Annihilation - Book Three

Chapter 10

How do you deal with being told the person you care for most in this world is going to die?

 "Adriam, you're a doctor. Help him," I tell the French man, who had never liked me enough to sugarcoat any sort of news. I wish to plead with him, implore or command him, to fix the man I love. He gives me a look that says he'd do anything for that ability; for once, Adriam lacks sarcasm.

 Adriam is feeling the same emotions I am; it's unfair. The universe has taken so much from us, and we are still losing. With a mixture of resentment for his foolishness and remorse for the fact that anyone could have been bitten, we were on the losing side of the gamble. 

"This is the shitty part about a virus, Nic. There's nothing we can do." Adriam's eyes are red and puffy, his nose sniffly. Victor looks as he leans his back against one of the wooden shelves, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the bite mark on the Lycan's leg. Verando resides on the exam table as Adriam takes his vitals and checks over his leg; typical of the Alpha male, he has insisted that Tonic go first as if somehow that might make a difference in the outcome.

The young lycan is relatively unharmed save for his bite mark and a few scrapes. There had been talks about chopping the limb off; if I thought it would help, I would have done it myself, but it hadn't seemed to have saved any others. 

"He looks fine." Tomas has been surprisingly on our side, and his sudden flip doesn't match the story that he's a bounty hunter for the people trying to end our society. "Maybe he's not infected?"

 I watch my warlord; I can see he's not okay. He's in pain and exhausted, but I could see how someone who knew him less intimately could pass over the subtle cues of his discomfort. I reach out to touch his cheek, but the glance he gives me indicates that he wishes me not to touch him in the presence of a stranger. Closing my fingers, I watch Tomas as I bring my hand back to my chest, crossing my arms to keep them to myself.

"This is not how I was supposed to find you, asshole," I whisper, my voice hard, my teeth gritted impossibly tight.

"Not as fast as I used to be, it would appear.." Verando exhales. "So what's next? We're dying, right?" He asks, his intense eyes locking on Adriam, who puts on his professional face. Even if they were connected, Verando was still his patient. 

Adriam takes a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest. "Probably. I haven't seen one bitten who doesn't have it. We can make you as comfortable as we can, your wolf is strong, might take longer than the common lycan. Five days? A week. Hell, I don't know... there's also the option I give everyone who has been bitten."

Taking out the gun from his belt, he places it on the shelf with a hard swallow. "Do you wish to be euthanized?"

"Would it make it easier for everyone if I was?" Verando asks bluntly.

 I quickly shove the gun away, horrified. "Absolutely not. When the time comes, I'll put you down myself, but not a second sooner."

Victor stands and puts his arms around Adriam from behind as he holds back another sob. "Not your fault. You know Randy, reckless. Makes bad decisions." He jokes the only way Victor can.

"We can play it by day. This is here.. if you decide you'd rather take that option."

Verando turns his attention to Tomas. "Hey you. Tell them what you told me." 

 I need more time. My mind recalls the healing spell in the book. Would it be enough? Could it be enough? Could I possibly save them? I wished to touch and get close to him, but this intruder prevented that. 

Tomas scoffs, running a hand through his tangle of hair, taking in the scene. "I canna lie; I do fancy ya, lycan. Ya were a hell of a lot of fun; not seen a man react like that in battle in some time." He thinks it over, taking in our small group. "If you trade with me your time, I will tell them what I know."