Saving Humanity Series (Book 2): Edge of Humanity

by Sinclair, Pembroke

  Almost immediately light flashed into the room, but it took a little longer for the sound to follow. Still, Caleb was impressed. This would give him something to pass the time until Dr. Maudas began his battery of tests—and it would help him take his mind off the impending experiments. The channel was on the news, and Caleb watched for a few minutes, but there was nothing of interest on. He had a slight hope there would be a story about him and how he’d been imprisoned and taken against his will, but the meteorologist was giving the weather predictions for the week. He flipped through the four channels before settling on a movie from the before days. He couldn’t remember the title, but it was a comedy about two people falling in love, but only after a series of misunderstandings and embarrassment. It was formulaic and predictable, but still a welcome distraction. He even found himself chuckling at a few of the scenes.

  His mind drifted to the first time he’d seen this movie during the summer between his sophomore and junior year. Nina was getting ready for her senior year. She’d wanted to see the movie since first watching the trailer on TV. She went on and on for weeks about how she and her friends were going opening night. Caleb thought the movie looked stupid—a completely unrealistic look at relationships—but he never said anything to Nina. He just rolled his eyes inconspicuously as she went on about it. He figured it was her thing, and it didn’t affect him, so he let Nina have her thing. He even supported her by going with her to get tickets. He was proud of himself for being a good brother.

  On opening night, Nina could barely contain her excitement. She was on her phone all day making plans with her friends for the evening. The high-pitched giggling echoed through the house threatened to burst his eardrums. He listened to quotes from the trailer until he thought his brain would melt and leak out of his nose, but he knew the excitement would subside after they saw the film. He was wrong. For weeks, his sister and her friends quoted the movie and talked about it so much, he felt like he had watched it with them. When it came out on DVD, Nina made sure to buy her own copy. Caleb couldn’t stand it anymore; he had to see what the fuss was about, so he watched it with his sister. It was as he had originally expected: a completely unrealistic look at relationships, but it had some funny parts.

  As he watched the movie now, he wanted Nina to be there with him. She could probably quote it from beginning to end, and he would get to hear her laugh again.

  The film was almost over when Dr. Maudas walked into the room. He wore tan pants and a navy-blue turtleneck. Caleb imagined his closet was full of the things, coordinated by color. They stared at one another for a moment, each waiting for the other to say something. Caleb had no desire to be pleasant and cordial, which he assumed the doctor wanted—he oozed prim and properness. Neither of them said a word, so Caleb averted his gaze back to the TV.

  “Have you eaten yet this morning?”

  “No. I wasn’t particularly hungry.”

  It was the truth. He wasn’t overly hungry, and he assumed it was because of nerves about what was going to happen to him.

  Dr. Maudas cleared his throat. “It would be in your best interest to keep your strength up. Come. We’ll make something nutritious.”

  A chill ran down Caleb’s spine. What kind of tests was the doctor going to run that would zap him of his strength? With reluctance, he clicked off the TV and followed Dr. Maudas into the kitchen.

  “I have a lot of work to do, Caleb, so I won’t always be available to prepare meals. However, I’ll do what I can when I can. Other times, I’ll expect you to take care of yourself.” He gave Caleb a thin smile. “I’m sure you can handle it.”

  Caleb followed Dr. Maudas around the kitchen as he showed him where everything was. All the cupboards and walk-in freezer and fridge were stocked full. The number of supplies made Caleb’s head spin. It was way more to sustain the two of them for a long time. If Samuel woke up, the three of them would barely make a dent in the supplies. Curiosity of where they came from and how they got there coursed through him.

  After the tour, Dr. Maudas commented he thought omelets sounded good for breakfast. Caleb agreed, so they grabbed the ingredients to make them. They stood shoulder to shoulder at the stove as they each prepared their food. Occasionally, Caleb glanced at the doctor out of the comer of his eye, discomfort settling over him. The procedure was too familiar, like something he would do with a friend or family member. It spoke of closeness and intimacy—of a relationship. It definitely wasn’t something done with a captor. To add to the awkwardness, Dr. Maudas stayed quiet. The temptation to step away and let the doctor finish his omelet before making his own coursed through Caleb, but before he had the chance, the doctor finished and stepped away. Caleb did his best to conceal his relief, hoping the doctor didn’t see his shoulders relax.

  Caleb finished his omelet, slid it onto a plate, and sprinkled it with cheese. He contemplated sitting at the table, but he didn’t want to sit anywhere near the doctor. He was sure taking a seat at the far end of the table would be rude, so he covered up his indecision by making toast. He ate his omelet at the counter while the bread cooked, his back to Dr. Maudas.

  The sucking sound accompanying Dr. Maudas’s chewing filled the room, causing Caleb to flinch in irritation. Every squeak and slurp grated on Caleb’s nerves, his right eye twitched, and he lifted his shoulders in an attempt to cover his ears. It probably shouldn’t have bothered him as much as it did, but there wasn’t anything pleasant about the situation Caleb was in. He wasn’t at a luxury resort, and he wasn’t among friends. He could be cordial and cooperative, but it didn’t mean he was happy or comfortable. Dr. Maudas’s cold demeanor and emotional distance made him seem like less of a human to Caleb which certainly didn’t help his mood. The urge to turn and yell at the doctor pressed against his chest. Just when his body was about to spin around, the sound stopped, and the doctor stood from the table. His dishes clinked as he set them in the sink.

  “I will meet you in the lab when you’ve finished.” His footsteps clicked out of the room.

  Caleb twitched a couple more times before the silence settled over him and calmed his nerves. He moved to a seat at the table and finished his breakfast.

  * * * *

  The lab seemed alive as Caleb stepped into it. Machines buzzed and whirred as they performed their duties. Lights blinked randomly, and Dr. Maudas moved from one station to another preparing for his scientific duties. Intrigue and repulsion flowed through Caleb. Dr. Maudas glanced at Caleb wryly as he stepped farther into the lab, and with an open hand, the doctor gestured toward a chair.

  “If you please.”

  Caleb hesitated. Nothing about the chair screamed comfort. The frame was thick silver metal cushioned with slick black vinyl. The arms weren’t covered, and the metal reflected the fluorescent lights and had straps on the end; the same with the legs holding it up. Caleb swallowed thickly, then slowly lowered himself into the seat. He figured it was either do it himself or have it done for him. He preferred the former. Cold instantly flowed through him, causing goosebumps to form on his flesh. The doctor stood in front of him, his hands folded behind his back—a pose Caleb realized was apparently his most natural/comfortable position to stand in.

  “As long as you remain cooperative and civil, the restraints will be unnecessary. But please know I won’t hesitate to use them.”

  Caleb’s gaze took in the straps on both chair arms, then focused back on Dr. Maudas. “I’ll do my best, but depending on what kind of tests you’re planning on running, I make no promises.”

  “Fair enough. Shall we get started?”

  Dr. Maudas pulled a metal tray on wheels to him, and Caleb’s heart leapt into his throat. Visions of surgical equipment with sharp edges and serrates that would tear through his flesh ran through his mind. He imagined various sized needles filled with colored liquids ready to be injected painfully into his veins. His muscles tensed, his jaw tightened. Through half-closed eyes, he stared at the tray holding a stethoscope, a reflex hammer, a sp
hygmomanometer, and an electric thermometer. Dr. Maudas grabbed the stethoscope and placed the earpieces in his ears.

  “Try to relax.”

  He placed the chest piece over Caleb’s heart. The chill penetrated through his t-shirt but only lasted a few seconds. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his fast-beating heart. Dr. Maudas then proceeded to listen to Caleb’s lungs, instructing him to take more deep breaths. When he was finished, Dr. Maudas used the rest of the instruments to take readings, writing notes on a clipboard on a table behind Caleb.

  The tension eased out of Caleb, but only slightly. The thought of these preliminary tests leading to more invasive, torturous studies was foremost in his mind. Dr. Maudas finished writing on the clipboard and set it on the tray. Caleb tried to read what it said, but it looked like chicken scratch from his angle. Dr. Maudas pulled a wheeled stool around and sat in front of Caleb. Gently, he picked up Caleb’s arm with the bite and examined it closely. His fingers were warm and soft, his touch gentle. Caleb barely felt Dr. Maudas’s fingers as they pressed gently on the center of the scar.

  “Tell me about the bite.” He set Caleb’s arm down.

  “What’s there to tell? A regular took a chunk out of my arm.”

  “What did it feel like?”

  “It hurt. A lot. Like someone lit it on fire.”

  “And after? What then?”

  Caleb searched his memory, trying to remember what it felt like after, but a fog covered the visions. He hadn’t focused on the wound per say, more on what was going to happen to him.

  “I don’t know. I remember the blackness in my veins and thinking I was doomed.”

  “What about the fever? What do you remember from those three days?”

  At first, Caleb couldn’t figure out how Dr. Maudas knew about his fever, but then he remembered Samuel had been with him. There was no doubt he told his grandfather everything.

  Caleb had a hard time believing this man was anyone’s grandfather. He tried to imagine him at Samuel’s birthday party, singing Happy Birthday in his turtleneck with his hands folded behind his back. Caleb attempted to put a genuine smile on Dr. Maudas’s face, but it ended up looking sinister and creepy.

  “Not a lot,” Caleb replied to the doctor’s question. “Most of it’s a blur.”

  Dr. Maudas nodded. “Understandably. The body was attempting to heal itself. What about since? Have you noticed any changes?”

  Of course, the first thing crossing Caleb’s mind was his wound was completely healed in such a short amount of time. Those words almost escaped his mouth in a sarcastic tone, but he clenched his teeth to keep them from leaving. Dr. Maudas no doubt knew how long it had been since he’d been bitten—probably more accurately than Caleb. He knew an awful lot about what had happened to Caleb recently. More than likely, the doctor wanted Caleb to tell him about his emotional state.

  Caleb thought back over the events of the last couple weeks, the tape, the zombies in the park, his escape, Jan, his time as a prisoner with Samuel, the trip here—he hadn’t been focused on how he felt, more so on what he needed to do. He reveled in the amount of fear and uncertainty dominating his emotions, along with the anger and confusion.

  You need to figure out how to keep those under control.

  His mind drifted to the car accident and drinking Samuel’s blood. His body had been battered and abused, pain radiated from his head to his feet. Venger’s doctor had told him he more than likely had a concussion, and from the way his head pounded, he believed it. But then, within a few hours, it all disappeared. Now, Caleb had never felt better. He wanted to believe it was totally normal. He’d never had a concussion before, so he had no idea how long the symptoms lasted. However, he knew in the back of his mind it was all wishful thinking. No human healed in a few hours from any injury.

  He stared at Dr. Maudas, wondering if he should tell him about his thoughts. The words stuck in his throat. The more he told the doctor, the easier it could be for him to figure out what Caleb was. Caleb hesitated because he didn’t know if he could trust Dr. Maudas, and he wasn’t sure if he really wanted to know what he was. There was a fear the tests would reveal Caleb was no longer human. He didn’t want to be a monster. He didn’t want to be like the zombies. Part of him was completely happy living in naïve bliss, but the other part demanded answers. The conflicting sides left him confused and tormented. He hated it. He was lost and didn’t know if he wanted to be found.

  CHAPTER 16

  “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, Caleb, unless you tell me.”

  Caleb continued to stare at Dr. Maudas. He wasn’t intentionally difficult, he was just afraid if he voiced some of the things going through his mind or happening physically, it would make him less than human. It was so much easier to pretend everything was all right. And yet, it wasn’t. If anyone could help Caleb, it was Dr. Maudas, but Caleb didn’t know if he would help.

  Dr. Maudas crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap. “I’ve learned a lot about zombies being out here on my own. For what they are, they are actually quite complex.”

  Caleb’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “‘For what they are’? I don’t follow.”

  “On the simplest level, they are nothing more than a reanimated corpse. The dead brought back to life. Would you agree?”

  Caleb nodded.

  “But if you dig deeper, there is more to them than just being a corpse. Are you following me so far?”

  “I think so. You’re talking about the virus, right?”

  Dr. Maudas smiled his thin smile. “A remarkable creature, that virus. How much do you know about it?”

  Caleb shook his head. “Not much. Samuel told us it was being developed to treat cancer but got out of hand and mutated.”

  Dr. Maudas cleared his throat and adjusted in his seat. “You see, Caleb, using viruses to fight disease was not a new idea when they applied it to treat cancer. Diseases are caused by damaged DNA which have to be fought by changing the DNA, and viruses have the capability to do that. Do you understand?”

  Caleb waggled his head back and forth. “Sort of.”

  “The history of virus evolution is unclear; no one really knows where they came from or why they evolved. However, there are millions of them throughout the world. But they can only replicate inside living cells, and they carry genetic material derived from either RNA or DNA.”

  Caleb’s confusion deepened. “Wait. If they can only replicate inside living cells, how does that explain zombies?”

  Dr. Maudas held up his hand to silence Caleb. “Patience. I’ll get to that. Perhaps you could refrain from asking questions until I’m done. I might answer a few along the way.” He placed his hand back into his lap and sat silently for several moments.

  Caleb pressed his lips together and fought back his irritation. Dr. Maudas had a pompous, condescending tone to his voice, as if it was a chore for him to have to explain this to Caleb. But as long as he was talking, he wasn’t running tests. Caleb waved his hand in the air, encouraging the doctor to continue.

  “Viruses,” Dr. Maudas explained, “like all species on this planet, are only concerned with perpetuating their kind and passing their genetic information on to the next generation. Unfortunately, in some cases, it means the host suffers in the process. They get sick. Illnesses in humans can range from the common cold all the way to the Ebola virus, and the body’s reaction to viruses ranges from a stuffy nose and sneezing, to dying from internally bleeding organs.”

  The doctor uncrossed his legs and leaned slightly forward in his seat.

  “To humans, viruses are scary and destructive. The chance of being killed by them is a distinct possibility, and we really have no way to fight them. Unlike bacteria, we can’t destroy viruses with antibiotics. It’s not really the viruses’ fault we have such a horrific reaction to them. From a reproductive standpoint, it is in their best interest to keep us alive. They can pass on and continue to thrive. But that isn’t always the way it works out
, so viruses adapt. They evolve—or mutate—to become more efficient. Are you with me so far?”

  Caleb nodded. Dr. Maudas’s voice lost the pompous, condescending tone and took on the edge of excitement as he talked about viruses, making Caleb slightly more interested to hear what he had to say.

  “And don’t mistake my words, we aren’t completely defenseless when it comes to viruses. Our immune system does a pretty good job of fighting them off. Often, if we’ve been exposed to a specific virus in the past, we develop an immunity to it. That is how vaccines work. They expose the body to a weakened form of the virus so it can create antibodies to fight it.”

  Caleb’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation he had with Matt in his bunker. He had mentioned they had attempted to make a zombie vaccine, but it didn’t work. It always infected the host. Why? He filed the question away to ask later if Dr. Maudas didn’t answer it.

  “Viruses are much less complex than humans; they don’t have nearly as many systems or parts, so their ability to evolve or mutate happens quickly—sometimes within only a few replication cycles. When this happens, our bodies occasionally lose the ability to fight off this new virus, so it makes us sick. A good example of this is the flu virus. Back before zombies wiped out humanity, there was a new strain of the flu every year. People were always encouraged to get flu shots, but they weren’t always effective. Science couldn’t predict what the dominant virus would be, so it was still possible to get sick after getting the shot.”

  Dr. Maudas placed his hands on his knees.