“What about Skip?” Gabe calls out.

Skip shakes his head. “Leave me here,” he says. “I know what I got to do, I’d rather none of you be here to see it.”

I feel sick on the inside. It’s hard for me to see Paxton act so cold, but I feel just as cold. I don’t want Skip to die, but to me, he’s dead already. Once bitten, you’re gone. There is nothing to be done.

Gabe does his best to console Skip, but Skip actually shoves him away and screams for us to leave. With our heads down, Gabe and I get into the back of the SUV as Mendez drives and Paxton sits up front. I try not to look at Skip as we drive away. I try not to think about what Paxton is going to say to me when we get back - the punishment that I’m going to face. It’s a couple of miles down the road before I hear the noise. It’s too far away for anyone else in the silent car to hear, but I can hear it as clearly as if I am standing right next to him.

Skip pulls the trigger, ending his life before the virus does it to him. It’s the same story I’ve seen too many times. Do I think this world will ever heal?

No.

Healing comes in death alone.

Chapter 10 - Remi

What Paxton calls a holding cell is more like a room with a large, thick door and a padlock on the other side of it to keep in prisoners. Gabe leads me to the room without saying a word. I don’t blame him for not talking. I don’t say anything either. There is nothing to say.

At least I’m not cuffed. The almost empty, windowless room is lit by harsh, white incandescent lights. An ominous single chair waits for me at the other end. I walk to it without having to be told. Gabe stands at the door, his eyes hanging on me.

“You don’t have to say anything, Gabe.”

He lets out a sigh. “Why did you bring the gun?”

“Same reason you didn’t bring enough ammunition,” I come back. “Poor judgement.”

His eyes are fixed on me firmly now, but I’m the one to turn away.

“I don’t want you to take the fall,” I say. “There’s no reason for both of us to be punished.”

“I never asked you to do it,” he says.

My head jerks to him and I can feel my neck and cheeks getting hot. He had basically asked me to break into Headquarters for him. “You didn’t exactly protest my offer when I made it.”

“I was afraid this was going to happen,” he says. “I just didn’t think you’d be dumb enough to bring the gun.”