Chapter 11 - Xavier Pierce IV

Maide

"All citizens please report to your nearest medical facility for testing."

Maide's loud speakers had been playing the same message every ten minutes for the last three days. In order to ensure the eradication of the Plague, the Ku Yong Empire required every citizen, every age, race, and gender to submit themselves to testing. Every medical center throughout the Empire was opened to the public, free of charge, until the epidemic was declared dealt with.

Xavier was lined up, along with his only surviving sibling, Neko, and Bonnie, a young girl he'd run into the Red Rain to usher into the safety of his home, several streets away from First Maide Medical Center. Hundreds of people stood in line before them, as hundreds more stood behind.

As they had since Xavier's mother was taken by the Plague, Neko and Bonnie clung to Xavier's side, as if his abdomen could offer them some protection from death. Still, Xavier held the children close to him, as they too provided him some measure of comfort.

"Next!" a Ku Yongi soldier yelled. And the line shuffled forward another space. They had been in the line for several hours now. A soldier or two came by every hour or so, carrying trays with water, bread, meat and cheese, offering the feed and quench the thirst of those standing along with them.

Long as the line was, it moved quickly. Occasionally people already seen would pass by the line.

"What's happening?" some of those standing in line would ask.

When a man four spaces ahead of him asked as a family of three passed, the father figure of the family eased the minds of many.

"They took a blood sample from us to see if the plague was in us."

"And then what!?" the questioning man asked frantically.

"They told us we were clean and sent us on our way," the family head responded. "There was a young boy who was taken away though. I heard the doctor say they were going to cure him. I guess they've found a vaccine or something."

A collective sigh of relief washed over the entire group within listening distance of the conversation. Even Xavier found himself slightly relieved. The Ku Yong Empire was not renowned for its merciful nature. Xavier was sure anyone found with the virus would be put down like a sick pet.

"Oh thank the gods"

"They found a cure!"

The message spread through the crowd like a wildfire. The people of Maide rejoiced and their somber quietness was transformed into excited chatter. The people became eager to enter the medical facility and move on with their day.

"So we're gonna be okay?" Bonnie asked Xavier upon hearing the news.

"It seems like it," Xavier was hesitant to answer. He hoped it was so. The family head's news did indeed create some sense of security among the people. Still, Xavier had seen for himself what the Ku Yongi did with issues they deemed uncontrollable.

"-doesn't make sense." Xavier did not intend to hear it, but a conversation took place four or spaces in line behind him. He could hear the man, who the first voice he'd heard belonged to, trembling, shaking his words into bear incoherence.

"Right, a cure for a disease that didn't exist a few weeks ago?" a woman responded to the first voice sarcastically.

"Yeah," a third voice chimed in. This one belonging to a woman, though her voice was deep, giving Xavier the impression that she was either large in size or masculine in nature. "Not a single physician or scientist from Maide was called to help find this cure."

"How do you know that?" Xavier heard the man snap at the deep voiced woman.

"I'm the head of communications for the Maiden Overseers." Her response was curt, sending the man into silence. Xavier was sure the man was embarrassed. He knew he would've been in the man's position. The urge to laugh came up, though the situation made that attempt weak and Xavier suppressed it, albeit with difficulty.

"Strange," the first woman said absentmindedly.

It was strange indeed that a disease previously unheard of would already have a cure. Even more so a disease that nearly halved the population of Maide within three days. Xavier had not allowed this fact to fly over his head.

The line continued forward. People went in and came out just minutes later. Occasionally, a person would be held within, but all stories that came from within told of hospitality and a cure. After some time, Xavier Neko and Bonnie eventually reached the entrance to the First Maide Medical Center.

The building was filled, wall to wall, with men, women and children. Many were seated, a needle sticking from their skin, extracting blood. The line lead to a check-in desk. From the door Xavier could hear multiple receptionists collecting information from the patients as they waited to be seen. The receptionists had clearly been stationed here for quite some time. They irritably spoke when approached.

"Name?" they would say, and suck their teeth impatiently if a patient dawdled on an answer for too long. Despite what Xavier thought was obviously bad customer service, the line progressed.

"Name?" a woman, clearly not a Maiden resident judging from her pale skin and white-blonde hair.

"Xavier Peirce." Xavier tried to be courteous and quick already knowing how the receptionist might act should he take his time answering. "I also have my brother and.."

He paused, and quickly looked at Bonnie. He did not know what he should call her. Technically, though she'd spent the last couple of weeks beneath his roof, she was still a stranger to his family. Or at least what remained of it.

But, she's cooked for us everyday, cleaned with us, and slept beside us. She's family.

"My sister," he continued. "Neko and Bonnie." Bomnie looked up to him, eyebrows raised but a smile shining on her face.

"Parents or guardian?" there was no context given along with her short question.

It was unnecessary however, as

"Dead, or gone," was all the answer Xavier had.

The woman wrote a few words on three small pieces of paper and handed them to Xavier.

"Take these, and wait to be called." She said curtly. "NEXT!"

Xavier would've liked to have asked a question or two, but the man in line behind him rushed forward, impatiently ready to move forward. Xavier took the papers, and together with Neko and Bonnie he walked to the designated waiting area.

"Sir," a man in a doctor's robe near him spoke to his patient.

"We've detected a trace of the Plague in your bloodstream."

"Oh gods, no." A woman, small in stature began to weep as she received the news.

"There is no need to worry." The doctor continued. "We have already devised a cure. If you will follow me, we will take you to a private room so we can administer it.".

The woman dried tears from her eyes, took the doctor's hand and allowed him to lead her through double swinging doors