Phoenix Tonic

by Shelley Martin

  The thought thrilled her. Could the tonic, which robbed her of so much, give back a normal life to millions of people one day? “That’s amazing. But,” she glanced around, “why are you doing all this? It’s dangerous. The animal testing alone is going to get you in trouble with authorities, let alone if one of them escapes.” She couldn’t help but remember her thoughts of how selfish his actions seemed. She never thought it could possibly be the other way around. “Why would you put yourself at risk like this?”

  His brow pulled together, and he motioned for her to walk with him. “When I was a child, word of the tonic got out. A horrible illness began claiming lives in the nearby town, and people were desperate.” They came to a gathering of boulders and he sat on one. Hailey followed suit as the animals gathered and lay at their feet. “A group of men gathered together, and attacked my family in our home. They knew our DNA could save them. But they hurt my mother. I became so upset that I…” He swallowed, and set the hawk in the grass, next to a lemur. “I killed them all.”

  Hailey’s eyes widened. “You were a child? And you killed them?”

  His head fell and he nodded. “I didn’t even know what happened. One moment they were attacking, the next moment my mother held me in her arms, telling me to calm down. And they were all just… dead.” He pressed his lips together and stared at a point on the rock. “All they wanted was to save their families, and I killed them for it.”

  She blinked. “But they attacked you. And it sounds like it was an accident. I mean, you were only a child, right? How old were you?”

  He shrugged. “Young.”

  “Then it wasn’t your fault. You were scared—”

  His eyes locked on hers. “But I still murdered those men. Several more families suffered for what they were only trying to fix.” He shook his head. “The least I can do is try to cure the illnesses of the world. It was their last wish before I killed them.”

  She cocked her head. “So you’re trying to right what wrongs you think you’ve committed?”

  He nodded.

  She couldn’t deny his deeds were noble. She ran her fingers over Ian’s little claws as she gazed at Markham. “But how do I fit in to all of this? Why am I in a cage, too?”

  His hand slowly moved toward her. But instead of touching her, he rubbed the koala’s head for a moment. “I know what it’s like to take a life. I know what it’s like to lose control. That’s why I have you in that room, Hailey. I will keep you safe from the guilt I know so well. I will never allow the fire I gave you to take another life.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Hailey struggled with the idea. It was easier to accept the agreement when she didn’t really know him. But the trip to Eden helped her to understand his motives better. He was like an idiot in a suit of armor, trying to save everybody. But the thought of curing little kids with cancer sobered her right up. The world needed what was in his blood, just not the way she’d received it.

  She sighed. Kallian seemed so amiable face-to-face today. But, which was the real Kallian Markham? She’d always believed him to be as two-faced as a politician.

  At least she knew there was one agreeable quality about him. He wanted to help people. Still, why would he want to marry her in the first place? Because she was a “test subject?” Because she was unstable? You’d think those reasons would make a decent man run the other way. Maybe he really did feel responsible for her. But still, what was in it for him? If he actually cared about her, he wouldn’t have thrown her to the wolves over the cancer study.

  Before, they said it was to keep the tonic a secret. So, he wanted to marry her out of obligation and to keep it secret? And there stood the obvious reason. Around him, she became stable.

  The tonic… Kallian’s blood. That was what all this was about. And now it was in her veins. She was connected to all the animals in Eden. And him.

  She groaned. Just because he had some decent qualities didn’t mean he shouldn’t pay for what he’d done to her. Even Hitler thought he was bettering the human race. And then there was Kira. Obviously, Hailey wasn’t the first to receive the tonic. But Kira had to be an emotionless zombie to be free. Could she do that? If she got free, if she married him and got that divorce, could she cut off her emotions to live in the world again?

  Her fingers pressed to her throbbing temples. She wasn’t accomplishing anything. Her thoughts were going around in circles. And the fact that she was curled up on the couch in Kallian’s personal office didn’t help. She doubted her room had been cleaned yet, but she needed to get out of here. She’d already showered and put on a new change of clothes. Apparently they kept stacks of her size clothing hidden somewhere in this place.

  Suddenly it hit her. Malachi. She could talk to Malachi. He was the only person she felt comfortable talking to, anyway. And he knew Kallian personally. And he had a coffee maker in his office. And he smelled of smoke, so she didn’t always want to tear his clothes off, like with Kallian.

  Her tired frame hesitantly rolled off the couch. French roast drove her forward. And the chance to talk out her stupid decision to marry a man she hated. Well, mostly hated.

  She glanced at the clock as she pulled on socks and a new pair of white tennis shoes. It read eight-fifteen in the morning. She’d never gone to Malachi’s office before five p.m. She wanted to avoid as many people as possible. Manslaughter wasn’t high on her list of things to do today, but she felt pretty stable. Besides, the work day around here didn’t start until nine. There might be a few people early to the office, but she had time.

  As she slipped from one sterile hall to the next, she crossed paths with people in either khaki colored uniforms or lab coats. The lab coat Malachi had given her had burned to ash, now. She wished it hid her form as she came upon the bustle of white coats and nametags in the lab. Strangely, though, no one really seemed to notice her. People moved around in a hectic manner, talking fast and low, as if there was some kind of emergency.

  Through all the craziness, she spotted Dawn. Although she was still sure the girl had been brainwashed, she kind of wanted to know what was going on. Weaving through the turmoil, she reached the right side of the lab where Dawn punched buttons on the printer.

  “Dawn, it’s crazy in here. Did something happen?”

  Dawns’ eyes widened and she just stared at her for a moment before speaking. “Hailey! Oh, hi.” She cocked her head with brows drawn before turning to grab her stacks of paper. “Yeah, something’s wrong. The drug we’ve been working on is highly sensitive, and someone leaked information about it.” She turned and the fast pace of her clanking high-heels announced her seriousness. “They’re moving the whole research somewhere secret. We’re stripping the computers and loading the info on an animal vitamin substance based on the same cellular structure as the previous drug. We all have to familiarize ourselves with the study before one o’clock. Apparently some Feds are coming to inspect the place.” She dropped the stack of papers in front of her computer. “I guess they’re gonna let all those reporters in as well.”

  Guilt burned into Hailey’s chest. Was all this her doing? Because of Redding? “Reporters? What reporters?”

  Dawn stopped what she was doing and turned around to look Hailey square in the face. “Are you kidding me? How could you miss them? They’re camped out at every door.”

  Talk about feeling like a guilty idiot. Maybe I should just stop talking and get to Malachi.

  Dawn’s face suddenly melted from astonishment to understanding. “You don’t know about them because you never left the facility. You live in that room with the purple drapes, don’t you?”

  Burning cheeks and a raised heartbeat caused Hailey to take a step back. “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Dawns’ head slowly shook. “I told Mr. Markham I wouldn’t say anything about it. But if I’m right, then you’re seriously cut off from the rest of the world.” She tapped the space bar on her keyboard and the sleeping computer lit up. The wallpap
er on the screen caught her eye. A man and woman gazed into each other’s eyes in a lush garden, perched on a couple of rocks. The woman held a fuzzy koala with a tiger curled up at the man’s feet. A curious spider monkey lingered on the edge of the photo, staring directly at the camera.

  Hailey’s’ breath caught. “That… That was this morning.”

  Dawn nodded. She punched a few buttons and brought up a news article, on-line. The head line read “Eden’s Adam and Eve. Are They Hiding Their Guilt From the World?”

  “What is this?” She swallowed.

  Dawn’s soft tone, laced with wonder struck Hailey’s heart. “That’s what I’m wondering, Hailey. You said you hated Mr. Markham, but you two look plenty friendly here.”

  Yeah, no help from the tonic there, she thought dryly.

  Dawn raised her hand and pressed a finger to the screen. “But, you’re holding Ian. Ian is one of the crankiest little buggers we have in Eden. Kallian Markham is the only one who can get him to act so docile. Not to mention Sphinx is all chummy with you as well. Did you know she has a litter? She’s so protective it’s ridiculous.”

  Hailey looked from the photo to Dawns’ puzzled face.

  “There’s a reason we call Kallian “Adam.” He’s the only one the animals listen to.” She quickly scrolled down and pointed to the text, while eyeing Hailey. “And here it says you have terminal cancer. You were bedridden with in-home nurses and everything, six weeks ago.” She stood up straight and stared at her. “It says you should be dead. And here you are, in our garden, walking around with the animals we’ve saved from the brink of death, like you’re a part of Eden.”

  Hailey didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t incriminate her further. Instead, she just stared at the sea of rushing people.

  “Hailey,” Dawn said quietly, “I don’t need to say it out loud, but I would appreciate a couple of questions answered. Like, if you look this great, then what are we still working for? You’re living proof the drug works.”

  Hailey just stared straight ahead.

  Dawn sighed heavily. “Look, I’m one of only two people who have clearance to draw Kallian Markham’s blood. I filter it and dilute it. A lot. I know he’s different. And his difference makes him like a walking treasure. He must be protected. If I’m right, that means you must be as well. The two of you are what I wake up for. I work twelve hours a day to find out if his blood can save my niece. She’s five, and she’s fighting type one diabetes.”

  A silence fell over Hailey’s senses and she closed her eyes. Of course there would be something deeper driving Dawn than just a hot guy. A little girl needed Kallian. Millions of people needed Kallian. And her hatred may have caused them all to lose their chance at a healthy future. She shook her head. She was such a fool.

  Hailey stared at the floor. “What he gave me has terrible side effects. He can’t give it to anyone else. I don’t know why he gave it to me. Maybe it’s because he knew me a little. Maybe he felt guilty for what he did to me before. I don’t know.”

  Dawns’ brow furrowed. “And what did he do to you?”

  Hailey swallowed the lump in her throat. “He let me die.” She began to walk backward, “I, um, really have to go.”

  Dawn took two steps forward. “Oh, Hailey, those reporters are going to want to talk to you. But, you’re like a smoking gun. You have to find some way to fix this. Please, protect yourself, and the research.”

  Hailey nodded quickly and turned straight into a man. The contact of his body caused muscles to contract. Her arms wanted to wrap themselves around the stranger, but he simply apologized and hurried along his way. Her fingers flexed in and out of fists as she strove to clear her head. Once she gathered her senses, and knew she wasn’t going to give chase to the unknowing man, she dove for Malachi’s office.

  As she stepped up to the back area where his office lay, she failed to notice the secretary guarding the door. “I’m sorry,” Phyllis jumped from her desk to stop Hailey, just three feet from the door. “The Doctor isn’t taking any visitors right now.”

  Hailey blinked. She’d never met the secretary before. She didn’t even know he had one. “I’m Hailey. Can you please tell Malachi I need to talk to him?”

  Phyllis relaxed her stance a bit. “Hailey Simmons?”

  Hailey nodded quickly.

  “Yes, I’ll just check with him first. Please wait a moment.”

  Hailey took a few steps back as Phyllis cracked the door, apologized, announced her, and stepped aside. “Please, Miss Simmons, go right in.”

  “Thank you,” she said as she brushed passed her and accidentally slammed the door on the turmoil outside.

  Malachi stood on the other side of the desk, hands clasped behind his back, partially turned toward the window, overlooking a garden. Hailey realized for the first time that view was Eden.

  She held up her hand at his movement to greet her. “Just stay behind the desk. A moment ago I crashed into a man in a lab coat. It’s been a struggle not to go back and jump him.”

  Malachi chuckled. “You are an incredibly strong woman, Hailey. You’ve resisted Kallian time after time. I trust you can tamp down any, uh, cravings the tonic rises in you.” His hands dropped to his sides. “Coffee?”

  “Oh yes. Please.” As he moved to the left of his office, Hailey moved to the right, to the leather couch. As she curled in the corner, she picked up the throw pillow and hugged it. Kallian’s scent drifted from its soft security. He’d sat here recently. She shook her head to clear it, and set the pillow aside. “Dawn knows.”

  “Knows what?” He smiled over his shoulder. “One cream, two sugars?”

  Hailey nodded. “She knows that I’m a test subject. I’m so stupid. She said something about the reporters and I said “What reporters?” Then she put together that I hadn’t been outside, and that I had a room here. Seeing as how I only knew my drapes had been moved here for a fraction of a second, tells me she probably helped Kallian put my room together.”

  Malachi set the mug of coffee on his desk, slid it halfway across, and stepped back.

  “Thank you.” She unfolded herself from the couch, leaned forward, and greedily snatched the steaming cup back to her little corner. “Then she went on about how she wakes up for Kallian and me every morning in hopes of curing her niece. And that we have to be protected, and she wants me to fix everything… Which I guess I should try to do, 'cause all this is my fault.” She blew on her coffee. “And then there’s Kallian.”

  Malachi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry about Dawn. She’s loyal. I’ll speak to her. Now, how do you plan on helping to fix things? And what about Kallian?”

  “Well, Dawn mentioned the reporters will want to interview me. I was thinking maybe a little make up? We could try to make me look sicker than I am. I’ll say that I’m still fighting the cancer, but previous information about me being on my deathbed was greatly exaggerated.”

  He gulped his coffee before answering. “And why would you tell them you are here, at a facility known for helping animals on the brink of death?”

  Hailey stared at her own milky coffee and took a swig, burning her tongue as she did so. Funny, she didn’t really feel the pain with all the thoughts running in her mind. “I would tell them he’s my fiancé.”

  Malachi’s brows shot up.

  Hailey glanced at his astonished face, then back to her mug. “I’ll tell them we kept it a secret all this time because I was afraid I might die, and I couldn’t marry him if that were the case. But lately, I’ve been feeling better, so I came here to spend more time with my fiancé. Okay, I'm done with my spiel." She eyed her friend in silence, and he eyed her right back. "Oh, for goodness sake, Malachi, say something. I'm an idiot. I'm doing the right thing. This is what you've always wanted. Come on, give me something."

  Malachi set his mug of coffee down and smiled. "What I think is, you need a hug."

  Hailey blinked. A hug was not what she was expecting him to offer. Suddenly a hug, comfort f
rom a friend, sounded exactly like what she needed. So much so, that his open arms brought a wave of emotion to the surface.

  "But, what if I attack you?"

  He chuckled. "I doubt that. You are, by far, the strongest, most stubborn woman I know."

  Hailey hesitantly walked forward, and allowed his huge, bear like arms to wrap around her. She struggled with his scent and his warmth, at first. Then her emotions trickled through. It was okay that her body wanted, for just a moment. As long as she didn't act on it, as long as she was being comforted by her friend, it was okay.

  "I can't even begin to tell you what an awesome friend you are, Malachi. How did you know I needed a hug so badly?"

  He patted her on the back. "Because I was once married. And when my wife was forced to help someone who didn't deserve it, even if it was the right thing to do, she was always in a disagreeable mood for days on end. I found that a hug went a long way to comfort her."

  Hailey buried her face against his stout chest, pressing her cheek against his silken amber tie. Emotions overwhelmed her. Slipping on iron shackles would weigh less heavy on her heart than the decision she’d made. She was already a prisoner, just under different circumstances. The least she could do was free her family from the burden.

  ~***~

  Malachi froze as Hailey’s shoulders shook against him. His eyes widened as muffled sounds of grief came from her. “There, there Hailey. Everything will be okay.” His hands rested on her shoulders. “You’re very brave to make the decisions you have. You’ll see. Kallian really isn’t such a bad guy.”

  Her head rocked against him. “It’s not about that anymore. I’m just a prisoner. It doesn’t matter what I do, I’m a prisoner either way.”