8. Fleur
8
FLEUR
F leur woke to the first light of dawn creeping in through the dusty office blinds, her body still curled against Lena's. For a moment, the warmth and stillness of their bodies lingered, but reality quickly set in.
Today’s the day .
She carefully disentangled herself from Lena, her mind already racing. They would finally make it to the lab. After all the running, the close calls, and the uncertainty, the moment had arrived. This was her chance to finish what she’d started, to find the cure. Save humanity. Or whatever was left of it.
Fleur glanced at Lena, still asleep, and felt the weight of what lay ahead. She knew everything could change today. And she knew she still had to tell Lena the full story. She couldn’t hide it from her anymore.
Fleur shifted carefully, trying not to wake Lena as she sat up. The world had fallen silent, but Fleur’s thoughts were anything but.
Lena stirred beside her, her dark eyes fluttering open. She glanced at Fleur, a slight smile tugging at her lips, recalling the closeness they had shared just hours before. But that smile quickly faded as she sensed Fleur’s tension.
“We need to get moving soon,” Lena murmured, her voice still soft from sleep. “The lab isn’t far now. We’ve nearly made it.”
Fleur nodded but couldn’t meet Lena’s eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the words she had been holding back for so long were rising, too heavy to keep inside any longer. As Lena stretched and packed their belongings, Fleur’s mind spun with the weight of what she had to say.
“You’re right,” Fleur finally said, breaking the silence as they prepared to leave. Her voice was tight, betraying her inner turmoil. “But before we get there, there’s something else you need to know. And please just hear me out.”
Lena froze mid-step, her gaze sharpening as she turned toward Fleur. “What is it? You’d better not be playing with me,” she warned, the ease of their earlier moments quickly replaced by worry.
Fleur swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she took a breath. “I haven’t told you everything. The research I was doing... It’s not just about finding a cure. It’s more than that. I wanted to tell you before, but we got into trouble and one thing led to another.”
Lena stepped closer, frowning. “What do you mean? Just tell me.”
“The scientists I worked with... they didn’t want to save everyone. They wanted to take complete control of the cure. Only those loyal to them, the people they saw as valuable, would have access to it. They were planning to use it as leverage, to decide who was worth saving and who wasn’t. They want to create a new world where they have control, and the cure can only be given to those who bring them value. People with highly trained skills. People in power from the old world. The others… well… they are nothing to them. They want to destroy the small communities. They want to destroy everything and dictate the new world.”
Lena stared at her in disbelief, her jaw tightening. “So they want to rebuild the world, but only for the powerful? The rest of us are just… collateral?”
“Exactly,” Fleur whispered, her voice laced with bitterness. “It’s all about control. If you didn’t play by their rules, you were left to die. It’s how they see survival—an opportunity to reshape the world in their image. A sick image.”
Lena paced a few steps away, running her hands through her hair as she tried to process everything. “But you worked with these people. You said you were trying to find the cure and do something good.”
“I was!” Fleur’s voice cracked as she interrupted. “At first, I didn’t realize what they were planning. We were all focused on stopping the virus. But as the world fell apart, their true intentions came out. They didn’t care about saving humanity. They cared about who would be left to rule. By the time I understood, I was in too deep. I was tangled in it all.”
Lena’s eyes narrowed, anger flashing in her expression. “And that’s why they’re hunting you? Because you walked away from their twisted plan?”
Fleur nodded, her throat tightening. “I took everything with me. The data, the formulas, everything they need to finish the cure. I couldn’t let them use it to control people. That’s why they’ll stop at nothing to find me. They don’t just want the cure. They want to make sure no one else can use it.”
Lena exhaled sharply, the weight of Fleur’s confession sinking in. She stepped closer, her voice softer but no less determined. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Fleur looked down, guilt shadowing her features. “Because once you knew, you’d be a target too. And I didn’t want to drag you any deeper into this than you already are. I didn’t want you to think I was one of them.”
Lena’s gaze hardened, but there was a fierceness in her eyes now. “I’m already in this, Fleur. We’re in this together. And if we’re going to make it, you have to be honest. I said this before. I wish you had just told me.”
Fleur nodded. “Then there’s one more thing you should know. This lab we’re going to... it’s the last chance I have to complete the cure. If we don’t succeed here, the people after us will win. And if they do... they’ll use the cure to rebuild a world no one should live in. They will get to me, they will keep me tied up, and they will force it out of me.”
Lena clenched her fists. “Then we have to stop them. No matter what it takes.”
They both stood in silence for a moment, the enormity of the task ahead looming over them.
As they descended from the building and made their way through the empty streets, they remained silent. The closer they got to the lab, the more dangerous the path felt. Every corner, every alley, felt like a potential trap. The city’s eerie silence was oppressive, making them hyper aware of their surroundings.
“Up ahead. We’ve got a gang of lurkers,” Lena whispered.
“I swear you use a million different names for those guys. You could just say zombie, y’know?” Fleur replied with a sarcastic smile.
“And what’s the fun in that?”
“Fair enough. Shall we take cover in here and wait for them to pass?” Fleur pointed over to a broken shop window.
“It’s too risky. We need to create a distraction and sneak past. I think these buildings are likely full of them.” Lena started to look around the floor as she spoke. She picked up some old bottles and passed one to Fleur. “When I count to three, throw one of these over to the left. Let them investigate it and we’ll sneak past down the right track.”
“Okay. Ready when you are.”
Lena took aim with her bottle, gripping the neck firmly in her hand.
“One… two… three,” she whispered the numbers before launching the glass bottles over towards the dead, who immediately stumbled over.
“Now we have to run, as quietly as possible,” Lena ordered and pointed over to the right alleyway.
The pair sneaked past the threatening creatures, who were searching around the broken glass, unaware of the two women.
Until Fleur sneezed.
The group turned around and started to head in their direction.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Fleur mumbled as she saw them heading their way.
“Just fucking run, NOW,” Lena replied.
They ran as quickly as possible down the narrow alley. Luckily, it was clear. The zombies seemed to trail off and had lost track of their scent and sound.
That’s when they spotted a man walking toward them from the far end of the street. His presence immediately raised alarm bells. His clothes were too clean, his posture too relaxed for someone living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Lena tensed immediately, her muscles coiling with readiness as her hand instinctively gripped her weapon. She had limited bullets, but this might be the time they were needed the most.
Every fiber of her being screamed that this could be another trap, another person with intentions far darker than they let on. “Fleur, stay close,” she muttered, her voice low and sharp. There was no room for complacency, not after what they had survived.
Fleur didn’t need to be told twice. She shifted slightly behind Lena, her own instincts flaring. Their near-death experience still haunted her, making her cautious of every potential threat. The man's calm demeanor and clean clothes screamed deception.
The man raised his hands in a gesture of peace as he approached. “I’m not here to cause trouble,” he called out, his voice calm and measured. “I’m from the lab.”
Both Fleur and Lena exchanged skeptical glances, but they didn’t lower their guard.
“I can prove it,” the man added, pulling out a laminated badge from his coat. The logo of the lab they were heading to was emblazoned on it, and his name, Dr. Ryan Walt, was printed beneath.
Lena scrutinized the badge, then the man. “Why are you out here?” she asked, her voice hard. “And how did you know we were coming?”
Dr. Walt smiled, an easy, almost rehearsed expression. “We’ve been monitoring the area. We knew someone with valuable research was on the way, and I’ve been sent to make sure you get to the lab safely. The path you’re on is dangerous. There are traps, the undead, and who knows what else. You wouldn’t make it without me.”
Fleur hesitated, feeling a strange mix of relief and suspicion. Lena, however, wasn’t convinced so easily. “And why should we trust you?”
Walt spread his arms, his demeanor confident but non-threatening. “Because I’m your only way in. The people after you… they’ve made it hard to get close to the lab. But I can navigate the traps, and I know the safe routes. Trust me, if you don’t come with me, you will die.”
Lena and Fleur exchanged glances, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavily between them. They stepped back slightly, keeping their weapons at the ready as they debated their next move.
“What if he’s lying?” Fleur whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. “What if he’s just a pawn for the lab, sent to lead us into a trap?”
Lena nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. “We can’t risk it. We’ve come too far to let someone put us in danger again. We could always knock him out and take his badge. That way, we’d have some leverage.”
Fleur considered this, her eyes narrowing as she weighed the option. “But what if he really is telling the truth? If we knock him out, we lose any chance of getting to the lab safely. And we need his knowledge.”
Lena sighed, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “I know. But how can we be sure? We can’t afford to make the wrong choice again.”
Fleur's gaze shifted to Dr. Walt, who was watching them patiently, though a hint of anxiety flickered across his face. “We should ask him more questions. See if he knows things only someone from the lab would know. If he slips up, we’ll know what to do.”
Lena considered this and nodded slowly. “Alright, but let’s keep our guard up. We can’t let him think we’re completely buying into this. But I also do not want to get killed by crazy scientists who want to take over the world.”
They turned back to Dr. Walt, who seemed to sense the shift in their demeanor. Lena studied him for a long moment, trying to read the truth in his eyes. Finally, she gave a slow nod. “Alright. Lead the way.”
Dr. Walt’s expression brightened slightly, but Lena could still see the tension in his shoulders as he started to move. Fleur remained close to Lena, both women on high alert as they followed the man through the abandoned streets, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
“Come on, we need to head through here.” He pointed to the next street along.
“I thought there would be more dead here,” Lena said, as her eyes scanned everywhere around them.
“We set up deep pits a while ago, just outside the city. We still get a few wandering around, but most of them get lured away. They fall into the pits and then we set them on fire. It sounds awful, but it’s wiped out thousands, maybe even millions.”
As they followed Dr. Walt through the winding streets, he began to share more information about the lab, building more trust. He described the security measures in place, the researchers they would meet, and how critical Fleur’s data would be for the final steps of the cure.
Lena and Fleur exchanged skeptical glances, their weapons still at the ready. Before they could voice their thoughts, Dr. Walt spoke up, his tone friendly but tinged with fatigue. “Listen, I need to stop for a moment. I’m tired, and my leg is starting to hurt from all this walking.”
Lena raised an eyebrow but gestured for him to halt. They hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and Fleur felt a pang of hunger. “Fine, we’ll take a quick break. But let’s get somewhere safer than out in the open,” she said, lowering her weapon but remaining vigilant.
Dr. Walt pointed over to an apartment block with some stairs on the side alley. “Let’s head up there. There’s a few empty apartments that we’ve scouted through recently.”
“Sure, lead the way,” Lena replied.
After an easy climb up the side stairs, they entered a large apartment, which had all the comforts of the old world, just a little broken and moldy. A big old couch. A large television. Newspapers and takeout boxes. Empty bottles of Coca-Cola.
They sat down on the floor space around the couch. Fleur rummaged through her pack for the meager snacks they had. Dr. Walt reached into his bag and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped bundle. “I saved this just in case these are my last moments out here,” he said.
He unwrapped the bundle to reveal some dried fruits and jerky, and they passed it around, grateful for the small nourishment.
“I’ve been with the lab since the early days,” Dr. Walt said, his voice steady and sincere. “We’ve seen some terrible things, but we’re committed to making sure the cure is used for the right reasons. We know what’s been going on, Fleur. We know you can help us make the world a better place, not like those evil dictators back where you came from.”
Fleur nodded, her heart tightening as she listened. “I hope so, I really do.”
Dr. Walt's gaze softened. “It’s brutal out here,” he replied quietly. “But it also drives me. I want to save the world, to make sure that those who have suffered don’t have to do so in vain. We need to ensure the cure reaches those who truly need it, not just the powerful.”
“I’m glad we’re all getting along, but I’m really eager to get going. Let’s finish up this food and go,” Lena commanded, still feeling too anxious to trust this new person.
Soon they were on the street heading out from the central city zone. The familiar landmarks they had expected to see near the lab didn’t appear, and Lena’s expression hardened again. “We should be there by now,” she said, her voice edged with suspicion. “Why does it feel like we’re going in circles?”
Walt’s smile didn’t waver, but his eyes flickered with something darker. “We’re almost there. Just a little further,” he reassured them. Fleur was determined to trust in this moment, to believe in their shared goal.
“It’s hard to believe we’re finally getting close,” Fleur said, glancing at Lena, who was walking beside her with a pensive expression.
“Yeah,” Lena replied, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “It’s just... after everything, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. I don’t trust it when things seem too good to be true. Not in this world.”
Fleur nodded, her mind racing. “I understand. But we’ve come this far. We can’t turn back now, not when we’re so close to finding the cure.”
Just as the weight of their conversation settled, a sudden, sharp cry of pain pierced the air. Fleur’s heart dropped when she saw Lena stumble, a startled expression crossing her face. “Lena!” Fleur called out, rushing forward as Lena crumpled to the ground.
“Fleur…” Lena gasped, her eyes wide with confusion and alarm. “Something’s wrong…”
Before Fleur could reach her, Lena’s body went slack, and she collapsed, her eyes rolling back. Panic surged through Fleur as she knelt beside her, frantically checking for signs of consciousness. “Lena! Wake up! Please, stay with me!”
Her heart raced as she looked around, desperate for help. That’s when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, heavy and deliberate. A chill ran down her spine as she instinctively positioned herself between Lena and the direction of the noise, ready to fight.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. She’s not going anywhere,” a voice taunted, laced with smug satisfaction.
Fleur's stomach dropped as a group of figures emerged from the shadows, their faces obscured by hoods. They rushed forward, swiftly binding her arms behind her back, their movements practiced and efficient. “Get off her!” Fleur screamed, struggling against her restraints. “What do you want?”
Dr. Walt stepped forward, a cold smile spreading across his face. “You’re a clever girl, Fleur, but it seems you’ve underestimated me.” He knelt beside Lena, examining her unconscious form with an unsettling calmness. “What a pity. It’s always the ones with the potential to make a real difference who end up getting in the way.”
“Let her go!” Fleur shouted, her voice raw with fury. “She hasn’t done anything to you!”
Walt chuckled, shaking his head. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re the one who has put us all at risk. Thanks to your little escapade, I know exactly what you’ve been working on. Gene was more than happy to share where you were heading to.”
Fleur's heart sank. “He betrayed us?”
“Betrayed? Or just made the smart choice? There’s a lot to lose when your community’s life is at stake,” Walt replied, leaning closer to Fleur, his eyes glinting with a twisted glee. “He thought he’d be rewarded, promised a position of power for revealing your movements. But in the end, they silenced him. Just another expendable piece in a game far larger than he could comprehend.” He straightened, his tone shifting to one of cruel satisfaction. “That’s how this world works. You either play your part or you’re out of the picture.”
Fleur felt the weight of despair settle in her chest. “You’re insane,” she hissed. “You think you can control everything?” She couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. She felt so stupid.
“Control? That’s what this is all about, my dear,” he said, straightening up, his demeanor shifting to one of triumph. “This world is full of chaos, and chaos breeds death. With the cure in our hands, we’ll finally have the power to reshape it. The scientists I worked with? They wanted to build a new world, a world ruled by those who know how to use power correctly. We will be the rulers of this new era.”
“Using people like pawns,” Fleur spat, her voice thick with disgust.
Walt shrugged, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. “You misunderstand. It’s not about cruelty; it’s about survival. And the unfortunate reality is that people like you, with your naive ideals, are simply not meant to thrive in this new world.”
Fleur felt her heart race with a mix of anger and desperation. “Lena didn’t deserve this! You think you can just take her life like this?”
Walt’s expression hardened as he glanced down at Lena. “Oh, but it’s already too late. Thanks to your failed attempts to keep the cure a secret, she’s about to become collateral damage. How poetic, wouldn’t you agree? The great scientist whose secrets ultimately cost her the life of the person she’s closest to. At least, that’s what it looks like.”
Fleur’s blood ran cold at his words, rage boiling within her. “I won’t let you do this! I will find a way to stop you.”
Walt laughed softly, the sound chilling in the still air. “You’re welcome to try, but remember, you’re outnumbered and outmatched. This is a war, Fleur, and we’re the ones holding the trump card.”
Just then, a faint groan escaped Lena’s lips as she began to stir. Fleur's heart soared, but her joy quickly turned to dread when she saw the haze in Lena’s eyes. “No... no!” Fleur screamed, fighting against her bindings as if they were made of paper.
Dr. Walt crouched beside Lena, his voice low and sinister. “Rest easy, my dear. Your time is up.”
As Lena blinked, confusion etched across her face, Walt leaned in closer, whispering, “Your friend has made a grave mistake, and soon she will pay the price for it.”
Fleur’s chest tightened.
The men tightened their grip on Lena, their rough hands forcing her into submission as they moved her farther away from Fleur’s reach. She felt a rising tide of rage and helplessness swell within her, threatening to overwhelm her completely.
“Get off her!” Fleur cried out again, the pain of losing Lena clawing at her heart. She lunged forward, but the men holding her back were too strong, and she stumbled, falling to her knees.
Dr. Walt then injected fluid into her neck, and Fleur felt a burning sensation spread through her veins. She gasped, the world around her beginning to spin. The ground felt cold and unforgiving beneath her, a stark reminder of her powerlessness in that moment. Fleur felt the world close in around her, her heart racing as she was left alone, bound and helpless, watching the last flicker of hope disappear into the darkness.