"Anything?" I ask and Jexton shakes his head. He stands from his squatting position and runs his fingers through his hair getting them stuck in the process. I never thought we'd be headed back to the CDC, but we had to see if there was anything left for us that is useful, and I certainly was not going to be the one to search the now decomposed and rotting bodies that nobody has made an effort to clean up yet.
It smells even worse than it had before, and I tried everything I could to block the odor from entering my nostrils, but nothing worked and I ended up vomiting three times. I'm surprised to find that Jexton has not gagged once, and he was the one that had to dig around and on them. And he didn't cover his face at all.
His tolerance for things like this begins to frighten me a bit, but I ignore it for now.
"Well, we could go inside and see if there's anything." I suggest and Jexton nods. We walk to the front door and I step on something. When I move my foot, I notice the necklace; the chain overlapping itself and broken. I bend down and pick it up carefully, as if it is the most delicate object in the world because it is to me.
As I stare down at the necklace my father gave me, memories weave through my brain.
Jexton and I making our way to the CDC for the first time to solve the world's biggest problem only to find out that it was all a set up. I can remember and even feel Thomas's arms tightening around my mouth and chest. All of the emotions flood out of me as I remember Jexton yanking the necklace off of me and throwing it to the ground.
I bring my hand to my neck and feel the rough scratches that were left from the burn of the necklace harshly rubbing against my skin. It all seemed like slow motion. Watching the tiny vile shatter due to the force and blow of the hard paved cement. I remember looking at Jexton with the most hurt expression and I knew he felt it too. I could see it in his eyes. I can still see it in his eyes.
It confuses me, really. If Jexton hated his father as much as he had told me he did, why did he always go along with what he did? Why did he always obey him? Why did he never try to escape? He had to have felt bad about the things that his father was making him do. I knew he did. I know he does. I can see it in his eyes. I can see it in his broken smile. I can see it in his body language. It's everywhere. Regret is everywhere.
"You comin'?" I jump to my feet and look at the doorway when Jexton's voice slices through my thoughts. "Um, yeah." I say as I smoothly slide the necklace into my pocket.
As I walk up to the door, my heart rate quickens. I have a bad feeling about being here. I don't feel safe here.
"What do you think would be here?" I ask and Jexton shrugs. "To be honest, I've never actually been inside this place before." my jaw falls open and Jexton turns around and smirks. "Really?" I ask and he nods and continues walking.
"Yeah, really. My dad never let me inside. He said it was 'too dangerous,' but I knew he just didn't want me in here because he didn't trust me with all the information about the experimenting and stuff like that." I nod and look around the building. It's huge and has a very wide open lobby when you first enter. It's beautiful and surrounded by windows.
"Can I help you?" a young woman asks and Jexton and I flinch at the sudden presence that is not each other's. The woman is of average height, dark brown hair and matching eyes. Square glasses hang off her nose and she has to push them up every few seconds. Her skin is light and clear and her posture is stiff.
Jexton and I look between one another and struggle to find words to explain what we are doing here. "Jexton? Is that you?" the woman asks and Jexton half smiles. "Uh, Karen. Hey!" he tries to sound excited but I can tells he is either nervous or trying to hide something.
"Karen?" the woman asks as if she is offended that Jexton called her by her first name. Jexton quickly changes the subject by introducing me. "Uh, this is Farrah. She's my friend." he says and Karen nods. "Oh!" she says excitedly and her eyes suddenly widen. She jogs to me, her high heels clicking on the glossy tile floor and she holds her hand out to me. "I thought she looked familiar! This is that German girl everyone's talking about, right?" she asks and confusion washes over me. I awkwardly shake her hand and stare at her with an fake smile.
If I could hate being referred to as 'that German girl' more, I would be on the ground in the fetal position begging for someone to kill me.
"Um, I'm sorry to ask," I stare down at the floor and kick my feet. "but how do you know me?" I ask and Karen smiles. Jexton steps between us and tries to cut off our conversation. "We were just looking for something to clean ourselves off with." he says quickly and Karen's smile morphs into a frown. "Why are you being so rude, Jexton?" she asks and Jexton shakes his head. "We're kinda of in a hurry, so—"
"Where would you two be headed by yourselves? And how did you get so dirty? Where's your father? What happened to your face and neck? Where are your parents?" Karen asks and points to my head. The many questions she asks makes my head pound. Where are our parents? Has she not been outside in the last twenty-four hours?
"You ought'a take her in. She's being hunted and if they find you two together, there's going to be serious consequences."
Jexton shakes his head. "I'm not going to let that happen. Please, just don't say anything." he begs, and Karen stares at him with concern.
"Well, if you're not gonna answer any of my questions, I'll just send you on your way." Karen says and Jexton sighs of relief. "The showers are that way, and I'll make you guys something to eat when you're done." she points to a narrow hallway just to the right of us and I kindly thank the stranger.
As Jexton and I walk away, Karen calls one last time. "Jexton, there's a dresser full of your clothes in room 286. And Farrah, I'm sure you'll fit into something of my daughter's." I nod thank her again and Jexton and I finish walking to the showers. Before we separate, I stop him in the hallway.
"Who is she?" I ask and stare at him with concern. "Karen," he says in a monotone voice. "she works here."
"Obviously. But how does she know you? And more importantly, how does she know me?" Jexton sighs and I shift my weight. His body language tells me that he's about to admit to something and I'm not sure I'm ready for another one of his surprises.
"You know when I told you that the disease, uh, killed my mom?" he asks very slowly and my hand smacks my forehead. I tilt my head up and I begin pacing the room. "Well...that was kind of a lie." he finishes softly—almost too softly, but I hear him, and it takes almost every last muscle for me to not scream at him.
"When do the lies stop, Jexton?" my voice echoes the empty halls.
YOU ARE READING
Us Against The World
Adventure" We stand there for a few more minutes just pointing our guns and staring at each other. My arms begin to hurt, but I know that I cannot let my guard down. I know that eventually I will die; but I don't want it to be like this. If anything, Jexton...
