WPOV
Silence rang through the hot van. Although it wasn't an awkward silence, as many thought s occupied my mind. We went by many mall strips, none had a market store where we could get the supplies we needed. We were just outside city limits when Melanie shouted.
"Found one!" her voice echoed in the metal van. She made turn and we were outside a small building with glass panels where you could see the fruit and vegetables arranged on the other side.
As she parked I unbuckled my seatbelt and got ready to get out.
"Don't be too long" she sang. I grinned at her and shut the door. As I walked inside I felt the cool breeze of the building. I took a basket and started going up and down the aisles getting the essentials. I was about to reach for a jug of milk when I heard a blood-curdling scream. I dropped my basket and made my way to the source of the scream. I gasped as I took in the sight before me. A middle aged looking woman was sprayed on the ceramic tiles. Eggs broken in her hand as it ran through her fingers. Her basket tilted by her feet, her cheek was pressed against the cold tile. Her wide eyes were open and staring right through me. I knew she was dead. Others rushed beside me and gasped at the horror on the floor. While everyone else was shouting and yelling to call the healers, I was zoned out, staring at her eyes. They no longer shone. There was only a dull grey lining. Just like the man at the healing facility. I tightly shut my eyes, attempting to seal off the tears that sprung to my eyes. I felt people swoosh past me, and I opened my now blurry with tears eyes to see the healers putting the woman in a body bag. While the others around me whispered and shared what they saw with each other, I quickly followed the healers. The healers were a middle aged man, and a young woman with shocking red hair. They redhead peeked around nearby isles, not spying me behind a stand with numerous flowers and she spoke quietly to the man,
"What are we going to tell people, Clyde? We can't say the truth. We don't have an answer." The woman alleged. The man sighed and responded,
"I know, I know Earth Sound, but we have to do it eventually. Besides, I think some other facility in the nearby city already exposed the truth. It will just be a matter of time until we are questioned." Clyde concluded. He gave Earth Sound a defeated glance then they continued to bring the body outside. So they know something is up, and they are lying. Just like I had said. But what kind of illness was it that was so strong, the soul medicine couldn't even fix? I didn't even try to stop the tears this time. The medicine they gave me would not help me, as they did not know what the problem was to fix. Sunny wasn't going to get better either. Of course I don't know this for sure but there must be someone out there with answers. I wiped at my cheeks furiously. All souls are just awaiting for that day, not knowing what's happening like the lady in the store. She didn't know she was going to die today. Shouldn't the Healers tell us souls the truth? Then again would we all rise in panic demanding to be shipped off to another planet? My legs moved although I've lost feeling in them. I was then picking up my basket and with one last look at the spot where that woman had fallen and died I left the store.
Melanie must've seen my red eyes. I couldn't see her eyes behind her sunglasses but her mouth was turned into a scowl. I opened the door and put the bags of food at the back. I felt her eyes following my movements. I sniffed as I wrung my hands in my lap.
"Wanda, what is going on, I saw the ambulance and a body bag and you crying and I am so worried so please tell me" She pleaded as she took off her sunglasses.
"A soul died" I said, she waited for me to continue.
"It was so sudden, I heard a scream and then there she was on the floor with dead eyes, which were surprisingly dim, like the man at the hospital" I shuddered and she put her arm around me in comfort.
"I followed the healers and they were talking about telling the truth to souls and that they don't have an answer, but an answer for what?" I rambled.
"I know you have a thought as to what they're talking to, you wouldn't cry in confusion" she accused me. I looked up at her knowing eyes and sighed.
"I think it's the illness that Sunny has. They don't know what's happening to souls to make them sick or suddenly die" I admitted. Her face showed only pure terror. I would imagine it would be a little bittersweet for her as she hates souls with a passion but she wouldn't want me nor Sunny to die, or the humans that the souls are occupying. She raised her hand to her mouth in shock and her breathing quickened.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no! "she chanted roughly. "What are we going to do?" she looked at me with sad eyes. This was a rare moment to see. Melanie was strong and never let her guard down and was always on top of things. I got worried immediately, how would Ian react to the news I just discovered.
"I'll tell you what we're going to do, we're not going to tell Ian," I said. She looked at me in confusion.
"Wanda something terrible may happen to you and no one knows what it is, therefore a solution to that problem would be very hard to find and you could end up just like the man and the woman that just died. What do you think Ian would do if he knew that I knew? I'll tell you, he would blame me for your death Wanda, that's what he'd do. Do you want that?" She shouted, nearly erupting into tears again. I was speechless. She was right. If there were a cure, it would have been found already. Plus Ian would blame her for knowing the whole time what was happening to me. Ian. I can't leave Ian. Tears sprung again and I was sobbing harder than ever before. I would have to leave Ian. It was inevitable. I would die and he would be alone without me. Even if I was to find a new body, I bet I would still be sick. It seems that the virus isn't in the human, but in the soul. It was hopeless. Between sobs, I managed to say.
"You're right, he has to know," I said in a defeated sigh. I could see Mel nod beside me. I knew it would be the right thing to do, but only one thought entered my mind,
"Mel, how am I supposed to tell him that I'm going to die?" I questioned with horror. Nothing I could say would make Ian not worry, for there was no hope. And as for Sunny, I would have to tell Kyle too. Mel wiped away she tears from her now flushed cheeks and gave me a tight hug. I was extremely concerned to how Ian would react.
"We'll figure it out" Melanie assured in a soft voice. I nodded my head and sighed heavily, I watched her take a deep breath and turn on the engine We drove out of the mall strip and headed to the hotel.
It seemed as though the drive wasn't long enough. I tried to think of my dialogue as I looked up at the bright blue sky. The thin wisps of clouds floating and slowly changing shapes.
"We're here" Melanie announced. She looked at me and unlocked our doors. I smiled at her trying to make myself look more courageous which I was far from. My hands clammed and I felt myself shaking. She opened the back doors and took out two plastic bags filled with food. She headed towards our door while I followed behind slowly. I gave her our key card and the sound of unlocking elements was heard. Mel took a step into the small room, and I followed reluctantly. The sudden cool breeze from the air conditioner was welcoming, but the chill only relieved me for a moment. I pretended to be deeply enthralled with the designs on the brown carpet, but I knew that Ian would see right through me. Nothing I did could stop me from seeing him rise from the couch and take four giant strides until he was at my side.
"Wanda, love, you're safe. I was worried. It seemed longer that it should have been." Ian sighed, relieved. My breathing came in shallow intakes as I prepared myself for the truth.
"How'd it go?" He questioned. This is it. He would know now.
"Great." It sounded even worse as I spoke. A soul would even suspect me.
"Wanda, what happened?" Ian insisted. Mel gave me a sharp look and Jared came over to her side. He wrapped and arm around her and kissed her cheek. All the while she kept her hazel eyes on me trying to urge me to tell him silently. Jared noticed this.
"Mel, what's wrong?" Jared probed. Melanie never looked at him but only tilted her head and widened her eyes.
"Well something happened at the store" I started. Ian saw my discomfort and took my hand. His fingers entwined with mine and he led me to the bed to sit.
"There was a soul…" I was suddenly interrupted by the door opening with a crash. A large silhouette was at the door. All my muscles froze his hand and I squeezed Ian's hand in a death grip. The figure emerged from the dark and I saw the familiar crooked nose and deep midnight eyes. I let out the breath I was holding and felt my muscles relax. He was holding something in one hand and his stance was menacing. Jared and Ian stood up simultaneously and took long strides towards him with their chins up and shoulders squared. I found this wrong; they had looked at him as dangerous. I walked up to Ian and put my hand on his shoulder, his body relaxed immediately. I took slow steps towards Kyle, I heard Ian grunt behind me but he made no actions to stop me. When I was close to Kyle I heard his breaths which were loud and deep, his nostrils flared in anger. I held his hand and took him to the bed. He sat, staring onto the wallpaper. All eyes were on him, nobody knew what to do next. I kneeled down to be eye-level with him.
"Take a look" He whispered. He held up his hand, which had a rolled newspaper in it. I took it from his hands slowly and started unrolling it. All I had to do was read the head line, and I knew that I could no longer hide this from Ian. It was happening now. In big, black bold letters, my life was unfolded,
'EPIDEMIC RAGES NOT ONLY THROUGH HOSTS, BUT IN SOULS THEMSELVES' Ian peered over me, reading the crumpled words. I could hear his ragged breath as he read it through, over and over.
"Wanda," He whispered shakily "Please don't tell me that this is what you think is happening to Sunny." Ian wasn't seeing the point.
"I-Ian, don't you see? Not only is this happening to Sunny, its, its happening to me." My voice cracked on the last word.
"What?" he roared "No. no. This isn't right. That's not going to happen to you. I won't let it." Ian began to shake me with every word he spoke, "How do you even know that it's true. You could just be over thinking this. Your letting your sudden headaches get to you." It no longer seemed that he was convincing me, but himself. I shook my head, and closed my eyes letting my tears flow down my face. I put my hand on his cheek, his eyes were glistening.
"Think about it, if it's so serious, then all the souls would be gone" Ian mumbled his voice almost inaudible. He closed his eyes slowly and a tear leaked form his eye. He leaned into my touched and kissed the inside of my palm. He wound his arms around my waist and held me so tight that I was sure he would never let go.
"You're fine, nothing is wrong, you're beautiful and healthy" He whispered in my ear, convincing himself once again. I buried my head in his chest taking in his scent while he buried his head in my hair.
"But no one knows what it is right? If no one knows what it is how could they be sure that all souls will die this way?" Kyle whispered.
"Haven't you noticed all the streets Kyle? What about the deaths that already happened? Isn't that a sign for things to come? Sure all of this seems recent, but what if the people that new were really good at hiding it?" I retorted, hot tears running again.
"THEN WE NEED TO GET SUNNY!" he demanded. Jared and Melanie looked solemn; no one knew what to say. Everyone wanted to help but nobody knew where to start. Kyle looked at all of us and then he looked at Ian intently.
"Please, Ian, you would do whatever it takes to get Wanda back if she was in Sunny's position. Why do they want to keep her if they don't know what it is? They're most likely using her as a guinea pig" His tone rose as he continued and he never took his gaze off of Ian.
"He's right Ian, you know he is. We all need to help" I urged.
"You don't even need to ask us" Jared said, as he wound his arm around Melanie's waist. She nodded showing her participation.
"Okay, we'll help," Ian sighed with defeat, "But I still don't believe that this is something we should be worrying about." He concluded.
"So who's hungry? It's been a rough day." Jared broke the awkward silence with his suggestion. We all nodded in agreement, though I assumed that after what just happened, few were in the mood to eat.
