Chapter 12 - Infection

Everyone rushes to help us, eyes wide, mouths open.

_ All the villagers: “ What happened to you kids?? ” “ Oh my God, his mouth is covered in blood! ” “ Help me carry him! ”

The villagers take over and carry the guardian Keren.

_ Villagers: “ Someone find the doctor, we're going to entrust this young man to him ! ”

I tilt my head in confusion.

_ Ayden: “ A doctor? ”

In the wake of this, the orphans arrive, their bodies overcome with emotional shivers.

_ All the orphans: “ What happened?? ” “ Why is the killer Keren in this state?? ”

_ Ayden: “ The Recluses attacked us… ”

_ Son: “ What?? ”

_ Ayden: “ We were walking along quietly when we were stopped by an old man. Then, shortly after, these men chased us to kill us… ”

No one can get over what I said, most of them with their hands clamped over their mouths. With his fist clenched, Son still refuses to accept the situation.

_ Son: “ What an idiot I am, I thought everything was fine, when my buddy was in deep trouble from the start. ”

_ Hazel: “ ... ”

In the aftermath, Maïko collapses to the ground.

_ All the orphans: “ MAÏKO!! ”

_ Shailly: “ No, not you, Maïko! ” she said, imagining the worst.

We rush to help her up, I take her last water bottle from her bottle cage and give her some water to drink.

_ Maïko: “ Thank you. ” she says, exhausted.

_ Ayden: “ We fell down a waterfall and she slightly injured her thigh. Luckily, we had bandages with us. Then we walked all day carrying Keren without stopping. So now she's exhausted. ”

_ Hazel: “ I understand why you're wet and dirty. ”

Shailly is carrying Maïko on her back.

_ Shailly: “ Hang on, Maïko, I'll take you to the infirmary! ”

They leave without wasting any time, gradually moving away from their classmates.

_ Son: “ We'll do the same as the girls, hold on to me, Ayden. ”

_ Ayden: “ But you're smaller than me, are you sure you'll manage? ”

Son frowns.

_ Son: “ Whatever, get in. ”

_ Ayden: “ Okay, thanks… ”

At that moment, a big problem comes back to my mind.

_ Son: “ What are you waiting for, man? Get in! ”

_ Ayden: “ Damn! I got caught up in the moment and completely forgot to warn them that the guardian Keren is infected! ”

I run as fast as I can to warn the villagers.

_ Son: “ Hey, where are you going like that? ”

_ Ayden: “ I absolutely must find him and warn the adults. If he really is infected... then... he could infect others! ”

The orphans watch Ayden leave hastily without understanding why. At the same time, the villagers carrying Keren cross paths with Moana, Gwen, and Ay.

_ Gwen: “ Keren! ”

_ Moana: “ Why is he in this state? Is that why there was that scream earlier? ”

_ Villager: “ That's right, I don't know what's wrong with him, but his mouth is covered in blood and he's unconscious. We need to get a doctor to him quickly! ”

_ Ay: “ Bring him to me, I'll examine him right away! Take me to your infirmary. ”

_ Gwen: “ I'll come with you. ”

_ Moana: “ Have you seen Ayden and Maïko? ” she asks the villagers.

_ Villager: “ Yes, those are the ones who were carrying Keren. We need to take care of them too. ”

Without wasting a second, the chef hurries off.

_ Moana: “ Okay. I'll go meet them right away. Thank you for your help! ”

I continue on my way, shouting the name of the tutor Keren, hoping that the group with him will hear me.

_ Moana: “ That's Ayden's voice. ”

I come face to face with the village chief. She kneels down and takes me in her arms.

_ Moana: “ Are you okay? It's my fault, I should never have agreed to your exploration. ”

_ Ayden: “ I'm fine, but there's something more urgent. Guardian Keren is infected! ”

The chief's pupils dilate.

_ Moana: “ What are you talking about? ”

_ Ayden: “ I'm not sure, it's probably a virus he caught. During our exploration, we came across an old man who was also infected. And when the guardian Keren helped him up, he said that we were all infected now. ”

A drop of sweat forms.

_ Moana: “ It can't be… ”

_ Ayden: “ The strange thing is, Maïko and I don't have anything abnormal. But anyway, if Guardian Keren is infected, he could very well infect the whole village. ”

She straightens up.

_ Moana: “ Damn, you're right. I don't know if you can get infected by touch, but to be on the safe side, everyone who was near him will be quarantined. ”

_ Ayden: “ Okay. ”

_ Moana: “ Go to the infirmary and warn the others about the situation. I'll go find the others and put them in isolation. ”

_ Ayden: “ Understood. ”

Footsteps grow louder and louder.

_ Son: “ Hey! I finally caught up with you. ” he said, out of breath.

_ Ayden: “ Follow me to the infirmary. ”

_ Son: “ Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on!? ” he said, following him again.

We run towards the infirmary.

_ Ayden: “ By the way, is there really a doctor here? ”

_ Son: “ Huh? Oh, yes, her name is Ay. She has blue hair tied back in a ponytail. You can't miss her. ”

_ Ayden: “ How did she manage to get into the village? ”

_ Son: “ If I understand correctly, she's going to live here with her tribe, and in exchange, she's going to take care of the villagers. ”

_ Ayden: “ That's why some of the huts were lit up earlier. So it's them. I understand better now. ”

We arrive at the entrance to the infirmary. We rush inside, and I see the famous blue-haired Ay surrounded by her guardian Gwen and a few villagers.

_ Ayden: “ Listen to me. Guardian Keren is infected! ”

_ Gwen: “ What?! ”

_ Villager: “ What do you mean? ”

_ Son: “ Huh?! ”

_ Ayden: “ It's a long story, but he might have a virus. ”

Ay jumps up and takes a tourniquet with her to draw blood.

_ Ayden: “The chief told me that the people who were near him will be quarantined. ”

_ All the villagers: “ That's terrible! ” “ Okay, let's avoid contact with other people and go to a cabin right next door. ” “ Okay! ”

The villagers leave the infirmary one by one, and Shailly and Maïko arrive shortly after.

_ Ay: “ Yes, he is infected. The blood sample has changed color slightly. It is red but with orange spots. That said, I don't know the origin of the virus. ”

_ Gwen: “ Is he going to be okay? ”

_ Ay: “ If I manage to slow down the spread of the virus and eliminate the new blood cells that are forming, then yes, he will pull through. But it will take a long time. ”

This announcement is a breath of fresh air for all of us.

_ Gwen: “ Okay. ”

_ Ay: “ I also need to immunize us against possible contraction of the virus. ”

_ Gwen: “ You can do that? ”

_ Ay: “ Yes, I have syringe injectors with me that prevent any type of symptoms from forming in the body. It's a multi-purpose antidote, if you will. ”

Son's pupils dilate.

_ Son: “ It's incredible that you have that! ”

_ Ay: “ I always carry a few antidotes or performance enhancers with me. ”

_ Ayden: “ By the way, Maïko and I spent the whole day with our tutor Keren. Despite everything, we feel good, and we don't know why. ”

_ Ay: “ Oh, really? I thought she was there because of the virus too. I'm going to take a blood sample from both of you anyway. ”

_ Ayden: “ Okay. ”

Ay takes a blood sample and the results come back.

_ Ay: “ Everything is fine for now. But if you have any problems, don't hesitate to come see us. ”

_ Ayden: “ Understood .”

_ Gwen: " You can take the kids outside. We'll take care of Keren and Maïko. Thanks again for your help. “

_ Shailly: ” No worries. See you later, Maïko, get some rest! “

_ Maïko: ” Thanks! "

On the way out, Son stares at me.

_ Son: “ Are you sure you're okay, man? ”

_ Ayden: “ Yes, I'm fine, I'm just very tired, I'm just going to go back to my cabin. ”

_ Son: “ It’s work. ”

Meanwhile.

_ Gwen: “ I'm sorry you had to go through such a turbulent exploration. ”

Maïko raises both hands, palms facing outward, then shakes her head from left to right as a sign of negation.

_ Maïko: “ No, no, it's not your fault. ”

_ Gwen: “ When you're ready, you can tell me how the exploration went. ”

_ Maïko: “ Okay. ”