Behind her was a church. A substantial crowd had gathered in front of it, so out of curiosity, she moved closer.
“Now is the time to repent your sins. Stand beside your fellow man,” she heard someone preaching. And in a way, Paige thought they were following the admonition.
The sick stood beside healthy people, but as she looked closer, it was as if they didn’t even know what was going on or where they were in the first place.
At least the people who showed genuine faith looked determined to help in any way possible. Even if their cure of choice was prayer, it still revealed a better side of humanity.
Beside her stood one of the congregation members with an infected woman. He hugged her protectively, wiping the blood off her face with his free hand. It was a touching picture, but something seemed out of place—even a little eerie, she thought, venturing a focused look. His compassion, which they’d seen little of during the past few hours, was not the strange part. It was the look on the woman’s face that made Paige take a step back.
That woman looks hungry. She recoiled from the thought, but it was so compelling that she couldn’t doubt its truth.
Every time the man’s hand moved closer to her face, she looked like she wanted to take a bite out of it.
Paige scrunched her eyes and wondered if her eyes were lying to her.
Then the women’s eyes locked on the man’s neck, and her mouth opened. She’s going to bite him.
“Don’t be afraid, child.” The preacher addressed Paige loudly. He must have seen her move away from the bizarre scene that seemed to unfold before her. “This is all a part of God’s plan, but we must stay strong in these trying times and show our Lord and Savior that we are worthy.”
His words pulled the bloodthirsty women from her trance. Is this the next stage of the infection? A part of her yelled for her to run, but another part seemed stuck in a kind of frozen fascination.
“Amen,” the crowd intoned as one. Paige truly wished she had their kind of belief but knew she didn’t.
She was too scared for that.
Seeing them made Paige think of her mother, who was still at the Institute for the Insane.
At least she hoped so.
It would be next to impossible to get her out of there, and not because of the tight security.
The biggest problem was that her mother liked it there. It felt like home to her, so Paige would have to be very careful with her actions and words if she wanted to convince her to abandon it.
Somehow, she thought that pleading that the end of the world was upon them wouldn’t create the desired effect. But maybe seeing Willow beside her would help.
“Paige!” Dave yelled from a big red convertible.
She neared the car in disbelief, leaving the church and the bloodthirsty woman behind.
“You stole a car again?”
“Is it really stealing if the keys were still in the car?” he argued.
“Yes,” she replied instantly.
He rolled his eyes at her. “Whatever. Get in.”
She did, still stunned and out of sorts, but then something occurred to her. “The streets are all blocked. We would have better luck walking.”
“I know my way around. Just relax.” He fumbled with the radio and once again, all the stations repeated the same message.
“A killer virus is spreading across the world. You are advised to stay indoors. Stay away from anyone showing signs of sickness. Go to your designated shelters or seek help if you’re already infected. More information will follow.”
Those five simple sentences played on repeat, and Paige couldn’t help but wonder how the end of the world could provide so very little information.
“Enough of that.” Dave sighed and turned it off. He grabbed his phone and after a few swipes, music played through the speakers.
Some unfamiliar tune started, and Paige wrinkled her nose.
“What is this?” She probed.
“It’s 2Pac—‘Ambitionz Az A Ridah,’” Dave said and turned the volume up.
Rap? And very appropriate, too. Even though she’d never listened to that genre of music before, Paige had to admit that the beat was good, and she liked it.
“Buckle up,” he advised before hitting the gas pedal. She was quick to comply because he drove like a maniac. Seriously, she was better at it, and she only tried it once in her life. Dave drove through places where cars weren’t meant to. They went straight through parks and over sidewalks, but even though Paige almost feared for her life at times, she had to admit that his plan was working.
Pretty soon, she was pleased to discover that Dave knew what he was doing, though they still got stuck in the traffic jams on regular basis. It was maddening.
She looked at out of the window and spotted a Mac D’s. “Finger licking good.” She laughed.
“I could murder a big mac right now,” he added.
“Me too, and a chocolate milkshake, fries, side of chicken nuggets. Oh, and sweet and sour dip.” She licked her lips.
He grinned at her. “I see we have a Mac D’s fan.”
“Isn’t everyone?”
“They are until the Mac shits happen.”
Paige laughed. “That’s better than the Taco bell explosion.”
They laughed comfortably together as Dave skillfully chose the right streets or small alleys. Unfortunately, other people did as well, which sometimes made for an interesting ride. But, with each passing minute, they were that much closer to their destination, even though there were moments when it felt like an eternity.
“Maybe we should have just made a run for it,” she complained, but Dave ignored her.
“Get out of the way!” he shouted while pressing the horn as they drove along the sidewalk. The people jumped out of the way, cursing them, and some even threw things.
“Sorry!” Paige shouted her apologies but ultimately didn’t really care. She knew that the cause justified the means in this case and was glad he was doing this. They’d already spent so much time helping others. Now, she needed to do what she’d promised her dad she’d do.
This close, nothing was fast enough. She wanted Willow safe and sound and in her arms.
“Last stop, Natural History Museum,” Dave announced in a cheerful voice, having returned to the road, but he celebrated too early. The traffic jam in front of them made them stop yet again.
He sang cheerfully along to the music while they waited, but Paige could barely contain her impatience. She looked away from him at some random billboard advising her where to spend her next vacation when a sudden silence made her turn back to Dave.
An elderly woman pressed a gun against his forehead.
“If you don’t want your head blown off, I suggest you get out of the car right now.” The menacing voice was way out of character for a grandmotherly type of woman.
Dave’s eyes were wide with fear, but in all fairness, Paige acknowledged, they probably matched her own.
“All right. Just don’t shoot,” he replied hastily.
“Nice and slowly,” she warned. “You too, Missy,” she added, looking at Paige.
They exited the car as instructed and the elderly woman slid into the driver’s seat.
“Shame on you for trying to steal my baby from me,” she chastised with a grim look.
“Sorry, ma’am,” Dave mumbled, and Paige nodded agreement.
“Run along now,” she advised, still waving her gun, and Paige took that to heart.
“Stay in school!” she shouted after them.
After they had put enough distance between them and the revolver granny, Dave chuckled, and Paige simply looked at him incredulously.
“Did that actually happen?” he asked, still in high spirits.
“You mean us being robbed by a grandmother? Yeah.” Actually saying that out loud made her laugh as well.
“And we got car-jacked by an elderly woman. This is some crazy world,” he commented, shaking his head, and she had to agree.<
br />
“Yes, it definitely is. Now come on, it’s time to put those long legs of yours to good use,” Paige teased as she sprinted away.
“Not with the running again.” She could hear him complaining but was too focused to care at that moment.
The adrenaline fueled her body and she practically ate the distance. Thanks to her training, she wasn’t even slightly winded when she reached the museum.
On the other hand, once Dave caught up with her, he looked like he was about to pass out.
“I knew you could run, but damn,” he managed to choke out.
“Come on,” she urged and he groaned but complied.
Moving slower now, they reached the door together and, pushing inside, she pretty much discovered on the spot that the place was deserted. Her heart sank.
“Well, crap,” he said beside her, matching her own thoughts perfectly.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AJ couldn't take the boredom any longer. He would even chat with Francis to break the vicious circle of nothingness. It didn't help that anywhere he turned, there were only desperately sick kids with neither the inclination nor the ability to talk. The sight depressed him.
He felt so powerless to help them.
Suddenly, a commotion caught his attention and he wondered what was going on.
That question was answered a couple of minutes later when another bunch of kids entered.
“Oh, for crying out loud,” AJ mumbled. The place was already overcrowded. Couldn't they place kids somewhere else as well? Give them more comfort, if nothing else.
He’d started to get up to give his bed to someone else with a greater need when it happened.
A girl entered and from the moment he spotted her, he couldn't stop staring.
She was freaking glowing like she was her own personal sun.
“Seedling.” Francis was excited. “Take her now. You need her.”
The urge to spring into action and take the girl like she was some kind of an offering to his King Kong was overwhelming.
He remembered he’d had the same urge with Paige but could resist it.
Yeah, but that was Paige, someone he was crushing on.
This girl meant nothing to him.
Francis, stop that.
AJ rebelled, realizing with sudden clarity that the bastard was messing with his head.
“Don't fight me, AJ, take the girl and claim your place among us,” Francis urged.
AJ gritted his teeth, fighting the temptation with all the energy at his disposal.
Like hell I will, he shouted internally and covered himself with the blanket, then pulled a pillow over his head.
It didn't help, unfortunately. He could still hear Francis loud and clear.
Of course you can. He is in your head, asshole!
“Take her now. You need her.”
He could definitely still feel her.
Oh, for hell's sake!
AJ practically leaped out of bed and almost ran in the opposite direction, away from the girl. Not really sure of his end plan, knowing he would run out of space in a moment, he grinned when a solution presented itself.
He ran into the bathroom and locked the door.
“AJ, obey me and claim your place. You are the Host...”
Francis droned on and on, so AJ started singing.
The urge lessened but AJ didn't stop.
I know nobody knows...
Where it comes and where it goes...
I know it's everybody sin...
You got to lose to know how to win...
He gave himself a pep talk when he felt he’d regained his equilibrium. Okay, AJ, don't be a coward now.
Francis eventually stopped pestering him, and when he was able to think for himself once more, there was no problem facing the world again—or a very depressing room full of sick children.
Finally stepping out of the bathroom, he looked left and right but he couldn't see the Seedling anymore and sighed with relief.
I am the rock, he reminded himself, returning to his bed.
Francis told him he didn't have to sleep anymore and maybe that was true, but it still felt nice to lie down and stretch after cowering in the bathroom for God only knew how long.
Okay, so maybe there was a learning curve while dealing with Francis.
Two steps forward, one step back.
He was still very pleased with himself because he didn't give in.
He must have spaced out for a moment because when he focused once again, AJ could see a small group of kids talking to a girl who looked a little older. He could only see her profile, but that was enough.
“Paige?” he said, mostly to himself, and pushed up to a sitting position.
What is she doing here? AJ wondered but was still glad to see her.
And holy fuck, she was glowing now as well.
He stood up to go greet her, but as he moved closer, he realized it wasn’t her but rather someone who resembled her.
Does she have a twin sister?
“Nooo!” Francis screamed so loudly inside his head that AJ stopped in his tracks.
WTF? Francis?
“Don't go near her,” he warned urgently.
Why the hell not? AJ retorted. Normally, he would shrug it off, but since Francis wanted to forbid him...
The temptation was too great to resist it.
“AJ, don't. If you want to live, hide, now.”
What? You are making no sense. That's just a girl, and she's glowing like a Seedling.
“Exactly. She is a Space Cadet and one of the best, at that.”
What does that mean?
“She is the worst thing for our kind.”
Mine or yours? AJ hedged, trying to rattle Francis even more, but the voice wasn't impressed.
“Don't let her see you. Hide—now!” Francis almost sounded pleading.
I don't know. I think it would be rude not to say hi.
“She will kill you.”
That confused AJ. Why would she do that when he hadn’t done anything wrong in his entire life?
“It doesn't matter. You are the Host, and because of that, her enemy.”
I don't buy it. With Francis, rebellion seemed like AJ’s go-to reaction.
He walked with purpose this time but somehow lost control over his left leg.
He almost tripped and hit the bed, startling the kid who was lying on it.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, standing slowly.
Francis, stop.
“Hide, you fool.”
No, I think you're messing with me, like always.
His head started to tingle, and the urge to flee rose up within him.
That won’t work, and you know it, AJ shouted silently.
The tingling intensified and for a second, he went completely blind. Before he could start to panic, all kinds of images were basically downloaded into his brain. That was the only way he could define the sudden data-dump that his mind struggled to manage.
Images appeared of the badass girl who looked a lot like Paige fighting, and in every scene, he was shown her killing someone—really bloody, sometimes brutally.
AJ suddenly had problems swallowing.
He still thought Francis was delusional but, on the other hand, wasn't willing to test that on his own neck.
Fine, I'll give in, he grumbled.
In an instant, everything that Francis had done to him up to that point vanished.
“Hurry, before she sees you.”
Back to the toilet. Yippee.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Paige wanted to scream out of sheer frustration because she couldn’t believe this was happening. Again. Then she realized she could and let rip.
Dave watched her with a startled expression while she had her small tantrum but didn’t comment on it. His expression reminded her that it wasn’t prudent to attract attention to them in case the museum was full of infected people, so she forced herself to stop.
“You coming?” he asked,
already walking away and looking at her over his shoulder.
She sighed and followed.
Her mind racing, Paige tried to figure out her next move in case she didn’t find Willow hiding somewhere on the premises.
She still held on to a tiny sliver of hope that she was there.
Walking about through the exhibitions that always gave her the willies, they both, as if silently communicating, refused to call out for their siblings. Paige already knew what a person could do in the advanced stages of the virus infection and wondered if he’d had some similar encounters that made him this wary.
Finally, having avoided drawing any attention to themselves, they came upon a section that housed the extinct animals.
Their lifeless stares and ancient bones looked extra ominous to her that day, but she continued through all the Mammoths, T-Rexes, and various other monstrous creatures.
None of them walk the Earth anymore, she thought glumly. Will humans be extinct next?
Craning to see the real-life size skeleton of an adult T-Rex, she wondered if there would be some sort of advanced, intelligent species in the future that would create a museum dedicated to humans. Something much like this one but depicting that the entire human race was taken out by some strange and deadly virus.
She couldn’t help but shudder.
Willing herself to push those dark thoughts away, she started a new mantra.
I won’t become extinct. I will make it through this.
The notion helped but only up to a point.
“Let’s go this way,” Dave urged and he got no complaints from her. The section was empty, and she was eager to be somewhere else anyway.
She caught sight of something quite familiar and smiled. Dave noticed and raised an eyebrow.
“What?” he asked.
She simply shrugged at first but then decided to tell him. “Did you watch the movie Night at the museum?” she asked.
It was clear he hadn’t followed her train of thought but nodded nevertheless. “Sure, who hasn’t?”
“It’s filmed here. That is one of Willow’s favorite movies. I watched it like a hundred times, she even made me dress up as one of the characters with her for Halloween.”
There was something else she wanted to say, but they stumbled upon a group of what appeared to be tourists. They were all infected and gathered together in front of a set of doors. Whether they guarded something inside or prevented someone from leaving, she couldn’t say.
Contamination (Invasion Survivor Book 1) Page 13
