“Michael, we have to get them out. There are women and children in there. Yes, they’re scared. They’ve been living in fear for years now.”
“I’m not risking you to save them,” he said coolly, his eyes resting on me. My eyes darted to each of his, hoping the virus had not taken his humanity away. “We might have a chance to survive on the road, but they won’t.”
“If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, how you always do what’s right. This medallion I wear, that you have tattooed on your arm, means we will survive this, but how do we survive if we are unwilling to help each other, like mankind should?” I stepped back toward the ladder before I felt him grab my arm and pull me to him.
“Why should we risk your life for a bunch of people who let fear paralyze them from doing the right thing? And how do you think we’ll get them to safety? The compound’s gone. The next closest one is southwest of here in a little town called Atlanta, but they don’t have the capabilities to take care of this many people.”
“Well, what’s after that?”
“Marshall in Texas or Shreveport in Louisiana, but there’s no way in hell they will make it on foot.”
“Michael, they can do it, if we can only stop the Déracinés.”
“And how do you expect us to do that?”
* * * *
We were able to come up with a plan. It wasn’t the best one, but it was the only one we could work out that might have any chance of success. We had dinner in the tunnel, eating MREs from an army surplus store. Michael closed off the opening so hopefully, the virus wouldn’t infect anyone as we ate. Even Clarissa was able to move well enough to come down with us. There, we told them our plan.
“You have to be kidding me. You actually think this is going to work?” Clarissa questioned.
“I think it will,” I said, but looking over at Michael, I could tell he still held misgivings.
“So you think you are going to stroll up in there unnoticed through this tunnel and sneak people out as soon as the Déracinés attack? Do you think all those idiots who wanted us dead are going to listen to either of you? You’ll both be dead before you get out of his office.”
“Then what would you have us do?” I asked. “Those people are not the enemy in there, no matter what power they gave to Stevenson, and they will all die if we don’t do anything about it.”
“Well, maybe Stevenson and Bastrop plan on abandoning the place. They have to know that without you, they will never be able to make a deal to get the provisions they need to survive,” suggested Wellstone.
“Doc, you know Stevenson isn’t going to give up any of his power, even if it means all those people are going to die in there with him.” Michael tapped his fingers on the interior wall. “The only way those people have a chance is if we use this tunnel. I know, Clarissa, it was only for a few of us to escape, but you won’t be able to live with yourself if you know you could’ve done something.”
“And you think some other group out there is going to answer your pathetic call and send in reinforcements to come save our people, Michael? I mean, we’ve been on our own for what, six years now, but now we are going to move five hundred people to another location with nothing but a few guns and the will to survive? You know half those people will die on the road anyway.”
“Well they will certainly die if they stay at the compound,” I said.
We were all silent for a while, not knowing what to say next. Michael finally put on his mask, as did the others, and climbed the ladder back into the garage without saying a word.
“I guess I’ll go join him,” Wellstone said, leaving soon after. Clarissa and I sat there in the darkness.
“You know,” she finally spoke, “Michael wouldn’t be doing this on his own. You’re the one that had to talk him into it.”
“Michael does the right thing, Clarissa. At least one of you do.”
I could see her raise her fist at me, but her middle finger was the only one that she held upward.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It’s old school for saying, ‘you’re number one in my book.’”
“Why do I not believe you?”
“Hey, I protected your butt all the way to the hospital and back and we lost two good people out there because of you and achieved nothing in the process but getting me shot.”
“Three,” I said, thinking of Sam. “Look, I’m not down here to argue with you, but you didn’t see the faces of those people inside when they heard I might be the cure, and now that we figured it out, we can help everyone.”
“But you might get us killed in the process,” she said depressingly.
I moved over next to her and placed my hand on top of hers.
“I know, and I also know it would be easier to just take to the road and start over somewhere else, but we have to try to help.” I felt her squeeze my hand.
“You guys are so soft.”
* * * *
That evening, Wellstone cleaned Clarissa’s wound and I blew air into a paper bag for her to breath, just in case she had been infected. Wellstone thoroughly checked Michael and me as well. Michael’s wounds were healing nicely and quicker than anyone expected.
“Let’s see your arm,” Wellstone said, unwrapping the bandage to see where Alex had sunk his teeth into me. The skin around the bite marks was still red, but there was no pain when he touched it.
“I want to make sure it’s not getting infected. We used to just give you a shot of antibiotics, but just before the virus hit, there was a small tablet that could be drank. It slowly gives off medicine so you wouldn’t have to take multiple shots. Now drink this quickly so it has the full effect.” I saw him drop something into a cup of water and hand it to me. “Bottoms up.”
I smiled and drank it down, feeling the tablet go down as I did. Wellstone smiled back at me.
Michael and I got up early the next morning at three o’clock. We took rifles and pistols, and Michael had packed a special trunk of what he called “essentials” that we carried between us. Flashlights were turned on as we descended into the tunnel and embarked on our journey back through the secret entranceway to get into the compound, hoping it was not too late.
We walked mostly in silence, and I think Michael was as nervous as I was about what we were doing. He had given me my orders that morning and told me I wasn’t supposed to leave his side while in the compound. The plan was to get in and force Maria to make an announcement about the upcoming Deracine attack. We would let people know about the secret tunnel and how to get out of the compound. We hoped their fear would lead them in the right direction to save their lives, even though it meant leaving the only home they had known for the past six years.
After an hour of walking, the tunnel came to an end, and Michael and I stopped at the small, drywall opening.
“Let’s leave the trunk here. We’ll come back for it when we need it,” he said.
“What’s in there?”
“Just a few things that I thought would help,” he said, smiling. “The bookshelf is just on the other side. Getting in the office at this time should be relatively simple,” he said, “but Jennifer, even though we are starting this, I have to get you out no matter what. If we can get everyone out safely, that’s great, but if we fail, you have to survive and get out, do you understand?”
“I know the drill,” I said back to him through the dim light of the flashlight. “I’m just hoping that if they know I can help them, then they will come with us.”
Michael nodded. “You’re too good for them,” he said, checking his watch right before he started pushing on the drywall. The room was dark on the other side, but we turned off the flashlight anyway, not wanting it to be seen. I put my hand on Michael’s back and followed him into the darkness and we both knelt next to the door leading to the hallway.
“Are you sure she will be in her room?” I asked.
“If she’s not, then we’ll have to go with Plan B or just get the hell out of here.�
� Michael turned the knob and looked down the hallway in both directions. Briskly, he went into the hallway and I followed him. Starting up the staircase to Block B, a guard stepped out from the doorway and spotted us.
“Where are y’all going?” he asked, not seeing our faces behind the masks.
“Uh,” Michael mumbled and slowly went for his small dagger hidden on the back of his belt, but I stopped him.
“Stevenson ordered us to look for any more food left in the cafeteria,” I explained. “Seems like we’re going through it faster than he suspected.”
The guard gave us another look, but waved us through.
“Thanks, that was quick thinking. I was just going to kill him,” Michael said.
“I know, but I didn’t want you to have to. Not until we have to at least.”
Michael nodded and made his way down the hallway, past the cafeteria and washrooms, and past the meeting room where I was first taken.
“Seems like a long time ago,” I mumbled to myself.
We went through a plastic containment door close to the end of the hallway and entered the last door on the right. I was shocked to feel the amount of air being forced from the room itself, like someone had turned a large fan on in the room. Maria’s bedroom was messy. The sheets had been pulled off the bed and the wind had blown paperwork in every direction, scattering it across the floor. Michael continued through it to the next room where Maria sat in the dim light wearing headphones, her computer on one side and a microphone on the other. Her back was to us as we crept up behind her, weapons ready.
“We have not had any more Deracine raids, but there is no telling when they might return. We understand you will be landing here at nine hundred hours,” she said. “Yes, we have the girl and she will be handed over accordingly to you. Thank you.” She reached forward and turned the microphone off and slowly turned around, seeing us for the first time. She stared blankly at us, either in shock or trying to figure out how we had gotten there.
Slowly, she removed the headphones she had on, but tried to quickly grab another headset, which sat on her desk. The computer exploded as Michael shot a warning bullet just over her shoulder.
“That’s the second stupidest thing you’ve done, Maria,” Michael said. She slowly raised her hands showing they were empty.
“You have her?” Michael asked me.
“Yes.”
He nodded and slowly lowered his weapon. He looked at me for just a second before removing his mask.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Getting comfortable. The air intake coming in is coming straight from the Alamo, so it’s all clear.” He approached her, but she continued to stare at me.
“Maria, we need your help,” he started off, kneeling next to her and showing no sign of aggression. “Jennifer here holds the cure to the disease after all. We figured it out during our escape.” Maria’s eyes widened at me and then she faced Michael.
“You were dead,” she said, but sounding more like she was blaming him for something. “We didn’t have anyone to turn to.”
“I know. Higgins, Rodriguez, me—we lost the entire command in one attack. But you know deep down inside, Stevenson is not our replacement.”
“He took over so quickly. He killed Mr. Allen and imprisoned Doc and Dr. Swanson. And when Bastrop took over as commander, he made it clear that we would die if we didn’t fall in line.”
“You were scared; I understand and it’s not your fault, but you, them, and everyone here are going to die if we don’t do something.”
“I don’t know what I can do. Those agents who came looking for her are supposed to be back before noon. Stevenson told me to tell them we still had her. Once they get here though...”
“Once they get here, we all need to be gone.”
“How, how do we get everybody out of here? And what about the Déracinés? We named that place the Alamo for a reason.”
Michael looked back at me and then at her.
“Would you believe me if I told you the Alamo had an escape route?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“So, let me get this straight. I’m supposed to contact the people down at Marshall and Shreveport, tell them the compound has fallen and that we need help?”
We both nodded.
“If they miraculously get back to me, we’re to follow up with an announcement about how you are actually resistant and a Deracine attack is imminent?” Maria asked again, like it was too hard to believe. She stared at us with disbelief.
“Be sure to add we have a way out for all those wanting to go,” I reminded her.
She glared at me. “Well, I guess I didn’t need to live forever because Stevenson will have me killed before I finish.”
“We are going to have your back,” Michael said. “You just worry about getting the message and announcement out.”
“And he’s already killed so many others, Maria,” I interjected, “You saw him kill all those who were wounded. Not to mention Dr. Swanson.”
Maria looked at me.
“Swanson’s alive. She’s turned, but she’s alive.”
“Turned. How?”
“She’s SA2, but Stevenson had her tied down before she could hurt herself. He thought her pain and suffering was better fitting than suicide or execution.”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Still in her cell.”
“Jennifer, no,” Michael demanded. “We stick to the plan. If we have time, we go get her, but we have to get this message out now.”
“I’m going.”
I stood up, but he grabbed me by the arm.
“Jennifer, I need you here.”
I couldn’t say anything, but looked into his eyes, pleading that he would understand. He finally sighed. “Mask on and go above ground. Block A should have easy access through the back.” He let me go and I started toward the door.
“Oh, and Jennifer,” he said, catching my attention, “I love you. Be careful.”
“I love you, too.”
I grabbed my gear and left the room.
* * * *
Why did he tell me he loved me now? Couldn’t he have waited until we were done, until everyone was safe? I tried to remain focused, but every step toward Dr. Swanson made me uncomfortable, like I was never going to return to Michael. A nagging voice in my heart entreated me not to think that way. Dr. Swanson was a friend, and I couldn’t leave her behind.
There was enough darkness to easily cover me while I went from building to building. The glass walkway was broken and I was able to get through it and into Block A without any troubles. The building was pitch black when I entered, but I crept up the hallway, just as Michael did before, and ascended the stairs to the living quarters and turned on my headlamp.
“Attention, all personnel,” it was Maria’s voice coming over the loud speaker. “We just found out Jennifer is the cure to the virus. We would like everyone to safely place your masks on and move without delay to Room A17 in the corridor. You will find a secret tunnel there behind the bookshelf. Make haste and go quickly and as orderly as possible because another Deracine attack is imminent. I repeat, move without delay.” Maria repeated the message in full.
The loud speaker then erupted in gunfire and fizzled into static before turning completely off.
“Michael. Michael!” I yelled, fearing the worst.
“Kill me,” I heard Dr. Swanson say. “I need to die.”
I hurried to her cell and found the key still in the lock. Quickly, I pulled the door open and found her hogtied with her arms and legs behind her.
“Kill me, please.”
“No,” I pulled a small, paper bag from a pack on my waistband and began to breathe into it. I had to make her better before I untied her. There was just too much risk of her wanting to hurt herself. She fought me as I pushed the bag against her lips, but I clamped her nose until she was willing to breathe through her mouth. I did it again and again and finally she looked up at me.
>
“Jennifer?”
“Yes, Dr. Swanson? Are you back with me?”
“Maybe after you untie me, then I’ll be able to answer that question.”
I reached down, cut the ropes, and helped her slowly get back on her feet.
“Well, you didn’t get very far.”
“I heard you needed help,” I said, trying to smile.
“I needed to die quickly, but Stevenson wouldn’t even let me do that.” She ran her hands over the rope burns on each wrist. “Thank you for coming back for me.”
“Come on, we have to hurry.”
I gave her the mask I had been wearing and she placed it on her head. As she did, light began to appear through the cell window behind us. When I looked out, I could see the darkness of the morning interrupted by car lights that lined up in a row just in front of the tree line. Slowly, they approached the demolished front gate of the compound.
“Déracinés,” I said. Dr. Swanson’s eyes widened behind the mask. “It has to be at least twenty cars and no telling how many people out there.”
A scratchy sound cut through the air, followed by a long, drawn out high-pitched noise.
“If you are still inside,” the man said on the loudspeaker, “consider yourself dead already!” A large cheer went up from the crowd. “We are about to open a door you will never close!”
“The truck,” I said, looking at Dr. Swanson. “We have to go to the roof.” I expected for Dr. Swanson to disagree, to say we need to get to safety, but all she did was nod.
The man continued to talk outside. I ran as hard as I could to the roof, leaving Dr. Swanson to catch up. I crossed the roof, past the solar panels, and over to the mini-gun that still pointed stoically as a monument to our first defense of the compound. Behind it, we had left the rocket-propelled grenades. I immediately grabbed one and hoisted it upon my shoulder.
“Have you ever shot one of those before?”
I heard Dr. Swanson, but I didn’t look back and didn’t answer, since we both knew what that would be.
Resistant, no. 1 Page 19
