by A. Giacomi
“Miss, here is my business card. Please contact me if you need anything. I sure hope you are okay.” He looks a little relieved, almost happy that he will be able to walk away from this consequence free. He is most likely thinking, How can I be this fortunate?
I take his card and thank him. I am even more grateful when he gets in his car and drives away. Alex comes back seconds later. We get in her car and drive swiftly to my house.
***
They help me to my room, and I am thankful that they haven’t spoken a word. I sit on my bed and lift my shirt to see bruises that look more like a few weeks old rather than fresh. I grimace a bit as I lower the shirt again. The rapid healing hurts quite a bit but probably not as much as real broken bones.
Alex and Cam look disgusted and intrigued. How am I going to explain this? I guess I should start from the beginning.
Cam finds a chair in the corner of my room suitable to sit and scowl in. I don’t have to be a mind reader to know what he is thinking; he is wondering how long I have been guarding this secret. I never meant to hurt them with my secret keeping; I only meant to keep my own ass safe.
I take a deep breath, and I’m not sure what will come out of my mouth next. The words in my head jumble together, trying to form sentences that make sense. I decide not to look at Cam for the moment. I turn to look at Alex instead.
I try to start my story. “I don’t really know what’s wrong with me. I started to notice something was wrong when I got hurt back in Egypt.”
I take another deep breath and continue. “I remember feeling weird, hot and dizzy and just not myself. I just figured that was shock from my injuries. You know you don’t get bitten every day by some unknown thing. My wounds healed really quickly. I was hoping you guys would never notice, but that was stupid. I should have just told you right away.”
I roll my sleeve up carefully and show them the part of my arm where the bite was, where a scar should be, and yet there is my exposed arm, simply flawless.
Alex comes in for a close-up look and touches my arm in disbelief. “I can’t believe I never noticed. How quickly did it heal?”
I am so grateful they haven’t stormed out on me yet, although Cam looks about ready to explode. I turn to look at Alex again.
“The marks were gone the day we left Egypt. I hadn’t really checked my bandages much after the incident, so it could have been sooner. I don’t know.”
I sense Cam and Alex searching their minds for questions they can ask next, and not surprisingly at all, Cam is up at bat next.
“I’m not going to pretend I’m not upset you didn’t tell us, Eve. We could have figured this out together. I’m not sure you ever would have told us the truth if not for something like today happening. Maybe you are dangerous or a danger to yourself.” He shakes his head. “We head back to school soon. I want you to tell Doctor August everything. I have a feeling he can help us.”
I chuckle a little bit. “Us? You mean me. I think I should be making the decisions here, Cameron.” He hates when I call him by his full name, but I’m miffed and I want him to know it!
“If I go to Doctor August, how do you know he won’t make me his little lab rat? I’m scared, Cam. I don’t know what I am right now, but it’s not normal. I don’t feel very human. Do you really think telling people is the best thing to do here?”
I may have raised my voice a little, perhaps a bit on the hysterical side. I don’t mean to act the diva today, but I feel justified.
Cam’s dark eyebrows return to their scowl, which isn’t much of a scowl, to begin with. He is gorgeous. Not that he thinks so. He looks more like he is doing a high fashion pose, but I get his meaning.
“Cam, do you understand what I’m saying here?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he turns towards the door. Okay, now who is being a diva?
“Eve, talk to me when you’re thinking a little clearer. You need help, and for that, you’re going to need to start trusting people. You’re right. What happened today isn’t normal in the slightest, and who really knows how much worse it might get?” He looks away. “Hurt” is the best way to describe his expression.
Before I can apologize further, he takes his leave.
“He has a point, Eve. What do you really plan to do next? Keep covering up what’s going on with you or actually seeking the truth and finding a cure? You have to do something. Let us help.” I give her a nod of understanding because I’m tired of arguing my point and just want the confrontation to be over.
***
Alex stays a bit longer. She decides to check my bruises and time my healing.
In the next hour, any evidence of my injuries is gone, and so is Alex.
I am alone. I guess it’s a lot to process. They need their space as much as I do right now.
Cam has shut himself in the guest room, and my parents won’t be home for a while. I take this opportunity to think about what I should do about my situation. I’m tired of feeling scared, and I should feel glad to finally share this secret with someone, but I only feel suffocating concern.
What if I am putting Cam and Alex in danger? What if I am dangerous?
I have been having very violent dreams, and although I’m not acting any differently, I do feel a building rage all the time. I’ve chalked it up to PMS, but I think it’s beyond that. I don’t know what exactly is happening to me. Cam is right: what if it gets worse and I start to hurt people? I can’t predict what my body is capable of anymore, and that scares the hell out of me.
***
Cam and Alex are still barely talking to me when it’s time to drive back to campus. We at least decided on carpooling, and Alex graciously offered to drive.
I wait on the front porch with my luggage. I’ve already said bye to my parents and Winston, and I thought I would wait outside for Cam. When he meets me on the porch, he doesn’t even glance my way. I feel invisible.
Alex arrives shortly and saves me from the awkwardness. She smiles from her car and yells out to me, “Eve, will you wipe that frown off? You’re still alive, after all!”
Am I? Well at least Alex is acknowledging me; it’s only Cam’s silence that’s killing me. I feel as though I might cry.
He was living in the same house with me but wouldn’t look at me or speak to me. He would speak to my parents and then just look through me. Even my mother picked up on it but brushed it off as the “back to school blues.”
As I load up the car with my stuff, I see my parents joining Cam on the porch. They wave goodbye to me, and I wave back. I can hear Cam thanking my parents for letting him stay. That makes me feel worse; my problem, not his aggressive alcoholic father, seems to be the biggest thing on his plate. Why does it feel like I am always hurting Cam?
I stand still, almost breathless, as he approaches the vehicle. He doesn’t even glance up as he begins packing his things in the car. I wait for him to finish so he has his arms free, and then I tackle him with a hug, refusing to let go until his mood softens toward me.
I am desperate for him to acknowledge me. He has no idea how much I need him right now. He doesn’t hug back at first, but then I hear the defeat in his heavy sigh, and he wraps his arms around me in an act of forgiveness. Cam gets my message, and I know it will be smoother sailing now.
Alex gives a smug little smile, shakes her head, and prepares to drive. Her body language tells me that she thinks it is about time someone breaks the ice, and we are all glad for it. The energy in the car feels lighter as we wave goodbye to Little Lake and head towards campus.
This is our second year of university. I don’t know what possessed us to follow each other into the same program. I will admit that Alex and I have always dreamed of being famous archaeologists like Indiana Jones or Laura Croft, but I always thought Cam got into archaeology because of his crush on me; perhaps I was wrong about his motives. He does enjoy bein
g out at the dig site, maybe even more than I do.
I’m not sure where my degree will lead eventually, but Alex very badly wants to become a professor someday. She loves the ancient world, and I know she’ll do a great job teaching it in the future.
My heart isn’t in teaching. I want the adventure aspect more than anything. I want to be out there in the field and traveling the world. I know Cam wants that too, but his father holds him back. He is always worried about who will take care of him when he is away. I guess that won’t be a problem anymore.
Out of all of us, I think Cam could be famous if he really went for it. He has the looks, and he always knows what to say. I always tease him about having his own talk show. He will be a cross between Dr. Oz and Maury Povich. Since Cam’s a bit of a health nut, he can have shows about eating organic food instead of poison, avoiding sunlight and living under a rock, preventing cancer with mind powers, and all that dumb stuff.
My point of view always angers Cam, who is a more open-minded individual. I guess I’m just a cynic or too small town. I happen to think if you’re meant to die, it will happen no matter what sort of prevention strategies you adopt.
I guess Cam and I will always butt heads. It has become part of our friendship. Every now and then, Cam and I will have some friendly competition going. We’re both fairly ambitious types. We bet on who will have the highest marks each term, who can swim faster, who can run faster, who can eat faster. Sometimes it gets to the point of ridiculous, and all Alex can do is shake her head. But what can I say? It keeps things fun. If you can’t laugh and be a huge goof, what’s life really about anyway?
I look out the car window, twirling my mother’s locket in my hand. This necklace always makes me feel calmer. I like to think it brings me luck, and I’ve cherished it every day since my mother got better. I shove it back under my shirt when I feel a sudden pain in my gut.
My stomach seems to be acting up. I remember having some fruit for breakfast and feeling great after. So what can it be?
Alex looks in her mirror and notices the grimace on my face.
“You okay back there? You’re looking a little green.”
Cam swings around immediately to look at me. His face creases with worry. Why do I have to keep worrying everyone lately? Jeez!
“Alex, can you pull over? I think I’m going to throw up.” And as soon as Alex stops the car, I hurdle over to the nearest clearing and empty my guts out.
I remember feeling this way before. When we arrived home from Egypt, I had the same reaction to my mom’s cooking. I threw up wonderful food for no reason. It was like my body was rejecting it, and once again it seems like my body isn’t satisfied. Almost as though it needs some new fuel.
I have been feeling a bit weak lately and wonder if I need an extra little something in my diet now that I have this “rapid healing” ability. Maybe multivitamins?
Cam comes running out to check on me. I am glad he does because I can’t feel my legs; there’s no strength left in me to get up. I’m kneeling there until Cam lifts me back into the car.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CAM
Eve sleeps the rest of the way. While Eve snoozes, Alex and I talk about what’s happening to her. Our theories range from normal—a virus in her system or radiation poisoning—to the crazy, such as a monster biting her and her transforming into one by the next full moon. I think we might be watching too many horror movies, though.
The only thing we know for sure is that something bit her, and now it is making her sick.
“This is all too strange, Al,” I say because I don’t know what else to say. We can’t Google symptoms and find a diagnosis or take her to a doctor. I think the doctor would faint.
Eve is probably right; they’ll make her into their little test dummy. The healing quickly trick is odd but intriguing. Who will be able to resist that? They might try and cultivate her blood to find cures to illnesses, which would be a horrible way to live. I can suddenly understand Eve’s fear and understand why she might not want to tell anyone. But I still feel that if anyone can help, it is Dr. August.
Alex and I argue about telling Dr. August. I want to do it immediately, but Alex thinks we should leave it to Eve. Eventually, we agree that if Eve doesn’t end up telling Dr. August, then we will. We need to get her some help; she hasn’t been looking too great lately.
I glance at her lying down in the back seat. She has dark circles under her eyes and seems to have lost weight too. She is starting to look a bit like death, for lack of a better word.
Lucky for us, Dr. August knows all about viruses, and if that’s what this is, then I’m sure he can cure it.
He has studied not only plagues of the past but the more recent H1N1, or swine flu, as some know it. If Dr. August can’t help us, no one can. I feel we can trust him. I just hope my gut feeling isn’t wrong.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EVE
I’m still not feeling much better since my little barf session in the car. Alex had to unpack all my things for me. Luckily, the school honoured our request to share a room, and she will be my roomie this year.
All I can do is watch as she sets up our dorm. I am in no shape to put clothes in drawers or even fit sheets to the bed. I feel a bit like a corpse, and Alex says I look like one too. I guess I am looking pretty pale these days, which worries me because I usually have a nice olive complexion.
I lay on my stomach, watching Alex as she starts putting up some really cute wall stickers that look like fancy chandeliers. The room is starting to feel like a five-star hotel.
Once Alex is done playing maid and interior decorator to the stars, she asks if I want to grab some lunch. The thought nauseates me, but I suppose I should at least try to eat something.
***
Cam meets us in the cafeteria. It is a big place with many tables and couches. The entire space is still pretty empty. It will most likely fill in by Monday when all of the students return from their summer holidays.
The food is always pretty good here. I often hear horror stories about the crap they serve people in cafeterias, things that look like they might already be chewed, but this place has some of the best pizza ever, and I love their chicken alfredo pasta.
My stomach lurches at the thought of food. I’m not sure if it’s hunger or nausea. Cam heads over to select his food first and returns with a heaping pile of garlicky alfredo pasta. The scent is so strong that I decide to get up and take a walk around. I will have to try to eat something eventually. It sucks watching other people eat when I’m not eating anything.
Alex picks up a big Greek salad, and I finally decide on a small turkey sandwich.
I carefully take one bite at a time, hoping it will stay down. Thankfully, it does.
“So Alex and I were talking in the car about seeing Dr. August soon. I took the liberty of calling him when I got to my dorm room, but he’s still in Egypt. His secretary said he’s extended his trip and won’t be back for at least another two weeks.”
I drop my sandwich. “But what about his classes? That’s not like him.”
Cam shrugs. “I don’t really know what to think of it. I hope he’s okay, but I’m more worried you. If you get worse, what will we do?”
Alex frowns into her bowl of salad; she’s been quieter these days, probably just worried.
“I’ll be fine, guys. I get a bit of nausea sometimes, but I get over it. It’s only happened after my healing trick, so I don’t know if there is a connection, but maybe.”
I don’t really know what else to say, so I try to change the subject to our classes and Cam’s stalker for the year.
Her name is Claire, and she’s a little quirky but undeniably pretty. She’s usually in at least two of Cam’s classes—purposefully or accidentally, we don’t know—but she always sits next to him and tries to chat him up, which makes Cam’s class
es quite difficult to focus in.
Alex and I laugh at the thought, and Cam grimaces and blushes at the mention of her.
“So you going to hide in the back again this year, Cam? Or pretend Alex is your girlfriend again?”
Alex rolls her eyes and inquires, “Why don’t you just ask her out already? Maybe she’ll leave you alone when she realizes how much of an idiot you are.”
Cam gives us both the finger but smiles along with it, which doesn’t make its meaning that effective.
Once we finish eating, we tidy up our table and leave the cafeteria in higher spirits.
***
Alex and I walk Cam to his dorm since it’s on the way back to ours. When we get to his room, his new roommate Mark, an adorable black man, very much an Usher duplicate, answers in nothing but a towel.
He is ridiculously attractive with abs that won’t quit. Alex and I are barely able to muster a greeting. Oh my, God, we are such nerds. He smiles back at Alex, which makes her cheeks hot. “Sorry, ladies didn’t know I would have company right now. Just got out of the shower.”
He doesn’t look very sorry to us. He seems like the type of guy who loves to flaunt his physique, and I can’t blame him. He obviously worked hard for those abs. Wait, is that a sixteen-pack?
After his greeting, he looks to Cam. “Hey man, you had someone try and reach you three times while you were out. Someone from the Guelph Police Department. You in some kind of trouble? None of my business, but they asked me to pass that on and tell you to give them a call.” And with that, Mark decides to go finish his cleansing ritual.
Cam turns a little pale. Wow, now we match, I think, but this is serious and not a time for sarcasm. Alex and I both know this has something to do with his dad.
We stay while Cam dials. When the phone begins to ring, we hold our breaths.
“Hello, this is Cameron Jackson. I received a call.” He pauses to listen for a moment and then replies, “Yes, that’s my father…mmm hmm…yes.”