The Redivivus Trilogy (Book 3): Miasma

by Kirk Withrow

  As John peered into the case, a crazy idea entered his mind. Even as he reached into the box, he was unsure of exactly what he planned to do. The sound of a scuffle shifted his attention to the stairwell, and he moved toward the door as fast as his battered body allowed. There on the stairs was Connor struggling to hold onto a squirming Ava. One hand cradled his bloody nose while the other wrapped around the girl’s torso.

  “I’m gonna kill you, little girl!” Connor snarled in rage.

  In spite of the pain racking every part of his body and the anger he felt toward Connor, John couldn’t help but relish the sense of pride that rose up within him. That’s my girl!

  When Connor dragged Ava down to the second floor landing, John realized that his time to act was now or never. He knew his plan was a long shot, but it was all he had left. Leaping over the handrail, he slammed into Connor’s back, sending him sprawling forward. Connor lost his tenuous grip on Ava as he fell to the ground. Through some stroke of luck, John managed to land on his feet. It was a good thing, because he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to get back up another time.

  “Run, Ava!” John screamed.

  Connor clearly had more left in the tank than John; he was already climbing back to his feet. Sensing his advantage slipping away, John rushed forward and stomped down hard on Connor’s leading ankle. Connor screamed in pain as the relatively weak bones gave way under John’s full weight. Exhausted, John drove forward, collapsing on top of Connor as he did.

  Connor began battering him with hammer fists even before they hit the ground. Despite the ferocious onslaught from below, John cracked Connor across the nose with something hard he held in his hand. Connor’s eyes watered reflexively, but even through the tears he saw what John had hit him with.

  John opened his fingers and let the grenade’s safety lever fall away. Time shifted into slow motion as the metal lever fell amidst the shower of blood and spit dripping from John’s injured face. Connor’s eyes grew wide as realized what John had done. The look of terror that swept over his face caused John’s mouth to twist into a satisfied smile. He held tight against Connor’s body, pinning the grenade between them.

  With his last breath, John yelled, “I love you, Ava! Run!”

  The blast was deafening in the confines of the stairwell. Ava had just reached the first floor landing when the concussive blast slammed into her like a giant fist out of the sky. It sent her flying through the door as chunks of flesh and bone rained down upon her. With her hands still bound behind her back, she had no way to break her fall. Bright bursts of light flashed in her eyes as her head hit the concrete floor.

  Aside from being bruised and shell-shocked, Ava had no major injuries when she raised her head to see what had happened. Her ears rang loudly, just above a sound like the roar of a whitewater rapid. A huge knot on her forehead throbbed, and her shoulders ached from her arms being pulled behind her back. The thick smoke and debris in the air stung her eyes as she squinted into the haze. Slowly, she climbed to her feet and looked back toward the entrance of the scorched stairwell.

  Ava stared in confusion, her mind clearing as slowly as the air around her. When she could finally see through the doorway, there was nothing to indicate that there had been a stairwell there in the first place. Her lips began to tremble as the reality of what had happened came crashing down upon her like a ton of bricks. Unwilling to accept the truth, she tried to deny it, but it was as undeniable as gravity itself.

  Ava hardly noticed when Reams knelt down in front of her, his huge arms wrapping her in a tight hug. He pressed his forehead against her as he sobbed loudly, finding as much comfort in her as she did him. Lydia stood behind them with tears streaming down her face as well. Ava continued staring at the empty doorway. Neither Connor nor her father ever appeared in the opening. Though it would be some time before she came to grips with the reality of the situation and she would never know exactly what had happened, she knew there had been an explosion, and she knew that her father had sacrificed himself to save her.

  “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you home,” Reams said.

  Ava didn’t react when Reams scooped her up, and along with Lydia, the three of them emerged from the building. It looked like a war zone outside, but there was no more gunfire. Animal charged out of the darkness the moment she saw them, not caring if she startled them as she ran to hug Reams. Holding Ava in one arm, he picked her up in his other, squeezing her tightly before sitting her down.

  “It is so good to see that you’re okay,” he said sincerely.

  Seeing the tears in his eyes, she asked tentatively, “John?”

  Reams merely shook his head in reply. Animal dropped her gaze to the ground, unsure if she was strong enough to face the little girl who’d just lost her father.

  “Where are the others?” Reams asked.

  He knew the answer when Animal did not look up, and Garza and Cujo emerged from the darkness a moment later.

  He put his arm around her once again and pulled her close to his chest. “I’m so sorry, Ann.” She didn’t even protest to him calling her by her real name.

  37

  “Are you okay, Ava?” Lydia asked as the two of them enjoyed the warm afternoon sun.

  It had been nearly a month since Ava’s father, John, had died during the fight with Connor Roan, and she had only recently begun talking again. Lydia hadn’t left her side since they’d returned to the CDC. She understood grief, and she knew the little girl would have to come to terms with her loss in her own way. All she could do was be there for her to provide love and support while she mourned. Time and again, Ava had proven herself to be an exceptionally resilient young girl, so Lydia had little doubt that she would pull through.

  Lydia planned a memorial ceremony to honor those who had died during the recent fighting but had waited to hold it until Ava was ready. She wanted to make sure the young girl had a chance to participate in what Lydia viewed as an important step in the healing process. Having just finished the ceremony, Lydia felt Ava seemed to be more at peace, and moving toward acceptance and closure.

  “What is today?” Ava asked.

  Lydia hadn’t been expecting the question, and it threw her off momentarily. She thought about it and said, “It’s Tuesday, October 13, I think. Why do you ask?”

  Ava gave a short laugh and said, “I’m twelve. I turned twelve a couple of weeks ago—September 27.”

  Lydia’s eyes widened, and she began to move her hands excitedly as she talked. “Happy birthday, Ava! You should have told me! I didn’t know you were born in September. I was too!”

  Even though she was only twelve, Ava seemed like someone twice her age. Lydia hated that the girl had been forced to grow up so quickly but was comforted to know that it didn’t seem like John’s death was going to make a casualty out of his daughter as well.

  Taking advantage of the upturn in the conversation, Lydia said, “We should have a combined, belated party. We can blow out candles and make wishes, and everyone can bring us gifts. You better start thinking about what you want.”

  Ava’s face grew noticeably dour when she thought about what she really wanted but knew she could never have.

  Lydia picked up on the sudden change in her demeanor and decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. She had serious business to discuss with Ava, but she wasn’t sure this was the right time. Truthfully, she doubted there would ever be one. Right time or not, she had to do it.

  “Ava, can I talk with you about something? It might not be the most pleasant discussion, but I think we have to have it.”

  “Sure, Lydia. What’s up?” Ava asked curiously.

  Lydia didn’t know the best way to start, so she decided to just get right into it. “Before we left to come for you, your father pulled me aside and told me that he needed a favor from me. He asked me to promise to look after you if anything happened to him while we were out.”

  Ava bit her lip and glanced toward her feet, clearly
uncomfortable with the situation. “And what did you say?”

  Lydia took a deep breath, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “I told him I would care for you like you were my own child.”

  Ava looked up and stared at the crying woman. She didn’t know what to say or how to react. Finally, Lydia wiped her eyes and looked at the little girl. “I know I’m not your mother or your father, but I love you, Ava, and I would like to adopt you if you’ll have me.

  The little girl’s silence made Lydia feel as though she’d gone too far. Before she could open her mouth to apologize, Ava moved closer and wrapped her arms around Lydia’s neck.

  “I would like that very much,” Ava said with an enormous grin. Lydia’s heart melted on the spot.

  * * *

  Although it had taken several weeks, things at the CDC were finally settling back into something of a routine. With their numbers nearly halved by the recent conflict, many notable holes had been left in the lives of those who’d survived. They banded together even more tightly, thankful to have so many people willing to lay down their lives for one another. It was a time of mourning the past and healing for the future.

  Annalee had made a complete recovery, thanks in part to the LNV treatment developed by Dr. Lin San and her team. The DRACO technology, which Maria had helped to identify, proved to be effective against LNV infection during the early stages when the overall percentage of infected cells was still relatively low. Lin had not yet determined if there was a point of no return, at which time LNV was so widespread in a host that it was the only thing keeping a person going at all. She suspected there was, but DRACO and the Banks Protocol were capable of saving a person provided they were treated soon after infection. Lin remained hopeful that they would one day discover a vaccine capable of conferring immunity to the abominable plague, but for now, she was satisfied that they had saved the young girl’s life. Whether this was due to the amputation or the subsequent treatment she’d received, Lin didn’t know. Annalee was the first person she knew of that had survived an infected bite.

  Anthony dutifully remained by Annalee’s side throughout her recovery. Those that had stayed behind often heard him talking to her as though she was merely sleeping rather than fighting for her life. No one questioned the positive role his support and optimism played in her recovery. Although he’d been saddened immensely by the news of those who’d died, he’d been overjoyed to see both Garza and Charon return. His dog had been pretty banged up when he’d come limping through the gate, but Anthony had no doubt that he would be fine; that was Charon.

  As is often the case in the aftermath of such tragic events, romantic relationships flourished. It was human nature to rebuild and reconnect once the battle was over and the dust had settled. They didn’t know how many people were still alive in the world, but they knew the pandemic’s toll on humanity had been considerable. They also understood that eradicating the disease was of little value if there was no one left to safeguard. The need to repopulate was hardwired into mankind’s DNA, and most of the survivors were more than happy to oblige.

  Garza asked Lin to marry him the moment he returned to the CDC. The fight had shown him just how tenuous their hold on this life truly was. Time was too short and far too valuable to waste. Now more than ever, there was no guarantee of tomorrow. Lin said yes without a moment’s hesitation.

  The romance between Reams and Animal also heated up. While they made no plans to get married, they also made no plans to stay apart. In fact, one hadn’t been without the other since they’d returned. To say that they were smitten with one another was an understatement. As was Animal’s nature, their relationship was decidedly playful.

  When they made it back to the CDC’s living quarters, Animal fixed him with a coquettish grin. “By the way, if you ever call me Ann again, there will be big consequences.”

  Reams returned the smile and held his hands up in mock surrender. “Yes, ma’am. Can’t have that now can we, Ann?”

  She rushed him with startling speed, slamming into him and driving him back onto the bed. No one saw either of them for nearly twenty-four hours.

  * * *

  Garza patrolled the CDC’s perimeter, inspecting the recently repaired barricade as he looked for any signs of danger. It was quiet aside from the usual revs congregating outside the wall. There had been no major trouble in the last several months, and for that, Garza was thankful. As he took a seat atop the barricade, he saw Lin walking in his direction. When she was close enough, he asked, “What brings you to these parts on this fine morning?”

  Lin smiled as she shielded her eyes. “I thought some sunlight might do me some good and that you might like some company.”

  “Sure, come on up. I’m always happy to share the joys of taking watch with others,” he said with a laugh.

  Lin’s face glowed in the morning light, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of the sun’s rays or because she was pregnant. She’d given him that news a week earlier. Either way, she looked absolutely beautiful as she ascended the ladder to sit next to him.

  Somewhere in the distance, Garza heard a faint whirring sound. He squinted into the sun as he scanned the horizon, but there wasn’t even a cloud in the clear blue sky. As the noise grew louder, it morphed into a distinct buzzing sound that Garza recognized immediately. Excitedly, he leapt to his feet as he tried to get a fix on what direction the sound was coming from. Despite his efforts, he didn’t see the drone until it was right on top of him.

  A huge smile appeared on Garza’s face as he stared up at the drone; Lin shot him a confused look. He hadn’t told her about Jeremy or the drone he’d encountered while on the recon mission, so the sudden appearance of the aircraft made her understandably nervous. She was comforted by the fact that Garza didn’t appear worried in the least.

  As the drone descended, Garza closed his eyes and let the wind coming off its powerful rotors wash over his face. When it landed inside the barricade a couple of yards away from the wall, its motors shut off, leaving only a strange quiet where the thunderous buzz had been a moment ago. Two lights blinked on the thing’s frame, while the camera mounted on its underbelly panned around in a circular motion. The camera stopped when it came to Garza and he waved. Although it had been a few months since he’d seen it, this drone appeared identical to the one he’d seen when he’d woken on top of the hardware store. As he looked closer, he saw a note attached to one of its skids.

  Garza raised his hands to show that he meant no harm as he slowly advanced toward the drone. Aside from the camera shifting position to keep him centered in its objective, the drone didn’t move. Crouching, he pulled the paper off the landing gear. His heart rate increased as he read the note, and he couldn’t help smiling from ear to ear.

  Well I’ll be damned. It can’t be…

  All of a sudden, Garza let out a boisterous laugh. “Haha! It’s from Jeremy! Lin—it’s from Jeremy!”

  Smiling but confused, Lin asked, “Who’s Jeremy?”

  “It’s a long story. You need to hear what this note says. Come on, let’s get everyone together.”

  The drone’s propellers whirred twice and Garza noticed the camera going up and down as though nodding. While he couldn’t be sure, he thought that the man on the other end was trying to tell him something. He held up the note and nodded once in the drone’s direction. The pilot must have been satisfied with the response, as the motors roared to life, and the aircraft shot up into the air. He followed its path until it disappeared into the distance. The smile never left his face.

  Garza ran so fast that Lin could barely keep up. Whatever the letter said had him more excited than she’d ever seen him before. As soon as he’d gathered everyone together, he gave them the abbreviated version of Anthony’s harrowing experience in the hardware store and told them about the man who’d used his drone to help rescue the boy. He spoke a mile a minute as he relayed the story.

  “I thought Jeremy was killed, but it looks like I was wrong,” Ga
rza said holding up the note triumphantly. “Not only is he alive, but he also indicates that he has been in contact with a larger group of survivors located out west. Apparently, some of the people from the rooftop colony he was a part of have already relocated to this settlement. If what he says is true, then perhaps there is something to the rumors of large-scale evacuations at the start of the pandemic. Maybe there are a lot more people alive than we know”

  Garza paused to let his words sink in. It was exciting news, and it dramatically changed the way they saw the future. When he looked around the room, he saw a mix of emotions that ran the gamut from hope and happiness to fear and anxiety. He understood all of them, as the very same things were running through his head. With a deep breath, he continued.

  “Jeremy says that he and the remaining members of his group are planning to relocate to the settlement, and he has invited us to join them. There is a transport helicopter coming to pick them up ten days from now.”

  No one said a word as they thought about what this could mean for them both individually and as a group. Finally, Ava spoke up.

  “I think we should go.”

  Ten days later, all the survivors from the CDC stood next to Jeremy and the four remaining members of his group. The whump-whump-whump of the Chinook helicopter could be heard in the distance.

  Lin gave Garza a hopeful look and asked, “Do you really think this could be the beginning of the end of this nightmare? That humanity might actually be able to come back from this?”

  Garza glanced around at the people he’d come to think of as family. Lt. Weaver, General Montes, Maria, and Cujo were talking with Jeremy and his group. Reams held Animal in a tight embrace as they looked toward the horizon. Anthony stood with Charon on one side and Annalee on the other. Next to her was Lydia, who was holding Ava’s hand. The little girl smiled broadly when she saw the helicopter appear in the distance. Lastly, he turned to face Lin and his unborn child. He smiled warmly, his eyes wrinkling at the sides.