Chapter 17
I had been looking for the base for over two weeks, following the coordinates on the GPS. I didn't think it would take me this long. Will and the others were probably looking for me and I couldn't think what would happen when they found me. No, I had a goal and I was going to pursue it to the end, even if it meant my death sentence and cost me my friendship with the gang. At least I had Snow to comfort me and keep me warm at night. Because it had been several days since we had eaten small rations and had not washed. I felt dirty, exhausted but still determined. I had to find this camp as soon as possible, otherwise I could not imagine the consequences that would fall on me.
This did not happen until the third day. The rations had run out. Snow had to hunt so we could eat and keep going. But he was just as exhausted as I was. I gradually lost hope until I saw a building, made of concrete, that looked very much like the pictures on Max's computer. We had finally arrived at our destination.
I decided to move away from the base so that I could keep an eye on it and make a plan of attack. I counted the rounds of the soldiers, saw if their eyes were like mine, and wrote it all down in my head. A strategy began to take shape after two days of observation. Snow continued to hunt for food several miles away from camp so that we would not be noticed. Then, the day of the assault arrived and I was ready to implement my plan, although I had to admit that many details escaped me and made my stratagem wobbly. There were many unknowns, but I was counting on discretion and surprise, if necessary.
That day, I left Neige at the camp, so that he would not come with me, and left with nothing but a Swiss Army knife taken from the house in the forest. I stomped towards a soldier, took her by surprise with my knife at her throat and knocked her out in less than five minutes. I took her clothes, tied her to a tree with her own handcuffs, hiding her from the eyes of her comrades. And of course, I took her badge. Phase one was finally over. Now it was time for phase two of my plan.
I could blend in quite easily, thanks to the clothes I had borrowed, the badge and my eyes. The soldiers I passed greeted me as if we were friends, even though I had never seen them in my life and neither had they. It seemed too easy, even though I didn't know the layout very well. Still, I continued to wander the wide white corridors, trying to make myself small and inconspicuous so that I wouldn't be noticed. After all, I was an intruder in the big government base.
When no one was in the hallway, I tried doors with my badge, but I had fairly limited access. The soldier I had handcuffed must not have had a high rank. I was still able to see inside some empty labs, probably where they were making the famous serum. But I didn't have time to dwell on that. I had to find my sister and get her and Rachel out of there, if she was even here.
I kept searching and searching, so many corridors and rooms. It was endless and I was getting exhausted, which was not good at all. Fear came over me, fear that I would not be able to find my sister or Rachel, fear that I had put myself in danger for nothing. Then I heard a voice, too recognizable to be in any doubt. I walked towards it, as if lulled by this melodious sound that reminded me of my past. The person to whom it belonged was in a large room, but she seemed to be alone. So I approached. I had to make sure that if she was there, it was against her will. I needed to see her eyes.
"Mom," I called out to her.
"Excuse me?" she turned around and stared at me with her golden pupils. "Who are you, young lady? What are you doing here? Soldiers are not allowed in this area."
"Mom, it's me Chloe, do you remember?" I said, instead of answering her questions.
"I don't know any Chloe and even less children who would have come from my belly. Guard!" she shouted.
And before I could do anything, like run away, I was surrounded on all sides by soldiers. How could there be so many of them in such a short time? The answer was clear, I must have been followed without my knowledge. They were just waiting for an opportunity to get to me and I gave it to them on a silver platter. I was far too naive. And unprepared. Will was right. But I wouldn't let them get me down. No, I had to keep fighting, despite my mistakes and my situation. So I threw myself on the first soldier, hitting him with a powerful right hook. Then, I continued with his neighbor, using my fists and my feet to defend myself. But I was quickly surrounded by a dozen guards. Even though my nose was bloody and my rib was badly damaged by the blows of the fighters, I struggled as best I could. But I was alone, and only too late I saw the butt of a rifle coming towards my head. I couldn't avoid it and fell into the darkness.
Chapter 18
"Chloe! Chloe, please wake up."
I heard the voice calling me over and over again, but my mind was foggy. I could feel someone shaking me, with gentle, soft hands. But the pain was too much, the pain in my temple as well as in my heart. Because I had failed, miserably. And no one would come for me.
"Chloe, Chloe, wake up. It is important that you open your eyes."
These words echoed in my head and I finally opened my eyes. At first I was dazzled by the light, then gradually I saw figures around me. One of them was standing close to me, crouched down beside me.
"Rachel!" I cried out once I recognized her and hugged her. "What are you doing here?"
We were in a cage, with bars on all sides. There was no way out, and we were being watched by scientists and soldiers. The latter had thrown me on the floor and I had been unconscious for I don't know how long.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're awake," Rachel said. "I was afraid you were going to hemorrhage. You're pretty banged up."
She paused for a moment.
"They caught me the day we saw the guards. I ran as fast as I could but they surrounded me. And they put me here, to question me about you. They wanted to know how we got away from the serums."
"Oh my God," I said, realizing what she must have gone through. "Please tell me they didn't torture you."
"No, they just left me here without a shower or food for several days. I didn't tell them anything about you, but... "
"But what?" I pressed her, feeling the worst coming on.
"Chloe," she said with tears in her eyes, "I was afraid he'd give me the serum, so I had to tell them something."
"Tell them what?"
"I told them my story, but it wasn't enough. He was still threatening me with the serum, so I told them about you and... and your eyes. That you were resistant to the serum. I'm so sorry."
"I... I understand Rachel, don't worry about it."
Rachel had been through a lot of trauma being here alone for over three weeks. I understood that she had to survive here as best she could with the limited resources she had. I couldn't blame her. I would have done the same thing in her place.
"After that, they left me alone. My guess is that they were desperate to know how it had gone wrong with you, how they could explain that you were the only one," she continued.
"We're not sure I'm the only one," I said.
"Yes, but for now, you are the only one known, and they were very shocked when they heard the news."
"Even I don't know why and I would have liked to..."
"Ah, our guest is awake, finally," said a male voice behind us.
I turned around in the cage and faced a man, clean-cut, who smelled of authority. In my opinion, the one standing in front of us was none other than the leader of the operation.
"Chloe, is it?"
I didn't answer. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
"Oh, I see. You think you're a rebel. How silly of you. You'll never stand up to us. Never. Kate, Julie, please come."
My heart beat faster and faster as he said these words. It accelerated even more when I saw them approaching. My sister and my mother.
"I understand they are part of the family," he said, pointing to them. "So you'd better talk if you don't want them to die. Understood, Chloé?"
"Yes," I said, with anger in my voice.
"Good. Let's get started. Tell your story. Tell us how you resisted the serum."
I looked at my mother and sister, standing next to each other, not even recognizing each other. It broke my soul. But I spoke anyway. I told them what had happened in my village. How my sister and I had run away, but that I had received a flash in the eyes. That I was disoriented for a few minutes before I felt my sister's presence, in danger, near me. And we continued our escape. Until we were separated.
"Yes, then you met the young people you stayed with," he continued, pointing to Rachel. "Interesting, all that. But I have bad news for you, my dear Chloe. Since you are resistant to the serum, we have no choice. You will be executed tomorrow morning."
"No, I don't think so," said a voice from the other side of the room.
I tried to see what was going on, but the soldiers were blocking my view. The scientists were huddled together, some of them under their desks, looking for a way to protect them from the newcomer.
"It's all over, Dad. You're going to stop this operation, right now," the voice shouted angrily.
"Oh Will, how naive you are. This is beyond me, beyond all of us. And you think I would do it for you."
Will was there. He had come to save us. But wait, that was his father, the inhuman, cruel man standing in front of us? It couldn't have been.
"Set them free," cried Will.
"Or what, son? You'll kill me?" laughed his father.
"I would be very tempted, yes."
"I don't think so. You're a coward, you don't have the guts. You're not like me," he spat in his face.
"No, Father, I'm not like you. I don't subject people to a serum that makes them forget who they are and turn them into mindless robots. I am better!"
And with that, he fired on his own father.
Chapter 19
Shots rang out in all directions. Rachel and I clung to the floor to escape the gunfire. The room filled with screams and fear. The final battle had begun and it was total chaos. My ears were ringing so much that Rachel had to pull me away when Max opened the door to our cell with a gun in his hand. Had he just shot the lock to free us? It was quite possible. Max was a genius after all, if anyone could break down a door, it was him. Once we were out, he handed us each a gun, the ones we used in our daily training. We looked into each other's eyes, and without speaking, we nodded. It was time for us to fight, too. And I threw myself into the fray.
While fighting a soldier, I saw Will in the distance. He was like a tornado, taking down enemy after enemy, either with his weapon or with advanced fighting techniques. I was not as fast as him, nor did I have the same rage that he had. I still managed to get rid of my attacker and turn to a new one. Gradually I was able to make my way back to the hallway, where Laura and Liam were tackling a large group of fighters. I was about to join them, but I was knocked down and fell awkwardly to the floor, dropping the weapon I was holding. The person who had attacked me went to pick up the weapon. I jumped to my feet, adrenaline pumping through my body. However, when I saw who I was dealing with, I recoiled in shock.
My mother was standing in front of me, my sister by her side. While my sister had a terrified expression on her face, my mother had a fierce determination. She brandished my gun, pointed at me, with fervor.
"Mom, please don't do this," I begged her. "Put the gun down, please. "
"I don't know who you are, and I don't care. You come in here and mess things up. So you have to die," she said with conviction.
"You're going to kill your own daughter? Deep down, you know it," I said, moving closer to her and my sister. "I am your daughter, Chloe, and I love you, Mom. With all my heart."
I believed in my words, hoping they would touch her. Or even touch them. We were family, even if they didn't recognize me, and I would never abandon them. Only I felt an unbearable pain as I realized that my words had not changed anything. I fell to the ground for the second time, shocked by what had happened.
"Noooo!" a person shouted in the distance.
My breathing became labored. My eyes could not see clearly. I could feel blood running down my skin, hot and pulsating. Someone grabbed me by the shoulders, lifted me up and I could see arms wrapped around my body.
"Chloe, stay with me, please. Look at me, Chloe," said the voice that had been screaming, now sobbing. "Open your beautiful eyes and look at me. You can't leave me, Chloe, I need you. Because... because I love you. Please don't leave me."
Those were the last words I heard before I fell into darkness.
Chapter 20
I gradually regained my senses, opening my eyes and facing a bright light. I wanted to put my hands in front of my face to block it, but a stabbing pain came over me, and I let out a grunt.
"Easy," I heard to my right.
I turned my head and saw Will sitting in a chair next to me. I looked around to see where I was. I wasn't at home in the forest, that was for sure. The room I was standing in was unnaturally white. I was lying on a bed, connected to machines with incessant noises. And I don't mean the smell.
I tried to sit up, but all I could do was bring the tearing to my chest.
"Wait," Will said, before helping me to a sitting position.
"Thank you," I said. "How long have I been in the hospital?"
"About a week. You needed it. You were shot right through the heart. You were lucky. Lucky that the shooter wasn't an expert."
"You mean my mother?" I replied, remembering my last souvenirs.
"Uh... yes. Believe me, she's very sorry."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, not understanding a word of his gibberish.
“your mother and sister, they're fine. They're even... How do I put this? Uh... healed."
Seeing my face, Will continued his explanation.
"Do you remember how close they were to you when you got shot?"
"When my mom shot me? Yes, very well," I corrected him with a touch of bitterness.
"Well, they were splattered with your blood, a lot of blood, and they must have ingested it because then they came back to her. We did some tests to see if it really works, and it does, Chloe," the young man told me.
"Wait!" I said, trying to sort it all out. "You mean my blood is reducing the effects of the serum?"
"Not just reduce, destroy. We've been able to cure almost everyone here with your blood. It's amazing, isn't it ?"
"Yes, yes, but I don't understand. Why my blood? What's so special about me?"
"The scientists say that you are immune to the serum. You have antibodies in your blood that fought against it and made you resistant to it. And it's because of these antibodies that you were able to cure your family and most of the infected."
"Oh, okay," I said in a small voice, understanding the magnitude of this.
"I think unfortunately you'll be the only one left with those eyes. Lucky for you, I love this color."
I was silent for a moment, realizing something.
"I heard you, you know. When you told me you loved me," I finally admitted to him.
"Oh, that," said the young man, blushing.
"And," I added, "I wanted to tell you that I love you too. I know I'm a real bitch for leaving without a word, and I'm really sorry. I made the wrong decision. And, I don't..."
I was interrupted by a fiery kiss. Will kissed me as if his life depended on it, as if he hadn't seen me in forever. And I returned his embrace as passionately as my aching body could. I put all my love for him into it, and I felt the same for him.
"I thought I had lost you when I saw you with all that blood," he admitted. "I couldn't stand it. (He paused for a moment). And I acted like an idiot with you, too, I shouldn't have."
"Let's start again, what do you think? We both made mistakes, so let's erase everything and start over. Especially if it's all over," I suggested.
"With pleasure," smiled the young man.
"By the way, how did you manage to find Rachel and me?"
"It wasn't hard to figure out where you were going. We also noticed that you stole some rations for you and Snow. And before you ask, he's fine. We found him after the fight, not far away, in the forest. To get back to the subject, we organized a plan of attack. Max had the sketches of the base, and with the knowledge I had from my father, we could easily infiltrate the building and find you. Max had to replicate an old visitor's badge that I had kept. We took several guns and that was that."
"And your father?" I said in a small voice.
"He's dead. You have to understand that he was a first-class scumbag. He never liked me. I think he blames me for my mother's death. She died giving birth to me. And he loved her with all his heart. It made him bitter. He put 100% into his job, moved up the ranks and became a military squadron leader. He wanted me to be a soldier too. A good little soldier who follows orders. That's how I learned about the serum and its effects. As soon as I realized what it did, I ran away."
"Oh my God, Will. I'm so sorry."
I held him in my arms, the horror of what he had gone through reverberating in my heart. He should never have gone through any of this. Life was unfair sometimes and it affected the best of us.
We talked for a long time. He told me about Rachel and Laura, Liam and Max. They had returned home to the forest with Neige, waiting for everyone to be healed before trying to find their families.
Mine came to see me a day later to check on me. I was able to hug my sister and tell her my whole story. My mother was there too, but she kept her distance. I could see the regret in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, honey. I don't know what came over me," my mom said, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mom, you weren't yourself. How could I blame you? Besides, all that is behind us. We have to move on now."
"I love you, Chloe," my mom said.
"I love you too, Mom."
We had a great time, talking about everything and anything, becoming a family again like we were before this war started. Unfortunately, the time passed quickly. Too fast. And they left to return to our village of Lether, to resume a somewhat normal life. My mother needed time to build her confidence, and my sister was the only person who could help her. I wasn't worried. I knew I would see them again soon, either in Lether or in the forest house.
I was able to leave the hospital the next day. Will was waiting for me in his car, and we set off for the woods. This was our home now, with Rachel, Laura, Liam and Max. They managed to find their family, it took a long time but they all managed. The world was starting to get back on track, and to live like it used to. I donated blood every week or so in order to heal as many infected people as possible.
Life gradually returned to its normal routine. And for us, they were composed of moments of pure happiness. I could count on my friends to fill my heart with joy, as well as my family who visited me often. My mother was finally beginning to forgive herself for what she had done, understanding that the serum did not define her.
The world had changed a lot, and so had we. And for the better. I was finally happy, after all this time. And I owed it to Will. He had made me grow up, made me stronger, and I was proud to be so madly in love with him. To celebrate, I joined my friends around a huge campfire, roasting marshmallows in the arms of the blond boy. That day I made a promise to myself to live as fully as possible, to forget that time when we had become nothing more than people putting their lives on hold to face a war, when we were nothing more than survivors.
THE END.
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