The Touch of Infection

Chapter 74: Camp

Marnik and Carisa had only sunk and didn't speak to each other. One of them didn't know what to say, and the other simply wouldn't say anything at all.

Antiope had just arrived and watched the two-act coldly towards each other, "Hello Carisa, it's a pleasure to finally formally meet you."

Carisa smiled and nodded, "I'm sorry it's taken this long."

"Oh don't worry, I've heard of your poor health," Antiope said and eyed her up and down, "So you and Marnik... you both have a romantic relationship, right?"

They looked at each other a seconds and Carisa answered, "Something like that."

Antiope raised a brow in question, "Then what exactly is this?"

"One-sided." Marnik answers, his arms crossed, "Now, you wanted to know something else, mom?"

She smiled slightly seeing the two but quickly became serious again, "Oh yes. I spoke with some other Alaois... Earth is deemed too dangerous. Everything will be wiped out, we already have the DNA of all the animals, it's only a matter of having the planet cleaned. And for that, all current humans with us... will be granted a chance of survival." She looks at Carisa, "Carisa, do you choose to stay on earth, or come with us?"

This was all too quick for Carisa to decide, "I can't just-"

Antiope stopped her, "You don't get it yet. Your planet... has long been dead. You have the chance to choose whether you live or die. The ship however will stay close to the planet, it needs to be deep cleaned. And both Fallyn and Vasin have insisted they'll continue the research for a cure. And as for respect, they have been acknowledged."

"How much time do I have to decide?" She asks.

"End of the month. By the time Marnik and I will leave." She explained and Marnik looked at her, shaking his head.

Carisa subconsciously looked at Marnik, "I... I'll decide before then." Her head fell looking at the ground.

Antiope walked up to her and leaned down, "Please know that the Alaois will care for you. There is nothing to worry about." She stepped back and looked at Marnik, "I've spoken with Amite..." she changed to speak their native tongue, "I understand your care for her."

Marnik's expression changed looking up at her, "So do you-"

"I hope it turns out... I'll see you at another time." She walked to the door, "Hope things turn out."

She walks off and Marnik turns looking at Carisa, slowly moving to sit beside her, "Want to talk about it?"

Carisa looks up to him half-heartedly, "There's nothing to say."

"Of course there is... are you staying?" He asks.

She shrugs, "Would you let me leave? You'd told me you'd let me go see home again..."

Marnik frowned, "I... I can try and take you. But everyone would rather you stay here."

"Forget about it." She said and brought her legs onto the seat, holding them close to her chest, "Everyone says it's dangerous out there but no one brings all the humans here. No you all set up a separate camp for them."

True to her words the camps were a good distance away from HQ. Fallyn wanted them closer but the times were desperate, HQ could become overrun with a high population of humans, all it could bring was more casualties.

"I'll talk with Fallyn, we could finally go on that trip with Neda and Zareb... it'll be fine. Just let me talk with them." Marnik eased and pressed his hands together, "I can't promise it'll work but I'll try my damn hardest."

She nodded and brought up the courage to look at him, "Marnik... do you still love me?"

"Of course I do." He grabs her pulling her into a hug, "You don't know how hard it even is to think I'll have to leave. And you won't come with me."

Staying there for a while he continued to hug her, Carisa turned and looked up at him, her eyes drifting away, "But all I've ever known will die... my home, my kind... the world I'd worked hard on surviving the last two years was for nothing. Because in the end, it didn't matter..."

"Sure it mattered, you made it to me. And I'll make sure that even after the earth is gone, you'll live. You'll get to see how it's slowly reconstructed. You'll get to see what's beyond the stars... you'll go beyond them." He pressed his hands on her cheeks and had her look at him, "You'll get to see what many could only dream off."

While Marnik went on to tell her about things that sounded magical entrancing her in a fantasy. Amite looked at the people in front of her. Keeping her eyes wide open in search of something.

The humans at the camp had been sneaking in guns and weapons. Tried shooting Alaois whenever they got the chance. And would pile up on one if spotted alone. They were testing just how strong the Alaois were, to know where to hit.

She saw a young mother carrying her child, behind her two other kids. She hadn't realized so many human young's could survive in a cruel environment.

"Amite." She heard Ezhno call her, her gaze turning to him, "Fallyn is here. She wants to speak with us."

She nodded and headed right over, another Alaois taking her place, and continue to keep an eye out. Ezhno didn't say much else, walking to the room that and been prepared. Fallyn sitting leisurely while reading through a device.

"Amite, Ezhno. Just who I'd been looking for." She stands and greets the two, "I have something to speak with you... something I need you to tell Marnik."