Resilient

Chapter One

I felt numb all over, like my soul had been ripped from my body. We had listened to the tragedy play out on our walkie-talkie as the Selectees took over the underground, hidden compound over three days ago. We listened all the way up until the very last moment that Thurgood’s radio stopped working, hearing the place being torn to shreds as they worked furiously to find the secret room that we survivors were hiding in. Finally, the place was set on fire to force us out, but the fire or smoke never penetrated the thick, concrete wall between them and us.

Everything happened just feet from us, on the other side of the hidden door that saved us from the fire and the destruction. Still, we had yet to step out of the undisclosed chamber that had saved all of us from death or certain capture. Three days we sat there, hardly eating, hardly sleeping, and intermittently crying from the loss of our friends, still clinging to the hope we would not be found. Laura had to listen to her husband die and we knew nothing of what happened to Michael, Clarissa and the others that had been outside during the initial attack.

All we knew was that Gannon had betrayed us and that he had teamed up with Jacob Stevenson, the man who had tried to kill me multiple times back at the compound in Texarkana. Michael had saved him from a horrible death afterwards because that was the kind of man he was. He was honorable, courageous and had the biggest heart out of any one person that I had ever known in this chaotic world in which I was thrown into. He was there for me, even when I was too depressed to be there for myself. There were countless times and he and the others had risked their lives for my safety. And for that I could hardly be awake without sobbing for him and my friends.

It had been three days and I barely moved from the spot in which I sank. The feelings that all of this had been my fault crept back into my mind and I had hardly spoken to any one of the five other survivors in the room. I know they had lost their friends who had made the ultimate sacrifice for me, but I still couldn’t bring myself out of my melancholy state. Whatever I do, wherever I went, it only brought misery and pain into people’s lives. The cure inside of me was probably never coming out and I couldn’t save the world from a virus that was created by people with a lot more power than I had. They could stomach death and chalk it up to statistics, where I couldn’t.

I sat there motionless, hearing the others talk but not listening to a word they said. Their words meant nothing anymore. Their plans were none of my concern.

Wellstone came over and sat next to me on the floor, his knees creaking when he did.

Jennifer, he said calmly scratching his thickening, gray beard, you know eventually we’re going to have to leave this place. There’s no way of telling if they’re waiting for us outside, but we only have a few more days before our provisions run out. He gave a sigh and continued. We’ll gather the supplies we have and then find a vehicle to go for some help.

Help, I muttered with tears in my eyes.

Jennifer, we can get through this. Montgomery said there are other places out there like this one. Hopefully, we can contact them and get you in a safe location again.

A safe location? All that means is that people will eventually have to die, like Texarkana, Little Rock and here. All for me. All because I have a cure I never asked for.

Jennifer—

I’m not doing this anymore, Wellstone. I said I would, but I can’t keep causing all of this devastation. They’re eventually going to get me and get the cure. You’ll all be turned into their army. They’re going to win because that’s just what happens. The strong take what they want and the weak suffer. The world’s not about what’s right anymore. It’s about whom holds power over everyone else. That’s what the human experience is, right?

No, that’s not what it is at all.

Then tell me, Doc, what is it?

He sighed again, looking at the other survivors on the opposite side of the room.

The human experience is love, Jennifer. It’s being compassionate, it’s putting other people’s needs in front of yours. Michael loves you. So does Clarissa. We all do. And you love us enough to struggle through this.

They loved me, Doc, I corrected. They gave up everything for something I can’t do. They died because they believed that I’m something that I’m not.

Wellstone held my hand as I fought back tears.

They believed in a strong, young woman that has had the weight of the world placed upon her shoulders. They believed in you because they want a future where people have a choice, where they can make decisions for themselves and where a government will once again exist for the people, not the powerful and the corrupt. That’s what they believed in and that’s what I still believe in. He looked at me and smiled before I laid my head against his shoulder. There was an old saying back in Texas about going out with your boots on. Michael and Clarissa did that. Now, whether win or lose, we need to go out there with our boots on.

He kissed me on top of the head before standing up.

And if it costs you your life?

I’ve lived one hell of a life, but the most amazing things I’ve seen has been in these last few months with you. And you still amaze me every day.

He walked away, back to the group sitting on the opposite side of the room.

If we go back to Little Rock, maybe they won’t search there, I heard Dr. Swanson say as I walked up to them. At least we know they could take us in before finding another place to send us. Don’t you think?

There are closer places, said Shannon as she cleaned her rifle. If we can make it down to Chattanooga and get lost up on Lookout Mountain. We had contact with them not too long ago. They have a couple hundred people is what we heard. Hopefully, they could provide enough support on that mountain to deflect an attack. They’ve made a home down in…in…

Ruby Falls, Montgomery said.

Yeah, if we can just get down there—

No, I said. These people aren’t in Little Rock or Chattanooga or anywhere else. They’re up in Kentucky. They’re at Mammoth Cave. That’s what Trevor told me back at that testing facility.

And you believed him?

He owed me answers. He was telling me the truth because he was arrogant enough to think he had total control over me. He never thought Michael would find me, but he did, and now I’m going to find them and stop all of this.

Shannon almost laughed.

So, you’re planning to just take them on all by yourself? Just knock on their front door and start World War III? Not to mention Michael’s probably—

Jennifer, how is that going to solve anything? Besides, aren’t we trying to keep you out of their hands? Montgomery questioned, cutting Shannon off.

It’s not going to work at all, not until we find the cure. If they just take it from us, there’s no stopping them, but if we can offer leverage, then maybe we can stop them from using the Selectee virus on everyone and things will go back to normal.

Normal for many of us was being conscripted and forced to serve, Montgomery said. That normal is just as bad as being under a virus. People still don’t have any rights. We just do what they tell us to do. At least as a Selectee we wouldn’t know about all the horrible things they make us do for their resources.

And even if they agreed, how are we supposed to find a cure, Jennifer? Shannon noted. We’ve got nothing here, but a lousy emergency kit and I doubt you can find the cure with bandages and iodine. We have to get you to an actual place that has—

Shannon, you know they don’t exist anymore, Wellstone said, coolly, not what we need anyway. I’m sure the Selectees have all the medical devices and the testing facilities, but we don’t, not living like this. And even if they do, they held Jennifer for a long time and were unable to come up with a cure.

So you want to go to Mammoth Cave, too?

Wellstone shrugged.

I’m wanting to do what’s best for Jennifer. That’s why I’m here and offering the little assistance I can give. If she thinks the only way to save lives is to confront these people head on, then I’m going with her.

Shannon shook her head.

I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Dr. Swanson, can you tell these two they are going to get us all killed with their little plan? I mean, this is suicide and giving the enemy the cure all in one.

Dr. Swanson looked at me and smiled.

You know, during World War II, it wasn’t a virus but a government that took over everything in Europe from the Atlantic Ocean to Moscow. If people stood up against it, they were killed. But sometimes dying fighting for your principles is better than living under a ruthless oligarchy, and eventually when you get enough people who can only think about their freedom and are willing to do something about it, then dictatorships fall, and swastikas burn. The resistance has to come from within. So I’m in with Jennifer. And may we look back on this day and tell our future generations that this was the time we took a stand.

I looked at Shannon who scowled at me.

You’re going to get us all killed for nothing, just like you did to Thurgood and all of our friends out there.

My heart sank when I heard her say his name while blaming me for his death. I looked over at Thurgood’s widow, Laura, who sat not too far away listening to the argument. Her eyes, glistening with new tears met mine and I couldn’t help but walk over and kneel down next to her, taking her by the hand.

I haven’t apologized to you, I said. I haven’t said I’m sorry. Your husband was a wonderful man and he died…he died because of me and I’m sorry for that.

Laura looked down at me and slowly raised a hand to my cheek, wiping away a tear as she also began to cry.

My sweet Jennifer, I don’t blame you for his death. He died knowing he did everything to protect you and me. I strongly believe that he is in a better place now. The Good Book tells me so. He’s up there looking down on us, trying to help us find the right decision we need to make. It was the right decision we accepted you here just like it was the right decision that they all fought to keep you safe. I do miss my Thurgood, but he’s with me, and if he believed that God sent you here for our protection, then I will walk unfazed through hell itself to protect you and to stop these people.

I smiled up at her and kissed her hand before turning back to Shannon and Montgomery.

So are you two in?

Montgomery led the way as we pushed the door open. I immediately smelled the charred ruins of what used to be the underground compound and pulled the collar of my shirt over my nose but was still unable to keep out the fumes. We turned our flashlights on as we entered the dark chamber, seeing what used to be our home. Moving them from side to side as we passed through the debris, the light fell upon a charred arm stretching towards the sky off in the corner. Dr. Swanson grabbed my arm as I tried to fight back the feeling that had overwhelmed me, a feeling that I had had since Trevor made me believe that I had caused all of this. I saw the horrible pictures of the brutal acts of humanity he showed to me all over again. Just like those, this one would be etched into my mind.

Taking a deep breath and looking at Dr. Swanson who smiled up at me, I knew that Trevor was wrong, and it was slowly becoming clear how wrong he was. These people were dead because of him, not me. They had died to save me, sure, but they had done so because they knew that the cure shouldn’t be used for anyone’s gain, but to save all the people infected. That’s what the real struggle was, and it was a struggle that we had to see through to the very end.

I’m okay, I said.

Are you sure? she asked from behind her mask.

Let’s just get out of here.

I took her by the hand to help her through, pushing some debris out of the way to clear a path to the doorway. Again, Montgomery opened the door first and was soon followed into the front foyer by Shannon.

Laura, are you coming? asked Wellstone. I saw her looking into the darkness. This had been her home for six years and now she was leaving it behind along with her husband. Slowly, she raised her fingers to her mask and waved her hand, saying goodbye. It was a solemn gesture to Thurgood and I couldn’t help but smile out of respect for a love that had lasted through so much.

Arriving in the front room, we noticed Montgomery and Shannon staring at a box with a small, glass center. A small, written note on the front said, Push Play, but I hesitated before I did.

We don’t have to watch whatever it is. We can just go, Wellstone said.

Stevenson wants me to see this and I want to see it, too, I answered.

Why?

So I can hate him more and I won’t hesitate if ever I get a chance to kill him.

Reaching forward, I pushed the play button. At first, nothing happened, but soon a hologram was cast up into the air in front of us. It was Stevenson sitting at the far end of the meeting room table. The American flag was on the wall behind him, but this time instead of having stars, the blue field had a circle with a lightning bolt. He also wore the same pin on his lapel.

Jennifer, he started, do you remember that this is how we first met, you on one end of the table and I at the other? I didn’t believe in what you were at the time, but even I can be wrong. Jennifer, I would like to say that you’ve impressed me all the way through this ordeal. No matter what, you’ve always somehow persevered and I can easily say that you are by far the most resilient person I have ever met. But resiliency has its price. Lots of people have died because of you and more will in the future because of your greedy decisions. It seems you can only think about yourself. Jennifer, I’m telling you this because it can all come to an end. All this death and destruction ends when you want it to. You would hate to see more friends die, wouldn’t you?

The hologram slowly panned off to the right and not too far from Stevenson was Michael and Clarissa. Both were kneeling on the floor by three Selectees who held them by their arms. Their hands were tied behind their backs and their mouths covered with tape. Michael had blood oozing from his head, but he stared into the camera with determined, green eyes. Captured or not, they had not given up on me.

These two and your other friends are still alive as you can tell. Once you decide to come and begin testing for the cure, they will be free and unharmed, I will promise you that. The people in charge already know that you can cure the infected with your breath and now it’s only a matter of time before we can finally end these last six, horrible years. I will see you soon, Jennifer. Be careful out there.

Stevenson smiled as the video froze, leaving his hologram face right in front of me. Shannon looked back at me though her mask.

They’re alive, I muttered.

Yeah, but only because they want you, Wellstone said, looking at me concerned.

So they know we’re coming already, Shannon said, shaking her head. There’s no way we can go through with this.

Quickly, I reached for my revolver and shot the screen in the box, the hologram disappearing as glass and sparks flew in all directions around me. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, but no one said a word.

We’re going and we’re bringing hell with us.

Chapter Two

We emerged from the fallout shelter in the early morning and at first, I believed that we were surrounded by fog rising off of the river. Soon, I realized that the ground had been turned to gray ash and that the fog was actually smoke from the many smoldering embers still left upon the ground. Trees had been torched just like everything in the fallout shelter. Flames still spotted the ground from the fire that had raged after they had defeated the compound.

Why did they do this? There’s no reasoning or justification…it’s simply carnage, Dr. Swanson said.

It’s a sign. They couldn’t find us, so they wanted to show their power and what they can actually do when we came out, just like they did with the buses in Texarkana. They use fear to win. They’re just showing what they are capable of.

I took her by the hand as we stepped through the soot, our shoes being covered quickly as the gray dust flew up around us with each step. As we cleared the smoke, we could see a tree still standing in the distance. Quickly, I paused as my mouth sank open.

Thurgood! screamed Laura as she ran forward, but Montgomery and Wellstone grabbed her as she wailed seeing her husband’s lifeless body mounted upon the tree.

Shannon began to approach carefully, her rifle raised up to her shoulder.

No! I said over Laura’s cries. That’s what they want you to do. Leave him.

If torching this place was a sign then posting him like this is one, too. Besides, I’m not just leaving him like that.

Shannon, don’t! Let’s just go. But I knew she wouldn’t listen.

Moving toward the body, she gazed over him carefully and finally turned back to us. See, there’s nothing to be scared of, she announced. Stepping back towards us, we immediately heard a beeping noise. Her eyes caught mine.

Shannon!

The blast cut through the air and Shannon disappeared behind a blast of smoke and fire. Laura and Dr. Swanson cried out as we huddled together in disbelief, knowing that could have been any one of us. There was nothing to say or do. It was a vicious trap that none of us were expecting and I only hoped that the remainder of the group was willing to go forward with me, carrying their shattered nerves and heavy hearts.

Slowly, we walked up the path, away from the destruction and passed the abandoned museum. In the distance, there was a large truck with another hologram box sitting beside it. Again, Stevenson presented himself accordingly.

Jennifer, I hope that wasn’t you that fell into our little trap back there. It wasn’t my idea and of course it wasn’t for you. I assumed you knew better than to take such a risk. It’s such a shame for whoever did. Be that as it may, I’m tired of playing these games, so no more tricks on my end. I have graciously left this vehicle here for you along with a map to our destination, which I figure you already know. We won’t be hunting you unless you decide to run again or stop longer than we think you need. Mammoth Cave is just a few hours north. We are waiting for you, Jennifer. It’s time to serve your country.

Dr. Swanson looked at me.

You can’t trust him after all that’s happened.

We don’t have a choice. I grabbed the door handle to the truck, but she stopped me.

Do you have a plan? More than just going there.

I said we have to find the cure. That’s what I’m doing.

How, Jennifer? Wellstone asked with the others listening.

I’m going to start where Trevor left off.

I stared out the window as we made our way down the road with Montgomery behind the wheel, but I could feel Dr. Swanson’s eyes upon me. When I looked over at her she grabbed my hand and smiled. Laura sat on the other side of her, lost in her melancholy state.

Please tell me something, Dr. Swanson.

Of course.

Tell me what we’re doing is all worth it. Tell me what we had before was something better than what I had seen in that testing facility. Tell me the human race deserves another chance, because right now I’m on the fence.

I could see Dr. Swanson smile behind her mask.

Jennifer, the human race is what you make of it. You can always be controlled by the fear and the hatred and far too many people either give in to it or become a part of it. Or you can stand up for what’s right and fight the best battle you can, win or lose. Conflicts will always arise. Sadly, it’s just our nature, but being able to look at yourself and be proud of who you are because you were on the right side of history, well, there’s nothing better we can ask for in our life.

I smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

Do you actually think this is going to work? asked Wellstone from the front seat.

I can only hope. This is what Trevor was trying on me so it’s where I’m going to start. I’ll just have to see what happens.

And you passed the first seven tests? asked Montgomery as he drove.

I’m the only one who did, so what’s the closest city with Deracines?

Clarksville is up the road a bit. We made a run to it a time or two in the beginning. It never had any survivors that we could find, but it had plenty of infected.

Then we’ll go there and find a SA8 to run the test with.

You make it sound easy, Montgomery continued, "like we just have to find a crazy person that is trying to devour us