I opened my eyes. All the brooding in the world wasnt going to bring Buffy and Chuck back, and it didnt change the facts of the situation: The Memphis CDC had, for whatever reason, drugged us and transported us to a holding facility. I didnt have my clothes, my weapons, or any of my recording equipment. My ears were bare; theyd taken my short-range cellular devices along with everything else. Even my sunglasses were gone, replaced by a UV blocker that, while doubtless more effective, left me feeling naked.
My mother once told me that no woman is naked when she comes equipped with a bad mood and a steady glare. Fixing that fact at the forefront of my mind, I walked over to the rooms single door and tried the knob.
It was unlocked.
That wasnt necessarily good.
The hallway was as sterile as the room where I woke up, all white walls, white floors, and stark white overhead lighting. More of those large faux-mirrors were spaced every ten feet, lining both sides of the corridor. I was in the isolation wing. That was even less reassuring than the unlocked door. Pushing the UV blocker up the bridge of my nose in a gesture that was deeply reassuring if not strictly functional, I started down the hall.
Rick was in the third room on the left, lying atop his bedcovers in white cotton pajamas identical to mine. The CDC isnt big on gender stereotyping. I knocked on the window to warn him that I was coming before opening the door and stepping inside.
Do they actually have room service in this place? Because Id just about die for a can of Coke right about now. Reanimation strictly optional.
Georgia! Rick sat up, relief and delight warring for control over his features. Thank God! When I woke up in here alone, I was afraid
What, that you were the last one left? Sorry, guy, but you dont get promoted that easily. I leaned against the door frame, assessing him. He wasnt visibly injured. That was good. If we needed to exit in a hurry, maybe he could keep up. I am, in fact, immortal when annoyed.
Wow.
Wow?
Youll never die. He paused and raised his right hand, making vague gestures toward his eyes. Georgia, youre not
Its all right. I tapped the band. UV-blocking plastic. The latest thing. Technically better than my sunglasses, even if everything is a little bright right now.
Oh, he said. Your eyes are brown.
Well, yeah.
He shrugged. I never knew.
Life is an education. Keeping my tone as light as possible, I asked, So were you just waiting for me? Have you seen Shaun?
Nolike I said before, I woke up alone. I havent seen anyone since the CDC Mickeyed us. Any idea what the hell is going on here?
Im thinking its more like they roofied us, and right now, Im marginally more interested in finding my brother.
He gave me a speculative look. Youre more interested in your brother than in figuring out the truth?
Shauns the only thing that concerns me more than the truth does.
Hes not here right now.
Which is why were going to find him. I stepped back into the hall. Come on.
To his credit, Rick rose without argument. They didnt lock the doors. That means they dont think were infectious.
That, or it means were already in the middle of an outbreak, and theyve sealed this whole wing.
Arent you just a little ray of happy sunshine?
I slanted a tight smile in his direction. I always have been.
I understand your brother a little bit more with every day that passes.
Im choosing to ignore that remark. The hall was empty, stretching in both directions with no distinguishing features either way. I frowned. Know anything about isolation ward layouts?
Yes.
His answer was surprisingly firm. I glanced toward him, eyebrows raised in silent question. He shrugged.
Lisa and I spent a lot of time in places like this.
Right, I said, after an uncomfortable pause. Which way?
CDC iso wards all follow the same basic layout. We go left.
That made sense. Zombies dont learn, and if theres a chance your personnel are uninfected, you want them to know which way to run. It would also serve as a herding mechanism; those that had already amplified but were hoping for a way out would charge straight into the air lock, where a positive blood test would buy them a bullet to the brain.
Rick started walking. I hurried to keep up, and he glanced at me.
Im sure Shauns fine.
Mmm.
If hed amplified, wed be seeing signs of the outbreak. Or at least smelling fresher disinfectant.
Mmm.
Id like to take this opportunity to say, off the record, that your eyes are much more attractive when you dont hide them behind those freaky-ass contact lenses. Blue really doesnt suit you.
I gave him a sidelong look.
Rick smiled. You didnt go mmm at me that time.
Sorry. I get a little anxious when I dont know where Shaun is.
Georgia, if this is a little anxious, I never want to see you when youre actually uptight.
I shot him another sidelong look. Youre awfully relaxed.
No, he said, in a measured tone, Im in shock. See, the difference is that if I were relaxed, I wouldnt be walking along, waiting for the reality of Buffy being dead to hit me like a brick to the side of the head.
Oh.
This time, his smile was small and tight and held not a trace of humor. Ethan taught me about CDC isolation. Lisa taught me about shock.
I didnt know what to say to that. We walked through the white halls, our white-clad reflections flickering like ghosts in the tinted-glass windows until something new appeared up ahead: a steel-barred door with an intercom and a blood testing unit set into the wall next to it.