I wake up, slowly, laying on something soft. It's been a long time since i slept on a bed. I looked around, my eyes burning a little. I don't understand. Is this.... Am i dead? The memories of Bryce shooting me kept rushing in my head even when i didn't want them to. And that's when i realized the shooting pain in my stomach and i groaned, resting my head back in the pillow. I stared down at my wound beneath the blanket and was surprised that i was wearing a size too big shirt. I lifted it gently, wincing to see bandages, a few bloodied smudges on it. I rested my blanket back on it again, my breaths coming out long and uneasy. But it was better then before. The pain was faded. Still there, but faded. I could live with that.
I smiled. So i was saved after all. Bryce was defeated wasn't he? I had heard explosions. Then i saw Lyod. And Nickie with Jaden coming from behind. And then those men who carried me here. They looked so worried. All of them. I frowned, why would they worry about me though?I never saw them in my whole life.
The door clicked open and this time, i was glad to see who it was. Loyd. He was smiling, but he also had a firm look on his face.
"How're you doing?" He asked, sitting on a chair beside.
"Better then before." I said, staring at the ceiling.
"If it hurts, i can give you a few more painkillers." He offered.
I shook my head, even though it did hurt a little. But i can bare that much. "I'm alright."
He nodded, staring at me with a curious expression.
"Where's Bryce?" I asked, eagerly.
"Martin's handling him quite well." He chuckled.
"And Martin is...?" I scowled.
"Martin is me!" Announced a man entering with a grin, "And you must be Henry?"
"Actually it's Harry-" I corrected.
'Exactly what i said." He waved his hand impatiently, "How are you? Much better?"
I nodded, not helping but to stare at his rotting skin. And i remembered that Bryce was infected as well. He wanted to control the infected because he was one himself. But Lyod wasn't. Was that the reason they parted? It can't be. Did Lyod even know? My dream... something kept hitting me. But I wasn't sure what.
"Martin here is the leader of the infected." Lyod explained. "He helped us reach you."
"Of course i did!" Martin gave a flashy grin, "That's what i do for all of my friends!"
Lyod raised his eyebrow, skeptically, "Yes. that is it."
Martin's grin turned smug, "You're my friend Lyod. But now it's time that I ask you to keep your part of the deal, yes? After all, i did save your boy, didn't I?"
I frowned at both of them, "What deal?"
But they ignore me as Martin's face turns a bit serious, "Look, Lyod, pal, I didn't want to tell this to you in front of the boy but my people's condition is getting worse, man. I think... I think they're all in the last stage. I can see the wildness growing in their eyes. We need to hurry because I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle them."
Lyod's eyes widened with terror but he quickly hid it, turning to me.
"You get some rest." He smiled thinly, "I'll send in your friends. I'll tell you everything when you're better, okay?"
"But i am better!" I insisted. I tried getting getting up but that stupid pain emerged in my body like fire. I yelped, falling back. The two men stared at me. I coughed, clearing my throat,
"I'm totally fine."
Martin scoffed, heading outside. Lyod followed him, giving me an uncertain look as i smiled sheepishly.
I sighed when they closed the door, staring out at the window. I heard muffled talk outside and and noticed someone walking towards the room. I did not want that Martin to come back. But when the door opened, I smiled to see those two coming. Nickie and Jaden.
"Finally!" Jaden grinned, ear to ear, "You woke up."
"How long was i out?" I asked, shifting in my bed.
"Three days." Nickie replied, her arms crossed, "You had an extreme fever."
"Tell me about it." I muttered, remembering how dizzy i was.
"You're okay now though, right?" Nickie asked anxiously.
"Well, if you don't count the hole in my body then yeah, sure, I'm great." I made a lame attempt of a joke.
Jaden threw back his head in laughter but Nickie stood there, chewing at her lower lip. She didn't find it funny. No one would find the fact that a person almost died in front of you funny. But I was alive. I'll heal. We three, will be together and happy. Wasn't Lyod taking us to a safe house?
"I was kidding," I assured her, "I'm fine."
She nodded, but something was wrong. Her big ocean eyes looked so worried. But for something else.
"Anything wrong?" I frowned.
"You do realize he wanted you bad, right?" She muttered, tugging at her blue sleeve.
She was talking about Bryce. He wanted me bad. But I wasn't with him anymore. So I don't care.
I shrugged, turning to Jaden, "Where is he anyway?"
"Martin has him. Said something about questioning him about the vault."
The vault. The cure. it was inside a vault.
"How many infected are there anyway?" I inquired.
"About five hundred or something." Bryce replied, "In this city."
"That means a countless more around the world." I muttered, "Will the cure be enough for all of them?"
Nickie responded, "They'll figure out the formula, make a ton more."
I nodded, then smiled, "So what have you two been up to while I was gone?"
Jaden rolled his eyes, "Obviously looking for you Blondie. You had us worried sick."
I froze. There was something which kept on hitting me. Something - or someone - I had forgotten. Who?
"We found a kid." Nickie said, "A small child. He said his name's-"
"Robbie!" I exclaimed, pushing myself out of the bed, the oversized shirt slipping.
"Whoa!" Jaden said, "What are you doing? Get back in bed!"
"Where's Robbie?" I said, wincing in pain, pressing my hand on the wound, trying to stand up, "I told that kid he's gonna be okay. He's probably scared to hell."
"He's fine," Nickie said, calmly, "He's sleeping."
She narrowed her eyes at me, "He's Robert Skale's son, we found out. You never mentioned a brother.'
I sighed, "Because i'm not. He's... I mean, I'm adopted."
Her ocean eyes finally softened. Jaden stared with wide eyes.
"Then who are you?" He asked, "Who's are you?"
"I don't know," My voice cracked, "He found me or something. And I was unknown to the world. All this time he had lied because I was immune to the virus. And he found a cure through me. But every one except me thought I was his son. they rest knew i was just for an experiment. I actually thought he was my father. His real son? That's Robbie. And that bastard Bryce had him after killing his parents. So, I decided I'd take care of him. But you know what?" I looked up and smiled, "I don't care about the past. As long as there's a future with you guys, I'd be fine."
The two grinned, sitting beside me.
That's when the door burst open with Lyod breathing heavily, panting,
"Come on! We need to go, now! No time. Those infected are getting crazier. We need to give them the cure before it's too late!"
"Did Bryce tell you where he hid the vault?" Nickie asked, getting up.
"Yeah." Lyod answered, "After a few punches, he gave in that jerk."
And I nodded, getting up with a new sort of strong adrenaline rushing inside me. It was time. And I had to give them the cure.
It'll end. Everything will end after that..