Green isnt always healthy

chapter 4

Chapter 4 The Reveal

The rest of the expedition was completely uneventful; Avery bandaged her arm thinking it was nothing. After that fateful day they returned to camp for the night. Once they returned the next day everything had changed the plant had closed itself off like the day before, so it was determined to wrap up the expedition and return to California as soon as possible with their samples.

Once Avery returned to California, she instantly felt like she was in a mental fog. She just waved it off because getting to work was her most important task. She begrudgingly grabbed an outfit and made her way to the office. She only proceeded to feel worse as she entered her office before dawn. Avery slumped into her chair and powered up her computer and her mental fog only grew worse. As she muttered to herself “God what the f*ck is up with me?”

Just then her early bird boss walked by the only office with a light on. He peered into see Avery in a poor shape and he said, “Avery what’s the problem.” Avery tried to wave him off, but she barely could get the words out before she her boss came in to see what was wrong. His eyes widened as he noticed the green spots on her cheeks and stammered out, “Avery let me take a look at you?” Avery tried to look at him, but she was too week to do so but her Boss noticed something beyond alarming; her beautiful pale blue eyes were starting to shift to a forest green. Just then Avery passed out as her boss franticly started to call 911.

Avery awoke in a hospital bed to the sound of a heartbeat monitor beside her bed. Light was pouring in through the window when she saw her boss and professor Winston she asked, “So how bad is it parasite, infection, toxin?” The two men instantly stopped their conversation to address Avery, Professor Winston replied first, “None that we know of its completely new, but it looks to something similar to a parasite but its more than that.” Avery said, “Great.” Her boss said, “We have been running tests around the clock. It looks to be that you got some of the ooze that came from the thorns of the plant you gathered samples from Amazon a few days ago.” Avery muttered, “F*ck.”

Just then a colleague of Avery, Chester Williams, and the attending doctor returned to the room. Avery said, “Hey Chester. I see they roped you into this.” Chester replied, “Yes well based on your symptoms I couldn’t help but rush over here two weeks ago.” Avery’s eyes widened and said, “I’ve been out for two weeks?” Professor Winston replied cautiously, “Yes you have, and we think we know what’s going on.” Avery sighed rubbing her eyes, “Great so what’s the problem?” Everyone went silent until professor Winston spoke, “Well the parasite appears to have affect the skin, kidneys, blood, liver, pancreas and brain.”

Avery said, “Damn.” Chester replied, “Don’t worry this parasite seems to be changing any other organ processes.” Avery gave a puzzled look, “What did it change?” The room went silent until professor Winston cleared his throat and replied cautiously, “From what we have seen it appears that parasite has developed Chloroplasts in your skin cells and the change to your blood is allowing the transfer newly produced glucose-fructose and the other changes to your body are to handle and process that glucose-fructose that your skin and blood cells now produce and transfer.” Avery looked at the back of her hands to see small almost unnoticeable specks of green on her hands and she snatched a mirror next to the bed as the doctor, Chester, her boss, and Professor Winston protested.

It almost looked like Avery had freckles on her face, but it was green. Avery partially freaked out after realizing her eyes changed said while trying to stay calm, “Ok so why did I pass out two weeks ago?” Her boss replied, “After reviewing the tests it appears that because of how the airplanes cabin was pressured as well as the lack of sunlight at the critical early phase the parasite was toxic, so you need plenty of sun to stay healthy now. I have taken the liberty to rush order almost all glass office for you like mine so that there won’t be any issues in the future.” Avery replied, “I guess it’s a good thing I decided to come to sunny California.” That produced a tepid nervous laugh from everyone in the room.

Chester replied, “Good to see your sense of humor is still on point.” Avery grinned and said, “Anything else I should know about?” The Doctor stepped in and said, “Yes because of your production of glucose and fructose we needed to heavily increase the number of vitamins and minerals you are taking. Also, a high fat diet seems to slow the change of more normal skin cells into skin cells with Chloroplast.” Avery started to ponder what the Doctor said and replied, “So with my new production of glucose and fructose how long until I become a diabetic?” The Doctor replied, “Actually even with the elevated sugar level in your system the parasite has modified your pancreas to allow your body to handle the glut of sugar flowing through your system.” Avery turned to her boss and professor Winston, “Well we can add a cure to diabetes to the list of things we can do research on.”

Avery’s Boss replied, “Yeah and we are promoting you from researcher to head researcher of on the Amazonian day plant, or that’s at least what we are calling that plant you had the misfortune of getting that parasite from. We want you keeping us informed about any changes you notice in your condition and we want to be able to run tests on you as well so we can learn the most.” Avery replied, “Ok at least I will be kept in the loop about what is going on.”