The commander moves swiftly up each step. The hollow thud of our bulk pressing down on the stairs echoes throughout the enclosed space.
Man, this guy can move. I find it challenging to keep up with him. The distance between us widens, and I’m forced to pick up the pace to catch up to him. He cuts sharply to the left and continues up the next flight. The fourth floor is void of any soldiers standing guard. It’s not until we reach the fifth floor that I find two sentries stationed just outside the entrance.
We hit the landing and pause. The armed men salute Commander Reynolds. He lifts his arm and reciprocates the gesture with a stern salute to his men as he walks toward them.
His fingers grip the handle and push down. The dense door clicks, then unlatches. He swings it open, walks into the hall, and turns to his right. I grab the edge of the door and move to the left. I push it closed with a dull thud.
It’s quiet and dark. Not a single sound can be heard within the vacant halls. I spy no hospital staff or soldiers in either direction.
Is Cindy up here all alone? I hope she isn’t. I can only imagine how terrifying that would be.
“There doesn’t seem to be any activity up here,” I say. “Actually, it looks vacant. No power or anything. She isn’t by herself, is she?”
The commander shakes his head. “Not at all. There are a few nurses stationed on this floor who tend to her, as well as a few more soldiers. We also have Doctor Harper, the man I spoke with earlier about Private Buckner, who has been treating her.” He glances up to the lights above us. “To conserve power, we’ve shut off most of the systems on this floor. Only what is needed is in use since there aren’t as many personnel stationed up here. That, and we’re trying not to tax the generator too much. It’s been acting up lately.”
I’m relieved to hear that at least she has had some interaction with people, and that she hasn’t been completely cast aside. Although, I’m not overly keen about what sort of tests they have conducted on her. She never liked being probed or having needles stuck into her skin. Mom always told her to be brave, and that it would only last for a second or two. Cindy would close her eyes and count to five slowly, then it would be over with.
“How is she doing overall with what happened back at the safe zone?” I inquire. “I know you left my mother behind since she was infected and starting to turn. I found her when I arrived.”
Commander Reynolds sighs.
His head hangs low, and his shoulders shift forward. He looks as though the weight of the world is pressing down on his shoulders.
“All things considered; we’ve tried to comfort your sister as best we can. She’s doing as well as can be expected.” He pauses briefly, then continues. “In regards to your mother, it was a tough call not to bring her with us, but she was already showing physical signs of the infection. Doing so would’ve jeopardized not only our lives, but the life of your sister. It was only a matter of time before she fully turned. It’s a decision that wasn’t easy to make, but it was the right call.” Commander Reynolds turns to the right and heads down the hall.
I stay by his side, and keep stride with him. “I hope you know how important Cindy is to me. She is the last remaining blood family that I have. I’ll do what is needed to protect her from whatever, or whomever, tries to harm her.” My voice cracks somewhat through the stern and direct tone of my pointed words. It could be the looming fear and dread of what I may find when face to face with my sister, or it could just be the child in me giving way to the man fighting to break free. Either way, I don’t faulter or back pedal on what was said. I hold firm.
A simple “hmmm” escapes his lips, followed by a twitch of his thick-gray mustache.
I don’t turn my head to look at him. Instead, my eyes shift to his rigid face that is partially cast in shadows.
I want Commander Reynolds to know that I mean business, and that I mean what I say. I don’t know what exactly the military’s plans are with my sister, but I hope it’s honorable.
He doesn’t say much at first. He could be chewing on a rather idle threat from a fifteen-year-old kid, or I could just be pissing him off. He’s sort of hard to read.
He stops suddenly. His arm stretches out and his palm presses against my chest.
“You got balls, kid. I can respect that. You’re a protective big brother, and that’s good, but remember who let you into this facility,” he says. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but we don’t exactly just let anyone in here. The research we’re doing is too important. The only reason you and your companions were granted access is because I allowed it.”
Guess I got my answer. Seems like we’re on the same page.
I gulp. “Why did you let us inside, then?”
Commander Reynolds removes his arm from across my body. His narrowed eyes lessen. “Because I wanted your sister to have you close by.” His hands fall to his hips. “Those things out there took my daughter, Abigail, and I wasn’t able to stop it. When your sister was brought in, I saw the fear and terror in her eyes. I hated that. She kept asking for your mother, father, Duke, and you. It crushed me to see her so distraught. So, when you showed up outside, I was a bit relieved.”
Not what I was expecting at all from a man that looks as gruff and hard as my dad. I guess I forget, at times, that despite how people may look and act, you never know what they’ve been through, what sort of torment and hurt may be residing below the flesh.
I refrain from badgering the commander any more. I offer a grateful nod instead. “I appreciate what you’ve done for Cindy, and for letting us in as well. I’ve lost so much and have had to do unspeakable things that have made me cold and hard. I figure that’s how I have to be all of the time to survive, and to keep those that matter to me safe.”
Commander Reynolds pats me on the shoulder. Through the dimness of the hall, he offers a half smile. “I can only imagine what you’ve been through, son. It’s never easy to do what one must in order to survive. In the end, though, you’re here, and alive. That’s all that matters.” He removes his hand from my shoulder. “Come on, let’s go see that sister of yours.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The day of reckoning is upon me. I now have to face my sister, who is infected with the virus that has ripped my parents and friends away from me.
I’m not sure I’m strong enough to face her without breaking down into a blubbering mess of self-loathing. Especially now, after Commander Reynolds told me how she cried for Mom and Dad.
Damn it, this is going to hurt.
My heart hammers inside my chest like a marching band drum. Each step we take down the dark hall, it grows more intense. It may just burst from my chest and run the other way.
We hang a right and travel a bit farther down the corridor. I spot a thread of light beaming from a set of double doors ahead of us. A single soldier stands at the ready nearby with a rifle clutched firmly in his hands. His head turns in our direction.
He snaps to and throws up a crisp salute. “Sir!”
Commander Reynolds slows his pace. He looks in the dark, empty rooms we pass by as if he’s searching for something. I wonder what he’s looking for.
“At ease, Private.” He stops, and looks around the immediate area some more. “Where’s Private Ferris?”
The soldier lowers his arm to his side. “One of the nurses, um, Ms. Davis I think it was, asked if he’d accompany her to the other side of the floor where Private Buckner is being kept and stand watch while she ran some tests on him. She was a bit apprehensive being up here with everything going on outside and such. Especially since, well, Private Buckner passed.” The soldier pauses, then taps his finger to his lips as if he’s trying to remember something. “He also mentioned something about feeling under the weather. Said he didn’t feel right or something. Nothing serious or anything. Maybe a cold. I know we’ve been pulling long shifts with little to no sleep.”
Commander Reynolds turns to the side. He glances back the way we came. He lingers for
a few seconds before turning his attention back to the soldier.
“Who authorized that?”
The soldier gulps.
“We both made the call, sir. We know we’re strapped for men right now with additional support being sent outside to combat the infected. I didn’t really see the need to radio it in or anything like that. Just trying to help out and take care of things up here, sir.”
Commander Reynolds scratches at the right side of his face as he stares at the private. “In the future, you make sure to get the proper authorization for any changes, whether it’s from me or Lieutenant Jacobson. Am I clear, Private Carter?”
“Sir, yes, sir.” He throws his arm up, presenting a stiff and firm salute.
“I’ll check on him once we’re done here.” Commander Reynolds continues on through the double doors as the soldier finally lowers his arm. I’m close behind as we enter the sectioned off wing of the hospital.
A nurse stands off to our left, leaning against a counter with her head hunched over. She looks like she’s writing something.
The soles of our shoes squeak over the tile floor, which grabs her attention and brings her gaze in our direction. She has a white surgical mask that’s covering her nose and mouth. She grips the front of it and lowers it below her chin.
“Commander Reynolds. What can I do for you?” Her eyes shift from the commander to me then back to him.
He looks over to his right at a room that has been sectioned off with a wall of thick plastic.
“How’s our patient doing today, Ms. Jones?”
The nurse sets her pen down on top of the chart she is writing in. She turns toward the space and nods. “She’s doing good. Holding steady with no change in her condition. There are still no physical signs of the infection aside from the bite mark on her arm, which is healing nicely. I got her to eat a bit more, too. She was a bit worried about the vibrations from earlier. Thought it was an earthquake or something.”
Commander Reynolds nods while listening to her. “Good. Glad everything’s still going smoothly.”
“And who is this young man?” The nurse looks to me. She appears to be bewildered by my presence by the way she keeps staring at me. Being a restricted area, I can only imagine how this must look. Then again, Commander Reynolds is the man in charge, and I doubt she’s going to bark at him.
Commander Reynolds places his hand on my shoulder. “This is James, Cindy’s brother.”
Ms. Jones’s eyes widen, mouth slightly agape. She smiles at me. “Oh my. How in the world did you ever find us?”
“A survivor from the safe zone in Portland told the people I’m with that she was taken to another facility in California. We searched the buildings and found some maps pointing out possible locations. So, we came looking.”
She continues to smile brightly. “She will be so happy and relieved to see you.”
I smile. “I am just as happy to see her. Thank you for taking such good care of her, Ms. Jones.”
She dismisses the statement with a wave of her hand. “Nonsense. She is an amazing young lady. I just wish I could’ve done something more for her. She has been so sad that it has just broken my heart.”
I point toward the plastic barrier. “Is she awake? Can I see her now?”
The nurse diverts her attention to Commander Reynolds. “I believe she is. Last time I checked on her, she was sitting up in bed coloring. It’s up to the commander here, though, on if you can go inside or not.”
I look to Commander Reynolds.
“I think it will be fine. You’ll need to wear a protective mask, though, before entering. It’s just as a precaution for the time being until we’re certain she isn’t contagious. This is a whole new territory for us, and we can’t afford to not steer cautiously into it.”
The nurse stands up on the tips of her toes. She reaches over the counter and grabs a mask. “Here. Put this on.”
I take the mask, and slip it over my cap. I secure the filtered white part over my nose and mouth, and adjust the straps over my ears.
This is the first time I’ve ever worn one of these things. I doubt Cindy is contagious, as we have all been in contact with the infected at some point in time and have not turned. Still, it is not my call, and I have to play by their rules if I want to see her.
The nurse hands one of the masks to Commander Reynolds. He holds his hand in the air and shakes his head.
“I don’t need one right now. James will be going in alone. Give them some time to catch up without us hanging over them.”
I look to the commander and nod. “Thank you.”
He half smiles and pats me on my shoulder. “Get in there, and see that sister of yours. We’ll be right here waiting for you when you’re done.”
The nurse turns back toward the counter and retrieves the chart from the top of the station.
“If you have a few moments, sir, there are a few things that I’d like to go over with you?”
“Sure.” Commander Reynolds approaches the counter. The nurse shifts the chart to her right. She leans forward and goes over her findings.
I head for the sectioned off barrier. My pulse spikes, heart thumps a bit harder in anticipation, and fear of speaking to Cindy. My palms are clammy. I rub them up and down on my pants to try and erase the uneasiness I feel. A single breath is sucked in and held for a short second before releasing it through trembling lips.
Through the dense plastic material, I spot her. My little sister. It’s a distorted view that only offers me the vague outline of her body, but I see her nonetheless. She’s sitting upright in her bed. Can’t tell exactly what she’s doing, but it looks like she might be hunched over some. Perhaps coloring?
I reach for the edges of the partition that runs the length of the plastic before me. My fingers grab a handful of the material. It crinkles in my hand, which captures Cindy’s attention.
I stop as panic sweeps over me. I’m afraid the horrid acts I’ve committed are tattooed on my face; permanent and unable to be removed.
“Hello?” she calls out in that same sweet voice I remember. It’s not as annoying now as it was when she followed me around like Duke. Looking back, I shouldn’t have avoided her or complained as much. “Nurse Becky, is that you?”
Another deep breath in and I open the curtain. “Hey, sis.” My voice is muffled some from the mask over my mouth.
She stares at me, her mouth slightly open as she squints in my direction. “James. Is that you?”
I step inside and seal the plastic barrier behind me since it seems to be their protocol. She moves about in her bed. I can hear the bed squeak from her weight shifting about.
I turn back to find Cindy on her knees at the end of the bed. Her hands rest on the round, molded white edge of the frame. She continues to stare at me as if she’s not convinced it’s really me.
Screw protocol.
I don’t really need this thing anyway. If she is contagious in any form or fashion, then I really don’t care. She’s all I have left.
My fingers pinch the front of the mask and pull it down, revealing my face. I smile at her. “It’s really me, Sis.”
The unsure expression covering her face melts away. With eyes wide and a big smile, she holds her arms out to the side.
“JAMES!” she shouts.
I race up to Cindy with arms wide open.
She nearly jumps from the bed to hug me. I wrap my arms tightly around her and squeeze. Clear plastic tubes and wires that are attached to her bounce off my arms.
Cindy sobs into my shoulder. Tears stream down my cheeks as I hold her tighter.
“I thought you were dead,” she whimpers softly. “They left Mom back at that school dad’s friends took us to. They wouldn’t bring her with us no matter how hard I begged and pleaded with them. All they said was that she was infected, but not like me. I miss her terribly, James.”
I cry even harder thinking about Mom and Dad. I have no clue what to say or how to say it.
�
�I know. But I am here with you now. Your big bro isn’t going anywhere. Ever.”
Cindy finally pulls back. She sits back on her feet and wipes the tears away. She shudders and exhales a deep sigh. “I still can’t believe you’re really here.”
I sniffle, then wipe away the tears from my face with the backs of my hands. “It’s been a tough road to get here, but I wasn’t going to give up. We went to the cabin first to look for you and Mom. Then, we went to the safe zone once we discovered that the both of you weren’t there. From there, we set out checking all of the places that the military could have brought you. A source at the safe zone recalled the military taking you away before the place got overrun with chasers.”
“Did you see Mom there? Is she ok?”
Cindy’s voice is thick with hope. Her eyes look upon me as if I have the answer she wants to hear.
I hesitate once more. I chew my bottom lip and divert my eyes.
“Um...”
Cindy stares at me, waiting for an answer. I rub the back of my neck, then look to the plastic barrier, trying to figure out what to say. “She’s um...”
Cindy leans to the right. She cranes her neck, looking to the plastic barrier behind me. “Is Dad and that scruffy dog of ours out there waiting to see me? I need one of Dad’s hugs, and some loving from Duke. I’ve missed his bad breath.” Cindy smiles, then chuckles some.
My eyes swell with tears. I’m defenseless to hold them back. I fight to keep my composure, but the guilt and weight of what I have done eats me alive on the inside. Like an insatiable parasite, it feeds on my torment, and refuses to leave me be.
Hold it together, James. You can’t tell her the truth. Not now.
I repeat that over and over inside my head. Doing so may hurt her more than I can bear. For now, I’ll have to bend the truth. Twist it in a way that will spare her the grief. It may not be the best call, but it’s the one that I feel I should make at the moment. It is my job now to take care of her.
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