The ARC 01: Tainted Read online

  We walk at a leisurely pace, but all too soon I find we’re at the hospital. Quinn stops before we enter and hugs me.

  ‘Everything is going to be fine,’ she whispers in my ear. She pulls back and looks at me. ‘Any second thoughts? It’s not too late to back out you know.’

  I shake my head, adrenaline beginning to strengthen my resolve. ‘Sebastian would do it for me,’ I respond.

  ‘I know,’ she says, rubbing my arm reassuringly. She peers down at her CommuCuff. ‘We’re a bit early.’

  ‘Let’s just get this over with,’ I say, sounding braver than I feel.

  ‘After you…’ She indicates with her arm towards the door.

  I push open the door and walk to the reception counter. The woman peers up at me expectantly.

  ‘Hi, I’m Elle Winters. I’m here for my testing.’ The woman looks over at her computer screen.

  ‘Take a seat. The doctor’s running about five minutes behind,’ she says. I follow Quinn over to the waiting room seats. I’m shaking, my stomach rolls with nausea and I can feel beads of sweat building on my forehead.

  ‘I don’t feel so good,’ I whisper to Quinn. She takes a hold of my hand, squeezing it firmly.

  ‘It’s going to be okay,’ she whispers back. Her face is completely drained of colour though. She’s just as nervous as I am. I feel my way into my pocket with my fingers and firmly clasp them around the vial. I need to keep it safe.

  ‘What if something goes wrong? What if it goes right and I never see you again?’ I say, my words so quick and quiet I’m not certain Quinn will hear them correctly.

  She catches my eye, and looking at me directly she replies, ‘Elle, you are so incredibly smart and strong. When we are separated I know you have the fight and the determination to carry on. Your priority is to keep yourself safe and find Sebastian. And don’t worry about me. I don’t think this is the end for us. We’ll see each other again, just maybe not as soon as we’d like.’ She smiles sadly as she says this.

  I go to look down but she takes a hold of my chin and lifts it, forcing my eyes back to hers. ‘Seriously Elle, promise me you’ll take care of yourself.’

  ‘I promise,’ I choke out in barely a whisper. Why does this feel like goodbye?

  ‘Elle Winters?’ a man in a long white lab coat announces, as he peers up from his clipboard.

  ‘I love you Elle.’

  ‘I love you too Quinn.’ We hug each other tightly.

  ‘Elle Winters?’ The man repeats louder.

  ‘Everything will be fine,’ Quinn says determinedly. I nod in response. Then, taking a deep breath, I turn around and walk over to the man. I don’t look back at Quinn—I can’t look back. If I do, I know the vial of blood will stay firmly put in my pocket and I’ll let this opportunity go.

  ‘Your cuff.’ The man holds his hand out expectantly. I reach out my arm and he takes my CommuCuff in his hand. He swipes a card over the face of it and with a click it unlocks and he pulls it from my wrist. I’ve already spent the weekend without it and it’s surprisingly hard to hand it over again so soon. I rub my bare wrist uncomfortably.

  ‘This way.’ The man leads me down several corridors and stops in front of ‘Exam Room 2.’ He opens the door and ushers me inside.

  Exam Room 2 is just like every other exam room I’ve been tested in. It’s utterly devoid of any colour and entirely sterile looking. Large white tiles cover the room from floor to ceiling and everything in here is so clean it sparkles.

  On one side of the room there’s a long metal bench and a washbasin. The bench gleams under the bright lights, which bounce off its cold steel surface and the array of glass beakers that cover it. An old and obsolete looking computer whirs from the corner of the room and it’s hooked up to some sort of microscope.

  Across the other side of the room is the exam table. It is covered in blue material with white wax paper running along the centre of it. It butts up against a thin metal cabinet of drawers, the top of which has a series of bean-shaped metal dishes. Then, in the far corner, hangs a long, white curtain that has been drawn for patients to change behind.

  ‘Please take a seat on the bed,’ the man says behind me. ‘The doctor will be with you shortly.’ I take a step forward and the door shuts behind me.

  I’ve barely sat down when the door swings back open and a woman enters. She takes her glasses out of her pocket, puts them up to her eyes and looks down at her chart. This woman is all business.

  ‘Elle Winters I presume?’

  I nod in response. I’m not certain I can say anything right now. One breath in, one breath out. The woman barely acknowledges me, but that one glance is all I need to see she is cold and calculating.

  ‘I’m Doctor Patel. I will be administering your test today.’ She takes a stool out from under the bench and brings it over to sit by me.

  ‘Could you tell me how you’ve been feeling lately?’

  ‘Mostly fine,’ I say quietly. She nods and starts writing on her clipboard. ‘But this weekend I haven’t been too well.’

  ‘Go on…’ She looks up, curious.

  ‘Well, I’ve had aches and pains, and been feeling really hot and sweaty.’ She’s back writing furiously on her sheet again.

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Um, not that I can think of.’

  ‘And you didn’t think to come to the hospital if you were feeling ill? You should be aware of the fever protocols in place.’

  ‘Oh, I’ve been in remand all weekend. I didn’t really think it was an option.’

  ‘I see.’ Once she finishes writing she puts her pen down on the clipboard and then places them on her stool. She walks over to the cabinet next to me and rummages through its drawers, which squeak and rattle as she opens and closes them. She seems to be taking various items out of each one and then placing them on one of the silver trays that sit on top of the cabinet. The glint of a needle catches my eye as she places it on the tray. This is really happening.

  Picking a tourniquet up off the tray, the doctor proceeds to tie it around my upper arm before pulling it tight. I begin to feel clammy and beads of sweat slowly trickle down the back of my neck.

  ‘Okay Elle, this is just going to be a small prick,’ she says. I swear there’s an evil glint in her eye and her lips are pulled back in a way that makes her look slightly crazed as she lowers the needle closer.

  I feel a pinch in my elbow crease as she jabs the needle into my arm. I suck a quick breath in through my teeth and watch as the blood slowly trickles out into the vial. Wow, there’s a lot of blood in there.

  After what seems like an eternity, she pulls the needle out and removes the vial placing them both on the silver tray. I watch the small glass vial intently. It seems so close, but at the same time so impossibly far away. How am I supposed to swap it with the vial in my pocket without the doctor noticing?

  I watch her and the vial carefully, waiting for an opportune moment to make the swap. But I don’t know what to do. She’s hovering by the cabinet and there’s no way I can make my move while she’s still in such close proximity.

  I begin to feel lightheaded and I try to ignore it. It was just a little blood, I remind myself. I can’t be distracted right now. The doctor picks up the vial and takes a pen out of her pocket to write on its small white label.

  Shit.

  I feel a sudden, overwhelming panic crash through me. I can’t let her write on that vial. I watch the pen get closer to the vial and the panic surges through me stronger. Having no idea what to do, and in a fit of desperation, I resort to theatrics.

  ‘Agh,’ I stand up and moan, staggering into her and lightly grabbing her arm. She places the pen and the vial back on the tray. I try not to grin in satisfaction.

  ‘Elle are you okay?’ She places her hand against my forehead.

  ‘I really don’t feel too good,’ I whimper. I don’t even have to fake it. Between stress and having my blood taken I legitimately feel woozy.

  ‘Okay,
just sit back down.’ She helps me back on the bed. I make sure I sit right at the end of it. The vial is now easily within my reach.

  The doctor takes a towel out of the cabinet. ‘You’re really hot Elle, I’m just going to wet this and we’ll put it on your head which should hopefully make you feel a bit better.’ She turns and walks to the sink.

  Now’s my chance.

  I hear the gush of water rushing out of the tap. Ever so quickly, I grab the vial out of my pocket and go to swap it for the one on the table. With the two vials next to each other my mouth involuntarily drops open.

  The caps on the vials are different colours.

  Crap!

  The one Quinn gave me has a red lid and the vial with my blood in it has a yellow lid. I hear her switching the tap off. Screw it. I grab the vial with the yellow lid and place it in my pocket, leaving the other in its place.

  If I wasn’t sweating before, I definitely am now. She turns to me and walks over, completely unaware of the switch.

  ‘You can lie down if you like?’

  ‘No it’s okay, I’m happy to sit.’ She passes me the wet towel. I quietly dab my forehead with it as she goes back to writing on the vial.

  As she picks the vial up she seems confused. I groan out aloud causing her to look back at me.

  ‘How are you feeling? Are you sure you don’t want to lie down?’

  ‘No I’m okay.’

  ‘Is the wet towel helping?’

  ‘Yes. Thank you.’ She nods and turns back to the vial. Then, without another thought, she writes my details down on the label.

  ‘Okay, wait here. I’m going to take this to get it tested. Shouldn’t be too long.’ She walks out the door with the vial in hand.

  I exhale loudly as she exits. I hadn’t even realised I’d been holding my breath. It worked and I can’t believe it. I managed to swap the vials over. I quickly jump off the bench and rush over to the sink to empty the vial I can feel burning a hole in my pocket.

  As I wash away the evidence though, it dawns on me.

  It worked and I’m about to be taken.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The coldness of the room seeps into my bones as I wait. My eyes are trained on the door waiting for the doctor to return with the news I already know is coming. I curl my knees up to my chest and hug them close to my body. The whole idea of being taken to rescue Sebastian had been so romantic, heroic even, at the time. But now, faced with the reality of leaving, I’m not certain I can go through with it.

  I’ve been waiting in the room for half an hour when Dr. Patel re-enters. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I hold my pendant in my hand tightly. The thought I’ve been trying to avoid thinking for the last half-hour surfaces to the forefront of my mind. I don’t want to be taken.

  Dr. Patel looks down at the chart in her hands, taking her time as she reads through the results.

  ‘So, I’ve got good news,’ she says reassuringly. ‘Your test came back all clear.’

  I stare at her blankly in response.

  ‘That means you’re not tainted,’ she explains.

  Again I don’t respond and she looks at me like I’m slow in the head.

  ‘What?’ I finally ask, incredulity evident in the tone of my voice.

  ‘You’re fine dear.’

  ‘Really?’ I say, in a manner more accusatory than questioning. She looks slightly confused, but checks her chart again.

  ‘Yes, really.’ She gives an awkward laugh.

  She seems confused by my response. Admittedly, I am acting like a crazy person. She does appear genuinely sincere about my results though. They must’ve come back clear. Maybe I grabbed the wrong sample?

  My whole body relaxes as I accept the news. I can’t believe how paranoid I am. I’d almost started an interrogation of this poor doctor. I vaguely shake my head at my own stupidity.

  I’ve barely relaxed when my chest contracts abruptly. My whole being becomes entirely consumed with guilt and I feel like I can barely breathe. I’m unquestionably the most horrible, selfish person ever. I can’t believe that, for even a second, I could be happy I’m not tainted. That I could be happy when I will never see Sebastian again.

  I sadly clutch my hand to my chest as I think of the face I will never see again, the laughs we will never share and the things I will never be able to tell him.

  ‘So can I go then?’ I ask, absently, I need to get away from this room. I want more than anything to be alone right now.

  ‘Not quite yet,’ she says. ‘I’m concerned about the symptoms you were describing to me from over the weekend. I would like to do just a couple more tests. They shouldn’t take too long.’

  ‘Oh, okay,’ I murmur, my voice unmistakably disappointed. I’ve been in the stark white confines of this room for so long now. Plus, I’ve been locked up all weekend. I just want to go back to my own quarters.

  ‘If you wouldn’t mind getting up and following me? I haven’t got the right instruments in here so we’ll have to go to my office.’ I stand up and take a step towards the door.

  ‘No, this way.’ She directs me towards the back of the room. ‘My office is just back here.’ I follow her to the changing curtain, which she yanks back. There is nothing there except the plain white wall of the testing room. She moves forward and presses against one of the large wall panels, which opens with a pop. She pulls it back into her and indicates for me to go through first.

  Her whole body is rigid and her eyes are blank as I walk past her and through the open panel. As soon as I enter I hear the door slam shut behind me and I’m immediately engulfed in complete darkness.

  ‘Hello? Dr. Patel?’ I call out nervously. ‘What’s going on?’ There’s no response to my questions, only silence. My body starts shaking. It’s so incredibly dark in here.

  ‘Anyone?’ I yell out. A light flicks on overhead. I’m in a small box of a room that you could barely fit four people in. Deep breaths, long deep breaths, I think. But I can’t get control of my breathing. My chest feels constricted and my lungs refuse to take in more than a short breath of air. I hold my hand firmly against my chest. I feel like I’m drowning and unable to come up for air.

  I turn back to the wall panel I entered through and start pressing my hands against it, trying to open it up.

  ‘C’mon, c’mon…’ I quickly give up on pushing and start shoving my body against the panel.

  The room shudders and I throw my hands against the walls to steady myself. What the hell is happening? The room begins to move and my stomach surges with the motion. I’m not in a room, but an elevator.

  ‘Quinn,’ I say with a whisper, as I think of her sitting down in the waiting room.

  There has to be an exit in here!

  ‘Quinn?’ I yell, my whole body wrenching around as I try to find a way to make it stop. I pat along the walls, looking for some secret way out of here. But nothing is in here, just the constant hum as the lift makes its quick ascent.

  ‘Quinn?’ I scream, as I punch my fists against the wall.

  ‘Quinn!’ I scream louder. I shout her name over and over again.

  The elevator shudders to a stop and silence takes over. A few seconds later one of the walls retracts. I shrink back into the corner of the space as a large man dressed in black comes to stand at the entrance.

  ‘This way,’ he growls. I don’t move. He roughly grabs my arm and pulls me out of the lift and into a hallway.

  ‘What’s going on? Where are you taking me?’ My voice quivers with emotion. He doesn’t respond.

  ‘Please,’ my voice breaks, ‘please tell me where we’re going?’ He opens a door and shoves me inside another dark room. The door slams shut as I topple inside. I run back to the door and bang on it.

  ‘Hey! You can’t just leave me in here!’ I yell at him. I slam my fists against the door harder. ‘Hey!’ I call out louder.

  ‘He can’t help you.’ A woman’s voice comes from behind me. I jump and turn. I hadn’t real
ised anyone was in here. The light comes on overhead and a lady in a black suit stands just inside another entranceway. Her dark hair is pulled back harshly in a tight bun giving her face unforgiving lines. Her whole stance exudes authority.

  ‘Elle, my name is Maggie. Take a seat,’ she says. I take small, cautious steps towards her. The room is comfortable looking, but foreign to anything I’ve experienced in the ARC.

  The walls are painted a rich golden colour and along the roof are exposed wooden beams. The floor is covered in a thick plush carpet that is so inviting I’d probably want to roll in it if I wasn’t so traumatised. Elaborate paintings hang in heavy, intricate frames from the walls and cosy couches are arranged in a circle around a rich wooden coffee table that looks onto a fireplace.

  She directs me to sit at one of the couches and nervously I take a seat.

  ‘Would you like something to drink Elle?’ I shake my head and turn away from her, trying to compose myself. My whole body is still shaking and my breath continues to catch in my throat.

  I allow my eyes to settle on the fireplace. The fire is so vibrant and bright, and it makes the softest little crackling noises. It’s the first time I’ve seen one in real life and I could probably watch the flames all day as they flicker and dance playfully.

  ‘Now I know the last few minutes have been very stressful. I want to apologise for any worry or discomfort that you may have felt. I’m about to tell you a few things and I want you to listen to everything I have to say before commenting. Okay?’

  I nod to show I understand. I’m not certain I trust my voice to be steady right now.

  ‘Okay. Now this may come as a shock to you, but your blood result has come back indicating you are tainted.’ I’d thought as much, especially given my terrifying exit from the doctor’s office. I can’t imagine them doing this if all I’d had was a cold.

  ‘Unfortunately,’ she continues. ‘The best way we’ve found of taking people out of the ARC is by using the method we’ve applied to you. We realise it’s scary, and unfair, but it’s the only way we can get people out without affecting life down in the ARC.’