Tainted

Chapter 7: His Priority

“Natalie.” I mutter while slowly crawling towards her.

The room is still spinning from the lack of blood in my system but I can tell that I’m getting better by the minute. Once reaching Natalie, I gently cradle her in my arms. Her cold skin and damp eyes press against me.

Natalie grips onto the sleeve of my uniform. “Cooper. You know he regrets it, right?”

Her chin slowly moves up and her watery blue eyes meet with mine. My fingers lightly wipe away her tears. I begin to rock Natalie back and forth, as if she was a new born child.

“He’s really sorry, and he didn’t mean to-” I cut Natalie off by simply speaking over her words of sorrow. 

“Listen to me, and listen closely. I’m actually happy that your brother picked you over me.” I explain. “They were going to take me whether your brother had a say in it or not.”

Despite my words, I continued to hear Natalie’s soft sobs. Her sobs weren’t loud, almost as if she was trying her best to conceal them from me. How could I blame her? She’s been through a lot these past days. 

My lips touch upon Natalie’s pale head. “There, There.” I whispered while clearing her face of her hair’s wild blonde strands.

“Avery?” She mumbles after burying her head in my chest. 

“Yes?” I quickly respond. 

“Please don’t be mad at Cooper, if anything get mad at me. I always get in the way.” She mutters.

“It’s been a long day, just go to sleep. We’ll talk about it in the morning.” I comfort.

She followed my orders and gently slid her eyes shut.

The iron doors creaked open; I stared at Natalie hoping it wouldn’t bother her slumber. Edward’s shadow stood in the hallway’s bright lights. The thumps of this boots got louder the closer he came towards me.

“How you holdin’ up?” Edward quietly asks, taking note that Natalie is trying to sleep.

“I’m getting better every minute.” I softy reply.

“I brought you water, and a note from Matt.” Edward takes the time to look back at the door, as if he was worried someone would walk in. “Tomorrow, you and I are going to take a detour, I wanna talk about something important.”

I lean in so that my mouth is hovering over his shoulder, next to his ear. “Or is it someone important? Maybe her name starts with a T...”

Leaning back, I notice the smile painted on his face.

“Remember to stay warm, it’s going to be a cold night.” Edward warns before walking out the door.

The door closes leaving me back in the darkness. Small amounts of light manage to reach me from the iron bars in the door. A water bottle and a piece of paper lay next to me on the cold floor.

The water moisten my hands as I move it closer and closer to my mouth. My lips desperately reach for the tip of the bottle. Liquid smoothly runs down my throat, refreshing me.

“Gosh, I needed that.” I instantly say while placing the bottle down on the ground, half full.

My eyes slowly linger to the note on the ground. Opening up, I remember what it was like to hold paper in my hands. It’s been one year since the outbreak; since hell sprung up on Earth.

Subject 347,

I roll my eyes.

Your blood test were normal, the only thing that slipped my mind was that I completely forgot to give you your vaccinations. I will send for you in the next couple days to come get them. Stay safe.