INKWELL

Chapter Fifteen

December 9, 2081 – December 23, 2081

Caleb had to be quarantined and I was a hopeless mess. Seeing the trail of ink coming out of his mouth reminded me of so many people. I remembered my parents groaning in pain in front of me until they turned to an inky puddle, I remembered everyone I had seen die in our village, I remembered our Chief, I remembered Tobi and I remembered Angela. The ink was taking away everyone I knew and loved. Caleb was infected and we still didn't have a cure. I couldn't stop the tears that flowed from my eyes as I wondered if Wunmi and Mrs. Abimbola would also be taken away by the ink.

I became a frequent visitor at the lab, trying to find out if they were close to finding the cure to the inky infection, though I avoided Wunmi. I hadn't seen her or Mrs. Abimbola in days. The thought that the ink was taking away those I loved scared me and led me to the decision of staying away from them. It was hard. Though there were a lot of people around me, Wunmi and Mrs. Abimbola were the ones who truly understood me. Mrs. Abimbola knew how to talk sense into me and Wunmi knew how to be there for me. I couldn't meet Caleb, who also understood me, because he was locked away in the quarantine facility and I wasn't allowed to see him.

As days passed, I got more worked up. The cure hadn't been found, there was no one to talk to and day by day I had meetings and issues to look into. Grace, who had been Angela's assistant and knew almost everything about the workings of Inkwell, was also infected so it made things more difficult for me. I was stressed, frustrated and upset and I tried to hold myself from lashing out on those around me. I couldn't satisfy those who had placed bet on how long I'll last as the head of Inkwell.

One particular day, I bumped into Wunmi on my way to the lab.

"Hey, Ivy," she said, stepping in front of me as I tried to walk past.

There was no way to escape her so I forced a smile. "Hi." I looked around, looking for an excuse to get away from her. Then I noticed the long faces on the scientists around us. I frowned as I noticed the sadness in their eyes. A few glanced our way and quickened their steps. "What's going on?

Wunmi sighed and turned to look at them as they walked past us. "Another infected died today."

My heart jumped. "Caleb?"

"No."

It was wrong but I felt relieved. I knew it wasn't Wunmi's mum because she didn't look too distraught.

"I should get going." I took a step to walk past her but she held out her hand to stop me.

"Why are you avoiding me, Ivy?"

I frowned, trying to look like I had no idea what she was talking about. "What do you mean?"

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about. You haven't talked to me in days and Mrs. Abimbola says you haven't visited her and when she comes to see you, your assistant says you aren't around."

I bit my bottom lips, looking everywhere but at her. "I've just been busy..."

"Oh I see. You're president of Inkwell now so you're too busy for us..."

I frowned, shaking my head before she finished talking. "It's not that." I sighed. "The ink has taken away so many people from me. My parents, Tobi, Angela. Then Grace, Caleb and your mum got infected. I just can't bear thinking of it happening to you or Mrs. Abimbola."

Wunmi placed a hand on her hip and raised her brows. "So you think staying away from us will somehow keep us safe?"

I grimaced and nodded.

She face palmed. "That's stupid. If we are going to get infected and die, isn't it wise to spend the remaining time with us. You want us to die knowing that you were avoiding us?"

I scowled. "Stop talking about death, Wunmi." I remembered telling Caleb something similar when we had first spoken, about it being better to have people around you when you die, but I wasn't ready to watch those I love suffer.

She sighed. "Mrs. Abimbola had been so worried about you. She keeps calling to ask, and my dad too—even though he's blinded by grief right now—noticed your absence." She paused and stared at me. "I miss you, Ivy."

I felt my chest warm up as I fell into her open arms. "I miss you too." A minute later, I pulled away.

"Wait!" She raised a finger. "There's one more thing. I think you should reduce your visits here."

I frowned. "Why?"

"I know you mean well but you are putting too much pressure on the doctors and scientists which isn't helping them to find a cure. It only causes them to be flustered."

I took a deep breath and exhaled. All I wanted was for them to find a cure. That hadn't been possible on earth because everywhere was infected. There had been no way we could do anything there but now we were in clean surroundings, I hoped they would find a solution.

I knew there was a possibility they wouldn't. While on earth, it was not all diseases we had that had a cure but I sincerely hoped that we would find a cure for the ink infection. We hadn't been able to save others but we could save ourselves especially if the infection started spreading to everyone. I didn't want us to spent Christmas or new year battling the infection.

I wanted to blame Angela for being the cause of all these but I couldn't. I understood why she had made that decision. I was just worried that the death we tried to escape from on earth was going to trap us here in Inkwell.

The thought that we could never escape the ink was something that plagued me. I desperately hoped it wasn't true. If we couldn't find a cure for the ink, if we couldn't stop the infection from spreading to everyone, then mankind was doomed. We would cease to exist.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hmm... Apparently, Ivy was ignoring her best friend, Wunmi, and Mrs. Abimbola. Do you think her fear—that people she loves get hurt—is true?

I wonder if they'll find the cure. Will they spend Christmas with it? That would be so sad.

If they don't find a cure, it seems that would be the end of humans on the planet. 😢😢😢

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©Jesutofunmi Fekoya2019