The Virus

Chapter 19

The sun was behind us now, casting shadows of...not too long figures in front of us, figures like monsters.

There was about three hours now.

I walked slowly, looking at the ground. I could see Kaliver telling Lorcan something, whispering something in his ear. I wished Lorcan would come back to me...Then I wouldn't have to keep the deadly fear of the letter inside me. It devoured me like the Enemy said it would. I walked on, still terrified.

I kept my head low to spy on little bugs that sprinted through my feet and crunching sticks. I could see a foot stop out of the corner of my eye but I didn't realize it had completely stopped until I bumped into Lorcan.

I looked at him shocked, and he didn't return the glance. "I thought you were supposed to be up talking with Kaliver," I noted.

"I thought you were supposed to be rehearsing what to do and say when we get there, but that isn't happening..." Lorcan pointed out.

"Look, I'm sorry about what happened last night, and I really do like you!"
"Like...it's not as good as the lie you told me last night."

"I really do love you!" I yelled.

Kaliver didn't mind, but spooked animals made bushes rustle and birds flew away.

"Can't you see that? Or are you blind like everyone else. You're blinded when you think you're the only one who's sad, you think being that way will help you get friends, have people take pity on you, but that won't solve anything! You think that since you're so sad people will feel bad for you, that you're important, but what you really are, is just a color." I hadn't realized what I said, the panic of finding the Corr terrifying me, taking my mind, holding it captive, so my mouth was in control. "Remember in the 2000's? When there were street lights for cars? Well I have to remind you of something Lorcan. No one listens to the yellow light, it only slows them down if they do."

Lorcan sighed. "I just wanted to say sorry," A tear slipped down his cheek, leaving it stained with water. "But if that's how you really feel about me then..." He trailed of, his voice sounding sincere and sad.

"Wait Lorcan!" I grabbed his arm before he could retreat back to Kaliver. He turned around, not looking me in the eye. "I'm sorry too, it's...I'm just scared. I got a...a letter..." I pulled my pack in front of me, Lorcan tilted his head and looked at me, confusion in his eyes. "And..." I pulled it out and held it, not unfolding it yet. "It was a letter from my brother, but then it...it turned into something else." I mumbled.

Slowly unfolding the letter, I breathed in fresh worry. "It..." I opened it completely. Cambers letter was right there, not the 'Enemy's letter, just Camber...it was Cambers letter. Something happened... "W-what?" I asked myself, looking, terrifyingly confused at the letter. "It, it was like, written in blood and..."

"You could have been seeing things Elsie."

I wanted to admit it was true, I wanted to believe I was half asleep, but I knew it was there, the letter from the Enemy had faded into my brothers messy small handwriting. "Yeah, you're right, it was late."

"Too late, now come on, we'll be behind the experiment. And I always have to win against experiments Elsie," Lorcan laughed. He was back to normal, for now.

--

5AN. Sun is setting, trees are merging into a dirt field. The ground in front of us crumbling and cracking slightly, my heart beating out to my flesh. It's as if I had the Leven HYZ, as if my heart had been thumping outside of my body. That's what it felt like.