“There’s a blood test. I was one of the first subjects. One in ten thousand are.”
I do some quick math. Eight billion people in the world. That’s only eight-hundred-thousand immune people. Around thirty thousand in the entire US. Not even enough to fill half of Seattle’s Husky Stadium. Isolated in Elk Springs, I could only guess how bad things were for the rest of the world. Those are slim odds for my parents and ex-boyfriend being alive. My throat is thick as I fight back emotions welling up.
That’s also slim odds for me being immune. What if my isolation has only made me lucky? Then again, what makes me think I can trust anything this guy says?
“What do you mean ‘blood test’?” I ask. “Are there, like, hospitals around still or something?”
“Something like that.”
Another annoyingly vague answer. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“What reason would I have to lie?”
“To kill me and take my supplies.”
He raises an eyebrow. “If I had the Infection, and I wanted you sick, we’dbothbe dead soon. And me before you.”
“But maybe you can still spread it. Even if you’re immune.”
Aiden shakes his head. “That’s not how it works. It only spreads when you have symptoms, or if you’re one of thosethings. And symptoms start within twenty-four hours of being infected. These scratches are over a week old, so we’re good.”
“You sure know a lot about it.” It comes out a little sharper than I intended.
“I do.” His tone has an edge, as if he’s done talking about it.
This isn’t going how I wanted. I take a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m worried about my family back in Seattle. I haven’t seen them in over a year.”
“I understand.” His eyes soften a little. “It’s been tough on everybody.”
The fear of the Infected is too ingrained in me. Still, I guess he has nothing to gain by lying, but I’m still not ready to throw away all my precautions or admit I’m wrong. “Eat your stew before it gets cold.”
Aiden shrugs and starts eating. The way he wolfs the food down, it’s like he hasn’t eaten in weeks.
“This is so good.” He barely stops chewing while he’s talking. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“My mom. She’s an amazing cook…” Any time my parents enter my mind, it makes me a little melancholy.
“Neither of my parents could boil water without burning it. We ate out a lot.” Aiden snorts out a little laugh, not reading my mood. “Your mom taught you well.”
“Thanks.” An awkward silence follows. Aiden must have figured out it’s a touchy topic for me. He doesn’t probe further.
I change subjects to something that’s been on my mind since I saw him wander into town. “So, what’s your deal, exactly?”
“Um—can you be more specific?”
“The way you look. Most people look like mountain men. Worn out and frazzled. You don’t. And to be honest, it’s kinda freaking me out.”
Aiden lets out a little laugh, then pauses for a moment. When he speaks, it almost sounds rehearsed. “Where I’m from, there’s a slice of civilization left. A group of people who were in the right place at the right time. Scientists. Good people.”
“So that’s where you got the blood test?”
“Yes.”
I hadn’t dared hope a place like that existed. The very idea gets me excited. From my limited perspective, the entire world is anarchy. A hundred questions enter my mind, but he continues before I can ask any.
“I can’t tell you a lot about it. Part of what’s kept us safe is secrecy.”
I’m dying to know more, but pressing him doesn’t seem like a good idea. Not yet, anyway. I’ll respect his boundaries for now. “Well, it’s good to know it’s not all anarchy out there.”
