Contamination (Invasion Survivor Book 1)

by Hayley Lawson

  At that point, they were a potential threat, so he was simply doing his job.

  “My sister is in there,” she replied.

  “And so is my brother,” Dave added.

  “Over there.” The guard pointed to someone sitting in a metal box.

  Paige backtracked a little so she could pick up her bag because somehow, she felt naked and too exposed without her sword, but was stopped in her tracks.

  “Leave it,” the guard yelled at her. Reluctantly, she obeyed.

  Damn it, she fumed. I really should have thought this through and stored a weapon on me or something. Even in a place like this, she didn’t feel comfortable without some kind of weapon.

  It was too late now, though. There were a lot of things she should have thought about before simply acting. But, as she’d proven so far, that wasn’t really her thing.

  “Give me your names, your sibling’s names, and your ID’s too,” the man in the box ordered. His name tag read, “Riley.” Paige couldn’t help but notice how young he looked. He couldn’t be much older than her, yet the stern expression on his face suggested he certainly surpassed her with experiences.

  Paige gave him her ID. “My sister's name is Willow Moon.”

  “Night Moon.” Dave grinned. “I think I prefer it to Night Girl.” He laughed.

  Paige smiled back. She knew she was in for it now. Dave would make jokes about her last name now, for sure. But I get to find out what his last name is.

  Office Riley, on the other hand, wasn’t amused. “And your sibling? What’s the name?” Officer Riley asked bluntly.

  “Peter Davis.”

  “Dave Davis.” Paige grinned.

  Dave shook his head.

  Officer Riley typed all the information rapidly into his computer and Paige could hear the distinctive dings of random pop-ups.

  “Do you have the virus?” he asked them abruptly.

  No time for small talk while the world is breaking, I suppose, Paige thought to herself.

  “No,” they replied in unison.

  Paige hoped—prayed even, with all her might—that they were, in fact, telling the truth. There was no telling what the army would do to them if they were infected.

  Officer Riley lifted a white scanner and pointed it at Dave. A red beam traveled all over his body as officer Riley looked at the readings on his monitor of the computer.

  Once he was done, he typed something.

  “Clear,” he barked, and Dave sagged in relief.

  He repeated the whole process with Paige and she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

  Finishing, Officer Riley lifted his eyes back to Paige then looked at the computer once more, and that was the moment she really started to sweat and worry.

  Distracted by her anxiety, Paige nibbled at her fingernails, her nerves grinding hard.

  “So?” she prompted, not able to withstand the suspense any longer. “Do I have it?”

  “No. No, but if you two proceed onto the base, you will be exposed to it. Probably will even get it,” he explained to Paige’s surprise.

  She didn’t know the situation was that dire, but still.

  Dave and she looked at each other, communicating silently. Paige raised a brow in query, and once he nodded, she replied to officer Riley.

  “We will take our chances if it means we find our sister and brother.”

  Officer Riley sighed. “Figured you’d say that. Just like your older sister.”

  What? The truth screamed inside her head. Brooke? She was really here?

  No, that is impossible! Paige rebelled in the next instance.

  “Is my older sister still here?” Paige inquired with much more calm than she felt.

  He pressed a couple of keys on his keyboard. “No, she left with the others,” officer Riley informed her.

  That only stirred up more questions, but she reined them in.

  “What about Willow?” Paige demanded.

  Again, he typed on his keyboard. “She’s still here, and so is Peter,” he added, looking at Dave.

  Thank God.

  The thing with Brook still intrigued her the most.

  What is going on? She had to wonder, hope stirring even while it made no sense.

  “We are ready to go in,” Dave announced and Paige simply nodded. She couldn’t wait to have her sister safe in her arms and take her out of this place, no matter how crazy that sounded.

  The guard nodded and placed blue bracelets on their wrists.

  “What is this for?” Dave asked before she could voice the question.

  “To know what side of the camp to go on,” the guard said simply.

  They already have a color-coded system in place to distinguish healthy from unhealthy. There’s no way they didn’t know this was happening. Paige realized the implications of that with sudden clarity.

  “Can you look after the motorbike?” Dave asked.

  The guard frowned, clearly taken aback for some reason, but eventually nodded. “Sure.”

  A heavy-set and tall guard took them through a door on the left and, walking through the compound, they ended up in the barracks. Once inside, they stopped in front of a vast glass-walled room.

  Paige could see it was filled with all the kids. They were literally packed together like sardines.

  “Peter?” Dave called out for his brother, and pretty soon, she lost sight of him. She wasn’t too concerned about him, though. He could take care of himself.

  Usually.

  * * *

  “Peter!” Dave was frantic as he rushed toward his brother’s bed.

  “Dave?” His little brother stood on the bed when he spotted him, then jumped right into his arms. Dave hugged him with all his might, too afraid to let go.

  After all the shit he’d been through, there was a part of him that didn’t quite believe this was real.

  “Thank God,” he breathed against Peter’s hair.

  “What took you so long? I was afraid,” Peter demanded, tears threatening.

  “Sorry, Peter, I came as soon as I could.”

  He released him and placed him back on the bed to examine him. Though he felt dumb doing it, he even went so far as to check his nose thoroughly, leaning in to look all the way inside to see if there were traces of blood anywhere.

  “I am not infected with the virus,” Peter informed him, not too pleased with all the attention. “But I have been stuck with these rich kids. They think I’m one of them. As if.”

  Dave sagged in relief. “That is good to hear, little man.”

  “How about you?” his brother wanted to know, looking up at him with concern.

  “All good.”

  “So, what now?”

  He rubbed the back of his head as he thought hard. He had been so wrapped up in the notion of getting there and finding his brother that he hadn’t actually known what would come next.

  “You know, my man, that is an excellent question.” Looking around the room that was filled with infected kids, he knew two things. First, there was no way they were staying in that prison. And second, Dave was certain Paige had a plan.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  On her second inspection of the room, Paige realized other kids that she didn’t recognize were also there. Probably shipped from some other place, she reasoned, but clearly equally affected. It was sad to see so many victims of this never-ending virus.

  Not wanting to appear paranoid, she remained calm even though she felt like she was being watched. Turning, she discovered why.

  AJ’s gorgeous eyes were zoomed in on her.

  Her heart fluttered of its own accord as she watched him studying her.

  He doesn’t look sick…he’s even smiling at me, she thought with a surge of hope.

  She was ashamed to admit that his behavior still made her blush, even though the world was basically ending. But hormones could do that to a girl—or, in this case, AJ.

  “Are you okay?” Paige asked as she approached him. He still stared b
lankly at her with that same trademark smile across his lips.

  “AJ?”

  He didn’t reply, simply continued to do his thing—which was nothing but an unwavering stare softened with a smile.

  * * *

  Paige had walked into the room, AJ realized, shocked to see her again. Then he frowned, concentrating on what a part of him was sure was an apparition.

  Was it really her or was he hallucinating?

  “Take your Seedling.”

  Bingo.

  She was really there because Francis started acting out again.

  Good to know. AJ was somewhat pleased he hadn’t completely lost all his marbles.

  “Take her.”

  I feel like we already did this song and dance, Francis. You say I need to take her in an ominous yet highly fake voice, and I counter with something witty while declining, AJ replied, bored by the repetition.

  “There will be consequences.”

  Go to hell, Francis.

  “We will find and punish you.”

  Do your best, Francis. It can’t be worse than being forced to listen to your boring voice all day long.

  “Come to your senses, AJ, and take her.”

  I’m calling your bluff and I’m ready for you. So, come and get me if you can, AJ shouted internally, and looking at Paige across the room, he knew he was making the right decision.

  She started walking toward him, and he was glad Francis had gone once again—probably off pouting somewhere—because he didn’t want an audience.

  * * *

  “AJ, have you seen Willow?” Paige asked. Then, realizing how stupid her question was, wanted to smack herself across the forehead.

  He barely even knows who I am. Why would he know who my little sister is?

  “My sister, Willow—have you seen her?” Paige clarified, like that would make any difference.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small movement. A head turned at the name and instantly, she knew it was her.

  It was her sister Willow, and she beamed at Paige.

  “Yeah, she’s right over there,” AJ replied, gesturing and startling her a little. She had already moved, not even aware whether she thanked him or not.

  Unable to contain herself, she hugged her sister tightly. Eventually, clearly impatient to share something, Willow tried to end it.

  Paige, however, couldn’t let her go.

  “Paige, let me breathe. I’m not sick, but I will be broken if you carry on hugging me this hard.” Willow tried to reassure her. “I have my bracelet on.”

  Paige frowned. What bracelet?

  Willow raised one of her hands and sure enough, there was a delicate-looking thing around her wrist. Paige wondered where she got it—from whom and why.

  “Paige,” Willow exclaimed. “Guess what? I’m glowing gold, just like you.”

  That did the trick, and Paige loosened her hold so she could look her sister in the eyes.

  Fear built inside her heart as Paige tried to allow Willow’s words to sink in.

  Again with that golden glow.

  She looked at her own hands and the golden glow she’d seen all day was unmistakable.

  Have I entered some delusional stage of the virus? she wondered, panicking. She immediately dismissed that thought because Willow looked normal.

  It was simply the things she said that made no sense.

  I’m totally the delusional one?

  “What?” Paige managed to choke out. She didn’t really want the answer to that question but couldn’t stop herself from asking nevertheless.

  “Brooke brought these and says we have to wear them—to keep them away,” she explained in a rush. “Hurry, put it on,” Willow urged, handing her a bracelet with honey-gold gems embedded in it.

  “Who are they?” Paige asked.

  “The things in the shadows. Like Mom used to protect us from. The golden glow helps the things in the shadows find us, but the bracelet stops that,” Willow whispered conspiratorially, but that made no sense to Paige.

  “Willow—”

  “No, Paige.” Willow rebelled, clearly guessing what she wanted to say. “Please…please, do this for me,” she pleaded.

  Paige simply continued to stare at the thing like it was radioactive or something equally dangerous.

  Nervously, Willow looked around and then back at Paige, clearly impatient.

  Wanting to indulge her, Paige slipped it on and instantly, the tension eased from her little sister.

  Paige’s golden aura faded.

  Willow chuckled. “Watch.” She smiled as she removed her own bracelet. Suddenly, a golden aura appeared all around her. Willow’s skin was sparkling like she was dusted with gold, and Paige was surprised and horrified at the same time to notice how her sister had never looked happier.

  It was the same as Tatyana’s and even hers, but it was definitely more prominent.

  Simply put, everything about Willow was shining back at her, and Paige had never been that scared in her entire life.

  Not when that woman tried to kill her on the road, or even when she got the first phone call from her dad telling her about the world ending. But seeing her sister, here and now, did that for Paige.

  Willow slipped the bracelet back on quickly and just like that, returned to looking like her little sister once again.

  What the heck is happening here?

  She didn’t know who to ask for the answer.

  Paige paused for a moment, trying to take it in, and AJ walked over to them. He paused, smiling.

  “AJ, you are not sick anymore,” she exclaimed in wonder, because the last time she’d seen him, he was carried out of the school on a gurney.

  He raised his arm and on his wrist was the same amber bracelet Willow and Paige had on.

  “Your sister hooked me up,” he explained, high-fiving Willow. “I’m all better now. I don’t think I had the same virus as everyone else. They gave me the all clear.” AJ nodded over to the guards.

  Paige was glad.

  Willow came closer to whisper in her ear. “I knew he was your boyfriend so I gave him one as well.”

  Paige went completely red because, by the way AJ tried not to laugh, it was obvious he’d heard every word of it.

  Please, God, kill me now.

  “How is this possible?” she asked them, touching the foreign object on her arm.

  AJ simply shrugged. “How is any of it possible?” He must have been glowing as well.

  And, in a way, he was right.

  “Look, the most important thing is that we are all right.”

  Paige looked around the room again. “Is River better? I’ve tried calling her but got no answer.” She looked back at AJ, hoping he’d have the answer and he did.

  “She’s in another room. They…took the infected—those that were getting worse—into another room. They were trying to bite people.” AJ gulped.

  “Stage Two.”

  “Yeah, Stage Two,” AJ repeated somberly.

  “My bracelet didn’t work on River,” Willow admitted. Paige pulled her little sister in for a hug.

  “I have to go and get my mom but then we can all go and meet up with dad. He has a plan.” Paige hedged, not wanting to share everything.

  “I’m coming with you,” Willow replied.

  “No, Willow, I think you should stay here. It’s too dangerous outside.” Paige tried to reason with her, remembering all she went through simply to get to Fort Hamilton. And if Willow was with her, everything would be so much more difficult.

  “But I don’t want to stay here.”

  “I will look after her,” AJ offered, and Paige was grateful.

  “Thank you.” She turned toward Willow, putting her hand on her sisters’ shoulder. “I promise that I will be back as soon as I can.”

  “With Mom?”

  “Yes.”

  Reluctantly, Willow nodded.

  “Please be careful, okay, and don’t take the bracelet off,” Willow warned
.

  “I promise,” Paige replied instantly, giving her one last hug.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Page didn’t want to let Willow go. It took so long to get to her that now, the knowledge that she had to leave her again was almost unbearable.

  But it’s the right thing to do, she reminded herself, finally letting go.

  “Right, so I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she repeated, clearly stalling.

  “Don’t worry so much, Paige, I will take good care of her—as if she were my own sister,” AJ promised with a smile and placed an encouraging hand on her arm.

  Paige was somewhat reassured. But telling her not to worry was pointless. It would be like telling her not to breathe. It couldn’t be done.

  She’d already lost one sister, so all her feelings for Willow were intensified because of that.

  “Thank you,” she replied simply.

  Then she remembered something else—or more accurately, someone. Eric.

  “Willow, did you find the kid called Eric?” she asked.

  Willow nodded. “When they took the sick kids out they brought others in. That’s him.” Willow pointed to a little kid around her age. He had red hair and freckles like the photo, and his finger was up his nose like he was trying to dig his brain out. Bingo.

  Paige headed over to him. “Hey, are you Eric Connor?”

  “Yeh.” Eric pulled his finger out of his nose and inspected his boggy. Gross.

  Paige was relieved that she’d found him. “Your mum has been looking for you. Your dad is on his way.”

  “Thanks.”

  Paige rang Sophie and passed the phone to Eric. She could hear the sobs of relief.

  “I’m fine, Mom,” Eric told her before hanging up and handed the phone back.

  “Mom says thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Two down, one to go. I need to find Dave.

  She searched for him, and just as if he was a mind reader, she spotted him jogging her way, zigzagging between the beds with an unfamiliar boy in tow.

  His brother Peter, she guessed. She was relieved that he looked healthy as well.

  “Hey,” Dave said, greeting them all once he neared them.

  “This is my brother Peter,” he said. The boy waved and Paige did the same, smiling.