by Leyton, Bisi
Were these the empirics? Wisteria had been so swept away with the strange illness, she’d forgotten these people were coming and now they were here. Backing further behind the SUV, she made sure Mr. Logan and the others couldn’t see her.
“We should leave now,” Bach whispered.
“These are my kids. Alba and Benet.” Logan pointed at them. “And stop calling me Mr. Logan, those days are gone. Just call me Didan.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
In hours, the RZC people were treating the coma patients with penicillin. Almost immediately, people began awaking. According to Bach, Didan said it would take a few days before everyone recovered.
And the more people who recovered, the wider Sir Charles, Bruno, and the rest of the leadership council opened their arms to the empirics. Sir Charles gave them one of the unused mansions on the island. Conversely, Wisteria and her family had lived in a shelter for months before being located into a home.
“This doesn’t make sense,” Wisteria said to Bach at the farmhouse. “How can those people be RZC employees and Famila? I mean, RZC experimented on you to learn a way to destroy the Family. Why would an empiric sit by and watch?”
“RZC was not the only human organization we monitored. There were thousands. We had Thayns in a lot of places, but the Family did not know what RZC was doing until ten years ago when we realized we could not get Thayns in. That was when we sent empirics to infiltrate RZC. Penetrating the entire company was not easy. RZC is a big corporation and a secretive one. The humans in charge even hid things from the investors.”
“But Didan said he was the CFO, not an investor.”
“That was the closest we were able to get. Everyone working in scientific areas or in security was screened by Red Phoenix.” His voice wavered. Red Phoenix was the only human organization the Family feared, though they’d never admit it.
“So, you’re saying even your Family didn’t know about these tests?”
“But like always, the Family found out.” Bach nodded. “That is why we have got to be careful and have to stay out of sight—unless you want to leave with me.”
Tired of arguing, she nodded. Right now, her priority had to be her mother and brother.
*****
“Bach.” Alba smiled as she opened the door to the granite mansion where the empirics had been housed. The mansion had been run down, but it seemed they were already renovating it.
“You made it,” he said.
“And no one got hurt,” she whispered. “We should talk. I saw Wisteria.”
“Did anyone else?”
She shook her head and led him into the house. “They got caught up in reviving some of the Terrans from the deep sleep. I will slip out tonight and see if I can help Wisteria’s mother.” She spoke so softly, he barely heard her. “With luck, we will revive her before the others reach her.”
“Sen-Son.” Benet, the silver haired seventeen-year-old empiric who’d arrived with Alba walked into the foyer. “I hate interrupting you two.”
“Benet, what are you talking about?” Alba inquired, stepping away from Bach.
“Right,” the younger boy chuckled.
“Benet,” Alba snapped.
“I am glad you finally made it here,” Bach said. He was glad because the sooner the empirics got what they were looking for, the sooner they’d leave.
Benet grimaced. “This place is much worse than I imagined. I do not understand why you like such a backward place.”
“I—”
“It is called sacrifice,” Alba quipped. “For the greater good. We are all here for the greater good, remember?”
“Why else would we be here?” Didan stepped into the foyer. “Benet, Alba, I believe I told you to inform me as soon as the Sen-Son arrived.”
“I was going to, but—” Benet stammered.
In seconds, Didan had swept across the room and grabbed Benet by the neck. “But you did not. You disobeyed me and there is a price for that.” Flinging Benet to the side, the lead empiric turned to Bach. “We must talk.”
Bach trailed the man out and discovered Didan had lost no time in fortifying the basement of the mansion.
There were two older empirics working on this as they entered. Mateu was installing the threshold, while Pol was replacing the basement door with one made of ninth metal.
“Sen-Son.” Pol rose to greet him. “Finally.”
“I thought you would have been here the moment we arrived.” Benet appeared.
“That would have been ill-advised.” Didan took a seat at the head of a large table. “The Terrans do not know we are from the Family. If they see Bach spending time with us, they will suspect we are Famila, because some of them know Bach is. I need him on the outside looking in.”
“But they are Terran. How smart can they be?” Benet scoffed.
Pol chortled.
“Is this your first assignment with the humans—Terrans?” Bach asked of Benet.
“I have done many simulations and have spent many years interrogating free Terrans before their renewal,” Benet bragged. “Over 900 days worth of training. I have as much experience as you.”
“The answer is yes,” Didan admitted. “Since the free Terrans are going to be extinct, we may never have the chance again.”
“So, that is why you came personally? You wanted one last assignment with the Terrans before they are all wiped out?” Bach asked.
Didan chuckled. “Call me sentimental, but nothing puts me to sleep better than a Terran child begging for her life. It is a shame we had to use the Sleeping Fever to win their trust. I would have preferred the direct approach: short, painful, and entertaining.”
The empirics laughed.
Bach’s blood ran cold. “If you do not care about their pain, why did you send the Sleeping Fever?”
“That was Alba’s idea,” Didan replied. “She believed we would be able to get answers out of them more quickly that way because we would have their trust. I have not used the Sleeping Fever since I was assigned to the Czech Republic, so I decided to be a bit sentimental.”
“It seems to be working,” Bach observed.
“I know. We got into the island and got access to everyone within hours,” Pol said. “It did not hurt things that Sir Charles was also on the island.”
“I was unaware you worked with RZC,” Bach commented as Alba came in.
“It was the worst seven years of my life,” Didan informed him. “I apologize again, Sen-Son, for not realizing sooner that the Terrans had taken you and your mother captive.”
Bach didn't want to talk about the time he was imprisoned by the humans. He remembered a lot of the people who'd imprisoned him and he knew none of them were here. He didn't know how he would've reacted, because aside from what they did to him, those people ended up killing his mother. And it had been the first time in decades a Famila had died at the hands of humans.
“I hope seeing their own plague ravish their world will provide you a little joy.”
“There is nothing enjoyable about being around the Terrans,” Bach recited, but his mind raced to process what Didan was saying. While he didn't want to socialize with humans, he no longer felt the need to see their world destroyed. “So, what happens now?”
“Charles gave us a list of all the scientists, soldiers, town leaders, and other important people.”
“I would like to see it and determine if you have anyone missing,” Bach suggested as Didan gave Bach the thick packet full of papers.
“I do not see any benefit in talking to the children, the farmers, or cleaners, but we may find that necessary,” Didan noted.
Scanning the pages, Bach checked for people he knew could lead them to Wisteria. Anyone he saw, he had to ensure they were either not interrogated or that Alba was there.
Coles’s name had been crossed out, but Silas Cheung’s name jumped out at him.
“Anyone missing?” Didan asked.
“Thomas Clarkson.” Bach knew Thomas would be a p
ointless interview, but he might be able to distract the group. “Esther Tenent.” He rattled off some random residents, hoping that while they were looking into these, he and Alba would get to Cheung.
“Didan, I have a message for you from home.” Mina entered and handed the man a piece of paper.
Didan scanned it, before waving the group away.
Alba met him in the hallway and, taking Bach by the hand, she led him to the attic bedroom that was on the top floor.
Entering, he found the room was completely white.
“I know the room is a bit extreme, but I like to have a place of calm.” Letting go of his hand, she sat on the bed.
“Why did you not tell me about the Sleeping Fever?” he asked her when they were alone. “Did you hide this from me?”
“Hide this?” She seemed genuinely confused.
“The last time we spoke, you said nothing about the Sleep Fever. Didan said it was your idea.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I suggested it to Didan. He was planning something more painful and bloody, but he did not tell me he had changed his mind and was going with the Sleeping Fever until you were in Smythe and we were on our way.”
“Alba…”
“I am sorry if you feel I deceived you. That was not my intent, but I had no way of contacting you. All our communications are monitored. You do not have a far eye, so there was no way to get in touch.” She took out a glass cylinder and unrolled it.
“They are useless without a threshold.” Taking the object from Alba, he unrolled it to reveal a foggy glass-like sheet. Normally, he would be able to send messages to Jarthan and the home realm with one of these.
“Leave that with me. We will set up a threshold in a few days.” Taking the far eye, she rolled it back up to put it away.
“Why did you allow this to happen to her mother?” Not that he cared about the woman, but he cared about Wisteria. “Now Lara is sick, and Wisteria will probably---”
“We cannot predict who will be affected, but she will recover. I swear, I will personally make sure she is okay.” Alba placed her hand on his arm. “She will not be harmed. As for your beloved, she’s probably got some of your immunities as well as your shana.”
*****
In less than a week, nearly half the comatose residents were awake. As more people recovered, Town Hall increasingly celebrated and trusted the new arrivals. When Tom Hindle woke, he also confirmed he knew both Didan and Mina. Tom even remembered serving with Didan on a few committees in RZC.
However, a lot of people still remained comatose, including Wisteria’s mother, Jason, Sabine the doctor, Garfield’s guardian, Thomas Clarkson, and almost all of the soldiers.
When Mina came to check on her mother, she had explained to David that she didn’t understand why the penicillin wasn’t working on this group. As a chemist, there was very little she could do, but she suggested when the island’s doctors were well enough, they’d take over her mother’s case.
David seemed to take the news well, but Wisteria was unsettled and deeply afraid. Was there a chance her mother could die? The Family had to be keeping her mother down for a reason. She didn’t want to burden David with her thoughts. In line with what he had said before, Bach kept his distance from her. As a result, she decided to keep her concerns to herself.
Shortly after the empiric left, she was surprised when Amanda came to see her. She’d been the first person outside of the empirics to visit.
“David’s not here,” she said.
“Yeah, I know, he’s off hanging out at the lake with Poppy. Now anyone can just hang out there.”
“Huh.” Wisteria knew the soldiers had kept it out of bounds for a reason. She guessed it had something to do with the research the scientists were doing, because that was where she’d found the obsidian crystal.
“I wanted to see how you were, since you mum’s still not awake.” Amanda’s face was full of concern. “And to thank you for trying to save my life.”
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to trust Amanda.
“I heard Garfield never made it back.” Amanda’s eyes filled with tears. “I know how much he meant to you.”
“I miss him.”
“I secretly hoped you and he would…”
“Garfield? Nothing was ever going to happen between us.” Rummaging through the cabinets for food, Wisteria laughed weakly.
“What was wrong with him? He’d be perfect. He’s edgy like you. I just guessed when you came back with him in April that there was something going on. It sucks you guys never got to together. You’d make a good couple.”
“That could never happen because he saw you, Amanda.” And because she saw Bach. “He was—” She halted. “—is only a friend.”
“No, you’ve got a thing for guys out of your league.”
“Out of my league?” Turning back to the other girl, she crossed her arms.
“Guys like Steven, Bach or whoever. I still can’t believe Steven told people you did him.”
“Nothing ever happened with me and Steven.” Running her fingers through her long braids, Wisteria shook her head. Hailey had attacked her and shaved off her hair because of that rumor. Amazingly, her hair had grown back freakishly quick.
“But you used to be really into him once, right? Before I got here.”
A year ago, she’d wanted something to happen between her and Steven. “Yeah, but now I can’t get rid of him for some reason.”
The other girl scoffed. “And Bach?”
“We’re just friends.” She’d agreed to play down the nature of their relationship until after the empirics left.
“I hope so, because it’s obvious you want more from him, but he’ll hurt you because he doesn’t feel the same way. Guys can be such jerks like that. You know if he’d half a brain he’d be begging to spend time with you.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t want anything from him.” Wisteria tried to sound nonchalant.
“I’m glad you feel that way because first, he was all over Hailey, and now it’s that Alba. He’s with her all the time. They look good together. Trust me. I know about boys.”
Wisteria tried to laugh off her worries, but she’d seen Bach and Alba together a lot as well. Amanda was right. They did look like they were cut out of a teen magazine. Perfect in every way and perfect together. Wisteria, on the other hand, was short, dark, and round.
“Focus on someone who deserves you, you know? There must be some other cute guys in town. Guys like him are nice to dream about, but the reality is so much worse than you can imagine.”
“You’re talking about David, aren’t you? What’s going on between you two?”
Amanda sat down at the dining table. “There’s nothing to say and nothing to add. It’s over. I’m looking for a real man.”
Wisteria wasn’t convinced Amanda was over David as she claimed. They’d had a very short reconciliation after the Woolmer party, but then David went back to Poppy.
“Let’s make a deal. I’ll move on from David and you’re going to have to stop day dreaming about Bach, Steven, or the other jokers.” Amanda laughed.
“Other jokers?”
“Next thing I know, you’ll be crushing on Benet,” Amanda teased.
“Right.” This actually made Wisteria laugh. “You like Benet?”
Amanda shrugged as her face turned bright red. “He’s all right.”
Taking out some dried fish from one of the cupboards, she decided to stew it with canned tomatoes and herbs.
“Will there be enough for me too?” Amanda pointed at the food Wisteria was assembling. “I haven’t had a chance to get to the ration center. Please?”
“Sure, there’ll be enough for us and David.”
“Well, I hope David’s happy with the clingy drama queen he’s dating—Alba.”
“You mean Poppy?” Taking out a pan, she lit the coal stove.
“No, Alba’s here.” Amanda pointed at the window.
“What’s she
doing here?” Looking out, Wisteria saw Benet and Alba driving up to the gate.
Soon, the Famila kids were banging on the gate.
“Hello,” Alba said when Wisteria went outside. “I heard Mina came to see your mother and I wanted to talk to you.”
“Benet?” Amanda hurried to the gate. “What are you doing here?”
He didn’t answer or acknowledge Amanda and this reminded Wisteria of the way Bach sometimes treated other humans.
“Amanda, right?” Alba said warmly. “It is great to see you again.” The girl’s blue eyes trailed from Amanda to Benet and she snickered. “Let us leave them—so they can talk.”
Wisteria wanted to say no, but Amanda had already pushed her way past the door, toward the hesitant Famila boy.
“Sure.” Benet seemed to have to force himself to speak.
“You guys should talk,” Alba prompted.
Amanda slipped her arm around Benet’s as they walked down the driveway.
“Do not worry, I will not be long,” Alba called out to him.
Letting Alba in, Wisteria couldn’t understand why this girl was here. She hoped it wasn’t serious.
Alba inspected the hallway emotionlessly, but turned and smiled at her.
“What’s going on? Has something happened to Bach?” Wisteria asked. “Have you figured out how to revive my mum?”
Shaking her head, Alba replied, “Not yet, but we will. I promise.”
“Thanks.”
“But that is not why I came here. I heard you had a friend, Garfield, an archer? He was about this tall with big curly hair.” Alba gestured with her hands.
“Yes, why?”
“I think I saw him, but then I have never seen him before. This kid was fighting off the infected with bows and arrows.”
“You saw Garfield?”
“Honestly, I do not know what your friend looks like, so I am not sure whether or not it is the right one. However, there are not that many people driving around in little blue cars who use a crossbow. He was climbing out of a ditch twenty-seven miles northeast from here. I drew you a map.”
