Disease

We spent a few minutes reviewing the videos for the last few weeks but we didn’t see anything strange so we left the security room and moved on to the next office where there are different file cabinets and office tables. Aspen got busy looking at the right side while I was on the left.

We searched for any documents that we can use as a clue about what happened but I am already halfway to my second cabinet but I can’t see anything. Different papers and folders are now littered to the floor and I am already slumped down at the carpeted flooring.

“See anything?” I asked Aspen who just like I was already seated but unlike me he decided to sit on the swiveling chair behind the desk. He looks like a businessman. Well he really is. Sometimes I forget that he is older than us and is supposedly working. While we are still technically university students before all of this happened. He looks hot with his head tilted to the side with furrowed brow as he reads, his hand on his forehead.

He looked up when he heard me call and I just swallowed because of his serious expression when our eyes met, “No nothing. But I saw something weird about the deliveries.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing up and dusting my pants as I made my way to where he was seated. Aspen moved his seat to the side as I leaned down to look at the paper he was holding. I can feel his breath fanning at the side of my face as his familiar scent invaded my nostrils. But I refused to acknowledge it and focused on the problem at hand. “I don’t see anything weird.”

“Well there isn’t actually anything wrong about the deliveries but what’s strange is this report. It was a letter from several shops stating that they didn’t receive any deliveries despite paying beforehand. In the inventory the number of goods shows that it was delivered and based on this schedule the supposed to be truck that would carry the goods reported that they have finished the job and aren’t aware about the accusations about not delivering. The company just sent their delivery despite being late to clear out the issue and just reported that alleged employees conspired to smuggle the goods that were supposed to be delivered.”

“So, they fired the delivery crew?”

Aspen shook his head, “It just states here that it is under investigation. No one was even on probation. Which was odd because they should’ve done something about it. I sense something amiss.”

“Do you think one of the executives here conspired with the delivery crew and steal from the company?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

“What did they steal anyway?”

“Niacin. Vitamin B3.”

“Wait. Aren’t those for antifungal treatments?” I asked as Aspen’s eyes widened as if it hit him too. They were researching fungus and now there is a document stating here that some of his employees are stealing supplements that weaken said fungus.

We stayed still for a few seconds as everything slowly dawned on us. Someone was in with all of this.

“D-Do you think they knew?” I asked Aspen who was still sitting there quiet as if he was deep in thought. He himself is working in this company and he wasn’t even aware about what was happening. “D-Did you think they plan all of this?”

“It could be just a coincidence.”

“But it’s not.”

He nodded, “It’s not. It’s too hard not to believe. I mean the date...”

Suddenly we fell into silence once more. I bit my lower lip, not sure what I should say to him. I think I already offended him earlier, accusing his employees about them planning this and he wasn’t even aware of it as if I was insinuating that he was incompetent. I was about to apologize to him when he beat me to it.

“D-Do you think my parents know?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“They are executives in the company. Working far longer than I do. I just lasted a year there until all of this happened.”

“We don’t know Aspen.” I just said as silence surrounded us again for a few seconds. We just stared at a distance deep in thought. “Aspen.” I heard him hum. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”

Our eyes met and he furrowed his brows at me, “What do you mean?”

“For what I insinuated earlier. I didn’t intend to offend you–”

“It’s okay Myla. I didn’t take it as an offense. Don’t apologize. You have a point.”

“I’m sorry.”

Aspen slightly smiled, “Stop saying sorry for everything.”

“I’m so— I don’t know what to say. It just came out naturally.”

We laughed as the mixture of our voices echoed in the empty halls. We locked eyes and I could feel a sudden shift in the air when our laughter died down and my inside fluttered. My heart began to beat fast as my breathing hitch. I didn’t know why but I just found myself leaning closer to him that I could breathe the air that he does when suddenly we heard a loud noise as I jumped up surprised.

Aspen quickly stood took his gun out of his holster and as in instinct pushed me behind him

“What is that?” I asked.

“I’ll go check.” Aspen said as he walked towards the door and my hand moved on its own grabbing his arm.

“Be careful.” I whispered as he nodded at me. My fingers grazed his skin before slowly losing contact. Only then that I realized that I was holding my breathe all this time.

Aspen stalked the door closely, taking a peek outside as I inched just closer to him making sure that I won’t make any noise as I took my bag and began stuffing it with the documents that Aspen was reading earlier. I zipped up my bag and wore it and took Aspen’s and put the rest of the report when I accidentally elbowed the bolt cutters beside the door and made a clunking sound. My heartbeat skyrocketed as Aspen’s attention moved to where I was just finishing my packing.

I was about to apologize when I heard it. Footsteps and muffled voices walking towards our direction. My eyes widened in panic as Aspen looked at me alert. I stayed there frozen. My hands began to shake as cold sweat dripped at the side of my head. Memories began to cloud my mind. The shuffling and the faint metal scent.

I could see Aspen in the corner of my eye. His mouth is moving but I can’t hear anything. He quickly walked towards me helping me up and draping his backup to his shoulders as he pulled me away.

Everything was a blur he pulled me and I can’t even recognize what direction he was taking me. The next thing I know we are just inside a dark cramped place and I am already having trouble breathing.

I can’t see anything but I can hear Aspen’s heavy breath and his heat radiating. He held my hand as if to calm me down. I didn’t even realize that I am already having a panic attack and my head is spinning. He held my cheeks to meet his eyes. Even in the darkness I know that he is also looking at mine. I can feel the tears start to pour as I hear myself whimper. I am sure that Aspen heard me too with the enclosed space. I leaned towards him clutching his shirt on my fist as I cried. I feel him embrace me, rubbing my back.

“Myla. Breathe.” he cooed, “I’m here. We’re safe. We’ll be alright. Just breathe.”

I did as he told and breathed until slowly I calmed down. The tears stopped but the worry is still there. We stayed still for a few seconds just together in the small space sharing each other’s warmth but as quickly as it went I was back to alert mode when I heard footsteps again from the outside. My hands began to shake but I didn’t panic as I did earlier knowing that Aspen was just beside me.

“I was so sure I heard something here.” said a masculine voice.

“It must just be your imagination.” replied another.

“But you saw the other room, the place is trashed, someone must’ve come here.”

“It might just be one of those sickos. We’ll just shoot it when we see it.”

“I don’t think it’s a sicko. If it is, it should’ve just already run towards our direction by now. Besides you saw the lock earlier it was cut. Sickos can’t use tools to open the gate.”

“Does it matter? We just have to get the job done and we’re leaving. It just might be one of those desperate survivors that needs to get some medical supplies or whatever. It’s not like looting isn’t allowed anymore. Democracy is already dead. The government hasn’t done anything about this.”

“How can they do something if they are already sickos themselves?”

“Right, that’s why let’s just go.”

The footsteps left as we both sighed. We stayed in that position waiting for them to leave as my body became hyper aware how Aspen and I are so close right now. I ease out of his hold by stepping away but because of the tight space there isn’t any difference.

Minutes passed until Aspen spoke, “Let’s go. I think it’s already safe to leave.”

I nodded even though I know he can’t see me, “Okay.”

Aspen opened the door to the closet as it made a low creaking sound. I bit my lower lip as we stepped outside as my blood ran cold with what we witnessed outside.