“But there’s a third shot out there that you intended to give her. Where’s the vaccine now? Is it with the antidote?” I ask, the hope in my voice betraying me.
“Everything was destroyed.” The Professor’s voice hardens. “When you bombed London, you not only released the virus, but you destroyed the vaccine along with the cure.”
I holster my gun and step to Joanna’s bedside, scanning the length of the child. “What about the girl? Can you harvest the antibodies from her to develop an antidote?”
The Professor cringes, but joins me at the girl’s bedside. She lifts her daughter’s hand and inspects her fingers. “Her body is starting to succumb to the virus. The antibodies aren’t working. They may have kept the virus at bay, but her immune system is weakening. I could try, but I can’t promise anything.”
“And what about your other children?” I ask, holding back the grin I feel creeping at the corners of my lips.
Her glassy gaze flicks toward me, wide with surprise. “Other … children?” she repeats, her voice trailing off.
I pull the military tags from my pocket and hold them up so that she can read the etching engraved into the metal. The name G. DARLING dangles from the chain before her beautiful eyes.
The Professor gasps. She takes the chain, wraps her fingers around the tags, and holds them close to her chest. “Where did you find these?”
“Let’s just say it appears Joanna is not your only child,” I say.
Tears spill from her eyes, streaking her pink cheeks. “Gwen’s alive?” she asks, searching my face for answers.
Gwen. The last time I saw her she was chasing Pete’s shadow just outside of Everland.
The Professor turns, clutching the tags close. “Only Gwen was old enough to receive all three doses. She is the true Immune, if she survived the bombs.”
Again she appears to search for affirmation of her daughter’s survival in my expression. I give her nothing. My thumb grazes her cheek and she pulls away, clearly disgusted. She is truly beautiful, exquisite, with her soft locks and bright eyes. Perhaps I’ve been looking at her all wrong. Although she embodies everything a mother is, there is something lovely about her. I’ve never received the love of a mother; I never will. However, with humanity on the brink of extinction, perhaps she is more than that.
“What would you say if I offered you a partnership? You and I, together, ruling more than just that measly country my mother controls. No more running from Germany or living in what is left of England. We could be royalty. We could rule the world,” I say.
“Why would I ever align with you?” the Professor asks, her bottom lip trembling.
I tuck a loose curl behind her ear. “Professor, do you believe in ghost stories?”
“I don’t understand,” she says, fumbling over her words.
I pull the Professor into me, my lips nearly touch hers. Her heart beats rapidly against my chest. “I believe my pal Pete has rescued another child. Little does he know she is not at all the orphan she claims she is,” I whisper so close to her ear I can smell the hint of lavender.
Gently, I escort her through the door, letting it slam shut behind us. I take her hand in mine. She tries to pull away, but I grip it tightly. “It’s a lovely night for a family reunion, isn’t it?”
Bella! Bella, talk to me!” Pete says, jostling Bella awake.
“Pete, it hurts,” Bella whispers, squeezing her eyes shut tight as she holds her hand up, revealing blood-soaked bandages around her fingers.
He spins toward Lily. “What have you done to her?”
With shock masking her face, Lily takes a step back. “I found her like this. She almost plunged to her death off Big Ben. I saved her.”
Pete whips his gaze back to Bella.
Lily joins him hesitantly. “She is the worst I have seen in a long time and the Professor has not been in tonight. I’ve been waiting for her to bring in the medicines.”
Pete snatches up his rucksack and pulls out the needle Doc gave him earlier from the side pocket. He uncaps it with his teeth and sits on Bella’s cot.
“Wait! We should consult with the Professor,” Lily protests, but she is too late.
Pete pauses for a split second and then he plunges the needle into Bella’s shoulder. She grimaces in pain. Pete throws the needle in the sink. “Bella? Bella, please talk to me.” She rolls over instead of answering. Her body trembles as she quietly sobs.
“What was that you gave her?” Lily says, pushing Pete away from Bella.
Pete’s shoulders stiffen and his green eyes grow hard. “Let’s hope it’s the antidote.”