Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited (21 page)

“Yeah, but now things are different because I’m done playing around,” Cynthia throws up the gun and pulls the trigger back hoping to end her fight. The gun clicks, several times as she repeatedly tries the trigger. “Oh fuck.”

Fanny wastes no time rushing over with the knife driving it deep into her throat. Murder and rage fill Fanny’s eyes as she glares unforgivingly into Cynthia’s eyes, watching them fade away slowly, as Cynthia falls to the ground. She tosses the knife off to the side before she turns back to the others. The stress and rage slowly starts to dissipate from her body as she walks away.

“She left me no choice,” Fanny says inhaling deeply and letting out a deep, cleansing breath.

“We know,” Brad says as the pair walk over to her, “no one would blame you for what you did. You had to kill her.”

“No, not that,” Fanny pants, “The Major, he didn’t deserve this. I couldn’t save him… she left me no choice.”

“Could there be more of that antidote somewhere?” Hope asks tugging at Brad’s sleeve.

“It’s possible,” Brad nods giving both the girls a glimmer of optimism, “but I don’t know where she’d have kept it.”

“What about the medicine cabinet? You know, the one she grabbed that smelly ointment from,” Hope suggests.

“I guess it’s worth checking,” Brad says picking up on of the candles from the table and walking over to the cabinet.

Hope stands close to her friend, her hand on her shoulder as Fanny rests on her knees. She holds on to the Major’s hand, her head hung low as she fights back the tears.

“Are you going to be Ok?” Hope asks.

“Yeah,” Fanny replies, “but I’d feel a lot less guilty if I could have prevented this.”

“You can’t protect everything,” Hope says, “it’s like I was saying yesterday, sometimes you have to let things happen. Good or bad, they will find a way to work themselves out.”

“I guess,” Fanny shrugs before turning her head, glancing at her young friend over her shoulder, “do you think I could have a moment alone? You know so I can gather my thoughts.”

“Of course,” Hope says backing away, “I’ll just go and help Brad search the cabinets.”

“Thanks,” Fanny says as she watches Hope make her way over to Brad.

She turns her attention back to The Major, her hands wrapped tightly around his. His limp hand drags inside her, his body warmth starting to fade. She opens her mouth several times trying to speak only to find herself fighting back tears each time. She sniffles several times before a lone tear makes its way down her cheek and onto their hands.

“I’m sorry,” she says as she starts to choke up. She clears her throat before she laughs nervously, “I’m sorry I didn’t save you… I couldn’t save you. I guess this all just became too much for me. I thought if I could put myself into those life-threatening situations, that I wouldn’t have to feel this kind of pain, this kind of loss. I guess we never stop running from the things that scare us, and I guess for me I’ve always been afraid of loss.”

The Major gasps for a breath as his eyes flicker open. He gives Fanny a half smile before gasping for air again. Fanny sits him up, his head nuzzled between her chest and her arms.

“Don’t…don’t give up,” The Major says with a struggle, “and don’t waste your life hiding like I did for so long. Stay strong and continue to fight…” The Major says before taking several short breaths, his eyes closing as his body goes limp.

Fanny lays his body down and gets to her feet, walking towards the closest wall, and pressing her head against the cold brick wall as she starts to sob uncontrollably. Hope and Brad keep their distance as they walk over to The Major’s body. Hope kneels beside him and presses her middle and index fingers against his throat searching frantically for a pulse. She looks up at Brad and shakes her head.

“What about Mika?” Brad asks, “Is the antidote even helping?”

“That’s if it even was what she claimed it was,” Hope says inching her way over to Mika’s body.

Again she places her fingers on his throat and searches back and forth for any sign of life.

“Well?” Brad asks impatiently.

“He’s alive,” Hope says getting back to her feet, “but he’s also burning up.”

“Side effect to the poison?” Brad wonders out loud.

“With any luck,” Hope says taking off her windbreaker and balling it up before sticking it under Mika’s head.

“Need me to do anything?” Brad asks.

“I need some water and a cloth,” Hope replies.

“Right,” Brad says as he scampers off into the darkness.

“Lots of water!” Hope cries out trusting he heard her.

“What’s going on?” Fanny asks coming back over.

“We’re not sure yet.” Hope replies, “He has a pulse, but also a fever.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Fanny asks.

Hope sighs unwilling looking up at her friend as Mika shudders and groans as he tries to take a breath, “I don’t even know how we can help him make it through the night.”

Chapter 17

              The night seems to drag on, each of the remaining trio feeling the effects of fatigue as they continue to watch over Mika. Brad rests with his back and head against the wall, his eyelids drooping, his hand losing its grip on his water bottle as he slowly drifts off to sleep. Fanny is sitting in the chair, her legs slumping outward either which way, her arms hanging down at her sides with her head hung back the soft sounds of snoring escaping sporadically. Hope is right beside her, her back resting on the side of the chair Fanny’s hand draped beside her. Mika continues to rest in her lap with beads of sweat forming across his forehead. He struggles to breath as he twists and turns.

              “Shh, Shh, Shh,” Hope coaxes as she fights to keep him still.

              She wipes his forehead dry and pours a little bit of water into his mouth. After he swallows the small amount of liquid, Hope presses the backside of her hand against the side of his face and feels the warmth radiating hotter than before. She strokes the side of his face trying to send as much positive energy as she can into his body.

              “Come on Mika.” Hope urges, “We need you. You have to get better. Please don’t leave me.”

              “Don’t leave us,” Fanny says sitting up in the chair.

              “I’m sorry,” Hope says startled, “I didn’t think you were up.”

              “You don’t have to apologize,” Fanny says rubbing Hope’s shoulder. “How’s he doing?”

              “Not good,” Hope admits, “his fever seems to be getting worse; he’s struggling to breathe and drink. If he doesn’t show some kind of improvement soon I don’t know what to think.”

              “He will get better,” Fanny says trying to comfort her.

              “Can I ask you a question while we have some time alone?” Hope asks turning her head as far back as she can.

              “You know you can ask me anything,” Fanny says trying to force a smile.

              “Why did you save Mika? Well I mean, why did you give him the antidote instead of The Major?”

              Fanny sits back in the chair, her hand brushing through her dirty hair as she lets out a loud sigh. “I don’t know. So many things rushed through my mind when I had that needle in my hand. Then everything went blank and I thought about Mika doing everything he could to help us. He tried his hardest to make sure we survived back at the church. Then in the bunker he stood up for us when I wanted to use the radio. I knew it had to be him.”

              Mika groans before tossing and turning again. He shoots up, his eyes bursting open as he rolls onto his hands and knees and begins to dry heave.

              “MIKA!” Hope cries out happily.

              He pushes himself up, resting on his knees panting as Hope wraps her arms around his neck almost knocking him down.

              “There’s more to saving him then what you said isn’t there?” Brad asks sneaking up on Fanny.

              “BRAD!” Fanny shrieks, “I thought you were asleep.”

              “I was for a while. I woke up and heard you two talking and I didn’t want to interrupt,” He admits.

              “Well thank you,” Fanny says biting her lower lip, “we haven’t had a lot of alone time since we got here.”

              “You two are really close aren’t you?”

              “Yeah, I’ve been there for her since the day she was born. I’ve always done what I could for her,” Fanny says.

              “I’ve noticed,” Brad says with a sly wink.

              “What does that mean?” Fanny snaps back.

              “She likes him. I know you know it. That’s the real reason you saved him isn’t it?” Brad asks smugly.

              “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Fanny denies, “how could you possibly think I could pick one life over the other that easily?”

              “Because I would have for someone I cared about,” Brad admits.

              “Well I’m sorry to say the thought never entered my mind,” Fanny says, her head hung low and her voice trailing softly as if she is reconsidering her words.

              “If you say so,” Brad snickers patting her on the back before walking over and joining Hope and Mika.

              Fanny takes in a huge breath before letting out a slow bothered sigh. She shakes her head before letting a smile grace her lips. The events of the rest of the night start to fade from her memory. She joins the others standing silently behind them.

              “So what do we do now?” Brad asks.

              “Mika gains his strength then we get on our way,” Hope says.

              “I’m fine,” Mika says.

              “You’re starting to sound like Fanny,” Hope jokes.

              “I’m serious,” Mika says getting himself to his feet, wobbling as he tries to stand.

              “You can barely stand,” Hope argues.

              “I’m fine,” Mika repeats, “when do we leave?”

              “Soon,” Hope says, “I want to get out of this awful place as soon as possible.”

              “Sleep first,” Fanny says, walking over, her arms crossed and a stern look on her face.

              “I don’t need sleep,” Hope argues.

              “Look, you’ve had a very stressful few days,” Fanny persuades, “just sleep for a few hours then we can leave.”

              “I’ll rest with you,” Mika smiles, “if you’d like.”

              “Are you sure?” Hope asks blushing, “You did just wake up.”

              “It’s the least I can do. After all it’s because of you that I’m here now,” Mika says.

              “Well I don’t know about that,” Hope says slightly embarrassed and blushing more than before. “I mean Fanny helped too.”

              “Thank you Fanny,” Mika says taking her hand and squeezing it for a moment before turning his attention back to Hope. “You know back when I first met you both, I knew it was going to be a wild ride.”

              “Bet you never thought it would be this wild,” Fanny laughs as she walks toward one of the cots.
 

She sits down on the old roughed up nylon cover as she peels her boots off of her feet revealing her green and brown cotton socks. She wiggles her toes after they are free and swings her legs onto the cot, making herself comfortable the best she can. She pulls up the thin camouflage sheet and rests her feet on the flat pillow, her hair spread out around her. She rests her hands on her chest holding the sheet close to her. She turns her head and blows out the candle close to her as she settles herself back in again. Brad follows suit but instead of finding a cot he curls up on the floor, his back resting against a wall allowing him to feel the cool chill the brick has to offer.

“Did you want to lie down too?” Mika asks.

“No, I’m fine,” Hope says, before letting out a long yawn, her body stretching backward as she does.

“Are you sure?” Mika asks with soft caring eyes, “that was an awfully big yawn.”

“I’m just a little tired,” Hope debates. “But I’d rather stay up and make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m fine,” Mika resists, “actually I’ve never felt better.”

Mika clenches his fists and flexes his biceps causing Hope to gush slightly. She looks away and tries to remove the image of his muscles dancing through her mind.

“You know what,” Hope says jumping to her feet, “I think I will go lay down… over here.”

“Would you like me to join you? Maybe keep you company,” Mika asks.

“No, no, no, no, no,” Hope stutters repeatedly as she backs away.

Hope back pedals all the way to the free cot closest to Fanny. She climbs into the cot and pulls the sheet up over her head and tries to wrap her mind around everything that has happened to her within the last few hours.

I don’t even know what to think about today.
She thinks to herself, her heart still beating quickly as the thoughts and emotions flood back into her body.
Today started off looking as good as any I’ve ever had before. A quick exploration of our temporary home, the stronghold we have come to depend on in such a short time rapidly became a place of ill will and sour feelings. The unwanted approach was one thing but looking back now, I have to wonder if my father was as wrong as I first believed. This isn’t the world I was brought up in… the world anyone had been brought up in. some of us have learned to adapt, to find a place to call our own and grow upon that. I was lucky, I had a better opportunity then he did. He was dragged into this Hell, having to deal with death and horror every day. It’s not really so farfetched that eventually he would succumb and become that which he faced. But then what of Fanny? She talked of killing Justin as if it was necessary and she showed almost no remorse. But then having to decide who lives and who dies she seemed almost… I don’t even know how to describe it… it was like something I had never seen from her before. I don’t know how I’ll ever get to sleep.
Hope tosses back and forth on the cot, getting more irritated with each second that passes.