[ WP ] `` I wo n't have time to explain all of this to them . '' Start or end your story with this sentence .

Laura slammed her hand on the table, her face growing hot with anger. 
 
 “ Damn it, Jim. We can ’ t just give up. ” 
 
 Jim shrugged, taking another large gulp from his glass. He reeked of whisky, as if he bathed in it. It wouldn ’ t be too surprising considering the myriad of brown stains on his lab coat. 
 
 “ What do you want me to do? ” he asked, his words slurred. “ We ’ ve done all that I could. It ’ s a losing battle. ” 
 
 “ But it ’ s not. As long as we keep working, we can figure something, right guys? ” 
 
 Laura looked to the others in the room but they averted their gazes. They all looked exhausted, many working until they fell asleep. And once they woke up, they stretched and continued from where they left off. 
 
 “ Dr. Jeger has a point, ” the assistant girl with mousy brown hair said. She hardly spoke but sounded more convinced than ever before. “ All we ’ ve been able to learn about this mysterious disease is that it replicates fast and is deadly. However, that doesn ’ t explain why it reanimates corpses. It just doesn ’ t make sense. ” 
 
 The others mumbled in agreement, bobbing their heads like buoys riding gentle waves. Laura frowned. She was alone on this one. 
 
 “ But we have a responsibility as CDC workers to analyze this disease. Otherwise, we may as well kiss civilization goodbye. ” 
 
 “ Kiss it goodbye? ” Jim said, chuckling. “ It ’ s been dead since the outbreak started. You may think we still have humanity in us but as soon as our food supply gets low, you ’ ll see what people do when they want to survive. I wouldn ’ t be surprised if you all will be at each other ’ s throats by the end of the week. ” 
 
 Again, the mumbles rose in volume. This time, shifty glances were exchanged, the tension in the air palpable. It didn ’ t take much to anger someone as of late. A lack of food and little rest was the perfect recipe for disaster. 
 
 “ And what about the refugees? ” Laura asked. “ We ’ re sheltering hundreds of people here who think we have a solution to their problems. If we don ’ t figure something out, they may revolt. ” 
 
 An older scientist stood forward, his eyes hidden by the light reflecting off his glasses. He must have been from a hospital or other research facility. Laura didn ’ t recognize his face. 
 
 “ They are already revolting. Someone got their throat slit just earlier this morning over some stupid game. It ’ s a madhouse down there. Without any rules, they ’ re like a bunch of animals. ” 
 
 “ Which is exactly what I wanted to speak about, ” Jim said, draining the last of the alcohol in his cup. 
 
 Laura narrowed her eyes, already skeptical. 
 
 “ And what is that? ” 
 
 “ We ’ re running out of supplies - fast. Either we try to squeeze by with what we have and hope the government comes to the rescue or we… *reevaluate* our system here. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m afraid I don ’ t understand what you mean, ” Laura said, folding her arms. 
 
 Jim scoffed, slamming his cup down harder than needed. Most jumped at the sound of it. 
 
 “ You can be so stupid for such a brilliant scientist, Laura. But if you need me to spell it out for you, I will. Without us, a cure can ’ t be found. Thus, we need the supplies far more than the freeloaders down there. I propose we should cut the dead weight and save what little we have for us. We could easily stretch it for a few months if we ’ re smart about it. That should be enough time to at least find a temporary solution ” 
 
 At first, there was a deafening silence. Then, whispers turned into full conversations. In practically no time, everyone agreed with the plan. 
 
 That was, expect for Laura. 
 
 “ And how do you plan to get rid of all the people we took in? ” 
 
 Jim stared at her, uncomfortably long. Something in his eyes was different, almost dead. 
 
 “ We open the doors at dawn. All the refugees will have to find somewhere else to live. Those who make it out survive. Those who don ’ t become lunch for those monsters. It ’ s fucked up but that ’ s what this world is like now. ” 
 
 “ Dawn? ” Laura parroted, dumbstruck. “ But that ’ s only a few hours away. How do you plan on letting them know in time so they can prepare? ” 
 
 Jim flashed her a grin, so unsettling that it sent chills up her spine. 
 
 “ Unfortunately, that is problematic, ” he said. “ I won ’ t have time to explain all this to them. ”
