Tuck barely notices the time as he plays inside a Party Shop. Full of costumes and novelties, he goofs around the aisles as a firefighter. Pretending to drive a firetruck, put out pretend-fires and save store mannequins. Later swapping for a werewolf costume, then a stormtrooper.The fun dies when his name is called."Tuck?" Eris's voice comes from his backpack. He rushes to it and digs out the radio."I'm here." Tuck responds."Tuck, where are you? The party's in an hour." Eris grumbles with annoyance. "Did you get the thing I asked you?"Tuck winces, remembering why he was sent into town. "I… I forgot." He hesitates to admit, and Eris goes off in his native language. "Eris, please, I can't understand you when you sound like a telenovela." Tuck responds."Tucker Enrique Demetrius Mayflower! Get back here right now.""It's not Mayflower" Tuck tries to correct."Ay""Tuck, do as he says." Came Vincent's calm voice."Roger that, Doc" Tuck says and starts to pack up. He returned home in t
"Doc? Doc, wake up!" Tuck's voice cuts through the silence, but Vincent remains still, lost in sleep. Tuck hesitates, then reaches over and pinches Vincent’s shoulder with a sharp twist."AH!" Vincent jerks awake, disoriented. "What—what is it? What happened? What time is it?" His voice is groggy, laced with confusion."It's after 4. You missed your alarm." Tuck replies through a tired yawn. "I did my chores already… Now I’m going to take a nap." He turns away, flopping onto his own bed with the exhaustion of someone who’s been up far too long.Vincent pushes himself up, stretching his stiff limbs. A sudden wave of anxiety grips him. "Tuck?""I know. I gave her a meal…" Tuck mumbles, half-asleep. "There’s a plate for you too."Vincent’s eyes soften when he sees the dish on the dresser—his favorite foods. Tuck knew him well...He eats quickly, his mind still foggy as he tidies up the room, collecting the empty beer cans that cluttered the space from last night. The remnants of the party
"Drink this…" Vincent returns with a glass of water and her favorite fruit. To her surprise, he brought an extra blanket. "This one's heated." He explains as he covers her legs with it. Pleasant warmth soaks her skin when he does. "There won't be any tests today… Just rest. I'll be nearby if you need anything-""Vinny." Eris's voice stops him. "You won't believe this.""What's the matter, Eris?""I just got word… She's alive. Isla is alive, and she's with Soo.""That's great news." Vincent smiles, glancing toward Cole."What about my nurse? Is Rue alive?" Cole wondered.Vincent hesitated, but asked anyway. "Are there others? Any news about Rue?"A long silence passes before Eris answers. Cole held her breath, expecting to hear the worst news."Isla was the only one rescued… but… I can tell you that there isn't a nurse by that name, among the ambush victims… She made it out… We just don't know where she is."Cole stayed silent, feeling uneasy when he answered."Thank you, Eris." Vincent
"Uh" Eris turns away, holding a hand over his mask. "Uh that's disgusting."Inside the storage container, lay an unconscious 'Henry'. Some fallen cases behind him, while a puddle of puke stains the floor. Vincent stood in shock. Glancing down at his outfit, which is soaked with it."He's… Uh… He's down!" Vincent announces to the others. "Get some… towels or something.""Uh, that's disgusting." Natalie says when she enters. "Towels and a stretcher. Now" She orders the group. "Please tell me you're both unharmed.""We're fine." Went Vincent."Not a scratch." Eris confirms."Good… Now, where do you want him?" She asks next. "I can't bring him in the house, but maybe… I can isolate him.""We can't take care of him." Eris answers. "Isla's N7B is unique to each of her patients. It won't save Henry.""Henry had four roommates." Natalie reveals, which silences Eris. "I don't know how he got sick, and… there's more, but I can't tell you right now… We'll speak later." Natalie says and turns for
With a final, careful twist of the flathead screwdriver, Vincent secured the new lock on their bedroom door. He took a step back, surveying the room with a meticulous eye, mentally ticking off each item on his list. The bathroom and hall closet were stocked with extra supplies, each weapon in the room discreetly hidden and loaded. Everything was in its place, a small measure of control in a world that often felt anything but secure. He locked the door behind him, the sound of the click somehow both reassuring and heavy.As he turned to leave, a sudden vibration from his wrist caught his attention. He glanced down at his tech wristlet, his heart sinking when he saw the spike in Cole’s BPM. Without a second thought, Vincent bolted upstairs, his heart pounding in his chest.He slipped on protective gear with practiced speed and pushed open the door to Cole’s bedroom. "Cole?" His voice was steady, but the urgency was unmistakable. His eyes swept over the room, taking in the disarray—furnit
"My little girl…" A gruff voice draws Cole's gaze away from the sandbox; full of sand and toys. Her innocent gray eyes find a tall man, dressed in a business suit. The top of his head was bald, and he has round ears, a pair of thick dark eyebrows, and dark eyelashes surrounding his gentle brown eyes. A large nose, and dark lips that spread into a bright smile; above his pointy chin."DAD!" Cole dashes toward him, leaving the crowded school playground."Baby". He coos, holding out his arms as she runs into them."Oh god, people are staring". A tall teenage girl nears with a nervous look. Clutching the straps of her backpack."Rosey!" Cole's infant voice echoes as she peeks over her dad's shoulder. After he picks her up for a hug."Ro-sa-lie baby…" Their dad tries to correct.Rosalie shifted uncomfortably, nervous under the stares. Every kid and parent was looking their way. "Let's go. Please. Dad?" Rosalie whispers, her similar gentle brown eyes shift down. She decides to pretend to be
Over the days, the weather got warmer. Vincent and Eris were hard at work, while Tuck spent afternoons skating within the halls. Often, he left to enjoy the sunny day. However, he always returned to see Cole.Vincent secretly worried Tuck was having too much play time with the patient. As he was much more athletic than Cole...Then one morning, he walked in to find the pair practicing the Warrior Pose and other less challenging exercises. Cole had a smile and hardly had to stop to catch her breath. Unlike the first week, when she could barely get across the room without panting. Today she wore a candy-blue two-piece yoga outfit. Her toffee-brown locks are spun in a pair of buns. While a dimpled smile stretches on her pink lips. Today marked the 103rd day, and Cole's was healing well.To Tuck's surprise, Cole lowers herself into a full split."How are you doing that?" Tuck stares from where he posed; on his yoga mat. Then he stood straight and watched as Vincent entered the room. "Come
A moonless night fell over the Floridian home. Cole delighted in viewing starry constellations, so much that she was unaware of the grieving veterans. Some self-quarantine, while others wander the night. Heaviness in their hearts, there seemed to be no end to the pain.Worn with guilt and sorrow, Natalie hides within the cherry painted walls of her office. Where her bereaved state is first discovered by Eris. He desired to comfort her, however, all Natalie desired was a drink, and Eris provided it.Many hours into the night, Eris and Vincent pronounced the death of another patient. A veteran who was the husband of Sadie Santana, their group's only science engineer."How did he get sick?" Natalie questions in private, glancing at both doctors. Grief and exhaustion wears in her tone as she leans back in her chair. A drink in her hand did nothing for the severity of stress that weighed on her soul. In vain, she made every effort to prevent more infection. An outbreak was consuming everyth