Chapter Fifteen
"Oh God," Riane cried, collapsing to her knees at Angie's bedside. Sobs wracked her overtired body while holding the girl in her arms. "I killed her."
Carlos barely heard the words Riane whispered through her tears. Everything felt foreign to him, especially the acerbity of his own soul.
"No."
One word uttered so forcefully that Riane could not help but pull herself away from Angie. The muscles flexed in his jaw while he stared down at them. His eyes appeared clouded, not from tears, but as though an inner light had died.
"It was my suggestion..." she began.
"No! She's not dead," he insisted, shaking his head firmly. "She can't be dead."
Riane cried out when he suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her away from Angie. He hovered over Angie for less than a second before gathering her into his arms. Although it was clear to Riane that Angie was not breathing and she felt no pulse while holding the girl, a tiny flicker of hope began to blossom when she watched him kneel on the floor and lay the child down.
"Do you hear me, Angie?" he asked frantically. He placed both palms, one atop the other, over her sternum and began CPR. Five strong pumps, then he bent over and placed one hand under her neck, lifting it until her airway straightened. With the other, he placed a finger in her mouth, flattening her tongue. He then held her nose closed while he blew air from his lungs into hers. He repeated that twice before resuming the pumping on her heart.
"Don't do this, Angie...you can fight it. You can beat the bastards!" he pleaded.
Riane crawled back to them, placing her hand under Angie's neck, ready to help Carlos. She pushed away the negative thought that the attempt was futile. Instead, she committed all her strength to his desire to revive Angie. Inwardly, her own grief of losing her family fed her need to keep Carlos' intact. These people were all she had left in the world. Like it or not, she was now a part of their family.
"Breathe," he commanded after five pumps, silently thanking her when their eyes met for a brief moment. He waited until Riane had finished and then felt for a pulse at Angie's carotid. Nothing. Anger built within him, strong, as though it had a life of its own. "Don't do this to us, Ang...we need you," he whispered as he resumed his task.
Riane bent to place her mouth over Angie's once again, tears spilling from her eyes upon hearing his grief filled words. Just as her mouth was about to cover Angie's she felt the faintest tickle on her skin and pulled back quickly, expending a shocked gasp as she did.
"BREATHE!" Carlos insisted, shouting at Riane. So infuriated with her, he nearly reached out to smack her when he saw the wisp of a smile forming on her lips. At that moment, his ire dissolved and he glanced down at Angie. He nearly sobbed at the sight of her chest rising and falling, almost unnoticeably, on its own. "Angie!"
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. She stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours to Carlos and Riane until she caught sight of them.
"Am I dead?"
Carlos chuckled, deep and heartfelt. Relief flooded him and he gathered her up into a crushing embrace, placing a firm, loving kiss on her cheek. "Welcome back, sweetheart."
Riane watched as Angie's arms circled his neck momentarily before she moved one hand to his shirt collar, clutching it as she often did when she was tired. It was a welcome sight and made her almost glad to be alive...almost.
"Yes, Angie," he echoed compassionately. "Welcome back."
Slowly, Angie extracted herself from Carlos and went into Riane's outstretched arms. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Don't thank me, darlin'," Riane insisted. "It was a group effort."
Angie nodded at the explanation and softly kissed Riane's cheek. Even she had played a part in saving her own life. Each of them had contributed in their own way. She was alive and happy to be with Carlos and Riane, but longed to see those missing from her extended family, especially Alice.
"I miss Alice."
The unexpected forlorn statement surprised both adults. Carlos caught and held Riane's gaze. For a few brief moments, he lost himself within the mossy green depths of her eyes, blocking out all the torment and tragedy of the past several months. He silently wished things could be different, but knew full well they would never be.
"We all do. She'll be back soon," Carlos offered, unsure of Alice's intentions. How long had it been that he had heard her mental warning? Where was she and why had she not contacted them? Her absence had been far longer than any in the past. Did he and the others have to worry about Alice now that Angie's emergency was over?
151515
After waiting an hour, hidden in shadows in the deserted parking lot of the abandoned warehouse Olivera had summoned him to, his fear increased steadily. Something had to be wrong for the former Umbrella operative to be late. If nothing else, Olivera demanded punctuality in himself and others.
Relief flooded him when a vehicle approached. The lot remained in darkness; no lights gave away the newcomers.
"'Bout time you show up, man," LJ greeted with mock irritation as he stepped from the cloak of darkness.
Carlos stepped from the SUV, greeted by LJ's ethereal voice. He released a quiet breath, inwardly happy to see his friend alive and well. "Drop dead," he returned, matching LJ's tone. He grinned, mirroring LJ's as they slapped each other on the back.
"You brought the munchkin through okay, I see," LJ remarked, stepping away from Carlos to see Angie exit the SUV followed by Riane. "And your old lady, too."
LJ chuckled when Carlos' face pinched in annoyance. "Tell me it ain't true."
Carlos was relieved when LJ's attention was diverted by a squeal of pure delight.
"LJ!" Angie cried when she spotted him, still three quarters of the way hidden within the dark folds of shadow. She dropped Riane's hand, which she had been holding as much for comfort as for balance, and hurried to LJ as quickly as her tired little body would carry her.
"It's great to see ya, kid," he assured, scooping her up into a bear hug. "Everything's cool now, right?" he asked no one in particular.
"She's fine," Carlos assured, nodding to Riane as she joined them. "Riane's plan worked and we've got enough anti-virus to keep the kid healthy for a long time."
"Good to hear," LJ replied, hugging Angie once again. He chuckled when she giggled and complained his face was all scratchy. "Don't go scarin' us like that again, ya hear?"
"Promise," she agreed happily. "Where's Jill?"
Leave it to the child to think of one of their missing first, Carlos thought, chiding himself. So glad to see LJ and the worry for Angie's health now a memory, Carlos hadn't processed that Jill was not with them. "Jill," he whispered, worriedly.
"Don't freak, man," LJ said. "She's too tough to keep down. Took a slug in the thigh, but she's being looked after."
Carlos' eyes narrowed. "Where?"
"Someplace safe," LJ answered elusively. "Trust me."
Carlos nodded. LJ would never reveal the location. Whoever was taking care of Jill was in grave danger if discovered. After forcing Riane's involvement into their lives and seeing the price she paid, he would respect LJ's silence and the lives he protected. "I trust you."
"How touching."
The voice, heavily laced with sarcasm, came from the darkness along with a multitude of weapons being drawn and aimed in their direction. Angie clung to LJ while he, Carlos, and Riane spun in their direction.
"What the hell?" LJ spat.
"They must have traced your message," Carlos presumed, although it was farfetched to him.
"What the fuck?" LJ snapped. "You sent the message, man!"
Carlos shook his head as he peered into the black void. Certain death lay beyond his scope of sight. His mind searched frantically for a way out, but came up empty without knowing who and how many they had to fight.
"Show yourself, you coward." Mocking laughter met his demand.
"I'm fine right here, dumbass," the voice insisted as several troopers stepped into the light, their weapons poised in deadly aim. "Allow these men to escort you to the waiting vehicle. Make a move for your weapons and be assured the woman and child will die instantly."
"Goddamn you," Carlos cursed vehemently. "I'll rip your..."
"You'll obey or die. Personally, I could give a shit, but you may prove useful..."
Carlos' fingers grazed the grip of his Desert Eagle, but he dropped his arm to his side. Behind him he heard Angie's soft whimper, while Riane remained silent. LJ, however, was cursing a blue streak.
"Smart move, Neanderthal. I think it's time to resurrect the Nemesis project and I'm liking you for the prime candidate." He paused only to chuckle at the thought of continuing the experiment. Alice was difficult to control, but he doubted seriously Olivera would match her genetic makeup to mutate the virus to his own advantage. As for the others, he had no use for them. "Take them away!"
...to be continued.