Chapter 29
The hospital—broken glass and remnants of life that was long gone—stood disheveled and quiet.
The only difference was the fluorescent lights had stopped their incessant blinking.
The pair wondered about the creatures that had wandered the halls before.
The place seemed quiet. Had they meandered away?
Nick reached a hesitant finger out to the elevator buttons, curious if the power had reached its end. After selecting the down arrow, the button lit up.
Nick and Kate descended into the bowels of the medical space, reminiscing on their first visit.
What started as a venture into a building that appeared abandoned turned into a grievous event of utter loss.
The urge to hate Dr. Chamberlain lived just beneath the skin of the pair, threatening to break through and maim the relationship between them.
However, killing the only person who could cure the world’s most devastating epidemic was not a wise action.
Dr. Chamberlain was immersed in a computer monitor displaying numbers and abbreviations that neither Nick nor Kate could decipher. Nick cleared his throat, startling the doctor.
“Nick! Kate! Oh my,” Dr. Chamberlain clutched his chest as he regarded the pair. “I am so glad the two of you are alive. A year ago, that would have been such a strange way to greet someone.”
“I understand, trust me. How’s Adam?” Nick asked. He almost hoped he did not cross paths with the boy. A part of him felt that the more interaction occurred, the closer Adam would get to seeing through to who Nick really was—a soiled cape and mediocre superpowers at best.
“Oh, he’s doing well. I wish I could tell you that he spends time with friends or that he’s taken up soccer, but he is not afforded that kind of life here.”
“Well, we’ve been staying at Fort Vanguard for a few weeks. The people there are nice. Not many children, but he would have a large area to play. He should come back with us,” Nick said. Then, maybe Adam could meet some real superheroes like Marcus or Yara.
“Hmm,” Dr. Chamberlain hesitated, running a hand along the bottom of his chin in contemplation. “I don’t know. It is something to think about. Have you introduced the cure there?”
“Not yet. I wanted to be absolutely sure about this. I’m getting close to that, though.
We’re taking some others back with us today, and then I will start talking to Marcus, the leader of the fort, about the cure.
I came back to grab some supplies, but we’ve come across a few strange things in our travels. Could we ask you some questions?”
“Yes, of course.” Dr. Chamberlain turned in his chair, giving the pair his full attention. It was evident that he lived and breathed the mysteries of science.
“We came across an Infected when we went to get you needles and supplies. We tried to inject it with the cure, but it didn’t work.
I thought maybe we did it wrong or didn’t give it enough time, but the more I think about it, what if it just didn’t work?
Is there a time limit between when the person is infected and when it can be brought back? ” Nick asked.
“So far, I have only ever tested the cure on freshly diseased subjects. However, I feared that once the misfolded proteins took over a certain portion of the body, they would be rendered too far gone. I will have to test this hypothesis to determine the exact timeframe, but I would assume you are correct that some simply cannot be cured.”
“Okay. That will be useful when we introduce the cure at Vanguard. Another thing, Kate and I came across one that started ripping off pieces of its face. It looked like it was trying to give them to Kate.”
The doctor’s brow furrowed. He tilted his head as he thought about Nick’s statements.
“I will look into this. I hope it is not what I fear it is, but for now, just be wary of the Infected. I know this is not an issue for you, Nick, but keep your eyes open and report any more strange occurrences.”
“What do you fear it is?” Kate asked.
“I will not spout hysterical probabilities until I have conducted research. Just be on your guard,” the doctor said sternly. Kate nodded, unsatisfied with the answer.
“Thanks, doc,” Nick said.
Dr. Chamberlain returned to studying the computer screen, and the pair collected supplies to replenish their stock.
Nick reloaded magazines while Kate collected a few more vials of the cure to add to her pack.
Traveling with a group would result in more noise, no matter how deliberately they stifled themselves.
More footsteps. More smells. More waste left behind.
Nick was certain to pick up a few handguns from the hospital’s armory.
The more weapons his group carried, the better chance they stood.
They strode down the hall toward the elevator and turned a corner, when they were startled by Adam standing in the middle of the vast corridor. He was motionless. A blank stare lingered on his face as he stood, gripping a superhero action figure.
“Hey, buddy. How are you?” Nick asked. The boy did not respond at first, and Nick was uncertain if he had heard him at all. Kate cast a concerned look Nick’s way. “Adam?” Nick took several steps toward him.
“I killed her, you know,” Adam said. There was no color in his tone. No inflection, no emotion. Just a raw, eerie statement.
“Killed who?” Nick tried to keep his voice light-hearted and inquisitive rather than fearful.
“I hear the way you talk to my dad. Like I’m a little boy who needs friends and a backyard to play in. But I’m not. I’m a monster,” Adam said, tears forming in his eyes.
“We’re all monsters, Adam. We all do things we regret, things we wish we could have done differently. You can’t dwell on it, though. All you can do is move forward and try to do your best next time.” Nick knelt, hoping his eye-level stance would be comforting.
“But I killed her! How can I keep going when my dad looks at me the way he does? He hates me!” The tears were streaming down Adam’s face now.
“Your dad doesn’t hate you, Adam. He cares for you a lot. I see it in his eyes every time he talks about you,” Kate said, her voice tinted with sweetness.
“Was this something that happened when you were Infected?” Nick asked.
Adam paused, his lip trembling. “Yes. I don’t remember it, but when my dad made me myself again, I wanted my mom. I was scared, and my body felt weird. I wanted her to hug me. But she was gone. She was gone because I killed her!”
Kate frowned, unable to imagine what it must feel like carrying that weight around in such a small body.
“I’m sorry you don’t have your mom anymore.
Losing someone we love is like losing a piece of ourselves.
We can’t ever fix the hole they leave behind, but we can fill it with other things in life.
I love Kate more than anything in this world.
When I was infected, I would have killed her in a heartbeat.
I was in the process of turning, and I remember fighting the primal urge to sink my teeth into her.
We weren’t ourselves in those moments. If we allow our guilt to control us, we will waste away.
We will never accomplish anything. We will never be able to love anyone to our full extent.
You’re just a boy, so you haven’t seen what the world will expect of you, what things you must do to survive, and what decisions you will face.
The time will come. And you will have to choose between being a person suffocated by their shame or a superhero. ”
Adam’s face betrayed him as the corners of his lip fought a grin. Nick knew his words were a lot for someone so young to take in. This world was not a kind one to those who needed information coated in sweet deceptions.
“I wanna be a superhero like you,” Adam said.
“I know, buddy. Being a superhero isn’t about being a perfect person.
It’s about learning from your mistakes and always trying to do the right thing.
” Nick ruffled the boy's hair. “Listen, take care of your dad.
We found a pretty cool place to live, but we have to make sure it's safe for everyone we care about. Once we do, maybe you can come visit.”
“Really? That would be awesome!” Adam’s cheeks dimpled into a bright, youthful smile.
“Of course. We have to get going, but we’ll be back soon to check on you guys,” Nick said, standing and taking Kate’s hand.
“See ya, Nick. Bye Kate.” Adam waved to them, and they returned the gesture as they headed toward the elevator.
The couple returned to the apartment complex to find Ryan and Grace collecting the things they would need for their travels. Tatum sat on a chair at the dining room table, watching them and asking questions about certain items.
Ryan and Grace had packed away a fraction of everything they had known most of their lives.
While Nick followed Ryan around the apartment, offering to help with what he could, Kate regarded the small home.
Remnants of memories thickened the air, like sharing a space with friendly spirits.
In Kate’s mind, Ryan and Grace danced around her, waltzing to the tune of a life hard-earned and spritzed with romance.
A twinge of pain gripped Kate’s core as she coveted a companionship built on years of trust and understanding.
No, that was actual pain. Kate sat at the table, hoping she did not wear a wince in her expression.
She took deep breaths, and just as the group was finished preparing, the aching subsided.
A knock at the door caused all the heads in the apartment to turn toward the sound. Ryan seemed unbothered, and Nick reminded himself that the complex had others living within it.
Nick picked up his rifle and followed Ryan to the door. When it swung open, Phoenix’s face grinned at them.
“This guy,” Phoenix jested. “He’s always ready to shoot me.” He let out a laugh despite the confusion on Ryan’s face. “And you didn’t even tell them about me. Now, I’m double offended.”
“Ryan, this is Phoenix. He’s a friend of ours from before we got to Aqua City. He’s been staying at the fort with us but traveled back here to accompany us, make sure we all make it okay,” Nick explained.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Ryan said and stuck out his hand to Phoenix. The young man shook it, smiling.
“I’m Grace. We were just about to sit down for dinner. There’s plenty.”
“And I am Tatum! Or Tate if you don’t feel like saying the whole thing. Let’s see. I bite when I’m nervous. My favorite food is pizza. And sometimes I swear,” Tatum said. She stood in front of Phoenix with her hands on her hips, a smirk on her face, and her eyebrows raised.
“Cool. Nice to meet you, Tate.”
The group sat down to dinner—a spaghetti dish Grace put together with canned tomato sauce and beef bouillon.
Nick almost laughed aloud as he thought about the meal.
Months ago, it would have been the best thing he had ever eaten.
Fort Vanguard had spoiled him. He appreciated the work Grace put into it and ate every bite, yet his mind kept trailing off to think of things like crab bisque and steak.
“Hey, Tate. Have you ever heard of a band called Korn?” Nick asked.
“Not this shit, again,” Phoenix groaned.
“Seriously, Nick?” Kate wailed, and her head fell into her palm.
“Korn. Great freaking band,” Ryan commented.
“Yes! Thank you!” Nick was laughing so hard now that tears sprung to his eyes.
“Stop enabling him,” Kate warned.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. This is a serious question, though. No more joking. What are your thoughts…on Slipknot?”
Kate playfully punched Nick’s arm, and he reared back, trying to look pained despite his laughter. Ryan’s gaze pivoted back and forth between the couple with a wary expression.
“At this point, I’m afraid to answer,” Ryan said.
Nick’s laughter was contagious, and the entire table was in an uproar. Even those who were unaware of their inside joke. Though their cheeks ached and their abs were sore, the humor was a revival they all needed.
The world sat so heavy on each of their shoulders at every moment.
Everything bore a risk: finding food, exiting the front door, traveling from one place to another.
The simple things people did without a second thought had become steeped in paranoia and fear.
Though all the torments of the world outside still pressed on the outskirts of their minds, threatening to break through, the light-hearted moments allowed them to pretend, even if just for a little while, that the pain was bearable and temporary.
Nick and Kate cleaned the dishes while Ryan organized supplies near the front door.
Tatum and Phoenix sat on the couch, talking about movies and video games.
After a while, Ryan and Grace retired to their bedroom.
Kate and Tatum cozied up on the couch, leaving Nick and Phoenix to sleep on the floor.
After a night of rest, the group would mobilize toward Fort Vanguard.