Eden

by C J Singh

  Stop gawking at me and sleep.

  Laughing, I lay down on my bed. Whatever, you love it.

  You wish!

  Night, babyface.

  Sleep tight, Golden girl.

  Chapter 42

  Tristan

  I was moved to a tiny room inside a lab. The two windowed walls let me watch Dr. Hahn, the doctor that was assigned to me, work in the lab. He checked on me frequently, which was annoying, but not as annoying as having to watch him bustle about all day.

  Frustration built in me. I was now a prisoner, locked in a cell, not able to move without pain, and I didn’t know if Eden was all right.

  Dr. Hahn unlocked my door and entered my room. He fumbled with his bag of equipment while continuously brushing away his wild white hair. His too-large lab coat covered mismatched patterned clothes. Basically, he was a disaster.

  “Morning there, Tristan.” He dumped his supplies on the table. “Did you sleep all right?”

  “Been better.”

  He smiled at me, and I felt bad being so cold toward him when he seemed like a nice enough guy. Nothing like that creep Zane or my last doctor, Andy, but my need to find Eden and get us out of here trumped any politeness Ellie and Old Bob had instilled in me.

  “Well, let’s take a look here. Yes, yes, a look.”

  He rubbed his gloved hands together like he just received a piece of his favorite cake and pulled down my blanket. The bandage on my gunshot wound was checked and changed daily, but whenever he pulled it off, I winced. I would have a hideous scar in my stomach.

  “Looks good, looks good.” He leaned in close and gently pushed around the wound. “Any of this hurt?”

  “Of course it hurts.”

  “Yes, yes, but more than usual.” He moved his head down low and turned his ear near my stomach.

  “No. Not more than usual.”

  My stomach growled loudly, and he laughed as he stood. “Oh! Your stomach’s telling me you’re hungry!” He gave my arm a little pat before discarding the old bandages. “Everything looks great. Really great. I’ll get it all cleaned and bandaged for you, then grab your breakfast. How does that sound?” He smiled at me, grabbing more supplies.

  There was something about the way that he talked and looked that reminded me of Ellie. Not the idiotic way he repeated everything, but Ellie was always happy and positive. When we were young and would get hurt, she would always make us feel like we got a little stronger even if we cried. I set my head back, squeezing my eyes shut. Ellie. A piece of my heart was gone, and it will never be filled. I can’t lose anyone else.

  “Do you know of a girl here? Her name is Eden,” I asked.

  Dr. Hahn stilled for a brief second while putting the clean bandage on my wound. “Eden? Let me think, let me think. No, no, it doesn’t ring a bell. Nope.” He immediately focused again on his work.

  “Is there any way you can look around for me? See if she’s here and if she’s OK?”

  When he was finished, he stood and looked right at me. “Who is this Eden to you?”

  “She’s my...” I took a moment to think. What should I call her? She’s more than a friend, but she’s not my girlfriend. Sister. She had called me her brother. The words stung before they left my mouth. “She’s my sister.”

  His eyes widened in surprise as he inspected my face. “Sister you say? Yes, yes. Sister.” I ground my teeth every time he said the word. “Well...” – he gathered all his things and moved to the door – “let me see if I can find out something for you.”

  “Thank you, thank you so much.” I winced at myself. I just repeated my words, and I really hoped his quirks were not rubbing off on me.

  “Good. Good. Let me grab your breakfast.” He smiled and left my room. My stomach fluttered at the new possibility that I may find Eden. Everything was going to be all right.

  ***

  I was sitting up doing core twists when Zane came into the lab. His eyes fixed on me the moment he walked in and never left me as he walked to my room. Dr. Hahn, more flustered than usual, unlocked the door and let Zane in.

  “Tristan!”

  I lay back, ignoring the subtle ache on my core. I had to get strong so I could get Eden out of here. Zane sat in the chair with meticulous care and crossed his legs. Lacing his fingers, he set them on his knee and met my eyes.

  “So. How are you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  “Dr. Hahn relayed some interesting information. He mentioned that you told him you are Eden’s... brother. Is that right?” I glanced over his shoulder at Dr. Hahn, watching us through the window on the door nervously fidgeting his fingers.

  “That’s right.” I looked back to Zane. “Where is she?”

  “She’s here.”

  A rush of anticipation hit me, and I tried to sit a little closer. “Is she all right? Can I see her?”

  “No.” He watched my face drop before continuing. “She’s sick, unfortunately. The Fever. We have to keep her quarantined. You understand, don’t you?”

  “The Fever?”

  My mind raced with the memory of having the Fever. I didn’t wish that pain on anyone, especially Eden.

  “How?”

  He uncrossed his feet and stood. “I infected her.”

  “You what?” My voice was so loud that Zane actually winced.

  “Yes. She is the Ferine survivor. She survived during our initial research. I needed to see if she can still... survive. It will help with the cure. She’ll be a hero.” He pulled the arms of his jacket down and buttoned it before looking back at me.

  “You call her the Ferine survivor?”

  “Yes, yes.” Zane waved a disinterested hand in the air. “It wasn’t my idea, but it stuck.”

  “You do realize that she isn’t the only survivor, right? I am a survivor too.”

  “True, but you are part of the one percent who just naturally survives. Eden is in a league of her own. She was on the brink of death when something done in the research brought her back to life. I need to learn what that was, so we can make the survival rate much higher than one percent.”

  “And my blood can’t tell you anything?”

  He laughed. “Are you signing up to be a subject, Tristan?”

  My blood froze at the thought. “No. I just don’t understand why you can’t find anything in a natural survivor that could help.”

  He watched me with a fake smile plastered to his face. “You’re a smart young man, aren’t you?” I didn’t respond but kept my eyes on his. He sucked in a deep breath. “We have tried. There were a few natural survivors we worked with, but we came up with nothing. Eden, however, is special.” He tilted his head. “But you already know that, don’t you?”

  I pursed my lips to keep my temper. “All right, so what exactly are you hoping to find?”

  “A cure, of course.”

  “A cure.” I scoffed. “You think you are going to be able to get a cure from Eden?”

  “Well, yes. I know I will and wouldn’t you like to resume to life before the virus?”

  I blinked at him, searching my memory, not coming up with anything. I didn’t remember life before.

  He gave me a knowing smile. “Yes, yes. You would have been very young. Well, it was much more... pleasant than life now. The city walls can be down and people can move as they please. It will be glorious and Eden will be the reason that all can happen.”

  I clenched my jaw. He worked so hard to be convincing, but I could see through him. It wouldn’t be that easy.

  “Don’t get mad at me. She agreed.”

  “That’s a lie. She would never do that.”

  He chuckled. “People do many things they never think they will when there is enough... persuasion.”

  My stomach knotted. “What was the persuasion?” I spoke before I cou
ld stop myself. I didn’t want to know, yet I did. The smile that crept on his face told me my answer before he said, “Jace.”

  My hands fisted the blanket, and I set my face to stone. Zane laughed. “Brother. Sure.”

  Dr. Hahn unlocked the door to let Zane out. He didn’t look back as he left the lab.

  I slammed my head back on my pillow and screamed.

  Chapter 43

  Eden

  Twenty-seven!

  Jace’s voice was filled with excitement. We had created a game to fill our boring days called “How many times LaRae tugs at her earrings.”

  Liar!

  Swear on my father’s grave.

  That’s not reassuring.

  I pulled up my blanket to warm me from my chills. My shaking had reduced, but it still came sporadically.

  Feeling any better?

  I look over at furrowed eyebrows. His eyes still sparkled, but with worry instead of humor.

  I’ll survive.

  LaRae infected me two days ago. The fever was ramped yesterday but has died down today. She takes my temperature and what she calls “vitals” hourly, charting the numbers.

  Twenty-eight.

  Chuckling, I tried to shake my head, but it throbbed too much.

  What time is it?

  I watched him look over at the circular clock on the wall.

  She should be in to see you anytime.

  I pulled my legs into myself under the blanket to hold in my warmth and opened my eyes to the sound of the lock on the door. LaRae came in covered in her protective gear, face mask, gloves, and even a covering over her hair. She pushed her cart of supplies. “How are you feeling?” she asked quietly, concern etched around her eyes. I never realized how expressive eyes were until that was all I could see of someone’s face.

  “C-c-cold,” I stuttered through shivers.

  She felt my forehead and cheeks. “You’re burning up.” Grabbing the small device she called a thermometer, she moved it across my forehead. “102.4. Yup, you still have a fever.” She handed me some pills and a cup of water. “Here, take these.”

  Slowly, I sat up, keeping the blanket draped over my shoulders, and took the pills. Looking up, I saw Jace, sitting on his bed, monitoring LaRae’s every move. He had gotten better at pulling himself up with his arms to bring his legs over the side of his bed. LaRae made sure he was stocked up with pain meds to help him manage, but he refused to take them most of the time, said he wanted to be clearheaded in case I need him.

  After swallowing the pills, I handed the empty cup back to her. “What do those do?”

  “They should help lower your fever, and if you are having any pain, they help with that too.” She smiled at me, holding my arm to take my blood pressure. Her anxiety and nervous twitches had dramatically reduced since I decided to cooperate.

  I watched her work. Her brown hair framed a pleasant face with chocolate eyes. She must be near fifty, but I had never been good at telling ages. “You seem... happier.”

  She looked at me before writing down her numbers. “I’m just happy you decided to work with us.”

  “Why?” I pulled the blanket tighter around me.

  “Because you could be the key to saving us all.” She smiled at me and put her items away. “Doesn’t that make you happy? You could be the one that saves us.”

  Staring at her, I’m unsure if she truly means this, or if it’s some kind of propaganda. “I don’t... trust Zane.”

  She froze. “I’m sorry?” I could smell the fear within her.

  “Zane. I don’t... trust him.” My shivers are becoming so uncontrollable, it made it hard to speak. Darn, I thought they were getting better.

  Staying silent, she finished writing some last notes before pushing the cart to the door. “Yes, well, he’s not here. So, we don’t need to worry about him at the moment.” She opened the door and moved the cart out before her. “Rest, Eden. I’ll be back in an hour.”

  Then she was gone, and I was left shivering and alone in my cage. I gazed across at Jace, and he gave me a small smile and a wave.

  Better?

  Not really.

  His face faltered, but he held his smile.

  Rest.

  So, I do.

  ***

  The stabbing pain in my stomach blew me out of bed. I heaved and heaved, but nothing came out. There was nothing to come out. I hadn’t eaten in two days. Involuntary groans escaped me as my stomach tried to expel every drop of bile. The pain was so excruciating that I couldn’t pull air into my empty lungs. I fell off my cot onto the floor, coughing, working to suck in a deep breath.

  Eden?

  Pain. Can’t breathe.

  The floor cooled my cheek as I lay on my side, trying to pull in as much air as my lungs would allow. After each pull, a stab of pain pushed it back out. Jace’s screams and bangs on the glass were muffled, but my focus was completely on breathing. I had to breathe, but the pain. Oh, my, the pain.

  The door to my cage opened and LaRae rushed to my side. “Eden?” Flipping me over, she examined my eyes with a light and felt my neck. “Eden, can you talk?”

  Shaking my head, I gasped for more air. My wide eyes watched her terrified face as the blood drained from it and she ran out of my cage, not bothering to shut or lock the door.

  Hang tight. She’s calling someone.

  The sound of Jace’s voice in my head helped to soothe me. I focused on pulling in loud rasping breaths at a rhythm to help slow my heartbeat.

  In, two three, out, two three.

  LaRae rushed back into my cage and tried to prop me up, but I swung at her. It’s more comfortable lying flat. My words turned to scratchy breaths; I couldn’t speak. She continued to try and pull me up, so I pushed her away and kicked at her. My breathing rhythm faltered at my movement, so I closed my eyes to focus.

  “Eden... Eden please.” She tried to pull me up again, but I pushed her away. She fell. Hard. Her eyes watched me nervously as she scooted back toward the door.

  Relax, Eden!

  She was cowering near the door of my cage when an older man in a lab coat ran in. As he approached me, he slapped on a face mask but didn’t bother with gloves.

  “What did you do to her?” He knelt next to me, unafraid.

  “Nothing! She just started acting like this moments ago.” LaRae grabbed the cart from outside the door, pulling it inside.

  The man firmly grabbed my head and examined my eyes, then moved to listen to my chest. “What did you give her?” Without waiting for LaRae to answer, he grabbed the clipboard and scanned it. “You gave her this medication?” He pointed to something on the paper.

  “Well, yes.” LaRae looked confused. “She has a fever.”

  My gasping increased with the pain. I pushed the man and heaved again, but still, nothing came out. Tears dripped from my eyes and I tried to curl into myself. I could hear Jace’s pleas to let him out, but LaRae and the man ignored him.

  “It’s toxic to some animals,” the man said to LaRae as he ran out of the cage to her cupboards. “I need to get her something to counteract it,” he yelled back.

  My already pumping heart skipped a beat at his words. Animals.

  “Right, but...” – LaRae stood dumbfounded – “Eden is—” Her eyes widened. “Oh my...”

  The man rushed back into the room with a pill and a cup of water. “Right. She isn’t fully human, so she won’t react the same way as humans to some medications. You need to be careful. Very, very careful.”

  I sat up with his support, giving him a questioning look, but his focus was fully on getting the pill into me. What did he mean, I wasn’t fully human? He shoved the pill halfway down my throat and poured some water in. “Swallow.”

  Whatever pill he gave me acted fast and the pain lessened, making it easier to breath
e. My lungs filled with fresh air, and I closed my eyes in relief. “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “Good, good.” The man stood before he crouched down to help me up and to my bed. “Rest. Rest is good.” He turned to LaRae, who had tears in her eyes as she watched me.

  “I’m so sorry, Eden... I didn’t think.” She started to move toward me, but the man stopped her.

  “It’s fine, LaRae. Fine. Fine. Let her rest,” he said quietly.

  Before the door shut, I asked in the loudest voice I could muster, “What’s your name?”

  He smiled. “Dr. Hahn.”

  With the door shut and locked, I rolled over and faced Jace, still weak and cold. He was calm and watching me with worried eyes.

  I’m an animal.

  I watched his reaction to my words, but it wasn’t as profound as I expected.

  Aren’t we all, aren’t we all.

  He smiled before I closed my eyes and slept.

  Chapter 44

  Jace

  I sat on the side of my cot, lifting my leg up and down trying to stretch it. The pain had dramatically reduced over the past few days, but it still ached. A sheen of sweat glowed on my arms as I grunted through my exercises. Trying to keep the days busy was hard, especially when I had to watch Eden go through so much. My leg was nothing in comparison to what was happening to her.

  Resting my leg, I looked up at her. She was lying on her cot snuggled under multiple blankets. She held out her necklace, examining the small silver butterfly.

  Where did you get it?

  She glanced over at me a moment before going back to inspecting it. Her face solemn.

  Ellie.

  I don’t think she has ever mentioned Ellie before, but by the sound of her voice, I didn’t think she wanted to talk about it.

  Do you think they will come for me?

  Who? I asked her, but I already knew who she meant. Her family.

  Old Bob, Tate, Brian, Derek... all of them. Any of them.

  I leaned forward with a sigh. They may try, but the chances of them getting in alive are little to none. Seeing her this way hurt. I rubbed a hand down my face and growled. She kept her eyes on the necklace.