The water that was on the coffee table was room temperature by now as the condensation left a ring around the bottom. I reached for the cup and let the soothing water fill my throat with gulps that made a louder than usual sound. They both waited in silent observation before he whispered quickly, “Her deterioration has slowed considerably since this morning.”
“That’s awesome,” she replied.
“We could use some good news around here,” he added.
“Speaking of news, you think…” she started to say before he cut her off with a sudden shake of his head. By then my cup was back on the table and they had my complete attention.
“What is it?” I said looking to both of them for a response.
“What news?” I said louder. I was beginning to get nervous; they just said I was doing better, or at least that I had stopped deteriorating, which was better than not stopping, so the news had to be about someone other than me.
“Oh come on, don’t start this again. Please, I can’t take it,” I started.
The doctor stared at the table in front of us. It was easy to see that it was a big decision for him to make, whether or not he should disclose this news to me. It had to be incredibly important because Mia was willing to spill the information, but only with his permission. I caught Mia’s sly move, that the only way to get the ball rolling was to announce that they were hiding something in the first place. We were there in silence for only seconds longer when Dr. Chavan made his decision.
“Your condition has attracted a lot of attention around the facility. With the few hundred people residing here now, it was only a matter of time, I guess. The few people who’ve been working with your samples are all professional. I trust they would keep their promise to maintain your information in strict confidence,” he said in a low tone.
“I know how it is, doctor, but what’s the problem?” I asked him.
“The problem is ethical. For a potentially very valid reason your uncle believes you are the source of a vaccine that can be created. The problem is, two days after you arrived last week the trucks carrying all of the more sophisticated and valuable lab equipment on its way here went missing or was destroyed in all of the chaos right outside of Camden. He was counting on that equipment because it would’ve been capable of producing a vaccine right here at this facility,” he said.
“My uncle was on the ball I guess; after all, this kind of stuff is right up his alley,” I said.
“It’s scary just how much. From his behavior I’m guessing he’s beginning to realize that keeping you here may not be the best idea. Even if we are able to maintain your current condition or even cure you altogether––which would be a miracle, the resources here are limited. I think—and this is only from what I’ve suspected—that he is going to negotiate a deal to get you to another functioning lab facility,” Dr. Chavan said. I could see the anticipation in his eyes for my reaction.
“That sounds like a great idea! Where would I go? The CDC? The World Health Organization headquarters?” I questioned. If there was something I could do to help save lives, including my own while in the utmost secure location, I was all for it. I was ready to leave yesterday if that was the case.
The doctor shook his head again. “It’s not either of those places.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“You’ll have to pardon my frankness but your uncle has become somewhat arrogant these last few years. I haven’t known him for long but his reputation precedes him in the science world. So much that he’s made a few enemies in places most people would try to do otherwise. Especially at the CDC and FDA. Before now, he’d be lucky if they’d give him the time of day. Under the circumstances and the fact that he has you, I doubt he even has them on the phone list,” Dr. Chavan pointed out so clearly.
I knew my uncle was something else. After my cousin Paige died he literally became his work. He knew of no other life outside of it. His own son—my cousin Nathan—became bitter toward him because he felt like his father abandoned the family. At first we all thought it was grief that kept him away but there was this component of regret underneath that drove him into his work.
For the first time, someone outside of the family was verifying this. At first, I wanted to defend my uncle because he was my family and I remember the grief we all endured because of Paige’s sudden, tragic death. It may have been a rumor but I heard that my uncle was supposed to pick her up from the library that fateful evening but a miscommunication inevitably put her on the sidewalk right as a car veered off of the road, hit Paige and sped off. There was no bad weather, no one to blame but a careless driver who was perhaps texting or drunk. To make things worse, no one stepped forward and no one near the accident scene could give a description of the vehicle that was accurate enough with those who were in area on traffic cameras. There was only dark blue paint and common tire tracks from what was most likely a larger model sedan.
“Did he burn his bridges so bad that they wouldn’t work with him now, in a crisis?” I said.
“Maybe, maybe not, either way he’s made it clear to us he’s not willing to discuss anything going on here, even when it’s his ethical duty to do so. Even with the survival of humanity at stake.”
So my uncle had gone rogue in the last few years. It was definitely not like him to break the rules but then again if he was doing something that bad, why didn’t his superiors discipline him? I thought about some of the possible reasons why he’d managed to avoid serious consequences and corruption came to mind but I had a much smaller pond I wanted to fish from. Since we were all being so honest right now I figured I would push things a little further.
“Why won’t he let me see my parents or my boyfriend?” I asked. I looked at Mia hoping she’d get that I wouldn’t tell her part in the unsuccessful search of my mother and father, nor would I disclose the favor she granted me of bringing Graham to my room days ago. Not seeing either of them in so long was beginning to give me more fear and anxiety.
“I have not actually seen your parents here so I don’t understand why he’d keep them from you. Maybe it’s purely for your cooperation. Maybe Dr. Burges feels he’ll actually find them for you,” he said.
“I guess there’s a point to you telling me all of this, so why?” I said, as I was becoming a little fatigued now.
“You’re right, there is. I––we think the right thing to do is for you to go to one of the government-run agencies, or a research hospital––one that is still functioning. We’ve done right by you so far in treating your injuries and stabilizing the progression of the virus. It’s time to pass on what we know to a facility that is more equipped and will do the best they can ethically and honestly. We’re trying to discreetly get in touch with several facilities we think are still capable but communication is difficult at times, you know that,” he said, glancing up at Mia occasionally to her obvious approval. I could figure out on my own that even with the lines of communication working, if it is true what Dr. Chavan just said about my uncle basically being blackballed from the science world, it would be difficult to get in touch with the right people, on a day sans the current catastrophe. At the same time, it would be even more difficult for those people to get in touch with the right people here. The wrong person could find out and they’d be up in my uncle’s office in a matter of minutes.
“Okay, I get it. I’m on board. I know I don’t want to be sold off to the highest bidder in the underground world of science and I don’t like the lies being told to me either. You know I want to be kept informed. I’ve said that from the moment I woke up here,” I reaffirmed my opinion to them both.
“Yes you have, Seanna,” he started to say but was cut off as the door opened and Louise cautiously walked in with a covered plate. It seemed she didn’t know what to expect, perhaps she thought I’d be on the other side again by now. We all looked at her as she paused to get a look around and then quickly walked past Mia and the doctor to place the plate on the coffee table in front of me.
She mentioned the sandwich was hot and that there were some graham crackers on the side along with apple slices. I sincerely thanked her and she welcomed me as best as she could but the fear was there, I could tell. Once she left the room Dr. Chavan quickly got back to our discussion.
“I suspect you are on the same page with us but I need you to know also that things could possibly go in a different direction than any of us anticipate. Would you be willing to take the chance at all?” he said in a more serious tone.
“Of course, I would,” I replied. I couldn’t imagine a scenario any scarier than what I’ve already been through. I’ve already concluded that this thing––whatever it is––is more than about me alone. I just happened to be an outlier that can still make a difference in the equation.
“Okay. As long as this medication regiment is working we’ll try to make as much of it as possible, discreetly of course. We’ll keep you in the loop––as you say. Try and eat so you can begin to regain your strength. Mia and I will return in a little while to give you something for your pain,” Dr. Chavan said as he got up and they both left.
I could tell that they both were pleased to find out I was in agreement with their plans. I don’t know what my uncle was planning to do with me especially if he couldn’t cure me. I always felt that it would be only a matter of time before Davenport raised his weapon at me and pulled the trigger with fatal results. If it weren’t him, it could easily be one of the even less forgiving guards like the one who was in my room earlier. These guys no longer saw me as a human being— I knew this for sure. Maybe they’d even told Graham I had already died, which wouldn’t surprise me either since it was clear that my parents were not here, which was the exact opposite of what my uncle told me many times. Why would he repeatedly lie to me like that? I knew he was the only one who could answer that question.
Alone in my room now, I lifted the lid off of the plate and was pleasantly surprised by the smells and sight of the steam rolling away from the toasted wheat bread of the sandwich that was cut diagonally in half. The cheddar cheese had melted down the middle covering the thinly sliced ham, which hung over the bread around the crust. Who would’ve thought a simple ham and cheese sandwich could look so pleasing? Without further hesitation I picked up one half of the sandwich and bit into it, taking a large chunk of the meat into my mouth. My teeth were sensitive. It had been too long since they touched anything so solid but I didn’t care. Before long, all that was left on the plate was a few crumbs and the wrapper from the crackers. I felt overly satisfied, like my stomach was going to explode, but it was no matter––I had food. I was sleeping soundly before I knew it.
Chapter Eleven
I didn’t know what to expect when I woke up. All I knew was that I’d be groggy and that my body felt a little more than stiff for good reason. The last two days were routine since Dr. Chavan and Mia disclosed my uncle’s questionable intentions for me and his thoughts on working up a vaccine for this monster of a virus that I was told had affected millions in the U.S. alone. I’d managed to not fully become one of the dead ones due to a very diligent medication schedule and more needle sticks than any one person should receive in a lifetime. Though Dr. Chavan failed to mention any more of what we discussed that afternoon two days ago, Mia was more forthcoming during her visits and would drop little suggestive statements like, “Everything seems to be lining up perfectly,” and “Things are certainly looking better,” as she would come in and out of my room.
My appearance seemed to improve ever so slightly. I don’t know if it was my new and improved diet of sandwiches and vegetables or the medicine or both. I went from looking almost exactly like the undead with the grayish pale skin, blue lips and sunken eyes to a livelier shade that made it seem as if I only needed some sun. Since I was able to keep down food I stopped losing weight and instead I managed to feel like I had some strength. The wounds I had on my shoulder and forearm were well into healing. They began to itch, which was a sign of repair, which was a sign of life. It seemed as if the pendulum was starting to swing back in the other direction. I saw neither hide nor hair of my uncle, which was probably a good thing because the last few days brought the opportunity for me to reflect and become angry at all of the questions I had and the conclusions I had come to regarding my parents and his plans for me. It would be pretty hard for me to fake not knowing what I’d been told and the lies my uncle tried to placate me with. After all, I was the one who originally wanted out of this place and, not for lack of effort, I was still here. If I had to do it again, I’d include scaling the wall or grand theft auto as a part of the plan. For now, I would wait for Dr. Chavan and Mia and let them make as much of the medication as possible so I could make it to a real research facility—one that hasn’t managed to be cast-off by the FDA or the CDC and all the other acronyms of importance.
The next time the door opened and Mia came in with Louise, I was in the bathroom again and although during the last few days poor Louise began to trust that I was not going to kill her, I may have just set them both back on edge. The water was running when they stepped in and I was washing my face after combing my freshly shampooed hair. I was fiddling around with the toothbrush cover and dropped the toothpaste, which made enough noise and was unrecognizable. I didn’t hear either of them come into the room, nor did I see them until I had come out of the bathroom toothbrush-in-mouth and scared the crap out of both of them. They scared the crap out of me as well because by then Mia had already grabbed a metal candleholder from off of one of the shelves on the TV stand. Poor Louise was already by the door ready to take off and yell for help. My simple walk out of the bathroom nearly set off a sequence of bad events.
“Holy hell, you scared us Seanna, you didn’t hear me calling you?” Mia said as she lowered the candleholder and gave me a big and spontaneous hug. I kind of froze as she accidently bumped me in the back with the object that could’ve easily been planted in my skull by now.
“No, I couldn’t hear you. I was washing my face and brushing my teeth. The water is really hot but feels so good,” I said, mouth full of paste, eventually patting her back in return.
“I have some good news for you, Seanna––they are almost ready, it’ll only be another day or two. They wanted me to let you know. Looks like you’ll be going to Princeton!” Mia said excitedly, as if I were to be awarded a degree upon entrance.
I gave Louise a nervous glance before I said anything more. Mia was anxiously awaiting my reaction before she figured out why I was so hesitant.
“It’s okay, she’s knows. She’s okay with it and wants to help, right, Louise?” Mia said quickly in an attempt to minimize doubt.
My mouth still filled with toothpaste and all almost hit the floor after hearing the news. I couldn’t believe it with Louise being so timid and apprehensive toward me. Maybe Louise had a bigger heart than I could tell. Louise responded with a half crooked smile and nodded her head slightly. I said nothing as I went back into the bathroom before I lost all of the now extra-sudsy toothpaste.
“We’ve made contact with several researchers at the University’s laboratory. They are pretty eager to get a look at you for themselves. We’re going to transfer all that we have about this virus along with your info in a secure file to them while the internet is still partially functioning. We’ve got enough medicine to last you at least a week right now. They can replicate and modify it on their own too. I have a good feeling about this! Maybe they can begin to test it on infected people before they succumb to it,” Mia rattled on with so much optimism.
“That sounds really great! When do we leave?” I said, now that my mouth was rinsed.
“That’s our biggest obstacle: the how and when. It’ll probably be at night––possibly tomorrow night. Getting you out of the room and down to a car will be a challenge, even at night with all of the lighting. When anything comes or goes, it’s a big deal here,” Mia said.
“You’ve got to figure out a way to get Graham with us too,” I said.<
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Mia looked a little helpless and said nothing. I could tell she was thinking.
“Hey, there’s no way I’m getting separated from him! You can’t possibly ask me to leave here without him, no way,” I said, shaking my head in protest. I was already separated from him here. I thought about our brief time in his basement when he said he’d be with me until the end. There was not a snowball’s chance I’d leave him here and go to any other location. Besides, I know my uncle would be infuriated by my abrupt and secretive departure. How could I leave my boyfriend here to deal with the backlash? They’d assume he was in on everything. Graham was smart and could hold his own but he’d be outnumbered here.
“We are still working out the details, darlin’, so just sit tight okay?” Mia said, giving me a hardy pat on the shoulder. Just then I remembered an old Robert Burns quote Mrs. Schuler, one of my English teachers in high school repeat, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” Thinking about the whole poem now, compared to mice, even men are shaken.
“Okay but I am not going anywhere without him. That’s the deal breaker,” I warned.
After they took care of their usual business of checking my vitals and injections, Mia and Louise left again but returned quickly as they surprised me with something extra special. It was closing in on dinnertime. Apparently they heard of my appetite for Italian and had lasagna prepared, which wasn’t half bad. Italian sausage, little bits of onion and the ricotta cheese was perfectly seasoned and blended with Parmesan. It came with a simple tomato and cucumber salad and breadstick, which was a feast as far as I was concerned. I was grateful for their thoughtfulness; it almost brought me to tears and it seemed they were both happy to see me smile. After they assured me there was plenty left for everyone else in the building, they left to enjoy the food for themselves; Mia gave me another quick hug and told me she’d see me tomorrow and that Louise would return later with someone else.
Affliction Page 16
