i get a heavy feeling in my chest as i'm the first to walk down the steps. "there's light?" carl asks and i nod as the basement is lit up.
the weight in my chest gets heavier as i take view of the unconscious person strapped to the table in the center of the basement, that now with better view, looks more like a lab.
carl stops at the sight of the person and i walk over to her, checking her pulse. i start to get flashbacks of d.c. and shake my head, trying to keep my movement unnoticed by carl. "she's... not breathing," i let out.
"she hasn't turned?" he asks and i start to walk around, counting things while i tune out carl as he talks on.
one light that's still on. four more lights that aren't on. on the right side of the room there's a desk with a shelf overhead. on the left, a table with a telescope and blood samples in a line across the table with a huge metal locker in the back left corner. i look at each blood sample. six of them plus one in the telescope.
i can still remember the feel of the needle as i look back at the one by the dead girl's arm. i make my way over to the right side of the room and look up at the top shelf. journals, science books and more research items. then going in a straight line, fifteen bottles. the kind witches could use for potions. they appear to be vaccination attempts and chemicals.
i look down at the desk to find an open journal and begin to read. "how is it even possible she didn't turn?" carl asks.
"she wasn't sick," i mutter.
"what?" he asks.
i look up at him and keep my finger in the book. "well...even when you aren't bit if you die, you turn because it's in your system. the infection." i explain and look back down at the book. "but it wasn't in hers. she wasn't infected. walkers didn't even pay her any mind. yes, she could make a noise and they'd turn her way but they'd move right past her. not being infected is like covering yourself in walker guts, like a mask."
"is that even possible?" carl asks and i scratch the back of my neck, knowing all too well that it is actually possible.
my eyes jump to the coffee ring on the next page as i start to trace it with my finger. my eyes go wide as i feel it's still damp. fresh. then i remember the walkers outside the door. i quickly look up to carl and make my way over to him, grabbing his hand. "we... need, need uh, to leave ri—right now," i stumble over my words as much as i stumble getting up the stairs frantically. i can feel that same feeling i felt in d.c. like i was being watched.
"wait... wh—"
"don't say anything. let's go." i say and lock the door before walking out the house with carl's wrist still in my hand. i look to make sure there's no sign of anyone and quicken my pace.
"jade," carl says but i just move faster.
once we're a good distance away i slow down, still looking around. "are you okay?" carl asks.
"we are to never talk about anything that just happened ever again, got that?" i ask.
"agreed." he says. "but—"
"no," i cut him off. "it's getting dark. let's just go back so i can make sure your dad's okay."
~
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