Brimstone: V Plague Book 16

  Ignoring them, Rachel threw herself into my arms, shaking with emotion.

  “You alright?” she mumbled into my ear.

  “Had worse days,” I said, shoulders slumping as adrenaline continued to leave my system.

  She finally leaned back and stared at me with a concerned smile, then called out to Lucas without breaking eye contact.

  “Need a light.”

  He removed a small one from the rail of his rifle and tossed it to her. She clicked it on and immediately paused for a beat, staring at my face before carefully checking my injuries. I could feel them. Didn’t need to see them.

  While she worked, I sat there, watching Dog and Mavis. He was on his back, head in her lap as she gently rubbed his belly. She didn’t look exactly comfortable, but I knew that would pass. Dog wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Okay, look at me. Need to check your thick head,” Rachel said.

  She placed the tip of a finger on my chin and pushed slightly until I was looking into her eyes. The light came up and she paused, audibly catching her breath.

  “What?” I asked when she didn’t move or say anything for several seconds.

  Without replying, she quickly flicked the beam of the flashlight across each eye several times.

  “What?” I asked again, not sure whether to be worried or irritated.

  “Your eye,” she said breathlessly. “The pupil is responding. Can you see?”

  Her words didn’t process for a few beats, then I slapped a hand over my good eye. The world didn’t go dark. It was working again!

  “How?” I asked in amazement.

  Rachel took a breath and started to speak, then paused and looked around at the mounds of infected I’d killed.

  “I’d say for the same reason you were able to kill all these females. The virus or the nerve agent. But…”

  “What?” I asked when she didn’t continue.

  Rachel stared at me, hesitating before speaking in a whisper, “Your eyes are red. Just like Nicole’s.”