The Beginning of the End Lorana Hoopes (the snowy day read aloud TXT) 📖

Raven whistled softly. “That’s a pretty long list.”

Gabe shook his head. “That’s not even half of it. I don’t know why they would put that in a vaccine at all, but that’s still not what bothers me the most.”

Raven lifted her eyebrows. “It gets worse?”

“Yeah, maybe. It’s the mRNA that bothers me the most.”

“What’s mRNA?” Raven asked.

“It’s hard to describe, but it’s modified RNA. Its goal is to go in and repair RNA. It’s gene therapy, similar to some cancer treatments.”

“Cancer?” Raven leaned forward again. “But NCAV isn’t cancer last I checked. More like the flu.”

“Right, so why would they need to modify our RNA?”

“Could it be a way to keep us from getting NCAV?” Raven knew she was grasping at straws, but she had no idea why the government or Daman Caturix would want to change their RNA.

“I don’t think so,” Gabe said. “It looks like this would actually cause your body to produce the toxin. This could kill people, Raven. Especially those with a weaker immune system to begin with.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, our DNA is perfectly made. When our immune systems are working correctly, it recognizes the bad things and gets rid of them. mRNA is supposed to cling to and modify our DNA so that it will recognize NCAV when we get it and fight it.”

“Okay, I don’t trust much that comes from the government but that actually sounds like a good thing, right?”

Gabe sighed. “Yes and no. If it works that way, then for a short time it’s a good thing. It should lessen the effects of NCAV, but it’s modifying DNA and who knows what that’s going to do to people in the future. The other, more pressing problem is this. If an immune system thinks the mRNA is bad instead of good, it will fight it, but if it doesn’t kill it all, the mRNA will replicate.”

Raven suddenly wished she had studied more in science instead of computers. “I’m assuming replication is bad.”

“It is. If the DNA fights the RNA and any piece is left, then the next time someone is exposed to anything - flu, cold, whatever, it could be deadly because the immune response will be messed up.”

Raven blinked as she tried to process what he was saying. “So, what you’re saying is that IF this vaccine works, it might be good in the short term, but we have no idea what the long-term consequences will be, but if it doesn’t, we could see this vaccine killing people quickly?”

“Yeah, I’m afraid so.”

A moment of tense silence hung between them before Raven shook her head and said, “I don’t understand. Why would they want to kill people? I thought that the reason for the masks and the lockdowns was to save as many people as possible.”

“I have no idea, but I’ll tell you what I do know. We cannot let those girls or Candace or anyone else take that shot if we can help it.”

Raven bit the inside of her lip and felt the urge to pray. Though she tried to speak to God every day, so much had begun happening lately that she knew a few days had passed without her praying. However, this news reinforced that prayer right now was more important than ever.

Candace glanced down at her phone. She didn’t really have time to take a call right now, but when she saw Raven’s number, she knew it had to be important.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to the nurse on duty, before heading outside. The air was cool outside and instantly sent goosebumps racing up her arms, but it was safer to talk outside. There were fewer listening ears.

“Raven, what’s going on?”

“Have you taken the vaccine yet?” Raven asked, jumping straight to the point.

“No, there was some hold up with our doses. They’re supposed to be here next week. Why?”

“I know you and Gabe discussed you trying to get access to the vaccines, but it’s too dangerous. Lily’s school is pressuring the kids to get them, and they sent home the informed consent letter. I’m sending you a copy, but the main ingredient in the vaccine is mRNA.”

“mRNA?” Candace asked, “Why would they use that? It’s gene therapy.”

Raven sighed on the other end. “We don’t know. Gabe is looking into it, but he says it isn’t safe. He said some could have a reaction to it that could kill them, and even those who don’t won’t know how it affects them until a few years into the future.”

“Yeah, that's definitely strange,” Candace said, glancing around to make sure she was still alone. “Gene therapy is only done in extreme cases. It would be like giving radiation therapy to a healthy person. Perhaps this is something they’re trying in order to get the vaccine out quicker.”

“True, but quicker isn’t always better,” Raven said. “Look, in the end it’s up to you, but Gabe and I are recommending that you don’t take the vaccine. Quit if you have to. There’s room for you here, and our numbers are growing daily. We could use a good doctor close to home.”

Candace took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll think about it. I promise.”

After ending the call, Candace shoved the phone back in her pocket, but she didn’t return to the ER immediately. Something about the mRNA was nagging the back of her brain, and she decided to clock out for lunch and do some research in her office.

She booted up her computer as she unwrapped her sandwich, but when the screen came to life and the cursor blinked at her, she paused. What exactly was she looking for?

She typed ‘effects of mRNA’ into the search bar and scrolled through the results. Most were scientific pages desperately claiming there was no adverse effect to mRNA. There were a few less reputable pages claiming that mRNA would modify the DNA and might kill people in the next few years, but it was the few pages hidden among