The last clang of metal boots faded into the dripping darkness of the sewer. Vivian sat hunched against the cold, damp concrete, her face pale and slick with sweat. Her hand clutched at her side, where a dark stain bloomed on her tattered shirt.

  Her face was pale, streaked with sewer grime and the crimson stain of blood,her breath coming in shallow gasps.

  Whiz knelt beside her, his brow furrowed in concern. He gently peeled away the tattered fabric of her shirt, revealing the angry gash. He reached into his medkit, pulling out antiseptic wipes and bandages. "Hold still, Vivian. This might sting a bit."

  He carefully peeled back the fabric, his brow furrowing as he saw the wound. "Damn, that's…" He trailed off, grabbing a disinfectant wipe. As he dabbed at the gash, something caught his eye. He paused, his movements halting.

  His head snapped up. He stared at the wound, then at Vivian's face, and finally, at Jace

  "Jace, come look at this."

  Jace, the group's silent protector, moved with a practiced grace, his hand never straying far from his gun. He crouched beside Whiz, his keen eyes narrowing as he assessed the wound. "What is it? Is it deeper than you thought?"

  Whiz shook his head, his expression a mixture of astonishment and apprehension. "It's… healing. The bleeding's almost stopped. And the wound itself… it's closing up."

  Jace's eyes widened, a flicker of something akin to fear dancing within them. He met Whiz's gaze, and a silent understanding passed between them. They had both seen what the Infection could do. The grotesque mutations, the unnatural resilience. This… this wasn't natural.

  "Did you…did you see that?" Whiz stammered, his voice a hoarse whisper when he saw that Vivian's wound was moving, closing up. "It's…it's healing. Fast."

  Jace stepped closer, his eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively reaching for the pipe he used as a weapon. "What's going on, Vivian? What's happening to you?"

  A flicker of fear crossed Vivian's face. She seemed to shrink back against the wall, her eyes darting between Whiz and Jace. The air in the sewer thickened with suspicion. Both men were thinking the same thing: she was infected, but differently. Mutated, perhaps. Jace grabbed his earpiece when...

  "Wait," Vivian rasped, her voice weak but urgent. "Please…just let me explain."

  Whiz hesitated, his medical instincts warring with a primal fear. "Explain what? How you're healing like some kind of monster?"

  "Whiz!" Jace snapped, his voice sharp. "Give her a chance." He turned back to Vivian, his gaze intense. "Talk. Now."

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Vivian closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength. When she opened them, they were filled with a depth of sadness that belied her youth. "When the infection first started…my father…he was a doctor. He worked at the CDC." She paused, swallowing hard. "He…he injected me with something. He said it would keep me safe."

  Whiz and Jace exchanged a look. A vaccine? A preemptive treatment?

  "And…it did," Vivian continued, her voice gaining a little strength. "I never got sick. Never showed any symptoms. He told me I was immune."

  Whiz’s eyes widened. "Immune? You're saying you're immune to the infection?"

  Vivian nodded slowly. "That's what he said. And…and it seems to be true. Whenever I come across the infected…sometimes they don't attack me. They just…they stare. Like that mutated thing at the bakery... It just stared at me."

  "They just stare?" Jace repeated, incredulous. "You mean, they recognize you?"

  "I don't know," Vivian admitted, her voice laced with confusion. "Maybe they sense something different about me. Something that makes them…hesitate."

  Whiz ran a hand through his hair, his mind reeling. This changed everything. If Vivian was truly immune, she was more than just a survivor. She was a walking, talking miracle. But the implications were terrifying.

  "Is that why?" Jace asked, his voice softer now, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Is that why you didn't want to come to the base? Why you were so reluctant?"

  Vivian nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes. I was afraid. Terrified, actually."

  Whiz's eyes narrowed. "Afraid of what? That they'd celebrate you? That they'd want to study you?"

  Vivian sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Afraid that if they found out about my immunity…I'd never come out of the laboratory again."

  The weight of her words hung in the air. The base was desperate, resources dwindling, hope fading. They would see her as a key, a solution, a means to an end. Her humanity would be secondary.

  Jace, understanding the unspoken fear in her eyes, asked, "What did you mean earlier when you said you didn't want to be a lab rat again?"

  Vivian flinched slightly, her eyes darting away. "It's not important."

  Whiz stepped closer, his expression hard. "Then tell us Vivian. What are you?"

  Vivian stiffened. Her stomach twisted, and a sharp, familiar fear coiled in her chest.

  No no no. Not again.

  The accusation hung heavy in the stale air. For a split second, it was as if she were back there—back in the cold, sterile lab, with wires pressed to her skin, voices analyzing, calculating. Specimen: stable. Regenerative properties: high. Subject exhibits abnormal resistance to infection.

  Whiz saw the pain flicker across her face. He wanted to press, to understand, but before he could utter a word, a low, guttural growl echoed through the sewer tunnel. It was distant, but unmistakable.

  "We can talk about this later," Jace said, his voice urgent. "We need to move. Find somewhere safer to wait out the night." He helped Vivian to her feet, supporting her weight as she limped forward.

  The three of them walked in silence, the only sound the drip, drip, drip of water and the occasional scuttling of rats. Vivian watched Jace and Whiz. Jace, his face etched with concern, constantly checked their surroundings, his hand never straying far from his weapon. Beside him, Whiz walked in silence, deep in thought, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. They were protecting her, but in their concern, she could see the beginnings of the questions that would inevitably come. They would want to know more, need to know more. And she, with her secret, felt like a ticking time bomb, about to detonate in the heart of their fragile hope.

  "Jace," Vivian said softly, breaking the silence. "Thank you."

  Jace glanced at her, his expression softening. "For what?"

  "For giving me a chance to explain."

  "We're a team now,Vivian," Jace said,his voice firm. "We need to look out for each other."

  Whiz nodded in agreement. "Besides," he said with a wry smile, "an immune teammate? That's a pretty valuable asset." He nudged her gently with his elbow. "Just try not to get bitten okay? I'm not sure I can keep up with those super-healing shenanigans."

  Vivian managed a weak smile. "I'll try."

  But as they continued through the labyrinthine tunnels, Vivian couldn't shake the feeling that she had traded one cage for another. Before, she was alone, hiding, protecting her secret. Now, she was with them, safe in their company, but burdened with the knowledge that her secret, once revealed, could shatter the fragile bonds that held them together. The infected were a threat, but the desperation of the uninfected, she knew, could be far more dangerous. And the lab rat in her knew it was only a matter of time.