The Virus

Chapter Sixteen

I spewed a mountain of curse words in my head as Tory’s hand got closer to the curtain. All I could think was he’d catch me and I couldn’t fight him because then he’d know I knew about him being a scumbag. He grabbed hold of the curtain and his phone chimed. Releasing the curtain to check his phone, Tory took a step back. Relieved for the moment, I held my breath. He muttered to himself and replied to the text. Carter was probably waiting. I agreed to go to his apartment so I could be there when Dr. Torrent gave us instructions. I felt lightheaded from holding my breath so long. Something dripped on my hand. I knew it’d be blood but I couldn’t see it in the dark. Wiping my nose, I slowly released the breath I’d been holding.

            The curtain forgotten, Tory leaned against the sink and continued to text. When is he going to leave? my other side inquired impatiently. I was just as ready to get out as my other side was. There was no way for me to tell Carter I was stuck. My phone started ringing and I could see blue light flooding my bedroom. Frickin’ hell. Tory retrieved it and stood in the middle  of the room. I didn’t think he was going to answer. He put it on speaker and just listened.

“Hey, where are you? Come downstairs already.” Tory continued to listen. He nodded to himself as if to say, “So she is here.” “I…I can’t wait anymore,” Carter continued. God, that sounds so wrong, I thought to myself. Shut up already, will you? Tory shot a glare at the phone and opened his mouth to say something but thought better. “Are you listening? You answered so I know you’re there. Luna? Sweetheart? I know you hate it when I call you that. Come beat me up for it.” Tory continued to listen with a look of anger on his face. Carter sighed. “I’m waiting…ok? Just hurry up.”

            Carter hung up and Tory remained staring at the phone.

“Sweetheart?” he repeated. He scoffed. “Can’t wait anymore?” The look on his face said, “I hope you explode, you bastard.”

            I almost laughed. This was pretty hilarious. He really thought Carter was talking about that. It’s not the time for your incessant laugh problem, my other half chimed in. Scowling, I peeked around the curtain once more. Tory tossed my phone down.

***

Carter’s P.O.V

            After waiting what seemed like forever, I called my dad. I explained everything and he gave me instructions. Hanging up, I left my apartment and took the stairs up to Luna’s. I stopped short, watching someone leave her apartment. The person disappeared down the hall and into the elevator. I ran to Luna’s room and found her climbing out of the bathtub.

“Who was that and why were you in the bathtub?”

“I was hiding.”

She didn’t answer my first question. “From?” I prompted.

“Tory.” She picked up her bag and retrieved and envelope. “I’d been saving for emergencies so I guess this counts.” She handed it to me. “I haven’t really counted it. It’s somewhere around five-hundred.”

I nodded. “Let’s get out of here.”

            I let her drive, seeing as she wasn’t afraid to run people over. I glanced nervously at the speedometer. Slow down a little… It’s not that I was scared…ok I was scared. Who wouldn’t be? She was going eighty-five miles per hour where the speed limit was sixty.

“If we get pulled over, we’re busted,” I said.

“I know.”

            She continued down the highway at the same speed for a while before slowing to the actual speed limit. I could see the airport up ahead. Luna was flashing again. There was no way we’d go unnoticed if she was flashing like a firefly. We pulled into the airport parking lot. Tossing her my sweatshirt, I told her to put it on. Pulling the hood over her head, she stuck her hands in her pockets and came around to the other side of the car. I took our bags and we entered the airport trying to seem at least somewhat normal. At the counter, I paid for our tickets and we only had a half hour wait.