by Lucas Coon
“Andrei,IneverthoughtI’dsaythistoyoubut,thankyou.” Alexpocketedboththecaseandthebottle. “Ifyouwerewillingtothreatenmeandriskmenothelping Ciaraforher,thenit’sprettyclearwhereshestands.”Andre startedtowardthedoor.“Youhaveuntileightinthemorning. Afterthat,it’sbacktolifeasnormalundermyrules. Understood?”
“Yes,sir.”Alexstaredatthefloor.Hewassurprisedattheway Andreiwashandlingthis,buthewasalsoincrediblyappreciative ofthisfact.Hecouldhaveherkilledinaninstant.Hecouldhave herescorteduphereandcutintoherlikearoastham.He could’vehadAlexshotassoonashisboothithisthroat.Allof this,hecould’vedone,butdidn’t.ItwassomethingthatAlex neveranticipatedbut,maybe,justmaybe,therewasapartof AndreiGrigorevthatactuallywashuman.
Alexpacedaroundtheentranceofthetent.Theguardshad lefttheirpostforthenight,slimmingtheprotectiontothemain entrance,andtheothermenstationedinvariousplaces.As graciousofAndreiasitwastolethim getherawayfrom here,he wasstrugglingtofigureouthow hewassupposedtodoso.His truckwasstillatthehospital,shedidn’tyetknow shewas infectedandtheguardsweregoingtolikelyquestionhim ifhe triedtojustwalkherawayfrom themedicaltent.Thentherewas Ciara;shewasinjuredandnotinthebestofshape.Itseemed likesimplywalkingoutwasnotgoingtohappen.Itwasthe middleofthenight,sohehadafew hours,beforeAndreiwould turninhisreport,buthewantedtogetawayfrom thereas quicklyaspossible.Sure,Andreiwouldn’treportherasinfected untilthemorning,butthemilitarywouldlookforher.Intheir attempttolimitthespread,theywouldsendateam tofindher. Heplacedhishandinhispocketandfeltthecaseinhisgrip.She wouldn’tappreciateit,butthiswasgoingtobebetterthanthe militarygettingtoheranddraggingherbackintothishell.He stoppedattheentranceofthetentandtookadeepbreath;itwas now ornever.
“Aria!”Heshoutedhernameashewalkedintothetent.She wassprawledoutonthebedbyCiara,oneleghangingoffand snoringloudly.Alexcouldn’thelpbutlaughatthescene.He straightenedhiscomposureandtriedagain.“Aria!Wakeup.”Still noresponse,shewas,apparently,aheavysleeper.“Comeon! Seriously,youneedtogetup,Aria.”Heputhishandonher shoulderandshookherslightly.
“Yeah…”Shequietlyrespondedinanangrytone.“Yeah,I’m awake,what?” “Good.Youneedtogetup.”Hestoodup,sherolledoverto stareathim.“Weneedtogoaheadandgetoutofhere.Yousaid youwantedtojustgohome,right?Well,here’syourchance.”
“Wait,what?”ShesatupandstaredatAlex.“Wecan’tleave.I haven’theardanythingfrom Andreiand…”Hereyesprocessed thelookonAlex’sface.“…thefactthatyou’rerushingandtrying togetmetogetuprightawaymeansyouhaveheardfrom him. I’m infectedandthey’regoingtobecomingtogetme,aren’t they?”
“That’snotwhatI’m saying.”Alexrubbedhisforehead, removingthesweat;airconditioningwould’vebeenniceforthe medicaltent.“WhatIam saying,though,isthatweneedto leave.”
“Why?Whydoweneedtoleaveifthat’snotthereason?”Aria wasclearlygettingfrustrated.Alexhadtothinkofanexcuseto getherontrack.Hedidn’twanttotellhershewasinfectedyet, hecouldn’ttellher.Ifhetoldhernow,shewaslikelytojustgive up.
“Listen,itdoesn’tmatterifyou’reinfectedornot,because…” Hethoughtaboutwhattosayforamoment.“…therewerepeople thatwereintheearlystagesoftheinfectionthatgotintothe camp.Allhellisabouttobreaklooseoutthere.”Hehopedthat planwouldwork.“Please,justgetupsowecangetoutofhere.If wedon’t,thenwe’realldead.”
“So,thishasnothingtodowithmeormybloodwork?”She wasstillskeptical,hisplanhadn’tworkedlikehe’dhoped. “No…”
“DidAndreihavetheresults?”Sheproddedtoseeifshecould gethim toanswer. “Aria,wereallydon’thavetime–”
“Simpleyesorno.Didyougettheresults?”
“Yes…andno.”Alexsighed.“Listen,thetestwasinconclusive. Ididn’twanttotellyoubecauseit’sstillupintheairatthispoint andthere’snowaywecangetyouretestedhere.IwishIcould giveyouasolidanswer,Ireallydo.Theproblem isthatIcan’t giveyouone,theonlythingIcantellyouisthatitwas inconclusive.Now,weneedtoleavebeforethemilitarystarts shootingindiscriminately.I’m givingyouachoicehere;stickwith us,oryoucangohome.”
“OK.”Shestaredathim.Hetriedtomaintainhisbestpoker face,hehatedlyingtoher,butthiswashisonlychancetogether awayfrom whattheymaydo.“Iwanttogohome.Atleastthat waythere’sachanceI’llbeabletoseeMitchellagain.”
“Fairenough.”Hewasn’tgoingtofighther;itwasherrightto choosewhatshedidinherlastdayortwo.“GrabCiara’s backpack,please.”HeleaneddowntoCiara.“Don’tbegetting embarrassedonme,butI’m goingtocarryyouforawhile.”
“Really?”Ciarastaredathim withdiscontent.“Doyouhave to?” “Didyounotjusthearmeaboutmilitaryshooting indiscriminately?Yes,Ihaveto!”Heplacedonearm underher backandtheotherbehindherknees.Heliftedandshegrabbed holdofhim.Ashestoodup,heturnedbacktowardAria.“Well,if wearegoingtogetoutofherequickly,thenwe’regoingtohaveto stealacar.”Ariastaredindisbeliefatthisstatement.Alex couldn’thelpbutgrin.
“Yeah,thatsoundslikeatonoffun,Alex.”Sheshookherhead andpickedupthebackpack.“I’vealwayswantedtocommita felony.”
“Well,letmetellyou,todayisyourluckyday.”Alexwalkedout throughtheentranceofthetentandlookedaroundthebase.The soldiersweresituatedthesame,sowalkingaroundthebase wouldn’tbetoodifficult.Theparkingarea,ontheotherhand,did haveguardsstationedinthefront.Ifhewasgoingtogetoneof thetrucks,itwasn’tgoingtobeawalkinandaskforthekeys kindofsituation.Neartheparkingareatherewasanothertent,it lookedlikestorage.Therewerenoguardswalkingaroundit, therewerenolargelightspointedtowardanypartsofit.It screamed‘hidingplace’.Hisfeetsteppedquicklyinthedirection ofthetent.HesatCiaradownononeofthecratesandturnedto watchAriawalkaroundhim andlookconfused.
“Ithoughtweweregoingtostealacar?”Hervoicealmost soundeddisappointed.
“No,I’m goingtogostealacar.I’m notlettingyoutwoget caughtupintheillegalities.Just,stayhereandwaitformetoget back.”Alexmotionedforthem toremainwheretheywere.
“Stayhere?”Aria’stonewasaggressive.“Youjustsaidthat therewereinfectedaroundthecamp,andthatthemilitarymay startshootinganyoneandeveryone.Now youwantustojuststay here?”
“Yeah…”Alexshrugged“…that’sprettymuchthewholeofit.” Hesmirkedandstartedwalkingbackward.“Don’tworry.Nothing isgoingtohappentothetwoofyou,promise.”Heturnedand walkedawaybeforeAriacouldmakeanothercomment.Hecould tellthatshewaswellawareofhisstory’sinconsistencies.
Alexquicklysteppedintotheareawithallthevehicles.He lookedovereachoneindividuallytoseeifsomepoorchaphad accidentallyleftthekeysintheignition.Notasingleonehadthe keystillinthecar.
“Dammit.”Hiseyesshiftedaroundthelot.Therewere approximatelytwentysmalltrucks,afew largertransport vehicles,fourbuses,andonelargeSUVstyledvehiclenearthe back.Notasingleonewasprimedtobestolenwithoutsome work.Hestudiedthetwentysmalltrucks,eachwasmarkedon thebackwithanumberandletterdesignation.Oneoftheones nearthefrontwasmarked‘N-Forty-Seven’,thiswastheonehe wouldtake,hejustneededtofigureouthow.“Thekeyshavetobe keptsomewhere…”Heglancedaround.Intheback,onthesideof asmallshed,wasabox.Ontheboxwasthecleverdesignationof ‘Keys’.Nexttotheshackwasaguard;young,notmuchinwayof mass,paleskin.Thiskiddidnotgiveoffathreateningvibe, whichwasperfectforwhatAlexneeded.Hewalkedtowardthe guardwithhisspinestraightandchestheldhigh.
“Excuseme,sir,butyoucan’tbehere.”Thekid’svoicewas weak,likehewastired.Maybehisshiftwasabouttoend.This wasgoingtobetooeasy.
“I’m sorry,son,Idon’tthinkwe’vebeenacquainted.”Hepulled hismilitaryID from hispocket.“Ohdashnine,MajorGeneral AlexanderLangley.Ibelieveyouhaveavehicleforme.”
“Idon’tfollow,sir.”TheguardlookedconfusedatAlex’s request.
“IwasadvisedthatIneededtopullvehicle‘N-forty-seven’fora runbacktothehospitaltoretrieveamedicalspecialist.”Alex stoodandpointedtothetruck.“Thatonerightthere.Ijustneed togetthekey.”
“Ihavenotbeenadvisedofanyoperationstoreturntothe hospital,sir.”Theyoungmanshookhishead.“Whowasthe commanderthatassignedthistasktoyou?”
“OK,maybeyouaren’tgettingthis.”Heliftedhisidentification cardagain.“MajorGeneral.Ohdashnine.ThatmeansthatI’m higherupthefoodchainthanyouare.ThatmeansthatIam the commandingofficer.”Thiswassupposedtobeaseasyaswalking upandtellingtheguardtogivehim thecar.Whatwasthepoint ofhavingmilitarymuscleifhewasn’tgoingtobeabletoflexit?
“No,sir,Iunderstandyourrank.”Hepulledalistofnames from hisfrontpocket.“Unfortunat
ely,you’renotonthislistof peopleIwastoldtoletthroughhereandthiscamefrom thetop.” HeshowedittoAlex.“IfyouwereonhereIcouldletyouthrough but,ifanyofthesenamesaretheoneofthecommanderthattold youtogetthecarthenIcanradiothem andaskifyou–”The youngsoldier’ssoftwordswerecutoutbyAlexthrowinghishand againsthisheadashardashepossiblycould.Theonehitwas enoughtoknocktheguardflatoutontotheground.Alexloomed overhim forafew momentsbeforedecidingthathewas,infact, unconscious.
“TellmethatI’m notauthorizedtotakeavehicle,willyou…” Alexpulledtheyoungmanacrossthegroundandsathim gently intheshed.Helookedtheunconsciousmanintheface.“Major General.Thatusedtomeansomething!”Hestoodupandshut thedoor.“Andrei’sright,thesekidsjustdon’tlistenliketheyused to.Backinourday,youtoldamantodosomethingandhedid it…”Hepaused.“…andnow I’m startingtosoundlikeagrumpy oldman,that’sjustfantastic.”Alexpulledthecoverfrom thekey cabinet,grabbedthekeymarkedforthevehiclehewanted,‘Nforty-seven’andslammedthedoorshut.Hegotinthecar,started itandpulleditaroundtothebackoftheareawhereAriaand Ciarawerewaiting.
“Areyouladiesreadytogetoutofhere?”Hewalkedaround thetentandtowardthetwowomen.“Ifinallygotthedamnkey!”
“Finallyisright!”Ariapushedawayfrom thecrateandwalked towardAlex.“Whatthehelltookyousolong,Alex?”
“Well,youknow,Aria;itsnotlikeIcouldwalkintothearea withallthevehiclesandcalloveracheerfulsalesmantotalkall thedetailsandfeaturesoverwithme.”HesteppedtowardCiara tohelpherup.“Nexttimeweneedtostealacarfrom the military,I’llmakesureyoudothelegwork.Soundgood?”
“Well,allIknow isthatthiscarhadbesthaveair
conditioning.”AriasnarledatAlexandsmiled.Alexshookhis headandCiarachuckledquietlyatthecomment.“Alright,mister grandtheftauto…”Shelookedaround.“…whereisit?”
“It’sontheothersideofthebuilding,backtowardthefence.” HeliftedhisdaughterwhileAriagatheredthefew itemstheyhad. “Iwastryingtoremaininconspicuous.”
“Inconspicuous?Whileeveryoneissupposedlypanicked?That seemsreallyunnecessary.”AriawalkedwithAlextothebackof thebuildingandtowardthefence-line.Alexgottothevehicleand openedthedoor,helpingCiaraintothebackseat,whenhelooked uptoseeAriasteppingawayfrom thecarandtowardachild. Whywasthereachildwalkingaroundthecamp?How didheget outofthehotel?Wasitpossiblethathewasneverinthehotel andthathegotthroughthescarcelyguardedentrances?
“Aria!Whatareyoudoing?”Alexyelledtowardher.“Comeon! Weneedtogetoutofhere!”AriawavedAlexofftoindicatethat sheheardhim butwasn’tgoingtodowhathesaidandcontinued towalktowardthechild.Alexcouldtellthatsomethingwas wrongwiththekidbasedonthelookhewasgivingAria.He lookedconfusedandlost,almostlikehehadnoideawherehe was,orwhohewas.
“Heythere.Areyoulost,buddy?”Ariakneltdowntolookhim intheeyes.“What’syourname?”Thetwoofthem staredateach otherforseveralseconds;thechildremainedsilentandlooked aroundscared.“Areyourparentsaround?”
“Aria,seriously!”Alexwalkedaroundthetruckandtoward Aria.“Iknow youwanttosavetheworld,buttimeisnotonour sidehere.Themilitarywilltakecareofhim.”
“Ifyou’relost,thenmaybewecantakeyousomewheresafe.Is thatOK?”Shesmiledathim andreachedherhandouttoward him.“Comeon.Let’sgoaheadand–”Theboy’sfacewentpaleand hislipsturnedblueashelurchedforwardmakingahorrible noise.Theboyheavedanddoubledoverontotheground,Aria stoodupandsteppedbackquickly.Theparasitestartedtoripat theboy’smouthasitattemptedtoescape;hecontinuedtospasm violentlyandmakeindescribablesoundsofagony.
“Aria!Getthehellawayfrom him!”Alexyelledtowardher.He startedtowardherasquicklyashecouldandgrabbedherarm. “Dammit!Comeon!”Alex’ssuddenyankonAria’sarm was enoughtopullherbacktorealityandsheturnedtorunwith Alexbacktowardthevehicle.“Throw thebagsintheback.”
“Yeah,OK…”Ariatossedtheitemsshewascarryingintothe bedofthetruckandgrabbedthehandleofthepassengerdoor. Sheturnedagaintolookatthebloodiedchild.
“We’renotgoingtowaitforyou,Aria.Areyoucomingwithus orareyoustayinghere?”Alexwasbeginningtogrow impatient. Hewaswantingtohelpher,butshewastakingtoolong.
“Yeah…”Ariaopenedthedoorandsatinthepassengerseat. Thecarstartedtomovetowardthegate;shestaredoutthe window withapalecomplexion.“That’show itends,isn’tit?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Alexdidn’tunderstandwherethis conversationwasgoingtogo.Heturnedtolookatherfora moment,butthenturnedbacktotheroad.Hedrovethetruck towardthesidegate,therewerenoguardsatthemomentwhich wasexactlywhathe’dhopedfor.Hechosenottospeedawayin ordertonotdraw suspicion.“Seriously,whatareyougoingon about,Aria?”
“Everyonethat’sinfectedisgoingtodie”Ariasighedand glancedovertoAlex.“That’sjusthow it’sgoingtobe,huh?The militaryisn’tgoingtobotherwithcuringtheinfected.They’re moreconcernedwithcoveringtheirownassesandmakingsure the‘important’,or‘lucky’,peopledon’tendupinfected.Theydon’t careaboutpeoplelikemymother,likeMitchell,orMadison…” Thewholesituationwasfinallysettinginforher.“I’m guessing you’reonthatlistnow too,aren’tyou,Alex?”
“Ha!”Alexcouldn’thelpbutlaugh.“Iwasonthatlistalong timeago,Aria,andknockingAndreiflatonhisasswastheicing onthatseven-tiercake.”Helaughedagainathisowncomment andlookedbacktoAria.Heclearedhisthroatwhenherealized shewasn’tlaughing.“Sorry…”Heshookhishead.“Toanswer yourquestionyes.Youarecompletelyandtotallycorrect.They aren’tgoingtodomuchtosaveanyonehere.Iknow they’redoing something;Andreihasbeenworkingonsomethingtocureit,or slow it’sprogression,butIdon’tthinkhe’smademuchprogress.”
“Whywouldtheywanttoslow itdown?Imean,ifthepeople aregoingtodieanyway…”Ciarachimedinfrom thebackseat. “Oh,sorry.Ididn’tmeantointerrupt.”
“No,don’tbesorry.Youhaveavalidquestion”Shelookedover toAlex.“Doyouknow?” “I’m guessingtherearetworeasons.Youalreadyfiguredout thefirstone;tocovertheirownbacksides.Iftheymake somethingthatdelaysit,noonecansaytheydidn’ttry.They coulddroptheirconcoctionintothewatersupplyandbuysome moretime.”Heshookhishead.“Ontheotherhand,there’s peoplelikeAndrei.Helikestoturnpeopleintolabrats.From whatIknow abouthim,hewouldprobablystartwantingtoinfect peopleonpurpose,thenstartinjectingthem withsomethingto delaytheinfectionatthesametime,justtoseewhathappens.” Alexshrugged.“Ihonestlydon’tknow though.ImayhateAndrei, buthe’sadamngenius.Apsycho,butagenius.Ifgivenenough time,hecouldprobablyfindacure.”
“Wedon’thavetimethough.”Ariasatupstraightinherseat. “It’swhat,twenty-fourhoursbetweeninfectionand…”She stoppedtothinkaboutwhattocallit.“…transformation?”
“Giveortakeafew hours,yeah.”Alexpushedthebuttonon thedashtoturnontheheadlights;hewasfarenoughawayfrom thebasethatitwouldn’tmatter.Theyhadsuccessfullygotten awayfrom themilitarybaseandwereontheirwaytosomething else.Theonequestionhehadwas;whatthehellwasthat somethinggoingtobe?Themilitarybasewasguaranteedsafety forAlexandCiara.Granted,Arianeededtogetaway,butthey didn’t.Theycouldn’tgobacktothebaseaftertheydroppedher off;heguessedthe‘commandingofficers’wouldn’tbetohappy thataretiredmajorgeneralknockedtheconsciousnessoutofa lowlykidandstoleoneoftheirvehicles.Heshookhisheadand decidedhewouldjustbotherwithitlater.“Ineedtotakethenext exit,right?”
“Onemoreafterthat.I’m alittlesurprisedyouremember whereitis.”Ariasmirked.
“Itypicallydon’tforgetthings.EspeciallyaboutwomenI’ve beenwith.”Hesmiledtowardher,sheretaliatedwitha disgruntledstare.
“AlexanderBrentLangley,don’tyouevenstartdownthat road.”Sheangrilyturnedtostarebackattheroad. “Youtwodated?”Ciaraleanedback.“Thatmusthavebeena longtimeago.” “Yeah,butnotaslongagoasyoumightthink…”Ariashook herheadinshameandstaredoutthewindow.“I’dreallyprefer wenottalkaboutitthough.”
“He’stheoneyoucheatedonyourhusbandwith,isn’the?” Ciara’svoiceremainedmonotoneasithadtheentiretime.Alex couldn’tunderstandhow sayingthingslikethisdidn’twarrant moreemotion.How thehelldidCiaraknow aboutthisatall?
“Ciara!”Alex’sfacegrew sternashestaredbackatthegirlin thebackseat.HeshiftedhisgazetowardAria;thelookonher facetoldhim everythingheneeded.“Youknow,don’tyou?”
“Mom toldmeaboutAshlyn.Ithoughtshewastheonlyone, though.”Ciara’sdisappointedstarereflectedbackatAria.“How longagowasit?”
“Don’tanswerthat,Aria.” “Aboutfourtofourandahalfyearsago.MitchellandIwere togetherforalittleunderayearandhada
fightwhenIcalled yourfather.”Shesighed.“Youknow therest.”
“Whatthehell,Aria!?”Whyareyoutellingherallthis?What elsedidyoutellher?”Alexcouldn’thelpbutturnredwithboth embarrassmentandfrustration.
“It’sOK,dad.”Ciaraleanedbackandstareddownatthe vehicle’scarpet.“Istillthinkyouloveme.” “What?OfcourseIstillloveyou,Ciara!”Alexwasstartingto getupset.“You’remydaughter.You’remywholeworld,soof courseIloveyou!”
“Didyoulovemom?” “Yes,Iloved…”Alexstoppedashestaredattheasphaltinthe high-beams.“Youknow what,I’veputyouthroughhellalready. There’snosenseinhidinganythinglikethatfrom youanymore.” Helookedupinthemirror.“No.Ididn’tloveyourmother anymore.Ididatonetime.”Heshookhishead.“Donotthink,for evenasinglemoment,CiaraKatherineLangley,thatIdonotlove you!You’rebeautiful,smart,understandingandfuntobewith. Youareeverythingyourmotherusedtobe.Sheusedtobeso different,butsheturnedincrediblybitterovertheyears.She wasn’talwayslikethat;sheusedtobesosweetbutsomething…” Helookedbackagainandfrowned.“…somethingchanged.”Hebit hislipandglaredbackattheroad;hisdestinationor,more appropriately,Aria’sdestination,wascomingupquickly.“This probablyisn’tthebesttimetotalkaboutallthis.Wecandiscuss thismoreafterwedropAriaoffifyouwant.We’llgetyoumoved uphereandI’llansweranyquestionsyouhave;allthequestions youhave.Soundgood?”
“Yeah,OK…”Ciaracontinuedtosounddowntrodden.There wasamomentofsilencebeforeCiaraspokeupagain.“Whatare yougoingtodowhenyougethome,Aria?”
“Well…”Shelookedup,thenbackatthedashboard.“…I thinkI’m goingtogetinthereandcleanupsome,youknow,to passthetime.ThenI’m goingtogetsomethingtoeat.Afterthat,I thinkI’llgoaheadandtakeabath.”Shesmiledandnodded. “Yeah,I’llfillthetubwithscoldinghotwater,lightafew scented candles,pourinsomestrawberrybubbles,andshutmyeyesfor alittlewhile.Justleteverythinggo…”
