Trial by Fire

It wasn't long after the outbreak that people became rampant. Many bonded together to fight these freaks, to survive. If humanity was to survive as a whole, then it needed to bond together. In the beginning, it was a free for all. Take what you want and don't look back. That caused a huge loss of supplies and lives. Soon, there was fighting over the last can of beans. It caused those who were deemed unfit for survival to pay the ultimate price. During those first weeks, the fires of anarchy could be seen miles away. In the cities, the sky was dyed a reddish orange color for days. The air itself was poisonous to breathe. One by one, the big cities fell.

It started with ground zero, London. A perfume company was tampering with pheromones, to try to make the fragrance completely irresistible. It worked alright, but not in the way it was meant to. The perfume had a reverse effect: it was so bad, that it made any of those that smelt it flee in fright. That wasn't it though. The scent couldn't leave your clothing or skin. Burning it dispersed the hormones into the atmosphere and the fright started anew. People 'infected' with the scent went insane or committed suicide from the smell as it followed them.

Now it wasn't long before a prevention method was found. It wasn't exactly simple either. Dr. Braun, the leading researcher into the cure, found out that through a complex surgery involving the brain and nose you could remove the sensitivity to the pheromone  The military found this out and soon started testing this new method of prevention. It had a side effect however. It caused those who had the surgery done to lose their sense of smell and the rest of their senses became dulled. Those with perfect sight soon found that glasses were required. Hearing aids sold faster as mothers wanted to keep the children safe. Food became bland and touch was like being on medication, it went from being sharp and accurate to blunt and blurry.

Armed with a cure, the remaining world governments scrounged together teams of volunteer forces, militia, and professonal military to take back the planet. Cities soon were liberated and those who could be helped received treatment. All but the biggest cities went down easy. Larger places like New York, Beijing, and New Delhi, were never taken back. Parts were, but the majority of the fighting was done by the veterans, most of whom became soldiers of fortune. This story follows one particular soldier. One who never took of a chemical suit and gas mask. Not once did this person show their face. Nor did they ever get the cure...