The Touch of Infection

Chapter 52: Priorities

Marnik watched Amil walk out the door, catching one final glimpse of him as the door closed. Carisa grabbed his hand, shaking, "We need to go." She hadn't understood most of their conversation, but what she did, she knew they couldn't stand here all day.

Marnik looked down at her, pressing his hand on her cheek, "We're leaving... we're leaving Bavyn safe in a room and we're leaving."

"He's a kid Marnik, you can't just leave him in a room. He could get hurt." She felt Marnik grab her shoulders and shake her slightly.

"He's not coming. Because we're not staying here anymore. His father's here, he'll be fine. But we need to get you somewhere safe, away from here, away from everyone." He began walking hastily, looking around for anyone walking around like them. Getting to their room he quickly scanned his hands and brought Carisa and Bavyn in. He walked to their room and started looking for something.

Carisa put Bavyn down and walked after him, "What are you looking for?"

"Keys." He said shortly, throwing things aside and quickly going through cabinets.

She took his hand and got him to look at her, "Why did Amil go there? Marnik tells me everything that's going on."

"Things got out of control Carisa... and we just can't stay here." He leaned towards her to whisper, "Amil walked to his death, and if we don't leave they'll make you take that walk after him."

She frowned seeing as Bavyn stood at the door, "And then what? We leave, we survive amongst the zombies as long as we can." Her eyes fell to their intertwined hands, "I'm dying anyway... but I'll go with whatever you choose."

Marnik shook his head, pulling at his hair, painstakingly thinking of a solution, "Amite is out there, Amite could help somehow. She should be fine, let's go and meet her as we had agreed. Just you and me."

Carisa's eyes fell on Bavyn, "Who will take care of him? We don't know the true gravity of the situation, if he stays here alone he could die."

"He's not a human kid Carisa!" Marnik said rather loudly, sending her stepping back, "He'll be fine, we can send a message giving his location, they'll come to get him."

She didn't look him in the eyes walking past him, "Unless someone can come to pick him up for sure, we're not leaving him alone. Human kid or not, it's just a kid."

Marnik growled and stomped past her to a communicator. Pressing buttons and speaking in his tongue, "Neda, I'd you're available I need you to come to get Bavyn from my room. Please answer as soon as you can." He repeated the same words for a few other people Carisa didn't have much knowledge off.

When he was done he looked at Carisa straight in the eyes, "More than enough people are aware he is here. We can leave Carisa."

"But they never said they'd come. Marnik I've already lived an outbreak... I know people might not come." She was taken back into her memories saying this, tears welling up in her eyes.

"We aren't like you." Marnik's mouth clenched, "We are not human, we are alaois. And we work together, he will be fine."

"You don't seem to work together... I've never seen you work with anyone, you're always on your own, so how can I believe that someone will come?"

"Because I'm telling you they will." He huffed deeply and stared into her eyes, his face getting almost transparent blue markings, "Don't you trust me?"

"I do-"

"Then we need to leave." He couldn't let her continue to throw excuses. Even if she had a point he needed to leave HQ with her. Amil's face was clear in his mind. He needed to keep Carisa from being the one to walk down the path of her demis.

She started at him, "I won't leave him alone."

Marnik pulled his hair back, his hands closing into fists. The marks across his face becoming cleared, into a bright blue. Bavyn was hiding his face behind Carisa when he noticed. Marnik grabbed Bavyn pushing Carisa away, he walked to another of the doors, closing it behind him when he set Bavyn down.

Carisa slammed her hand on the door, "Leave him alone Marnik. Please!"

Marnik looked down at Bavyn speaking their native tongue, "Someones going to come to get you in a while. You need to stay in here, and not leave on your own for any reason. If someone bangs at the door you'll ignore it, only someone who speaks to you first is will you open the door."

Bavyn looked frighten, frowning as he listened. Marnik was about to open the door when he looked at Bavyn one last time. Grabbing Carisa's hand as he opened the door. Slamming the door behind him and pressing his hand over Carisa's mouth, "He'll be fine, he knows what to do."

She glared bitting down on his hand, "He's two years old."

He pulled his hand back while wrapping another around her waist, "He's obedient, now if you want to take anything take it now or I'll drag you out without whatever said things were."

She crossed her arms looking behind him to the door, "You can't leave him in there, he's alone, we don't even know if anyone received your message."

"Someone had to receive it, and they'll probably be better than me, and come get him."

"Why can't you be better then?!" She slammed her fist onto his chest.

"Because I have to look after you, you are before anyone else. Because I don't care what I've been taught all my life... the rules on this planet are different... I don't want to lose you." Marnik sighed, "I have priorities, and right now it's getting you out from where you can die. Just imagine we're back at the start, you're surrounded by those things, and... we just need to run."