Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series

“Are you cracked or something? How could you possibly justify keeping us unaware that was carting around a freakin bomb!” Foxglove scream’s out making me wince from the ringing it causes.

“She’s not a bomb.” Talon’s far calmer voice interjects. His voice is rough as he sits down next to me on the rock. I showed back up totting the same story Archer wanted me to. Archer had my horse so I came back telling them I wrapped my arm and that I passed out during the storm. They were in their own alcove closer to the forest, the moment they saw me they all had different reactions.

Clare catapulted to me and gave me tight hug, the Talon did too, but the others looked upset. They were relieved I could see it on their faces but I knew immediately something was off. That’s when Clare informed me she had to tell them the truth. Apparently, they found my blood and noticed it was black like the forsaken. Now I’m sitting on one side of the alcove while the team stares at me and Clare angrily. Foxglove and Clare have been yelling the whole time.

“I wasn’t authorized to tell you. We have the condition under check!” Clare stands her ground. I let out a small whimper as I move to readjust my arm. The rest of the small cuts on my back and legs aren’t too bad and didn’t need any bandages so it’s mostly my arm that’s killing me.

“How do you feel?” Talon mutter’s out as he looks over me beside me. He was also slightly in the doghouse because he let it loose he knew on accident.

“I just won’t die, will I,” I mutter out quietly to not get more attention from the angry team on me rather than Clare.

I focus back on the fighting, Foxglove stand’s angry with her arms across her chest and a scowl at the other side of what looks like a deep indent into a rock hill, too angry to look at Clare.

Orion sits leaning against the wall behind Foxglove, Harrison leaning against the wall but standing. Enyo stand’s rigid, his hands pushed deep into his front pockets. Clare stands in the middle of the cave staring at her angrily.

“You weren’t in any real danger! So Shut up!” Clare whirls out on Foxglove after the second of silence. The two inchings closer to one another as they start yelling again. That fiery anger and power hit as I scream out.

“Shut Up. Both of you!” I snap at them. My powerful voice was clear and sharp echoing around in the cave. They all go silent and turn to look at me in shock. I swallow quickly gaining as much strength as I can, I pull from the pain in my arm giving my confidence a powerful edge.

“Before you lose your top Foxglove you need to hear the whole story,” I say in a lower voice.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses.” She spits back and I take in a deep breath. I won’t blame her for anything she says, she has the right to be angry; they all do.

“Shut up. Let her explain.” Talon defends me and I thank him with a glance of comfort towards him. Foxglove just folds her arms and stares daggers at me.

“The wounds you guys saw yesterday morning at DimHollow. They aren’t my only ones.” I begin. My right-hand pulls at my collar revealing the vivid scars of the attack.

“When I was a child I was attacked and almost killed by a forsaken in the outer wall.” I let go of my collar and glade for it to be hidden again.

“I was kept in isolation for a week. I got sick, but I didn’t turn... not like everyone else. After a week of bleeding, vomiting, hallucinations, and other horrid symptoms I woke up healthy and with violet eyes. Many of my cells were mutated, I’m not fully human anymore nor mutant. I was tested repeatedly, and I was perfectly fine... in all cases except my blood. My blood’s black like the Forsaken, and even more contagious.” When I say that I can’t help but think of Archer and that girl ruby hiding in the forest watching us right now.

“From then on I was kept with my uncle and spent my days being tested and poked to find a cure. No one found a cure, but they found a new problem....” I hesitate for my last words.

“I’m dying. I survived the mutated virus but it took a toll on my body. The mutated virus has been slowly working through my body, destroying it. The only way to save my life and get a cure is to infect me with the original virus. The mutated virus will attack the new virus and vice versa. My immune system can defend against all sicknesses because of the mutation. It should fight the primordial virus.” I try to explain. This is my third time explaining and it’s still so hard to explain. Yet I can’t help but think about the meds I’ve been taking, do I really need them or is it another lie by the government and possibly Clare?

“You would be the battleground for the two viruses, the incubator for the cure.” Enyo simplifies. I look at him. His face is so stern and It hurts to know he hates me. They all do, there goes having a good last few days or at least the last few days with them. I nod accepting Enyo’s explanation.

“The mission was chosen so fast because aspen has an estimate of a month or two before the mutation kills her,” Clare says sadness seeping into her words. She glances back at me a small smile forming in the corner of her mouth. I lick my lips and swallow with her words. How could someone who seems to care more about me than I had known possibly be poisoning or even in on the plot to massacre so many people?

“I’m weak, That’s why it’s a long-shot mission we are on. I’ve been experiencing side effects. Even if the virus is at ground zero, it’s a slime chance I’ll survive.” I say, but then the thought hits me, could the side effects be from the medicine I’m taking not the virus?

“It’s a suicide mission?” Harrison speaks up for the first time since I’ve gotten back. His face is filled with turmoil. I give a calm nod. I feel so bad, about all the lying but more about the fact they know have to bare the knowledge of the outcome of the mission or what they will think has happened if it works. That’s if I can figure out if they really told me the truth, or if everyone has lied. That’s another problem, how can I know who I can trust? I don’t even know what I will do at ground zero, not really.

“I came on this mission with the knowledge that I won’t be returning,” I say after a few mournful minutes of silence. That is probably the most truthful I have been with anyone at this point.

“Of course, there’s a chance I survive, and I can return to spend my life in a lab to make the cure. ” I say pessimistically.

“Either way, this is really a one-way trip for me. So I’m sorry..... I wish I could have told you all but if you had known the truth would you have ever come? Or even tried to protect me? Don’t blame Clare for keeping you all in the dark. I didn’t want to spend my last days being stared at as a monster, I’ve spent my whole life that way. I asked her to not tell anyone, it’s a burden you shouldn’t have to take.” I spill out. I take the blame for it all because when I’m gone I don’t want them to let Clare die because of their anger or blame themselves. She was doing her job, and a few more days of people hating I can take.

The team doesn’t say anything most of them stare at the ground. Orion stands up and tilts his head.

“How did you know Talon?” He inquires. Talon looks over at me and I give him a nod, we’re already on the train of truth so why not? Talon licks his lips and speaks up.

" While we were split up, we were attacked by a forsaken. It bite Aspen on the arm, I was about to kill her but then she didn’t change. She explained everything.... and I agreed not to tell the team.” Talon says with confidence essentially telling them he’s been lying.

“Why did you agree?” Foxglove asks.

“Aspen is martyring herself for not only us but the future of humankind: with little chance for her dying for nothing. The least I could do is allow her to be treated normally for her last few days.” He explains I have to look out to the rain to avoid tearing up. I didn’t know that’s why he agreed. A martyr? Maybe, or I could either be going into hiding or helping a massacre.... who knows?