“This is, by far, the worst part about being a Guide.”
Without another word she shoves the repulsive chunk of tissue into her mouth, chewing quickly, and just enough to make swallowing possible. She washes it down with an abundance of water, emptying half of the full canteen, the bottle that The Family graciously allowed her to refill at the farm.
“Want to inspect?” KP asks, looking to Rosaline.
Rosaline and Zee approach the seated woman. She holds her mouth open showing that she did swallow the diseased meat.
“You didn’t even gag.” Zee states, not able to hide her disgust.
“I’ve done this many times before.”
“This doesn’t make you sick at all?”
“If I eat too much, or mix too much blood at a time, or even separate occasions too close together, then yes, it can make me sick. It’s not like the disease though, it’s vomiting and shitting. Very, very unpleasant vomiting and shitting.”
“Sounds like a good time.” Rosaline says.
“Yeah, too much fun for sure.” KP replies, with a snort.
The ventured three settle in to wait out the duration it would take the disease to overrun a person. The first thirty minutes pass at a slog, until Zee engages in small talk with KP, which after another thirty minutes leads into a multitude of questions about Oasis. KP explains the history of the city, going into more detail about how the founders reacted directly following the outbreak. She explains their governing system as best as she can, though Zee and Rosaline find many of their rules and operations confusing. She talks of the Guides, their schools, their hospitals, their accountability system, and the jobs and tasks the various citizens undertake.
“There’s a lot more to it, this is all fairly basic, and honestly it’s better if you see it, and if people more knowledgeable about specifics explain it to you.”
Zee’s optimism holds steadfast as the glow from the moon dimly lights the Earth. Her want for this to be true, her need for life to be more, for a more certain future, overtakes her doubt. Cynicism is not in her, and though she dreams of waves on the beach carrying laughter, of comforting walks at night, of lovers in fields gazing at stars, of embraces under waterfalls, of paramours swept up in longing, of the greatest desire to be passion, and not the absence of fear, she must force herself to be realistic, to accept the all but certain inevitable truth, that this woman will turn before they leave this place.
Every second that passes Rosaline’s heart pounds faster, her stomach fills and aches, her muscles tense, her bones throb, her hand ticks, her foot bounces. A sense of unwanted worry wells, then gives way to disbelief, and then hope. A dangerous, dangerous hope.
Another hour passes, then two, then three, and KP remains her informative, outgoing self. She doesn’t vomit, she doesn’t shit, she doesn’t shake, her body does not become feverish, her pupils do not change, she doesn’t convulse, she doesn’t lose consciousness, her humanity does not falter, and the light in her eyes does not fade. She is immune.
◆◆◆
The flames crackle, rising then withering, then rising again. The Family sit in their circle around the fire pit, KP by herself on the porch. Rosaline, Zee, and KP returned only minutes earlier. Mikey fidgets, not fully grasping the conversation at hand. Hawaii, Rad, Sweetie, and Outlaw share similar somber and bewildered expressions. Rosaline’s face is close to the fire, leaned in to speak softly.
“She ate a chunk of infected flesh from an Adapted. We watched her cut it out and eat it, and-and nothing happened. She never got sick, she never even showed one sign of anything wrong. She just-just stayed the same. It was the same Adapted that I killed. I’m positive of it.”
“It’s true, we were both there. We stayed for hours. She didn’t turn, she hasn’t turned. Ros and Rad both know it only takes about two hours, three at most, and it’s been about twelve since she ate it. She’s not going to turn. She is immune.”
Rad leans back, his hands on top of his head.
“This is fuckin’ crazy.”
“So, what does this mean then? Are we going with her? Are we gonna go to Oasis?” Hawaii interjects.
“I don’t know. I-” -Rosaline heaves, a puff of hot air rushing forth- “I thought about this a lot on the way back.”
“And?”
“And, I can’t shake the thought of what if she’s telling the truth. She isn’t lying about being immune. What if there really is a city full of people out there? People that are all immune and trying to bring a stable way of life back? What if this place is real, and we can all be immune too. I, just-”
She sighs again, her lips pulling to one side. Sweetie interlocks her arm with her partners, her hand rubbing her companion’s knee. Their eyes meet, the Latina gently nods, understanding resting in her gaze.
“Mikey deserves to live without fear. It’s a real chance for him to be a kid, to grow up in a better environment than I did. To not have to face the things I did. To not have to become the person I did.”
Her eyes wander to Sweetie.
“I don’t think I can pass up on that. It could be a chance for a real life for him, for me and you, for us to be safe and together, to-to be a real family.”
Sweetie leans in and kisses her lovers cheek.
“I’m not leavin’ Ros, if she goes Imma go with her. I’ve never had this, never felt this, for someone. I can’t give that up. Oasis could be the start of something new for us, for all of us, but for me and Ros to have a real life together. To grow old together.”
“I’m not staying here without my sister.” Outlaw says.
“You wasn’t
