Afflicted

“I told your mom I'd find you. I tracked your cellphone, though the signal cut out a few minutes ago. Lucky I was already close.”

“But the cellphones aren't working,” I protested. “We haven't been able to call anyone or-“

“The Monitor closed down all forms of civilian communication. It blocked calls and messages but I've got equipment to track cell signals. I just locked onto yours and here I am.” He gave me an easy smile as if what he was describing was the simplest thing in the world.

“Why are you all wet?” I asked, eyeing his clothes.

“I had a bit of a run in with a herd of deer and I might have fallen in the river,” he said casually.

“What? How the hell did you survive that?” I gasped. The River’s currents were impossibly strong at this time of year and it was icily cold. My mom must have told me to stay away from the river more times than I could count. Everyone knew falling in was a death sentence.

“To be honest I think it was just dumb luck. I must have washed up on shore not long after I passed out. I guess I managed to cough up enough water to save myself from drowning and then I came round a few hours ago-“

I grabbed his arm and forced him to stop walking and face me. “How can you talk about it like it's nothing?” I demanded. “You nearly died! Your clothes are still wet, you could get hypothermia or-“

Lincoln started laughing and I scowled at him.

“It's alright Katy. I'm still here.” He took my hand from his arm and placed it on his chest right over his heart which thumped solidly beneath my palm. “My heart’s still beating, see?”

My thoughts scattered as I stared up at him in the moonlight.

“What's happening Linc? Everything is acting so strangely; the animals and the plants… the people. What the hell is going on?” I asked, desperately hoping that he might know something.

“It's… complicated.” Linc frowned and looked away, scanning the trees around us.

“Complicated? Are you serious? You're going to try and fob me off with ‘it’s complicated’?” I scoffed as I took my hand from his chest. He started walking again and I hurried to stay by his side.

“No. I'm just not clear on all the details. But as far as I know something has gotten out into the water-“

“I know about that. They said they'd contained it-“

“Well they were either mistaken or lying. It's not just in the drinking water. They used a new chemical on the farms to help make the plants grow bigger and produce more food. But it looks like it managed to… I dunno, travel up the food chain from the plants to the insects. And from the insects to the birds and so on and so on.”

“So the animals are growing bigger?” I asked. “But how could they have only just noticed something like that. Surely it would take years-“

“It should have taken years,” Lincoln agreed. “But it hasn't. They're working on a cure though so there's no need to worry. Before long they'll have everything back to the way it's supposed to be,” he said though it didn't quite sound like he believed it.

“And what are we supposed to do in the meantime?” I asked. “Just carry on while wolves roam the streets and-“

“We head into the walled cities. They're ready to protect the population while this mess gets fixed.”

“And we’ll be safe there?” I asked.

“You will,” he replied.

“You're not coming with us?” I asked anxiously.

“I'll get you inside but I imagine I'll be deployed to help with the clear up out here after that. Will you really miss me that much Katy? Surely you're used to my absence by now,” he joked.

“I'm just getting used to your presence again,” I replied. “And I'd rather that than have you leave again so soon.”

Lincoln threw his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side with a smile. “Well you can keep me close for now if that's what you want.”

I felt my cheeks flush red and was glad of the darkness to hide it. I pushed out of Lincoln's grasp jokingly though I almost wanted to stay in the safety of his arms.

“I left Reese and your friends up here,” he said. “I hope they had the good sense to wait for us.”

“You found my friends?” I asked, relief sinking into my bones. “All of them?”