Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited

by Mendonca, D. Manuel

  “I guess,” Cynthia utters holding out the jar.

  Mika holds the jar in his hand, the sweet aroma wafting out of the jar, forcing its way into his nose giving him a slight shiver as he brings the jar to his lips slowly allowing the fluid to enter his mouth. He swishes it around from cheek to cheek making sure each taste bud gets its fill before swallowing it.

  “Oh how I’ve missed this,” Mika says.

  “Been a while?” Cynthia asks.

  “Just under fifteen years,” Mika replies wanting to take another sip but not wanting to over step his limitations, “but this brings me back, back to a time I’ve almost forgotten.”

  “Then why don’t you finish that jar?” Cynthia asks with a sly wink.

  “Really? Are you sure?” Mika asks excitedly.

  “Yeah, why not,” Cynthia answers with a shrug, “I should have some more ready to go by the morning.”

  “Oh,” Mika groans, almost drooling as he takes another sip, “you are an amazing woman Cindy.”

  Fire burns in her eyes. She gets to her feet and swipes the jar from his hand and smashes it on the ground leaving glass and liquid all around his feet

  “What did you call me?” She asks irritably, her nose inches from Mika’s.

  “Cindy,” Mika says confused, “that’s your name isn’t it?”

  “No, my name is Cynthia, CYNTHIA, do you heard me?” She yells frantically as her arms flail wildly in front of her.

  She walks away upset still grumbling under her breath, her hands still flapping almost in rhythm as she walks.

  “What’s her problem?” Mika asks.

  Hope shrugs, “who knows.”

  “Oh well. It’s getting late, maybe we should get some rest,” Mika says.

  “Maybe soon. I think I want to write a little,” Hope replies offering a half smile.

  “Alright, but please promise me you’ll try to rest soon. It’s been a long day,” Mika smiles back, his hand lingering on her knee as he slowly moves away.

  Hope watches as the others pull away, most of her new friends already lying down. The Major sits across the room, his head hung low as he sleeps his back pressed up against the wall. Amanda and Brad are still talking, slight whispers and giggles coming from their back corner. Fanny is finally asleep, Mika is resting close to Fanny’s cot but Hope isn’t sure if he is actually asleep of just lying there. Cynthia and Justin are both sitting at a small round table the echoes of cards shuffling can be heard fluttering softly close by. Hope takes a deep breath as she tries to block out each of the sounds as she pulls her little pink book out of her pocket a black pen sliding out with it.

  I know it’s been a while but it’s hard to keep my thoughts in order. Even now I only find myself writing as a way to escape from the pain and stress we’ve faced recently. When last I wrote we found a wonderful bunker and things were starting to look up for us. But in the course of a few days we’ve destroyed the bunker, burned it to the ground. Not intentionally yet I still feel like the blame should be on our shoulders. Fanny pushed so hard to get the radio up and running and because of it we left hundreds without a home. It’s also the reason Karen, John and Sara have lost their lives. Each of their blood is now on our hands, my hands. And now I sit here with pain and heaviness in my heart at their loss and still I know it could be worse. Fanny was attacked again and again she was given life threating injures which could have been avoided if she wasn’t so bull headed rushing into a fight she wasn’t prepared for. I fear it won’t be long until my friend is dead if she continues to make rash decisions.

  Hope rereads her words, the black ink starting to fade from her sight as she starts to drift off to sleep the thought that her friend might not make it home with her becoming the last thing to enter her mind.

  Chapter 14

  Stray beams of light enter through the small cracks in the barriers. One of the stray light beams finds its way to Hope’s eyes causing them to twitch and spaz before she finally gives in and wakes up. She stretches her back trying to fix the creaks and crimps that formed in the middle of the night. The gym is quiet as the others remain asleep. She looks back on the floor, her book still lying there the pages wide open the bottom of the paper wet and sticky from drool. She wipes the pages against her pant legs, drying them off the best she can before she closes the book and slides it back into her pocket. She stands up and shakes the stiffness out of her legs as she half hobbles her way past the few sleeping bodies into the girl’s locker room. She looks inside finding nothing but darkness. She groans briefly before remembering where she placed the hand-cranked flashlight the night before. She cranks the light several times before turning it on and enters the darkness. The locker room is huge, with several extensions fanning off of the main room. The first room is square shaped with several greenish gray lockers bolted to the walls. In front of each of the lockers there are thin benches each one embedded into the floor and solid to the touch. Fanny continues to explore the rest of the locker room, heading through the left opening. Inside the next room she finds a row of four stalls. She pushes the first stall door open finding it empty except for the few pipes sticking up from the floor. She pushes open the second stall and groans in disappointment as she finds the toilet wrapped up in a yellow plastic bag with the words ‘out of order’ printed in black. She continues on to the next stall almost ready to give up any expectation of finding something useful. She pushes the stall door open and comes face to face with the white porcelain of a toilet bowl. She bites her lower as she reaches over and pushes down on the plunger and letting out a high pitched screech of excitement as the toilet flushes.

  “Oh thank goodness,” She mutters to herself.

  She looks at the last stall and decides not to push her luck, instead opting to continue to explore the rest of the locker room. The next room is roughly half the size of the first room; mirrors on the back wall reflect the light causing Hope to jump back in fear before coming to her senses. She turns around the light moving slowly over the light yellow paint that seems to be following her through ever room. The light stops on the blue shower curtains. She pushes one of the curtains aside and places her hand on the knob before taking in a deep breath.

  “Please, please, please,” she whispers to herself repeatedly as she turns the shower on.

  The pipes moan and struggle briefly before finally expelling water from the showerhead. She holds her hand under the water, feeling the cold sting on her skin as she just lets it dribble down her arm. The water doesn’t get any warmer but she doesn’t care. She checks the surroundings one last time still not seeing or hearing anyone. She places the flashlight on the ground the light shooting straight up reflecting off the ceiling giving Hope the slightest bit of light inside the shower. She slips her shirt off feeling the draft of the old building crawling up her bare back, giving her a shiver before she undresses the rest of the way. She slides the curtain wide open checking the sprinkling water one last time before stepping inside. She stands under the falling water, arms crossed across her chest as she tries to adjust to the coldness. She turns her back; the water washes down her hair letting the dust and muck wash away. The light flickers for a moment forcing Hope to slide the curtain open somewhat and checks on it. The beam weakens before finally shutting off. She sighs and shuts the curtain giving in to the water hoping to wash the pain and blood away. She stands still in the darkness her fingers running down her body over the bruises, around the gashes and stopping over the abrasions on her stomach. A soft thudding sound grabs her attention spooking her enough to poke her head out of the shower, squinting as she tries to look through the darkness.

  “Hello?” She calls out hoping the noise is just one of her friends looking for her.

  Hope pulls her head back in, a bit of nervousness taking place of the cold. She finishes washing the best she can before turning off the water and standing still, allowing the excess water to drip freely of her body. She runs her hands along her body, helping her body dry as fast as s
he can shivering a little bit more as a draft makes its way through the shower. She hears the thudding sound again as it echoes through the shower. She fumbles with the curtain as she crouches down and feels for the flashlight. She hears the sound of the flashlight cranking causing her to freeze in place unsure of what’s to come.

  “Funny thing these flashlights,” Justin’s voice says softly.

  Hope backs into the shower, wrapping the curtain around her body the best she could.

  “What are you doing in here?” Hope screams.

  “Oh you know,” Justin says still steadily cranking the flashlight.

  “No I don’t,” Hope growls scared and angry.

  “I was up you know,” Justin says turning the flashlight on, the ray of light pointed upward illuminating his face. He grins wildly, his yellow crooked teeth looking dull in the golden beam. “I watched you. Actually, I can’t lie; I watched you most of the night.” He steps closer to her, backing her up as far as she can go. He reaches out his hand and strokes her still damp face with a single finger, a look of lust in his eyes. “It’s been a long time since someone as beautiful as you has come here seeking refuge.” He runs his finger back up her face before stopping halfway up and cupping her cheek with his hand.

  “Please, just leave me alone,” Hope begs.

  “I couldn’t do that,” Justin says with a disturbed look on his face, “you and I belong together, its destiny.”

  “I could never,” Hope says trying to pull her face away.

  “Oh you will. If not willingly then I will have to show you by force,” Justin says his smile fading, melting into a look of disgust. His hand moves down her face faster and more forcefully as he tries to slide it behind the curtain.

  “No!” Hope screams out pushing him back.

  Justin grunts angrily before starting back at her. Hope panics as he grabs her wrists, pulling the curtain out of her hands. The only thing that keeps the curtain concealing her is his body pressed against hers, pushing her into the wall. She wriggles and squirms trying to free herself of his grip unsuccessfully. His hot ragged breath is felt on her neck as he presses his face close to hers.

  “Stop it, please. You’re hurting me,” She cries.

  “It wouldn’t if you just stopped fighting me,” Justin says pulling his head away momentarily, “you know, if you’d just give in this would all be over in a moment.”

  Hope grunts and groans looking deep within herself for strength. She manages to back him off enough to lift her leg just enough to kick him backward. But his grip is too strong; the curtain rips off the pole as he pulls her along with him. They both fall to the ground and she struggles to free herself again with little results. He manages to roll her over and sits on top of her, the crinkling of the shower curtain muffled by her whimpers. He leans his head forward again, his tongue licking his crooked teeth as he does. Hope grunts as she head butts him. He backs away disoriented, giving her just enough leverage to free her hands and roll him back onto his back.

  “I like it when the girl plays rough,” Justin laughs creepily.

  “It… isn’t… funny!” Hope yells punching him as hard as she can, cracking the bridge of his glasses.

  “Come on,” Justin snickers tossing the two halves of his glasses off to the side. “Hit me again. You know I love it.”

  “Stop talking,” Hope says panting.

  “Aww, what’s wrong baby? Out of breath already?” Justin says, a crooked smile widening.

  Hope punches him again, “I am not your baby!” She continues to hit him repeatedly each punch harder than the last, “and I am not some play thing that you can just have your way with.”

  She pulls herself away from his listless body, blood on her hands as she reaches for the flashlight. Her hands shake as she lifts it off the ground and points it at Justin. His body is limp and unmoving, the shower curtain draped over his body hiding most of his face. She slides the curtain away with her foot, the light showing Justin’s face beaten and bloody.

  “Oh God, what have I done?” She asks herself, her knees weak and shaky as she stands beside the body. I didn’t mean it,” She mumbles, “I didn’t mean it. He attacked me. He had to be stopped.” She says trying to comfort herself.

  Justin gasps for breath, his hand reaching out grabbing her ankle and pulling her to the ground.

  “You can’t honestly think you could kill me, do you?” Justin laughs manically as he forces himself to his knees and eventually back on top of her.

  Hope scratches and punches with what little energy she has left. Justin places on of his hands around her throat, the other sliding his pants off his scrawny body. She gasps for air as she feels his exposed body brushing against hers. She slaps at his arm as she feels him tightening his grip.

  “Just relax and when you wake up it will all be over,” Justin says as he tries to force her legs open. “It’s no use fighting any longer, I’ve won.”

  Hope gasps one last time as she starts to drift. She can feel her legs giving into to him as she fades out. She awakens moments later gasping for air. She can see a light shining brightly, lighting up the room. The shower curtain is back over her and she holds it tight against herself as she forces herself to sit up. She looks around the room, tears starting to swell up as she thinks about herself being defiled by the creep.

  “Don’t worry about Justin,” Fanny’s voice calls out. She steps into the light from behind the locker room wall.

  “Where is he?” Hope asks keeping the curtain pressed against her body.

  “I took care of him,” Fanny says with a dark smile.

  “What did you do?” Hope asks concerned. “How did you even know where I was?”

  “I heard you crying for help,” Fanny says handing Hope her clothes, “took me a few minutes to actually figure out where you were. The echoes made it sound like you could be anywhere.”

  “Did he? I mean, am I?” Hope tries to speak but becomes too embarrassed to ask.

  “No, he tried like hell though. I got here just as he got your legs open. Luckily the little fella couldn’t get going,” Fanny assures.

  “What did you do to him?” Hope asks again, this time with a little more force.

  “I told you, I took care of him,” Fanny replies, “now why don’t you get dressed and we can get out of here.”

  “Yeah,” Hope says fondling her clothes, a sad look on her face.

  “What’s wrong? I told you I took care of it,” Fanny asks.

  “It’s nothing,” Hope grumbles.

  “Hope, you know you can’t lie to me,” Fanny says offering a friendly, talk to me smile.

  “I just,” Hope sighs, “I just don’t understand how anyone could do such a thing. It’s bad enough those, those… things, are out there. But now people are attacking other people. It’s madness. What kind of human being could do that?” tears build up in her eyes. It doesn’t take long before tears are rolling down her cheeks.

  “Oh Hope,” Fanny groans sympathetically as she pulls her close, “you can’t let people like him get to you. I know it sucks, but there will always be people like him that believe they can just take whatever they want, even if it’s by force. The best way to get back at them is to show them it doesn’t bother you. That no matter what they do to you, you are the bigger person. Once you do that, then you know you’ve won.”

  “It’s not that easy,” Hope mutters between snivels, “he tried to take something from me. My innocence, one of the last remaining things I have. And even though I tried to fight him, I lost essentially.”

  “But he didn’t get anything,” Fanny says, “I made sure of that.”

  “He did,” Hope growls, “he may not have got what he really wanted, but he did take that part of me.”

  “Hope, listen to me,” Fanny says holding onto her tightly, “I…stopped…him. He didn’t get anything from you.”

  “Never mind you just don’t get it,” Hope sighs, knocking Fanny’s hands away. She drops the curtain and
puts her clothes on as fast as she can. Fanny turns her back out of respect as tension builds between them. “I need to know,” Hope says breaking the silence and breaking some of the tension, “what did you do to Justin?”

  “You really don’t want to know,” Fanny says coldly.

  “Stop treating me like a child,” Hope shouts, her voice resonating loudly throughout the shell of a room.

  “You are a child,” Fanny cries back.

  “I haven’t been a child since we got here,” Hope says her voice lowering the tone giving way as she trails off.

  Fanny turns back slowly, her head looking somberly over her shoulder as she stares at her young friend standing still, her clothes clinging to her body. “You didn’t have to come here you know.”

  “Yes I did,” Hope says turning away as Fanny tries to look into her eyes.

  “Why would you ever feel like you had to come here?” Fanny asks concerned.

  “Because I don’t know who I am,” Hope answers. “I don’t know what I’m good at.”

  “You’re only sixteen, you shouldn’t know who you are yet,” Fanny says trying to shake the sense into her.

  Hope stops her before running her fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face, “That’s not what I’ve been told my whole life.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “All I’ve ever heard for as long as I can remember is ‘Hope you give us a reason to keep going’, and of course Josh constantly reminding me since I was eight that I would have to know what I was going to be doing with my life at sixteen.” She says as she starts to hyperventilate.

  “You have to calm down,” Fanny says rubbing her back, trying to help her relax, “and don’t worry too much about Josh. It’s not like he’s going to be around forever. Besides do you really think your mother or father would really let him force you to do something you don’t want to?”

  “No,” Hope says catching her breath, “I guess not.”

  “See you have nothing to worry about. Even here, because you know I’ve got your back,” Fanny winks.