Emerge (30 page)

“You think they sent the virus out into our settlements on purpose?” His brows tilted inward, and deep lines of shock formed across his forehead.

“It looks that way, but I don’t know why.”

“And who is West to you?”

Good question. I was starting to believe that West was a figment of my imagination—my past catching up to me to play tricks on my heart.
 

Reaching down and grabbing Dax’s hands, I let a heavy sigh pass through my lips before looking up at him, my eyes holding his gaze. “I want to tell you everything. I do. And I will. But right now, we need to get to the labs, get a treatment for Dylan, and get out of here so that we can let New Caelum destroy the bomb, or the innocent people of this city are going to have another deadly virus outbreak on their hands. And if the virus spreads inside…”

“The people will flee to the outside.”

“Yes. Or a large part of the city’s population will die. Or both.”

“You promised me we would run away from another outbreak,” Dax said.

It was true. Dax and I had spent hours and hours in the past talking about human nature and our need to survive. We’d always promised each other that if there was another outbreak, we would flee the heavily populated areas and ride out the illness together. We would not look to anyone else for help. We wouldn’t risk infecting another.

I blinked away any emotion from my eyes. “Yes, but that was before our friends—and your brother—got sick.”

“So… you’re not staying and marrying this West-person?” Dax smiled like he was joking, but I think a part of him was scared I would do exactly that.

“No,” I said, and my heart constricted. “Let’s get to the lab and get what we need so that we can get away from this crazy city.”

“Lead the way.”

~~~~~

According to Shiloh, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for representatives of red, gray, and white to walk together in the middle of the night through the halls of New Caelum, and she assured me that I looked nothing like myself under this brown wig that perfectly hid my scars. “However,” she warned, “it could get a little tricky once we get inside the medical sector. Dr. Hempel is in an isolation unit within the main research lab, so that he can be close to Dr. Pooley while he works.”

“How do you know so much?” I asked, glancing out into the darkness as we passed through one of the tunnels leading us between buildings. “What’s your role inside this city of hierarchy? Besides being a part of the emergency sector, that is.” I couldn’t hide the disdain in my voice. I was starting to believe every person inside the city was given a specified role, not for their own individual good or even for the good of the city as a whole, but for the good of the government who ran things.

“I am a supporter of a growing movement to overthrow the council and turn the city into a full-fledged democracy. We believe that the people should have the right to decide for themselves what happens to them. And we support doing away with the dictatorship we seem to have now, and cherishing all of our differences and the gifts we provide to New Caelum.”

Interesting. “And does this growing movement support the marriage of President Layne and Vice President Rhodes?”

“We don’t care who they marry,” she deadpanned. “We just don’t want them running our lives.”

I traded glances with Dax. He looked confused, but was probably liking this Shiloh and her sense of rebellion.
 

“And who do you and your fellow minions support as your leader?” he asked. “Or are you a bunch of free spirits who want to do away with all government?”

She evil-eyed Dax. “Every large group needs leadership. We simply believe that the leader we need is one who will endorse equal rights among the citizens.”

“And who does your group hope will lead you?” I knew the answer before I even asked it.

At the end of the pedway, she stopped to open a door for us. She allowed Dax to enter first, then stood directly in front of me. “West is the future of this city. He will be our next president.”

“But West is already being groomed to take over. What does your group hope to accomplish that the council isn’t already doing?”

“The president, although popular, doesn’t really hold that much power. The council is truly running this city, and most people know that the council is corrupt. The council will never lead us forward; in fact, they deliberately hold us back. Only West is ready to lead us into the next era.”

“Why was I so important?”

She tilted her head, and a grin lifted the corners of her lips. “Because while many of us are ready to reenter the outside, the council understands the importance of a vaccine to prevent future outbreaks of Bad Sam.”

I studied her eyes. She was being quite forthcoming. “Sounds to me like there’s enough support behind West already without adding me to the mix.” They had my antibodies now. “Why do you need me inside the city?”

“You guys coming?” Dax asked from inside.

Shiloh leaned closer. “Why do we need you? We don’t. But West
wants
you.” She turned and walked through the door, joining Dax and leaving me trailing behind them.

~~~~~

We were approaching the main medical laboratories. My pulse sped up with each step we took. There was no guarantee that my theory would work—that the beads my parents had left me would be the missing ingredient in Caine’s or Dr. Hempel’s already tried and failed drug cocktail. What if what I was remembering about that mysterious hospital visit was something else entirely? What if it wasn’t so simple?

We turned the next corner to find an army of red hazmat suits at the end of the hallway. Shiloh stopped, and Dax and I collided with her back. We quickly retreated out of sight. Shiloh darted for the first door we saw, and we followed her through it, into a stairwell.

Shiloh pressed something on her PulsePoint, then spoke into it. “We’re in the north stairwell of the hospital.” Her voice echoed around us.

West’s voice came across the PulsePoint. “The fifth floor is packed with red.”

“We saw that. What now?”

“Go back out the door you just entered. Proceed away from the lab, to Room 517. I left red hazmat gear for Christina and Dax there.”

My eyes widened as West said my given name. Dax’s head jerked up. His eyes found mine, but I looked away. I had promised I would tell him everything. But now was not the time.

“Did you give Christina her PulsePoint?” West asked Shiloh.

“Yes.”

“Point yours toward her.”

Shiloh tilted her wrist in my direction, and I immediately saw West’s face. Though the screen was small, I was amazed at how in control he looked. When he saw me, his face softened. “I’m sorry. In order to get Justin out of the hospital wing and away from you, I had to convince him that I believed you were a threat to our city.”

“I
am
a threat to your city,” I said curtly.

He smiled. “No you’re not. I know you’ll make sure the bomb is destroyed. After you find a cure and save my sister. I can’t say I don’t believe in miracles; you’re evidence that miracles do exist. But my sister is barely hanging on.”

A knot formed over my heart. West was losing hope. I could see it in his eyes. “I’ll do what I can. I just need to get into the lab.”

He nodded. “Once you’re suited up, you should be able to get in. The others won’t recognize you with that dark hair under the hazmat mask, and your face will be mostly covered. And Dr. Pooley knows you’re coming. But you won’t have much time once you’re inside. The others will figure it out eventually. I’ll jam the locking system for as long as possible, but when the alarm sounds on your PulsePoint, you’ll need to get out of there. I’ll send a map for your exit through your device.”

“What happens after that?” I was asking so many things with that simple question, more than he could possibly answer across the tiny screen or in the small amount of time we had. Ever since West had found me again, I knew our timing wasn’t right, and might never be right.

He paused a moment. His hazel eyes appeared bright green in the small screen. “I’ll be in touch,” he said, but I could hear the desire to say more. “Good luck.”
 

Shiloh’s screen went dark. She lowered her wrist. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

We looked both ways as we exited the stairwell. Shiloh darted right. We followed her to the room at West’s instructions. When we reached Room 517, Dax and I entered first. The room was dark. As I felt around for a light switch, I heard a male voice from behind us, in the hallway.
 

“You there.”

I froze. Dax plastered himself against the wall behind the door, pulling me with him.

Shiloh didn’t enter. Instead, she let the door close. “Hello, Mr. Rhodes.”

I turned my frantic gaze on Dax. He wrapped his hand around mine and squeezed.

“Shiloh, what are you doing over here in the hospital sector?”

“I was ordered here by my superior, but I was told to dress in protective clothing. I forgot where they keep the gear that I need.”

A moment of silence passed. “Follow me,” Justin ordered.
 

Their footsteps retreated from the door, and Dax and I let out a collective sigh.

Dax clicked on the small flashlight Shiloh had given us.

I looked around the small room—a large medical supply closet of some sort. In the corner was a metal rod where several white lab coats hung beside two complete red hazmat suits. I scrambled over to them and started to slip one of them on over my clothes.

But Dax stepped closer to me and reached a hand to cup my cheek. “You’re the infamous Christina Black, aren’t you? The one person who survived. The one person who’s immune to Bad Sam. And the person West came looking for.”

“Yes.” I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing I was only answering “yes” to a portion of his question. Yes, I was Christina Black, but I no longer knew if I was immune to Bad Sam. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I so badly wanted to forget that part of my life. But it seems my past has caught up with me.”

“I understand. I can’t help but want to save you now, though. To get you out of here. To learn why West didn’t even recognize the Cricket I’ve come to know.” Deep lines formed across his forehead. “But… Dylan.”

“I know.” I touched a finger to Dax’s lips. “I have to do what I can. I can’t promise anything, but if there’s a chance that I’m able to help anyone with this disease, I have to try.”

“I’m with you all the way.”

I started to argue with him, to convince him to stay behind, but I realized that if we didn’t stick together, I didn’t know how I’d get him out of New Caelum.
 

“Listen to me,” I said. “When we’re in the lab, you touch nothing. And you don’t remove any part of this protective gear until I say. You understand?”

Dax nodded.

We suited up. When I was satisfied that both of our sets of gear were on properly and completely, and that my necklace was safely tucked in a pocket on the belt beside my PulsePoint, I led us from the closet and turned toward the lab. This time when we rounded the corner, we came face to face with ten or so guards in black protective gear and at least that many emergency personnel in red. Dax and I squeezed through the crowd, making our way to the main doors to the laboratory. No one even noticed us.

“Listen up,” a voice boomed behind us. The people around us shifted and turned toward the voice. I didn’t want to turn, but felt we should. When we did, I realized the voice belonged to Justin.
 

“There are two outsiders inside our city. Their pictures have been sent to your PulsePoints. If you see them, bring them directly to me. But do nothing to harm them. I need them alive and conscious. Now, all of you in red, follow me. I need you to—”

I didn’t wait for Justin to finish his sentence before lifting my PulsePoint to the scanner beside the door. As soon as the lock clicked, I pulled Dax with me into the lab. No one tried to stop us.

As soon as we entered the lab, a doctor in protective gear approached. “We no longer need any emergency personnel. Weren’t you told?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m under orders to speak to Dr. Pooley immediately.”

“That’s not possible. Dr. Pooley is not to be disturbed. No one is to enter his lab until Mr. Rhodes gives the okay.”

“It’s okay, Maria.” A voice sounded through a speaker overhead. We turned toward the lab, where Dr. Pooley spoke through an intercom from inside. “And could you be a doll and get me some food? Something with plenty of protein? And maybe some fruit?”

“Some fruit,” Maria said, irritation in her voice. “I’ll have to decontaminate if I leave.”

“Yes, I know. I’m sorry to trouble you. Thank you.”

Maria left in a huff, and Dr. Pooley pointed us toward the entrance to the main lab. Dax and I had not been inside an area sensitive to Bad Sam yet, so we entered without changing gear.

“This lab is way bigger than Caine’s.” Dax’s voice came through the speaker in his mask.

“Yes. They take every precaution to prevent the spread of disease.”

“Yeah, well, they’ve done a
terrific
job of it. With all this, how did it manage to spread?”

I shrugged at the question that had haunted me the entire time I’d been inside New Caelum, though I new the answer lay within the deception of a group of people that swore to protect this city. Inside the lab, we joined Dr. Pooley. Behind him the timer continued to count down.
 
14
 
hours,
 
34
 
minutes, and
 
32
 
seconds.

“West says you might have figured out what our treatment is missing,” Dr. Pooley said, without looking up from his microscope.

I lifted my hand and revealed my necklace. “I believe my parents injected me with the substance found inside a bloodstone.”

Dr. Pooley’s eyes widened briefly. He lifted his hand, cupping his chin and massaging his whiskers as he considered what I had said. Then he leaned his head back and belted out a loud laugh. I traded a puzzled glance with Dax.

“You mean to tell me that we’ve hung our last hope on some silly bead from a child’s necklace?”