Chapter 12 :THE REUNION

Jason was walking down the alley. Distractedly tapping the clipboard to his head. He was humming and appeared to be relaxed.

He had no clue I was there.

Once he walked past the crates I jumped from the shadows. Holding my hunting knife to his throat.

"Hi Jason."

He stopped dead. The clipboard dropped from his hands. He was stiffened. I could even smell the expensive aftershave he had managed to scavenge.

"S-Sarah? How did you..." He stuttered.

"It doesn’t matter." I whispered. I put a little pressure on the knife so it caused a small cut to his skin. "What’s important is why are you walking around here like a king while the rest of the world starves?"

"W- wait, wait. Please just let me explain. I’m working with the Syndicate now. I’m an administrator. I can help you! I can get you a pass. An amazing apartment. Food..."

"I don’t want anything from you. I’ve got more food in my pocket than you’ve seen in a week." I laughed bitterly.

I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the brick wall. He let out a groan.

"You left me to die in a fire,"You laughed while I was burning. Then you had the nerve to come after me and try and steal from me."

"I was scared!" He whined. Tears formed in his eyes. "You were going mental! You took all the money and then you vanished! I thought you were having a mental breakdown!"

I slapped him. The slap echoed in the alley. He winced as he turned his head.

"For burning me." I said.

I slapped him again, harder.

"For the divorce papers."

He whimpered and covered his face. This arrogant billionaire who used to look down on me like I was nothing was now begging for his life. It was a feeling like no other.

"P- please Sarah. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything."

I took a step back. I didn’t want to kill him. He was too useful. I lowered my knife.

"If you want to live."

He nodded rapidly.

"Then you’re going to get me into the Syndicates command centre. Main building. Heavily guarded."

His eyes widened in fear. "I can’t do that! If they catch me helping you they’ll kill me. The commander is a monster!"

"Then make sure we don’t get caught. Because if I die then you’re coming with me." I threatened. I held my knife to his chest.

He gulped. "O-okay. O-okay."

---

Jason led us through the back alleys of the safe zone. His hands were shaking as he swiped his keycard through the security doors. Adrian was walking closely behind him, gun drawn.

"The command centre is up here. Top floor." He whispered. His voice cracked. "The commanders name is Vance. He’s ex-military and a complete monster. He approved the virus."

"What does he want?"

"He wants to rebuild the world. He has a stock pile of the vaccine so he’s using it as a bargaining tool. If you have something valuable then you receive a dose. If not then you’re thrown out."

I was furious. They had created the virus, killed billions of people and were now holding onto the cure to blackmail the survivors. We had to crush this evil.

We arrived at the top floor. There were two guards standing outside the main office. They had guns.

"I’ll sort them." Adrian whispered.

He moved quickly. Taking down the first guard with a silent choke hold. He then hit the second guard with a quick blow to the temple. Both fell to the floor.

"Who the hell is he?" Jason asked, his face pale.

"My worst nightmare." I muttered. I walked past him.

I opened the heavy oak doors.

The office was huge. Full of monitors and maps. A tall man with broad shoulders stood by the window. He was wearing a crisp black uniform. His hands were behind his back.

Commander Vance.

He slowly turned to face us. His eyes were cold and calculating. He didn’t look surprised to see us.

"Sarah." His voice was deep and smooth. "I was wondering when you’d turn up. Marcus mentioned you were clever. Seems he was wrong."

"Marcus is dead."

"I assumed so." He replied calmly. "He was always a bit full of himself."

I aimed my crossbow. "You created the virus. Killed billions of people. And you’re keeping the cure."

Vance smiled. "I didn’t create it. I just saw an opportunity. It was an accident in the lab. I knew we could use it to control the population and create a better world."

Adrian spat. "You’re insane."I'm a realist,"But I didn’t invite you here to talk about philosophy. I invited you here because we need to make a deal."

"I don’t make deals with monsters." I said. I squeezed the trigger.

"Even though the monster has the only cure for your little group?" He asked. His eyes flickered to the window. "Look outside."

I looked at the monitors. There was a large crowd of survivors in the main square of the safe zone. They were all panicking. Armed guards were walking amongst them, dragging people away.

"What’s happening?" I asked.

"The airborne virus has reached the valley. Everyone outside that wall will be dead in 72 hours. However, I have the vaccine. I have enough for a hundred people."

He walked closer.

"Join me. Give me your little group. I’ll give you the vaccine. A position of power. We can rebuild the world together."

I looked at his hand. Adrian was tense beside me. Jason was shaking in the corner.

"You have 10 seconds to decide."

I lowered my crossbow.

I smiled.

"I have a better idea."

I reached into my space and pulled out the canister of bear spray. I sprayed it into his face. He screamed as he rubbed his eyes. I ran forward and kicked him in the chest.

"You’re giving me the vaccine." I said. I held my knife to his throat.

He gasped. "You’ll never leave here! My guards will tear you apart."

"Try me."

I looked up at Adrian.

"Search his desk for the vaccine."