"This is exhausting."
I sat lazily in a chair as I removed my mask and gloves. My immune system was strong enough that I was unlikely to be infected by this flu, I still had to take precautions.
Looking at the sick patients, I could tell immediately that more than half of them would be dead within a couple of days, drowning in their own blood. The initial phase consisted of weakness, sweating, fatigue, coughing, and high fever. After that, patients would start bleeding from their eyes, ears, and noses until eventually blood poured from every orifice. Massive hemorrhaging and internal bleeding would follow, causing them to suffocate.
Almost all of them were severely dehydrated and needed IV fluids, along with medication to reduce their fevers.
Out of everyone here, only one person seemed to be doing well: Hershel. Maybe he had a stronger immune system, or maybe the homemade medicine was actually working. Either way, he looked far better than the others.
I placed the infected blood sample into my bag and looked over at Hershel. He was lying on the bed, lost in thought.
"Sorry I can't do much for those people," I said.
Hershel came out of his thoughts and looked at me.
"Kid, you've done more than anyone else for them. Don't belittle yourself. You're a very good person. Not many people would risk their own lives to save others and ask for nothing in return. You're the kind of human being this world desperately needs now more than ever."
He smiled and pulled a map from his pocket.
"This disease doesn't have a cure. It's something completely new, and creating one is impossible right now. So the best way we can deal with this is by finding antiviral drugs."
I stepped closer.
"And do you know where we can get those?"
Hershel slowly sat up and pointed at a location on the map.
"There's a veterinary college I used to work with. I marked it on the map. Go there. There should be antiviral drugs, oxygen tanks, IV supplies, blood bags… everything we need. If we can get all of that, we might be able to save them. I just hope it'll work."
His breathing grew ragged, and he struggled for a moment before lying back down.
"For the fever," he continued, "find some elderberries. There should be plenty in the woods. We can use them to help lower it."
I took the map and frowned. One problem remained.
"What do elderberries look like?"
With effort, he finally answered.
"Beth. She knows. Ask her."
Leaving him to rest, I went to look for Beth.
At last, I had found a treatment for the disease. Hershel didn't seem convinced it would work, but I knew better.
Soon, this whole act could come to an end.
All that remained was getting Rick Grimes to tell me where my father was.
I hope he arrives before sunset.
Maggie and the others had been gone for a while to retrieve the TNT. Hopefully, nothing happened to them. Though even if it did, I didn't care.
As I walked through the prison, I found the priest doing what priests do best: sharing the gospel.
I looked for Beth among the people sitting on the floor around him, listening intently.
Sometimes I forget he's an actual priest.
One thing I have to admire about him is his ability to bring people together. Even now, children and adults alike were gathered around him, listening carefully, completely captivated by his words.
"Oh, Lord, would you like to share some gospel with us?" the priest asked.
He waited for my answer, admiration clearly visible in his eyes, while everyone else looked confused and awkward.
Every pair of eyes turned toward me.
The bastard had put me on the spot. I still had to find Beth.
I had no desire to speak.
"Just love your neighbor....but not literally."
After saying that, I walked away, leaving behind a group of bewildered listeners.
The priest, however, seemed deep in thought, as if I had revealed something profound.
Even if I told him it was meaningless nonsense, he probably wouldn't believe it.
At this point, I had stopped caring what he thought. I just hoped it wouldn't come back to bite me like last time.
After walking through the hallway for a moment, I stopped and looked toward one of the doors.
"You should come out. It's not nice to stalk people."
This woman had been following me ever since I came out of the quarantine area. I could confidently tell she was a woman by her footsteps, her breathing, and the small noises she made while trying to hide herself. She was good at it—unfortunately for her, not good enough.
If I focused hard enough, I could even hear her heartbeat.
"You monster! You killed my baby!"
The woman launched herself at me with a knife, aiming for my stomach. I sidestepped, dodging the stab, and tripped her with my leg. She hit the ground hard, and I quickly pinned her down, taking the knife from her.
"You're the mother of that infected boy, aren't you, Mary?" I asked.
She turned her head and glared at me.
"My son was not infected! You killed him, you monster!"
She was clearly in denial. Her son had been dead long before I finished him off. How could she not realize that?
I could smash her head against the floor and end it here. I didn't want this hassle, and she had tried to kill me. According to my own rules, that gave me every right.
But it would be messy to explain afterward, and I had no interest in dealing with everyone's reactions.
So what should I do with her?
I let her go, and she slowly got back to her feet. Her clothes were a mess, her hair disheveled. Her eyes were red from crying, her skin pale, her lips cracked. She clearly hadn't eaten or drunk anything in a while.
It was hard to believe she was the same woman I had seen yesterday.
From the look of it, she really had loved her son enough to deny reality itself.
Weak.
Still, I had to bring her back.
"We both know I didn't kill your son. He was already dead… Mary."
She shook her head.
"No! No! No! You're lying! He was calling for me! He wanted a hug! He wanted his mother, and you killed him! I will never forgive you!"
Reason was gone.
"Your son wasn't asking for a hug. He wanted to tear you apart."
She covered her ears and shook violently.
"No! You're lying! I've known my son for twelve years! I gave birth to him! He would never hurt me!"
She was beyond saving.
Her teary eyes met mine, and suddenly I felt a sharp ache in my chest. I looked away.
Taking a breath, I said softly, "If you truly believe I killed your son, then tell me… what punishment do I deserve?"
Mary stared at me, trembling. Then she spoke.
"My husband died trying to save our daughters… and I watched them die. After that, I promised myself I would protect Lucas. He was all I had left."
Her voice cracked.
"He was my last family… and then you took him from me."
Tears streamed down her face.
"So what punishment do you deserve? I want you to feel what I felt."
Her voice dropped.
"I want you dead."
I stayed quiet and held out the knife. "Kill me if that's what I deserve. I'll accept it."
Her hand trembled as she took it. She held it with both hands, frozen for a moment.
I put my hands behind my back and stood still.
She lunged.
At the last second, she collapsed at my feet, sobbing. The knife clattered to the floor, echoing down the hallway with her cries.
She came back to reality.
I didn't care if she stabbed me. I was wearing a bulletproof vest and a cut-resistant shirt, so even if she tried, she wouldn't have gotten through.
"I'm sorry… forgive me," she cried, clutching my legs and soaking my pants.
I stood there and let her cry it out. After nearly half an hour, she fell silent—she had passed out from exhaustion.
I sighed, picked her up, and carried her to her bed. I asked someone to bring her water and food, then continued on my way.