Wanna Join?

"I was able to trick D'Arby into running away at least long enough to get you and Jeffy safe. I knew you'd understand and here you are," he said. I could see he was just as tearful as me.

Charlie shook Bram's hand and led him into the living room. Bram glanced at me and motioned with his head to follow him. I sat in a rocking chair across from Charlie who was sitting on their worn taupe-colored couch. Bram was in a half-broken recliner next to the couch.

Bram and Charlie spoke for a while, until they were able to get on the same page. When Charlie asked about the injections, Bram pulled three out of the zipper on his suit. He held them out in his raven-black gloved hand. Charlie glanced at Bram and then back at the needles.

"I couldn't. Aren't these all that are left?" Charlie asked. Bram nodded.

"I think they should go to the four of us," Bram said, gesturing to me, Charlie, and Wendy. "I've already had mine."

"Yes, Alex told me."

Bram glanced back at me. I waited for a stinging remark, since that was what I was used to, but instead he gave me a caring smile.

"She was the one to convince me to do it. I was ready to--"

"You were going to force yourself to suffer because you think you did this." Charlie pointed in circular motions around the house indicating the viral outbreak. Bram lowered his head, leaning his elbows on his knees. He passed the needles back and forth in his hands. "Staff Sergeant Darling," Charlie began but Bram wouldn't look at him. "Bram." Charlie reached out and held onto Bram's shoulder.

Bram picked up his head to meet Charlie's eyes.

"It isn't your fault," Charlie said to him. Bram lowered his head again, but Charlie firmly shook him one time. "I mean it. We did all that we could. I'm just as culpable as the next guy."

"But it was my project," Bram said.

"We were all on board and in love with the idea of creating a super-soldier military. And it didn't completely backfire, did it? Some gained abilities."

"Yeah, like Jeffy and Bram," I said. Charlie looked at his son and then Bram.

"Bram? Jeffy? What does she mean?" Jeffy sat on the armrest of Bram's chair.

"Well, I can disappear and reappear somewhere else," said Bram.

"Yeah, and I can run as fast as the wind!" Jeffy held his hands out in front of him and Bram like they had just performed.

"Wendy?" Charlie called. Wendy came closer. She was trying to be brave, but I could see the trembling in her hands. We were all gathered in the living room now.

"But what about Darla?" Wendy asked.

"She's too young to be injected, anyway," Bram whispered.

"Unless she was bitten," said Wendy, holding her chin.

"Well, yes, but she won't be," Bram promised. Wendy was holding an unlit cigarette indicating her participation in this conversation had a time limit.

"I'll have to think about it," Wendy whispered. Bram nodded. When our eyes met, he smiled sweetly.

"How do you feel about joining me, Alex?"

Bram held out his hand for me to take. I slipped my fingers into his and enjoyed how quickly he pulled me to my feet. We smiled at one another realizing that small interactions like these were monumentally important, now.

"What's the plan?" I asked him.

"Charlie, can I take her upstairs? She may need to rest after."

"Of course," Charlie said, waving Bram away. "Second room on the right has a spare bed."

Bram gave Charlie a casual salute and Charlie smiled. As Bram led me up the tan-colored carpeted stairs, I knew I was going to experience something I'd never be able to do without having met him. It was already overwhelmingly pleasurable to have him by my side, but whatever this injection was going to do, I knew it would only make things better.

The bedroom had one window facing out toward the back deck patio area and a perfect view of the field. Downstairs I heard Jeffy playing with Diva and the misgivings Wendy was having about Diva being a Pittie. I loved hearing Jeffy speak about Diva's healing powers and instincts as though she were a canine military doctor.

Charlie's chuckle floated up to us and it made Bram smile.

"Okay, are you ready to do this?" Bram asked. I nodded.

"How Jeffy described it and the way you explained D'Arby, it sounds like you get a sentient moment with the virus at some point. Is that what you experienced?" I asked. Bram had an innocent smile on his lips as he glanced down at the floor. He nodded.

"That sounds about right. But I'm not sure if I made a conscious choice. I think it happened at the moment, but I knew it would work, you know?"

"I think I do."

"Alright, Alex," he said. "You ready? I'll help take your arm out of the suit."

I smiled at him but as he came closer to me, I kissed him. At first, he was bewildered but I could tell he wanted more. When I continued, I could feel his smile molding the way his lips pressed against me and soon he was laughing. When he pulled me to him closely, he wrapped his arms around my neck and pressed our foreheads together.

He held the back of my head, pulling his fingers through my hair.

"I think I'm ready," I whispered. With one more peck from him, we sat back, and he helped me unzip my right arm up to the shoulder in the suit. The room was nearly pitch black, but my eyes had adjusted enough that I could see his outline.

He pulled the needle cap off and placed his right wrist against my upper arm for stabilization. Then he popped it into my skin and slowly depressed the plunger for the intramuscular injection. When he pulled it out, he sat back for a second and observed me. I smiled at him.

"Why do I feel like a lab animal right now?"

"If you're anything like the dogs, you won't think of that label as a bad thing."

When I sat back all at once the room shimmered then my vision became wavy. I pressed my back to the wall.

"Oh," I breathed but then I couldn't finish.

"Alex, are you okay?" he asked. His voice sounded far away and muffled. An intensely pleasurable feeling cascaded over me and little by little I descended onto the bed. When my back was against the mattress, it felt strange, like I was floating but I could still sense the object.

My eyesight became infiltrated with black lines, moving at sporadic intermittent speeds and directions. They mostly remained on the outer sclera, but a few traveled closer to my iris. When they did, flashes flickered like a strobe light. The trails they were creating had a golden yellow glow surrounding the onyx rivers.

Eventually, my eyes filled up with darkness until I could no longer see. I heard Bram calling my name, but he sounded miles away, as though I were under water. When I blinked, I couldn't see him. Overcome with exhaustion, I lost consciousness.

***

After I woke, I gradually sat up. My vision was back though I felt faint which caused my vision to dim. On the floor was Bram, asleep. I wondered why he hadn't joined me in bed. I swung my legs over the side.

Vertigo flooded me, but as long as I was careful, I could sense the correct proprioception to remain upright. After taking a few deep breaths, my vision greatly improved. Everything was illuminated. A nearby buzzing caught my attention. When I stood, I had to take it easy but with each step I felt more like myself again.

As I listened more closely, I realized the buzzing was close by. I wasn't sure how near or far, though. I walked to another window and stared outside. The vibration sounded like it should be rattling the windows, yet that wasn't happening. When I stared out at the field the sound coincided with a group of Noirs running by.

There was an audible bloom of vibrato that rose in pitch but then dissipated once the group had left. I wanted to see where they went but their speed was too rapid. I pulled my goggles on hoping to follow where they went, but I was blinded by brilliant blue light through my visual field. I took them off and then pulled them over my eyes once more. The same thing happened forcing me to remove them.

Feeling weak again, I hobbled to the bed and sat down. The creaking of the mattress against the box spring caused Bram to stir from his sleep. I watched him carefully open his eyes and look at me. I watched his mouth drop open as he scrambled to his feet.

He fumbled trying to pick up the M4. I waved my hand at him and began to speak but then out of my mouth fell strands of onyx saliva. I gasped covering my mouth then coughing violently.

Bram pointed the M4 at me. He lowered the goggles onto his face, staring at me. Instantly, he pulled them off with trembling hands and aimed down the sights. I put my hands up and shook them begging in a whisper, "Wait! Don't shoot!"

"Alex?" He squinted at me in confusion, cocking his head. I watched his neck thumping rapidly with each pump of his carotid artery. The internal debate he was having had surfaced on each twitching expression. There was fear, shock, confusion, wonder and even kindness. "Alex, you're Noir," he whispered. I stepped backward, shaking my head vehemently, bumping into the cedar wardrobe.

"No!"