Saving Humanity Series (Book 2): Edge of Humanity

by Sinclair, Pembroke

  Dr. Maudas continued scrolling through Caleb’s skeleton, scrutinizing areas here and there, zooming in and out. He rotated his ribs and zoomed in on an area near the center of his chest.

  “Looks like some breaks happened here. You remember feeling any discomfort in your chest?”

  Caleb saw what Dr. Maudas talked about in this case. His ribs had small, squiggly lines, almost like some hair had gotten onto the picture. He pressed on the spot on his body but didn’t feel any discomfort. He thought back to the truck and tried to remember specific pain there. Everything had hurt. He had had some trouble breathing, but it could have also been from the dust in the truck. If he admitted to having problems, Dr. Maudas would realize he was a monster. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for that yet. Dr. Maudas continued scrutinizing the picture.

  “I’m beginning to think my theory about you being able to heal is correct. I see numerous indications of healed injuries.” He turned to Caleb. “Did you ingest someone else’s body? I need to know how you healed.”

  He didn’t sound repulsed by the idea of Caleb doing something unthinkable. Cannibalism was the worst thing one human could do to another, and it mortified normal humans to no end. But Dr. Maudas didn’t seem to be bothered; he seemed to be fascinated making Caleb feel even worse. The doctor’s acceptance of his atrocious acts reinforced Caleb’s lack of humanity.

  Caleb stared at Dr. Maudas. Thoughts of drinking Samuel’s blood ran through his mind; the taste of chocolate and salt danced on his tongue, causing his mouth to water. Inadvertently, his gaze drifted to Samuel’s unconscious body, and then back to Dr. Maudas, who had a knowing smile on his lips.

  CHAPTER 18

  Dr. Maudas conducted a few more noninvasive tests on Caleb, drew some more blood, and then told him they were done for the day. It was a little after lunch time by then, so the doctor offered to make them something. Caleb declined. With all he had learned, he couldn’t eat. He decided to lay on the couch and watch TV. He didn’t want to think, and television had always been the best way to shut off his brain. It was still on the channel with the comedies, so Caleb left it there. He certainly wasn’t in a humorous mood, but the mindless, predictable stories kept his mind off other issues.

  Caleb stayed on the couch all day. Every so often, the voice in the darkness tried to make him feel guilty for not acting. It called him weak, ridiculous, and shameful.

  What would your parents say?

  Caleb grimaced.

  They’d be so lucky to have this kind of protection. They never did, so they’re dead.

  And you lying here is dishonoring their memory.

  How? They’re my memories. Zombies killed my family. Nothing I do will bring them back. And there is nothing for me out there. I can exist just as well here as I can out there.

  You’re such a disgrace.

  Caleb didn’t care. Nothing was going to change for him outside the cave. Here, he could find answers and fade into oblivion and maybe even make the world a better place. He might not have had much hope, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t give it to the rest of the world—which he felt he was always destined to do.

  “Caleb?”

  Dr. Maudas’s voice was barely audible over the TV. Caleb would have turned to acknowledge his presence, but he didn’t have the energy. Dr. Maudas walked around the couch and grabbed the remote, turning off the TV. Caleb would have been irritated if he could muster the energy.

  “I’ve made dinner.”

  Caleb moved his eyes to look up at the doctor. “I’m not hungry.”

  Dr. Maudas folded his hands behind his back. “Perhaps you’d like to try? You might find you’re famished.”

  Caleb focused his gaze on the blank screen. “No.”

  Dr. Maudas let a slow breath out of his nose. “It’s important to keep your strength up, Caleb. A weakened immune system could cause the virus to become more aggressive.”

  Caleb inhaled a sharp breath, and his eyes snapped back to Dr. Maudas, who held out his hand. The last thing he wanted was for things with the virus to get worse. It couldn’t possibly cause him to lose more of his humanity. It didn’t feel like he had much left. He had to hang on to what was there. Still, exhaustion coursed through his body. He had to dig deep to find the energy to get off the couch. With a sigh, Caleb took Dr. Maudas’s hand and slowly got to his feet.

  The scent of spiced beef entered his nostrils as he stepped into the kitchen. His stomach growled softly but also cramped. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to eat, but Dr. Maudas had made him afraid not to. The food sat on the table. Diced onions and tomatoes mingled in one bowl, while shredded cheese and lettuce each had their own. Both hard and soft taco shells sat on plates. Caleb couldn’t remember the last time he’d had tacos, especially with fresh vegetables. He seriously needed to figure out where Dr. Maudas got his supplies. This was all so luxurious—especially for one guy in a hidden cave in the mountains.

  Dr. Maudas took his seat and placed his napkin in his lap before meticulously putting together his meal. Caleb plopped into his seat and grabbed a hard shell, filling it with the accessories in front of him, a third of them spilling onto his plate. He bit into his shell, and more toppled out. The doctor smiled tightly at him.

  “Don’t you feel so much better?”

  Caleb hated to admit it, but he did. The more he ate, the hungrier he became, and the cramps in his stomach dissipated. Even his head felt clearer, like a fog he hadn’t realized had been there lifted.

  The doctor cautiously picked up his taco and took a delicate bite. Caleb quirked one eyebrow upward and wondered why he would pick such a messy meal if he were such a neat eater, but then his stomach demanded more food, and he decided not to worry about it. All Caleb wanted to care about was eating his meal.

  He shoved the last bite into his mouth and grabbed a soft shell to make another. Dr. Maudas continued to take bird bites of his meal and chew thoroughly with the irritating squeaking sound. It didn’t bother Caleb they didn’t talk. He didn’t really want to. At this point, not much could be said to would make him feel better.

  Caleb finished the last bite of his second taco and broke a hard shell to use as a fork for all the stuffing remaining on his plate. Dr. Maudas finished his first taco and cleaned his hands on his napkin. He twisted the paper around each finger, then studied each one, scrutinizing the cleanliness of each. Every so often, he wiped his fingers again.

  “Sometimes all it takes is a good meal to turn things around.” He balled up the napkin and threw it onto his plate. He regarded Caleb across the table. “I know what I told you about the virus is incredibly scary, but the more we understand it, the better able we’ll be to combat it.”

  Caleb stopped chewing and raised his eyebrows. “So, the two of us are going to save the world, huh?” It was what he wanted to do, but he couldn’t help but wonder if the voice in the darkness was right about the doctor’s intentions. Of course, it didn’t matter. He was stuck in the cave.

  Dr. Maudas nodded. “I’m trying to be optimistic about the outcome, yes.”

  “And what if we don’t? What if we make things worse?”

  Caleb had tried to keep his optimism about his capabilities, but he couldn’t deny the possibility of make things worse. His life up to this point hadn’t exactly been easy or full of goodness.

  “The possibility always exists, Caleb. All we can do is try.”

  Caleb snorted and turned his attention back to his plate. “I guess the benefit of conducting secret experiments in a cave is no one will know if you fail, but if you succeed, you’ll get to come out of hiding.”

  “It is but one of many advantages. The other is not having to deal with bureaucracy.” Dr. Maudas said the last word like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

  Caleb cleaned the food from his plate and folded his hands on the table. “You hoping I have the answer to save Samuel?”

  Dr. Maudas sighed. “The thought has crossed my mind, yes. Especially with your body’s ability
to heal itself. However, I’m not sure what genetic anomaly makes you the way you are, so I don’t know what effect your blood would have on Samuel.” He lowered his gaze. “The last thing I want would be to turn him into a zombie.”

  The sadness in his tone was apparent, and once again, the pang of jealousy surged across Caleb’s chest, followed by the hollow feeling of loneliness. Caleb knew better than to mistake Dr. Maudas’s concern and friendliness as caring. Caleb was just an experiment, a means to an end.

  “Life can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, can’t it?” Caleb stood from his chair and headed out of the room before Dr. Maudas could reply.

  The weight of his confinement pressed down on him, exacerbated by the voice in the darkness telling him he was making a mistake. He really wanted to believe he could make a difference in the world, bring some hope, but what would it cost? He was torn between wanting to do something good and helpful, and being afraid of what it would make him and how he was being used. It was confusing and exhausting, explaining why he was so short with Dr. Maudas. The man made him feel trapped, which, of course, he was, and this didn’t help his mood either.

  He plopped himself back on the couch and turned on the TV. He waited for the doctor to come in and have him talk about his feelings. His parents would have made him, but Dr. Maudas wasn’t family. They weren’t close, and the action would have made Caleb even grumpier. Mercifully, he never did.

  Caleb had no idea how late it was when he finally decided to go to bed. When he entered his room, he noticed the bottle of pills and water on his nightstand. He picked it up and read the label. The instructions for the sleeping pills told him to take two. Caleb popped off the lid and dumped two into his hand. Without hesitation, he threw them into his mouth and downed some water.

  Caleb woke from dreamless sleep feeling refreshed. If nothing else, it was nice not to think or remember, to just rest. It had been too long. After stretching, he rolled out of bed and headed for the shower.

  The kitchen was empty when Caleb entered, but the dishes in the sink let him know Dr. Maudas had been there earlier. He scanned the cupboard. He wasn’t in the mood for a huge breakfast like the previous day. The last thing he wanted was to get more stressing news upsetting his stomach. He grabbed some packs of instant oatmeal, figuring it would be sufficient.

  When he finished, he stood in the doorway of the kitchen for a long time. He couldn’t decide if he should go to the lab or to his seat in front of the TV. Of course, his preference was the couch, but he doubted he’d be able to stay there for long. It would only be a matter of time before Dr. Maudas came for him. Drooping his head, he shuffled his feet toward the lab.

  The doctor bent over Samuel as Caleb entered the room, and one of the RBZs stood next to him—it was the fresher one who had collected Samuel and Caleb from Sanctuary. It just stood there, staring off into space, probably waiting for Dr. Maudas to give it instructions. Caleb took a moment to study the creature. No matter how hard he tried, Caleb couldn’t see beyond the undead part of it. Sure, its eyes were slightly different—they had a spark behind them like Lilah’s—but they didn’t draw Caleb in in the same way. He frowned. There may have been some humanity left in the creatures, but it wasn’t much.

  Dr. Maudas straightened and turned to the RBZ. “Thank you, Forty-nine. That will be all for now.”

  The creature grunted before lumbering its way out of the lab and into the tunnel.

  The doctor turned away from Samuel and stepped to the computer across the room. He hadn’t noticed Caleb yet; he wondered if he could sneak out of the room and get out of experiments for the day. He was about to turn and head out when Dr. Maudas’s voice stopped him.

  “I trust you slept well?” He glanced over his shoulder at Caleb.

  “Better than I have in a long time.”

  Dr. Maudas gestured toward the large metal chair. “I’m glad to hear. I will be with you momentarily.” He turned back to his computer.

  Caleb flopped into the chair and studied his nails while he waited.

  You should have headed outside instead of to your doom.

  Caleb’s gaze drifted to the tunnel, and he shrugged. No matter what the voice thought, Caleb knew there was no escape out there. All going outside did was remind him how trapped he was.

  Dr. Maudas’s footsteps echoed across the room as he walked up to Caleb. He pulled the tray with the observational equipment over and began his assessments.

  “Forty-nine, huh? Didn’t think the creature was worthy of a real name?”

  Confusion covered Dr. Maudas’s face for a moment, but then understanding hit. His face lit up. “Ah, yes. It just makes it easier to keep track of them.”

  “And keeps them from being fully human.”

  Dr. Maudas pulled the stethoscope earbuds out of his ears and spoke matter-of-factly. “They aren’t fully human. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.”

  Caleb scoffed. He didn’t disagree with the doctor, but he wondered why bother calling them anything at all? Granted, Lilah had a name. Maybe it made them feel better. But who cared how the creatures felt?

  “We’re going to do something a little different today.”

  Caleb eyed him. “Okay.”

  No! This is not okay. This could be extremely bad.

  And what am I going to do about it?

  Get. Out. Run!

  Caleb scoffed inwardly.

  Dr. Maudas headed toward the back of the lab and disappeared around some equipment. He returned with a body on a gurney. At first, Caleb thought it was Samuel, but as he looked closer, he realized it was some guy Caleb had never seen before. He looked to be in his forties or fifties with gray just beginning to show in his hair at the temples. His skin was tanned and slightly leathery. He was dressed in a pair of white scrubs. Caleb also thought the man was dead, but upon closer inspection, he wasn’t. It looked like he was sleeping—or sedated—and apparently, Dr. Maudas wasn’t taking any chances of him waking up and escaping. Straps secured his wrists and ankles, as well as across his chest, stomach, thighs, and calves. He wasn’t going anywhere. Caleb felt his throat constrict.

  “Who is he?”

  “A volunteer. He’s willing to help further science.”

  Caleb found that incredibly hard to believe. Everything about the situation screamed something sinister was going on.

  “Why is he strapped down?”

  Dr. Maudas looked at the man as if this was the first time he noticed the straps. “Those are for our protection.”

  Caleb felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “Why do we need protection? What are you going to do?”

  “Inject him with some of your blood.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Despite the light breakfast, Caleb felt the oatmeal rise to the back of his throat. He shot out of the chair like it had caught fire.

  “I thought you said it was dangerous to inject my blood into others.”

  “It is.”

  “So why are you doing it? Can’t you test whatever you’re testing some other way?”

  Dr. Maudas held Caleb in his gaze for several quiet moments. Caleb felt his discomfort grow with each passing second.

  “I have already conducted my other tests, and the results were inconclusive, so now I’m progressing to the next stage of the experiment, which involves injecting this subject with your blood.”

  Dr. Maudas had a pompous, condescending tone to his voice informing Caleb he was the adult and he would be making the decisions. Caleb could argue. He wanted to protest and fight and tell Dr. Maudas what he was doing was harmful and stupid, but one look at his surroundings kept the words lodged in his throat. Dr. Maudas was going to do what he wanted, whether Caleb cooperated or not.

  Caleb’s throat constricted. “But you said it was dangerous.”

  His voice came out small and weak. He had no other argument to give except throwing Dr. Maudas’s words back at him and hoping they made an impact. It obviously wasn’t working. Dr. Maudas
was apparently intent on conducting his experiment—and the doctor seemed to be sure of the outcome; otherwise, why would he have the man strapped down? Caleb absolutely did not want to see him turn into a zombie. He didn’t want to be the reason he turned.

  “What if I’m wrong, Caleb? What if your blood can make him immune?”

  It was the one hope Caleb held onto; his immunity could help others. He wanted to believe it could, but there had to be another way to find out.

  Caleb swallowed thickly. “What are the chances?”

  Dr. Maudas sat in silent contemplation for a moment, staring at Caleb with his chin tilted down. “Well, to be honest, a lot of factors come into play that can affect the outcome. It’s possible your blood could save him or turn him, and it’s possible he has the same genetic markers you do, and he’ll become immune. But there’s only one way to be one hundred percent sure.”

  Caleb’s gaze darted from Dr. Maudas to the man on the table. His stomach tingled, his leg twitched with indecision. The doctor’s nonchalance about turning a human being wasn’t sitting well with Caleb, but he wasn’t in a position to argue. Maybe if he had a suggestion for a different way to do the test. He wracked his brain trying to think of another way. Nothing came to mind.

  “I get it, Caleb. You’re morally conflicted. You want answers, but you don’t want anyone to get hurt in the process. If it makes you feel better, he understood the risks of what could happen when he volunteered to further science.”

  Caleb’s gaze slid to Dr. Maudas, his lips pressed together into a thin line. Knowing the man understood the risks didn’t make him feel any better. And he wasn’t sure if those words about him being a volunteer were true.

  “Would you like me to make the decision for you? Would you like to do this the hard way?”