All the windows were sealed, of course, so they were all basically breathing infected air. Paige registered this truth with glum resignation.
That is if it is airborne. She allowed herself this faint sliver of hope.
But still, that only showed her how little she thought about things before acting on them. Being stuck in an infected metal box wasn’t one of her finest moments.
Yes, she would get to NYC faster, but that extra time came at a steep price. She might get infected if she wasn’t already.
But that is a chance I will have to take. She was resolved as she watched the station disappear from sight as the train picked up speed.
As if her mind needed a reprieve, her eyes landed on a poster that hung on the wall. It was for a movie, Deadpool 3, and she couldn’t help but chuckle as she remembered all her favorite scenes from the other Deadpool movies. That small spark of good humor vanished almost instantly.
“Hey, what’s up?” Dave nudged her, clearly noticing her frown.
“Deadpool 3 is out,” she said, nodding toward the poster. “And I didn’t have a chance to see it.” She whined the complaint, knowing fully how ridiculous she sounded at that moment.
“Fellow geek,” he said, smiling. “I didn’t have a chance to see it either. But you know what,” he asked rhetorically before continuing. “Once this is over, and we survive, I will take you to see it—my treat, to celebrate the end of our adventure,” he proclaimed with a smile.
“Deal,” Paige replied instantly.
She couldn’t be certain if he meant it, but it was still nice having something to look forward to.
After that exchange, they both drifted into their own thoughts and she resumed her study of the people around her.
The gazes of the non-sick people were mostly glued to their phones as if they hoped that if they hit refresh, everything would change, and the news wouldn’t be so glum anymore.
Sadly, Paige caught herself doing the same, wishing she would find something about a cure or that things weren’t as bad as they thought. Which was pretty ironic considering what she’d seen on the way there.
She searched for a while but could find nothing new, just more of the same useless information she already read while back at school and in the car.
She couldn’t take any more bad news, so she put it away.
“That good, ha?” Dave asked and once again, Paige was relieved she wasn’t alone.
“Yeah,” she replied with a sigh.
She spotted another poster, this time of Mac D’s chicken nuggets being dunked into her favorite dip, sweet and sour. She’d kill for a box of nuggets right then.
Much to the obvious relief of all the passengers, the train didn’t stop at any other stations on the way. Instead, it zoomed past them, affording swift glimpses of the shocked expressions of all those waiting on the platform.
A part of Paige felt bad for them, but on the other hand, if more people boarded, they would have to move closer to the infected people. The healthy ones were already packed together like sardines as it was.
“Hey,” Dave called out suddenly. “Do you know what position Bruce Wayne played on his baseball team?”
At first, his question confused her, but then she realized he was trying to make a joke. So, she played along.
“No, what?”
“He was the bat boy,” Dave replied, not missing a beat, and Paige chuckled despite herself.
“That is a terrible joke,” she teased.
Dave shrugged. “It still made you smile.” He was right. It had made her smile, and she was happy not to think about what was going on around her, even for a short moment.
“Do you know why he’s called Batman?”
She looked at him in horror. “Of course. Because he’s scared of bats.”
“Baseball bats?” Dave laughed. “Only joking. So, what’s are you scared of? Other than all the weird stuff happening today.”
Paige paused for a moment as she thought about what she was scared of. The world being screwed up today is top of my list… Monday mornings—nope, that’s boring. Friday afternoon because class is over as if the darkness…jeez, he’ll think I’m a right wimp if I tell him that.
“Boy, you’re thinking hard about this one. You must have a few to select from,” Dave mocked.
“Just thinking. I need to make sure my superhero name is cool.” She tapped her lip as she thought.
Growing old, staying young, is that the best you can do? Dave looked impatiently at her. “I’m going to say spiders. You can be spider girl.” He grinned.
“Hey! I’m not scared of spiders. I’m scared of the darkness.” Damnit! I said that out loud.
“Wait, what? You’re scared of the dark?” He looked at Paige, obviously confused.
“No, it’s not like that—” She paused, not knowing what to say. How could explain that her mother used to lock her and her sisters in the wardrobe to keep her away from the Shadow men?
Dave held his hands up. “Hey, darkness girl…nope, that’s not good. Maybe lady of the night.” He laughed, which was greeted with a punch to the arm.
“Ouch, you’re strong.” He winced as he rubbed his arm. “Night Girl, that has a good ring to it.” She had to agree.
“So, what are you scared of?”
“That’s easy. Well, not really scared of…more bored of, I guess. School.”
“That’s totally lame, School Boy.” Paige couldn’t help but laugh at his superhero name. He joined in, apparently unfazed.
In a superhero voice, Dave said, “Night Girl and School Boy are off to NYC to save the world.” He lifted one arm out in front of himself, mimicking Superman. Paige grinned and followed suit. They no doubt looked like fools messing around on the train without a care in the world.
Through the window and still in the distance, the outline of NYC appeared.
I’m almost there, Paige thought as a sense of relief washed over her.
Her feet ached from standing for so long, and thinking back, she wished she’d put her sneakers on instead of the heavy black boots. But it was too late for thoughts like that, and they did go with her new Night Girl look.
***
The image of Paige looking at him through her window was still front and center in AJ’s mind long after they pulled out of the parking lot and left Charles Rosehill, maybe for good.
He’d heard that they were taking them to some military base, but that was it.
Maybe the personnel didn't know themselves or they thought the sick kids didn't need to know.
Either way, AJ settled into a more comfortable position for the ride. The thing was, though, he didn't feel like the sick kids around him.
Yeah, his nose had bled at first, but that was for only like a second, and only a few specks at best.
So, what gives?
“You are not sick, merely adjusting.”
Francis, long time no hear. AJ faked cheerfulness. And here I was starting to worry again that I’d completely lost my fucking mind.
The voice inside his head remained silent.
Maybe it didn't have a sense of humor?
He decided to switch tactics.
Adjusting how? Why? he asked, not really expecting an answer.
“The virus is designed to thin the herd. The Hosts are awakened, and everyone else is merely a tool to spread the virus more quickly.”
AJ didn't like the sound of that one bit.
You mean kill them?
“Yes.”
His gut knotted instinctively as he thought about the millions of people—probably more—dying because of it.
How does the virus spread?
“It's airborne, sent from our motherships. But don't worry, you are safe.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Lucky him to be the winner of this mindfuck. He really didn't need to know that some kind of an invasion was on the roll.
What's a Host? AJ asked, even though a part of him really didn't want to know.
“You are Mine.”
Ok, easy there, fella. Can't we at least date first?
“You are the chosen one, so earn your place and return for your Seedling.”
There was that word again.
Francis, be a darling and explain something to me. What is a Seedling?
He asked since Francis seemed to be a real chatty Cathy at the moment. But the more he learned, the more scared shitless he became.
“Seedlings are the enemy. The virus doesn't kill them. It awakens their dormant powers as well.”
So, Paige was a Host like him.
“No!” Francis actually shouted inside his head, hearing his thoughts.
AJ would have to be more careful with his thoughts in the future. He didn't like the idea of Francis being privy to everything inside his mind.
“The virus makes Seedlings stronger, dangerous.”
He definitely wanted to hear more about that.
“Get your Seedling now and join me.”
Let's rewind a bit, Francis. Tell me more about their powers.
“The virus invigorates them. Where regular people succumb, they thrive. A Seedling gets stronger and faster over time, and in the end, becomes unstoppable.” Francis paused there, and AJ couldn't be sure but thought he detected a hint of fear in his voice.
“You need to capture her, stop her before it's too late.”
Yeah, that's not going to happen.
“You must bring the Seedling,” Francis insisted, and AJ grew tired of him.
It was fun, as always, but I am getting a bit sleepy, so... So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu, or whatever.
He made himself more comfortable and relaxed so he could fall asleep quicker.
Francis laughed.
“You no longer need to sleep, my Host.” He sounded almost affectionate.
AJ didn't have a chance to even think of a response before it happened. Some kind of current ran through his body. It felt like he was suddenly plugged into a power source or something.
At first, he felt a mild buzzing sensation directly beneath his skin, but that quickly changed. With each passing second, its intensity grew until he felt like his skin was on fire. But not only his skin, he realized in something close to horror. Everything seemed to flare and smolder with unquenchable heat.
He screamed. The nurses rushed to his side and tried to give him something, but he thrashed about, unable to bear the pain.
Please stop.
But no matter how much he pleaded, it only grew worse to the point where he was about to pass out.
No more. Please!
In the next instance, it was over.
AJ was wide awake now, feeling ready to run a marathon or something, and that freaked totally freaked him out.
Holy shit!
What is this thing turning me into?
CHAPTER TEN
The view of New York City disappeared from sight as they entered the tunnel. The sudden darkness made more than a few people look up from their phones. As always, cell reception vanished along with the daylight.
That was also the point where they were meant to slow down, but Paige noticed they weren’t.
If anything, the train was slowly but steadily picking up speed.
A random thought almost made her chuckle—but with irony rather than humor.
She felt like she’d been plunged into a bad Keanu Reeves movie, except she was no Sandra Bullock.
“We’re not slowing down,” she said to Dave, and he frowned as if he was about to disagree. Clearly, though, he reconsidered and recognized the truth.
“The train is not slowing down,” she repeated, a little louder this time so the others could hear as well.
With the truth out there now, her panic started to rise. We are going to crash.
The people continued to stand there as if stuck in place, uncertain as to how to act. Also, they looked at her as if she was the crazy woman from the road. Is this how people look at my Mom? The thought intruded, jarring her already unsteady emotions.
Dave jumped in to help, and things changed.
“Everyone, get to the back of the train,” he shouted. The uncertainty lingered for only a few seconds more before they began to push toward the exit.
“Faster,” Paige yelled as panic threatened to overtake her. Dave took her hand and her anxiety subsided slightly but enough to enable her to keep going.
The sick remained seated, her and Dave’s screams not fazing them at all as if they simply accepted their fate.
All the healthy bodies were now moving, seeing the sense of the plan, and scrambled toward the door.
An elderly man had difficulty moving fast enough, so Dave helped him.
“Why is this happening?” someone cried out, and Paige had to agree that it was a valid question.
“The train driver must he infected,” Dave whispered to her, and she nodded in return.
“I guess it was only a matter of time with all the affected people boarding it,” she agreed.
“Just wish we thought about that sooner,” he added with a sigh. She shrugged, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference for her either way.
That clown on the station had been gunning for her and getting onto the train was her only way of salvation.
Fate won’t be so cruel as to let me survive all that, only to let me die in a train, right? she thought glumly, not really expecting or wanting an answer to that question.
“God, help us all.” An elderly woman crossed herself, mumbling prayers under her breath.
Together, the passengers all pushed through into the next car, trying to get to the very back of the train.
In the melee, panic sparked by a single woman spread like wildfire, and soon, they shoved and knocked one another out of the way to survive.
For a second, Dave looked like he wanted to take her hand but reconsidered at the last moment, pretending he was checking the contents of his pockets. The distraction worked, though. Paige refocused on the task at hand.
In front of them, a frantic woman in a party dress pushed and clawed her way to the front. The others cursed her in outrage, but she acted as if she didn’t care.
“Watch it, girlie!”
“Oh, bite me,” she snapped back.
Like she was the only one who needed to be rescued. Paige tried not to judge her. “Fear makes a strange bedfellow,” she’d heard someone say once and it was true.
“Hey, lady, stop that,” another man protested, but she kept on going.
Paige and Dave moved at a steady pace, watching the drama ahead. The woman managed to leave the car and was in the process of crossing to the next.
The gap between the wagons was substantial, and she wore high heels.
“Hurry up,” someone yelled impatiently at her.
“Oh no,” Paige murmured, the scene almost in slow-motion now.
“What?” Dave asked in confusion, looking from Paige to the woman.
“She should have got rid of those heels,” she answered, her tone heavy with dread as the train jostled over some kind of bump. Everything jumped a little, and the man behind the woman in question slipped and gave her a little push.
She screamed, and Paige instinctively joined her. “Help!”
A few people that were the closest tried to reach for her, but it all happened too fast.
Losing her balance, she slipped and, in a flash, crashed onto the train tracks below. Her multi-colored dress swirled a rainbow through the air. Her scream faded abruptly as the train raced over her body.
Paige shuddered, but Dave pushed her onward. “We have to keep going,” he urged.
Together, they managed to make it out through to the next car. She kept turning, unable to help herself.
“What is the matter with you?” he inquired. She couldn’t believe he’d actually asked her that.
“That woman just died and I don’t want to end up like her,” she snapped back. She had to make sure no one was behind her.
>
Still, he did have a point. No one was pushing her since they were the last two people in the group of terrified passengers.
Well, that wasn’t completely true, she hedged. They would be the last two people apart from those staying behind. Those with the virus, who seemed incapable of registering the reality of another kind of danger.
“Here, let’s trade places,” he offered. “I will keep you safe.” Paige simply nodded. She didn’t need a hero to save her, but it was quite nice for someone to step up.
Looking back for the last time, she noticed something strange. People with the virus were starting to stand as well. Their movements were a little stiff and irregular, but they kept going nevertheless.
In disbelief, Paige realized they were moving in the wrong direction
“What are they doing?” she asked, nodding toward them.
They headed toward the front of the train where the impact would be the greatest.
Dave frowned, watching them as well, but he made no comment.
“Come,” he urged as he watched all those poor men and women walk to a certain death.
Their lives were hanging in the balance as well.
Through the commotion, a baby in her mother’s arms caught her eye, and she stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t be much older than a few months, and Paige’s heart sank when she noticed the blood on the little baby.
Her gaze slid to the child’s mother, a lady with long brown hair and a white dress patterned with red roses. She realized the blood was actually from her dripping nose. The mother was sick and not the baby, and they were also moving toward the front of the train, leaving the baby’s stroller behind.
Without thinking, she ran over to the pair and started shaking her to break her out of her stupor.
“You’ve got to come this way,” she told her, praying she wasn’t too far gone and that she would understand.
The woman appeared dazed and confused, but Paige managed to lead her alongside, while Dave helped from the other side. Together, they reached the last wagon, but it was already too packed with bodies. There was no way they could get through.
They held on to one another as they prepared for impact.
The sound of metal ripped apart echoed like a scream, deafening them instantly.
Contamination (Invasion Survivor Book 1) Page 9