()%The Thing Within #ONC2023

Chapter 3

Meanwhile on Catherina Island

Aria

Daniel walked up and pulled the person into a tight hug before planting a kiss on her lips. It was his girlfriend, and James's half-sister, Candy. James and Candy barely got along, and were always going at each other, even at school, and especially at home, where they usually took their fights out into the streets to the neighborhood's shame. We were all students at the same school, only she was two years my senior. But how could she have known about the secret passage in my parents' lodge house? I'd never breathed a word of it to her.

Candy turned to look at me, a huge smile plastered across her face. "So, is it true?" she asked.

All eyes turned to me. What was she talking about? Instinctively, my mouth seemed to move on its own. "If what is true?" I asked.

"That you're immune to the virus?"

How did she know that? "I don't know whether I am."

"But you've never been ill. Am I right?"

I shook my head, wondering about her reason for questioning me. "No. I've never been ill."

"See, I told you," Daniel said.

"That's great. Jason's gonna love to meet you," Candy informed.

"Whoa! Who's Jason, and who ranted on Aria?" Rupert asked, his voice harsh.

"Who's Jason?" I asked, almost simultaneously with Rupert's hard question.

"You'll soon see," Candy replied, her huge grin never leaving her face. Something about her signaled overconfidence mixed with devilishness.

"Who spilled on Aria?" Rupert demanded again.

"I did," Daniel replied.

Rupert shook his head, unbelieving. "When?" he asked.

"The moment I learned she was immune."

"But the internet was down," James commented.

"I did it before the internet dropped," Daniel replied.

"Okay, enough of the small talk. Now for the important stuff," Candy said, as she pulled out a gun and walked up to me, grabbing my arm with her free hand. "Come, Aria. You've got to meet them. They're here!" She led me to the foot of the ladder, as she pointed the gun from me to everyone else. She let go of my arm and pointed the way up.

"Let her go Candy! This isn't part of the plan," Rupert ordered, looking bewildered at James. "Was this a part of your plan?"

James shook his head. "No! This is not my doing."

"Climb up, bitch!" Candy shouted at me as Rupert advanced nearer to me.

Fearing the gun might go off and shoot me, I obeyed and began climbing the ladder.

I heard Rupert's voice behind me. "Was this your secret plan all along?"

"This is for the best," Daniel said.

Footsteps were ascending the ladder after Candy and me.

She led me into the dark dining room before grabbing my arm and dragging me to the window. She pushed the curtains aside and peered through.

I eyed the back door out of the corner of my eye. Any bad move and I'd be pulling my hand away with all my might before running through there into the dark woods outside.

My eyes fell on Rupert, who put his hands up, as if signifying a silent don't do this, as his eyes appraised Candy and her gun. "Let her go Candy! You don't have to do this."