The Touch of Infection

Chapter 45:Scanning

Half the week had gone by in a fly. But the past two days Marnik looked at Carisa in worry, her skin had gotten so much paler. But they'd taken walks outside so he was unaware of the cause.

"Are you feeling alright, Carisa?" he asked, while she was studying at a desk.

"I feel alright, just some headaches. Is it noticeable?" she asked.

"I'm worried, let's get you checked by a doctor," Marnik recommended.

She sighed shaking her head, "It's just a few headaches Marnik, not a cause for panic."

Marnik wasn't satisfied with the answer, "It'll only take a few minutes, just to make sure alright?"

Seeing no point in going against him she stood up, "Let's go then."

Taking her hand he walked out of the room and through the halls. His eyes would look around and then back onto her. This had been bugging him for two days now, yet he just continued to let it slide.

Knocking on a door, letting his hand be scanned he waiting for the scientists to let him in. When they did they all instantly caught sight of Carisa. Eyes on her, and a few experimental zombies in cages.

Carisa was panicked, it had only been one other time where she saw them on the Alaois grounds, and this time there were more. But they're attention wants on her. Instead, they seemed calm, almost asleep even.

"What can we do for you Marnik?" One of the men walked over, his eyes drifting to Carisa.

"She's been having headaches, I want you to scan her. In case anything's wrong, it's better to detect it now." Marnik informed in his tongue, feeling Carisa squeeze his hand and press against his side.

He wrapped a hand around her following her gaze to the caged, "They can't get out. Stay calm." He said, returning to look at the doctor, "Can you do it now?"

"Of course. Carisa is of more priority than what we're doing at the moment. Although I will have to call Fallyn to let her know. You know how much of a priority Carisa has become..." he trailed off and signaled Marnik to follow along.

It took a nudge to get Carisa to walk but they followed close behind the man. Going through dozens of cages all the zombies looking dazed. Even when she knocked over something they didn't seem to react.

"Here we are." He grabbed a device from a table, "Carisa." He said gaining her attention and switching to English, "My name is Tabib, I'll be running a scan on you. Please stay still a moment."

He signaled Marnik to move away from her, when he did he pressed a button on the device. A light shining around Carisa for a few seconds then going off. Marnik walked back to her side and looked at the man.

"Well, what's it say?" Marnik questioned.

Tabib shook his head, "I'll have to run it again, let me get a new one. We just use these for the infected so it might just be malfunctioning."

He walked off but Marnik's expression turned sour. Not going unnoticed by Carisa, "What's wrong?" She asked.

Marnik shook his head, "He's getting another scanner, this one must be broken."

She nodded but noticed he held back, "Is that all?"

"I'll keep you safe. Carisa..." he leaned down to her level and took a deep breath, "I love you."

Carisa was still looking at him, he said it, her eyes glued on him. Seeing the smirk creep up his lips, "You what?"

He chuckled, "I love you." Marnik moved and pressed his lips against her cheek, whispering, "You have no idea how much."

Carisa's cheeks went completely red, "I-"

"You don't need to say it because I did. Besides, let me have this moment." He hugged her, squeezing her against him, "No matter what, I'll hold your hands to the very end."

Carisa smiled and looked up at him, "Marnik?"

"Yeah." He said.

"I'm glad I met you." Hearing those words from her made him flustered. Turning his face away to hide it while he heard her laugh at him. He wanted this to last forever, he finally told her. What had been bugging him so long.

He'd looked out for her, he'd felt the jealousy creep up his spine every time another always looked in her direction. Even towards Bavyn, he felt uneasy, and that was just a child. But he kept quiet, he didn't want to scare her away, to make her feel trapped.

Now he could tell her all he felt, now he could express his worries and his doubts. To hear her opinion and for her to understand where he was coming from. He'd make her his life partner, and nothing or no one would ever change his mind.

Tabib came walking back and cleared his throat to gain their attention, "Alright, the second try."

Marnik squeezer her hand one more time before stepping aside. The machine glowing again, until it was off. The man took it and connected it to another device while Marnik and Carisa waited. His back turned towards them, but Marnik could tell the man seemed concerned.

"What is it?" Marnik asked, his voice slightly demanding.

"I think the devices are not compatible with normal breathing and living human -" Marnik stopped him from talking.

"Their compatible with every species... so just tell me what it says!" Marnik's voice only got louder, but all because he was concerned.