The War for Survival (Survivors #2)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

-Alec

My arms instinctively jump foward to catch the mysterious girl.

I don't know any of these people. But my instincts tell me to catch the girl and I instantly do. As if I know her. As if what Jared is saying is true.

My heart beats rapidly as I start to panic with worry.

"Erika?!" Jared nudges her and I hold up her limp body. I balance on my good leg and support her light weight.

I recognize the vans approaching belong to the rebels' group and I begin to feel releived. Okay so Jared was telling the truth about being soldeirs..

The back doors open and soldies step out. One of whom, I recognize. "Jackson?" I've known him for a few years, ever since he joined the group.

"Alec, hey. Are you okay?" He glances from me, to Erika. He smiles a little. "Always saving that girl, aren't you?"

"What? What are you talking about?" I look at him and then down at her with no recollection.

"Amnesia," Jared speaks up from behing me.

"Oh, shit.. Well, if you remember me then you'll probably have a better time believing me than them. Right?" I nod and Jackson continues, "You're holding your girlfriend right now. And I mean you are head over heels for this girl! Its so cute its actually gross. But your happy for the first time since I've ever met you. So just because you don't remember, don't give up on each other. Because if anyones supposed to be together, its the 2 of you. Plus, I like happy Alec, much more than pissy Alec," he smiles and nods over to the van. "Lets get y'all home. Here, I'll take her. You can't carry her on that ankle." Instinctively, I pull her closer to my chest but reluctantly, I hand her over.

Every part of my body aches in pain, like I've been thrown into several brick walls.

We all get in the back of the van and it drives off from the wreckage. Jared holds all the supplies in his good hand and rummages for it.

"All the supplies for the cure are still here. Hopefully, she'll be okay soon to start working on it," he rummages through the duffel bag.

"Is she actually able to do it? An actual cure?" I look at Erika and then at the bag. A beautiful face like that, you wouldn't expect her to be some super genius. But that's a bad assumption to make.

Jackson laughs. "Oh you really have no memory.. this girl is a genius. She's totally insane. But a genius."

"Definently insane. But its something you learn to love. See, when she first made the vaccine. She hadn't even perfected the damn thing, and tested the prototype on herself because she didn't want you or the director, being the leaders after all, to be the test subjects. And she didn't want anyone else to either because there was a huge chance it would kill them. So she injected herself with it and when it didn't kill her, although after a few hours of excruciating pain, it was time to test it. So she had to go out and get bit," Jared shakes his head. "Luckily, it worked and she perfected it so it wouldn't cause any pain. Now we're all vaccinated."

"You should see the sanctuary now. She called up all her sources and there's thousands of us fighting now. And there's still even more coming," Jackson beams. "We have a really good chance at winning this war thanks to your girlfriend."

"Stop calling her that. I don't know her."

Jared sighs and shakes his head. "Well I hope you eventually do. Because when we finally got her back from New York.. when y'all came together.. seeing the 2 of you.. Y'all are meant for each other."

I shake my head. "I'm not meant for anyone."

"That's what you said before. And then you lost her. And you realized you couldn't go on without her." He shakes his head. "You'll see. Either by remembering, or getting to know her all over again. For now, we just have to make sure she's okay." He looks over at her.

The van comes to a stop inside the sanctuary and everyone climbs out. Jackson carries Erika out of the van and I limp to the infirmary.

Jackson places Erika on a gurney and a nurse takes a look at her.

"Someone call neuro.. Something's wrong with her.." The nurse shines a light in Erika's eyes.

"What's wrong with her??" I start to panic and I don't know why because I don't even know her.

"Alec, you know the drill. You can see her after the doctors are done," One of the nurses says as she helps me onto a gurney.

"What are you talking about?"

"He has amnesia," Jared informs the nurse. He disappears as a doctor takes him to get looked at and I'm left alone and lost.

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They removed bits of glass from me and stitched up whatever was needed to be. My ankle's in a cast and I've been given crutches to use. The gash on the back of my head is stitched and wrapped now and I'm all fixed up.

As for my memories, their not fixed at all. The doctors say it could be a coping method for after the crash. Or it could be from my head injury. There's no way to really know for sure so we have to wait it out and see.

A knock on my door disrupts the peaceful silence as Jared steps inside. His arm is in a cast and the gash on his head has been tended too as well. He uses his good arm and pulls a chair up beside the bed. He looks as if he's seen a ghost or as if someone's died.

My heart pounds and I know it has something to do with Erika and I can't explain why I fear what he's going to say. "What happened?"

It takes him a few moments to respond and my anticipation as well as my fear builds up. And then he finally speaks, and his words cause my heart to freeze, and I can't say anything or move.

"She's in a coma.."