I Work In A Laboratory. Well, something went wrong…

I work in a lab where I am in charge of receiving new strains of diseases, analyzing them, and creating cures in return. I am very good at my job, to say the least. I’m not being cocky or anything, it’s just that I have been doing it for years. I have cured many strains of diseases I can’t name, and I am very proud of my work, believe it or not.<br><br>One day, I received a mysterious box in the mail. It was sealed, so I had to open it, of course, I couldn’t just leave it there. Inside, there was a petri dish with a big label reading “Do NOT open, contact the CDC immediately.” I wasn’t really sure what this was, but I figured it would be OK to analyze it, seeing as how I work in a lab meant to analyze things like that. I wasn’t going to open it or anything, I just wanted to see what was inside. When I lifted it up to the light, I could see liquid and two small things that looked like needles. I have no idea what this is, and I didn’t want to take any chances, I decided to contact the CDC.<br><br>While waiting for them to arrive, I couldn’t help but stare at it. The petri dish was just sitting on the table, and for some reason, it gave me a feeling of danger. Not sure why, it just didn’t seem right.<br><br>I didn’t have to wait too long, as the CDC arrived rather quickly. Once they did, they immediately took the petri dish and put it in a hazardous bag. They told me that what I held in my hands was an extremely rare virus that will more than likely kill you if it got inside you. It had no cure as of now, and if it got out, it would wipe out the human race. I was just holding it, not even opening it, and if I had dropped it, I would have almost ended the world.<br><br>The leader of the group told me that it would be best if I just forgot I ever saw it as it was top-secret, and the population did not need to know. I agreed, and they left immediately.<br><br>I couldn’t stop thinking about it, though. They had called it the “Prick Virus.” The leader of the group was gracious enough to give me some information as to how it worked. Inside the petri dish was a liquid with two needles, and if you came into contact with the liquid, the needles would inject into your skin and enter your bloodstream. Inside the needles was the virus, which would slowly kill you. The leader had also told me that the virus worked slowly, and at first, you wouldn’t even notice. However, it eventually destroys your insides, tearing you from the inside out.<br><br>I couldn’t stop thinking about how close I had come to ending humanity. A simple drop would have done it, and who knows what would have happened after that. I still couldn’t believe I had held the fate of humanity in my hands.<br><br>That night, I couldn’t sleep as I kept having nightmares of the virus. I also couldn’t get the feeling of danger out of my head. Something felt wrong, and I had to find out what it was.<br><br>The next morning, I decided it was time to go to work early. I got dressed and rushed to the lab, as I had to know what was wrong. Once I got there, I searched around frantically looking for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing seemed to be out of place, but something still felt wrong. I searched the entire lab and still couldn’t find anything. <br><br>I decided to give up and just go to work. Now that I’m thinking about it, I should have just gone home at that point. Once I sat down, I noticed something. On the table where I had placed the petri dish, there were droplets of liquid. My heart sank, and I immediately stood up. It was the Prick Virus. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I knew I had to act fast as I didn’t know how long the droplets had been there. <br><br>I immediately started cleaning the droplets, as I didn’t want anyone to come into contact with them. As I was cleaning them, I couldn’t help but think that I must have dropped the petri dish when the CDC took it from me. It seemed impossible, as the droplets were on the other side of the table, all the way against the wall. It didn’t matter, though, as the damage was already done.<br><br>I placed the mop and bucket in the disinfecting room, which is where we dispose of any hazardous items. I locked the door and placed the key back in its spot.<br><br>It was still early, and no one was at the lab except me. I sat at my desk, still in shock at what had just happened. I kept thinking of all the horrific things that could happen. I mean, if it got out it would kill billions of people. <br><br>Then it hit me, what if it got out while cleaning the droplets? The mop and bucket were in the disinfecting room with the fan that blows the air out of the vents. My heart began pumping as I knew I had to act fast. I immediately ran to the disinfecting room and turned off the fan.<br><br>I shut the door behind me and leaned against it. I was panting heavily as my heart was pounding in my chest. I knew I had to be safe, as I didn’t want to be the one to kill billions of people. I couldn’t believe I had messed up this bad. I basically played with the fate of humanity. <br><br>The CDC had trusted me with this, and I went and fucked up. I was in a state of panic, and I didn’t know what to do. I figured my best bet was to call the CDC and tell them what happened. <br><br>I looked around the room frantically until I saw the key box. At least I still had my phone, as I had brought it into the room. <br><br>I called the CDC and told them everything. I told them what happened, and how I was in the disinfecting room with no way out. They told me to stay where I am, and they would be there as soon as possible. <br><br>I hung up the phone and sat in a corner of the room. I was still in a state of panic, but at least I knew someone was on their way. I set my phone on the floor and put my head between my knees.<br><br>I waited for a long time before I finally heard the door rattle. I stood up and walked to the door. The rattle stopped, and then I heard a voice. “You in there?” It was the leader from the group that came to my lab. <br><br>I didn’t have the key, so I couldn’t let them in. “Yeah, I’m in here. But you can’t come in!” I yelled through the door. “Why not?” he asked. “Because the mop and bucket are in here. I don’t want you to come into contact with the virus,” I replied. He went quiet, and I didn’t hear anything. <br><br>As I waited, I began to hear footsteps. A lot of footsteps. The leader spoke again. “We’re going to break down the door. We have on protective gear, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” I wasn’t too sure this was a good idea, but I didn’t really have a choice. <br><br>As the leader spoke, the door rattle again, and the sound of breaking wood filled my ears. I backed up against the wall as the door began to break down. The leader came in, followed by many other people. <br><br>They all worked together to pick up the mop and bucket and placed them in another hazardous bag. I walked out with them, still in a state of panic. <br><br>Once outside, I asked the leader what they were going to do with it. He replied, “We will burn it. That should neutralize the virus and eliminate any chances of it getting out.” <br><br>As they took the virus away to burn it, I couldn’t help but think of how I almost messed up. It was all because of carelessness, and now I will never forget what I did.<br><br>&#x200B;