The 50/50 Vaccine

Chapter 14

3 Months Later

Emil told me today that I have passed all requirements and tests they have in place for any mental abilities, meaning I am in full control of my ability and will be transferred out of the facility with the option to live in a townhouse within the community of the vaccine survivors. I have 24 hours to decide where I will be living. I’m in a bit of a daze as I was not expecting to be released before Lexi.

As I wander back to the apartment, I’m trying to wrap my head around the urgency to vacate me from the facility. I want to talk with Lexi before I make any final decisions, I mean, I do want to live in the community, but I’m not going to just leave without telling Lexi. We’ve been roommates for so long that she’s like family.

I enter the apartment and begin packing my luggage up knowing I’m not going to be staying past the morning. As soon as I have a chance to talk to Lexi, I’m going to let Sasha know my decision of where I will live after this facility. I hate thinking I’m leaving without Lexi, but I know she’ll be joining me in the community as soon as she can and I’ll be seeing Nolan again which makes me smile. Ever since I received the vaccine, I’ve been making more friends and acquaintances that make this facility feel like home to me. It’s getting harder for me to remember what my life was like before the vaccine in a good way.

“Hey, girl are you home?” Lexi calls as she enters the apartment.

“In my room,” I answer.

“How’d your testing go today?” She asked as she neared my room. She pauses at the door when she sees my suitcase open on my bed. “You passed?”

“Flying colors. I have 24 hours to decide and inform them if I plan to move to a townhouse in the community or if I’m just going to leave.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to stay. I want to see my friends and be near you. We’ve been through so much together, I feel guilty leaving before you do.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be out before you know it.”

“It won’t be the same.”

“What if I pull some strings and request having the townhouse next to yours so we can be neighbors and hang out every night like we do now?” Lexi suggests with a smile. “I can say they owe me after delaying my training.”

“Do you think they would go for that?”

“I planned on causing a scene when I got out to ensure you ended up next to me anyway.” Lexi shrugged. “I’m happy for you, Mandy. You have worked hard for this. We should celebrate.”

“I should give them my answer sooner than later,” I reply.

“Yes, let’s go do that together.” Lexi grabs my hand and pulls me with her out the door to the elevator. We get off on the floor that we are not supposed to be on, as it’s for the administration of the facility, not the survivors. “Sasha’s in her office,” Lexi announces as we continue walking off the elevator.

“Lexi, we’re not supposed to be on this floor.”

“I’m allowed anywhere in this facility, as I’m a family member,” Lexi replied. “And you are my dearest friend. Where I go, you go.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” I argue.

“Lexi,” Emil replies stepping into the all. “And Mandy. Always a pleasure to see you. Have you come up with a decision?”

“I have,” I respond. “I want to join the community.”

“We want adjoining townhouses.” Lexi input.

“I’m sure we can arrange for that,” Emil answers.

“We want it in writing before Mandy commits to anything.” Lexi urged.

“Of course,” Emil smiles leading us into another office down the hall. Sasha is sitting behind a desk and looks up at us as we all enter her office. “Lexi here wants to have an adjoining townhouse with Mandy.”

“Lexi isn’t ready to leave the facility,” Sasha replies.

“Mandy is,” Lexi stated. “We just want to be sure that the house next to hers is vacant until I get out.”

“Mandy, is this what you want?” Sasha asks.

“Yes, ma’am,” I answer finally finding my voice.

“Very well,” Sasha replies turning to her computer. She clicks on a few things, then looks up with a smile. “I will place Mandy and Lexi in adjoining townhouses, to ensure no one else will be assigned the adjoining one to Mandy in the meantime. Is that sufficient?”

“Very,” I answer. “Thank you.”

“While you’re here, Mandy. I have a task to ask of you. With your rare and unique gift, I was hoping I could convince you to join the welcoming team. We are getting ready to launch an open doors policy to let any survivor enter our facility, but they of course have to have a written proof that they received the vaccine. I know it could easily be faked, which is why we are gathering all our speciality members as a welcoming team. We are offering this position to all our suvivors with a mental ability.”

“What will I have to do if I take the job?”

“Welcome new comers, interview them and see if anyone is lying. We will have a mind reader as your partner to see what they are thinking, but they can easilyy be tricked. You, my dear have a rare gift. You can see if their words hold truth or not.” Sasha explained. “Once they pass the interview process, they will be taken on a tour by one of us administrators.”

“What will the interviewing process look like?”

“That will be up to you and your partner. I find it works best to give employees a little free range when trying to find the right fit.” Sasha replied honestly.

“Okay, I’m in,” I respond.

“I’m glad we got that all sorted out,” Sasha stated. “Emil will show you to your new home in the morning. Tonight, sit back and relax.”

“Thank you.” I turn and walk out of the office with Lexi. Emil walks us to the elevators and tells me he’ll be at the apartment at 8 am. On the elevator, Lexi turns to me with a squeal of excitement. “This is going to be so weird.”

“Maybe you can see our friend Nolan and talk about all the things that you have missed,” Lexi replied. “Who knows maybe he met someone or made a new friend. Not to mention your freedom to go shopping. Which reminds me, I have to give you the car keys so you can come and go as you please.”

“Lexi, I don’t want to take your car.”

“You’re not taking it. Just borrowing until I get sprung from this place.”

“It’s not going to be the same without having you to talk to. Are we even allowed to take these phones out of the facility?”

“Our gift to you.” She smiled. “Call me, and we’ll chat every night.”

“If we can take our phones, then why hasn’t Nolan reached out?” I thought out loud.

“Knowing his crazy ass, he took the night shift overwatch. Meaning he’s awake while we’re all sleeping, and sleeping when we’re awake.” Lexi speculated.

“Which means, I’m even less likely to see him to catch up.”

“We’ll see. I’m going to miss you.”

“Promise me you won’t push yourself too hard. I need my friend to come out of here in one piece, not dead.”

“I promise, I will discuss any crazy idea I have with you before I try it.”

“I’ll take it,” I reply.

We enter the apartment and Lexi turns on the television. “Promise you’ll keep watching our new game show.”

“It’s not going to be on tonight.”

“I know, but maybe we’ll find another show similar that we can enjoy,” Lexi suggests. To appease her, I sit down with her one more time to watch television knowing it’ll be at least another month before she’s released.