Ivan disappears...

Outside in the pouring rain, with emergency lights flashing everywhere and students jostling around, it's pretty hard to have any idea what's going on. I try asking a few other students what started the alarms, but their replies are hard to believe.

"I heard there's a shooter in the building."

"Nah, man. Did you see all those guys in hazmat suits. I bet it's some kind of disease outbreak."

"I didn't see hazmat suits. I saw a SWAT team."

"I heard they're some kind of alien invasion happening."

It's clear these guys have no idea whats going on, but I'm a little worried. What if this is all related to Ivan?

"Miguel! There you are! I've been calling." I turn toward the familiar voice and see Janice jogging toward me in the rain. She's the building director and my supervisor.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"This is Dr. Haverstein. He wants to talk to you. Have you seen Ivan recently?" I'm not sure what to say, so I just stay silent.

Dr. Haverstein is a tall, lanky man in his mid-60s. He's wearing a black suit and a long coat. He gestures toward a tent that's been set up outside the building.

Under the tent there's a whole team of people I've never seen before. Some are in suits like Dr. Haverstein; others wear labcoats or big yellow jackets with "CDC" emblazoned on the back.

"The subject has not been apprehended yet, but the primary site has been secured. Begin collection as soon as the rest of your team arrives, Dr. Teegan," Haverstein barks at one of the women wearing a labcoat. McGavin, get this one into the decon chamber now."

A large man wearing a mask and gloves grips my shoulder and pulls me toward a big chamber within the tent. "I need you in here, sir. Strip off everything and wait inside." I look at the chamber made from clear plastic and realize that he wants me to stand naked inside it.

"Wha--?"

"It's basically just a shower, kid. I need you to get inside it. Now."

I begin stripping off my clothes and step into the small chamber. A strange-smelling chemical shower begins spraying from a nozzle above me. It's cold. And it burns my skin slightly.

McGavin gives me directions through the plastic, "Scrub yourself off really well. Make sure there's no part of your body that's left untreated. Get in your ears, under your arms, between your fingers and toes..."

I do as he says, being careful to scrub everywhere.

"Great, kid. You're doing fine. Make sure you clean your genitals really well, too."

I pull back my foreskin and wash myself with the chemical spray really well beneath my nuts and in my ass-crack.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" The spray tastes really bitter and I realize I should probably keep my mouth closed.

"That's above my paygrade, kid. You might get some answers when Haverstein does his exam. Or you might not. Can't say I know whether this is classified or not, yet."

The strange shower continues for another few minutes and then I'm ushered into another section of the tent and given a paper gown to wear. McGavin tells me to wait here before disappearing behind a tent flap.

Minutes pass.

At this point I feel like I'm on the edge of a total mental breakdown. Is Ivan the "subject" they were referring to? What's happened to him? Have I been exposed? I didn't see any other students being forced into decontamination chambers. Tears are streaming down my cheeks and I'm starting to hyperventilate...

Finally, the tent flap swings open and Dr. Haverstein enters.

"Miguel Florez?" I nod. "When was you last contact with Ivan Axel?"

"What's going on?"

"Miguel, please answer my questions. When did you last see or speak with Ivan Axel?"