Free Web NovelChapter 188: Chapter 188 - Cure
A few days later, they were back in the room.
Tests. Needles. Blood.
Again and again.
Iyisha sat off to the side, watching as Susan stood with a sheet of results in her hand, her eyes scanning the numbers like she was trying to make sense of something impossible.
"Some of the damaged cells are healing," Susan said, her voice edged with disbelief. "This shouldn’t be happening this fast."
Lance let out a breath from the bed.
"Ah," he said, dragging a hand over his face. "You’ve been poking me left and right all week. I’m tired of this."
He pushed himself up.
"Wait—" Mark started.
Lance swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood.
He swayed.
Malcolm was already there, his hand gripping Lance’s arm to steady him.
Lance blinked, then let out a sharp laugh.
"Fuck," he muttered, half breathless. "I can stand."
He looked down at his legs like they didn’t belong to him.
"I can stand the fuck up."
"Sit down," Susan said quickly.
"Yes, ma’am," Lance answered, grinning as Malcolm guided him back to the bed.
Iyisha smiled from where she stood, watching him.
He looked different.
Color back in his face.
Strength in his movements.
He had been eating again. Sitting up. Talking longer without losing breath.
Alive in a way he hadn’t been days ago.
Lance looked at her, still grinning.
"Iyisha," he said, "you seeing this shit?"
She laughed softly. "Yeah."
Malcolm helped him settle back properly.
Susan watched them for a moment, a small smile on her face.
Then it faded.
"It’s helping," she said.
The room stilled.
"But it’s not affecting the tumors."
Silence dropped heavy.
Lance leaned back slightly.
"The tumors are still there," he said.
A beat.
"And I’m still gonna die," Lance said.
Mark stepped forward and smacked the back of his head.
"Shut up," he said sharply. "You’re upsetting Susan."
Susan looked away, trying to steady herself, her face tightening as she forced it back into something professional.
But the shine at the corner of her eyes gave her away.
"Come on, Susan," Lance said, his voice softer now. "You did everything you could."
Susan didn’t answer.
Lance shifted his gaze to Malcolm.
"I don’t want to die in here," he said.
Malcolm’s jaw tightened.
"I want to go out there with you."
"No," Malcolm said.
"Lance, no," Susan and Mark followed.
"Stop," Lance said, sharper this time, pushing himself up a little straighter. "This is a once in a lifetime chance."
He let out a breath, a small grin pulling at his lips.
"I don’t want to waste it."
"It’s dangerous outside," Malcolm said, steady but firm.
Iyisha stood at the side, quiet, her eyes moving between them. She understood Malcolm.
But she understood Lance more.
Lance looked at them all and smiled, softer now.
"I’m going to die anyway."
The words settled.
"I’d rather do it out there than in a hospital bed."
No one spoke.
Iyisha felt something shift inside her. She stepped forward. "You said there’s a drug in New York," she said, looking at Susan.
They all turned to her.
She looked at Malcolm.
"Let’s take him there."
Her voice stayed calm.
"Let’s try."
Malcolm didn’t answer.
He just looked at her.
Susan turned away, pressing her lips together as she tried to hold it in, a quiet sniff breaking through anyway.
Lance reached for her and pulled her into a loose hug.
"Come on," he said, lighter again. "You gotta let me go at least once."
"Oh, you bastard," Susan muttered, hitting his arm, but she didn’t pull away.
Mark stepped in and wrapped an arm around Lance, pulling Susan in with the other, holding them both for a moment before stepping back.
"Lance is right," he said, voice steady. "If there’s a chance, you go and find it."
Susan wiped her face, drawing in a breath, trying to pull herself together.
"There’s a rumor," Mark went on, looking at Malcolm and Iyisha. "New York captured an evolved human. Someone who heals fast. I heard he can regrow limbs."
The room went quiet.
"They used him to develop something," he added. "Drug 1359. Government’s calling it a miracle drug."
Iyisha felt it settle in her chest.
A rumor.
But not one she could ignore.
"It’s still a rumor," Mark said, "but it’s worth checking."
Iyisha nodded.
So they really were doing it.
Testing.
Using people like her. Her heart ached.
Cena.
Susan looked at her, her expression shifting, sharper now.
"Your cells are active," she said. "We’ve seen that. But I don’t think it’s the same as whatever they have there."
Iyisha swallowed.
"Can we even get into New York?" she asked.
Mark nodded, glancing at Susan. "Remember Aljun? The one who used to get us meds?"
Susan gave a small nod. "Yeah," she murmured. "There are ways in. Not official but entry is possible."
"Illegal entry," Mark added. "If you can pay."
Iyisha frowned. "Have you been there?"
Mark shook his head.
"Not since it was bombed. No one’s allowed in."
A pause.
"I’ve heard there are still communities inside," he said. "But everything’s under ERF."
Lance let out a breath, then grinned.
"Fuck yeah," he said.
He looked at Malcolm.
"Let’s go."
Susan shook her head at him. "You’re feeling better, but don’t push it."
Lance grinned. "I won’t."
She pressed him back gently, guiding him onto the bed. Mark stepped in right after, pulling the blanket up over his chest like it was second nature.
Iyisha watched them, something soft settling in her chest.
"Malcolm," she said, glancing at him, "can we check the car?"
He looked at her for a second, then nodded.
"Go," Susan said, waving them off. "We’ve got him."
They stepped into the hallway. The room faded behind them.
Iyisha let out a quiet breath as they walked.
"Lance is lucky," she said. "They treat him like their own."
Malcolm nodded.
"They’ve been there for years," he said. "More than anyone else."
"They’re his family," Iyisha said.
She looked at him, a small smile forming.
"Well... his brother’s not doing so bad either."
Malcolm’s mouth lifted slightly.
"He knows," he said.
They walked a few more steps in silence.
Her hand brushed his.
Her breath caught.
She didn’t pull away this time.
Her fingers shifted, lightly catching his.
Not quite holding.
Just enough.
Her heart thudded.
Malcolm didn’t move.
Didn’t pull away.
But his hand stayed there.
