A TRIP TO DIXONVILLE

ALEX's POV

I was so glad that Eva had stayed back at home but then she showed up at the hospital suddenly. On top of that, she went with Susie to meet Philip. Why didn’t she understand that it wasn’t safe for her?

I felt my blood boil with frustration, not at Eva but my helplessness to prevent this situation.

If Susie hadn’t requested I would never have let Eva go to meet Philip. I followed behind them anxiously. Despite the robot's warning, she started walking towards Philip. This girl had no sense of self-preservance at all.

It was a great thing that I held her back on time because Philip awoke soon after. He behaved as if he had been possessed by the devil himself.

We moved backward and I tried to open the door but it was useless. By then Philip had broken the handcuffs. He would attack us the moment he was able to break the shackles. I pulled Eva and Susie behind me and took a protective stance in front of them.

Philip plunged towards us but right at that moment the robot injected him with medicine and he fell to the ground.

“ The patient has reached stage three. So visitors are not allowed. You will have to leave.” The robot said ushering us out.

Susie Clung to Eva, burying her head in her shoulder. Heart-wrenching wails echoed in the corridor. Eva kept rubbing her shoulders in an attempt to soothe her but she was unresponsive.

“I told him not to go to the forest at night but he didn’t listen to me. Now see what has happened. What will I do without him?”

“Everything is not lost, Susie. I promise I will try everything I can to try and save him.”

My ears perked up when I heard Eva say this. I knew she was referring to the supernatural forces. I couldn’t let her do anything irrational.

My heart broke to see Susie like this but I had to try my best to keep Eva out of danger. This was something I wasn’t ready to compromise with. You can call me selfish, inhumane, unsympathetic, as far as Eva was concerned there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

I sent an SOS to Athena, Melisa, Ryan, and Aaron and stayed close to Eva and Susie. I wanted to talk to the doctor but that would have to wait. I couldn’t risk leaving Eva alone.

I paced up and down the corridor waiting for them to arrive. I kept looking repeatedly at my watch but time didn’t want to co-operate with me.

I had to do something or I would go crazy. I tried to strike a conversation to distract all of us.

“Susie, I heard that you flew to Los Angeles for an exhibition. You must have become a billionaire now!’

She shook her head, a bit confused by my sudden question but then replied, “Not yet, but I had so much fun there with Philip. We went to visit all the popular places. It was like an extended vacation. I will show you pictures when you come over.” Her lips stretched in a smile as she recalled those moments.

Then, suddenly she started sobbing again. I smacked myself for my thoughtlessness. I never thought that this conversation would lead to Philip.

Eva glared at me, furious that her efforts to calm Susie down were ruined by me. I mouthed sorry and kept my mouth shut after that.

I was relieved when I received the message that my friends were waiting in the parking lot of the hospital. I went out to meet them.

“Thank you guys for coming,” I said brightly. I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I could trust them to successfully carry out all my instructions.

“ Cut the formality, buddy, and tell us the reason for calling all of us at such short notice,” Aaron said putting his arm around my shoulder.

“I guess you all know about Philip……”

When everyone nodded their heads I continued, “Susie is completely broken. We need to keep her distracted. And…”

“And….?

“Please help me keep Eva out of trouble. She has a great affinity for danger…..”

“Ah!! So that is the real reason our Romeo called us for. He is worried about Eva!” Aaron said clapping my back.

“Ummm…. no…. I am worried about Susie too.” My face turned red as I tried to defend myself.

“Stop teasing him, Aaron. This is serious.” Athena said smacking him.

“Don’t worry, Aaron we will take good care of them. You would be there to guide us, wouldn’t you?”

“I need to talk to the doctor and then I have some urgent work. I will return after a while.”

“Do you really have to go? You know it’s not safe outside.” Melisa said wringing her hands.

“Hmm….it’s important…..”

“Okay bro, I will take them to my home. It is close to the college as well as the hostel. When you are done with the work come to my home.” Aaron said.

Everyone agreed to it and they drove away. Aaron made Susie and Eva sit his car while the others took our old car. He gave me a thumbs-up before getting into the driver’s seat. That simple gesture calmed my nerves quite a bit. I knew he would protect Eva and Susie at all costs.

There were thousands of questions in Eva’s eyes as she waved through the window. I didn’t get a chance to explain anything to her. I decided to explain everything to her once I reached Aaron’s house.

No sooner had they left than piercing sounds of ambulance resounded. I stumbled a few steps back as I saw the scene unfold before my eyes.

A fleet of about 10 ambulances came to a halt in the ground. The first one opened and two robots came out carrying a stretcher. A man was bound to it using handcuffs and shackles just as Philip was bound to his bed.

The man on the stretcher wore a gruesome expression, his eyes were bloodshot and there was no hint of recognition in them.

The second ambulance opened and two more robots came out carrying a girl similarly. The robots carried them inside the hospital.

My eyes widened and I shuddered from head to toe, My heart started racing faster than a horse. I didn’t want to see what was there in the other ambulances. I tried to close my eyes but they didn’t want to cooperate.

The other ambulances opened but this time instead of robots ward boys emerged. They were carrying stretchers covered in white cloth. They carried in eight dead bodies.

The driver of the closest ambulance noticed me and yelled, “What are you doing here? Get away from here as soon as possible.”

I gulped the lump that had formed in my throat and asked in a breaking voice, “What happened to them?”

“You saw the man and woman being carried by the robots?”

“hmmm…”

“All the others were killed by those two.”

“How…” I muttered though I had already reasoned the cause in my mind.

“They are infected by the VV.” He said with a grim expression.

I couldn’t bear to stay here longer. I walked quickly towards my car, stumbling many times on the way.

My hands shook as I tried to open the door of my car. I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the positives. I managed to start the car after about five minutes of conscious effort. I hit the accelerator and drove out of the hospital as fast as I could. I never wanted to come back here.

I would have driven straight to Aaron’s house but I had to get the Alexart first. I would feel at ease only after I make Eva wear it. I had a strong gut feeling that the killings were not a result of some virus. It was the work of evil forces.

I parked the car outside the bungalow and opened the gate. I was glad that I kept all the keys together. So, I had the keys to Dixonville too.

I felt rueful looking at it. It was almost a year since I had come here. The vines and creepers had overgrown making it difficult to walk on the path. A hissing sound made me jump. Luckily it was just a grass snake.

After that, I took each step more cautiously. I was relieved when I finally made my way to the door. I searched for the key to the door in the bunch but I couldn’t see it anywhere.

“No…..” I groaned in frustration. I had dropped the key somewhere. Now, I would have to come back after getting the key to the door.

I turned around to leave but dashed into someone. My heart skipped a beat when I saw who it was.

“What are you doing here? I blurted out.