The Extinction Trials(9)
She felt the urge to get somewhere. An image came into her mind—of her mother. Yes, that was it. She needed to find her mother. And sister. But why? Instinctively, she felt that they were in danger. But from what?
Beyond the curtain, three figures stopped in the corridor, their shadows looming, voices low.
Maya fought to sit up, straining to make out their words.
“…scan unlike anything I’ve seen.”
“…not equipped to deal with anything like this.”
“Just put ten for now.”
A machine on a metal pole by the bed beeped. Liquid flowed into the IV running to Maya’s arm, and a few seconds later, sleep overtook her.
A man was standing over her when Maya awoke. Instantly, she tried to reel back, but her body still wouldn’t cooperate.
He put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her down into the bed.
“Hey, relax. It’s me.”
The man had close-cropped hair and wore a black ribbed sweater.
“Can you see me, Maya? It’s Parrish.”
Her voice came out breathy and labored. “I can see you.”
“But you don’t know who I am?”
Maya shook her head.
His grip on her shoulder loosened as he exhaled, voice now a whisper. “What have they done to you?”
“Who? What’s wrong with me?”
“We believe you’re infected with the Genesis Virus. Or GV. Do you recognize that name?”
It sounded vaguely familiar, but try as she might, Maya couldn’t form a thought about what it was. She shook her head.
Parrish pressed on. “What about Genesis Biosciences? Do you know what that is?”
The words triggered a memory in Maya’s mind.
She saw herself walking through a security checkpoint and scanning a plastic ID. After a beep, she stepped forward and stared into a retinal scanner, which flashed green. A door ahead opened, revealing a large lobby with a wide desk, where three guards sat, watching screens. A lighted sign above read Genesis Biosciences, with a tag line in slanted letters below: An Infinite Better Tomorrows.
Maya wove her way through the building’s crowded corridors to a locked door, where she stooped to bring her eye level with the retinal scan. It flashed and promptly gave her access to a small room. She stepped inside, and as soon as the door behind her closed, one to her right opened, revealing a locker room where two women were undressing.
“Morning, Maya,” one of them called over her shoulder.
“Hi, Sydney. How’s Oscar?”
“Slept through the night. First time.”
“Victory!”
“I might actually get some work done today.”
Maya made her way to a cubby with a digital display that read, “Dr. Maya Young.”
She stripped down naked, folded her clothes neatly and retrieved a tight-fitting undergarment from the shelf and slipped it on.
The next room held six airtight suits with tanks on the back. She suited up and entered the airlock… and then the memory ended.
“I used to work there.”
Parrish lifted his head, smiling quickly. “Yes.” He nodded. “You did.”
“I worked in a lab.”
“Exactly.”
“I was a scientist.”
Parrish cocked his head and spoke slowly, carefully. “Yes… technically.”
“Technically? What does that mean?”
“It means… your life was somewhat complicated.”
“Could you possibly be any more vague right now?”
Parrish eyed the white curtain around them. Beyond, dozens of muffled conversations were interrupted by the occasional shout or wail. “This is not really the place to discuss it, Maya.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, gently. “I used to call you Hazel. Because of your hazel eyes. Do you remember that? It was your… code name. Does that bring back any memories?”
“No.”
Parrish nodded, seeming disappointed. “Do you remember what you were working on? Please, it’s important.”
Maya tried to go back to the memory, but it was gone, like a dream that was fully formed upon waking but slipped away in the moments after.
“No.”
Parrish nodded, clearly disappointed. “That’s okay. Do you know what The Change is?”
“The Change?”
“It’s some kind of project. Or process. Or event. We’re not sure. Do you remember anything about it?”
“No.”
“Do you remember meeting me? The first time we met?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“You and I were going to meet again—today. You were going to give me something. Do you know where that item is?”
Maya focused, trying to retrace her steps. She remembered being in the hospital. Being scanned. Hiding. From whom?
“No. All I remember is getting sick. And hiding. Someone was looking for me.”
“We’re dealing with that.”
“How?”
“We’re going to get you out of here and take you somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
“That’s… also complicated.”
Maya exhaled. “What can you tell me?”