Chp. 44 “Welcome to the Bureau”

I heard the total of six gun shots as I fell back against the cold brick wall, feeling immediate searing white pain in my arms, legs, and chest. I couldn’t breathe, and my eyes searched the man that was trying to kill me.

But who was he?

I glanced to my right, seeing that Roger had covered my friends but it was useless, this guy wasn’t after them, he was after me. I pressed my hands against my chest, feeling a good amount of blood exit through my skin and over my hands as my heart struggled to beat. I didn’t look down because I knew if I saw how much blood I was losing I would most likely faint. My vision was blurry, but I was trying to take deep breaths and wait for my healing to start.

In that very moment I had seen my life flash before my eyes, my parents, Teal, Avery, Max… everything. I had been shocked and caught off guard, and all that had happened in these short seconds had traumatized me. The pain was unbearable, and my head was light headed, and not being able to breathe made it even worse.

Then before I knew it I felt my body responding, and the familiar tingling sensation flowed through my body. It almost hurt, the healing, but it was because the bullets were being involuntarily pushed out of my body. I listened tothem clink as they fell to the cement ground.

The black Dodge Charger pealed out of the parking lot as I turned my head towards my friends that were huddled behind the Tahoe. I slouched down to the cold ground, feeling the last of my wounds finally heal in my chest as I released it with my hands. I didn’t know what to think, all I could remember was the pain that I had just went through in those short ten seconds.

Avery was the first to touch me, and seeing her face brought me back to reality and made me remember my biggest of problems.

Avery was sick.

Finally I was back to my normal state, and I looked down at my white shirt that was almost completely covered in crimson blood. The metallic smell entered through my nose as I leaned my head back against the wall again.

I had lost a lot of blood, but my body was still trying to recuperate.

I heard Roger speak, “We need to get both of them to the Bureau now, they know Andy’s a Healer and Avery might be infected.”

I gazed into Avery’s eyes that were searching mine, she was scared, and she was sad. I brought my hand up to her cheek and forced a smile, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shook her head, “It wasn’t until this morning, and I figured I was nauseated from the car ride, but it only got worse during the day.”

I felt tears start to well up in my eyes but I refused to let them to fall. I couldn’t allow that, at least not here. I shook my head in response, not knowing what to say to her. What if she did have the disease? What was I going to do?

“Do you think I have it, Andy?”

I looked at her, feeling the sadness wash all over me and drench me with depression. What could I tell her? Max and Gage had two completely different reactions to the vaccine, and according to Roger, her reaction was anything but good.

I shook my head again, “I don’t know.”

“Avery, I need you to get in the Tahoe, we’re going to the Bureau now.”

I looked at Roger, realizing that the plans had changed the moment we had walked out of that office. I tried to stand but I was still weak, so Max and Gage helped me. I noticed they were wearing masks over their noses, and I knew it was just a precaution because of Avery, but it honestly scared me. Roger had grabbed them while we were still in the office, and I knew Max and Gage were worried, and only trying to stay healthy.

They helped me into the Tahoe and Roger spoke, “Follow me, and stay close.”

He disappeared into his Mustang while he dialed into his phone, and Gage started up the vehicle. I felt it lurch forward as we hit the road, accelerating quickly. I looked at Avery who was looking out of the window, and I couldn’t tell if she was crying or not. She felt tense, and for some reason this nearly made me break down. I knew I had to stay strong for Avery, and for the other two that were sitting in the front seat refusing to look back at us.

We were both in very dangerous situations.

Then Gage spoke, “What the fuck just happened?”

Max looked back at me, clear sympathy in his light eyes, “They’re after Andy, and now they know she’s a Healer. Which is like, really bad.”

I shook my head, “It’ll be alright, we’re going to the Bureau.” I was still a little out of breath but Max and Gage were still confused and frightened. It could’ve been them that had gotten shot six times, and they wouldn’t have survived like I had.

Then I heard Max speak, “Well, I guess we know you can heal from a bullet wound.”

Gage responded, “Multiple bullet wounds.”

“Now’s not the time guys.”

Gage then made a hard right, jerking the Tahoe onto another secluded street as I peeked out of the window. I crawled over to Avery, wrapping one arm around waist and laying my head on her lap.

There was a very unfamiliar pain in my heart, but it was almost crippling how bad it hurt. I was scared, and holding her was the only thing I could do right now. I was still covered in my own blood but it seemed like Avery didn’t care one bit about me ruining her clothes. Her hand played in my hair as Gage continued to speed off behind Roger, and I was praying we would get there soon.

For Avery’s sake.

I had no idea what to expect, and now that the Tahoe was coming to a halt I was forced back into reality. I saw Roger approach Gage’s side of the car and Gage rolled down his window, “What now?”

“Just follow me, I’ve called and ordered them to set up the back door for us to enter. We have to be quick but quite, I don’t know if there are any Feds out here this far from the Bureau.”

Gage nodded, “Just lead the way.”

Roger returned to his car and suddenly a large part of the ground began to rumble, and soon the land started to rise. I heard Max and Gage whisper in awe, “No fucking way…”

“Andy, are you seeing this?”

I was, every last bit, and I was in complete fascination. The form was a box like structure, built of metal rods and thick metal walls, which was topped with artificial vegetation for a disguise. I watched as the rising confinement came to a stop, and Roger drove his mustang into the box.

Gage spoke, “Do I follow?”

I responded, “You won’t fit, just wait.”

The box lowered, and we watched as Roger disappeared below ground as the artificial grass leveled with the real vegetation. It looked so believable, but then again it was night time, and it was dark.

Then after about three minutes, the land began rising again, and it was empty, indicating Gage to enter. He spoke, “Here goes nothing…”

He drove onto the platform and I felt a shift of weight as the confinement held us up, and soon we began lowering down just like Agent Roger had. It only took a couple of minutes to level, but we immediately saw Agent Roger’s black Mustang sitting about 20 feet from where we were.

It was amazing, it was as if we were in this secret Underground Railroad, but it wasn’t a railroad, it was a tunnel. It had to be new because the walls were perfect, no cracks at all in the cement and the well paved road would do us good. Max whispered, “This is amazing…”

I realized we also had no reception down here because the radio was nothing but distant static now.  I peered forward, seeing the lit tunnel ahead of me that seemed to never end. Roger had said we were far from the Bureau, but exactly how long was this tunnel?

Then we started driving, and I had no idea where this thing would take us. I looked at Avery, whose light eyes were fixated on the path ahead of her. I wanted to say something to her, I wanted to make her feel better, but I had no idea on what to say. My hand slipped into hers, and I was trying to let her know I was here for her, and that everything was going to be ok.

Even though I had a bad gut feeling that nothing was ok right now.

We continued down the tunnel for a good amount of time, it had to be at least a couple of miles from the actual Bureau entrance. Meanwhile, I had entertained my brain by thinking about everything that had happened in the last hour.

How did we not pick up on being followed? And how did, whoever the hell tried to kill me, find us in the first place? The more I thought about it, the sooner I began to realize who exactly we were messing with. It probably wasn’t hard to track me down, considering I wasn’t necessarily hiding, and these were government officials.

They were people who worked on super confidential cases, such as the supernatural, and they literally got away with murder. I’m sure tracking down an 18 year old with three of her friends was actually no problem at all.

Not only had I seen the face of the man who had shot me, I had also witnessed a brutal head-shot that Agent Roger delivered to the guys partner. It was horrific, and I had prayed that none of my other friends had seen it. The mental image was still burned permanently into my brain, and it continuously replayed over and over again.

It was actually making me sick.

The shooting had been so quick and so painful all in about fifteen seconds, and half of the time I had been literally dying. The feeling of being shot was nothing my brain could ever attempt to fathom, and the pain was so surreal, especially during the moment. I still remembered it considering it only happened several minutes ago. The warm sensation that was followed by the blinding pain that sent you into hysteria. The hot, crimson blood that had seeped over my hands and the front of my body was now dry, clinging to my skin that was aching to be washed. In that moment of pain I had wanted to die, because the pain was that bad, but in the back of my head I knew I would heal and be alright.

And now the Fed that shot me knew that as well, and they were going to come after me again, only this time to capture me, not kill me.

Then the vehicle came to a halt, and I realized we were now in this underground parking tower. Roger exited his car and walked over to us, “Ok, just follow me up the parking tower, we’ll park on the Ground Level. Then we can get you guys settled into your rooms.”

Gage just nodded, along with the rest of us as he disappeared into his vehicle once again. We drove up two stories and then watched as he parked in what seemed to be his usual spot. It was marked “Agent Roger Boyd” and on the opposite side there was vacant spaces that Gage occupied. We exited the vehicle and Roger spoke, “If you all have your luggage, we can get some help out here to-”

“No, we can handle the luggage, just show us in,” Gage had taken command immediately, beginning to unload all of our bags. Rolling luggage was probably the best invention that day, and we were soon following Roger into the entrance of the Bureau. Apparently we were on the Ground Level, which was also the level that would lead you out onto Earth’s surface instead of still being below ground.

This place was built highly top-secret, I could tell you that.

The double glass doors slid open for us and we continued to follow Roger, and when the actual lobby of the Bureau came into view I was stunned. It looked like an office lobby, filled with seats and couches and the occasional TV. Is almost seemed as if it was a normal waiting room, but I of course knew better.

“Agent Boyd,” the young lady at the reception desk spoke, and my eyes immediately took her in. Instead of looking at my eyes they fell on my blood stained shirt and I watched in amusement as they widened in shock. “Oh gosh…”

Roger smiled, “Hey, look, my clients need to check in early, if you don’t mind.”

She was still a bit frantic from my clothing, and she questioned anxiously, “Roger, she needs help-”

“I’m a Healer, don’t worry,” I cut her off, and this is when I was allowed to take in her full face as she turned to me. She was gorgeous, young, and couldn’t be a say over 25. I wondered if she had super abilities, or if she was just plain ole’ human working full time as a receptionist.

I saw her face relax in the same moment it contorted to joy, “You’re a Healer?”

I nodded, and I couldn’t help but let the flirtatious side of me come out to play a little bit. I didn’t mean to let it happen, it just was sort of an instinct, and I prayed Avery hadn’t caught onto my slip up.

She began typing away and spoke, “I need to scan all of your ID cards to do that.”

I pulled mine out, along with everyone else and she spoke, “Gage Davidson.” I watched Gage hand her his card and she swiped it quickly, handing it back to him. She nodded, “Approved, Max Davidson.”

Max put on his winner smile as I could tell he was also impressed by her looks, “That’s me.” He slipped her his card like it was a piece of paper with his number on it and leaned on the counter.

The receptionist just laughed it off politely.

“Approved, Avery Ryan.”

Avery went to hand the lady her card when I took it from her, refusing to let the woman come into contact with Avery. I shook my head, “I’ll do it.”

I swiped it, getting a weird look from the mystery lady and an approved nod from everyone else. She spoke, “Approved. And I’m guessing you’re Andrea Brock?”

I smiled, handing Avery back her card and giving her my own, nodding, “Yes, I am.”

She swiped it and nodded, “Approved,” then she handed us each a key, apparently to our separate rooms. “Agent Boyd will direct you to your living quarters.”

“Come,” Roger directed, and we stepped into a wide-set elevator. He punched floor 2, which was labeled literally Living Quarters and the elevator started up. I read the other labels just for fun, realizing this place was like a hotel rather than a Bureau. Then remembering people actually lived here rather than just working here.

We followed Roger out the elevator and he spoke, “Avery, we’re going to need to bring you to the Lab and get you tested right away.”

I responded immediately, “I’m coming.”

He looked back at me, “If you want, you should get some rest, and a shower as well. You look like shit.”

We all laughed then, easing up the tension that had been now set on all five of our shoulders. The recent events had taken a turn for the worst but we were now semi-safe here at the Bureau. I trusted Roger, and I knew he had me and my friends’ back. He proved that not too long ago.

My room was directly across from Avery’s and Max’s, and Gage’s was adjacent to mine. Roger spoke, “Avery and Andy meet me at the elevator in ten, Max and Gage should get some rest.”

We all agreed and disappeared into our own rooms, allowing me to take it all in. I had my own bathroom, along with a queen sized bed and TV. It was homey, and comfortable, but I knew I needed to at least shower a bit and change.

I threw my things down besides my bed; realizing I could unpack and settle in this go round, considering we could be here awhile. I hustled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, trying not to get fancy as I stepped into the bathroom.

The mirror reflected an image that was quite scary and gruesome, but I knew I was physically alright. I just really did look like complete shit.

I hurried to throw off my ruined clothes and turned on my shower, pulling my hair up into a messy bun and stepping under the hot water. I was nervous, I didn’t know what was wrong with Avery and I was extremely scared that she was infected. How would she contract the disease? She hadn’t really come into contact with anyone, right? I couldn’t think of anyone, but I knew there had to be someone and now Avery might possibly have the disease.

I just needed to know the truth.

It didn’t take me long to shower off and clean my body, ridding it of all the blood that had dried onto my skin. I quickly dried off and changed, feeling somewhat refreshed but still scared. I was scared for Avery, and I was scared there was something terribly wrong.

I opened my door, shoving my key into my pocket and meeting up with Avery instantly.

She muttered lightly, “I’m scared, Andy.”

I took her hand, kissing her lips because I wasn’t able to contract any disease if she did have it. I was perfect for her in this situation, even though she thought she was now a walking disease.

I responded, “Everything’s going to be alright Avery.”

“I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling. I don’t feel right, and what’s the first symptom to the BD3-?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I interrupted, wishing she would just listen to me. I grabbed her face in my hands and gave her a reassuring smile, letting her know I would be here for her no matter what, and that I was absolutely terrified too. I whispered, “Everything’s going to be alright.”

“I love you.”

I had watched her lips part and close as she spoke, and I couldn’t help but smile. She was scared, yes, but I knew she felt safe with me no matter what. It was the exact same way I felt about her too, and I couldn’t stop smiling because of it.

I responded, “I love you too, Avery.”

Then I heard a coughing sound coming from my far right, and I looked into the eyes of Roger who was waving us over.

“Let’s go do this, we have no time to waste with her.”