The 50/50 Vaccine

Chapter 16

Two months later

We welcomed our first group of people today. It was a small group, but a group larger than three where we needed to do an orientation and interviews. When we were doing the interviewing process, we encountered one who wasn’t telling the entire truth. We separate the group into separate interview rooms, then they are asked various questions, and I observe the interviews. I signal the interviewer if the answer is truthful or a lie. Once the interviews are conducted, they are brought back to the orientation room where we regroup and proceed with the tour of the facility. The one who was caught lying was taken to a separate room to be interviewed by a mind reader.

I was able to conduct my very first tour of the facility and share my story with them. I brought them to the apartments and explained that Sasha would be around with an itinerary for them detailing the daily schedule. Each class they attend will be to educate them on what to expect now that they have received the vaccine and survived.

On my way out at the end of the day, Emil pulled me into his office to tell me that word had been spread among the survivors at Greenway Industries about our facility. This means we need to be prepared to welcome large groups, which means we’ll be breaking them up into smaller groups for the tours, and the interview process could take more than an hour with larger numbers. This means I’m going to be doing a lot more work than everyone else, considering I’m the human lie detector who can’t be tricked or fooled. I hope someone else develops the same ability as I; that way, it’s not all on me all the time.

At home, I kick my shoes off and sit down to relax. As soon as I sit down on my sofa, there’s a weird knocking sound on the wall coming from Lexi’s house. I go over to investigate, only to find Lexi laughing hysterically. “You out!” I announced, hugging her hello.

“This morning. Thank you so much for getting the bed in and set up.” Lexi replied. “I used Sasha’s car to grab groceries and look for other furniture. Enough about me. How was work?”

I gave her the review of the entire day as we walked over to my house and took a seat. This is one thing I’ve missed with her staying in the facility: us just hanging out. The phone didn’t feel the same as having her sitting across from me. “Nolan will probably swing by tomorrow afternoon.”

“That would be awesome, I haven’t seen him in ages.” Lexi squealed. “In the morning, can we go shopping for the rest of my bedroom set? I ordered a sofa and chair today. I was thinking we could find a television for me and bring it home while we’re out. I got everything for my bathrooms today.”

“You had fun shopping,” I chuckle.

“Who wouldn’t when you have the funds and have a house to furnish?”

“I spent way too much furnishing this house,” I note.

“It looks so good, though. You’ve done amazing with this place.”

“Thanks.”

The rest of the evening consisted of us watching a movie and going out to dinner. Lexi was dying to get out and see more of the town around us. It turns out that she used to go explore various places once a week before she got the vaccine. Our outing was quite the experience, full of laughter and memories.

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Saturday brought a whole new experience. We left the compound around nine in the morning and stayed out shopping and exploring until three in the afternoon. I helped Lexi bring everything inside, and then we went to my house to prepare the food we had bought for a mini housewarming party. We bought extra in case Nolan drops by.

“Have you been watching the news?” Lexi asks me as we work together in the kitchen.

“I try not to. Knowing everything has gone public about this place, I have enough stress when we get people for tours. I need to oversee all intake interviews, and worrying about the potential of the government coming in won’t make my job easier.” I explain.

“That’s just it. They made that story, then talked about it for one day after that, and now it’s like it never happened. People ask if it was CGI or something like that as a publicity stunt by the protesters.”

“To discourage getting the shot?”

“Or provoke fear of recipients.”

“Either way, it puts recipients in more danger than before.” I sigh. “So many leave Greenway with nowhere to go or knowing what to expect. The risk we all face after surviving the vaccine is unnecessary, but there is always someone who stirs up others to create protests. It’s sad but true. Social media made spreading the fear and lies easier and faster.”

“How are things going for the interviews and tours?”

“Slow, but with it going public within the facility, I’m worried we’ll get some spies from Greenway Industries. We had our first tour last week, and we had to call in one of the mind readers to interrogate a guest. Are we going to be in danger from Greenway and the government, or worse, protesters? Is it wrong that I want to know if we have enough protectors around, if we need them? You have to have metal around to use your ability, but mine, I just know when someone is lying.”

“I’m sure Sasha and everyone have planned for any potential dangers.”

“Nolan works on perimeter check. He doesn’t talk about his job much, but I get the feeling he’s monitoring the sky in case someone goes jetting off like he did.” I explain.

“You fear we’re going to be invaded by Greenway with other survivors?”

“Well, as long as I’m near you, I don’t have to worry about being shot.”

“Unless I’m slow.”

“You won’t be.”

“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves worrying about anyone coming here to take away what we have,” Lexi explains. “Let’s enjoy our new homes and not stress about what may or may not be coming.”

“Life moves on, just differently for us now.”

“Can I tell you my crazy curiosity thought?”

“You can tell me anything, Lex.”

“If two survivors have a child, what will the child be like? Would it be a 50/50 life expectancy? Would they be immune to everything as we are now that we have the vaccine, and most importantly, will a child gain an ability, and what would it be? Would the ability be more like one parent than the other, or something completely random?”

“Will, how close-knit this place is, I wouldn’t be surprised if we find out those answers in a couple of years or so.”

“I’m curious, though.”

“I’m sure you are not the only one. That doesn’t mean the answers won’t come in time. After all, some have been here for close to a year, maybe someone is already pregnant or dating. You never know.”

“True.”

We set to work making our dinner while Lexi turned the TV on for the news. I can take or leave the news. The less I watch, the more relaxed I feel, since Greenway Industries and the increasingly aggressive protests are still headlines. I took the vaccine as a last resort to earn an income; now, I’m avoiding the news to avoid a panic attack or worse.

Just as the food is finished cooking, we hear a knock on the door. “Do you want to do the honors?” I ask Lexi.

“Are we sure it’s Nolan?”

“We can’t be positive until we open the door.” I shrug. “I think it’ll be a nice surprise for him if it is.”

“Okay.” Lexi walks to the front door, while I plate the food. She opens the door with a smile. “Hey, stranger.”

“When did you get out?” Nolan asks in surprise. He gives her a friendly hug before entering my house.

“Just the other day. We’re doing our version of a homecoming party.”

“Nice, but where was my invite?”

“You never answer your phone when we call or text, so I figured you’d wander over eventually,” I answer as I get a third plate of food. “You are just in time for food.”

“I must have intuition,” Nolan replied with a smile. “I always seem to drop by when there is food.”

“You are consistent, that’s for sure.” Lexi chuckled.

We all take a plate of food and sit at the small table between my kitchen and living room. As we ate, we talked about what Lexi has learned to do with her ability, and Nolan told some jokes. It was like the nights Nolan stopped by in the facility before he got his place.

I’m so happy to finally have my best friend living next door. I didn’t realize how much I missed her actual presence until now. She’s the friend I never intended on meeting, but I’m glad that I did. By meeting her and being naturally friendly, I found a safe place to live with a job that supports what I need, and I’m thankful every day that she was my bunkmate at Greenway Industries.