Chapter 25 #2
“Even if I get kicked out of the Force, you’re my partner, Sasha,” Levi told me, leaning against the table, “and my friend. Don’t shut me out. Regardless of what happens between you and Hayes. Okay?”
“Why?”
“If I say something emotional, you’ll hate it and run off,” Levi stated, crossing his arms. I didn’t miss the way his lips pulled tight as he moved his injured arm like it hurt him. “So let’s just say I’m settling debts. I can carry my anger now. I’m trying to help you do the same.”
“It’s a waste.” I made my way for the door.
“Sasha,” Levi called out. “Dr. Kumar asked me to watch over you. Why?”
“He meddles, always has.” I darted from the room. I had only made it halfway through the Gym when Ingrid beelined for me.
“Need something?” I asked, confused. I hadn’t really seen Ingrid in days. Every moment not mandatory, she was gone. Ingrid shifted her weight on the balls of her feet. Dark blue smudges sat heavy beneath her eyes. She looked exhausted up close.
“Med bag is restocked,” she said woodenly. “Hayes said we have to go pick it up.”
“All right, I can go,” I told her.
“No, we have to go get it now,” Ingrid told me as she widened her stance. Her jaw worked like it took effort to talk to me, but I was too tired to answer. “We go now. Right now.”
“All right,” I repeated, noting the inability to stand still. “I’ll go alone.” I didn’t want to risk exposing her.
“No, I’m coming with you.”
“Ingrid—”
“I am going with you.”
My eyes ran up her, at the unwavering determination. I knew it well. “Okay.”
Shock radiated across Ingrid’s face. She had expected a fight. She turned abruptly, striding away from me. I practically jogged, trying to keep up with her as she strode out of the Gym. I didn’t see any of our unit. “Where’d everyone go?”
“I don’t know. I don’t care,” she told me, no room for conversation in her tone. I remained silent treading behind her until she reached the Ward. She waited at the doors. “Go ahead. Hurry.”
“Is everything okay, Ingrid?” I asked hesitantly.
“Let’s just get the bag,” she said, an edge to her voice. She probably just wanted to be rid of me. I darted into the Ward.
I approached the desk and came face-to-face with Owen.
“You’re back again. Your partner was released,” Owen said as he greeted me, noting my uniform. His tight curls were slightly unruly, like he hadn’t slept much.
“I know. I need to get the med bag for above. I was told it was restocked.”
Owen nodded, pleasantries from the other day gone. A weight sat on his shoulders. “I’ll go get it.” He disappeared. The girl Kumar had said put her name down to train turned the corner, a stack of clothes in her hands—a Recycling load.
“Here you go,” Owen said, returning. He handed me the heavy pack. “Kumar told me to tell you there’s a list of medical notes he wanted you to have in the front pocket.”
“Anything else?”
“He told me to tell you good luck. That the people in his sector are with you and Unit Seven. Stay well, Sasha,” Owen told me before walking off.
“How many?” I called after him, unable to stop myself.
He came to a halt. “Ninety-seven.”
Panic hit me.
“I’m not certain what you do up there, but if it in any way helps us below, I pray you have luck.
We need it. We will be overwhelmed before the new moon.
” His voice dropped to a whisper. I leaned in.
“We don’t have the medication or means to handle this.
We are running out of everything. Three assistants and one doctor already have it. We need help.”
I braced for an enemy I knew I couldn’t defeat. Edra approached us, her arms now empty.
“There’s another one, bed fifty-five, Dr. Allard,” she informed Owen. I had never heard him referred to like that.
“Coming. Good luck, Sasha.” He followed Edra.
A family rushed in, a little girl in her father’s arms. A little girl with brown eyes that had found mine when a siren had gone off.
Her head rested against her father’s chest. She was so pale.
My lungs constricted as the room began to spin.
The bag in my hand grew heavy. I wanted to hand it over as the mother stood at the desk, frantically demanding care.
“Sasha, let’s go,” Ingrid urged, like she saw my hesitation. When I didn’t move, she grabbed my biceps tightly and pulled me away.
“Ingrid, what the—”
“Be quiet.”
“No, what are you doing?” I tried to twist out of her viselike grip.
“Shut up,” she spat venomously, hauling me with her.
Her grip became painful. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Not here,” she whispered, her voice panicked. I glanced around, recognizing the hall she dragged me down. My heart rose to my throat with each step. My head whipped toward her, the look on her face. I knew the look. It wasn’t the look of hatred. Or disgust.
It was all-encompassing fear laced with helplessness—the same look she had worn when she had brought Lily to me.
Ingrid was running. I stopped fighting her; I met her pace as she raced to the small closet.
“Ingrid, who is it?” I implored, hoisting the bag onto my shoulder, my heartbeat a war drum. The entire unit—I had just seen them. They couldn’t be ill. I prepared myself for what I might find. “Ingrid, tell me.”
It came out strangled, as if her body wouldn’t let it be true. “Bretta, it’s Bretta.”