“I’m not sure. I don’t think she can kill them,” Alec answered in an even voice. “She came looking for you. I’m hoping that’s a good sign.”
“It’s not Ava.” The words hurt to say and tears washed away the ash from her lashes.
“No, but what’s inside her is attached to you. Maybe because it’s in Ava.”
Taking the few steps into the shuttle bus, Minji gently tugged Ava after her. The little girl followed without protest. When Minji guided her to sit down, Ava complied. Minji was surprised when Ava tugged on her hand, pulling her down into the seat next to her.
“Moommy,” Ava said.
“Yes, I’m a mommy,” Minji answered cautiously, snuggling Bailey tenderly in her arms.
Ava glanced at the baby, then turned her attention forward.
Alec shut the doors and focused on starting the vehicle. The engine sparked to life and the whisper of the air conditioner was a welcome sound. Hopefully it could filter the air. Alec left the garage and followed nearly the exact same path they’d taken from The Venetian, but had to detour a few times when he couldn’t squeeze through an area.
Stomach in knots, Minji struggled against the rising tide of despair. To reach the first facility, she’d have to travel a route heavily populated with the mesmerized. The entity would be aware of her progress, but would it comprehend the purpose of their journey? How much could it even understand?
A quick look at Ava revealed that the other was once again regarding Minji. The knife of paranoia was already slicing her to bits, but Minji was fairly certain she wasn’t wrong in her assessment that the entity was somehow attached to her.
“We’re here. I should go in first,” Alec called out as the shuttle came to a stop. “Just in case...”
“There’s no point. Bailey was there when everything went down and I’ve seen so much already,” Minji answered.
The lines in Alec’s face were even deeper than before. It was as if he was aging before her eyes. Scrubbing his hands over his grungy hair, he exhaled with frustration. “My natural inclination is to spare you as much of this as possible.”
“I’m in it, Alec. Ground zero of the apocalypse. And I seem to have a role to play in it, right?”
With a weary sigh, Alec acknowledged this truth with a simple nod. “Let’s go.”
The lights within the medical center were dim when they entered. Jesse had warned that the emergency generator may not last for more than a day. The facility was fairly new and he hadn’t been sure how long the generator would chug along. He wasn’t even sure where it was located.
The lobby was eerily quiet, but Minji heard voices emanating from deeper within the building.
“We’re back!” Alec called out, stifling a cough.
There were footsteps then Simone appeared, flushed and clearly upset. “I’m so sorry, Minji, the girls—” Catching sight of the two little ones with Minji, Simone gasped. “Oh, thank God! They’re with you!”
“What happened?” Alec asked.
“Another one of those attacks,” Simone answered, then was rudely shoved out of the way by Arthur.
“It was her!” Arthur pointed at Ava while cowering behind Simone. “She did it!”
“What do you mean?” Alec asked.
“Arthur,” Simone said, shooting an angry look at him, “attempted to sedate Ava.”
“Something is wrong with her. She doesn’t act like the others,” Arthur said warily. “Something is in her eyes, watching us. Can’t you see it?”
“Yes,” Simone said cautiously, “but the rest of us tread with much more care.”
“So you attempted to sedate her? Jesse helped you?” Alec seemed incredulous.
“No, he took the syringe Jesse had in his pocket and lunged at Ava.” Simone sounded weary, but also angry. “Jesse tried to stop him and then...well, we woke up just a few minutes ago and the girls were gone.”
“She did it! The attacks are coming from her. That’s why you’re immune. Your child is a demon!” Arthur’s face turned fiery red as he hurtled the words at Minji. “She’s a devil!”
“Arthur, if you have a lick of sense in your muddled brain, you’ll shut the hell up,” Alec said in a very tight, though even-tempered voice.