Ren sat on a thin bed in the meager clinic; everywhere smelled like a mix of urine, blood, and disinfectant; people crying in pain and coughing filled the air. He didn't care about anyone but the girl beside him; he had his arms around her as she almost coughed her chest out; the girl coughed, but Ren felt the pain right in his chest.
"It's okay, Mira; you're going to be just fine," He gently rubbed Mira's back and provided a handkerchief from his pocket.
Mira took it to wipe her mouth, but another series of coughs attacked her, and, this time, stronger. She bent over and wheezed, her eyes shut in pain and her legs twitched with each heavy wheezing cough that left her mouth.
Ren pulled her closer, his legs anxiously shaking as he stared at the blood spurts that scattered on the clinic floor as Mira coughed.
"Oh no..." He took the handkerchief from her and wiped her lips, gently tapping her back, "It's alright, it's alright, Mira. You're alright," He assured.
Mira let him wipe her mouth and after that, she slowly pulled away from him and stared at Ren's face.
"You worry so much, Ren... go live your life, don't bother about me," Mira's sour voice said weakly.
Ren scoffed, "Live my life? Where? With who? Everything is gone, Mira; where do you want me to go?" He moved and held Mira's cold, thin hands, staring into her green eyes that were similar to his, "You want to send me out into the polluted world? Even if there was still life outside the base's walls, I wouldn't dare leave. I will never abandon the only family I have left. Losing mother and father to the virus was bad enough; I'm not losing my elder sister too," he moved and hugged her carefully so he didn't hurt her fragile body.
Mira sniffed, hugging her brother back with her shaky hands, "Thank you, Ren... in my next life, even if I have to suffer the virus again to be with you, I'd still choose to be your sister," She promised.
Ren smiled, "Don't worry, I'll find you a permanent cure, I promise," He said in a serious tone.
Mira smiled tiredly, "I need to lie down," She whispered.
Ren immediately stood, helping Mira to lower her head into her small backpack, which he used as a makeshift pillow, and then he gently lifted her legs onto the bed.
He squatted in front of her bed and stared at her dropping eyes, "I'll go look for some water to clean the floor and for your drinking too," He whispered.
Mira sleepily nodded without saying a word.
Ren didn't want to disturb her so he quietly stood and turned away. He went to the foot of her bunk and retrieved the small bucket he had found last night when scavenging for supplies.
He hadn't even stepped when their commander trooped in with his medical squad. Even though no one really liked them. However, each time they appeared in the clinic, they were a symbol of temporary hope for everyone__ for the Beast-bounds.
"Everyone! Instead of twice, your shots will now be reduced to only once a week! As for those whose conditions are worsening, you have only two days to show an improvement or you shall be removed from the base," Their commander spoke loudly as he stood at the center of the clinic.
The commander, Reed, was a young man in his early thirties; he wore a green commander's uniform with his badges on his breasts and cap, showing his rank in the military.
Ren stepped backward to his sister's bed as the squad moved toward his sister's bunk bed. She was among the first patients to receive a serum shot.
"Commander," Ren bowed his head to Reed.
"Mira Caspian," Reed called as he stood beside Mira's bed.
"Let me help her up," Ren immediately went to help his weak sister sit up but the commander stopped him.
"Let her be. We won't be giving her any shots, she's gone too far," Reed said and signaled his squad to carry the serum kit to the next bunk.
"No!" Ren suddenly jumped in front of Reed, blocking him from leaving.
Reed stood there, a big, dissatisfied frown on his face.
Ren realized what he had done and immediately stepped aside, "I'm sorry, Commander, forgive my spontaneity," he bowed his head.
"Do you have something to say, Ren?" Reed questioned in a crisp voice, his blue eyes sharp and impatient.
Ren swallowed, pushing his hands into his pockets, and his green eyes focused on the commander's face.
"Yes, Commander. My sister, she -"
"She isn't showing any signs of improvement, Ren. She will be disposed of in two days with the other worsening Beast-bounds," Reed cut Ren off, his tone dismissive.
Ren balled his fists, he hated the way his sister was being referred to, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Do not banish her, Reed, please," He spoke quietly.
Reed paused, staring at Ren with calculative eyes, "Do not think you could ask favors because your late father was the former commander of this Base7. I'm in charge now, and you must respect me. Do you understand?" Reed stepped closer to Ren, pinning him with a hard gaze.
Ren nodded, "I understand, commander," he replied, looking down at his feet.
Reed gave a short nod, "Look around you, Ren. We're running out of supplies; I have to be smart with my job and act fast; if not, the virus will spread back to us, survivors. You know that no one is entirely free, our systems might have overcome the virus with the help of the serum, but we all know that we're hanging on a thin line to being Beast-bound. The worse their condition gets, the stronger the virus becomes, and in a little time, we all will become infected again, and a second phase is a phase of no return, Ren." He turned and pointed to Mira.
"We have to let go of her and her likes; yes, she is not beast-bound yet. But letting her or anyone like her stay is a waste of serum that should be used for those who show potential healing progress. My job is a tough one, Ren; to protect the citizens, I must become a monster. Unless you wish to suffer an infection again, Ren." Reed stated in his commander's voice.
Ren gritted his teeth and slowly nodded, "I understand." He bowed his head and stepped away.
He didn't like that Reed categorized him as a survivor, but he couldn't correct that. It was only he and his sister who knew about his status: Free. And he intended to keep it that way.
In a world like this, the moment they discovered his status, they would capture him and send him to the lab for experiments, thinking he was the cure to their virus infection.
Reed gave Ren one last look before marching forward to supervise the serum injection and to take note of who to dispose of.
Ren walked back to his sister and stared at her sleeping face; indeed, she was weak and pale. But he was never going to give up on her, as long as she wasn't beast-bound yet, he would do everything possible to care for her.
With a determined will, he picked up the bucket again and strode out of the clinic.
Orange Hue sky. Dry, dusty grounds. Faded buildings with weakened roofs.
That was their environment.
Base7 was second in wealth, yet he struggled to see the wealth. It's been ten years since the virus infection attacked but the world seemed to have remained the same, stagnant.
It was hard to get their hands on technology, each day was a struggle in their dystopian world, and supplies kept diminishing with each passing day. Women were a scarce commodity, and if found, they would be used by ruthless government officials for pleasure and reproduction.
Sometimes, he was glad that his sister was sick; she would have been taken by one of the officers, maybe even Reed. But he still needed her to survive, he'll find a way to keep her safe when the time comes.
The wind suddenly picked up, blowing specks of dust and dirt up in the air. Ren raised his hand to his eyes to shield them from the harsh wind that came from the deserts that surrounded them.
He walked past the males' quarters which were closer to the kitchen, heading behind the kitchen where a water well was built.
He hoped he would find water there; it tends to dry up on its own most of the time, and it was the only source of water available.
He got to the back of the kitchen and halted when he saw Zarek - his friend-turned-enemy, drawing water from the water well; his officer's uniform made him look more formidable than usual.
He wanted to withdraw his steps, but it was too late; he'd been spotted.
"Ren! Come over here. Don't run away from an old friend," Zarek locked his gaze on Ren, a smirk playing on his lips.
Ren immediately turned around to escape but he got pushed down to the floor by one of Zarek's friends.
"Get out of my way, Lynx," Ren grunted as he quickly stood from the floor, his wrist hurting as he twisted it a bit on his fall.
"That would be no fun, Ren," Lynx replied with a grin.
A fist slammed into Ren's face. He hit the ground hard, his head smacking a rock.
His ears rang. His vision blurred.
And somewhere in the haze, Zarek's voice echoed with venomous glee:
As his head rang with hazy sounds and his visions blurred, he heard Zarek's mocking voice.
"Once the son of a commander—now a nobody."
Their mocking laughter echoed through the space, reverberating in his ears and worsening the pounding in his head.