with a thick sniffle.

"Blow your nose" said Drake. "I can't understand a word you're saying.

Tatiana blew her nose into the handkerchief, that has been thoroughly used for the past few hours.

"I can't believe you're still using that rag" said Drake. "Can't you use a tissue like a normal person"?

"It's softer add by dose hurts" said Tatiana. "Could you get be sobe cold beds"?

"Sorry babe but I shouldn't stick around" said Drake. "I got a big game coming in two days and I can't get sick".

"Sobe boyfriedd I got" Tatiana said to herself after Drake left. Sadly, the way he behaved didn't really surprise her. While normally he was all over her, whenever Tatiana got sick Drake wouldn't go near her. Unfortunately for her, she got sick a lot. She wanted her boyfriend to take care of her but he never did.

"Hu Ishoo, He Ishoo!" she felt gross. Worse than that - she felt helpless. Why did she have to get sick all the time? And why did her sneezes have to be so wet and disgusting? For an attractive and popular girl like Tatiana, the way she felt when she was sick was almost unbearable.

Chicago, Illinois, USA, A.I.C

"You have got to be kidding me" Beau Chase, the editor of "Chicago Daily", said after he heard Molly's idea.

"Do *sniffle* I'b dead serious" said Molly.

"Are you really? Do you have any idea what this can do to our reputation?" Beau asked.

"Who's reputatiod? Yours or the dewspaper's? He A Tshooooooo!" Molly brought both hands to her face and sneezed.

"Could you maybe not contaminate my whole office?" Beau recoiled in his chair.

"What do you care? It's dot like you cad catch it" Molly said before wetly blowing her nose into a tissue.

"But other people who might come in here can" said Beau.

"Sobe of theb *sniffle* dot all of theb" said Molly. "That's exactly by poidt. You dod't thidk it's weird that odly a certaid part of the populatiod cad catch it? Dod't you thidk that baybe it's dot a coidcidedce"?

"Tell me something - do you really think you're the first one who ever asked that question? Lots of people thought the same thing, especially when this whole R13 mess just started" said Beau. "It's different now. The only people who still make such suggestions are the tinfoil hats".

"Is that what you thidk I ab?" Molly asked.

"I wouldn't be talking to you if I did" Beau replied. "Listen, I know how frustrating it must be".

"Trust be - you really dod't" said Molly.

"Fair enough" said Beau. "Still, I can't let you go down that road, not without a solid lead".

"So you're sayig I should fidd proof?" Molly asked.

"Dozens of people tried finding one these past few months" said Beau. "Do you really think you'll do better? I'm saying you should let it go".

"He Tshooooooo, Ha Tshooooooooo, He A Tshoooooooooooo! If it's proof you're after thed I'll get you ode" Molly said before leaving the office.

"This is not gonna end well" Beau said tiredly to himself after she left.

[Jettous]

Great start. I hope Tatiana finds someone who enjoys her sneezes. 

[Likesn]

M.F.M - Mega Fashion Magazine: As the title suggests, a leading fashion magazine in the AU. The title on the cover is usually just "MEGA!".

Part 3:

Unknown Location, B.I.C

The screen was almost as big as the wall. Someone pressed a button and played a video. It was a commercial.

A woman with a bright red nose sat in bed, surrounded by tissues.

"Dot agaid" she whined. "This is the fourh tibe this widter that I'b sick".

"You can't help it" said a male narrator's voice.

"Hi Tshoo! Ugh! I kdow!" said the woman.

"No one can" said the narrator. "That's just the world we're living in now".

"So I'b just godda Hui Tshoo! suffer like this forever?" the woman asked.

"Don't worry - that's what we're here for" said the narrator. "We might not be able to control when you get sick or cure you, but there are lots of things we can do to help you get through your sickness".

"That soudds good Ha I Tshooo!" sneezed the woman. "Tell be bore".

"With pleasure" said the narrator. "Just call the number on the bottom of the screen to learn more about our sick-days help package".

Someone switched the screen off.

"That's just the first draft, but you get the point" he said to the people in the room.

"I'm not all the way sold" one of the people in the room said to his colleague some time later. "It looks kinda weak to me".

"You don't think the message is getting through?" his colleague asked.

"What I really think is that we need something stronger" the man replied.

"Take a look at this then" his colleague said, giving him a small picture.

"Is that who I think it is?" the man asked.

"Sure is, as if you had any doubt" his colleague replied. "I think you're really gonna like what I have in mind".

"Pfff... like you can pull that off" the man said after hearing his colleague's plan.

"It's already in motion" his colleague said.

"Get the **** out" said the man.

Salvador, Brazil, A.I.C

Archie couldn't believe his luck. In fact, he was sure that if he told his friends why he was flying to Brazil they would all have only one thing to say to him: you lucky bastard. As the plane was about to start descending he wondered what it would be like seeing her in person. Julieta. Just that name, like Madonna. It probably wasn't her real name, but that was the name she was known by. She appeared on the cover of M.F.M every other month and he always envied his fellow photographers who took her pictures. Well, this time it was his turn. It wasn't common for Julieta to work with non-Brazilian photographers. Whatever the story was, it must be big.

"Kate must be counting on that, obviously" he thought as he looked at the reporter sleeping in the seat next to him.

Too bad it was all so hushed. That's why he couldn't brag about it in front of the other photographers. He and Kate had no idea what exactly it was that they were going to cover. All they knew was that they will be flying to Brazil to meet Julieta and that was enough for them. It would be an amazing opportunity no matter what, for Kate to get a big story and for him to get a close look at one of the world's major fashion idols.

[Likesn]

Part 4:

London, UK, A.I.C

Flights were always problematic. Between the crowded airports and spending hours in what was practically a flying petri-dish, she almost never managed to avoid getting sick. Still, that was a risk she had to take. As a rising star amongst young biologists, Fatma Hinnawi was often invited to conventions across the world. That stopped for a bit during the first months after R13 appeared, since people were afraid to travel. Then, when things started to calm down a bit, there were more conventions than ever. Scientists from all over the world tried to figure out how deal with the pesky virus and learn more about it. Naturally, many of those scientists were women. That was another reason why Fatma liked going to such conventions. Like many other female scientists around the world, she decided to make R13 her prime focus. Ironically, while she traveled the world and met other scientists in an attempt to study the virus, those travels often got her close encounters with it.

"Hua Pchooooooooo!" she sneezed messily as she was busy unpacking her luggage. Her flight was delayed so she got home late the previous night and was too tired to do it then. When she woke up that morning she soon realized that she caught the virus yet again.

"Hi Pchoooo, Hu Pchea!" she sneezed twice more as she headed to the shower, hoping it would make her feel better.

Her sneezes were pretty messy even before the virus. Now, every time she caught it they got much worse. That was one of the reasons she worked so hard trying to figure out how to better handle the virus.

After she showered, Fatma placed her laptop on her desk and sat down to go over emails. She made sure to get a clean handkerchief and put it by her side, knowing that she was going to need it. R13 always gave her a runny and congested nose and this time was no different. As she scrolled down her inbox, stopping often to either sneeze, cough or blow her nose, she hoped to find an email with a possible lead. The virus was tormenting her and she was almost desperate to find anything that might help her deal with it or at the very least understand it.

Salvador, Brazil, A.I.C

The weather outside the airport was warm and lovely. Archie enjoyed it for a moment until he got distracted by a noise beside him.

"He Ashoo, Ashoo, Ashoo! *sniffle* Bright sud always gets be" Kate said to Archie as she got out of the airport.

"Your pills starting to wear off?" Archie asked.

"I don't think so" Kate replied after clearing her nose with a tissue. "It's just the sun".

Kate had pretty bad allergies and before the flight took off she took a few strong pills. That's why she slept through the whole flight.

"Good" said Archie. "You don't want to be sneezing and sniffling when we meet Julieta".

"At least I got pills for my allergies" said Kate. "You should be more worried about not drooling when we meet her".

"Drool? I don't drool" said Archie.

"Yeah right. I saw the look in your eyes when you found out who we're gonna meet" said Kate. "Now, where is that cab"?

[Anonymace]

Having an absolutely miserable day, but seeing another update to this made me feel a bit better ❤️ Wonderful work as always, and I’m excited for the next part!!! Always love a mystery :)

[Likesn]

On 4/27/2022 at 2:02 AM, Anonymace said:

Having an absolutely miserable day, but seeing another update to this made me feel a bit better ❤️ Wonderful work as always, and I’m excited for the next part!!! Always love a mystery

Sorry to hear you had a bad day. I hope it's been better for you since then. Let me try to brighten up this day with an update 🙂:

P.S. - PeopleShare/PShare: The AU's leading social network. It's similar to a popular social network in our world, I bet you can guess which one. P.S.P.P=P.S. Personal profile. You get the point.

Part 5:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, A.I.C

"You can do this" Sarah told herself in front of the mirror.

The experience was strange. Sarah Jacobs was not someone who usually needed pep talks and she was definitely not used to talking to herself. Then again, she was about to do something she never thought she'd do and she knew she'd need all the courage she could muster.

She took another look at her image in the mirror. The complexion of her face was normal and not pale and her nose wasn't red. This was a rare occasion. Since the R13 outbreak there haven't been too many days when Sarah wasn't sick with it. She could have it for weeks, taking a long time to recover only to catch it again just a few days after finally getting better. Today, however, she was not sick. That was another reason she knew that the meeting needed to happen that day. Who knows when she might get sick again and she might not be very persuasive when she does. She dressed warmly and went out to the cold and gray Toronto day outside.

It was during one of those days when she was sick and miserable that she came up with the post that started it all. She didn't post it on her P.S.P.P, naturally, but on an underground forum she's been following for years. That forum served as a place where people could find other people who shared their passion, those passions not being ones that they were willing to discuss openly. There was nothing criminal going on, obviously, just people discussing their harmless kinks and trying to find others who shared them. Sarah hasn't really been an active member of that forum. Most of the time she just enjoyed reading people talking openly about their kinks. The posts she enjoyed most were ones where people talked about managing to arrange meetings with people who shared their kinks. Sarah was happy for those people but also felt a little jealous. She wished she could arrange such a meeting where she lived but she never had the courage. R13 changed that. At first, she was even more shy and wouldn't write anything on the forum for weeks, fearing that if people find out she liked other women sneezing they would blame her for enjoying the virus that made life miserable for so many women around the world. Then, when it became clear that the virus wasn't going anywhere and that people are starting to learn to live with it, she saw an opportunity she might never get again.

"R13: Could it be a blessing and not a curse?" was the title of the post she uploaded one day when she was sick in bed and surrounded by used tissues. In that post, she told the forum about her kink and how she hoped that with the virus becoming a constant factor in their life people might be more open to that kink, especially since the virus wasn't lethal and didn't cause any serious illness. She was very worried about the comments she might get. To her surprise, many of those comments were supportive. Better yet, she found out that she wasn't alone. She never used her real name on the forum, but after a few weeks of (mostly) positive feedback to her post she decided to be brave and arrange a meeting in Toronto. At the risk of no one coming, she posted the time and place of the meeting and crossed her fingers that she won't find herself all alone.

The room she ordered for the meeting was in a building that rented such rooms for a few hours each time without asking too many questions. When she got to the building she went down to the basement level and searched for the door with the sign she ordered. The sign was a simple white paper with letters BNC (blessing not curse) on it. She found it and opened the door, feeling her heart in her throat.

Inside the room she found three girls. After she made sure they all came to the right place she introduced herself and learned the names of the others: Monica Ross, Nicki Moses and Christy Walsh. Nicki actually went to the same high school with her back in the day and Sarah was pretty sure she saw her around in college later, but that was all a few years back. The other two she didn't know, but she found herself especially interested in Christy. They waited for some time before they realized no one else was coming. Sarah then stood up in front of the others.

"It's good to see you all here" she said. "I must say I'm relieved: I was really worried I'd be all alone here".

"I was worried this might be a hoax" Nicki said and Monica nodded.

"That's a valid concern" said Sarah. "It's hard to trust people online. Sometimes it can even be dangerous".

"You're not dangerous, are you?" Christy asked with a friendly smile.

"Haha no, I don't think so" Sarah replied. Something about Christy's voice made her feel relaxed and safe.

"So... I don't want to be a bummer or something, but what should we do now?" asked Monica. "I mean, you're not sick and neither are we".

"You're right" said Sarah. "I guess this was more of getting to know each other meeting. The idea I had was to form a group of women who felt the same as I do. Now that I know we have enough people to at least get something started, I suggest we just exchange phone numbers and keep in touch until one of us gets sick. I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure I'll get sick again soon".

The others agreed and they all exchanged phone numbers and left. Sarah felt good when she left the building. She came there with a single purpose - to see if she could form a group of women who shared her kink. Now she had another purpose - getting closer to Christy.

London, UK, A.I.C

There wasn't anything important in her inbox, so Fatma decided to take a break and check her P.S.P.P. Some people she met at the convention she came back from sent her friend requests. Other people, whom she was already friends with, posted some pictures, even pictures from that convention. She found herself in some of the pictures, sighing as she remembered what she looked like when her nose wasn't all red. There was also a message. It was from a woman called Anita Hermoso.

"Hi. I know you don't know me, but I have some information you might find interesting" was the message.

Maybe it was because she was sick and a bit jet-lagged from the flight or maybe it was because she was just curious, but Fatma replied.

"Information about what?" she wrote back.

A few minutes passed and Fatma spent most of them blowing her nose and coughing. The virus was sitting comfortably in her nose and seemed to be settling into her chest as well. She was about to log out of P.S. and get some work done when a request for a video chat appeared on the screen. Fatma accepted the call without thinking and on the other end was Anita.

"Hello" Anita said with a warm smile.

"Hi" Fatma said with a suspicious tone.

"I hope I'm not being too direct" said Anita. "Did I wake you up? You look tired".

"Hue Pchoooo, Hi Apch!" Fatma barely managed to cover her face in time to avoid spraying the screen.

"Bless you" said Anita. "Is it the virus? I guess that's why you look tired".

"Excuse be" Fatma said and blew her nose. "I tedd to get sick after flights" she had no idea why she said that to a person who was basically a stranger.

"It's a long flight from Guatemala to London" said Anita.

"How do you kdow I was id Guatebala?" Fatma asked.

"You've been to a convention there" Anita replied. "I'm not stalking you or anything, I swear. It's just that I saw your lecture in that convention".

"I dod't rebebber seeig you id the crowd" said Fatma.

"There was a live broadcast of some of the lectures" said Anita. "Yours was one of them".

"You said you have sobe idforbatiod for be? What about?" Fatma asked.

"Straight to the point. I like that" said Anita. "When I saw you talking about the virus I knew you'd want to hear what I found out".

"Do tell" Fatma said and wiped her runny nose with her handkerchief.

"I'm an analyst" said Anita. "Or rather - I used to be. I lost my job a few weeks ago".

"I'b sorry to hear that" said Fatma. "By the way - where are you frob"?

"Originally I'm from Puerto Rico, but nowadays I live in Mandeville Louisiana" Anita replied. "Anyway, I think there's a lot we don't know about the virus, just like you said in your lecture. I lost my job because I started asking a lot of questions about the virus. My bosses said I was getting obsessed with it so they fired me".

"Cad't you like He Pcha! sue theb or sobethig?" asked Fatma.

"Not really" Anita replied. "But I don't really care about that. Since I lost my job I had more time to do some independent research and I found out something very interesting. Apparently there's a woman who participated in some medical experiments done shortly before the plague started. It's all very vague, since she's afraid of being exposed, so she left evidence in secret locations around the world".

"Soudds a bit far-fetched if you ask be" said Fatma.

"Maybe, but it's like a puzzle and I can't resist a good puzzle" said Anita.

"Alright *sniffle* but what I dod't udderstadd is what you deed be for" said Fatma.

"If that woman is real and if what she says is true, it would take someone with biological knowledge to make sense of her evidence" said Anita.

"Add you wadt be to be that persod?" asked Fatma.

"Actually, I was kinda hoping we could work on that together" said Anita. "I can tell you and I both care enough to ask questions others might not ask. If I start going down that road, it would be nice to have you by my side".

"I dod't kdow if I could trust sobeobe I've dever bet" said Fatma.

"Then why don't we meet?" Anita suggested. "A part of the evidence is supposed to be somewhere in England. I'm still trying to find out where. If you want, I can come to London and meet you".

"He Pchia! You kdow what? I'd like that" said Fatma.

"Really? That's great!" Anita called. "Let's talk again when I have more details".

"Alright. I'll be lookig forward hearig frob you" said Fatma. She wasn't a very trusting person, but something about Anita made her want to meet her.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Likesn

[Erias397]

I'm really liking how this is going so far. Can't wait for the next chapter!

[Likesn]

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to include other fetishes in this story, mainly feet. After thinking about it for some time I decided that I do want to. It also fits well with plans I have for the future of this story. The following part will be where I start including it. I'll start very mildly, so it could stay on the open forum. If things start getting too "juicy" for the open forum I might have to move some parts of the story to the adult section. Even if that happens, I'll make sure to keep the rest of you up to speed with every plot point you might miss.

Part 6:

Los Angeles, California, USA, A.I.C

The morning was good.

Tatiana was satisfied as she looked out the window. It was a warm and sunny day and she could see the ocean in the distance. Her office was on the 34th story of the building and had a great view. There were 64 stories in that building, but she was happy where she was. She could see her reflection in the window: Not a single red spot on her nose. She was completely healthy and she felt great.

The phone on her desk beeped. It was Trevor, her personal assistant.

"Kyle wants to see you in the meeting room" he said.

Tatiana didn't like Kyle at all. "Despised" was a better word for the way she felt about him. Not everything about her job was great and Kyle was one such thing, but he was no real threat to her. She should have no problem dealing with him.

"Is my four o'clock still on" she asked Trevor.

"Yes" Trevor replied. "Gareth will be waiting for you at his place".

It was Billy, Trevor's husband, who recommended Gareth. Tatiana wanted to find a place where she could relax every now and then and a massage from Gareth was supposed to do just that.

"He better be as good as Billy says he is" said Tatiana.

"Billy isn't speaking from experience, obviously, but I'm sure Gareth will come through" said Trevor.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see then" said Tatiana. "Tell Kyle I'm on my way".

One of the reasons Tatiana liked having a gay assistant was the fact that she never got the creepy vibe from him like she got from other men at work. Kyle was one such creepy man. Even though he had absolutely no chance in hell with her, Tatiana knew he liked coming down from his office on the 51st story every now and then to speak with her. Whenever the top floors wanted to send a message to her it almost always "happened" to be Kyle who delivered that message.

"Good morning Kyle" Tatiana said as she entered the meeting room.

"Ah, Miss Williams. Always nice to see you" said Kyle.

"I'm sure it is" said Tatiana. "So, what's the word from upstairs"?

"Things are going rather well" Kyle replied. "The reports we're getting are very auspicious".

"But that's not why you're here" said Tatiana.

"Correct" said Kyle. "I've been informed that we're about to move to the next stage".

"That's good but what does that have to do with me?" Tatiana asked.

"A lot, if you want to keep your job" Kyle replied. "I have some files for you. Cases for you to handle. You'll need to do your part in order for the transition to the next stage to be smooth".

"You could have just sent me the files" said Tatiana. "There was no need for you to come all the way down here".

"This is an important issue and the people upstairs wanted a more personal touch".

"The only personal touch you'll ever get from me would be in your dreams" Tatiana though but simply said: "I see".

"Do take this seriously" said Kyle. "Remember your part in all of this. You promised us something when we started and you've been given a lot of resources in order to do your job. Now it's time to come through if you want to keep your current lifestyle".

"Listen, Kyle" Tatiana said as she approached him like a cobra closing in on its pray. "I don't answer to you. The people upstairs provide me with what I need to do my job because they know I'll come through. I know you look forward to coming down here every now and then. You like to feel important. Just remember that even though your office is on the 51st story it doesn't mean you have any real power over me. Don't come down here thinking you can threaten me".

"Have a nice day, Miss Williams" Kyle said before leaving the room.

"Oh I will" said Tatiana.

Chicago, Illinois, USA, A.I.C

Molly needed a place where she could think clearly. It wasn't an easy thing to do with her head so congested. There was a place her friends talked about some time ago, where she could go and get her feet rubbed. It wasn't something Molly usually liked to do, but all her friends spoke highly of the place and said that the experience was very relaxing. Since relaxation was exactly what she needed she decided to give it a try.

"He Tshooooooooo! Excuse be" she told the man who was rubbing her feet. He didn't seem to care.

The experience was indeed very relaxing. Molly could almost forget that she was sick, but her nose kept reminding her.

"Sorry I keep Hea Tshooooooooo! sdeezig all over the place" she said.

"Don't worry about it" said the man. That was the first time he spoke. He was wearing a mask and seemed indifferent to anything that might distract him from his job. The mask made him look very professional, but obviously he couldn't catch R13 so that's pretty much all it did. Molly didn't even get his name.

"Ha Tshooooooooo, He Tshooooooooooo, He A Tshoooooooooooo!" Molly sneezed as she went out to the windy Chicago afternoon.

She had to admit that her friends had a point. Not only did getting her feet rubbed left her much more relaxed, during that time she had an idea.

"I can't be the only one who want to get to the bottom of this" she thought.

Molly decided to turn to the masses. She posted on her P.S.P.P, asking for information about any weird stuff people heard connected to R13. Obviously, she couldn't use the newspaper's name, so she had to turn it into a solo project. As was expected, most of the comments she got didn't have anything useful, to say the least. Words such as "aliens" and "ghosts" appeared much more than she would've liked. After days of comments full of conspiracy theories, Molly thought about giving up. Then came an interesting message, from a woman named Anita Hermoso.

Los Angeles, California, USA, A.I.C

"I must say - you really know what you're doing" Tatiana said to Gareth, who was giving her a massage.

"So I've been told" said Gareth.

Tatiana was very selective about the people whom she allowed to touch her body. She was especially selective when it came to men. This was different though. There was nothing sexual about it since Gareth was professional in an almost mechanical way. Still, it made her feel great.

"How about you use some of that magic on my lower parts?" Tatiana asked.

"This isn't that kind of massage and you know it" said Gareth.

"I meant my feet, but you passed the test" said Tatiana. She needed to make sure Gareth could stay professional.

"Haha sure, that I can do" said Gareth.

Tatiana felt heavenly when Gareth rubbed her feet.

"I should definitely come here when I get sick" she thought. "This would make me feel so much better".

The afternoon was great.

[Immorticia]

The plot sure is thickening. I really want to hear about the initial contagion, but I don't know your plans for the story.

[Likesn]

Part 7:

Unknown Location, B.I.C

It was dark when Victoria got to the place, but the lights inside shone so bright it almost hurt her eyes.

"Thank you for coming" the man in the white lab coat told her. "Get some sleep tonight and we'll start tomorrow".

She didn't know if she could sleep. After months of getting ready, she felt both excited and nervous. The room she was given was small but comfortable. It had a nice bed, a chair and a desk with one drawer. She didn't expect to find anything when she opened the drawer, which is why she was quite surprised to find a notebook and a pen inside it. The notebook was empty. Victoria placed it on the desk, opened it and wrote two words on the first page: "Lady V". She then closed it, turned off the lights and tried to get some sleep.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, A.I.C.

Sure enough, it didn't take very long for Sarah to get sick again. Within less than two weeks her body was succumbing to the virus once more. Her nose was filling up with mucus and she knew it will soon be getting red, as it always did.

"Ha Esh Chooooo!" she sneezed loudly, spraying the mirror.

Loud and messy sneezes were a common thing in her family and Sarah started having them since she was a teenager. R13 only made it worse. People sometimes commented about her sneezes, but she didn't really mind and she never let those people bring her down.

"Hesh Choo, Hush Choo, He Ash Choooooooooo!" she wiped the mirror clean only to cover it again with three more sneezes. Her nose was really starting to show that she was sick. She cleaned the mirror again, grabbed some toilet paper and gave her nose a wet, gurgling blow.

For a person with a sneezing fetish, Sarah was never overly self conscious about her sneezes. Now it was different and the reason for that was Christy. Ever since the meeting, Sarah couldn't get Christy out of her mind. She really wanted Christy to like her and she thought getting sick would be a good way to do it. Sarah didn't have to do anything special to get sick. She just lived her normal life knowing that she'll get sick again soon and that's exactly what happened. Now that she was sick she was worried - what if her messy sneezes turn Christy off? She had no idea what kind of sneezes Christy was into. Maybe she only liked quiet, girly sneezes? What if she thinks Sarah is gross and wouldn't want anything to do with her?

Sarah struggled to get those worries out of her mind.

"I'll just have to meet her and see" she thought.

[Likesn]

Part 8:

Unknown Location, B.I.C

The next morning, Victoria was led into a small testing room that had nothing more than a chair and a desk in it.

"Just sit here and wait" the man in the white lab coat told her.

"That's it?" she thought. "A bit underwhelming".

Victoria was not allowed to have a watch inside the facility and there was no clock on the wall, so her ability to tell time was very limited. Still, she was certain she hasn't been sitting in the room for more than 15 minutes when something started to happen.

"*Sniffle*" a sense of wetness was increasing in her nose. It wasn't very bad at first, but after a few more minutes it was really starting to bother her.

"Cad I *sniffle* get a tissue or sobethig?" she asked out loud, noticing the congestion in her voice.

There was no reply. Victoria looked around the room, searching for something that would let her know that she's being watched and monitored. The only thing she noticed was the air vents. It didn't seem like the air-condition was on and yet she felt as if something was moving in the air.

"Eshoo, Ha Eshoo!" Victoria sneezed twice and suddenly felt chilly. She sniffled a few times and wondered how long it was going to take before someone talks to her and tells her what was going to happen next.

Salvador, Brazil, A.I.C

"*Sniffle* Man, this place is really bothering my nose" Kate said as they were in the cab.

"What about the pills?" Archie asked.

"They help, for now" Kate replied. "I'm just not sure how long it'll last. My allergies were always pretty bad *sniffle* but never like that".

Their first stop was the hotel. Once they checked into their rooms and put their luggage there they went back to the cab.

"Wait, aren't we meeting her at a hotel?" Archie asked when the cab drove away. "Wouldn't it have been easier if we stayed at the same hotel"?

"Dream on" said Kate. "You know damn well Julieta would never stay at the same hotel with the press. Besides, I've been told that the whole hotel she's staying at has been booked for the campaign she starring".

"Which means it'll be a hotel full of models" said Archie.

"Don't start drooling again" said Kate. "We're almost there, I think".

"What's this campaign about anyway?" Archie asked.

"That's what I'm supposed to find out" Kate replied.

Naturally, the campaign took place in a hotel that was much more luxurious than the one Kate and Archie were staying at.

"Wow! Now that's what I call living" Archie exclaimed when they got out of the cab.

"Keep it in your pants, man. We're not even in yet" Kate said jokingly.

"Hi there. I'm Kate Jameson and this is Archie brooks" Kate said to the man behind the counter in the lobby. "We're from M.F.M and we came here for an interview with Julieta".

"Hold on, let me check" said the man. He picked up the phone on his counter and had a short conversation with someone on the other end.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news" he said when he was done. "It appears Miss Julieta is not feeling very well today".

"Don't tell me we came all this way for nothing" said Kate.

"It's alright, Miss Jameson" said the man. "You'll be allowed to go up shortly".

"Hey! What about me?" Archie called.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mister Brooks, but you won't be taking any pictures today" said the man.

"Kate, come on! Tell him that we're a team" Archie was really getting angry.

"Sorry Archie, but I can't risk this interview getting canceled" said Kate. "Tell you what - I'll go up there and see if I can get her to change her mind".

"You better" said Archie. "There's no point for me to be here if I don't get to do my job".

"Miss Jameson? She's ready for you" said the man.

Archie stayed in the lobby, feeling frustrated, while Kate took the elevator. A security guard was standing in front of the elevator and two more were standing at the entrance to Julieta's suite. Kate walked into a place that was more fancy than anything she could've imagined. Inside was Julieta, without makeup, sitting with her bare feet up on the table and reading and old M.F.M issue.

"Kate Jabesod, welcobe" Julieta said and sniffled. Kate then noticed some redness on Julieta's nose. "I was just readig soeb old articles of yours".

"I'm flattered" said Kate. "Thank for agreeing to meet with me. I was sorry to hear you're not feeling well today".

"You bead this?" Julieta sniffled and pointed at her nose. "What cad I say - superbodels get the virus too".

"And that makes me appreciate this interview even more" said Kate.

"Sit dowd, bake yourself at hobe Ha Tishoooo, Ha Tisha!" Julieta sneezed twice. Not even attempting to cover, she sprayed the air around her.

"Bless you Ashoo, Ashoo, Ha A Shoo!" Kate's nose reacted to Julieta's sneezes. "Sorry about that" she said.

"Are you gettig sick too?" Julieta asked.

"Do *sniffle* just by allergies" Kate replied.

"Well *sniffle* we'll have to take care of that" said Julieta.

London, UK, A.I.C

Even when she saw Anita smiling and waving at her, Fatma still couldn't believe it was really happening. Anita's flight landed a few hours earlier and when Fatma walked into the café where they scheduled to meet Anita already got a table there.

"You're really here" Fatma said when she sat down in front of Anita. The weather outside was grey and damp and Fatma took off her coat and scarf before sitting down, coughing and sniffling as she did that.

"You're still sick" said Anita.

"Yeah *sniffle* it always takes sobe tibe before I cad shake off this bloody virus" said Fatma.

"That sucks" said Anita.

"It does, but you did't cobe all the way to Loddod just to talk about be" said Fatma.

"I do want to get to know you better though" said Anita.

"There's dot buch to kdow" said Fatma. "I'b a biologist *sniffle* but you already kdow that, that's why you codtacted be".

"Sure, but that's not all you are, isn't it?" said Anita. "Take me for example: I worked as an analyst and today I pay my bills by helping others become analysts, but what I like to do is play soccer and I can talk about it for hours".

"Here id Edgladd we call it football" said Fatma.

"Right, I knew that" said Anita. "But you see what I mean? I'd like to know more about what you do for fun, not just about your work".

"Fud? I dod't kdow He Pchooa, He Pchi!" Fatma grabbed a handful of napkins and sneezed into them. She then coughed.

"Bless you" said Anita.

"Excuse be" Fatma said before giving her nose a gurgling blow and coughing some more. "I guess I'b just too codgested to thidk about fud right dow".

"That's O.K." said Anita. "Your tea should be here soon".

"I did't order ady tea" said Fatma.

"I did, just before you got here" said Anita. "Coffee for me and tea for you. I hope you don't mind".

"Dot at all" said Fatma. "Id fact, that's very kidd of you".

"Don't mention it" said Anita. "I figured you might need it".

Shortly after that their drinks arrived and they sipped them in silence for a little while. The tea cleared Fatma's head a bit and made her feel a little better. She was impressed by Anita's kindness, as well as by her ability to speak so openly and freely. Fatma was not like that at all.

"So *sniffle* shall we talk about the baid reasod you're here?" Fatma asked after they finished their drinks.

"Straight to the point again" Anita said and smiled. "That reminds me: I have good news. I contacted a journalist from Chicago. She seemed very interested in what I had to say and she promised she'll help us from her end".

"That's good" said Fatma. "Did you fidd out adythig bore about the bystery wobad"?

"Not really, but I'm pretty sure I found the location of a piece of evidence she left behind" said Anita.

"Here id Loddod?" Fatma asked.

"Sheffield, actually" Anita replied.

"So your dext stop is Sheffield thed? Hu Pchooooooo!" sneezed Fatma.

"I was thinking it could be our next stop" said Anita. "If you're not feeling too sick to take that trip, that is".

"I'll live" Fatma said before blowing her nose again. "How will you recogdize the evidedce if we do fidd it"?

"It'll be marked with a sign connected to the name that woman goes by" said Anita.

"What dabe?" Fatma asked.

"'Lady V'" Anita replied.

[Immorticia]

5 hours ago, Likesn said:

"'Lady V'" Anita replied.

Wow, story is progressing nicely. Can't wait to find out how much of the truth Lady V knows...

[Likesn]

Part 9:

Unknown Location, B.I.C

Victoria was having trouble falling asleep. It wasn't because of her nose, which has been clear for hours. The tickle inside it was gone. It wasn't because of her experience in the testing room. The experience was pretty short, probably shorter than she had expected. No, the reason that she was having trouble falling asleep couldn't be traced to anything that happened that day. Thoughts of the future, and of the past, were keeping her awake.

Then, a memory from a few years earlier. It was one of her first days in college, a warm late morning in September. She had just finished her morning classes ad was about to go grab some lunch. There were plenty of students sitting on the lawns, but a specific student suddenly caught her eye. It was a girl that seemed to be a few years older than her and she was in the midst of a sneezing fit.

"Hui Tshoo, Ha Ha Tshoo, Haa Tshi Shoooo!" the girl's sneezes were so strong she was having trouble keeping her glasses on her face.

"Bless you" Victoria said to the girl as she approached her. "Allergies"?

"Actually *sniffle* I thidk I bight be cobig dowd with a cold" the girl replied.

"Wow, already? It's not even cold season yet" said Victoria.

"I kdow. it sucks" the girl said and gave her nose a wet blow.

"Sorry you're not feeling well" said Victoria.

"It wasd't so bad this bordig" said the girl. "I was fide whed I woke up add dow i cad't stop Hi Tshoo, Ha Atshi, Hu Itsh Shooooo! sdeezig".

"I hope you'll feel better soon" said Victoria.

"Thadks" said the girl "I hope so too".

Victoria never saw that girl again and yet this turned out to be an important moment for her. From that day on, she started seeing sneezes in a different light. Up to that point, sneezes weren't really important to her. The day she saw that girl was the day that started to change. She tossed and turned in bed when her gaze fell on the desk. The drawer was closed, but her mind immediately went to the notebook inside it. She thought about writing something in it but eventually fell asleep.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, A.I.C

It took Sarah three days to arrange a meeting. By that time she was a picture of sickness: Red nose, pale face, coughing, sneezing and congested. The virus had complete control of both her nose and her chest.

"He Ash Choooooooooo! *cough cough*" she sneezed and coughed as she was getting ready to leave.

Sarah knew that the meeting she was about to go to would be even more important than the first one. The first meeting was about finding out whether she could really form a group or not. She did, and that made her more confident in her abilities, but the stakes would be higher in the second meeting. Not only would the second meeting test the group members' commitment to the fetish around which it was formed, it would also show how Christy feels about all of this and especially how she feels about seeing Sarah sick. It was that last part that was particularly important to Sarah.

When Sarah got to the place, the same room as before, she found out that she was the first one to arrive. It was a cold day outside and Sarah had to take off her coat, scarf and gloves before she was able to give her nose the blow it desperately needed. Then she had time to check herself in the mirror app on her phone.

"This is about as sick as I can possibly look" she thought. "If that doesn't put Christy off then she must really by into sickness, like me".

Monica and Nicki arrived shortly after that.

"Wow, you weren't lying" said Nicki.

"Yup, you're one sick girl today" said Monica.

"Hush Choooooooooooo! *sniffle* I'll take that as a cobplibedt" said Sarah. She noticed that Nicki and Monica didn't recoil when she sneezed, unlike most people, and that was a good sign. Still, she covered her face with her hands when she sneezed, not wanting to be too blunt about it, at least at first.

"It was meant to be one" said Monica.

"You sound so congested" said Nicki. "I bet you can't breathe through your nose at all".

"That's right" Sarah said and gave her nose a gurgling blow. "Do air would be goig through by dose ady tibe sood I'b afraid".

"Except when you sneeze" said Nicki.

"Hu Ash Choooooooo! Exactly" said Sarah.

"I gotta say, your sneezes are surprisingly strong. Did not expect that from you" said Monica. "I bet I could match that though".

"Really?" Nicki sounded very excited, her eyes lit up.

"Sure thing" said Monica. "You just wait and see".

That conversation went on for a while. It was nice, way nicer than Sarah thought I could be, but she was still worried. Christy hasn't arrived yet and Sarah wondered if she was just late or having second thoughts. Eventually, Christy did arrive.

"Hi girls" she said as she walked into the room. "Sorry I'm late. Busy day at work. What did I miss"?

"Just Sarah being sick, mostly" said Monica.

"Super sick" said Nicki.

"Hu Chooooooooo, He Ash Choooooooooo! It's true *sniffle* I ab" said Sarah.

"Well that's too bad" said Christy. "The fact that I missed it, that is" she added almost instantly, but Sarah's heart still skipped a few beats until she did.

"Dod't worry" she told Christy. "It does't look like I'b godda stop beig sick ady tibe sood".

"That's some exciting news" Christy said with a wide smile. "I can't wait to see more of your sickness".

A simple sentence that made Sarah happier than she has been in a long time.

[Likesn]

Part 10:

Unknown Location, B.I.C

The pages of the notebook have been filling up nicely. Victoria participated in various experiments and found it helpful to channel some of her excitement into writing. Some days she had to write in order to be able to fall asleep. Other days left her so tired that she went straight to bed. She often found herself wondering if the notebook was left there on purpose and if so - by whom, but she dared not asked. Maybe the other participants had notebooks as well or maybe the one in her room just happened to be there. She enjoyed writing so much she didn't want to risk the notebook getting taken away from her.

One morning, after breakfast, Victoria was in a testing room again, only this time someone entered. It was a girl, probably a little younger than her, who didn't seem to be a staff member.

"Hi" the girl said and smiled. "I'm Becky".

"Hello Becky" said Victoria". "I'm Victoria".

"Nice to meet you Victoria" said Becky.

"It's nice to meet you too" said Victoria.

"We're gonna be doing some contagion testing today" said a man's voice on the speakers. "You two just sit and wait".

"I don't understand" said Victoria.

"That's O.K. I think I can explain" said Becky. "It's not my first time doing this".

"So what's going to happen?" Victoria asked.

"I'm gonna get sick soon and then they'll test how long it takes me to get you sick" Becky replied.

"Do you know how long will it take you to get"

"Ha Tshoo!" Becky cut Victoria's question off with an uncovered sneezes towards her.

"Whoa, that was fast" said Victoria.

"Fast is good" Becky said and sniffled. "That's what they wadt. The faster the better".

"Are you sure you're sick though?" Victoria asked. "It could be just a"

"Ha Tshoo, Hi Tshoo, Ha A Tshoo! Just a sdeeze? Well *sniffle* dow it's three bore" said Becky.

"Not to mention the congestion" said Victoria. "You really are sick".

"Dow it's odly a batter of tibe" said Becky.

"Before I start Eshoo, Eshoo, Ha Eshoo! sdeezig? Holly crap! You've gotta be kiddig be!" Victoria called.

"I did't say it would take a lot of tibe Ha Tshoo!" sneezed Becky.

"Does it always Eshoo! happed so He Eshoo! fast?" asked Victoria.

"Pretty buch *sniffle* but dever that fast" Becky replied. "This is good. Rebebber - that's what they wadt".

"Eshoo! Bad *sniffle* by dose is a bess" said Victoria.

"That's the Ha Tshoo! poidt" said Becky.

"Alright, that's enough for now" said the man's voice on the speakers. "Good job you two".

"Will I ever He Eshoo! see you agaid?" Victoria asked as Becky was about to leave to room.

"I dod't Hi Tshoo! thidk so" Becky replied. "They dever let be idfect the Ha Tshoo! sabe girl bore thad odce".

"Id that case *sniffle* it was dice beetig you" said Victoria.

"It was dice beetig you too" Becky said and left.

"Ha Eshoo, Eshoo, Eshoo, Eshoo!" Victoria went into a fit of sneezes that left her exhausted.

"Looks like I won't be writing today" she thought. "I'll call it an early night, if they let me".

Still, she knew she would eventually write about her experience with Becky.

Salvador, Brazil, A.I.C

"Excuse me?" Kate was surprised by what Julieta said.

"I'b sure it wod't be your first tibe" said Julieta. "You're dot a 'Double V', are you"?

"A What?" asked Kate.

"For a reporter *sniffle* you're dot very up to speed with popular terbs" said Julieta. "That's what you call wobed who have dever caugt the virus - 'Double V' beads 'Virus Virgids'. It's becobig a cobbod terb".

"Somewhat demeaning if you ask me" said Kate. "And to answer your question - I did catch the virus before".

"Thed there should't be a probleb" said Julieta.

"It sounds like you want me do get sick" said Kate.

"Do you kdow why you're here, Kate Jabesod?" Julieta asked.

"I thought I came here to interview you, but I'm starting to feel like this is some sort of trap" said Kate.

"A trap? Do" said Julieta. "You're free to leave at ady tibe Ha Tisha! We cad always get sobeode else to idterview be".

"Like hell I'm gonna let that happen" said Kate. "My bosses will fire me the moment I get back if I don't interview you".

"But they wod't fire you if you brig theb a scoop *sniffle* right? They bight eved give you a raise" said Julieta.

"Are you saying you have a scoop for me?" asked Kate.

"That's dot all I have for you *sniffle* but yes" Julieta replied.

"Let's hear it then" said Kate.

"Dot so fast" said Julieta. "I have a Ha Tishoo! propositiod for you - how would you like to cover the whole evedt"?

"Tell me more about this event first" said Kate.

"Fair edough" Julieta said before taking a tissue and blowing her nose.

Kate found herself admiring the fact that Julieta still managed to look hot even while making disgusting nose-blowing sounds.

"As you bight already kdow *sniffle* this hotel has beed chosed to host a very ibportadt fasiohd evedt, which will last for a few days" said Julieta.

"That much I know" said Kate. "I also know you're the star of this event, What I'd really like to know is what it's all about".

"Sibple - it's all about the Hu Tisha! virus" said Julieta. Kate noticed that Julieta never covered her sneezes.

"Ha Ashoo, Ashoo, Ashoo!" Once again, Julieta's sneeze triggered Kate's nose.

"I'b dot followig you" Kate said and sniffled. She took a tissue and cleared her nose so she could speak normally again.

"Let be explaid thed" said Julieta. "A dew lide of products is cobig to the barkets sood. All those products are coddected to dealig with the virus. Bodels will be cobig here for a fasiohd show, hopig to get a cabpaigd or at least a sidgle cobbercial for ode of those products".

"You wanna tell me you got sick on purpose, especially for this event?" Kate asked.

"I did't have to" Julieta replied. "Like I told you - superbodels get sick too. I always got sick a lot, eved before the He He Tishoooo! virus".

"So you're offering me to cover this event, but at the risk of getting sick myself" said Kate.

"It's dot a risk - you'll have to get sick if you wadt to stay here" said Julieta. "Odce the other bodels get here, this place is godda be full of sick youdg wobed. We cad't have you ruddig aroudd all healthy. You deed to bledd id. By offer is that you'll stay id this hotel for a few days. You'll get sick but id returd you'll get to cover the fasiohd evedt everyode will be talkig about sood".

"As if I could afford a room here" said Kate.

"I cad take care of that for you" said Julieta. "Oh *sniffle* add ode bore thig - your photographer cad't stay here".

"What's wrong with Archie?" asked Kate.

"The evedt is closed to the press" said Julieta. "I cad give you ad exclusive idside look, but photos tedd to spread quickly Ha Tishooo! Albost as quick as the virus. If you wadt this scoop I have two terbs: You have to get sick add the photographer has to go".

"He can't come back without any photos" said Kate. "They'll fire him".

"What do you say I'll get hib a private photo sessiod with be after the evedt is over?" Julieta suggested. "It'll go well with your exclusive story".

"I think that's fair" said Kate. "At least he'll have something to look forward to".

"Thed we have a Ha Tisha! deal" said Julieta.

[Likesn]

Part 11:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada A.I.C

The meeting went on for a while and they all seemed to be having a great time. Even though Sarah was pretty sick, it was the most fun she had in a while. They mostly talked about her sickness and the other three were asking her questions.

"Can you sneeze on command?" asked Nicki.

"Do *sniffle* but I do sdeeze albost all the tibe whed I'b sick" Sarah replied.

"When you have a sneezing fit - can you stop in the middle of it?" asked Monica.

"Hu Ush Chooooo, He Ash Chooooooooo! I usually sdeeze just odce or twice every tibe" said Sarah. "Whed I do have to sdeeze *sniffle* I cad't really stop it".

"You guys, it's getting a little late" said Christy. "I don't want to ruin the party but I think maybe Sarah should get some rest".

"You're dot wrodg" said Sarah. "It's beed really fud but I'b startig to get tired".

"That's O.K." said Nicki. "We get it".

"Why don't we all go back home now and Sarah can let us know when she's ready to meet again?" Monica suggested.

"Soudds like a Ush Choooo! plad" said Sarah.

Nicki and Monica left together. Sarah could hear them talking to each other, but she was too busy blowing her nose to hear the conversation. She then noticed Christy was still in the room.

"You cad go if you're id a hurry" Sarah told her. "I cad lock the roob by byself".

"I'm in no hurry" said Christy. "My car is parked close by. Where is yours"?

"Dod't have ode" Sarah replied. "I took the bus".

"Would you like a ride home?" Christy suggested. "It's cold outside and you're sick".

"Hesh Chooooooooo! The other passedgers od the bus would probably thadk be if I dod't get theb sick too" said Sarah.

"Then it's settled - you're riding with me" said Christy.

They didn't talk much during the ride. Christy's car was small but comfortable, relaxing music was coming from the radio and Sarah felt warm and safe. With a quick glance to her side she saw Christy driving at ease, moving her lips to the sound of the music.

"It's really dice of you to give be a ride" Sarah said when they were getting closer to her house.

"No problem" Christy said and smiled. "You're a very nice passenger".

"I'b also a sick passedger" said Sarah. "Dot adyode would let by gerbs idto their car".

"Your germs don't scare me" said Christy. "I thought it was clear by now".

"That's by house" Sarah said and Christy pulled over. "Thadks agaid for the ride".

"Anytime" said Christy.

Sarah was about to get out of the car when she decided to seize the moment.

"Hey *sniffle* would you like to *sniffle* I dod't kdow *sniffle* cobe id for a cup of coffee or sobethig?" she asked.

"I think tea would be better, wouldn't it? Since your sick and all" said Christy.

"Sure" said Sarah. "Tea it is thed".

Christy parked the car and they went into Sarah's house.

"Hush Chooooo, Hesh Choooooooo, Hu Esh Choooooooooo!" Sarah let out a messy triple as they went in.

"Bless you" said Christy. "Just show me where the kitchen is and I can take care of the tea while you rest".

Sarah agreed. Christy's presence made her feel so comfortable. While Christy was in the kitchen, Sarah sat down on the living-room couch.

"Here you go" Christy said as she walked into the living room with two mugs of tea. "Hot tea for you and me".

"Thadk you" said Sarah. Christy sat down on the couch next to her and they both drank the tea in silence.

"Do you feel better?" Christy asked after they finished the tea.

"A little bit" Sarah replied. "I'b still cold though".

"Maybe this will help" said Christy. She moved closer to Sarah and hugged her.

"It does help. A Lot" said Sarah.

[Likesn]

Part 12:

Los Angeles, California, USA, A.I.C

"What's this notification that just popped up on my calendar?" Tatiana asked Trevor.

"It's a meeting you have later today" Trevor replied.

"I can see that, but I don't recall asking for it" said Tatiana.

"You didn't" said Trevor. "This is a direct order from upstairs. I've been told to put it in your calendar immediately".

"They do that sometimes, but almost never to me" said Tatiana. "Who am I supposed to meet anyway"?

"Her name is Suzanna Morris" said Trevor. "She's from 'Cosmo Skin'. In fact, she's a pretty important person there"

"Cosmetics? What the hell does that have to me with me?" Tatiana asked, agitated.

"From what I've been told, our collaboration with 'Cosmo Skin' is important to the next stage" Trevor replied.

"But I'm already working on my projects" said Tatiana. "I'm swamped as it is".

"Yes, I'm well aware of that" said Trevor. "However, the instructions were clear - upstairs insisted that you meet with her".

"Something's fishy here" said Tatiana. "Why did they hand me all those major projects if they wanted me to work with that woman on something that's entirely unrelated? That's just not right".

"Maybe so, but I couldn't argue with them" said Trevor. "They specifically asked for you".

"I don't like this at all" said Tatiana. "They always say how pleased they are with my work. It's not like them".

"She's coming from New York today" said Trevor. "You'll be meeting her this afternoon".

 

The restaurant was fancy, but Tatiana expected nothing less. She ordered a glass of wine and waited for Suzanna to arrive.

"Fashionably late" Tatiana thought, but she expected that as well.

When Suzanna finally arrived, Tatiana noticed her red nose from afar.

"Just my luck - they sent me a sick one" Tatiana thought. "What's the use working for 'Cosmo Skin' if you can't conceal your red nose"?

Tatiana hasn't been sick for some time and she wondered when it might happen next. She wasn't looking forward to it, but after catching the virus a few times in the past she knew pretty much what to expect.

"I guess if I have to get sick it might as well be from someone important and not some barista working to pay her college bills" Tatiana thought.

"He A Tshooooooooo!" Suzanna sneezed as she entered the restaurant. The sneeze was almost theatrical - bending her double and sending her hair flying, covering her face. She made no attempt to cover it and the visible spray made people around her back away in disgust.

"That one's a spreader all right" Tatiana thought. "Contagion on two legs".

"You bust be Tatiada Williabs" Suzanna said when she got to the table. "Suzadda Borris, 'Cosbo Skid'. Dice to beet you".

"Likewise" Tatiana said coldly. Suzanna outstretched her hand for Tatiana to shake and Tatiana reluctantly did.

"At least she didn't sneeze into the hand when she got here" Tatiana thought. "In fact, it looks like she never covers her sneezes".

"Ha Tshooa! *sniffle* 'Scuse be" said Suzanna. Just as Tatiana thought - she didn't cover her sneeze.

"You're not allergic to L.A. are you?" Tatiana said, not actually asking since she already knew the answer.

"Do *sniffle* it's the virus" said Suzanna. "I sdeezed through the whole flight here".

"Probably got half the plane sick" Tatiana thought. "At least she's open about it. I hate it when people deny their sickness if it's obvious".

"This meeting must be important to you if we're having it after you've had such a long flight" said Tatiana.

"Sidce we're godda be workig together for sobe tibe *sniffle* I wadted to get to kdow you as sood as possible" said Suzanna.

"Let's have some food first" Tatiana suggested.

"Good idea" said Suzanna. "I thidk I'll have sobe wide while I go over the bedu".

Tatiana called the waiter and ordered another glass of wine for Suzanna.

"Ha Tshea, He Tshoooooo!" Suzanna sprayed the table after taking a sip of her wine. "By dose is so sedsitive add the wide bakes it worse" she said.

"Looks like type 2" Tatiana thought. Most of the world had no idea that there was more than one type of R13, but Tatiana knew. Judging by the changes in the sound of Suzanna's sneezes, Tatiana guessed that she had the type 2 virus. Type 1 was the most common type and type 2 was stronger and even more contagious than type 1. Tatiana knew that there were also type 3 and 4 and she even heard about type 5, but most cases around the world were either type 1 or 2.

"He Tsha, Ha Tshoooooooooo! Sorry I keep sdeezig" said Suzanna. "By dose just wod't give be a rest".

It didn't seem like Suzanna was really sorry though. There was something flamboyant about the way she sneezed, as if she enjoyed it. People around them were shocked by the sight of this obviously contagious woman sneezing so openly, but Suzanna didn't seem to mind.

"There's something admirable about it" Tatiana thought. "She just doesn't give a shit".

Tatiana had no doubt that Suzanna was going to get her sick.

[Scandinavius]

So much contagion! Lady V and the initial contagion, Suzanna and how she sneezes (and seems to like it), it's great.

[Likesn]

Given that the virus was announced as a plague after 13 days, I thought I'd do something a bit different with the 13th part. This part will feature the stories of a few one-time characters throughout those first days (I.C.D 1-12).

Part 13:

Kiel, Germany, I.C.D 2

When the young woman stepped into the train car Gertrud didn't notice her. The train car was full of people minding their own business. All Gertrud thought about was how she wanted the day to end so she could come back home to her girlfriend, Dita.

"Ha TsShooo!" a wet sneeze from the young woman drew the attention of the people around her, including Gertrud. The young woman made no attempt to cover her sneeze and the spray was visible in the air.

"That's rude" Gertrud thought.

Getting back to listening to her audio book, Gertrud forgot about the young woman. That changed a couple of minutes later.

"He AtsShooo, Ha TsShooooooo! Edtschuldigudg (Excuse be/I'b sorry)" the young woman said to the people who looked at her.

"You can't expect them to forgive you if you don't cover your sneezes" Gertrud thought.

By the time Gertrud got off the train, about 20 minutes later, the young woman had sneezed a few more times, all of them uncovered. The people in the train car were getting really annoyed by it and Gertrud didn't blame them. In fact, she shared their feelings. She felt relieved to be out in the open air again, even though the air was cold. The cold wind even irritated Gertrud's nose a bit, making her sniffle, but she just shrugged it off and went on with her day.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I.C.D 5

Three sisters were sitting in their living room when the breath of all three of them started to hitch.

"Ha Eshoo"!

"Ha Tshi"!

"Ha Ishoo"!

Renata, Camila and Lucia (respectively) all sneezed at the same time.

It was becoming a regular thing, almost a habit. Ever since Lucia came home from work with a runny nose two days earlier, all three of them have been sneezing constantly. They often sneezed simultaneously.

"Ay salute (bless you)" Camila said both to herself and her sisters. "Redata *sniffle* do we have ady tissues left"?

"Let be check" Renata replied. She got up from the couch they were sitting on and went to search for more tissues.

"Dios bio (oh by god)!" she called two minutes later. "We have odly ode box left! Lucia *sniffle* go to the store add get us sobe bore".

"Why dod't you or Cabila go?" Lucia asked. Being the younger, she always counted on her older sisters to do things for her.

"Because you are the ode who Ha A Tshi! brought this awful sickdess indto this house" said Camila.

"It wasd't by fault Ha I Shoo!" sneezed Lucia. "Everyode is sick these days".

"But it wasd't everyode who got us sick, it was you He Eshoo! That's why it's odly fair that you'll go buy bore tissues" said Renata.

"Fide *sniffle* I'll go" said Lucia.

The three sisters blew their red noses and Lucia went to the store. It won't be the last time they run out of tissues in the next few days.

Kiel, Germany, I.C.D 6

"Ha Pchi! Oh god *sniffle* By dose" Gertrud groaned. She was in bed with a red, streaming nose.

"Here" Dita said as she walked into the room. "I brought you E Tshoo! a dew haddkerchief".

"Dadke (thadks)" Gertrud said and gave her nose a gurgling blow. "You shuold't be out of bed yourself".

"I'll be alright Ah Ah Tshoo!" sneezed Dita.

"Gesuddheit" said Gertrud. "I'b so sorry I got you sick. Rude wobad od the traid should've beed bore careful with her sdeezes".

"I'b dot sure I got sick frob you" Dita said, getting into the bed next to Gertrud. "Bady people at work have beed sdeezig these past few days".

"Have you beed Ha A Pchi! kissig ady of those people?" Gertrud asked.

"Do Ah Tshooo! Just you" Dita replied.

"That's what I Ha Ha Pchi! thought" said Gertrud. She lifted the handkerchief to her nose.

"Let be do it" Dita suggested.

"Odly if you let be do the sabe to you" said Gertrud.

They then helped each other blow their noses.

Seattle, Washington, I.C.D 10

"Hu Ishoo, A Pchoo! Gross!" Keyla had to pull over and clean her steering-wheel after sneezing all over it.

"In other news, scientists from all over the world are still debating the question - are we dealing with a plague?" said the news anchor on the radio.

"They should be talkig about how to cure this" Keyla said to no one in particular. "By dose is drivig be crazy".

She only started feeling sick less than a day earlier. Since then, her nose has gotten red and she started sneezing frequently.

"Hu Ushoo, U Pchoo! This virus is bakig by sdeezes soudd weird" said Keyla.

"A multitude of new cases are reported every day" said the news anchor. "So far - there have been no reports of male patients".

"That is so udfair" said Keyla. "How cobe bed are dot A Pchoo! affected by this"?

"Scientists are baffled by that fact" said the news anchor.

"Bost of theb are probably bed who Ushoo! dod't care" said Keyla. "Ugh! *sniffle* I should Hu Pchoo, Hu Ashoo! be hobe id bed".

[Likesn]

Part 14:

Sheffield, UK, A.I.C

It was raining. Not pouring rain, more of a drizzle, but still raining. Fatma didn't have much rain growing up and even though she's been living in London for years she still wasn't completely used to the English rain.

"Hu Upchi!" she sneezed as they were wandering the streets, trying to find the clue "Lady V" left behind.

"Bless you" said Anita. "If I got the location figured out correctly, we should be there soon".

"Rebidd be *sniffle* what exactly are we lookig for?" Fatma asked.

"A flash drive" Anita replied. "It should be hidden inside a place marked with a sign 'Lady V' left".

"What sigd? Haa Pchia!" sneezed Fatma.

"We'll know it when we see it" said Anita.

They wandered the streets for a little while longer before something caught Fatma's eye. It was a small symbol someone drew on the wall of one of the buildings. The symbol looked like the letter L on top of the letter V.

"Could this be the sigd we're lookig for?" Fatma asked Anita, pointing at the symbol.

"Yes! That's it!" Anita called. "Good call Fatma. You have good eyes".

The building turned out to be some sort of community center. It was empty and looked like it has been deserted for months.

"I dod't suppose this 'Lady V' left ady idstructiods od how to get idside the buildig?" said Fatma.

Anita put her hand on the door and gave it a light push.

"It's open" she told Fatma.

They got inside. It was quiet and dark. The only light was coming through the windows, but it wasn't much. Anita turned on the flashlight on her phone.

"We should look for a computer terminal or something" she said.

About 10 minutes later, when they got to the second floor, Anita found a place with a few computers.

"Looks like this is it Hue Pchooooooooooo!" Fatma's loud sneeze echoed throughout the silent building. She looked around in panic but no one came and she heard no sound other than the echoes of her sneeze fading away.

"Found it!" Anita called, startling Fatma. The thing she found was a flash drive marked with the same symbol Fatma saw outside.

"Do you thidk we should use ode of the cobputers here?" Fatma asked.

"It would probably work on my laptop as well" Anita replied.

"Good" said Fatma. "Let's get back to the hotel thed. This place gives be the creeps".

Back in the hotel room, they inserted the flash drive into Anita's laptop. It contained a text that seemed to be a part of a diary.

Unknown Location, B.I.C

The experiment was over early that day. Victoria couldn't tell exactly what time it was, but given the fact that she got lunch after the experiment she assumed it was about midday when she got back to her room.

"Might as well write something" she thought. "Not much else I can do to pass the time".

She got the notebook out of the drawer and started writing about the experiment she took part in that morning.

They didn't tell her anything when they put her in the testing room that morning, but they almost never did. She just sat there and waited, like she did most days. Before too long, she felt her nose starting to run. She also felt that the room was getting very cold.

"Eshoo, Eshoo, Ha Eshoo! Hey! Are you tryig to *sniffle* freeze be to death?" she asked, not really expecting an answer.

The temperature remained cold for sometime and Victoria was freezing and sneezing.

"He Eshoo, He Eshoo, Eshoo, Eshoo! You cad at least give be a Eshoo! bladket or Ha Eshoo, Eshoo! sobethig!" she called.

Once again - there was no reply.

Victoria wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to keep warm. She sniffled and sneezed for a while until she noticed she wasn't cold anymore.

"Fidally" she said to herself, thinking that the experiment was over.

"Cad I at least get sobe tissues?" she asked. This time, a hole in the wall appeared a few moments later with a box of tissues inside it.

"Thadks" said Victoria.

After she blew her nose, she suddenly felt a need to wipe her forehead with a tissue as well. She noticed she was seating. At first she thought she might be developing a fever, but then she noticed it was the room that was getting warmer.

"Oh you have got to be kiddig be" she said.

The rising temperatures didn't make her feel any better. In fact, her nose was running frequently and she had to stop wiping her forehead with tissues, saving them to deal with her runny nose.

"E Shoo! Great *sniffle* Dow I'b both Ha Eshoo! sdeezig add sweatig" said Victoria.

She sat there for some time, covering her nose with a tissue to keep it from running all over her face. after a while, the temperature started to return to normal again. Victoria feared they would freeze the room again, but that didn't happen.

"He Eshoo, Eshoo, Eshoo, Ha Eshoo, Eshoo!" the temperature changes really did a number on her nose.

They let her out of the room a few minutes later. The experiment was over.

"I'm guessing they wanted to test how changes in temperature affect the virus" she wrote in her notebook later when she described the experiments.

Victoria barely managed to finish writing and put the notebook back in the drawer when they sent her to another experiment. Her description of the changing temperature experiment would be the first part of her diary Anita and Fatma would read sometime in the future, in Sheffield.

[Sneezyboy]

Part 13 is nice! Its funny to read the german parts, because im from Germany. Very nice:) 

[Likesn]

Part 15:

Salvador, Brazil, A.I.C

Getting Archie to cooperate wasn't easy. He was really upset at first, agitated even. It was only the promise of an exclusive photo session with Julieta that finally got him to calm down and agree. When he went back to the hotel, Kate was free to check out the room Julieta got her. It turned out to be quite a luxurious suite.

"Wow! This place is Ha Ashoo, Ha Ashoo! abazig!" Kate called when she entered the suite.

"Told you I would get you a dice roob" said Julieta. "You're sdeezes *sniffle* it's dot because you got sick already, is it"?

"Do *sniffle* still by allergies" said Kate.

"Id that case *sniffle* you should check out the bath" Julieta suggested. "A dice bath could help calb your allergies dowd".

"A bath does sound nice" said Kate. She blew her nose quickly before she said that, clearing the congestion in her voice.

When Kate got into the bathroom she saw a large golden bath. Then, she noticed the bath was already filled with water. Something was floating inside. She got closer so she could see it better. The bath was full of ice cubes.

"Really?" she turned to Julieta.

"What? It wod't be lodg before the other bodels arrive add we deed to get you all dice add sick by thed" said Julieta.

"You really seem to like the fact that I will get sick" said Kate.

"It was part of the deal, rebebber? But let's just say I dod't hate it" said Julieta.

"Ice cubes won't get me sick, you know" said Kate.

"I kdow" said Julieta. "Why dod't you go chadge idto your bathig suite add I'll be back sood".

"And here I thought I was about to have a relaxing hot bath" said Kate.

"Do ode said it will be hot" said Julieta. She then left so Kate could change into her bathing suite.

Kate's luggage, including her bathing suite, arrived a few minutes later. Julieta had it delivered there while Kate was busy convincing Archie. Kate packed her bathing suite thinking she might go to the beach if they get a day off or something. She wore it and got into the bath.

"How do you like the bath I bade for you?" Julieta asked when she returned.

"This bbbbbetter bbbbbbbe the bbbbbest scoop I ever gggggot in my lllllife" Kate said through chattering teeth.

"Trust be - it will be" said Julieta. "Add dow Ha Tisha, He A Tshooa!" she sneezed on Kate.

"That was so ggggross" said Kate. "Ddddid you rrrrreally have ttttto sssssneeze on mmmmmmme"?

"Of course I did" said Julieta. "You said it yourself - ice cubes wod't get you sick".

"Ha Ashoooo!" sneezed Kate. The ending of the sneeze was more high-pitched than her usual ones, almost girly.

"Looks like it's workig" said Julieta.

"It cad't be that fast" said Kate.

"Did't you say you had this virus before?" asked Julieta.

"I did" Kate replied and sniffled.

"Thed you kdow it works fast Ha Tishooooo, Tisha!" sneezed Julieta.

"Ha A Shooo, A Shooo! *sniffle* By sdeezes soudd differedt" said Kate.

"Yes *sniffle* the virus has that effect sobetibes" said Julieta.

"You sure seeb to kdow a lot about the virus" said Kate. "I'b goig out of the bath dow. I dod't have to keep freezig here if I already got sick".

"Here - take a towel Hu Tisha!" Julieta sneezed into the towel as she handed it to Kate.

"Were you Ashoo, Ha Ashoo! always like that?" asked Kate.

"Like what? Hu Tishoooooooooooo!" Julieta asked and sneezed.

"Gettig everyode aroudd you sick" said Kate.

"I'll adswer that questiod *sniffle* but dot dow" said Julieta.

"Savig it for the idterview thed? That's good" said Kate.

"Dot for the idterview" said Julieta. "I'b savig it for whed we get to kdow each other better".

"You bead better thad Ha Ashoo, Ashoo, Ashoo! sharig your gerbs with be?" asked Kate.

"Ha Tishooooooo, Ha Tisha!" Julieta's reply was two more sneezes. She then took the towel from Kate and blew her nose into it.

[Likesn]

Part 16:

Tallinn, Estonia, B.I.C

The wind blew strong and grey clouds were moving fast across the sky. Valeria Lermontova had to sit down on a bench and rest. It has been a busy day for her and on top of that she was dealing with a monstrous head cold. Despite the fact that she was no stranger to cold weather, Valeria got sick very often. Some of her friends and family members even teased her about it occasionally.

"Ye Tshoo, Ye Tshi!" she sneezed twice as she was sitting on the bench. It wasn't easy to relax with her nose constantly bothering her.

A few minutes later, a man came and sat down on the bench next to her.

"I am so not in the mood for this right now" Valeria thought, worried that the man might start talking or even flirting with her.

"Hard day?" the man asked a moment later. Just what Valeria was worried about.

"Just a dorbal day" Valeria replied coldly.

"Your cold doesn't make this day easier though" said the man. Valeria noticed he had an accent when he spoke, but his conversation skills and his confidence suggested that he probably wasn't a tourist. At the very least, he's been to Estonia before.

"I dever said I had a cold" said Valeria.

"You didn't have to. It's obvious" said the man.

"Ya TshiShooooo!" Valeria sneezed wetly.

"Why does he bother me if he knows I'm sick?" she wondered.

"Would you like a handkerchief?" the man asked as he offered her one.

"Do thadks *sniffle* I have tissues" Valeria replied. She pulled a used tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose into it.

"Looks like you know how to deal with your cold then" said the man. "Do you catch them often"?

"I dod't bead to be rude *sniffle* but I should get goig" said Valeria. She grew tired of the conversation.

"Of course. I understand" said the man. "Before you go - take this" he said as he handed her a business card.

"You're tryig to sell be sobethig?" Valeria asked.

"Sell? No. That's not what I do" the man replied. "The next time you have a cold - take a look at this card. I think we can use someone like you. Call the number on the card if you want to know more".

The man then got up and left, leaving Valeria confused.

"Hi Ye Tshi!" she almost dropped the man's card when she sneezed.

"Did he say 'the next time you have a cold'? I don't see what use someone could have for me when I'm sick" she thought.

Chicago, Illinois, USA, A.I.C

"He Atshooooooo, He Tshoooooooooo, Hu Tshoooooooo, Ha A Tshooooooooo!" Molly sneezed uncontrollably.

"Great. My nose is acting up at the worst possible time" she thought.

It was early afternoon and she was sitting on a bench in the park, waiting. The last time she heard from Anita she was about to fly to England to work on a possible lead. That was good, but Molly couldn't just sit and wait for updates from Anita. She had to keep doing some research of her own. There were several times when she thought she had found a new lead, but it turned out to be a dead end. She felt frustrated, but the fact that days went by and she still felt like she was nowhere closer to getting over the virus gave her all the drive she needed. Every sneeze and sniffle pushed her to move on in search for the next possible lead. When she did find one, it seemed almost too good to be true.

"I strongly support what you're doing and I think I can help" said the message Molly got on her P.S.P.P from a woman called Valeria. This woman was originally from Estonia but was currently living in the US and she claimed to have valuable information. Molly was suspicious at first, especially when Valeria suggested they meet in person, but seeing as she didn't have any other leads she agreed.

"He Etshoooooo, Hu Atshoooooooooo, He Tshooooooooooo! This woman better be real" Molly thought. She had been waiting for Valeria for over 15 minutes and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed.

"Ye Tshooooooooo!" Molly heard someone sneezing in the distance. Looking up from her wad of used tissues, she saw a woman walking towards her.

"Are you Bolly Fergusod?" the woman asked when she got to her.

"Yes" Molly replied. "Valeria Lerbodtova, I assube"?

"That's be Ha Tshi!" sneezed Valeria.

"Looks like the virus hit us both pretty hard" Molly said and sniffled.

"Tell be about it" Valeria said, sitting down next to her. "I feel like I've beed sick for bodths od edd".

"Be too" said Molly. "That's the reasod I started idvestigatig the virus add its origids. You said you have sobe idforbatiod for be"?

"TshiShooooo! That's right" said Valeria.

"Well I'b ready to hear it" said Molly.

"Back whed I was livig id Tallidd, that's the capital of Estodia, I participated id sobe sort of experibedt" said Valeria. "The people who codducted the experibedt were dot Estodiads *sniffle* I'b sure of that".

"Were they Abericads?" asked Molly.

"Sobe of theb, I thidk" Valeria replied. "They did't tell us buch".

"I figure this experibedt had sobethig to do with the virus?" said Molly.

"It did *sniffle* or at least I thidk it did" said Valeria. "All the participadts were wobed add they all had Yey Tshooooooo! colds".

"Let be stop you for a bobedt" said Molly. "This virus isd't dew. If you thought you kdew who's behidd it *sniffle* why did't you say sobethig sooder? You could be holdig the key to the bost ibportadt story of the cedtury, assubig what you say is true".

"Of course it's true!" Valeria called, sounding offended. "I dever said adythig because I thought do ode would believe be".

"What chadged your bidd? He A Tshoooooooo, He Tshoooooooo, Hu E Tshoooooooo!" Molly asked and sneezed.

"You did, obviously" Valeria replied. "That's why I reached out to you - I thought if adyode would believe be it would be you".

"So you reached out to be whed you saw I was idvestigatig the virus? But surely I'b dot the first ode to do this" said Molly.

"Baybe dot *sniffle* but you're a serious reporter add dot just sobe odlide codspiracy blogger or sobethig" said Valeria.

"It's true that bost serious reporters haved't really beed lookig idto this, at least frob what I kdow" said Molly. "The real questiod is - do you have ady proof"?

"Dot right dow" said Valeria. "The place id Tallidd where they did the experibedt has beed closed a lodg tibe ago. The thig is *sniffle* I thidk I bight be able to fidd proof here id the states".

"That's good *sniffle* because I cad't really afford to go to Estodia right dow" said Molly.

"Ya TshiShooooooooooooo! I'b goig to deed your help though" said Valeria.

"You got it" said Molly. "I cad offer you sobe tissues for a start".

[SneezeLucario]

I came here for the sneezes but now i'm also invested in the plot.