by Leyton, Bisi
“I am an empiric, so I am trained to find people,” Alba explained. “And I knew you would be looking for a space near the Isle of Smythe because of your Terran and away from people—”
“So? That would still mean a lot of places.”
“Well, I cannot tell you exactly how I do it, because it took years of training and experience,” she whispered. “But you are lucky I found you because if one of the others had, they would have killed your Terran.”
“You saw her?”
“Yes, she was just here. Do not look so worried. I think she is wonderful.” Alba stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead. “Unlike them, I understand exactly what you are going through.”
During the last few days he had spent in Jarthan with Alba, he’d come to realize how different she was. Unlike the rest of the Family, she was refreshing and wasn’t disgusted by the knowledge of him and a human.
“Wisteria seems quite nice,” Alba commented in the Family’s Dialect.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Alba, why are you here? What is wrong?” He closed the front door.
“They have selected the empirics to find out about the obsidian crystal,” Alba replied.
“Who? How many are going?”
“Your father took your advice and is sending in only seven of us.”
“Us—you are coming?”
“Yes, my father insisted this would be good for me. But Didan will be the lead empiric. Do you know what he is like?” Alba asked sternly. “He is brutal.”
“D’cara,” he replied. “This is very bad.”
Didan was one of the most ruthless empirics and detested humans. Once he and Didan had been very alike in the belief that all humans should be destroyed. Unlike typical Famila, Didan had lived for decades among humans. He’d even worked as part of RZC Biotechnologies. This made him adept at understanding and tracking humans.
As a child, Bach went with his father to witness judgment passed on a Famila woman and a human man for communing. The couple hadn’t gone through Mosroc, but they’d been married. The Seven Elders found them guilty in minutes and Didan executed the human with his bare hands.
Bach had been around eight at the time, and what he saw horrified him.
Didan had pulsed the human with a red light.
Bach had never seen one before or since, but from the human’s screams, he knew it was extremely painful. He didn’t remember exactly what happened to the human, but Bach remembered the blood and the screams.
All the while, Didan had smiled.
“It will not be bad if he finds what he is looking for,” Alba explained. “Help us uncover who brought the obsidian crystal into the Isle of Smythe. Once that is understood, at the worst, Didan will have to remove that particular Terran, and will leave. The empirics will not concern themselves with your personal life, provided you are discreet.”
“How do you know that?”
“The Family has no interest in what becomes of the island. All we want is to secure what is ours. So, she needs to keep a low profile and distance from you once the cohort arrives.”
“No.” But he knew Alba was right. “I cannot.”
“You have to.” Alba grabbed his arm. “She has your shana on her already. I saw that when I walked in. It does not take an empiric to know she is in love with a Famila. And Didan probably will not even care who she has the Mosroc with. He will just deal with her.”
By deal with, Bach knew it would be a long, painful, and bloody affair that Wisteria would never survive. “You are right, Alba. I will have to explain it to her.”
“Don’t worry, she cares deeply for you. I can sense it, so she will understand, but perhaps, you should not have returned to Terra so soon.”
“I have a matter to see to here. She needed me to be here. If the Sen is going to be mad, I will face that when I get back, but I cannot abandon my friend.”
“She is obviously much more than a friend to you.”
She’s my Mosroc. “I know.”
“Hey.” Wisteria headed down the steps, dressed to leave. “I see you’ve found him.”
“Yes,” Alba smiled. “I am sorry for interrupting, but there was some news he had to hear as soon as possible.”
“It must be serious?”
“Yes,” Alba said.
“If you need to go back…”
“But he does not have to leave right now. I hope at least he will take you home.” Alba smiled and turned to Wisteria. “I am really glad I met you. And no matter what happens, if you need me, just ask.”
He was amazed. Alba actually seemed to accept Wisteria. Perhaps there were more Famila like Alba, and there would be a way to integrate her into the Family. He was still apprehensive about the empirics coming to Smythe and discovering his relationship with her.
Most of the people in Smythe didn’t know much about him, apart from the fact that he was immune. Almost no one knew of his interest in Wisteria. All it would take is one empiric renewing the wrong person and asking the wrong question and she’d be exposed.
But with Alba as part of the cohort, they’d a better chance of keeping the relationship a secret.
CHAPTER NINE
Wisteria forgot her watch and returned to the bedroom to get it.
Bach came to the bedroom as she searched for it. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
“My watch.”
“It was over here.” He held it out to her.
“Thanks.” She went over, grabbed it, and put it on.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Where’s your friend?”
“Alba has returned to Jarthan.”
While Alba was quite nice, Wisteria was relieved the Famila was gone.
“What is wrong?” He rubbed his hands across her neck.
“A lot. I can’t image what’s happened to my brother. I just want to get back and see that he’s all right.”
He nodded and turned to the front door.
“And now we’ve been found by your Family. This makes everything so much more dangerous for us.” Well, just for her. The Family wasn’t going to kill him.
“We can trust Alba.”
She wanted to believe him, but remembered the way his friend Enric treated her.
“She understands more than you know,” he continued. “She used to be in love with a human, until the Family found out.”
“Oh.” She was surprised. That did change everything. “What happened?”
“I think he died.”
She covered her mouth with her hands. “I didn’t know that. I was thinking she was an ex-girlfriend.”
“Jealousy does not suit you.”
Jealousy? I’m not jealous of anyone. “Right now, my brother is my only priority.” As calmly as she could, she left and walked to the car. With everything, and she meant, everything, that was happening in her world, why would he accuse her of being jealous?
Getting behind the wheel, he started the car and they headed back to Woolmer. They’d been travelling for close to two hours when she realized she’d no idea where they’d come from, but remembered everything that happened in the den.
Clutching his hand, she was wary about returning to Woolmer. She wasn’t looking forward to discovering what had happened to the others. Losing even half of the kids who went out would be devastating and affect almost every household. “Thank you.” She broke the silence. “Thanks, for getting me out of Woolmer and for being there for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” Smiling, he rested his hand on her lap.
In silence, he drove into Woolmer. Everything was calmer, mostly because he’d mentally moved the biters away, but she suspected Felip’s similar action had also enhanced this.
“Where did you send all the biters?” she asked him as they drove.
“Thirty miles east of here,” he replied.
“You didn’t send them into the water?”
“Why?” He glanced at her like she was insane.
“So
the swarm wouldn’t attack other people.”
“I am not concerned about other humans. My focus is making sure your home is safe.” There was none of the apprehension or doubt in his voice that was normally there when he told her how important she was to him. “They are not my responsibility.” His voice wavered. “You are.”
Suddenly, a boy dove in front of the car. “Help!” he screamed.
“Stop.” She grabbed Bach’s shoulder. “It’s Dillon.”
Swerving, Bach avoided hitting the boy and managed to park without damaging the vehicle.
“Wisteria.” Exhausted, Dillon ran toward her. “It’s you.” His clothes were torn and soiled; he was only wearing one shoe and he had a deep gash in his head.
“Are you all right?” She inspected the cut to see whether or not he was infected. While he appeared normal now, the disease took longer to affect some than others. “How many of you are there? Did anyone else make it?”
“I don’t know. I hid until things calmed down.” He pointed in the general direction of some houses. “We need to get out of here.”
“But we need to find the others as well,” Wisteria replied.
“No, we need to leave.” He grabbed at Bach, who was now out beside her. “Listen, Barney, right?” Like most of the people on the Isle, Dillon had had very limited interaction with Bach because he didn’t mix with the other people, if he could help it. “The biters are coming back and they’re going to kill us all unless we get onto Smythe.”
“No, the biters won’t,” she said.
“He is right, but for a different reason. There is another swarm on its way here. That swarm will probably reach here in three days,” Bach revealed.
“Another swarm is coming?” She grimaced.
“They’re not coming in three days. Look around—they’re here now!” Dillon insisted.
He didn’t understand the context of her conversation with Bach.
They got the hysterical Dillon into the car and she directed Bach to the closest pit, 419 Cashmore. This was where Rebecca had gone.
Even though she was desperate to see David, this pit was the closest. She dreaded going back because she feared Amanda’s account of Yvette shooting Rebecca was true. They hadn’t found Rebecca when they drove around Woolmer the previous night, and Wisteria feared Rebecca had been infected.
They soon reached Cashmore Road and in the center of the street, a woman lay twitching.
Getting out of the car, Wisteria ran over and saw the remains of Rebecca’s flesher trying to move.
The red-eyed creature tried to bite at her even though it had no limbs and a hole in its chest where Yvette had shot her.
“It could not leave when I sent the rest because it has no legs,” Bach told her. “This is your friend too?”
“Rebecca.” She crouched just out of reach of the biter. “She first showed me how to be a tracker.”
“You need to stab it in the head or it won’t die.” Dillon reached for the knife Wisteria had on her belt. “You can’t waste time.”
Smacking his hand away, Wisteria scowled. “Don’t.” Sadly, she leaned over and stroked the flesher's hair. “Don’t you even care she’s dead because of us?”
“Stop.” Dillon bolted toward her. “Get away from it.”
“Do not touch her.” Grabbing the boy, Bach lifted him off the ground.
“Just wait a second, Dillon.” Closing her eyes, she took out her knife.
“Hurry!” Dillon screamed.
“I can’t.” She didn’t want to watch someone else she cared about get cured. Andrew was more than enough. She dropped the knife.
“Go inside and find the other girl,” Bach whispered as he squatted beside her. “I will make her sleep.”
Nodding, she headed toward the house. “We should see if Yvette’s still in there.” She wanted to make sure that girl was all right and to know if she shot Rebecca before or after the woman was bitten. Inside the safe house, she went to the pit. It was unlocked, so she easily opened the metal flap.
In the pit, Yvette squatted alone with a handgun that she pointed at Wisteria. “There wasn’t enough space,” Yvette wept.
“Are you joking?” The pit was the same size as the one Wisteria had squeezed four kids into.
“She said we had to do whatever we needed to survive. You can’t come in here.” Trembling, Yvette fired and the gun clicked. Luckily, she was out of bullets. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m a good person.”
Wisteria wanted to jump down there and pummel the girl for being so thick, for killing Rebecca and for trying to kill her now. In fact—Wisteria was going to beat this girl. Then, she remembered she needed to find David. Stopping herself, she got out, leaving the girl in the pit.
“Where are you going?” Yvette meekly called out. “Is it safe out there?”
“Yvette, why didn’t you ask before you tried to shoot me in the face?”
“I—I…panicked,” Yvette whimpered. “I can’t help it.”
“Dillon’s outside and you better start heading back to town, or you might have to spend another night out here.” Wisteria walked out.
“No, no, no.” The panicked girl clambered out of the hole.
“You made it? Are you serious?” Dillon got out of the car when the girls came out. “I thought I was the only one.”
“It was hell down there, Bach.” Ignoring Dillon, Yvette ran up to him. “You got us out?”
Bach backed away from Yvette and moved behind Wisteria, effectively using her as a wall between him and Yvette.
The taller girl frowned at Wisteria, and shrieked when she saw the remains of Rebecca’s flesher. “It’s alive, kill it.”
“No, let’s just go,” Dillon said eagerly. “We need to get back before more biters get here.”
“How did you all get into town?” Wisteria asked.
“A motorbike. But, aren’t you going to take us back in Bach’s car?” Dillon asked.
“No,” Bach said firmly.
“We’ve got to check on other people. But we could drop you off at Fox’s to get your bikes.”
“You’re not listening. There are biters everywhere!” Dillon shouted. “Let’s get back to Smythe.”
“I think you have confused this with a discussion,” Bach said through gritted teeth.
“We’ve been round to Fox’s so we know there are no biters there, but we’ll drive by and drop you off.” Wisteria knew they’d be safe. “Pick up your bikes and get back into town. Will that work, Bach?” She glanced at him.
Begrudgingly, he agreed.
After they got to Fox’s, Yvette and Dillon got onto Dillon’s motorbike and headed toward the Island.
Wisteria and Bach went to White Lake Avenue, where David was.
“Wisty,” her brother exhaled when he climbed out of the pit. He hugged his sister so tightly she almost passed out. “How did you make it?”
Poppy, Steven, and Hailey soon emerged.
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve gone with Rebecca and...” Poppy cried.
“Poppy, can you give us some time?” David snapped at her angrily. “Really, you need to get out of my face.”
“David,” Poppy pleaded.
“No, if you’d stuck to the plan, my sister wouldn’t have been stuck out here, but you were only thinking about yourself,” David yelled.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Poppy screamed. “I feel terrible.”
“Shut up, Poppy,” Hailey scoffed. “You were just so jealous that you couldn’t hold on to your man.”
“Is this the most important thing we have to deal with?” Wisteria snapped. “Seriously?”
“Relax, Wisteria. Your shouting will attract biters,” Hailey cautioned.
“I will attract biters?” Wisteria stepped up to face the brunette. “I’m here because a group of babies decided to have a party in the middle of a bunch of biters. So, if I choose to attract a swarm the size of Manchester, you bloody well are going to deal with it!” T
rembling with rage, she heard herself shouting.
“Calm down.” David held Wisteria back.
“Are you all out of your mind?” Wisteria exclaimed.
“Control yourself.” David shook her. “No one can afford to lose control with what’s happening. Trust us and stick with us and we’ll get out of this.”
“Wisteria, we’re on the same side,” Steven said.
“The same side?” Wisteria echoed. “Trust you? Steven, my friends are dead because of you and you almost got my brother killed. I promise you, if he’d died, you’d wish you were dead!”
Sadness appeared in Steven’s blue eyes. “I’m…” His voice faded.
“Maybe she’s bitten,” Hailey suggested.
“If I was infected, I’d bite you first.” Pulling away from the group, Wisteria stormed out of the house.
Bach was standing outside and he grimaced.
He appeared as angry as she felt. As she neared him, he looked even more livid. Glancing back to see what had upset him, she saw Steven leaving the house. She remembered Bach had a particular aversion to him. She assumed it was from the time he saw Steven kissing her, but they’d never really talked about that.
The kids piled into the car and Bach drove swiftly toward Norton. In no time at all, they were at Smythe’s outer gate. The tall gate that led to the bridge to town was locked and covered in barbed wire to dissuade people or biters from getting in.
“What happened to the boats?” Hailey asked. “They’re gone.”
“The soldiers must’ve sunk the boats to make sure no one could sail back to Smythe during the infestation.” That was Wisteria’s guess.
“I can’t believe they did that,” Steven remarked.
“Coles has really lost his mind,” Hailey commented.
“Yeah, that man is out of control,” David added.
As the children reached the outer bridge leading to Smythe, they met other survivors from last night’s party.
Wisteria noticed several bodies scattered along on the ground. As she passed one, she saw it was one of her classmates, Karen Else, now a flesher who was struggling to get up.
“It’s Tony.” David pointed to another flesher. “Damn.”
There were several other teens they all recognized, but there were also a lot of fleshers that weren’t from Smythe.
