Compound 26

by Krista Street

  “He’s still unavailable, Dr. Forester.” Her tone wasn’t as friendly this time. I hung up and paced around my living room, stopping every ten minutes to check my email. I called Emma again when another two hours passed.

  “Yes, Dr. Forester?” Emma asked, bypassing a greeting.

  I was a little startled she knew that it was me, then realized she obviously had caller ID. “Oh, I just wondered if he’s free yet?”

  “Like I told you before, he’s busy.”

  “You’ll let him know I need to talk to him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you let him know it’s urgent?”

  She sighed audibly. “Yes, Dr. Forester. I’ll let him know that as well. Just like I said I would every other time we’ve talked today.”

  “Thank you, Emma.”

  She hung up without responding.

  When I climbed into bed that night, a sinking pit formed in my stomach. I never heard back from Dr. Sadowsky. He obviously didn’t view me as a priority.

  I thought for sure Dr. Sadowsky would call me right away or at least email me back. The data we’d collected from Davin’s sample was the MRI’s first major breakthrough. Common sense said that wouldn’t go unstudied.

  Or will it?

  THE REST OF the week passed in a blur of worry and pacing. More phone calls. More emails. All unanswered. Amy came over a few times to make sure I was eating. Unfortunately, she didn’t have any information either. Every time she’d tried to speak to Dr. Sadowsky, she’d been shut out too.

  Desperation claimed me Friday night. For the first time, I wondered if I’d ever return to the Compound.

  As I climbed into bed, I closed my eyes, tuning into the door that connected me to Sara. We’d spoken daily, her making up excuses each time to Davin for why I couldn’t speak with him. I knew it was wearing on her. She sounded more tired every day.

  I lay back on my pillow, closed my eyes, and concentrated on the door. I mentally knocked, but it was distant feeling, fuzzy almost. That hadn’t happened before. Worried, I concentrated harder, urgently knocking and willing Sara to hear me. The connection felt weak.

  Breathing harder, I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, pouring every bit of energy into our mental link. Eventually, the door pried open. Sara? Are you there?

  Yeah, hi, Meghan. She sounded quieter than usual and not as clear. As if she was far away. Worry strummed through me.

  Hi. Are you okay? You sound so distant.

  I’m fine.

  Are you sure?

  I felt her nod. It’s just been a while since anyone’s been in here, other than the guards. Things have been tense.

  A paused stretched between us. I wish you were here, she said.

  Me too. You sound tired.

  I’m exhausted. Everyone’s wanted to talk today. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many conversations telepathically in a twenty-four hour period. It’s tiring.

  I’m sorry, and here I am, wanting to talk too.

  No, don’t be. I’m glad you got in touch.

  I didn’t tell her how hard getting in touch was. She sounded stressed enough. Are you sure you’re okay?

  She sighed. I’m struggling today with all of the connections. I keep getting people mixed up and then I’m accidentally telling one person what I was supposed to tell someone else. I let a secret slip.

  You can’t blame yourself for that. It’s a lot to juggle.

  Try telling that to Sophie. She has a crush on Victor and now he knows.

  I sat up more in bed and leaned against the headboard. She’ll forgive you.

  Eventually, maybe, but right now she’s mad at me.

  I grimaced. I’m sorry. I took a deep breath. How’s Davin doing?

  Not good. He’s blaming himself for everything. I’ve never seen him beat himself up like this.

  But he’s not being unruly?

  No, only because he thinks he needs to be on his best behavior to see you again.

  That comment made me pause, my eyes popping wide open. Sara, I have an idea, but I’m going to need all of you to help if it’s going to work.

  SARA KEPT BUSY over the weekend, organizing our plan with the Kazzies. I had no idea if it would work and dreaded the consequences if it didn’t. I fell asleep on Saturday night, worried over what may happen. Dreams plagued me. Vivid, haunting dreams of the virus and Kazzies.

  But those dreams triggered something.

  They latched onto a memory in my subconscious, some part of science that had been there all along, but I’d only just found.

  I bolted upright in bed early Sunday morning, the idea coming to me as harshly as a flash of lightning. I scrambled from my tangled sheets and raced to the kitchen table to map out my thoughts before the idea left.

  I scribbled the chemical reactions so quickly they were barely legible. When finished, I stared down at them, knowing it was only the beginnings of a possibility.

  The world around me disappeared as I continued to sketch and brainstorm throughout the morning, the idea growing in my mind. I spent the entire day there, at my kitchen table, thinking and writing.

  For the first time since leaving the Compound, I didn’t need to run. I didn’t need to distract myself. Instead, hour after hour passed in a blur as my idea solidified on the paper in front of me.

  Late that night, I called Amy. I told her everything I’d been working on. She listened, stunned, and promised to find Dr. Sadowsky first thing in the morning.

  “I’ll get him to talk to me, Meghan. I can promise you that. I won’t leave until he sees me.”

  Her fierce words gave me hope, but I also knew it may not change anything. They didn’t need me for my theory, only the idea. I may never be allowed into the Compound again, but at least a vaccine may be possible.

  And at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.

  After Amy and I hung up, I knocked on the mental door that connected me to Sara. Again, it was hard to get in touch with her. Mentally, I was exhausted, and I knew she was too, but I needed to talk to Davin. I couldn’t put it off any longer. Even if the MRI listened to my idea, that didn’t mean they’d let me back in.

  It was time I faced reality.

  I’m going to put you through, Sara said. But I’m not sure how long I can keep you connected.

  Don’t worry, I’ll keep it brief. Already, tears formed in my eyes.

  I’ll do my best, but I think you’re right. You need to tell him, she replied.

  A minute passed. A strum of anxiety pounded through me, like a tidal wave slamming a shoreline. It had been so long since I’d heard his voice or seen his face. Some days, it felt like a lifetime.

  I felt his presence enter my mind. My heart sped up. My stomach twisted into knots.

  Meghan? he said.

  A tear rolled down my cheek. Hi.

  He let out a deep sigh. A moment passed where neither of us said anything. I started to cry in earnest, hoping with all my soul he didn’t know.

  It’s good to hear you, he finally said. It’s been a long time.

  I know. How are you doing?

  Fine. I’ve… He stopped and took an audible breath and then cleared his throat. He continued in a hoarse voice. I’ve missed you, he whispered.

  More tears rolled down my face. I’ve missed you too.

  He cleared his throat again. So, how did it go after you left last Saturday? I’ve been worried about you. I know what that bastard is like when he’s angry. Hopefully, he didn’t make you too nervous for the presentation. Did it go okay?

  I grimaced, guilt pummeling me for keeping the truth from him. He had no idea how monumental the last eight days had been. Only Sara knew.

  Davin, I need to tell you something. I paused, wringing my hands.

  What is it?

  After I saw you last Saturday, when Dr. Roberts took me out of the Sanctum and sealed the doors, I didn’t go to the conference. He…

  What did he do? His voice was so cold, an icy chill blew over m
y mind.

  He fired me.

  WHAT? His roar made me wince.

  I’ve been trying to get my job back. I’m doing everything I can. Hopefully, I’ll find a way, but if I don’t, I want you to know–

  The connection broke. I felt it break, like a taut string being cut.

  Davin? I called. Sara? My voice rose, but there was no one there. I tried to connect with Sara, but it wasn’t working.

  Something had happened.

  SEVEN DAYS PASSED.

  Seven agonizing days. As another Sunday rolled around, it had officially been over two weeks since I’d been fired. The most gut-wrenching part was that I hadn’t heard from anybody since Davin and I were cut off. Not Sara, not Amy, and not Dr. Sadowsky.

  I had no idea if Amy had passed along my idea. It had been a week since we’d spoken. I even went to Sean’s Pub, hoping to run into Amy since I didn’t know where she lived. Nothing.

  I then drove to the Compound and parked outside the gates, hoping to connect with her on her way home. But the guards told me I’d be arrested if I stayed, so I left there too. It was awful. Absolute radio silence. I had no idea what was going on, and it was driving me crazy.

  Despair wanted to claim me, pulling me into her icy grip, refusing to let me go. On some level, I knew Sara had to be okay. I still felt the connection, but I hadn’t been able to get through to her.

  As for why Amy wouldn’t answer my calls, I didn’t want to think about the reasons. My mind went in a million directions, none of them good.

  Pulling on my running clothes, I set out for another run. It was the only thing keeping me sane.

  It was just past nine in the morning. November had arrived with a vengeance. The sky was a crisp, icy blue when I stepped onto the sidewalk. Cold winds whipped through the trees. An early dusting of snow covered the slushy streets.

  I set a fast, furious pace. The more I pushed, the less I thought. Running hard required breathing bordering on gasping, but it was what I needed. With each mile that passed, the only thing I thought about was getting air. By the time I returned to my apartment building, I could barely walk, let alone, think.

  As I was about to go inside and attempt to walk up the stairs, I noticed a strange car in the parking lot. It was brand-new, expensive, and clean. Any car like that drew attention since new cars were rare, but that wasn’t what caught my eye.

  Instead, it was the MRI license plates.

  I sucked in a mouthful of cold air, expelling it in a misty cloud around me. With shaky limbs, I opened the door and climbed the stairwell. Whoever was here was here for me. Nobody else in the building had ever worked for the MRI.

  I reached the second floor and hesitantly opened the stairwell door. Outside of my apartment, a man stood in the hallway with his back to me. He turned. My breath caught.

  It was Dr. Sadowsky.

  “Dr. Forester,” he called. “I was hoping to have a word with you.”

  I stared, unblinking. He’s here? At my apartment? Since I’d still hadn’t heard from him, I assumed I never would.

  Taking shaky steps, I walked forward. If he was here, that meant I could tell somebody my theory. I still hadn’t heard from Amy. I had no idea if she’d passed it along.

  My hands were unsteady when I brought my keys up to the lock. He hovered behind me. Scents of soap, aftershave, and wool clung to his long, expensive looking coat.

  He followed me inside, and for a minute, I didn’t know what to do. I was a mess. Sweat dripped off me, and I was in desperate need of a shower.

  “Can I take your coat?” I managed as I held out my hand. He shrugged it off.

  Since I didn’t have a closet, I folded it carefully and draped it over a kitchen chair. “Would you like a drink?”

  “No, I’m fine, but perhaps we could sit.”

  Melting, slushy snow dripped off my shoes, so I leaned down to take them off. He followed my lead. I was about to tell him he didn’t have to remove his shoes, but he already stood back up in his black, trouser socks, looking dignified while I was sure I looked ridiculous.

  He followed me into the living room and opted for the lone chair while I sat on the couch. My pulse raced uncontrollably. I wished I’d known he was coming. I would have dressed presentably and had a speech rehearsed for my theory.

  Instead, my muscles ached, sweat pooled between my breasts, and my limbs shook from my vigorous run.

  Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Dr. Sadowsky leaned forward. “I know you’ve been trying to reach me.”

  “Yes. Every day.”

  “I’m aware of that, and I’m sorry for ignoring you, but I had to address more pressing issues before I could even consider speaking with you.”

  “Oh.”

  “I also know you’ve been speaking to Dr. McConnell.”

  I swallowed. “Oh.”

  “I asked her to stop contacting you until I reached a decision on what to do.”

  So that’s why I haven’t heard from Amy. “Is she in trouble?”

  “No. From what the lie detector test revealed, she’s being truthful when she says she was not aware of any of your actions while you were employed at the Compound.”

  My mind raced. So much had happened without me being aware of it. A lie detector test? Did that mean Amy had gone to Dr. Sadowsky on Monday, like she’d promised, only to be interrogated?

  “For the past two weeks,” Dr. Sadowsky continued, “we’ve interviewed all of the guards, your co-workers, the other lab groups, and Davin’s mother to ensure you weren’t doing any other illegal activities.”

  My eyes bulged. They visited Sharon too?

  “You have to know what you did was entirely unacceptable.”

  “I know. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  “I also know that you obtained a sample from Davin that yielded extraordinary results.”

  “Yes, I’ve wanted to speak to you about that–”

  “I’ll get to that in a minute.” He held his hand up. “Right now, I need you to know that we cannot allow a researcher to stay employed within the Compound who does not follow the rules. Keeping Kazzies within our facility is a major risk. If exact policy and procedure are not followed, there’s a risk of the virus escaping.”

  My heart plummeted. I hung my head. “I know. I know all of that. Please believe me that I would never do anything to jeopardize anyone’s safety.”

  “I know that from what our investigation concluded, which is the only reason you’ve never been arrested.” He sighed heavily. “Dr. Forester, right now, I’m between a rock and a hard place. Nobody’s been able to replicate your results. However, I cannot employ someone I do not trust.”

  My head shot up. “Does that mean–”

  “Let me finish.”

  I shut my mouth.

  “And on top of that, I currently have a Sanctum full of Kazzies causing mayhem. They are demanding we allow you to return. In all of the time that the Compounds have been running, I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

  I swallowed, thinking of the plan Sara and I had formulated last weekend. The plan where all of the Kazzies became unruly, demanding to see me again. It was a selfish plan. I knew that, but I’d been desperate, and Sara agreed it may be the only way to get me back in. We’d both wanted to try.

  “Are they okay?” I asked.

  Dr. Sadowsky pinched the bridge of his nose. For the first time, I saw how tired he looked. “Yes, but they’ve become so unruly we’ve had to sedate them. Davin especially. Sunday night, he became incredibly violent.”

  Sedate them? Perhaps that was why I couldn’t get through to Sara. And Sunday night. That’s when Davin found out I got fired. “But they’re all okay?” I persisted, my heart rate picking up.

  “Yes, Dr. Forester. They’re fine. But perhaps now, you can see my dilemma. I cannot have a researcher who disrespects the rules, nor can I have a Sanctum with Kazzies who are a danger to themselves and to those around them. I realize you are an incredibly
talented scientist, but that alone cannot guarantee your employment.”

  I clasped my hands together, nodding. “Dr. Sadowsky, please, I understand all of that, but please, just hear me out. You have to understand my intention while working with Davin was only to further our understanding of the virus and work toward a vaccine. Dr. Hutchinson’s theory works. However, the last sample I collected from Davin cannot be replicated by another researcher. I tried to explain that to Dr. Roberts, but he wouldn’t listen. I know it was unprofessional to behave as I did, but Davin means more to me than almost anyone in my life. He gave me that sample willingly with an open heart. Davin and I share something. A bond has formed between us. I believe that’s why his sample was so stable. Please, just let me return to work with him. I’m confident I can obtain more samples that are just as stable. If I’m allowed to do what’s needed, I won’t need to hide anything. The only reason I ever hid my actions was because I knew Dr. Roberts would never allow it, but I never did anything to jeopardize safety, and I never would.”

  Dr. Sadowsky studied me, silent for a long time.

  He eventually sighed and took a deep breath. “Even if I did let you back in. And even if forming this bond, as you put it, was the reason for your success, what about the other Kazzies? How would their samples be taken? We have forty-one variations of Makanza. Each variation needs a vaccine, which means every Kazzie needs to produce a sample like the one you took from Davin. Dr. McConnell said you had developed a hypothesis on how that could happen. Perhaps, you’d care to enlighten me?”

  I smiled, my hands shaking as I straightened. “Yes, I do. I think I know how we can retrieve samples like that from every Kazzie in the U.S.”

  For the first time since Dr. Sadowsky arrived, I felt him truly listen to what I was saying. I launched into my theory, thanking the stars that Dr. Sadowsky was more interested in finding a vaccine than he was in following the MRI’s rules.

  29 – BREAKTHROUGH

  After a lengthy discussion about my theory, Dr. Sadowsky agreed to negotiate my reemployment.

  In other words, I was returning to work.

  He stated that I would be allowed to work with Davin, but my whereabouts would be monitored twenty-four hours per day for the next six months. I could tell Dr. Sadowsky wanted to believe that I was trustworthy, but he couldn’t jeopardize the safety of his workers or the public.