Eris was the greatest warrior in the kingdom. She was finally rewarded for her service by a trophy of honor from Colonel Bori—

“Eris.”

Boris’s voice interrupted her fantasy. Eris tore her eyes away from the window to look at the masked face standing at the door. “Yes, Colonel—uh…Doctor?”

Of course, she wasn’t really a warrior. But that didn’t keep her from imagining herself somewhere else, far from where she was.

Boris crossed her arms. “Were you listening?”

Eris’s cheeks flamed. She shook her head. Boris sighed. “There’s evidence that the developed vaccine may be working. We’re transferring you to another room.”

Eris spent years in this room. Her home. Her prison. She never looked forward to seeing Boris. Coming up to her room only meant one thing; blood collection. But now the doctor’s arrival has brought other news. Eris tried to suppress the churning in her stomach. But she couldn’t stop her lips from smiling.

Eris stepped forward. Boris stepped back instinctively, adjusting her gloves.

“Put this on.” Boris threw her a long coat and retreated back into the hallway. “Follow me.”

Eris quickly put on the defensive layer between her and the world. She ran to the door. With one step, she was, for the first time in a very long time, outside the quarantine room.

She followed Boris down the empty hall. The elevator’s sensors chimed and the doors opened. “Fifth floor, please.” Requested Boris once they were inside, keeping a safe distance away from plastic-covered Eris. The elevator went down.

Eris was getting excited and her grin widened when the elevator opened and she could see the contrast. Fifth floor was busy with life. Doctors and scientists rushed around, clutching their monitors and talking. Nobody paid any attention as she followed Boris, but Eris stared, mesmerized by every frown, every focused gaze, every talking mouth. So many people yet nobody was afraid of her. She wasn’t the monster Boris made her believe she was. She wasn’t a threat that would kill anyone close enough. She was just another person.

“Eris!” she hadn’t realized she’d stopped walking. “Here!”

They both stepped in and Eris froze. It was exactly like her room.

“Here?” she whispered.

Boris’s gaze softened. “You’re still quarantined, just closer to the lab so we can monitor your progress with the new vaccine.”

“How long?” she asked, her voice wavering.

“Until we’re sure you’re cured.” Boris frowned, “Of course, when you’re no longer a threat, we can discuss introducing you as a full citizen of the Kingdom.”

There it was. A threat; she was dangerous. She was never a full citizen since the day she’d been born with the incurable epidemic that killed her entire family.

“Now, sit and give me your arm.” Eris complied, tears clouding her vision. She swallowed, attempting to ease the lump in her throat, and held her arm up. She was trembling; her body never got used to the needles despite all the withdrawals.

But this time, Boris injected a clear solution into her vein. Eris gasped in pain.

“Alright!” The doctor stood after a while and gathered her tools. “I’ll check later. See how it’s working.”

Eris lay and watched her leave. Her lips quivered, tears stinging at her eyes threateningly.

The door slammed and Boris was gone.

Alone. Again.

She shouldn’t have hoped.

Eris sat up, a card catching her eye. She stood and swiftly picked it up. Boris’s ID.

She looked around the room. She was horrified but determined.

Walking to the door, she waved the ID at the sensor. It gleamed and opened. Heart hammering against her chest, she moved in long strides down the hallway.

Nobody looked at her. She wasn’t showing any of the epidemic’s symptoms.

Of course, Boris explained that she’d managed to keep her at the incubation stage in the quarantine room. But Eris couldn’t help but think what if she wasn’t sick and Boris was just harvesting blood for some research? What if she meant to keep her quarantined forever?

Eris boarded the elevator and went down. Then, she ran as far away as she could. Until she was deep into the forest and her feet hurt. She felt the air enveloping her body, the grass cold below her bare feet. Flowers, alive and colorful.

The day grew colder as night fell. She looked up to see the stars, the moon…everything looked different from here.

“Everything is beautifu-”

Eris fell backwards as she bumped into someone.

“Sorry.” The man smiled and offered his arm.

Eris was scared but she took his hand and stood. “I’m Mors” His gaze went from her face to her worn-out gown to her bare feet. “Need any help?”

When she stayed silent, he added, “A warm meal? We’re setting a camp. Come on.”

Mors led the way to the clearing and introduced his camp to her.

Eris was mortified, but also thankful that people were kind; much kinder than Boris.

She started to feel safe. She shook hands with everyone, introducing herself.

They sat around the warm fire as Mors talked about their adventures and she ate. And in that moment, she felt contempt. She was completely free.

But then she noticed something –a yellow rash on his arm. He seemed to notice it at the same moment, his smile turning into a horrified gasp.

A scream filled Eris’s ears before she realized it was coming from her own throat. Everyone gasped and stepped back. She stood shaking, not knowing what to do.

He cried, rubbing his yellowing crumbling skin; the second stage of the epidemic. He stepped back “Run! You’ll catch it!”

Boris’s words echoed through her thoughts. She was dangerous. She was a healthy carrier.

She made people sick by being close. She killed her entire family.

Goosebumps covered her. Her stomach was knotted. Her breaths turned to gasps.

She should’ve stayed in that lab.

She should’ve never left her room.

She was a threat.

That was all that kept repeating as the tears came rushing, drowning her out.

 

Chaymae Sassi