Everland(32)

“Enough!” I shout. “Can you two knock it off for just a minute so we can figure out what to do?”

Pete loosens his grip on Doc and gives him a shove. Doc straightens his shirt and waistcoat, not taking his glowering eyes off Pete. I stand in between the boys, hoping they don’t resort to throwing punches.

“Do you really think everyone could die?” I ask.

“Yes, everyone but you,” Doc says. “That’s where this virus appears to be heading.”

“If I am the only Immune, then my antibodies could potentially help not only Bella but all of the Lost Boys.”

“That is correct,” Doc says with a nod. “At least that’s my theory.”

“Let’s get on with it, then,” I say with a sigh. Removing a stack of books from a cot, I rest my head on the pillow. “Take as much as you need. How much is that? A pint?” I ask, trying my best to be brave, but the quiver in my voice betrays me. I close my eyes tight.

“A pint is hardly anything, but that amount won’t be necessary,” Doc says, digging through his medicine bag. “I won’t be taking much of your blood. Right now Bella is the worst of the sick. She will be the one receiving treatment. If the treatment proves successful, we will take care of the others. For now, we need to test you to see if you do carry the antibodies to cure the virus.”

Doc rummages through his medicine bag again, turning from us, but I see the tightness in his jaw. “Besides, you will need your strength to travel to Everland. No sense in draining all of your blood and weakening you right before your journey, especially when we have no idea if you even carry the cure. Since I will be joining you, we will need only a small sample. Just enough to start Bella’s treatment. If we need more, we’ll deal with it later.”

“I’ve already told you that you’re not coming with us,” Pete growls.

“Is that so?” Doc says. “So tell me this, who will be giving Bella her injections? Certainly not you? While I think it’s fantastic you’ve so generously offered your own antibodies to help Bella up until this point, let me remind you, fearless leader, you faint at the sight of needles.” Doc pulls out a long needle from his bag. My heart quickens and I feel a little dizzy. I have never seen a needle so large.

“Now, I’m guessing you have some things to do before venturing into Everland?” Doc says with a wide smirk.

Pete’s face turns pale and he averts his gaze. “I have to check on Blade and Stock to see if they’ve got our stuff together anyway.” He turns to me; his hardened expression fades. “Thank you, Gwen. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

He faces Doc. “Make it quick. We’re leaving before sunset.” Pete marches to the door and slams it behind him, rattling the glass jars lined on the shelves.

“I thought you said you didn’t need much blood,” I say, eyeing the large needle.

Doc snickers as he puts the needle back in his bag. “Don’t worry. This needle is not for you. I took it out to spook Pete. Gets him every time. One of the Scavengers brought this needle back from a farm thinking I could use it. It is a horse’s needle, but I like to keep it as a souvenir. Also, it keeps blokes like him out of my hair.”

Relieved, my shoulders relax and I melt into the cot, suddenly exhausted.

Doc digs through his bag again. “Just lie back. This will feel no worse than the prick of a sewing needle.”

Closing my eyes, I turn my wrists, exposing the inside of my forearms. I wait for the sharp stab to sting the flesh in the crease of my arm. Instead, Doc lifts my hand from the cot and takes hold of my index finger. I open my eyes in time to see him puncture the tip with a tiny needle. A crimson-red bead flows onto the pad of my finger. Doc grabs a small tube from his bag. He squeezes, collecting the blood as it starts to drip.

“That’s it?” I ask, surprised.

“Did you want me to take more?” he says through a chuckle.

“Well, no, but I assumed …”

Doc wipes my finger with an alcohol swab. “You’ve got quite the imagination, don’t you?”

I sigh. “What I wouldn’t give for that to be my biggest problem.”

“That makes two of us.” Doc puts a bandage on the puncture. “There we go. Just like new.”

I feel the corners of my mouth draw up in a smile.

“Are you sure that will be enough?” I ask, examining the small vial of red liquid. “It doesn’t seem like much.”

“It’s plenty. I can get at least two doses out of this sample. Judging Bella’s height and weight, one injection should be enough to begin with.”

“Two doses?” I ask, looking at the vial hardly filled with blood. “How is that possible?”

“Someday I’ll show you how it all works, but for now, you’ll have to accept it as fact,” Doc says with a grin. “Now, I’ve got work to do, but it’s been a great pleasure meeting you.” Doc extends his hand.

“It’s been nice meeting you, too,” I say, shaking his hand.

Doc nods at me before positioning his medispectacles on his face. He takes the small vial of blood, puts it in some sort of contraption, and begins churning at a handle. The circular container holding the sample spins quickly. At the door, I take one last look at Doc.