Trapping the Gazelle

Chapter 14

It was a slow recovery for Kiera. She found it difficult to during the first week. Ryan held her up as she shuffled her feet around the room and down the halls. These small walks left Kiera drained and exhausted. After each time, Kiera dropped into a chair, clenched her fist in frustration and cried. Ryan stayed by her, whispering words of encouragement to her.

One day Kiera glanced at herself in a mirror. The sight which greeted her back was not her own. Kiera saw a woman with a drawn haggard appearance of someone who has suffered a traumatic experience. It also did not help that she was not sleeping. Her latest nightmares involved herself as a child playing games with other child who looked identical.

Kiera gathered from her nightmare that the two girls had to be about six years old. During the nightmare, the other girl would get angry and would kill Kiera. Sometimes the girl would kill Kiera with her bare hands and other times with a knife. Kiera awoke each time sweating and breathing heavy. Kiera spend the rest of the night staring at the ceiling trying to comprehend the nightmare.

As other week passed, Kiera started to feel her better and stronger. Having now recovered and learning that the virus was not contagious. She moved back into the house. Once back in the house recovered quickly. Kiera could now walk around without feeling exhausted. On the other hand the nightmares of the identical child continued.

After two weeks, the time came for Kiera and Ryan to leave. Fiona tried to convince them to stay. "We have the medical facilities here for you, Kiera." Fiona pleaded.

"Mom, I can't stay. I have something important to do." Kiera replied.

"Dear, you still need to recover and you could relapse at any time."

"Ma, I can't explain it and I will once it is all over, but I'm needed for something important."

"Ryan," Fiona turned to Ryan and pleaded, "Please talk some sense into her. She needs to stay here."

Kiera saw that Ryan struggled with the same notion. She remembered during her recovery, Ryan had tried to convince her to do the same thing. Ryan believed Dragon was up to something and used people, as he deemed necessary.

"Ma, this is my choice." Kiera answered for Ryan, "Melissa is working on something to help me and you two have a bacterium to finish if Melissa fails to come through." Kiera took a steady breath and continued, "I will be careful and not stress myself. Ryan has promised to ensure I relax, but I need to get home."

"Kiera we understand," James spoke up before Fiona could argue, "Finish whatever important thing someone has asked you to do." James laid his hands on Kiera's shoulders. Kiera felt tears run down her cheeks and she fell into her father's arms. "Kiera, we only want what is best for you, please care for yourself. We can't lose you."

Kiera overcome with grief cried harder against her father. She did think it odd the way he said lose you. It was almost as if he was going to say 'you too', but he stopped in midsentence. Kiera looked up into her father's face a bit surprised by his comment. She started to ask what he meant, but James only shook his head as if he knew what she was going to ask. Kiera closed her mouth and rested her head against her father's chest.

Kiera felt sad to leave her family, but she needed to accomplish things. They needed to discover whom the killer or killers were before they killed another member or even worse, Ryan. They arrived at her cottage late that evening. Ginger excitedly meowed and purred as he rubbed himself against her leg. Kiera knelt and rubbed behind his ears.

After a shower, Kiera changed into pajamas and climbed into bed feeling exhausted. She felt Ryan lie down next to her and wrap his arms around her. Kiera pressed her back against him and moaned as he lightly kissed her on the nape of the neck.

"How are you feeling?" Ryan asked her.

Kiera sighed, "For the hundredth time, I am okay. I just feel really tired." She felt Ryan stiffen at her comment and she quickly apologized, "Sorry, I don't feel like myself lately and I'm having a difficult time."

"I'm trying to understand, Kiera." Ryan whispered into her ear, "I'm worried about you and I will keep asking if you are feeling okay." She felt his arm tighten around her.

"I'm worried myself," Kiera admitted, "I'm worried that someone purposely injected me with this virus."

"Let's hope that it was a mistake and we find a cure soon." Ryan added.

Kiera wanted to say more, but she felt exhausted. Taking a deep breath Kiera closed her eyes and slept.

"Wake up, love." Kiera heard Ryan call out to her. She opened her eyes to Ryan standing over her with a breakfast tray.

"What is this?" Kiera asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. Kiera sat up, grabbed her glasses from the nightstand and put them on.

"I thought you could use an old fashion breakfast in bed." Ryan responded with a smile as he placed the tray down on Kiera's lap.

"Wow I can't believe I did not hear you." Kiera said in amazement as she felt her stomach grumble from the wonderful smells.

"You were sleeping hard," Ryan interjected as he sat down on the bed next to her, "I believe you drooled on my arm in the middle of the night." Then he chuckled at his own joke.

"I was exhausted," replied Kiera stifling a yawn and running her fingers through her cooper colored hair.

"Well dig in, because you are going to need your energy today." Ryan commented and Kiera noticed that his mood had soured a bit.

"What does that mean?" Kiera asked slowly as she narrowed her eyes.

"It means a box was delivered for you this morning from someone." Ryan said as Kiera saw his expression cloud for a bit.

"It doesn't happen to be something I requested from that night." Kiera questioned Ryan.

"Yes it is." Ryan answered.

"Well it looks like I have one busy day ahead of me." Kiera sighed heavily and started to eat her breakfast.

"A small word to the wise Kiera," Ryan piped in, "Don't trust him, he uses people for his own design. I know he is up to something."

"I have the same feeling, but I could gain some insight into his plan if I help him." Kiera responded after taking a bite of eggs. "Care to help me out?"

"I would love too, but I have to meet a friend." Ryan answered, "I'm hoping he will have some answers about the other two killings."

"Do you think he will have answers?"

"I really do hope so."

"Thank you for the breakfast and yes I am feeling better." Kiera responded to the question Ryan was about to ask.

"Good," Ryan replied shaking his head and chuckling, "I'm glad you like it." Kiera knew what he really meant, but decided not to say anything.

While Ryan dressed for his meeting, Kiera ate her breakfast. She thought about the virus that had thrown a curveball at her. She made a mental note to work on finding out when the infection started. She knew it was within the year, but when had it first occurred.

After breakfast, Kiera pulled on a robe, walked downstairs and noticed the box by the front door. It was not made of cardboard, but of a black metal, which ranged from four feet long by three feet wide. The strangest thing about the box was it had no hinges or anyway to open it. Kiera knelt down by the box and looked closer.

"There is a panel on the left side of the box." Ryan said from behind her as he pointed to a small indention barely visible. She then felt him lightly squeeze her bottom.

"I believe that is not helping me." Kiera said smiling as she pressed the small indention. Kiera heard a small click as the panel slide away revealing a light blue screen no bigger than her thumb. Kiera pressed her thumb against the screen thinking that it was silly.

Kiera heard a beep sound then a louder click that made Kiera jump. The black box popped open, revealing several files. "This is not what I was expecting." Kiera said as she moved her fingers through the files.

"What were you expecting?" Ryan asked.

"A flash drive or a secret access to the dark web for starters." Kiera said mysteriously, "But files?"

"They are hard copies." Ryan answered her, "Everything else is kept on secure drives. It is simpler this way. Files on a flash drive can be traced back to the original location, but paper copies have no way of being traced."

"He does think of everything." Kiera stood up and stretched. She felt lightheaded for a moment and put her hand on the wall for support.

"Are you okay?" She heard Ryan ask with concern.

"Yes," Kiera answered, "I just stood up to quickly that is all."

"Okay."

"Well I need some more coffee and I guess I better get started." Kiera said and noticed Ryan eyeing her slim form. Kiera rolled her shoulders and pushed out her breast as if stretching her back. She saw that Ryan got her meaning. He cupped her breasts with his hands and gently squeezed them. Kiera moaned lightly as he ran his thumbs over her erect n*****s.

"I know what we are going to do later." Ryan said as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"I have no idea what that could be.' Kiera said tapping her cheek in mock confusion.

"You just wait until tonight." Ryan warned as he pressed himself against her. Kiera felt his erection pressing against her and she reached down gently squeezing it through his pants.

Kiera smiled as she heard him groan. Kiera ran her hand down the length of his hardness and then back up. She saw him gritting his teeth in pleasure. "You are going to be late for your meeting." Kiera whispered into his ear.

"You better get started on those files." Ryan whispered back to her as he light pinched one of her n*****s.

Kiera rolled her eyes and sighed. She kissed him lightly on the lips and gave his erection another squeeze. Smiling she disentangled herself from his arms. Ryan sighed too and grabbed his briefcase.

"Be careful Ryan." Kiera said growing serious, "Someone might be after you."

"I will, my sweet Gazelle." Ryan replied kissing her lightly.

Kiera watched Ryan leave. She felt like panicking after Ryan closed the door. She felt herself breathing heavy and her heart beating hard against her ribs. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that everything was ok.

'Ryan will be safe. He will come back today.' Kiera thought. She walked back upstairs using the railing for support and changed into jeans and a graphic t-shirt. Tying back her hair, Kiera walked back downstairs and poured herself a cup of coffee. Placing the coffee in her office, she leaned down picking up the box. She expected it to be heavy, but the lightness of it, surprised her.

Placing the box next to her desk, Kiera sat down, lifted the lid and pulled out some of the red files from the box.

'No turning back now.' Kiera thought with a sigh and opened the first file.

"Kiera," A female voice spoke, "Hey Kiera you alive?"

Kiera felt something grab her shoulder and shake her. Kiera opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling in confusion. Suddenly she sat up and looked around wildly. A red folder slid off her stomach and onto the floor. Kiera looked around dazed and unsure where she was. Kiera looked up noticing a woman with raven black hair and jade green eyes looking down at her with concern.

"Melissa," Kiera asked blinking her eyes a few times to clear the daze that clouded her mind, "What are you doing here?"

"Kiera are you alright?" Melissa asked slowly as she placed two fingers on Kiera's wrist. Kiera understood that she was checking her pulse, "Do you know where you are at?"

"I'm in my office." Kiera said with confusion, "I was doing work and I must have fallen asleep." Kiera took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She put them back on and looked at the clock. To her surprise, it read two o'clock. She looked down at her desk and saw red folders spread out on her desk and a notepad. Picking up the notepad, she noticed her handwriting on the pad.

'What happened,' Kiera thought, 'It was nine o'clock when I started looking at these files.'

"Seems like you are working hard on a project?" Melissa interrupted her thoughts.

Kiera noticed Melissa glancing at the notepad with interest and curiosity. Kiera quickly laid the notepad face down. She did not remember writing anything on the notepad and did not know if it was anything important.

"What are you doing here, Melissa?" Kiera asked.

"Don't you remember?" Melissa replied with her own question and a confused look.

Kiera did notice Melissa giving her a skeptical look with did match the confused tone. On the other hand, Melissa had been extremely interested in the information on the notepad.

'Guess I would be curious too.' Kiera thought, 'She is a good friend. Not the enemy.'

I'm lost Melissa," Kiera said scratching her head in confusion. "But I don't know why you are here?"

"I sent you an email about a week ago. Let me rephrase that." Melissa said taking a deep breath, "My assistant sent you an email a week ago."

"I don't remember receiving an email from you." Kiera replied still giving Melissa a confused look.

"Open up your email and we will see." Melissa instructed.

Kiera sighed and opened up her laptop. Clicking the email icon, she waited a moment for it to load. Afterwards, she scrolled through her emails and did not see an email from Melissa.

"Well that is odd," said Melissa tapping her chin, "Janet did say she sent one. Jacob, please confirm with Janet that she did send an email."

Kiera looked past Melissa to see a tall muscular man in a dark suit standing at the front door to her house.

"Yes Ma'am," Replied Jacob in a deep voice.

"Who is that?" Kiera asked standing up. She felt dizzy as she stood and placed her hand on the desk for support. Her body felt stiff and sore.

"That is Jacob, my bodyguard." Melissa said with an air of indifference.

"You did not have a bodyguard at the party?" Kiera asked trying to recall when they met.

"He was around, but I told him to be out of sight." Melissa answered.

"So, why are you here, Melissa?" Kiera asked

"Well the email was supposed to say that I have some answers about the virus and I need to talk to you about something personal." Melissa replied.

"Ma'am," The bodyguard interrupted, "Janet apologizes, but she forgot to send out the email last week. She was in the process of sending out the guest list for the summit at the time."

"Ugh," Melissa said with disgusted and rolled her eyes, "That girl, I wonder sometimes."

"Would you like some tea and we can talk." Kiera said, "Because I need some."

"That would be wonderful," replied Melissa, "You really look tired."

"Probably jet lagged," Kiera replied as she walked towards the kitchen. "We just arrived last night."

Kiera glanced at the bodyguard standing next to the front door. The guard was speaking Israeli on a phone. In the kitchen, Kiera poured water into a teakettle and placed it on the stove. Kiera turned around as Melissa walked in. Kiera hugged Melissa and felt her stiffen a moment at the contact. Kiera felt her muscles tense and read it as Melissa was trying to distance herself from something or she was uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry if I seem out of sorts right now." Kiera said as she felt Melissa relaxed and hug her back.

"I'm sorry too." Melissa replied back with a light purr.

To Kiera's surprise, Melissa lightly brushed her soft lips across the side of Kiera's neck. The contact caused Kiera to shiver as pleasure rippled through her body. Kiera also felt Melissa run her fingers down her spine near the top of her bottom. Kiera swallowed and released her contact with Melissa.

"Wou...would you like a sandwich with you tea?" Kiera said stumbling over her words.

"That would be wonderful." Melissa said with a smile as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

Once Kiera made two sandwiches and the tea was prepared. She sat down across from Melissa and poured the tea for her. Both sat in silence for a while as they ate and then Kiera spoke up.

"You said you need to talk to me about a personal matter?" Kiera inquired.

"Always the typical Kiera," Melissa chuckled shaking her head, "Thinking of others before herself."

"I'm sure you will tell me about my condition, but first you." Kiera insisted.

"My husband died about eight months ago and I'm still having issues with the loss." Melissa said and Kiera saw sadness in her eyes and voice, but Melissa lacked the other traits. For example, the tears, sniffling the down cast of the mouth and swallowing as if you had a dry mouth.

'Maybe she is expressing grief her own way?' Kiera thought.

"Melissa I'm so sorry to hear this sad news." Kiera said empathically and placed a hand on top of hers.

"It was sudden and I really don't have anyone to talk too." Melissa said looking away.

'Is she embarrassed?' Kiera thought.

"I would be happy to talk to you about it, how about right now?" Kiera suggested.

Kiera saw panic in Melissa's eyes as she looked back up at her, "Ah...not right now, how about later? We should really talk about your condition."

Suddenly there was a commotion at the front door. "What the hell is going on...You better move buddy before I knock you to the ground...Kiera where are you?" Kiera heard Ryan's voice.

Kiera stood up and rushed to the front door. She saw Ryan standing at the entrance to the front door, whichJacob blocked.

"Jacob please move and let Ryan in." Melissa ordered. Jacob moved to the side and Ryan walked in eyeing Jacob carefully. "Ryan is great to see you again."

"Likewise, Melissa," Ryan said cautiously, "We were not expecting you."

"My apologies Ryan, my assistant failed to inform Kiera of my arrival." Melissa explained.

"She has news about my condition." Kiera added.

"Well let's sit down and talk." Ryan suggested as he pointed towards the kitchen. "Hope I did not miss anything."

"We had just started." Kiera answered as they all when back into the kitchen.

As they sat down, Melissa started, "Well I was right, you have been infected by a prehistoric virus."

Kiera felt herself go pale at the news, "How is that possible and are you sure?"

"I'm very sure, Kiera." Melissa answered, "I was right when I saw that same cell structure." Kiera gave her a confused look, "This type of virus was discovered in Australia about two years ago. My lab studies and catalogues ancient virus in the event we have a pandemic from a release."

"So you have a treatment for it?" Kiera said as she sensed some good news from Melissa.

"Yes and no." Melissa answered hesitantly, "I have a way to slow it down, but I'm afraid I don't have a cure as of right now."

"Okay, so explain." Ryan added as Kiera slumped back in her seat.

Melissa pulled out pill box and slid it to Kiera, "These pills will help keep your protein level in check, there for fight off the virus as it feeds off your protein. This type of virus, we believe was in many the dinosaurs and large mammals of the time. Since they were so large, the virus could not kill them. The shear mass of the animal kept the virus in check. Now put the same virus in a human and we get a different effect."

"So this it," Kiera said with certainty.

"Kiera have a little faith in me. I am not done yet and either is your parents. I need you to see a friend of mine. His name is Doctor Abd al Hakim. He is a genetic doctor at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. He will run some test for me and we can see how to proceed."

"What other option do I have?" Kiera asked with a sigh.

"Well you can always come to my lab and we can perform some test there, but I'm sure you are not up to that right now." Melissa said answering for her. "I need you to see him tomorrow."

"We will be there." Ryan answered as he held Kiera's hand.

"Great, I will inform Doctor Hakim of your visit." Melissa said standing up, "Now I need to leave, I have to get ready for my seminar in London. Do you think we can talk in a few days, Kiera."

"Yes certainly." Kiera said standing as well and hugging Melissa.

After the Hug, Melissa nodded towards Jacob, who opened the front door for Melissa. Melissa left the house and Jacob closed the door behind them, leaving Kiera and Ryan sitting in their kitchen.

"How did it go with your friend?" Kiera asked.

"Things are a lot stranger than they seem." Ryan replied.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that the other two surge members, who were killed, did not die from gunshot. They were poisoned first."

"But why shoot them?"

"To make it look like they died as a result of a shooting. The official report from the police labeled it as a double suicide. No one would dig deeper if they killed themselves. Not worth the medical examiners time."

"That is odd indeed." Kiera said perplexed by the news.

"Anything head way on your end?" Ryan asked.

"I can't account for the past five hours." Kiera said as she looked down at the table, "It is frustrating, because I wrote stuff down on my notepad, but I don't remember writing it." She felt tears swell in her eyes as they became blurry.

"Kiera you are still recovering." Ryan said soothingly.

"But what if this keeps happening and one day I..." Kiera stopped in mid-sentence swallowing hard.

"Kiera don't go there." Ryan said softly as he placed an arm around her shoulder, "Melissa and your parents are working hard for a cure. You will not die, I promise."