by Max Lockwood
“Did you sleep well last night?” Elaina asked Alec. He had bags under his bloodshot eyes.
“I rarely do,” he said, scratching at the stubble on his face. “Bad dreams. I’m sure you have them too.”
“Sometimes,” she said, becoming concerned. “Definitely not every time I fall asleep, though. Are you still having nightmares about that girl in Seattle?”
He nodded. “When I think about it, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’ve seen much more horrific things since then. In comparison, the girl was just another infected person I had to eliminate so I could save healthy people. Why has it bothered me this much?”
Elaina rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because she was the first one. People treated you like the villain for doing something that we’ve all done to survive. She was young and innocent, but so were you.”
“I wasn’t young and innocent.”
“In a way, you were. You were fairly new to the job and you hadn’t used deadly force at that point. Even though it might not be the most horrible thing you’ve seen out in the world, it’s left the biggest impact.”
“She was so young,” Alec said. “That’s what always gets me. She didn’t deserve to get sick. She didn’t deserve to lose her humanity like that.”
“I know,” Elaina said, giving him a sympathetic pat on the knee. “After my sister died, I was so angry all the time. It wasn’t fair that she got sick. It still isn’t. I think about her every single day. If she hadn’t gotten sick, I think she would be right by my side, helping me with my serum. If those hicks had picked her up and held her in a jail cell for treason and murder, I think she would have gotten out almost immediately. She was just so likable.”
“You are too,” Alec said.
Elaina laughed. “You don’t need to flatter me. I have a pretty good sense of who I am, and I’m okay with that. My sister was my best friend because I didn’t have many others. None of the kids my age could relate to me. I was academically a high schooler in an elementary schooler’s body. Lily liked to play scientist with me. I mean, I was actually conducting experiments at home, but she thought it was a fun game. She was my first lab assistant. She didn’t think that I was a freak.”
Alec frowned and put his arm around Elaina’s shoulders. “I can’t imagine that anyone would think you’re a freak. You’re brainy, sure, but you’re not that different from anyone else.”
“Maybe I’m finally growing into my age,” she said. “I think I’m always going to feel a little odd, though. It’s part of my identity. It’s who I was meant to be.”
“You’re incredible,” Alec said, gazing into Elaina’s eyes. “I know you might not always feel like it, but you’re the bravest, smartest, kindest woman I’ve ever met.”
He leaned in to kiss her and her body melted against his touch. Things were beginning to get serious with Alec. Elaina was no longer afraid to touch her lips to his. When they kissed, her problems dissolved for as long as they were together. She felt his tongue on the outside of her mouth, and she slowly parted her lips when the phone rang in the hallway.
Elaina and Alec jumped up and ran toward the phone. Elaina was so nervous to speak with Dr. Himmler that she felt like her stomach was about to leap out of her mouth.
“Hello?” she squeaked.
“Dr. Morgan,” Dr. Himmler’s gravelly voice sang, “I trust you are doing well?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “My samples are in the incubator as we speak. Will you be able to take a look at them?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Yes, I do have good news for you today,” he said brightly. Elaina turned to Alec and gave him the thumbs-up. “I have spoken with the supervisors and they are willing to fly an aircraft in to pick you up, along with your travel companion. They ask that you have some work available as proof that you are not using their goodwill as a ploy to get to safety.”
“Absolutely,” she said. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was finally happening.
“There are some terms they want you to be aware of.”
“Anything.”
“They want to remind you that you are technically still wanted for some serious crimes. As they put it, you are on a very short leash. Your actions will be monitored and your work will be examined by myself and other experts in the field.”
“No problem,” Elaina said. “You’ll understand how my serum works the second I show you the plans.”
“I have no doubt about that. I have already done all I can do to convince the government that the Dr. Morgan I know is not a bioterrorist. You’re going to have to convince them the rest of the way.”
“I’ll certainly try. It would help if they focused their attention toward Dr. Vincent.”
“One step at a time, Morgan,” Dr. Himmler said. “Besides, if you’re the same scientist I once knew, you’re more concerned about science than justice.”
He was right. It was far more important for her to deliver the preliminary serum to the right hands than it was for her name to be cleared. Though she wanted to be cleared of all charges, she would rather sit in prison in a virus-free world than be a free woman in an infected country.
“Of course,” she said. “And I’m so eager for someone else to look at what I’ve created. I thought the Morgan strain would change the way we treat sick patients, but the LILY serum certainly could prove to be bigger. I truly believe that we can begin to cure infected and vaccinate the country within the next month. I really think the country can come back from this.”
“It’s encouraging to see you with so much hope. The information from the phone company says you’re at Curie General Hospital, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Excellent. Expect an aircraft to arrive for you in the next eight to twelve hours. Remember to bring all of your work and to be on your best behavior. Someone will be coming for the two of you very soon.”
“What about the kids?” Elaina asked, feeling panicked. “There are two more back in the mountains. We told them to wait there until we came back. Does the government know about them?”
“Yes.” Dr. Himmler sighed. “I informed them that there were more survivors and mentioned that they were in a second location. Unfortunately, the aircraft will only make one stop. If the kids find their way to the hospital by the time the helicopter is there, they may find a spot onboard. Otherwise, you and your companion will be the only passengers arriving to my laboratory.”
“But that’s not enough time to find them,” Elaina protested.
“I’m sorry. I’m just relaying the information I was told. Your new employers are not open to negotiation. You’ll find that out soon.”
“I understand.”
“Good. I look forward to seeing you very soon, Dr. Morgan. Take care.”
“You too,” Elaina said, feeling a mix of emotions. “Goodbye.”
Elaina hung up the phone and silently walked back to the lab. She checked on her samples through the glass of the incubator before sitting back down on the couch.
“What did he say?” Alec asked from the doorway. Elaina recounted the short conversation, not knowing whether to feel happy that she would be leaving so soon or upset that the other two may not be able to come along.
“I just feel so guilty about leaving Thomas and Melissa behind,” Elaina said. “We promised that we would come back for them. I really meant it.”
“I did too. I don’t know if they could make it very far on their own. They both really preferred being part of a group.”
“But there’s nothing we can do. We don’t know if they’re still at the cabin. Hell, we don’t even know if they’re still alive. Melissa was in pretty rough shape when we left. What if she died and Thomas continued on? It could take days to find them. We have hours.”
Alec grabbed his bag and stuffed a few extra snacks and drinks inside.
“What are you doing?” Elaina asked.
“I think we both know what I need to do.
I’m going to look for them. If I have to put both of them on the back of the bike, so be it. We can’t abandon them.”
“You can’t go,” Elaina gasped. “It’s going to take about eight hours just to get to the cabin and back. If you don’t find them immediately, you might not make it back.”
“I just can’t leave them, Lainey,” he said softly.
“But you’re here,” Elaina protested. We’re hours away from getting out of here. You can’t leave me.”
“You don’t need me. The kids do.”
Elaina wanted to cry. She had dreamed about finding safety with Alec for such a long time that the thought of losing him was heartbreaking. She desperately wished she could bring the younger two on the aircraft, but she would rather have Alec join her for sure than take a gamble and lose all three.
“Hey,” Alec said gently, sitting beside her. He pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll make it work.”
“What if you don’t make it back in time?”
Alec thought for a minute. “I’ll go straight to New York. Write down Dr. Himmler’s contact information, and I’ll get to you as quickly as possible.”
Elaina obliged, but she knew that there was a slim chance he’d make it that far. In two months, they had managed to go from Washington to Colorado. At that rate, she wouldn’t know about Alec’s wellbeing for half a year. At the rate the virus was progressing, she didn’t see how he would make it past the quarantine.
“I don’t think I can change your mind about this one,” Elaina said sadly.
“No, I don’t think so either. If the helicopter comes and I’m not here, you have to leave. Don’t even think twice about it, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he said, pecking her on the lips.
Elaina knew that this was not likely. If he wasn’t killed or captured along the way, he certainly wouldn’t make it to her lab anytime soon. He was smart and careful, but they had been lucky too many times. She knew that luck would run out soon.
“I’ll see you soon. You’d better hurry.”
“I’m going to run all the way to the bike. I hope it’s still there,” he said though a forced grin. “I’ll ride as fast as I can and I’ll track the others down like a bloodhound. Otherwise, I’ll follow you to New York. I’ll always be with you, Lainey.”
“Okay,” she said, her throat feeling tight.
“Have fun saving the world,” he said, caressing her cheek before he stood up. “I’m rooting for you.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Good luck finding Thomas and Melissa. They owe their lives to you.”
“I know.” He chuckled. “Bye,” he said, embracing her one last time before he returned to the mountains.
“Bye,” she whispered, giving him a final kiss on the lips.
Elaina watched as Alec walked out of the lab and out the door. She wanted to chase after him, to tell him that she couldn’t go on without him. But she knew that would be selfish of her. She was completely capable of surviving on her own and delivering life-saving medicine to the human race. She was capable of doing what no other scientist could do. She just didn’t want to do it without him. Her success wouldn’t be as sweet without Alec celebrating with her.
Not wanting to face her sudden loneliness, she returned to the lab bench, ready to work. She only had a few more hours until the helicopter landed and she wanted to show the world that she was not the monster she was being portrayed as. Elaina was so close to saving the world that she couldn’t lose focus—even though the only friend she had made in the last two decades was walking away.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Are you having fun yet?” Bobby Dean hollered over the music as they continued down the road.
“Yeah, it’s not so bad,” Melissa admitted sheepishly. “Sorry I freaked out on you earlier.”
“Not a big deal,” he drawled. “Besides, it’s fun to watch you squirm. I probably shouldn’t give you such a hard time. You’ve had it rough.”
She shrugged. “No worse than anyone else.”
“I don’t know—between your family abandoning you and your friend getting burned up in that house fire, it sounds like you’ve had a pretty bad time. I’ve only had to deal with a few crazy women on my tail. Nothing like you’ve gone through.”
Bobby Dean opened a tin and shoved tobacco into his lip until it protruded from the rest of his mouth. Melissa couldn’t stand the smell, but she didn’t want to tell him how gross she found his habit.
“Want some?” he mumbled, handing it to his passenger. She shook her head, trying not to gag at the thought of it.
“We’re about out of gas,” he said, pointing at the dashboard instruments. “I don’t know if there are going to be healthy people or infected people at this stop, so I’m going to need your help.
“Sure,” she agreed, eager to get out of the car for a little while. His driving was making her queasy.
“Good girl,” he purred, turning off the road. When he arrived at the empty gas station, he grabbed his rifle from the backseat. Then, he reached across Melissa and opened the glove compartment, brushing his hand against her thigh as he did so. She scooted as far back in her seat as possible. He pulled out a small revolver and handed it to Melissa.
“We’re gonna stick this place up,” he said. “I need you to be my lookout. We’ll get the gas, grab any valuables we can inside, and split. Got it?”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “Stick up? I’m pretty sure this place has been abandoned. I mean, I haven’t seen anyone pay for gas in weeks. Don’t we just pump it, grab a few snacks, and go?”
Bobby Dean playfully patted Melissa on the head. “You’re cute. You know, it’s fun to use your imagination sometimes. Try it. Go out there like we’re Bonnie and Clyde, holding up a bank. It makes things a little more interesting.”
“You’re crazy,” she said lightheartedly.
“Maybe I am.” He laughed.
His laughter at her comment made Melissa feel a little uneasy. He completely owned his wild demeanor and didn’t feel the need to present his best self to her. All along, she had been acting cool to get Bobby Dean to like her. He had been acting without a care in the world.
It was then that she realized that she was stuck with him for a while. He didn’t seem overtly dangerous. There were no threats against Melissa’s wellbeing, and he did offer to get her as close to her grandparents’ house as he could. There was nothing malicious in his words. But there was something about Bobby Dean’s wild spirit that clashed with Melissa’s cautious personality.
Melissa didn’t feel like playing pretend. Her world was in such upheaval that she wasn’t in the mood for games. She wanted to stay on task and do things by the book. It went without saying that Melissa wouldn’t pretend to be the Bonnie to Bobby Dean’s Clyde. She would pump gas or gather supplies, and nothing else.
“Do you know how to use a gun?” he asked condescendingly. “I mean, can you hit the broad side of a barn?”
“Yes,” she replied without explanation.
“Good girl. You’re going to be a lot of help for me. I’m glad I stopped for you.”
She strained her mouth to give him a half-smile. She wished she had never used a gun—guns only brought her trouble. The shot she fired at Natalia had caused so much trouble as a result. If she had never shot Natalia, she wouldn’t have earned Will’s ire. There wouldn’t be a bullet hole in her shoulder and she wouldn’t be planning imaginary heists with a man named Bobby Dean.
It was too easy to regret when so many things had gone wrong as a result of the choices Melissa made. She still didn’t feel like she deserved her misfortune, but she wished that someone else had stepped in during those situations where she jumped to action. At least Bobby Dean made her seem calm in comparison.
“You ready, girl?” Bobby Dean winked at Melissa.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied.
Th
ey got out of the car, guns raised to fire. Bobby Dean grinned and spat onto the ground.
“Let’s clear the store first,” he said, pointing his rifle at the gas station convenience store. “Then, when we know that the infected scum aren’t going to ambush us, we’ll pump gas.”
“Why don’t I pump gas while you go into the store?” Melissa suggested. “That way, we’ll get out of here faster.”
“Not so fast. I need my backup in there. Let’s go.”
Melissa reluctantly followed him into the store. She dreaded going in those types of places. For some reason, the infected always ended up in places where healthy people had no choice but to visit. Gas stations, grocery stores, and hospitals were popular places for the infected to lurk.
Before Melissa even saw an infected, Bobby Dean started firing wildly into the store. Melissa held up her gun and waited for a figure to appear in her line of vision. But the second she saw a shadowy figure, it would fall flat to the ground.
Bobby continued walking into the store, but Melissa stayed fixed in her spot in the doorway. She didn’t want to get in Bobby Dean’s way. After a few minutes of watching Bobby Dean destroy the convenience store, he lowered his gun and admired his handiwork.
Melissa walked into the store and counted the bodies. All in all, she’d found three infected people, riddled with bullet holes to the point where they were no longer recognizable as people. The rest of the store looked like it had been bombed—perfectly good supplies were now ruined.
“Why did you have to do that?” Melissa asked, frustrated with her new traveling companion. “You could have fired three shots and we would have been fine. Don’t you know how much ammunition you’re wasting? Besides, you just shot holes in the drink bottles. I’d be surprised if there’s a useable bottle of water in the bunch.”
“Lighten up, babe,” Bobby Dean said. He searched through the cooler and found an intact can of beer and cracked it open to prove his point.
This angered Melissa. How could he be so calm when he’d just ruined a store full of valuable resources for no reason? There would have been enough food and water to keep them alive for months if he hadn’t blasted holes in everything. She grabbed all of the food she could find that hadn’t been contaminated and stuffed it into a plastic shopping bag. Then, she held her mouth up to a leaking water bottle as the liquid poured into her mouth, dribbling down her chin.
