I pick up Tristan’s lifeless body and sling it over my shoulder, trying not to think about what I’m doing because it hurts my stomach when I do. Then I leave the cave and head out into desert where the sand has been dampened by the rain. The sky is starting to tinge orange on the other side of the clouds, which means the sun is lowering and nighttime will soon be here. I keep my pace quick and my footsteps light, knowing the last thing I want to do is be out at dark. Yes, vampires aren’t a problem, but the abominations are.
After what seems like an eternity, I reach the ditch secluded just on the edge of the city limits and carefully lay Tristan’s body down in the soft dirt. Then I do something really weird and I don’t even know why, other than I fill some sort of finality in the moment. Without even thinking, I tenderly run my finger down his cheek as I remember the way he used to be, before the Highers got their hands on him and changed him; made him a killer and pawn to be used against good people. He was innocent. He could barely harm a thing and they had turned him into a monster.
I grow furious as I think about all the harm the Highers have caused. It is getting late and I am tempted to wait around to watch for the Highers, see if they come out to feed so I can try to pick them off one by one. However, as my temper subsides, I realize the only way to for me to seek revenge against them is to put an end to everything.
“Rationalize,” Monarch whispers in my head. “Keep a level head and wait until it’s time.”
I want to tell him to shut up, remembering what happened back in Cell 7, but I’m not really sure if he’s even talking in my head or if it’s a memory. Plus, what he’s saying seems right; I need to keep a level head. The Highers, vampires and the abominations all must go. The only way to do that is to find a cure and I’m the key to finding it. So, even though it kills me, I turn and head back to the cave.
***
When I get back, it’s dark, which of course means the vampires are out, yelping and nipping at each other, their eyes dripping blood, their bodies decaying flesh. But they keep their distance from me, especially because I walk on top of the boulders; jumping from one to the other, making sure none of them follow me. Their cries echo through the night as I climb calmly up to the cave, quickly slipping inside before putting the rock in front of the entrance again.
It’s darker inside, yet my night vision allows me to see everything clearly as I walk to the back, stooping low to avoid hitting my head on the section of the cave that dips downward. I can see where everyone is sleeping. Aiden, who is leaning up against the wall, has his eyes shut, although I’m fairly certain he’s wide-awake, listening to me walk around.
I don’t go to him, heading off in the opposite direction, instead, and step over Nichelle’s leg that’s stretched out.
“You can see in the dark?” Nichelle asks me quietly. “Either that, or you are a really good guesser of where everything is.”
I sit down next to her on the dirt floor and lean against the rock wall behind me. “Yeah, I think maybe even better than I can in the daytime,” I tell her, absentmindedly touching the side of my eyes with my hand, pressing down, wondering why I can see in the dark. Sure, it’s because I’m a Day Taker, but how is it possible to see in the night. What makes it work?
Maci is cuddled next to her on the floor and I shake my head, trying not to smile. “It doesn’t take her long to get attached to someone does it?” I ask.
“She’s a good kid,” Nichelle says.
“She really is,” I agree with her.
“You two are close, aren’t you?” she asks, sitting up carefully so she doesn’t wake up Maci.
I shake my head, but it feels like a lie. “I’m not close to anyone really.” Thoughts of what Monarch has always said, rips into my head. You need to turn off your emotions. They will ruin you; what you need to do.
Before she can say anything else, I change the subject because this particular one is pissing me off. “How about you explain why the hell you came out here to look for me?”
“Because I was told this is where I could find you; at least people who used to belong to your colony… I’m supposed to take you back with me to our town.” She pauses, considering something. “There’s a man there. Mathew. He’s probably the oldest person in town. He says he has things he needs to tell you. Things that may be able to help you save humanity.”
“I don’t understand how someone I don’t even know could know about me,” I say. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Oh, you know him. You probably just don’t remember him.” She yawns. “He was a doctor a long time ago, but there were things being done he didn’t approve of, so he left and went out on his own.”
I listen to the steadiness of her heart beating and it lets me know what she says is true, or at least that she believes it’s true. I do remember there were a lot of doctors in white coats near me all the time when I was younger.
She suddenly reaches out in the darkness and grabs my arm. My initial reaction is to jerk away, but for some reason I don’t. “Kayla, you have to trust me. I need you to come back with me before it’s too late.”
“What do you mean before it’s too late?” I ask, glancing between her hand and her expression, which is filled with panic.
She pulls her hand away and sighs. “Mathew was bit by a vampire a few days ago.”
“If he was bit he would have either died or turned into one by now.” I know I should be more sympathetic; however sympathy isn’t really one of my traits.
“Normally, that’s true, but when Mathew was first involved with the doctors from your colony, he used some of the injections that they were experimenting with on himself.” She pauses for a moment, choosing her words carefully. “Although he’s not immune, one of the shots did cause a delay in his transformation...” She sucks in a deep breath and her heart trembles. “He… he believes that it’s part of the cure.”
I take in everything she just told me. If what she says is correct, I need to talk to this Mathew, but do I dare go to this place? It’s unknown.
“Follow your instincts,” Monarch whispers. “They’ll never lead you astray.”
“Okay, I’ll go just as soon as daylight hits.” I feel lost, knowing I can only hope I’m making the right choice. “Now get some sleep. I need to make sure that you have enough energy to get us there.”