“I know,” Amanda says with a soothing voice as possible. “But for now I think it may be best if you just remain here and rest.”
“I can’t,” Hope drones between sobs, “I, I need to get out of here.”
“Hope,” Fanny’s voice calls from the doorway. Her arm is wrapped up in white bandages and strapped around her waist for support. On the top of her shoulder a pink stain of old blood starts to show. She walks over to Hope’s bed, the top half of her body swaying slightly with each step.
“Fanny?!” Hope says with a radiant smile bursting through the tears.
“Yes, it’s me,” Fanny responds.
“Fanny you weren’t supposed to leave your room,” Amanda scolds, standing between her and Hope’s bed. “Doctor Bettencourt said you needed to rest and build up your strength.”
“Yeah I know what Doctor Bettencourt said,” Fanny says getting right up against Amanda, “but I could hear Hope and I had to come to her.”
Amanda glares into Fanny’s eyes. She looks so deep she can almost see the fire burning deep within her. Fanny never blinks, standing her ground, and backing Amanda away.
“Fine,” Amanda says taking a few steps back before heading for the door again, “but keep it short. You may not care about your life, but she needs to rest too.”
Fanny nods as Amanda fades out of view. She turns back to her bedridden friend a smile on her face as her eyes start to swell, “I’m so glad you’re safe.” She wraps her good arm around her neck and holds her tightly.
“I want to go home,” Hope chokes out.
“I know you do,” Fanny says soothing her. She sits beside her on the bed and Hope drops her head onto her shoulder. Fanny starts to run her fingers through Hope’s hair. “I know you want to go home, but we still have a job to do. So we need to do our best to get better and get it done.”
“I…I…” Hope stammers, “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”
Fanny pushes her friend away softly staring her drained and emotionless friend in the eyes. “I’ve never known anyone as strong as you. You are fire and passion.”
“No, that’s my father,” Hope sniffles.
“Your father was the reluctant hero, thrown into the fire unwillingly. You heard that people were in need and you jumped right into it. You are the heart and soul I wish I could be,” Fanny says with as much passion as she could muster.
“You think so?” Hope asks finally cracking a smile.
“I know so,” Fanny reassures, “Hell, I wish I could be like you.”
“But you seem so sure of yourself and confident. You took charge and have kept us alive.”
“No, I let us lose three people in the first few days of getting off the boat,” Fanny laments, “you on the other hand stood up and followed Amanda and Mika down here and then came back for us when we needed you.”
“I couldn’t leave you,” Hope replies, “I don’t know how I would ever live without you.”
“That’s something you might have to figure out,” Fanny says harshly, “I don’t want to bring you down, but you have to look at things realistically. There is no certainty out here, you and I could be killed at any moment.” Fanny runs her hand down to her stomach, her fingers running across the stitches. “I mean either one of us could have been killed the other night.”
“But we didn’t,” Hope argues.
“We got lucky,” Fanny snaps back, “We both had life threatening situations and could be dead right now.”
“But we’re not!” Hope reasons her voice growing louder with each word. “Maybe we did get lucky, but why argue about something good.”
“Because I need you to realize that we cannot rely on luck alone. We need to plan ahead, to be smart,” Fanny says with a sense of urgency in her voice, “That’s why I don’t think I can lead this team anymore. They need someone with the same compassion and drive for life that they have. Someone like you.”
“Me?” Hope asks confused, “But I can’t lead. I’m not… I mean you… but why?”
“Because you’re what they need, what we need,” Fanny says getting to her feet. “In the mean time you need some rest. So think it over and just know that I have faith in you.” Fanny’s eyes roll to the side of the bed, the dim light on the ceiling catching the bright scabbard of Hope’s sword resting against the wall. She reaches over and holds it in her hands. “And I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one who believes you could do it.” She lays the katana down on the bed beside her.
Hope lays speechless her eyes following Fanny as she glides across the floor, never looking back as she slides out the door.
Me in charge, Hope thinks to herself. Is it even possible? The lives of everyone resting on my shoulders; it makes me sick to my stomach. Her hand inches slowly toward the sword. She pulls back after touching the cold steel. She reaches over again, this time pulling it toward her and sliding the blade out slowly. She looks closely at the blade, closer than she’s ever looked before. In her mind the blade had always been perfect, a symbol of what her parents and others had to endure. There are a few faded brownish black stains, blood that couldn’t be removed, and small nicks in the metal where the blade connected with certain items. This sword helped my father. I remember all the stories he told me of how he found it when he needed it most, and how he always had it with him after that moment. But he entrusted it to me. I can’t let him down!
“I won’t let them down!” Hope exclaims sliding the blade back into its sheath.
Chapter 8
I feel like the days have started to merge. Hope writes in her little pink book. She is no longer in the hospital bed but instead has been moved to a nicer room. The walls are beige with small bits of dust built up. The light on the ceiling is just as dim as the one from the recovery room, but there is added light coming from the desk lamp that is just hovering above Hope’s pink book. I’m not used to all this darkness, I’m starting to miss the sunlight. The only good thing to happen within the last few days is Dr. Bettencourt removed my stitches. A knock on her door gets her attention pulling her away from her book.
“Come in,” Hope says turning around until she is facing the door.
The door creeks open slightly Sara’s head peers in, “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Doing well,” Hope responds, “just trying to deal with my cabin fever.”
“Yeah I get that,” Sara says sashaying further into the room, “this is so surreal. I mean being down here for so long it just starts to play tricks on the mind.”
“I know what you mean, I’m so confused I don’t even know how long we’ve been down here,”
“It’s been about a week,” Sara says, “although it feels like a month.”
Sara looks around the room, a weird sensation fills Hope’s mind, as she starts to question why she’s there.
“Is there something I could help you with?” Hope asks.
“Actually I did have a question that’s been sort of bothering me,” Sara says looking down at her feet, “I was talking to Fanny the other day… nothing too unusual, I mean she looks like a decent person when not under all this stress…”
“Just ask the question,” Hope asks slightly annoyed.
“Sorry,” Sara blushes, “I just… I mean she said… is it true she is stepping down as our leader?”
“Yeah,” Hope responds, “at least that’s what she told me.”
“And you’re taking over?” She asks bluntly.
“I don’t know,” Hope replies, “honestly I don’t know if I have what it takes.”
“Why would you even think a thing like that?” Sara asks astonished at what she just heard.
“Because I am not a leader,” Hope sighs, “I’m not even much of a follower.”
“That’s not true. You’ve done so much for all of us,” Sara replies. “You fight for all of us, not just yourself, and you’re the only one of us willing to tell Fanny when she’s gone too far. If you ask me you’ve already been leading and just di
dn’t know it.”
“Maybe the whole key to being a good leader is not overthinking it,” Hope reasons.
“If that’s true then maybe we should make John the leader,” Sara smirks, “I don’t think he’s thought of anything since we left on this mission.”
The two girls share a quick laugh at John’s expense before being interrupted by Amanda knocking on the open door as she lets herself in.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Amanda starts, “but I thought I’d check up on Hope and see how she’s feeling.”
“With the exception of the nightmares, I’m fine,” Hope replies.
“Yeah, I wish I could say the nightmares go away with time,” Amanda sighs, “but honestly with time they just seem to get worse.”
The three girls stand motionless in the small room, each one silent, slightly uncomfortable with each other. Sara excuses herself as she leaves the room, a shiver crawling down her back.
“So…” Hope says trying to break the silence, “has Fanny been behaving herself?”
“Yeah,” Amanda answers clearing her throat. “Mostly, she’s been trying to convince the Major to let her use the radio.”
“Why would she want to use the radio?” Hope asks.
“She never said anything to me,” Amanda answers, “but I overheard her saying she wanted to contact Joshua or Damian?”
“What is she up to?” Hope mumbles.
“What’s wrong?” Amanda asks sensing her cause for concern.
“She’s trying to call home,” Hope says as she starts toward the door.
Amanda grabs her arm and stops her in her tracks. “What’s the big deal with her calling home?”
“I don’t know,” Hope replies, “but I’m going to find out.”
Hope rushes out the door, a look of determination and aggravation plastered on her face. Sara hurries behind her trying to keep up. She follows her through the empty hallway and back to the main room of the bunker. She can see Fanny talking wildly with the Major through the windows into his room. Mika is standing outside the door with his arms crossed. Hope looks around at the dozens of hungry survivors huddled around watching and whispering.
“How long have they been going at it?” Hope asks.
“Almost a week,” Mika replies with half smile. “She really is quite a little ball of fire.”
“She never used to be,” Hope whispers.
“What do you mean?” Mika asks catching her off guard.
Hope looks at him with mixed expression of worried and embarrassed on her face, “I’m sorry I didn’t think anyone would hear me.” She blushes, “I was just thinking about the Fanny I grew up with. She used to be shy and reserved. But now, here, she’s become something else.”
“Don’t be too hard on her,” Mika starts, “she’s still the same person you’ve always known. Being here, after being away for so long, it could really mess up a person. Think about all she went through to get away from that Hell just to come back and deal with everything all over again.”
The look on Hope’s face melts away as Mika’s words stir in her head, “I guess I never thought of it like that.”
Fanny bursts through the door, slamming it shut behind her and letting out a loud growl that backs others away from her, “That man is ridiculous!”
“What did he do now?” Mika asks with a smug look on his face.
“He still won’t let me use the radio,” she squeals.
“Hey, I tried to warn you,” Mika laughs. “He never lets anyone use the radio.”
“What an ass,” she hisses.
“What’s so important about using the radio anyway?” Hope asks.
Fanny looks startled, like she didn’t even notice Hope standing in front of her.
“I…I wanted to try and get in touch with home,” Fanny stammers.
“Why?” Hope asks.
“I thought it was in our best interest to check in,” Fanny replies.
“I still don’t understand,” Hope says angrily, “why?”
“I really don’t think this is a conversation we should be having right now in front of… them,” she says with a whisper.
“What about ‘them’,” Mika asks.
“Come on,” Fanny says back tracking, “you know what I mean. You guys aren’t one of us. We were sent on a mission to rescue people. You guys hide inside your bunker like you choose to ignore the Hell going on around you.”
“Really is that what you think?” The Major asks standing behind her.
“Sir,” Mika says backing up and giving him room to join their circle. His eyes are wide open like he is expecting an altercation to take place.
“You honestly think I enjoy hiding down here?” The Major asks getting right up into Fanny’s face, “You think I like keeping us all in hiding? I know what’s up there. We all know what’s up there. I’ve made mistakes in the past, I admit it, but I believe that our best chance for survival is to stay here.”
“And starve to death?” Fanny chimes in. “Have you talked to them about that?” her voice grows louder as she tries to get the attention of the rest of the bunker, “Do they know, or even realize that there is no way your food supply is going to last? That hiding down here is just as bad as going out there and fighting.”
“At least we’re alive!” The Major yells.
“You’re not alive,” Fanny whispers with a dark tone, “you’re just waiting for death.”
The Major glares deeply into her eyes, his lips curling showing his teeth clenched together as he growls softly. “Fine, use the radio. You have five minutes, then get the Hell out of my bunker.”
“With pleasure,” Fanny replies as she pushes past the two men and re-enters the room.
“Your friend must have a death wish,” The Major says to Hope.
“Or one Hell of a plan,” Mika grins.
“I sure hope so,” Hope says before joining her friend in the room.
Mika looks over at the Major the grin still on his face. The Major shakes his head in disgust before he slowly walks away. “Do me a favor will you? Wipe that stupid grin off your face and watch them. Make sure they don’t do anything unwise. Alright, can you handle that?”
“Yes, Sir.” Mika replies. He forces the smile off his face.
Mika opens the door to the glass encased room. The room is oddly oversized compared to the rest of the bunker. On the left side of the bunker there is a generously sized generator letting out a soft, constant hum. Wires spread from out the dome that sits on top of the generator. Each of the thick wires is color coated, most running up through the ceiling above it. A thick green wire runs along the back of the generator and connects to the radio system. The radio itself sits snuggly against the wall at the back of a large metal desk. Nobs and controls run along the bottom of the radio with a large silver microphone sitting in front of it connected by a series of wires. Against the back wall there are a series of six monitors each one showing feed from above them. Five of the monitors look like dead feed. The top middle one, however, shows the church basement. Two guards are pacing back and forth. The feed is slightly warped but still visible enough to make out the bunker entrance. On the right side of the room there are a few personal effects laid on top of a small, three, draw dresser. An old green army cot lies in front of it, a thick brown blanket that looks like an old burlap sack, is rolled up in the middle of it.
“Is this the Major’s room?” Hope asks staring at the cot.
“Yeah,” Mika answers, “The Major decided to take this room so he could keep an eye on the radio and the generator.”
“What’s up with all those wires?” Fanny asks.
“This generator is connected to the whole bunker,” Mika starts, “each one goes somewhere different. The yellow one sends power to each of the lights. The blue wire goes to the kitchen and so on.”
“Whoa,” Hope says amazed at all the information, “that’s amazing.”
“Yeah, but it’s a bitch to fix if something blows,” Mika say
s shrugging her off, “that’s why the Major is overprotective of it.”
“You mean scared to use his resources to find help,” Fanny says picking up the microphone.
Mika grabs her hand and forces the microphone back onto the desktop. “Look you can say whatever you want about the Major, but you’re wrong. He tries for us. I know you don’t think so but he’s always had our best interest at heart.”
“Even when he knowingly sent your people out to die?” Hope says getting between them.
“What are you talking about?” Mika asks.
“He came to visit me when I was in recovery,” Hope says, “Admitted that he knew that this bunker wouldn’t support everyone. That it was only a matter of time before death caught up with each one of you.”
“Death is inevitable,” Mika replies.
“But life isn’t,” Fanny growls. “We may have to work for it, but it’s better than giving up. At that point you might as well just put your gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.”
“Fanny!” Hope scolds.
“I’m just making a point,” She snaps back.
“It’s an unnecessary point and you know it,” Hope lectures.
“Fine, I’m sorry Mika,” She says coldly before glaring at Hope. “So, can I ask how you’ve managed to keep this generator running all these years?”
“Actually it’s fairly simple when you think about it,” Mika starts, “this bunker wasn’t built that long ago. It was sometime around nineteen fifty-five, during the height of the cold war. Actually that’s when most of the bunkers were put into place, something as a means of keeping politicians and other important figures safe in case of a crisis.”
“And this is important how?” Fanny asks unimpressed.
“Sorry,” Mika says with an uncomfortable laugh, “I just get so caught up in the history sometimes that I just start to yammer. Anyway, when they built this bunker they tried something different, see that red wire in the middle of the generator?” He asks pointing to the thick, stiff wire, “that wire actually keeps the generator charged. It’s connected to the local hydroelectric dam.”
Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited Page 8