Jacqueline Druga - Healing

He pulled his revolver and quietly made his way to the door. Back against the unit, he peeked in. A man was in the standalone cooler. After a long blink and knowing that it had to be Ace, Mick rolled shoulder first with a step into the freezer and shut the door. “Hold it.”

The gray haired man peered over his shoulder with the snidest of looks. “Son, I don’t think you have a clue what I’m holding.”

“Oh, I know what you’re holding,” Mick said, eyeing the pouch.

Ace shut the lid to the cooler. “Step aside.”

“I don’t think you realize I’m holding the gun. Hand me the pouch.” Mick held a steady aim.

Ace held out the pouch, but with a grin, retracted it and showed a vial. “Step aside, big man.” He inched around Mick toward the main freezer door.

“Or what?” Mick laughed. “You’re gonna pop that cap? I have news for you. You broke a vial at Fort Detrick. I got the virus, so expose me, go on, I’m already a dead man. But you aren’t getting away with that. On my life I promise you, you will not leave this room with the virus.”

Ace made his way to the door. “Go on, shoot me. This vial drops and you won’t get it in time before it breaks. That means, you open this door for more than three seconds, you stand a chance of exposing everyone around this building. The second they step in they’re dead. Just like you.”

“You drop that vial, you expose your men and yourself.”

“I got the antidote, I’m not an asshole. And listen to it up there.” Ace raised his head to the gunfire. “I’m pretty sure that’s not my men doing all the shooting. They’ll be more men out there.” He put the strap of the pouch over his shoulder.

“You honestly think I’m letting you walk out the door?”

“Actually, I think you are. I’m holding the weapon. My men, your men. You don’t want them exposed. Do you?” He reached behind him for the door. “Three seconds. I’m using them now.” His exposed hand opened and the vial dropped, smashing to the floor.

There was zero hesitation and the split second that the vial broke, Mick fired a single shot, directly to his head and Ace flew back against the door, dropping before it and right by the virus.

Quickly, Mick stepped to Ace, grabbed the pouch, used his foot and rolled Ace’s body over the vial. He opened the pouch and looked inside. Four metal tubes and five bottles which Mick could only figure were the antidote doses.

Even though he had what he came for, the walk in freezer was quickly becoming a viral bomb.

Mick looked at the door, then looked at the incendiary grenades on his belt.

Lars and Rose had made it almost to the destination, though they had to move slowly. Rose could barely walk. Lola had run to them, but Lars urged her to keep going, to leave. They’d get there.

He crossed the street with Rose, and before he could register a man pointing a gun at them, a bullet sailed into the man and he dropped. Lars looked for the shooter, and a soldier flew around the corner. He aimed, lowered his weapon and used it to point in a direction. “Almost free, keep going. Watch your backs,” he told them.

After just one more step into the street, an explosion rang out. It wasn’t loud, it didn’t rock the ground, but it stood out amongst the firing.

Lars knew. He turned to look and another explosion occurred. This one sent flames shooting upward and not far from them.

The direction of the fire told him all he needed to know. Rose nearly collapsed and with a heart wrenching sob, her knees buckled and it took everything Lars had to hold her up. She rolled into his embrace and Lars lowered his head with saddened eyes and whispered, “Mick.”

THREE DAYS LATER

October 22 nd

“They’re back!” Jake screamed into the schoolhouse church.”They’re coming up the main roadway!”

Chris dropped his pencil and even Mary stood.

“Hold up everyone.” She walked slowly and focused from around the desk. Chris heard her squeak out a moaning scream and he saw Doc walking in alone.

“Fai,” she rushed by Chris and the kids to Doc. “Oh, God. I thought when you didn’t call that—”

“No, we’re good. We’re good,” he said. “We were successful. It took two days. We have to go back, ” his head lowered. “We had losses. We did.”

“I’m sorry,” Mary said.

Chris wasn’t waiting for permission. After hearing Doc, he flew from the church, out the door and down the steps.

The convoy of cars had pulled on to the street and he saw the first vehicle. Faster than he believed he had ever run in his life, he raced to the cars.

He saw Jonah Briggs step from the first vehicle and walk around the front. He spotted Chris and they made eye contact.

Where was Mick? Chris looked about, he didn’t see him. He had to be in the back. He hurried to Briggs.

“Jonah!” Chris ran up to him.

“Chris,” Jonah said softly. “Where is your brother?”

“Oh, he’s in the playroom. I didn’t even think about getting him.”

“Let’s… let’s go find your brother.”

Chris felt Briggs’ hand on his back and he froze. “Where’s Mick, Jonah?”

“Chris…”

Chris looked around. “He’s here, right? Mick’s somewhere. Is he lagging behind? What?”

“Chris.” Briggs cleared his throat. “Listen to me. Let’s find Tigger.” He reached for Chris.

“No.” Chris pushed his hand away. His body trembled and with desperation he looked around. Somewhere, in all the men, Mick had to be there. “Where is Mick? Where’s my father?”

Briggs stared at him.

“No.” Chris shook his head, his words shook, and his insides cramped up in pain. “No. Not Mick, please, not Mick.” Eyes filling with tears, Chris eked out the words. “Please, not Mick. Please.” Sobbing, he stepped into Briggs. “Not Mick.”

Briggs wrapped his arms around Chris. “We need to talk, Chris.”

Chris lifted his head. He could barely breathe. “Where is he, Jonah? Where’s Mick?”

Briggs pulled him back into the embrace.

October 24 th

Cleveland, OH

“Oh, stop it. It’s not that bad.” Lars spoke with irritation, wiping the sweat from his brow. “You think this is a picnic for me?” he walked over to the bed. “Every time I step in this room, I’m reminded of the tropics. Oh, by the way, no trace at all of MHS in Erie. So that was a positive.” He reached down to touch the arm.

Mick cringed in pain. “Every time you touch me, I swear to God, you do it on purpose ‘cause you know it hurts.”

Lars smiled.

Mick was only covered by a sheet. His body was red and a rash covered his chest and arms. He groaned again. “I thought I should be dead by now.”

“You should have been. Apparently you are not,” Lars said. “Temperature is still high. Fluid in the lungs, but the rash hasn’t begun to bubble or pus, so that’s a good sign. It’s definitely slowed down. Who would have known that half-brained theory of mine about baking you would have worked? Certainly not me.”

“This is the worst I have ever felt in my life.”

“And you are by far the worst patient I have ever had.”

“Why didn’t you let me die?”

“Same reason you didn’t blow yourself up. You didn’t want to die, and I didn’t want you to die. Although, baking myself every time I come in here makes me moody.”

“You’re not the one that’s sick.”

Lars sighed. “No, I am not. The antidote worked on me. And I am developing antibodies, Mick, so hang tight.” He tapped Mick’s arm.