I pause before I open the door out of the cells. Turning, I wonder if I ought to try any of the others. Conor looks with me.

“Do you think there are people in there?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. Should I look? I’m not certain. I feel that we need to run, to escape. I take a step back and Conor takes one with me. I smile at him, trying to show my confidence, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes.

I’m about to turn to one of the doors when something slams into the other side of the double doors in front of us. Conor gives a little cry and I release his hand. If I have to fight then I will need both hands. The lock suddenly goes with a crack and is followed by a shrieking claxon. In front of me is Max…

The scientists all huddle at the other end of the room while Max and I finish our food. My stomach gurgles in happiness and I can’t help but grin. I just hope that Conor and the others are being fed. Finished, I wash my hands. Max turns me and places a thumb at the corner of my mouth.

“Missed a bit,” he rumbles licking the red sauce off his thumb. I feel my knees go weak. He lowers his head and licks the corner gently. Then he places a kiss on my lips. For a moment there is no gone, no scientists, there is just Max and the sensation of his kiss.

Behind us there is a cough. Max groans and pulls away.

“What about the people you came with?” Jonas asks.

I share a look with Max. Do we trust them?

“They are human,” he says.

I guess we…

“Is this place bugged?” I ask.

“I don’t think so,” replies Lucas. “We can’t be certain but as far as I know we had no bugs before the outbreak. And they have brought nothing with them.”

“So, what? They turned up and took over?” I ask

“Judge was already here doing some security work. The others showed up and took over,” Jonas says, his voice sounding tired.

“You knew when we chatted on the internet?” I ask.

He looks away. “Yes.”

“I suppose the guys we were meant to meet are more of Judge’s friends,” I say, sneering.

“Yes.”

“Good job we can get you out of here then,” Max says.

“What?” Temple snaps. Not sure I’m happy about her joining our little club, but then I can’t be the only woman.

Max doesn’t say anything. He simply uncrosses his arms and runs to the other side of the room…

As we move deeper into the complex I am struck by how white and sterile everything is. It is feeling more and more like a hospital and as we move my fear increases. I know that Max will be able to smell it and as if sensing my unease he takes my hand and squeezes it.

“So,” Jonas says as he walks. “What happened to the cure?”

“We had to use it,” Max says, his voice a low rumble that echoes down the corridor.

“Had to use it…” Jonas looks shocked.

“Don’t you realise how important that was!” The woman says, her voice high and fast.

“Temple,” Jonas snaps. “I’m sure they had reason.”

“I did,” Max rumbles, but I can tell he is angry.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, trying to dispel the rising tension.

“How can you say that?” Temple says, rounding on me and stopping in the…

We drive around the back of the building through a gate and past more armed guards. Then Judge pulls up to a plain door.

“We’re here,” he says and turns to look at us. “Has anyone been bitten?”

We all shake our heads. Well, we haven’t in a sense, not in the way they think we have. Conor looks at us, but doesn’t say anything. I give him a quick reassuring smile.

“Then let’s go,” Judge says. He gets out of the car and Max opens the door. I’m surprised it opened, somehow I expected it to be locked. The other thing I’m shocked at is their acceptance that we haven’t been bitten. We could be lying.

Instead of voicing this I get out and start toward the door. Conor still has hold of me and I can feel a slight tremor from him. He is so scared.

“Can you…