chapter Fourteen: Unmatched energy
Samantha
Theo’s fingers trailed down my hand and his eyes sparkled with excitement. Alex’s pronouncement was clear in my head and I expected Theo to jump for joy, but he remained distracted with glazed eyes and an uncontrollable smile.
Alex fiddled with his cuffs and a visible frown appeared on his
forehead.
“No matter what you are staying for, I’m so grateful for a second chance,” Theo said to me, and despite the pain he was feeling I could feed off the genuine happiness radiating from him. “I promise I’ll never lie to you again or disappoint you.”
It was rare to see such a radiant smile directed at me, and I didn’t know how to respond to it. So I turned to Alex. “May I have
a look at the antidote?”
Alex showed me a bottle, a strange, greenish paste. When I held it up to the light, the paste seemed to writhe through the crystal container. The pungent aroma of vinegar and garlic wafted up,
making my nose wrinkle.
“I afraid it’s not the right antidote…”
Alex looked shocked, but Theo didn’t care. He kept his eyes on
me, which made me blush a little. But I wouldn’t forget the most important thing.I repeatedly checked Theo’s condition while questioning Alex. In the end, I was sure of one thing.
“It’s my father’s poison.” I said in deep pain. “I’m sorry, Theo…”
“Never blame yourself, Samantha.” Theo grabbed my hand and stared into my eyes. “It’s not your fault. Promise me. You will
never blame yourself whatever happened.”
I couldn’t promise him. And how was it not my fault? It was my
father who poisoned him. The dullest person could figure out
that it’s related to me.
I ducked my head to avoid his gaze. “I promise I’ll try my best to
cure you.” Then I turned to Alex. “Is there a lab in the house? I
want to try a remedy my dad taught me.”
Alex’s eyes lit up and he began bouncing from foot to foot.
“That’s wonderful-”
“I want to see the sick packmates to understand what I’m up
against.” Alex hesitated and scratched the back of his neck,
“Theo won’t like it.”
I insisted, and he nodded gravely. “Alright, I’ll take you to the
clinic where some patients are quarantined to prevent the
chapter Fourthed energy
spread of the disease, though it’s ironic that the sick outnumber
the healthy.”
We got to the clinic and had to change out of our clothes into
overalls and gloves. A pair of sliding glass doors opened and
the strong smell of antiseptic hit my nostrils. Several rows of
beds lined the walls. Patients lay in bed and their faces were
pale and drawn. IV lines snaked into their arms. There was a lot
of groaning and I was shocked at how many people were sick.
and suffering from this strange ailment.
It was a kind of blood poison that seeped into their veins and
caused their blood to have a dark hue. As it progresses, it
weakens the heart and cripples the immune system. Then it
leads to organ failure, and ultimately, a slow and agonizing
death.
“Have you ever seen this poison?” With my focus on the
patients, I didn’t notice the tentativeness in Alex’s voice.
“No.” I shook my head. “But it’s very similar to one of the Dark
Moon pack’s poisons. It’s hard to distinguish them.”
I wrote down all of my findings on a piece of paper and Alex led
me outside.
We headed to the lab, which was a massive structure that
resembled a fortress with multiple floors and corridors
connecting every part.
The first floor was empty. The second floor consisted of a large infirmary. And finally, the third floor housed the main lab. Alex
opened a door to a research room..
Alex and I began to measure and mix chemicals, carefully observing reactions, and recording data. We weren’t closer to unlocking the secrets of the toxin but I needed Alex to get well.
Hours turned into two days. My eyes burned from exhaustion,
and the smell of sulfur made me sneeze, but I worked hard to
deliver my best.
I wasn’t entirely sure of producing a successful potion, but at
least I had to try. The perfect antidote to the poison was in my
father’s study, I had seen it several times, but there was no way
he would want to help Theo and his pack.
In the afternoon of the second day, Theo burst into the room,
scolding Alex for letting me overwork myself. I didn’t like him
being there because he was going to disrupt the flow of my
work due to his concern for me.
“Samantha, stop this and rest. You’ve barely eaten.” Theo’s face
was set, but I refused to budge or remove my gloves.
“We’re almost done, and I won’t leave until I finish. One small
mistake could ruin everything.”
“I insist,” he said firmly, but I stared at him, puzzled by his irrational behavior. “I don’t want you getting sick.”
“I won’t get sick. I know you’re worried, but I’m fine. I’m not the
one poisoned.”
“Samantha!” he barked and my heart squeezed with irritation. “I
just want you to be okay.”
“Leave her alone, Theo, and stop overreacting,” Alex intervened. “The time you’re wasting arguing, she could have finished by
now.
Alex and I had developed a close friendship over the days. He
was quite easygoing, and he cracked me up even though the
situation was bleak.
“I have good news,” he said, totally disregarding Theo. “We tried
the antidote on some patients, and it seems to be working on
gamma and omega wolves.”
“Oh, thank the goddess!” I clapped excitedly. “That means we
have to hurry and finish up. I’m so happy.”
“Eat and rest first,” Theo said firmly. “Why is everyone ignoring
me like I’m speaking nonsense?”
“Because you are,” I replied
without food, it’s no big deal.”
“That ends now,” he said, and before I knew it, he swept me off
my feet. I protested, screaming for him to put me down, but he Lucid me away from the lab.
“Put me down, I can walk!” I demanded, but he refused.
“You know what? If you’re making an antidote to leave me, I’d
rather die.”
