“Okay. I promise. I will hear him out. But that’s it. I don’t owe him anything. His next breath is not promised to him.” I have no idea where all this is leading, but I resolve to listen to what this stranger has to say. Unconvinced, Bruno and Cole keep a loose grip on my arms.
Roméo stands and begins to pace the room. He sighs heavily and then begins to open up. “Look, I understand this is personal for you, but I’m here to do my job, and it’s not about saving Sutton.” I grumble in response. “Let me explain,” he says. “The United Powers has been monitoring activity in the Hole ever since Sutton first made contact. Apparently, years back, Wilson, under the direction of the Commander, had a strain of virus made that was undetectable and lethal. He’s been working on it for some time now, trying to come up with just the right strain of the virus that will not only be contagious enough to infect others, but also so lethal that the human body doesn’t have enough time to fight back or make antibodies. Sutton suspected he was testing it on Sinners.”
“Oh my God,” Grace says.
“Are you saying he’s using them like human lab rats?” I ask, relaxing my arms against the strain of Cole and Bruno.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. He also mentioned the dark circle that forms around the injection site. So, yes, Amber has been infected with what could be the newest strain.”
“But how do we know this is true?” Cole asks. “There have been rumors for years about a Sinner’s sickness. No one really put much stock in it.”
I look at him. He’s never mentioned a Sinner’s sickness before. I feel queasy.
“Let me be clear. When Sutton came to us, he clearly had humanitarian ideals in mind. But, from the outset, the United Powers’ first and foremost concern was protecting ourselves and our allies from a biological weapons attack. Our goal is to stop the manufacturing of this virus. And, if we cannot do that, then to find a cure or a vaccine for the virus, without which millions of people could die.”
“My God. You aren’t here to save us. You aren’t here to stop Wilson. You’re here to save your own ass!” I lunge for him as Cole and Bruno pull me back again. I curse and scream at them. Don’t they realize what is happening?
“So your mission was basically to get samples of the virus?” Bruno asks.
“Unfortunately, yes. But I’m told he hasn’t perfected the virus. He was trying to make it airborne. It seems he is still injecting it into people. And, frankly, how contagious it is or isn’t at this point is questionable.”
“But we’ve seen people in the streets who look like they’re on their last leg. We touched those people.” Grace places a hand on her stomach. She looks like she may hurl.
“Unless you exchanged bodily fluids, you are okay. And even then, it all depends on how long they’ve had it. They may no longer be contagious. From what I can tell, an infected is only contagious until the fever sets in. So if Amber had a fever when you brought her in, then I don’t believe she is currently contagious.”
“How do you know so much about contagious diseases?” Grace asks.
“I am the former head of Infectious Disease Control and Education for the United Powers.”
“Oh that’s great!” Grace sounds relieved. She comes to my side. “He’s really smart. That’s a good thing, don’t you think?”
I nod.
“So now that you know it’s happening, will the United Powers send in forces?” Bruno asks.
“Not yet. They won’t send in any troops until they know for sure that’s what’s happening. They only have Sutton’s theory to go off of, and unfortunately, that’s not enough for them. They want solid proof. And frankly, they may hold off until news of a vaccine or cure is found. They won’t risk more lives.”
“But the lives of Sinners are okay to risk?” I ask, my chest puffing out again. “People are dying.”
Roméo looks at the brand around my neck. Something I can’t figure out crosses his face. Disgust maybe? “A few convicted criminals dying is of little consequence.”
“Convicted? These people are merely accused. All it takes is for someone to say a person looked at them the wrong way, and that person ends up here, branded, like Lexi—falsely accused. There is no trial. No jury of peers. No conviction. Just a brand and the worst kind of prison imaginable,” Cole says.
No one speaks. Roméo hardly bats an eyelash. Oh no. He knows. He’s known all along. The Hole and what happens here—he already knew and doesn’t care one bit.
I slump backward into Cole’s and Bruno’s arms. I’m going to faint. My eyes move from side to side, my lashes flutter. I’m getting hot.
Cole, Bruno, Grace, and Bill speak to me at once. I can hear them, but it’s muffled. Their words sound like drums beating against my ear. I’m weak and nauseous. I want to lie down.
Bill smiles at me, concern on his face. He places a cool, wet towel on my forehead and holds it there as Cole and Bruno bring me to a sitting position on the ground. I’m acutely aware of how embarrassed I am. As I settle against Cole’s shoulder, everything goes black.