by Randy Henson
Lundy looked both the captives up and down and grunted. Both wore dirty blue jeans, sneakers, and soiled t-shirts. Definitely not military, Lundy thought. Both the captives had dark hair, olive skin, and brown eyes.
“Terrific. Mexicans,” Lundy said.
The captive standing on Lundy’s left scowled at Lundy and, in a southern drawl, said, “Who you calling a Mexican?”
Lundy smiled. This was going to be easier than he thought.
CHAPTER TEN
The restroom’s door opened and Orin entered.
“Owen,” Jack said.
“How you doing, buddy?” Orin said to Jack. Then he looked at me and said, “It’s awfully quiet out there. I think we’re safe. The shooting has stopped.”
“For now,” I said as I let go of Jack’s hand and climbed out from underneath the sinks.
I stood and reached down to Jack, offering him my hand again.
“Let’s go, Jack,” I said.
Jack looked up at me, then over at Orin. Then he reached for my hand and grabbed it. As Jack got to his feet, Orin held the door open for us as we walked over to him.
I looked Orin in the eye and said, “But if we hear anymore gunshots we’re coming right back here.”
“You’ll get no arguments from me,” Orin said.
We exited the restroom and made our way across the food court toward the escalators.
“I think I smell hamburger,” Orin said.
“Yeah. Me too,” I said.
“I’m starving,” Orin said.
“Who isn’t?” I said.
We reached the escalators, but the guards were gone.
What now?
Orin looked around and said, “Forget this. Let’s go back.”
He then turned and headed back toward the food court as Jack and I followed.
“I thought you said you were hungry? We should find a guard or Moira,” I said.
“Hey, we tried. Let them come find us. I’m a pretty good cook. I’ll make us something,” he said as we reentered the food court.
Orin stopped and scanned the different establishments. Most of them had there lights on.
This was insane, I thought. Or at least it would have been a year ago. People are having gunfights in the parking lot, possibly dying, and we were concerned with filling our bellies.
“So what are we having?” I asked.
Orin waved a hand around at the different places and said, “You pick. Looks like we have a good variety.”
“Something quick and easy. You mentioned hamburgers,” I said.
“Right,” Orin said as he turned and led us to a Wendy’s.
We all passed through a waist high swing door and entered the Wendy’s service line. Then we walked back into the kitchen.
“Well, someone’s been cooking,” Orin said as he pointed at a griddle shimmering with heat. I could smell bits of hamburger burning and it made my stomach growl.
Orin walked over to a reach in freezer and slid the top open. He then reached in and pulled out a stack of frozen hamburger patties.
“Make ours a double with cheese,” I said.
“You got it. What else do you guys like on your cheeseburgers?”
“Everything.”
“Sounds good.”
“Anything I can do to help?” I asked.
“No, I got this. Hey, how about that coffee we missed out on?”
“Okay, I’ll see if there’s any and put it on,” I said.
I then led Jack back up front to the service line and searched for coffee. I found some coffee under the cash registers’ counter. It was the kind of coffee that came prepackaged inside a square filtered pouch. I let go of Jack’s hand and walked over to a coffee machine that was already on. I inserted the coffee pouch into the machine, and then I took one of the clean coffee pots that were hanging from a rack above the coffee machine and placed it on the machine’s hotplate. Then I flipped the switch marked BREW and a red light lit up.
I turned back toward Jack and said, “How about a soda? You thirsty Jack?”
“Thirsty,” Jack said.
I walked over to the soda fountain and pushed one of the levers, but nothing happened. I examined the fountain and noticed a small key on its right side. I turned the key and then pushed the lever again. Soda splashed my hand. I grabbed a napkin and wiped the soda off my hand. Then I grabbed a couple of large plastic cups and filled them with diet soda. I then slipped a couple of plastic lids onto the cups. I then unwrapped a couple of straws and inserted them into the lids.
I held one of the cups out to Jack. He grabbed the cup with both hands and sipped deeply from the straw. I then grabbed Jack by an elbow and led him back through the waist high swing door and into the dining area.
We took seats at a table and I made sure I was seated so I could see into the mall’s thoroughfare. If anyone was going to come, they would most likely come from that direction. I took the whip from around my shoulder and looped it around the back of the empty chair next to me.
Then I heard a loud metallic click.
I turned to see a door open and my right hand automatically went toward the pistol holstered on my right. Then I saw Moira walk through the doorway, followed by Joe. I saw her turn toward us and smile. She and Joe walked over to us.
“Well, I must say, you two look more comfortable than I thought we’d find you,” Moira said as she took a seat in the chair that I had hung my whip on.
I removed the whip and hung it on my own chair as I said, “You should have seen us fifteen minutes ago. We were cowering under the sinks in the men’s room.”
Joe laughed as he took a seat at the table as well.
“And where’s your friend?” Moira asked.
“Oh, I hope you don’t mind. He’s cooking us something,” I said as I nodded toward the Wendy’s.
“Oh, no. Not at all. That’s good. I was afraid you all would be terribly frightened,” Moira said.
“A year ago, maybe. But now? Unless bullets are flying at me, I tend not to worry too much about gunfire,” I said.
Moira made a clucking noise with her tongue and then said, “The world we live in now.”
“So, do you want to share with me what the gunfire was all about?” I asked.
“Well, it seems someone is always going to try to take something away from you nowadays. We’re not sure who they were, but I assure you that you and your brother are safe,” Moira said.
“Are they dead?” I asked.
“Some are. The others ran away. I doubt you noticed them on your way in, but we have snipers positioned on the roof,” Joe said.
“Believe me, if we had noticed them we wouldn’t have come here. We certainly wouldn’t have come in and made ourselves at home brewing coffee,” I said.
“So I figured,” Joe said.
I looked at Moira and asked, “So, you promised me some answers…”
“I did,” she said.
“So why did my eyes turn yellow? Why are yours yellow?” I asked.
“They’re actually more gold than yellow. And only one of mine is gold. I lost all sight in my left eye when I was young. In a car accident,” she said.
“Gold, then,” I said.
“Well, the first thing you have to realize is that we are all infected with The Virus,” she said.
I almost corrected her. I almost went into my spiel about how it’s more appropriate to call it The Plague rather than The Virus, but I decided to let it go. I was anxious for answers.
“Go on,” I said.
Moira shrugged and said, “You know about the different Categories?”
I nodded.
“Well, there is more to the different Categories than how much they forget. You and I and those like us can be grouped into our own category, let’s call us Category Sixes for the time being. Anyway, the point is everyone has been infected with The Virus and as far as we know there is no cure. That doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t any hope. Wherever there is
life, there is hope.”
I shook my head and said, “But why did it take so long for me to show any signs of infection? I’ve looked and felt normal for over ten months now since the outbreak.”
“Well, so do a lot of others. Some might never show any symptoms of The Virus, but they are still infected.”
“Like Joe,” I said, nodding toward Joe.
“Joe is different. I relieved his symptoms,” Moira said.
“I was a Category Two,” Joe said.
“Wait, what? You have medicine too?” I asked.
“Medicine? No, not with medicine. Who has medicine?” Moira said.
Something told me not to tell about Orin’s medicine. He had told me about his medicine in confidence. I felt like I’d be betraying him if I said anything about it to Moira, although I did want to trust her. If Orin wanted her to know about his medicine, then he could tell her himself.
So I shrugged and said, “The Compound in Virginia. Or at least that’s the rumor. That’s where we were heading. We were on our way to Virginia when we stopped here for supplies. But if you don’t have medicine, how’d you cure him?”
“I didn’t cure him. I only treated his symptoms. As far as we know, there is no cure,” Moira said.
“But how?” I asked.
“It’s difficult to explain. It’s an ability we Category Sixes develop. You’ll first notice your eyesight improving, especially in the dark…”
“I already noticed that. In the restroom the lights were turned off but I could see everything as if they were on. Only it was different, how things looked I mean. But I could see everything clearly.”
Moira nodded and said, “Yes, I remember it being pretty immediate for me as well. Anyway, you’ll soon notice that you are getting stronger and faster, you’ll have more energy. This will come gradually. You’ll get a little stronger each day. Once you’re as strong as you’re going to get, you’ll start reading minds. You’ll be able to project your thoughts. That’s how I was able to treat Joe’s symptoms and the symptoms of others. Everyone here was a Category One through Four, but under my protection and with my help they can live as if they aren’t infected at all.”
“Are you saying I’ll be able to turn Jack back to normal?” I asked as I looked over at my brother who was using his tongue to play with his straw.
“Eventually, yes. In a month, maybe two. I’ll be honest with you… B? What does the B stand for?”
“Uh, Bernice. I prefer B, though.”
“I’ll be honest with you, B. It’s my sincere wish that you will stay here with us. I can help you as your symptoms progress. Reading minds is especially difficult and confusing and requires quite a bit of focus. With my assistance, however, I suspect things will go a lot easier for you,” Moira said.
I thought about it for a moment, but it was too much.
“Can I sleep on it?” I eventually said.
“Of course. I’m not making any rules here, Bernice. I’m just offering you my help,” she said.
“I prefer B.”
“Ah, yes, B. Forgive me.”
“I prefer Devil Girl. That’s what they called you in Atlanta. Why was that?” Joe said.
I nodded at Jack and said, “Our last name is Deville. Folks have called me Devil Girl since the sixth grade. They used to call my brother Cadillac Jack.”
Joe laughed and said, “Cadillac Jack? I like that. Devil Girl and Cadillac Jack. Pretty cool.”
I smiled at Joe. Then I looked at Moira and asked, “So I’m not going to fall asleep and forget stuff?”
“No. I shouldn’t think so. I haven’t. And my eye turned gold the first month of the outbreak. And I remember everything. It looks like your dinner is ready,” Moira said.
I turned to see Orin approaching with a tray of food.
Joe stood up and offered Orin his seat as Orin placed the tray on the table.
Moira stood as well and said, “Well, I’ll let you three eat in peace. We’ll talk more in the morning. I’m an old woman and I need my rest.”
“Well, thank you for everything,” I said, “You, too, Joe.”
“You’re very welcome, my dear,” Moira said.
Joe smiled and nodded goodbye. Then he and Moira turned and walked away toward Macy’s.
I picked up a cheeseburger off the tray and handed it to Jack, who took it from me and immediately began devouring it.
Orin sat down, grabbed a cheeseburger, and said, “So, what did I miss?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I don’t understand. They were fine a minute ago,” Lieutenant Hale said.
“Maybe they were on medicine. What do you think, doctor?” Colonel Lundy said as he turned to look at Dr. Nichols.
They were inside a furniture store. Both of their captives had been bound to wooden chairs with the help of extension cords. When they had first been bound, the captives had been normal, though quiet and uncooperative. Now, however, the two captives’ eyes were red and yellow and they looked around as if they were lost, drool dripping from their chins.
Dr. Nichols rubbed his chin and said, “It could be medicine, and it wore off. But, where did they get medicine?”
“We found that empty medicine pellet in the forest. Could be from that batch. It would support our theory that someone is manufacturing it,” Lundy said.
“Well, one thing is for sure. These two aren’t going to be able to tell us,” Hale said.
“Obviously,” Lundy said.
“My equipment is in the jeep. Let me take some blood samples, sir. That might tell us something, at least,” Dr. Nichols said.
Colonel Lundy nodded and said, “Okay. Do that.”
Dr. Nichols turned and headed for the front door.
Lundy looked at his lieutenant and said, “And these two were the only ones we could capture?”
Hale nodded and said, “Yes, sir. We were lucky to get these two. They were all willing and ready to fight to the death. None of them would surrender. Even when it was obvious they were surrounded and outnumbered.”
Lundy just nodded and scratched the back of neck.
“Maybe…” Lundy said.
“Maybe, what, sir?”
Lundy took his hand from his neck and said, “I was just thinking. What if these men were at the mall to rescue the Deville girl?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean maybe she’s turned, she finally transformed, and she called them. You know, telepathically or however it is they control others.”
“That’s a stretch, sir,” Hale said.
“Maybe, but it would explain things.”
“Forgive me, sir. But if she is being held against her will, why wouldn’t she just take control of her captors’ minds and force them to release her?”
“Hmm… maybe her captors are being controlled by someone with her abilities, another Rheostat, but one who is more powerful than she is.”
Hale nodded and said, “Maybe, sir. But that’s a big maybe.”
“I know, Lieutenant. Believe me, I know.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
As they entered Macy’s, Joe looked down at Moira and said, “So, do you think she’ll decide to stay?”
Moira nodded and said, “I can almost guarantee it.”
“Really? How’s that?”
“Never you mind. Just be sure you have everything ready just in case she does decide to leave,” Moira said.
“Yes, ma’am. In the meantime, do you think it’s wise to let her mingle with the others?”
“We can’t keep her from it without setting her against us. Besides, the others are scared. Most of them are, anyway. They’ll most likely keep their distance,” Moira pointed out.
“Except for the children. The children are bold, and they are curious by nature.”
“Let the children say what they will. They’re only children after all. I don’t see them influencing her one way or the other. I can feel a fire in her. She’s a fighter. Children aren’t going to scare he
r off.”
Joe chuckled and said, “She’s a fighter all right. You should have seen her at The Compound. She’s going to be hell on wheels when she’s at her full strength.”
“I can imagine. She’s going to really be a devil girl then.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and leaned back in my chair as I rubbed my tummy. I now understood that old Jimmy Buffet song. I had eaten two double cheeseburgers and they had definitely tasted like paradise. I didn’t even miss not having any fries to go with them. I smiled at my brother who was still working on his third cheeseburger.
I turned to see Orin returning to our table with a cup of coffee in each hand. He placed one of the cups in front of me and sat down.
I picked up the coffee cup with both hands and sipped slowly. I felt the coffee’s heat flow down my throat and into my belly. It tasted great. It was definitely what I needed, caffeinated fuel to power all the thoughts that were spinning around in my brain.
“Good, huh?” Orin said.
I nodded as I held the cup and let it warm my hands.
“What are you thinking?” Orin asked.
I shook my head and said, “Nothing.”
Orin frowned, set down his cup, and said, “Well, that’s not true.”
I shook my head again and said, “No, not nothing. Everything. I’m thinking of everything all at once and I don’t know where to start.”
Orin gave a weak smile and said, “Well, that sounds more like the truth.”
I sighed and said, “Moira said that we all are infected. Everyone is infected. That’s why my eyes changed color.”
Orin slowly nodded and said, “I’ve heard that before. It makes sense when you think about it.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Orin shrugged and said, “I just mean that so many are obviously infected. Everyone being infected just makes more sense than there being a handful of lottery winners who aren’t. It especially makes sense when you factor in that different people who we know to be infected show different symptoms of the virus. It makes sense that some who are infected would show little or no symptoms at all.”
