Inhuman (OLD VERSION; UNFINISHED - SEE NEW BOOK)

Chapter 14 - Beth

A million questions race through my mind as the footsteps of the agent fade. My head begins to swim, replaying the events that had unfolded just moments ago. I'd been offered the protection of the government as had Mara, the girl supposedly cured of the virus. Within minutes that offer had been revoked and instead our death warrants had been issued, and one had already been executed. Why were they trying to kill us?

I glance at the man by the door, his body tense as he crouches. Though his focus is towards the ground, his ear is pressed against the door listening for the agent outside. How had he known what was going to happen? And why did he save me? The overwhelming urge to launch an infinite number of questions rears within me and I clear my throat to find the courage to speak. His head snaps my way and he moves a finger to his mouth signaling me to remain quiet. With the other he motions me forward and reluctantly I edge closer to him and the door.

My eyes flash to the blade in his hand and I pause, aware that one foul sweep is all it would take to end my life. Following my gaze he holds up his hands in mock surrender, and with one hand, he closes it and stows it in his pocket. Leaving the door he crosses the remaining distance between us, hovering so that we are both at eye level crouching on the floor. I tense in alarm, his swift movement catching me off guard.

Though the light from the hall outside was minimal, I could see the sharp angle of his jaw. A light scattering of stubble spread across it and worked its way up either side of his face. His lips were pursed in a line of concern which furrowed his brow in turn, his thick eyebrows angled downwards. His dark eyes were mulling over my face as mine were his. I inhale sharply in shock as his hand grabs my chin and he turns my head left and right.

"Hey" I say annoyed, pulling his hand free of my face.

"You seem to be okay" he says dropping his hand.

"You could have just asked" I say unable to hide the sarcasm in my voice. To my surprise he looks amused by the retort.

"I'll keep that in mind next time I save your life".

"Next time?" I say, surprise and anger lathering the question. He ignores me and heads towards the door, motioning with a flick of his head to follow. I join him, unsure why I was suddenly obeying his every command. Quietening when he held up hand, moving when ushered. I was one to follow instructions and rules, but following a man with a knife wasn't exactly protocol. "What-"

"Shhh" he says cutting me off "lower your voice". I recollect myself, steering away the anger and thoughts that had begun to accumulate in my mind.

"What" I say deliberately slow, my voice barely audible "is going on?" He turns and looks at me, a thoughtful expression crossing his face quickly replaced with one that was conflicted. His expressions betrayed him, the deliberation over whether or not to tell me his thoughts evident on his face.

"I know you must have a million questions right about now" he says in a voice as quiet as my own "but I don't know exactly what to tell you except I need you to trust me". He listens through the door, my own ears buzzing with the rhythm of my own heart and blood pulsing through my body.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"I mean why are you trying to help me, risking your own life to protect me, you don't even know me"

"Because I don't want you to die, Beth". My skin flushes when he says the words die and uses my name. A nervousness crawls across me as the realisation this man knows more about me than he is letting on sinks in. I feel my jaw set in a hard line.

"How do you know my name" I say cautiously, my body on alert more than it had been just minutes before, the immediate danger allowing my fight or flight reflexes to awaken. He closes his eyes, his face falling as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Do you really think the government was the only one following you since you logged virus-free into the system?" he asks as though talking to a small child who asked a silly question. "When you enter something like that, it sets off alarms". My cheeks redden embarrassed by his words. I had thought someone was watching me, but I didn't think it was the government. I thought the people watching me were Neo Gen, the anti-cures bent on seeing humanity suffer. My senses heighten and go into overdrive at the thought; Neo Gen. If he wasn't government, and if he was hiding from them, then that meant-

"You're Neo Gen" I whisper, the fear breaking my voice, my mouth agape as I stare at him. To my surprise, he laughs.

"No, I'm not Neo Gen" he says with distaste "but you're right, I'm not government either". A burst of relief washes over me.

"Then who are you?"

"I'm the one who doesn't have time to explain right now" he says exhaling deeply. He was pissed.

"Okay" I say raising my hands mimicking his phony surrender from earlier "but you can understand why I'm asking questions left right and centre right now. A girl just died out there and the man who killed her, is looking for me".

"I guess I would be acting the same way you are if this shit happened to me" he says with a nod "but until I get you out of this hospital, you're going to have to trust me simply based on the fact that at least I want you alive. Can you do that?" I'm lost for words, aware that he is right. There was at least one person in this hospital with a gun, a gun with bullets meant for me. So far, the man in front of me had proven he didn't want those bullets to reach their target. Whatever he had planned for me later on didn't matter. The immediate danger was roaming the halls, and if I could use him to help me get by it, then I would.

I nod my acceptance of his terms and he turns his attention to the door once more. Twisting the lock, it clicks, a sound that seems magnified in the still quiet of the room. He waits, one hand lingering over the handle, the other in his pocket where the switchblade was stowed. He opens the door slightly so that it sits ajar, light angling in across the tiles and bathing us in light

"Wait" I whisper grabbing at his sleeve, stopping him from moving, his head turning to face me clearly annoyed by the hold up. "It's not fair that you know my name but I don't know yours". If I was going to trust him with my life, or potentially die because of him, I at least wanted to know his name.

"Jay" he finally responds after hesitating "my name is Jay".