Rushing over to her I watched her lips move as she hit the ground. Fear spread through me and I quickly helped her sit back up. Another whisper came out as her breaths got slower. Not hearing what she said, I leaned in to see what she was saying. None of this made sense, she was fine just a second ago! The bleeding should have stopped by now.

What's going on? She collapses on the ground and acts like its nothing and she went with me and not Shay. Is there a reason for that? I'm so confused and her injuries are getting worse, the blood has already seeped through again. She'll bleed to death if we don't get out of here.

A screech came from down the hallway as the ground shook, most of the lights from the ceiling concaving.

Miley took in a deep breath, trying to keep smiling through the pain. If only that woman was here, she would know what to do. But we were right to let her leave, she was too dangerous! And if Shay didn't trust her, and Jake didn't tru- No, I won't think about him right now. Her eyes began to shut and I shook her awake.

"I'm fine-"

"No your not." I said, cutting her off.

A tear came from her eyes, "I know…" and I checked her eyes. "Miley, you eyes!" I screamed, her bloodshot eyes looked up at me as a bloody tear ran down her cheek. Quickly feeling her forehead, my hand immediately jerked back. "You're burning up!"

She began to cry and a hand clutched onto my shirt. "I can't..."

"Can't what?" I asked, shaking her again. "No more secrets, you have to tell me!"

She shook her head, "That's...just it. I can't hide it any longer. Not from you..." Before I could reply with on hand she began to remove the bandage, wincing in pain.

"No," I ordered, reaching for her hand. Seeing the pain I tried to make her stop, but she pushed me away. "It will make it worse!" Continuing till the wrap fell off, she pulled down the stretched part of her shirt for me to see. I gagged at the inevitable truth.

Her skin was rotten, brown and purple with dry skin peeling. The veins in the shoulder were popping out, visible all through out the back. The sickly look had spread to the back of her neck and thighs, even visible on the collar bone. A tear went down her face as I peeled back a soaked piece of cloth, the source of the blood. She turned so I could get a better look at the huge bite mark biting her lower lip in worry. "Miley..."

"I am so sorry, Timmy!" She cried, suddenly clinging to me. In shock I hugged her back, finding some words to say. Not finding any, I sat back and let her cry. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"This wasn't supposed to happen!" She said, unanticipated anger surging through her. She let go and pulled away from me, slamming her fist into the wall, which didn't seem to phase her, as she let the river flow from her eyes. "Dad said it would work." Her tone suddenly got quiet and toddler-like. A broken fiver year old.

"What would work?" I asked, placing my hand on her shoulder. Yanking away, she sighed with a little wheeze.

Getting up she leaned against the wall, feeling a little bit stronger. "On my third birthday, my parents took me to work with them at the research facility they worked at. They began asking me all sorts of questions, like if i wanted to be strong, fast, and smart." She paused to laugh, "Of course every kid wants that, too be a superhero like Batman, Iron Man, and the Hulk; I was just naive and didn't know. Mom's the one who put me in the chamber, much like getting scanned for cancer. All these needles came out once my body was fully inside, they injected me with all these liquids. I still remember the pain, how it made my skin burn and my insides freeze at the same time. I was out like a light for a week."

Cough.

"It happened again shortly after I woke up, my dad observing the operation. After six months of the same thing, they began trying different solutions. Putting me under all these scans, tests; even seeing if my skin could regenerate after a chunk being cut off. They kept me under observation until I was seven."

"But I thought you and Shay knew each other by then."

She sighed, "Her parents brought her to work so I wasn't alone. I never knew if they experimented on her or not. After meeting again in seventh grade, she acted as if she didn't remember. Was it a mental block, or did they erase her memory? I don't know. All I know is my mission was if this were to happen, to get the virus so the cells would activate. Then I could save those closest to me. I thought my parents wanted to help."

" And your birthmark?" I asked, pointing to the scribbled circle on her calf. She didn't have too nod for me too make the connection to the others. "Why did you agree to the treatment?"

"I was three, like I said, and didn't see the consequences." She paused. "Even I didn't fully understand until last week when my parents warned me-"

"You knew?" I asked, she shook her head. "It was more of a reminder, now I see it was a warning. They said that it could not fail. Everything proved too work ninety percent of the time and I could not prove too disappoint. I failed."

"No you didn't." I said, taking her hand. "They failed you."

Oh my God. I should've paid more attention! The virus has been spreading this entire time. She's lucky to be alive after all this time walking around, holding all that pain in for hours on end. Does Shay know?

"I know what you're thinking, and no, this virus has been in me since that day. There was no sign effects to look for- not that you would know- and it hasn't bothered me till now."

"Does Shay know?"

"About the virus? No, it was forbidden-"

"I meant the bite." I corrected.

"I wanted too, but I couldn't make her worry any more than she needs to."

Her parents really did that to their own daughter? They treated her like a pet, a creation for the company. And she did this all for us. But I can't help but think, that even though she says it was to protect Shay and me, it's because of my recklessness and was probably mostly for me. I feel so stupid for not noticing, and yet, here she is calm and unafraid.

She clenched her shoulder and winced in pain. Blood ran down as the wound gushed by the ounce. I swiftly ripped my shoulder cloth off and pressed it down over the wound. In Health 1 they at least taught us how to stop the bleeding and make due with what you've got. But after it seeped through, I realized that nothing would stop it.

Miley began to cough and wheeze, covering her face with her hands. There was a terrible hacking noise and when she removed them blood drenched her hands from her mouth. She took one look down and covered her face, crying into me. With all my strength I got a good grip and picked her up.

"Where are we going?" She asked me, "If I mutate outside of the city, it will spread the virus-"

"We are going to go find the antidote." I said, "Then get you out of here."

"But we don't know if it'll work-"

"So there is one?" I asked. She sighed, "I heard my parents talking about it, but there is only a seventy-five percent chance it would work! It's too late for me, it's already spread too far and-"

I wiped the tears from her face and tightened my hold on her. I had her rest her head against my chest.

"We've gotta try."

There was a sign pointing to the lab a couple minutes ago. It was our only hope. I will make the antidote and save her in time; if it does work. But who would make a virus without a totally working antidote? If I were a scientist I would want it for myself at least. No, I can't think like that. She will get better, she will survive, and I will get her out of here safely.

That's a promise.