She looks at me, shocked, as if I am doing something stupid. I probably am but it has got to be done. I don’t think she or Max have realised just how dangerous our position is. But I have to know what is happening and if the WHO is still there.

Dee points at an outside door. It looks more like a window but I can see a handle. “Are you sure?” she asks, some of her bluster gone.

“Yes.” I start toward it and then stop. “If I’m not back in a couple of hours lock yourselves away.”

“Why?” Max asks. I notice that he is now standing and trying to leave the table, but Dee has a hold on his arm.

“The glass,” I say.

“What about it?”

I sigh. “How many were in the car park? How many are hiding in houses? They are all going to…

“You can’t,” Dee says. “There is no fixing this.” All the fight has left her and she is just staring at the table.

“But Max is immune. Surely we can find someone to fix this,” I say.

Dee just shakes her head. “Not for those already infected. I don’t think they will ever come back.” She glances at the door and I wonder if she was close to Robert.

“Sorry,” Max says.

I blink. Of all the inadequate words…

“Don’t be,” Dee snaps. “Somehow to think that this was an attack makes me feel a little better, that it was done for a purpose, no matter how misguided. But instead you say sorry, as though you did it on a whim.” She looks away in disgust. I can see why she would think this but I can’t accept it. If anything I am comforted that Max may realise that he…

Max looked shocked. Dee leant forward and looked into his eyes repeating the question.

“Have you smoked one yet?”

Max shook his head. “There was no smoking in the airport. And then everything went wrong.”

“So,” Dee says. “You hold a something that allows you to become patient zero for the virus. You spread it, but only you survive.”

“No,” Max says, his face shocked. “Only people who have something wrong with them get the virus.”

Dee gives a sad smile and points at the door. “You met Robert?”

I look at the door and although the pounding has stopped I know who she is talking about. I nod.

“Well, he had nothing wrong with him…”

Max interrupts. “Then he ought to have been fine.”

“…except hay fever. Hay fever!” Dee practically screams the last word at him.

I look at Max. “It doesn’t just work if you have a…

Max shifts under Dee’s gaze. I can see he is really uncomfortable but I think of the child outside and the blood at the airport, and Colin.

“Is it really your fault?” I ask and I hope he is going to answer no. I like Max. Please say you were made to do it, I think.

But Max gives a small nod. And then looks up sharply at my gasp. “But it wasn’t meant to go like this.”

“What then?” Dee says, slamming her hand down on the table and making Max jump.

“It was for a better future,” Max starts, but Dee interrupts him.

“This is not better…”

“No,” he says, hanging his head and looking at the table. “It went wrong.”

I shoot Dee a hard stare. We need to hear him, but if she keeps interrupting he will never finish. She crosses her arms and leans back…

I suppose I have a decision to make. I can stay here and not listen to whatever Dee is going to say, and I think that she is going to get Max to talk, or I can follow them. I don’t know. It would be great if I could put Max on a perfect pedestal. He is a big bear of a man and to say I’m not attracted would be a lie. I’m just not certain I will like him after his confession. Staring at the floor I notice that we have tracked some dirt in. I get fixated, not thinking about anything. If only this were a nightmare.

“Bitsy?” Max has come back and is standing in front of me, a concerned expression on his face. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t even notice that he had come in. I nod and swallow, my mouth suddenly dry.

“Come on…

“What do you mean?” I ask.

But Dee ignores me instead she walks away, through the empty food counters and into the back.

“Bring him through,” she calls.

I look at Max. He shrugs and goes over to Colin who is out cold.

“I’ll take his body, if you grab his legs.”

Without waiting for an answer he picks Colin up in a sort of bear hug. I pick up his feet and we slowly move him into the back. I’m full of worries about the door and the thing outside that is pounding on it.

“Do you think it’ll hold?” I ask.

Max looks at the door. “It should.”

We carry on the slow stumble into the back. I can’t see Dee.

“Over here.”

Max steers us toward Dee’s voice. She is standing in front of an open door. The door seems to be the heavy duty kind and…

Dee leads us into the dark corridor and I can’t help but shiver at the darkness. Max moves closer and places his hand on my arm. I move out of the way. I want to like Max but he has something to do with all this and I just don’t know if I can trust him. Max takes the hint and keeps his distance.

Dee stops and turns right.

“This way.” Her voice rings out, echoing around the hospital.

I wince at the noise. I just hope that there are no more of those things. Up ahead Dee is standing next to a pair of double doors. They are locked by a broom being pushed through the handles. She removes it and then walks inside. I notice that the sign says it is the cafe.

At least there will be some food. Just the thought of food makes my stomach…

“You aren’t hurt?” the nurse asks again.

Max shakes his head. “No.”

She turns her attention to me. “What about you?” she nods to my arm.

“Just bruised,” I say.

“The creature used its claws?”

I shake my head. “It never touched me. He did.” I look at Colin.

Colin is wrapping the sleeve of his shirt around the wound. “Did the creature do that?” the nurse asks.

Colin nods and the nurse turn fully toward him. It isn’t a friendly stance though, instead she appears aggressive.

“What’s your name?” she asks.

I introduce us.

“I’m Dee,” she says with a faint smile. “Bitsy, why don’t you move over here toward me.”

I frown but do as I’m told. I don’t like having the open door behind me. I stand next to Dee and turn to Colin, whom Dee hasn’t looked away from.

“Who hurt you?” she asks, but I…