by Dawn, M. K.
Britney whipped her head around. “Can we please get on with this?”
Sloan wasn’t used to Britney being the more serious one. “Of course. Would you mind knocking?”
Britney rapped on the door and took a step back, tapping her foot. “Hurry the hell up.”
“You know what,” Sloan wiggled out of Archer’s arm and moved beside her sister, “maybe I should be the one to talk to the residents.”
Britney scrunched her nose. “Why?”
“Doctor-patient confidentiality.” The corner of Sloan’s mouth twitched knowing how much Britney would hate that answer.
“That’s ridiculous,” Britney scoffed. “And makes absolutely no sense.”
Sloan knocked again. “Jerry. Please answer the door. We need to speak with you.”
Heavy footsteps plodded against the floor. A few seconds later, the door cracked open and Jerry poked his head out, his eyes darting past them. “How many more infested did you find? Do you know how they got in? Anybody else hurt?”
“Ugh.” Britney pushed past Jerry. “Get inside, we need to talk.”
Sloan glanced back at Archer, who waved her on.
“I’ll wait out here.” His smug smile shed light on his true intentions. “Not enough room.”
“Ten minutes.” Sloan held up her hands. “If we’re not done, come inside.”
Archer mocked a salute. “Got it.”
Inside the camper, Jerry and Barbara huddled next to each other on the couch. Neither seemed happy about their unannounced visit. Britney crouched in front of them, explaining the situation without going into much detail.
“I can tell you,” Jerry said with a hint of caution, “neither one of us has been bitten so there’s no need to check us.”
Britney clenched her jaw. “Like I just said, we’re checking everyone.”
Jerry’s eyes fell on Britney then Sloan. “But, I’m part of the Council, like the two of you. I should be helping, not sitting in my house being accused of lying.”
“No one is accusing you, or anyone else of lying,” Sloan said as Britney stood up with an exacerbated groan.
Jerry scooted closer to Barbara. One would think by now he’d know when to keep his mouth shut, but no, instead, he argued. “Well, I’m telling you we haven’t been bitten, and you’re saying we have to get checked anyways. What would you call it?”
“Being thorough.” Britney stormed over to the bedroom and threw open the door. “Who’s first?”
Barbara sniffled and moved to stand, but Jerry clasped her knee, forcing her to stay seated. “No, honey. Just stay where you are. We aren’t getting checked. I’m part of the Council, and it’s time they start treating me as such.”
Sloan could see Britney was about to lose her temper, so she stepped in to run interference before things got out of control. “Everyone, including council members, will be checked.”
“You’re telling me each of you have been checked?” Jerry glared.
“That’s right!” Britney snapped her fingers. “Now, in the room. It’s your turn.”
Jerry made no attempt to move. “Who did the exams? When did they take place? And why wasn’t I called in to help with all this? All the other council members are helping.”
Terrance had come to the clinic with Makayla when they called her in to help and he volunteered. No one had even thought to include Jerry.
“We don’t have time for this!” Britney paced impatiently across the small trailer.
“Please, Jerry.” Sloan wasn’t one to beg, but his stubbornness had worn on her nerves. “This is no different than coming into the clinic.”
“Do I look sick to you?” Jerry dropped his eyes. “I know you think I’m being hard-headed for not allowing this to happen, but I’m not. I’m a man of my principles. This isn’t right, and you know it.”
“Pack up your stuff, then!” Britney stalked off toward the door. “You leave tomorrow morning.”
Barbara gasped. “You can’t do that. Jerry...Jerry...he’s a council member.”
“Like I said before,” Britney swung open the door, “being a council member doesn’t exempt him or anyone else from the exam.”
Sloan stood there at a loss for words as Britney walked out.
“Are you going to let her do this to us?” Barbara asked through her tears. “Where would we go? How would we survive?”
Sloan composed herself enough to feign a smile. “She’s upset about Nathaniel. I’ll speak with her.”
“It’s clouding her judgment,” Jerry huffed. “Just because the kid lied doesn’t mean the rest of us are.”
“Why not just allow me to do a quick check and put this behind us?” Sloan had never seen him so set in his ways.
“It’s the principle of the matter.” Jerry threw back his shoulders. “You all have spent months walking all over me, and that ends today. I’m tired of being treated like the black sheep of the Council.”
Sloan kneaded the back of her neck, the stress of the situation causing it to tighten. “We’re not here to force you do to anything that all the other council members won’t be subjected to.”
“I knew it!” Jerry slammed his hand on the couch. “None of you have been checked yet, have you! Never even crossed your minds.”
Sloan’s eye twitched, angry at herself for making the situation worse. “Not yet, but we will. I’ll see to it. I promise.”
“Please, my love.” Barbara clasped Jerry’s hand. “We have nowhere else to go.”
“This is our camper. We drove it in with our truck. We can just as easily drive it out of here!” Jerry held Sloan’s stare for longer than she was comfortable. “But not to worry, Britney’s not going to force us to leave. Now, if you will excuse us, it’s almost time for dinner and we’re starving. Breakfast was a long time ago.”
Sloan didn’t have the heart to tell them since the entire farm had been on lockdown, Angie didn’t have the chance to cook a hot meal. They would have to make do with sun-dried meat, cheese, and crackers—a staple on rainy days.
“We’ll have something brought to you.”
Jerry spun around. “We’re not allowed to leave? What if we need to use the bathroom? Or rinse off? Or wash clothes?”
“Every camper has a toilet. I can have someone bring you some fresh water and a washrag.”
“You mean the emergency bucket?” Jerry threw his hands in the air. “Get out! I’ve had enough of this!”
“I’m sorry.” Sloan left the camper still confused on how this got so out of hand.
She found Britney and Archer huddled together, deep in conversation. Britney flapped her arms around as she spoke, clearly still agitated by her encounter with Jerry.
Archer’s mouth never moved, only his head as he listened to Britney ramble.
“Everything okay?” Sloan asked.
Britney startled. “Jesus, you scared the crap out of me. Did you examine them?”
“No.” Sloan’s gaze bounced to Archer then back to Britney.
“Stubborn bastard.” Britney turned her back on them.
Sloan reached out for her sister but stopped, dropping her hand by her side. “You can’t seriously be considering forcing them to leave, can you?”
“What choice do we have?”
“Not make them leave,” Archer said under his breath.
Britney whirled around. “What happens when people find out they were forced to do the exam but Jerry and his wife weren’t? They’ll be outraged. And worse, people will think they can pick and choose to follow whatever rules they feel like following. We can’t let that happen.”
Sloan grabbed Britney’s arm. “Then call this off. Tell everyone we made a mistake. That we overreacted.”
“How about the people that have already had the exam?” Britney gestured across the way. “We might have not gotten far, but Makayla and her team have.”
“It’s not too late,” Sloan said.
“Yes, it is.” Britney lowered her eyes to her cli
pboard. “Whose camper is next?”
Sloan wanted nothing more than to continue arguing the matter, but she could tell by Britney’s reaction, it was pointless. Her sister had made up her mind. The only thing left to do was hope either she or Jerry came to their senses by the morning.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“You have to stop this!” Axel pleaded with Britney for the hundredth time this morning, annoying her ten times over. “We’re not going to send those people out in the world to die. That’s not who we are.”
Britney was sick of listening to everyone tell her how wrong this was. “They don’t have to leave. All they have to do is agree to have the exam.”
“Fuck! Will someone please talk some sense into this woman!”
“I don’t think I’m being unreasonable.” Britney met the eyes of the other council members, minus Jerry. “Everyone but Jerry, Barbara, and four other members of his group agreed to the exam. Even we were examined. Why can’t he just cooperate?”
“Maybe we speak to him and the others in private,” Makayla suggested. “Have them promise not to tell anyone that they weren’t checked. It’s not as if they are displaying any of the signs of being bitten.”
“Too late,” Archer said. “Last I heard, the news traveled quickly and nearly half the town already knows.”
“Even if the news hadn’t spread,” Britney said, “it wouldn’t have changed anythin’. We can’t allow him or anyone else to refuse to do somethin’ we ask. If everyone started only doin’ what they wanted, nothin’ would ever get done around here.”
Sloan tapped her fingers on the table. “There has to be an alternative. Maybe a punishment of some kind? Forcing them to leave their home isn’t right. It’s a death sentence.”
“So, I go back on what I said? Let them get away with this?” Britney scoffed. “Then no one will ever take what the Council says seriously.”
Axel patted Britney’s hand. “They listened to us before. This is the first incident we’ve ever had like this.”
“I think he’s goin’ to cave,” Britney blurted. “Once Jerry realizes we’re serious, he’ll stop this nonsense. There’s no way he’s goin’ to leave.”
“Sounds like you’re playing a game of chicken.” Terrance reclined in his chair. “Seems a bit cruel, if you ask me.”
“Well, I don’t.” Britney covered her mouth, shocked at her outburst.
The room fell silent.
Britney took a cleansing breath, feeling the need to explain herself even though she didn’t want to. “I don’t like this anymore than the rest of you. But Nathaniel’s actions brought to light a real flaw in our system.”
Archer narrowed his eyes. “And what would that be?”
“We trust too much.” Knots formed in Britney’s stomach. “I took Nathaniel’s word when he said he was sick. It never crossed my mind that he could have been lying.”
“He was a child, Brit,” Sloan said. “You can’t punish everyone for his actions.”
They’d already gone over this a dozen times. “Everyone keeps saying that, but it’s not true. He might have been a teenager, but he wasn’t a child. He made a choice, the wrong choice. He knew his actions would have consequences. That people might die. Still, he told no one.” Britney forced back the tears threatening to fall. “This world is no longer one that revolves around the individual. Our decisions must be made based on the greater good.”
“As true as that might be,” Makayla said, “people aren’t going to see it that way. They already think you don’t like Jerry.”
Britney sighed. “Yes, Jerry annoys the crap out of me, but I would never do anythin’ to intentionally hurt him.”
“What do you call sending him and the others away?” Terrance asked. “They won’t survive out there. It’s too dangerous.”
“He has a choice, same as everyone else. Live by our rules or leave. He’s choosin’ the latter.” Britney couldn’t understand why they were fighting her on this. “If everyone got to decide what rules they followed and when, the farm would fall apart. Is that what we want to happen?”
Axel leaned against the wall and stared out the window. “Britney’s right. We’ve given Jerry and the others plenty of opportunities to get checked out, and they’ve refused. What kind of example does that set if we let him get away with it?”
“So, you think they should be exiled?” Archer asked.
“No.” Axel clasped his hands behind his head. “I think we should have come up with an alternative if people refused the exam, but it’s too late for that now. Brit already laid out the consequences. If we don’t all stand together, it will only cause us more problems in the long run.”
Britney smiled up at him as he turned around. He frowned, obviously not happy about the situation she’d put them in. But he had sided with her, which was enough.
“I’m confused.” Archer blew out his cheeks. “What do you think we should do?”
Axel rested his hand on the back of Britney’s chair. “We stand behind her decision as a united front.”
No one spoke for a while. She wasn’t going to say it out loud, but anything other than sending them away wasn’t an option. The Council couldn’t change their mind on this. She wouldn’t allow it.
After a few minutes of silence, Britney couldn’t take it any more. “Would someone please say somethin’? We’re runnin’ out of time.” She’d given Jerry ‘til ten to gather their belongings and meet them at the gate.
“Doesn’t sound like we have much of a choice.” Archer ran his fingers down Sloan’s arm. “You’ve been pretty quiet. What do you think about all this?”
Britney knew her sister well enough to know she didn’t approve. Above all, Sloan valued life. It’s what made her such an amazing doctor.
Sloan pinched the bridge of her nose. “As much as I disapprove of the way this was handled, I agree that we cannot show any sort of indecisiveness among us. That will only cause more problems. So, whatever the majority decides, I will support.”
“You think we should vote?” Britney didn’t like the idea, considering most of the Council seemed to disagree with her decision.
Makayla locked eyes with Britney. “It’s only fair.”
“Fine.” Britney jumped from her chair, nearly knocking it over. “Let’s get this over with. All against making Jerry and the others leave?”
Surprisingly, no one raised their hand.
Britney settled back into her chair. “Well, that was unexpected.”
“I think I speak for everyone,” Archer said, “when I say no one wants to force them to leave. But we have to show strength among us and can’t go back on our word.”
A knock at the door put an end to the conversation.
“Come in,” Britney called out.
Mac cracked the door and peeked inside. “Sorry to interrupt, but Jerry and the others are waiting at the gate.”
“Thanks,” Axel peered at the council members, “we’ll be right there.”
Britney’s stomach twisted when Mac didn’t leave. “What’s wrong?”
“Everyone’s there.” Mac lowered his eyes. “They’re angry and confused and demanding answers. Jerry’s going on and on about how unfair this all is and how you’re forcing them to leave.”
Britney pushed her chair back and stood. “We’re not forcin’ them to do anythin’. They had a choice, just like everyone else. It’s time to put an end to this.”
***
Mac wasn’t lying when he said everyone had shown up. Which meant work on the farm had to come to a complete stand still, pissing Britney off to no end. Not only was Jerry making this difficult for the Council and her, his stubbornness had disrupted the entire town.
“Could he be any more dramatic,” Britney mumbled under her breath as they headed for the gate.
Axel wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close so he could whisper in her ear. “A little sensitivity wouldn’t hurt.”
Britney shook out of his grasp. “Th
ey’ve had plenty of time to drop this and get examined. Everyone else has done so. Why should they be exempt?”
“Still doesn’t mean you need to rub their face in it.”
Britney knew he was right, but she couldn’t shake her anger, which made it difficult to think with a clear head. “Do you not want me to speak to the group? Or explain the decision? God only knows what else Jerry’s been tellin’ them.”
“If you think you can be diplomatic, then go for it.” Axel stopped just outside the formed crowd and faced her. “But if you’re going to go off on Jerry and anyone else who disagrees, then let someone else speak.”
Britney’s eyes wandered to the nearly silent group. “I’ll be fine. I’m just ready to get this over with.”
“Me, too.” Axel kissed her forehead and joined the rest of the council members.
Blowing out her cheeks, Britney faced the group, ready to speak. “Good mornin’, everyone. I’m sorry we’re havin’ to meet under these unfortunate circumstances.”
Jerry pushed his way through the crowd with Barbara trailing close behind.
Britney decided the best thing she could do was ignore him and continue, “As I’m sure you all know by now, Nathaniel was the infested that attacked the school and killed Gus. He knew he was sick, knew he’d been bitten, and did nothing, told no one.” Britney let that sink in. “We all knew Nathaniel. He was a great, trustworthy kid, and still, he kept this secret from us. I—we—couldn’t let that happen again.”
A few people reacted but most remained quiet.
“I, with the support of the Council, made the decision to have everyone checked for bite marks. Me.”
Axel shook his head, not happy that she took the blame.
“Jerry, Barbara, Eric, Olivia, and Tina all refused.” Britney held Jerry’s glare. “But there’s still a way to rectify this. Allow Dr. Sloan to perform the examination, and you are welcome to stay. Refuse, and I’m sorry, but you’ll be escorted off the farm.”
Jerry stepped forward. “Look at us! You know we’re not sick, and you’re still going to make us leave?”
Dozens of pleading eyes bore into her, but she couldn’t back down. “I’m sorry, Jerry. Sick or not, the fact is you refused to comply with the Council’s orders. That sort of insubordination won’t be tolerated.”
