Chapter 14: A Glimmer of Truth, a Ton of Lies
The world Dr. Jenner offered was a luxury the group had forgotten for weeks. Hot showers, clean clothes, real food, not canned goods, and most importantly, wine. It was as if they had emerged from a years-long famine. That evening, a small celebration was held in the common area of the facility. Their tensions had eased, their laughter echoed through the sterile corridors. They wanted to forget, to feel normal, if only for a few hours.
This moment of relief only made the cracks beneath them even more apparent. Shane, having drunk too much, pulled Lori aside and tried to demand an explanation for Rick's return and what had happened between them. As the group's leader, Rick tried to keep hope alive, but there was worry in his eyes. Dale, as always, was skeptical; he didn't trust Jenner or this "paradise."
Andrea and Amy sat off to the side, talking quietly. That night's attack and Amy's return from the dead had strengthened their bond more than ever. They held each other tighter now, having learned firsthand how delicate life can be.
Jayden, however, was left out of the celebration. He had a glass of wine but was only moistening his lips. He needed to remain mentally alert. He was a guard, and he knew the walls of this false paradise could collapse at any moment. His eyes were fixed on Jenner, analyzing the man's every move, his every word.
"Doctor," Jayden said, approaching him. His voice sounded like a curious visitor. "What's the power source for this facility? How long can the generators last?"
Jenner was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected, technical question. "Diesel generators. But our fuel is... limited. Don't worry, we have enough."
Jayden understood the implication of "enough for us." "What about protocols? What happens if the power goes out completely? Is there some kind of... safety procedure?"
A shadow crossed Jenner's face. "The French, our colleagues, 'decontaminated' their facilities when their power ran out. They're very... effective."
Decontamination. The word set off alarm bells in Jayden's mind. It was a euphemism for the facility's self-destruction.
The next day, Jenner gathered them in the main lab. The moment the group had been hoping for had arrived. What did they know about the virus? Was there a cure?
Jenner displayed a 3D model of a human brain on a giant screen. "This is Test Subject 19's brain. We recorded the process after it was bitten."
The images on the screen were horrific. They showed how the virus attacked the brain, destroying memories, logic, and ultimately, humanity itself. In the end, only the brainstem remained—the primitive part that controls the most basic instincts, like walking and eating.
"The virus reboots the brain," Jenner explained, his voice monotonous. "But only part of it."
"What about the cure?" Rick asked, a flicker of hope in his voice.
Jenner's answer came like a sledgehammer. "Nothing. Every other lab in the world has gone silent. We... we are the last. And we have failed. There is no hope."
These words sucked all the air from the room. Hope was the group's last fuel, and Jenner had consumed it in one fell swoop. The expressions on their faces shifted from shock to denial, then to profound despair. Everyone was devastated.
Except Jayden. He knew this moment would come. He felt a pang of pain in his heart as he watched the devastation on his friends' faces. He hadn't been able to protect them from that pain. Now all he could do was protect them from the approaching fire.