Chapter 49
Jordan
My head is swimming. A small groan escapes me as I fight to open my eyes against the dull throb in my skull.
“Sorry about your head,” I hear a voice say. “I didn’t know if you’d come willingly.”
Peeling my eyelids back, I find myself haphazardly tied to a chair. I’m in an empty, small room with a large window off to the side. Before me stands a woman with tattered clothes, white hair cut short, and glowing eyes.
“Holy fuck,” I rasp. “You’re infected.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “Guess I am.” She tilts her head, studying me.
Blinking, I try to clear my hazy mind before glancing down at the weak rope wrapped around my arms and ankles. “You know I could easily break out of this, right?”
She snorts. “Sorry about that, too. I’ve never met one who can talk. I thought I was the only one.”
“Me too.” I’m struggling to know if this is a friend or foe. Considering I was knocked out and dragged here, I’d say foe. “Who are you? How did you find me?”
“I saw you with that other woman. The redhead.” The beast perks at the mention of Kate. “Saw you two talking from the window.” She jerks her chin to her lookout spot. “I watched her leave and you stay behind. I didn’t think—just ran down and clocked you over the head.” She grimaces. “Sorry again.”
I let out an annoyed huff. “You could’ve just said something to me.
” Tired of pretending to be restrained, I pull myself free and stand.
The woman shifts into a protective stance, readying herself for an attack.
Shrugging it off, I walk to the window, seeing Kate’s safe zone close by. “How long have you been here?”
“Only about a week.”
“And how long have you been infected?”
“About three weeks.”
I pivot, shock loosening my jaw. “You’re newly infected but can speak?”
She blinks. “I’ve been able to speak since I was bitten. I didn’t know that was possible, but I was kept sheltered from the infected. I was sick at first, but that went away after a few days.”
Something nags at the back of my mind.
“No one on this island can be sheltered from the infected,” I argue.
She lifts her chin in defiance. “Well, I was.”
My eyes narrow. “What’s your name?”
“Helena.”
I’m instantly transported back to the cave, to the cult asking if I was similar to—
“You were in the cult. The one up in the mountains.” Anger contorting her face is all the confirmation I need. “They ambushed us, talked about how only the pure would get to paradise—”
“I know what they say,” she spits. “They’re the reason I’m infected.”
My body tenses, remembering the cold metal against my throat. “Did they think you were saved?”
She rolls her eyes. “No. They thought I wasn’t worthy of everlasting peace. I was set to be executed once I turned, but my father decided I could be the one to infect the future sacrifices instead.”
I can’t help the shudder that runs down my spine. “They locked you up.” A muscle in her jaw flutters. “The cave wall was all cracked—”
“Stop.” Her lips curl back, exposing her canines.
“It happened to me, too.” I face her completely, keeping my shoulders back, chin high. “You really did a number on it, because I was able to make it come crashing down.”
She blinks, her fight leaving her. “Is everyone okay?”
“No. They’re all dead.”
She swallows before giving a curt nod. “Good.” We stare each other down for a moment, sizing each other up before she asks, “Why were you with a non-infected?”
“She’s working on a cure.” The beast gives a little whine at the reminder that Kate isn’t here with us. “Once the cure is ready, they’ll save everyone.”
Helena tilts her head, her eyes near-glowing. “You want to be cured?”
I pause. This entire time, I never truly asked myself if it’s what I wanted; it was either too out of reach or assumed that I would. “Of course,” I tell her, the words sounding flat. “Don’t you?”
Her eyebrows narrow. “No, I don’t. Why would I? I’m stronger, faster than I’ve ever been. I’m free to do whatever I want.”
“You aren’t…lonely?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve come to love it.”
“But the virus will kill us if left untreated.”
“We all die eventually.”