This is going to be a tough night.
I close my eyes and think about a way to get us out of this basement. I didn’t come all the way from the other side of the country to die in this dark dungeon.
Chapter 41
“You are gonna be okay…” I say to Kathleen and caress her hair. She is lying on the floor with her head on my knee. She has been having difficulty breathing. I can feel how much each breath hurts her.
We are still in the same corner of the cell while the darkness of night turns to the first morning light. Most of the others are still sleeping. Some of them continuously cough while staring hopelessly at the walls. Across from us, a teenager is crying quietly. What we are in right now is more like a room for prisoners who are held while waiting for the execution of their death sentences. At least a quarter of the people are not showing any sign of life anymore.
I couldn’t sleep much while worrying about Kathleen. She started showing symptoms around midnight. Without any food, water, or fresh air, she got worse every hour.
“You… should… stay away,” she whispers. She can’t even move her lips or lift her eyelids while whispering. I hope they bring something for us to eat so her immune system can have some kind of fuel to fight against the virus.
I hope Crypto comes to rescue soon. We established trust between us during our ride together. I know that he will at least attempt to help us if he hears that we are here. He is my only hope.
“Please…” Kathleen whispers again. Even while fighting with the deadly virus, she still thinks about others.
“Shhh…” I say. I know that this is the time to tell her what I did.
“Just rest… Don’t worry about me. I won’t get sick,” I say. She doesn’t respond but I know she is listening.
“I need to tell you something…” I say. She tries to move her head to look at me, but she is too weak to change her position.
“What…” she whispers.
“I… injected one of the vaccines at the hotel.”
She moves her lips, but I don’t hear anything.
“I wanted to try it on myself first to make sure it’s not dangerous. I wanted to tell you in the morning but… things got chaotic quickly,” I say. We left the hotel in a hurry. Then the bikers’ attack made me completely forget about the vaccine.
She moves her lips again. She squeezes my hand stronger. “I… understand…” She says while gasping.
I take a deep breath. I want to scream. I want to attack the first militia I see. I want to make the company and Republic pay for what they did to us, but I have to fight with my emotions and carefully plan what I do next. Emotional reactions can only make the situation worse.
I hear the basement door opening. I hope they are bringing good news. Maybe they have decided to issue a warning and let us go or a lawyer shows up to defend our rights. I hope they at least bring some food and water.
Three militias walk down with two people in front of them. They pass by our cell and stop in front of a cell on the other side of the corridor. I hear the two new people yelling to militias and resisting them from entering the cell.
“Wait for me here…” I tell Kathleen. This is our chance to do something. Maybe it’s our last chance.
I slowly put her head above her arm on the floor. I walk to the front of the cell while trying to avoid stepping on the arms and legs of people we spent the night with very close to each other. One of them looks up to me as if trying to figure out my intention.
The three militias walk back from the other side of the corridor. I have a better look at them as they get closer. They are different from the ones I saw yesterday. I hoped to see the same militia I told Crypto about, but he is not among them.
Two of them walk in front. The third one is following them a few steps behind.
“Hey,” I yell to the militia walking behind. He looks at me. I wait for him to get closer.
“I had a vaccine shot, and it works! I know where a stash of bottles is. Take me to your boss,” I say.
He smirks. “Really?” he says sardonically. I show the bump and needle bruise on my wrist.
“How do you think I am still healthy even though I spent the entire night right next to her.” I gesture to Kathleen.
The smile on his face replaces with confusion in his eyes as he glances from Kathleen to me.
“Wait here.” He walks fast to catch the other two militias. They talk while looking at me and Kathleen. Then they walk back to our cell.
“Where did you find it?” another militia asks. I am not sure if they are personally interested in this information or they want to report it to their superior.
“In Salt Lake City. There was this museum explosion. It was a mess. I stole those bottles in the chaos… Then I buried them before the protest,” I say.
“To where?” the same militia asks as he leans forward and tilts his head down. He is staring at my eyes while waiting for the million-dollar worth of information.
“I’ll only say it to your boss,” I say.
He leans back. They share a look with each other. The one who I first spoke with signaled another member to unlock the cell.
“She has to come with me.” I point to Kathleen.
“No,” he says.
“I am not going anywhere then.” I walk back to the corner. I hear him sigh behind me.
One of them walks to the basement door while the other two militias keep waiting
