The Virus

Chapter 18

The next day it felt hard to keep my eyes open. I rubbed them constantly and tumbled down, not looking where I was going, my eyes were dazed and my heart was slow. Lorcan most likely noticed the strange way I was acting, but ignored me.

"Come on guys." Kaliver said sternly as we finished breakfast. "We have a long journey, it's still a long while to the Corr..."

The three of us were filled with a toxic silence until Lorcan mumbled something.

"How do you know where this is anyway?" His tone seemed to add to the terrible poison that was fuming through us.

"Would you rather call me an experiment your whole life and help your girlfriend? Or just sit here wondering what happens next, before we all die of the virus."

"Happy ending," I whispered.

"First of all, she's not my girlfriend, second, I don't just wait around for someone else to-"

"Then let's go." Kaliver jumped up off his seat and started pacing towards the exit of the Casino hotel.

"Bye! Safe travels!" Masei wished as we walked out.

"Guys...can we just pretend last night never happened?" Can I pretend I didn't get that letter? I asked myself.

"Last night?" Lorcan spun around and glared at me, snarling. "Last night? Can we just forget about last night? When something like that happens, humans can't forget it." He turned back around to face Kaliver.

"Why are you so upset anyways, it's not like I want her, you two kissed, it's disgusting sure, but I wouldn't want that!" Kaliver yelled, earning us a couple of strange glances from strangers. He shook his head and looked at the paved sidewalk. "Come on, we're losing light." We walked faster, even though it was really early, 7IM.

We walked until it felt like my legs were stale. "Guys," I sighed harshly. "Before we go to the forest..." Which was up ahead. "Can I take a break?"

"No." Kaliver demanded. "We don't have time for that, if you want to talk to the Corr before nightfall we have to keep moving, come on."

"Well, Lorcan...do you want a break?" I practically begged.

Lorcan didn't say anything.

Kaliver leaned on his hip, arms crossed over his chest. "Well..."

"No." He finally said, bitter fuming in his voice. "Let's keep going if we want to be at the Corr by sunset." He followed Kaliver, and I followed him, into the dark woods.

Hours passed as the sun slowly passed over our heads. Midday. Seven hours to get to the Corr and have light. Seven hours...

Seven hours until I can tell this creature what it has done and why I have come to 'talk.' Seven hours until I could lay down my anger for the Corr and tell her to stop. Seven hours until I could be stranded, I could die...Seven hours until my defining moment strikes.

Seven hours until I succeed.

'Nother chapter!