The Vines by Shelley Nolden (ebook and pdf reader .TXT) 📕

Good,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that people will keep dying because of your selfishness. All those tiny, burned bodies you saw lined up on the lawn after the Slocum, that’s nothing compared to those that will stack up outside morgues and in freezer trucks if a pandemic hits New York City.”

Her face had twisted in anguish.

“I know those memories haunt you. My family still hurts, too, from our loss.” Kristian put his hand to his heart. “I read in the library archives about the hero diplomas. The empress of Germany presented them to fifty-one nurses, but not you. If you’d received one, I’m sure it would be in that bag of yours. You wish you could have saved even more people that day. This is your chance.”

Momentarily, Finn thought she might acquiesce. Then her expression hardened.

“This latest theory of yours,” she said, her voice rising, “will lead you to the same place as all the others—a dead end.”

Kristian shook his head. “Not this time. All we need is thirty units of your blood, and your permission to let us conduct a trial on the island, aboveground.” He stepped toward her. “Sylvia’s the same passionate woman you once knew, even when a sliver of light or a whisper is enough to make her wish she were dead. You’d enjoy seeing her again, and watching her heal through your generosity. And then we’ll use that same technology to help the world prepare for the next viral threat.”

Shaking off the vision of a brighter future, Finn marveled at Kristian’s skill in manipulation.

“I do care about Sylvia,” Cora said, rubbing her pocked cheek. “And mankind. Just because I’m stranded here doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the value of their lives.” She gestured toward Manhattan. “Unfortunately, though, I’ve realized that the power that would come with harnessing my immunities, in your hands, could do more harm than good.”

“You conniving bitch,” Kristian said, his sneer visible through the protective face shield.

“Kristian!” Rollie barked.

“You think I should take that from her?” He turned to Cora. “My motives have always been pure—not that you’d understand morality. As Ulrich liked to say, you’re just a lowly mutt, no different from any other lab animal.”

“What would you do with a vaccine?” she asked, clearly choosing not to dignify his insult with a reaction. “Who would get the first doses?”

“Americans,” Kristian stated. “Every single one of them, regardless of race, color, or gender.”

“What about the people in the Mideast? And China? Would you help them next?”

“You’re too ignorant and simpleminded to understand geopolitics.”

“Boys, let’s go home,” Rollie said, stepping between Kristian and Cora.

“Am I the only one here who cares about Mom?” Kristian asked.

“Cut the family loyalty crap,” Finn spat. “Two hours ago, you hit me on the head with a pipe and tied me to a table! You’re pathetic.”

“Boys!” barked Rollie, but Kristian’s arm was already in motion. His fist connected with Finn’s mask, and the pain from the whiplash momentarily stunned Finn.

His ears rung, and he realized it was Lily’s screaming.

He charged at Kristian and pinned him to the wall.

Kristian’s arm snaked around Finn’s neck in a chokehold. Gasping, Finn writhed to free himself.

“He can’t breathe,” Finn heard Lily say.

Kristian loosened his hold just enough to free Finn’s air passage.

“I’ll kill you if you ever touch her again.”

“You do have feelings for the mutt.” Kristian made a tsking sound, and his visor knocked against Finn’s. “Poor Lily. Such a sweet girl, whereas you can never touch that petri dish.”

Finn kneed him in the balls. Kristian groaned and doubled over.

When he stood back up, he was holding the Lyme syringe, which he must have grabbed from the ground.

Rollie, Cora, and Lily screamed for him to stop.

“You’re insane!” Finn yelled.

“What genius isn’t?” He thrust the needle at Finn, who jumped out of its range.

The edges of the room and the others faded away. All Finn could see was the hypodermic pointed at him. His hands outstretched, he darted around his brother and grabbed an instrument from the tray.

Kristian sprang toward him, and Finn waved the surgical knife in a defensive arc.

The blade met resistance, and Kristian grunted as a ripping sound signaled that his suit had been punctured.

The knife fell from Finn’s grip and clanged against the ground. A moment later, Kristian’s syringe landed near it with a ping.

Cora’s wail splintered the fading echoes.

Clutching his abdomen, Kristian fell against the cart, bringing it down with him.

A sharp crack filled the room like a rifle fired from close range.

Medical equipment clattered as it hit the ground.

Finn gaped at his brother and then his empty hand.

“Oh my God,” Lily said with a gasp and rushed to him as Cora shrieked, “What have you done?!” and leaped over the toppled examining table.

The women almost collided above Kristian.

“Your pathogens, get back!” Rollie yelled to Cora and rushed to Kristian’s side.

She gasped and sprinted back to her spot beyond the outer doorframe.

“You, in the hall!” he barked at Lily, then said to Finn, “Help me get this off him!” and began cutting the Teflon away from Kristian’s abdomen. Crimson red spilled onto the floor.

“He’s losing blood fast.”

Finn yanked on the material. “I’m sorry. I’m so—”

“There’s no time for that.”

“Should I call nine-one-one?” Lily asked, fumbling in her bag.

“They won’t get here in time,” Rollie said, “There’s an emergency kit in our lab. Can you find your way back to the tunnel entrance?”

Lily scrunched her face in concentration. “I’m not sure. I was running. There were so many trees.”

Rollie locked his eyes on hers. “You can do this. Head toward the single-story maintenance building, that way,” he said, pointing. “Once there, you’ll recognize the way. Be careful not to rip your suit again. Now go.”

She nodded and ran down the corridor.

Finn returned his attention to the horror before him. His dad had resumed cutting away the suit, the gap now revealing a deep gash above Kristian’s navel.

Rollie surveyed the medical instruments scattered across the rubbish. “Cora, get the suture kit from my duffel.”

Now wearing an