The Last Roost

The sun had long since set over the desolate town, leaving behind a twilight that seemed to whisper secrets of the dark. In a small, abandoned research facility, Dr. Ethan Kline sat at his cluttered desk, his eyes flickering over a series of cryptic notes. The Protein Plague had spread like wildfire, turning the population into mindless, zombie-like creatures. The world had crumbled, and he was one of the few left who had not succumbed to the virus.

Ethan had spent years researching the virus, hoping to find a cure. But as the days passed, the research facility had become his last roost, a place where he could hide from the chaos outside. The only company he had were his chickens, a motley crew of hens and roosters that he had managed to keep alive with the last of the supplies.

One evening, as Ethan checked on his chickens, he noticed something unsettling. The normally docile birds were behaving erratically, their eyes flickering with an unnatural glow. He knew the virus was mutating, and it was only a matter of time before it reached them.

Desperate, Ethan began to work on a vaccine, hoping to protect his chickens. But as he mixed the concoction, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The virus had a mind of its own, and it was growing stronger with each passing day.

The next morning, Ethan found the vaccine incomplete. The chickens were acting even more bizarrely, their feathers ruffled and their beaks clacking in a strange rhythm. He had no choice but to turn to the last resort: himself.

Ethan injected himself with the vaccine, feeling a sharp pain as the liquid coursed through his veins. He closed his eyes, willing the virus to retreat. But as the minutes ticked by, he felt a strange warmth spreading through his body, and his mind began to fog.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by his chickens. They had changed, their feathers now a sickly shade of green, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. They were no longer the gentle creatures he had raised; they were something else entirely.

The chickens moved with a purpose, their beaks dripping with a foul-smelling liquid. Ethan's heart raced as he realized what was happening. The virus had not only mutated; it had become sentient, using his chickens as its proxies.

The chickens closed in on Ethan, their beaks ready to pierce his skin. He fought back, but his strength was fading. The virus was too strong, and it was spreading. Ethan knew he had to act quickly, or he would become another victim of the Protein Plague.

As the chickens drew closer, Ethan's mind raced. He remembered the research facility's generator, a device he had kept running in case of emergencies. He stumbled towards it, his body aching with the strain of the virus's presence.

With a final burst of energy, Ethan reached the generator and switched it on. The facility's lights flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the room. The chickens, startled by the sudden brightness, hesitated for a moment.

Ethan took advantage of the momentary lull and ran to the nearest window, throwing it open. He leaped out, feeling the virus's grip weaken as he was carried away by the wind.

Below, the abandoned town stretched out like a ghost town, the buildings silent and decrepit. Ethan landed on his feet, his body weak but his will unbroken. He looked up at the research facility, the last roost of his life, and knew that it was time to move on.

As he wandered through the desolate streets, Ethan realized that the Protein Plague had not only taken his world away from him; it had transformed it into a place of fear and horror. The chickens, once his friends, had become his greatest nightmare.

The last roost was gone, and with it, Ethan's hope of finding a cure. He was alone, wandering through a world that had become unrecognizable. But he was determined to survive, to find a way to fight back against the virus that had taken so much from him.

And so, the Protein Plague raged on, leaving behind a world in ruins. Ethan Kline, the last roost, was a lone figure in a sea of terror, his journey just beginning.