The Touch of Infection

Chapter 73: One step closer

Carisa laid in bed, curled up and covering herself in the blanket. A heavy sigh leaving her lips when hearing the door open. The bed slumping down in the side Marnik sat on, "How are you feeling?"

"The same as ten minutes ago." She told him, and moved the blanket from her face, "Did something happen?"

"No..." he laid next to her, "Well... Neda said she was heading over."

"Ugh." Carisa couldn't bring it in her to just get out of bed, "Just let her come in the room."

Marnik shook his head, "No, it's invasive to do that."

Carisa snorted, "It's just a room Marnik, not like we'll stay here forever." She turned towards him, "Speaking off, sorry for canceling with your mom. How did she take it?"

Marnik looked away recalling the scowl on Antiope's face, "She... understood."

"I'm glad," Carisa said, "Do you know where you'll be when the month is up?"

He nodded, "A ship far away, it's neighboring to moms. She insists on keeping an eye on me. But it's getting tiring... she seems to think I'm a child again." He seemed to trail away, looking up at the ceiling, "I didn't even tell you but... Antiope isn't my real mom. She just took pity on me when I was all alone, and took me in."

Carisa raised a brow, "But aren't Alaois a tight species, you all look out for each other right?"

"Of course we do." He said in a heartbeat.

"Then how were you all alone?"

Marnik took a deep breath, "Not all Alaois were in ships, somewhere in planets, but a certain raise... they've always been our rival. They go by the name Asier. They are what you'd call shapeshifters." Marnik turned towards her, "They demolished our homes and ships... in the end, there was only a hand full of us in the area. And that's when Antiope took me in." He smiled, "Now I'm here, with you."

Carisa frowned, he'd gone through something similar to her, they've both lost everything. Both been through hell on their own... a part of her felt it was fair he'd lost everything just like she did. But then she felt wrong, "If you'd never lost anyone, you'd never have met me."

Marnik's smile fell, "What are you getting at?"

"If I'd never lost anyone I wouldn't have met you either."Carisa's eyes drifted off, "I'm sure you hate the Asier's... just like I hate you at times."

Marnik crawled closer, "I stopped hating them years ago. Their laws changed, their way of working did, I can't blame a whole kind for the mistakes of a few."

Carisa felt like the heat was bubbling up in her, angering her, sitting up on the bed, "The mistakes of a few right... Marnik... can you tell me who were the ones in charge of calling everyone in my home?"

He went quiet, he knew well the ones in charge were Amite and Ezhno... but they were only following what they were told. The commanders said to kill and they would, the commanders said shoot and they'd shoot. It was the way things always worked, "Everyone had instructions to follow. Everyone is at fault... including me."

She clenched her fists and glared at him, "But you weren't near the place! You weren't the Alaois I saw while we drove away from the town! Tell me who it was Marnik..." she said, "Or I'll ask Neda... she'd tell me in a heartbeat." Carisa leaned towards him, "When I think about it... she's been more honest to me than many."

Marnik stood up and pressed his hands up to his head, "I've been as honest as I can..."

"Then what are you still hiding?" She questioned and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Nothing, I'm not hiding anything! I've told you everything," he pressed his hands up to his hair, pulling at it, "Want to know things I haven't told you fine. I killed your kind, it was fun for me. I enjoyed seeing the slow and painful deaths..." he leaned on the wall in defeat, "But I don't want to tell you who destroyed your town... it's not my secret to tell."

Carisa pushed herself off the bed, "Then who's secret is it. I can confront them... I want to know."

Marnik grabbed her shoulders, "Here's my advice, forget about it." His eyes trailed off her, "So understand... I'm just trying to look out for you."

Carisa didn't move and watched him slowly stand up straight, "..." she turned and sat on the bed with her back turned on him.

His steps trailed to the door, "I think Neda is almost here... I'll... I'll tell her to come in the room."

The door closing after him Carisa threw herself back on the bed. She'd thought that going through the same pains, he'd tell her anything she'd ask. So she wondered just who was Marnik protecting, by not saying a thing. She knew she was being petty, but couldn't help it, she had a right to know.

Grabbing the sheets under her and clutching onto them. The shots she had been taken were slowly losing their effect. They'd help her feel better, and slow the effects of the disease. But they feared she wouldn't make it past more than a few months.

Still, however, Fallyn had put everything she could into researching every single detail and getting the cure. The door opened and knocked her out of her thoughts.

Neda smiled wide seeing her, "I have great news." She went over standing beside the bed, "The project is moving perfectly, most of the humans are working with us. We've already made a cure for the first week of exposure to the infection." Her grin was wide as she grabbed Carisa's hand, "Soon, you'll be alright."

Carisa smiled at the news, "That's wonderful... Neda..."

She cocked her head to the side, "What is it?"

"Can I ask you a favor?" Carisa asked, and instantly Neda nodded, "Can you find out about a certain town... and which Alaois was in charge of destroying it."

"Oh sure, that's easy. But all towns were destroyed in groups of two or more. The cities, however, were taken down by one soldier, with bombs to release the infection." Neda explained, "Some of the towns were destroyed by bigger groups given the population, but which town are you wondering about?"