Chapter Nine – Zoey's Tale
"Hey, Louis."
"What is it, Ashton?" I'm lying on my stomach on the cold, hard deck of the boat. I have a Hunting Rifle Scope in my hand, zoomed into the furthest possible level. Louis is near me, he and I are having a shooting contest.
"You guys came from Pennsylvania, right?" I pull the trigger and a glass bottle that was on the railing explodes and shatters, it falls to the floor and some into the ocean. Francis, who had a tantrum out of boredom, scavenged glasses to destroy for fun, but I was able to get my hands on some. Louis and I are testing to see who is a better shot.
"Yeah, why?" He shoots one down. Louis is a good shoot, better than Zoey. Francis is decent, but Louis and I have experience. Louis went to the Shooting Range and I used to hunt with Brittany. We both have fair experience.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about Patient Zero...would you?"
CLICK. BOOM.
Another glass bottle falls and shatters.
"Francis, Zoey, and I were in Mercy Hospital if that's what you're asking. I don't know much about Patient Zero. Why?"
CLICK. BOOM.
"Because. It's been bothering me ever since you mentioned that you guys are carriers." I stop to reload my rifle, the first time I take a look at the now setting sun. I feel Yin by me, but I don't see her. I'm not paying much attention. I did figure out that boats make me feel uneasy, though.
"Well…what exactly is it you want to know about Patient Zero, anyway?"
CLICK. BOOM.
"Their identity. Remind me to find a way to hack into CEDA's files when I get around to it, wouldja?" I'm kidding and I hear chuckling. Zoey. She's been strangely nice. I want to know why. I plan to confront her about it later; maybe she is trying to get on my good side, which will never happen.
"You boys done shooting yet?" She sounds cheery. She wasn't so cheery earlier when I told her I'd rather die than stay with her and her psychopathic team. That much is for sure.
"I think so. It's getting dark anyway. Besides…I'm starving." Louis stands up and I shoot down one more glass bottle.
CLICK. BOOM.
"I guess I am done too. No more point of continuing without competition." I stand up, stretching. I felt cramped anyway. Yin is lying against one of the rails, she seems relaxed and content which is something new. I do know that Yin does like breeze, so she probably loves the sea breeze.
After a small crappy and less humane dinner, I can't sleep. Maybe it's because of my insomnia or my hatred for the anxiety on the boat. Or not. I don't know.
I step out onto the deck of the boat, its dark by now. The moon is full, and the stars are out. Land is distant. It's driving me insane. I have to know who Patient Zero is. I have to know who it is that caused the disease. Who it was that CEDA infected.
Yin remains in the cabin, there are about seven small cabins. I get the smallest one, again. I'm leaning against the rail, overlooking the calm sea. I'm in a clouded thought, almost as intense as the mist that covers the ocean. Even if there was land, it would be close to impossible to see it.
"Dammit…who the hell is it…" I don't know why it's bothering me so much. It just is. Maybe it's because humans have a severe problem with placing the blame on someone…maybe.
That's when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Ahhhh!" I jump back and am immediately shushed. I know who it is, it's Zoey. She's up too. Maybe restless about something. I was going to confront her, so I guess now is my chance.
"Jesus…Zoey, you scared the crap out of me." Not that she doesn't do that ALL the time. You would feel the same way if you saw her face every day. I'm going to be nice though. Just this once. "What?"
"Can't sleep either?" She seems genuinely nice about it. She seems a bit edgy, shifting her foot anxiously. "Here, I found this." She pulls something out from her pink track jacket pocket and hands it to me.
"What's…?" I begin reading the headline which immediately catches my eye. I read the entire thing. Not once, but twice. Still no names.
Patient Infected with Mysterious Virus
In Mercy Hospital, located in Fairfield, Pennsylvania had issued an announcement Tuesday morning on the City's bulletin board. It revealed of a patient who had been entered into the Hospital's care only a couple days earlier. The notice claims that a new and highly contagious virus has been released to the public as people have become ill within the hospitals walls in the past three days.
"We are keeping them under special care. We aren't sure how dangerous the virus is, so we are attempting to keep them in a secure lockdown for now." Says Michael Felton, an officer hired by the governmental company known as "CEDA". "We believe it's just another type of Flu, that everyone should just be more careful about it. We believe the disease has been contracted from livestock, but we are still researching the data."
The rest of the newspaper clipping was torn off. That was all it said though. I think it's starting to make more sense now.
"How did you…?" I'm at a loss for words. I want to say "Thank you" but my pride isn't letting me. "Where did you…where did you get this?"
"I overheard you and Louis discussing it. I grew up in Fairfield." I'm gaping. She grew up in the same city that the disease is known for origin? I keep listening intently.
"My mother was bitten. She was infected almost immediately. My father was bitten soon after. My father had asked me to shoot him. So I did." She has a melancholy tone like she's ready to cry. She leans over the railing next to me. I feel like a midget next to her.
"I kept that newspaper clipping because it reminds me of what we are dealing with. It's not a fucking game. It's real. My parents are dead…and so is Bill." There's that name again. I can't contain my curiosity anymore.
"Who is Bill?" I almost forcefully blurt out, but I somehow contain my curiosity…not really.
"I knew you would ask sooner or later. I'll continue with my story, then. I met up with Louis, Francis and Bill soon after. We immediately became a team in this living hell. We made it fair, very good team we were. We made it to what we thought was safety. We found out that we are carriers." Zoey isn't looking at me, but rather at the water. She takes a breath before continuing.
"The immunity for survivors usually comes from the male side. My father was immune. I could've saved him…Bill on the other hand…he sacrificed himself for us. Took three Tanks on by himself. Brave old man he was. Like a second dad he was. That's why I'm restless most nights, sometimes I feel guilty."
"He wouldn't have sacrificed himself if he wanted you to be guilty." I actually offer Zoey a smile. She and I are on the same level. She looks at me, wide – eyed. "I have two sisters. Well, had. Never liked my parents, but I was good friends with Brittany and Teddy. I know what it's like I guess. We have to make the best of it, I guess."
I'm about to continue when there is a loud crash and the boat lurches forward. Zoey is shoved back, but I'm sent flying forward into the distance.
Author's Note - I really like this chapter. Oh noes, we are close to an end with this story! Well, not really. It ties into another story once I'm finished with it, so woot.
A little Ashton and Zoey bonding, yay. They like siblings. Reviews, rate, whatever else!