Our Life (Sequel to "Remnants")

Together

-Riley-

A vaccine... 

I paced up and down the hall of my apartment, running this idea over in my head. It seemed ludicrous, stupid, pathetic... Impossible, even.

If there was any chance at finding a vaccine to this madness, it would have been found before now - we would have at least heard of it before now...

I sighed. In truth, I didn't know what to think...

Today was the first time anyone had proposed such a far fetched theory, and it was the first time the concept of being 'saved' had been openly contemplated, outside of dreams and fantasies. It definitely seemed ridiculous, but... 

It seemed too ridiculous... At least to be a trap.

Negan hadn't used any over-the-top claims like some miracle vaccine. Neither had Terminus, apparently. They had promised us simple, believable things - food or shelter, some sort of everyday advantage. Nowhere near anything as outrageous this. 

I don't know... It's a long-shot, but I might be starting to believe it...

"What do you think?" Carl asked, having been sat on my chair for at least a few minutes now, watching me with intent while contemplating the same decision in his own mind.

"I think we can't know for sure," I replied, "but it seems like if someone was gonna suggest something as crazy as this... They either have a death wish or they're on to something big - something good, and most importantly, something real. And I'm not inclined to think they have a death wish."

"So you think we should go to they're camp?" Carl jumped to conclusion.

"No. Not yet, at least. I'm just saying that I think they might not be feeding us as much bullshit as we first thought, as outrageous as the idea of a vaccine sounds after all this time sounds."

"I don't know," Carl sighed reluctantly, "I mean... Not to sound cruel or nothing, but you weren't with us at Terminus. I won't go into details - we lost some friends there - but let's just say it was truly terrifying for me, for all of us. I just think that if you'd been with us then, you might be a bit more reluctant right now."

"I know I wasn't with you at Terminus," I replied in acknowledgement, before grimacing "but I was with you when Negan came, and believe me, it made me realize just how meaningless and fragile the word 'trust' is now. I'm not suggesting we just throw down our weapons and walk into their torture chambers, but I am saying that maybe we could send out some kind of scouting party."

"Who?" Carl asked intently.

"Us."

--

(Ten hours later)

"And this," the captain, whose name he informed us to be Robert, hauled open another steel door, revealing a room bathed in ultra-violet light, "is our test lab."

So, he's right about the research, but we still don't know if  the so-called 'vaccine' has been made...

At least two dozen men, dressed in the typical white lab coats, were sat at desks with all kinds of scientific apparatus before them. Microscopes, petri dishes, bunsen burners and more, were scattered around the room.

Catching my attention the most was a large rack of test tubes. One contained a natural red liquid - the last few years, this liquid had been more common than water, and not in a good way.  The label 'BLOOD ' was smudged but visible. The next dozen samples ranged in color; the first was crimson, the second one was slightly darker, and the third darker still. This darkening trend continued, until the final sample became almost a sickening black - this was undoubtedly the walker blood.