The Touchless

Chapter 7

Apparently we weren't on high enough alert after all. Lola had been in front of me, unseen from behind so I froze, keeping her hidden. "Turn around. Slowly." The voice commanded. "Weapons down!" She shouted to the rest of my group. Her voice was gruff, but female. As I slowly turned, I tucked the gun back in my waistband and pulled my jacket over it in one swift movement. When I finished my revolution towards the voice, my hands were up in the air, empty. My eyes widened when I saw the scene behind me.

Somehow, about ten men and women, all clad in rough tan clothing, had crept up behind us, each pointing a rifle at each member of my group, all of whom had dropped their various weapons on the ground. The woman with a gun on me was clearly the leader. She held her head up high, her gun held lazily at her waist, but aimed at my head, her finger on the trigger. She had short dark brown hair and deep, creased brown skin. Her face was hardened and showing no emotion, as if she'd seen it all and was no longer impressed.

"I'm unarmed." I told her. I clenched my fists. My voice sounded weak. Feeble. I coughed. I had to fake confidence, even if I didn't feel it. "Who are you?" The last statement came out a bit more strongly than the first, but the woman still didn't look impressed.

"I should be asking you the same thing." She glanced at the rest of our group. "Are any of you infected?" Without waiting for an answer, she nodded to a man who had his gun pointed at Becca. "Charlie. Scan 'em." The man, Charlie, pulled out a small metal device that, upon closer inspection, seemed to be an old iPhone with a thin protruding needle coming out of the back of it. He walked straight towards Becca, grabbing her.

"Hey! Watch it!" She yelled, trying to yank away. The man stopped with one hand on her wrist, waiting for further orders.

"Captain?" He asked. The captain looked to me. I sighed and turned to Becca.

"It's alright. Let them check you." She stared at me, but allowed Charlie to take her arm and prick it with the needle.

"Ouch." She muttered and rubbed the inside of her arm. Charlie watched the screen of the device for a few seconds until there was a small ding.

"She's clear." He called. The captain nodded.

"Check the rest." One by one, each member of our group was pricked in their left arm and eventually cleared. Then it was my turn. I pulled back slightly, hesitating. I watched Simon, trying to speak to him through widening my eyes. What if they find the infection in me even though I'm immune? I tried to ask him. He nodded his head towards the device. Go ahead. He seemed to be saying.

"You're the last one," the captain said impatiently. I sighed and reluctantly held out my arm. Charlie pricked my arm and watched the device. Instead of the ding that had happened for everyone else, a small warning bell went off, and I saw it flash red. Suddenly there were ten guns pointed at me, all cocked and aimed at either my head or heart.

"Woah!" Maddie said, pulling me behind her as she put a hand up to all the guns. "She's not infected!" The captain sighed.

"I'm sorry, but our scanner is never wrong." Her voice had grown hard. Suspicious. "She can't come with us. And that includes the rest of you too. We don't trust groups who walk with their infected instead of putting them out." She emphasized her clear contempt by spitting a wad of saliva on the ground.

"That's my sister," Maddie growled. I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Maddie, it's ok." I turned towards the captain. "What's your name? Do you mind if we talk privately for a minute? Without all your..." I gestured around at the guns. "Friends?" The captain hesitated, then nodded at her soldiers to stand down.

"Fine. But I hope you won't mind my...extra precautions." She held her rifle tightly. I nodded and without another word started walking off to the side until we were out of earshot from the rest of the group. I shot once glance at my sister and Simon over my shoulder telling them one thing; do not tell them I'm immune.

I turned around once we were far enough away to face the captain. She decided to speak first. "The name's Earnshaw. I don't know what you think this conversation will get you. You're infected, and we make no exceptions. I take it you're the leader of your group?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"You could say that," I shrugged, scratching the back of my neck. "Listen. I'm not infected. And I can prove it. But please, you have to promise not to tell anyone. They could kill me." Captain Earnshaw scoffed and pursed her lips, but let me continue. I took a deep breath, then pushed up my sleeve to show her the four now almost healed gashes. She immediately grabbed her gun again with both hands, her finger on the trigger.

"I don't know what kind of sick game you're playing-" She started to say. I held up my hands.

"Wait. Be more observant." I showed her the injury again. "It's already healing. How long do you think that would take?" She was quiet for a moment.

"More than...a day..." She trailed off while slowly lowering her gun. I nodded.

"I'm immune." I stated. It felt weird to admit it out loud, let alone to a stranger. But she would kill me otherwise. "You can take me into observation for a night, lock me up, do whatever you have to do to make sure. But please take me and my group with you. All we're looking for is safety." I could see her mind working a mile a minute, processing what I'd shown her as well as my proposal. Eventually, she nodded.

"Alright. We'll keep you in quarantine for the night. If you're still alive, we'll discuss other...possibilities." I didn't quite like the sound of the way she said 'possibilities,' but it was my only chance.

"Deal."

**I know I'm constantly saying this, but thank you so much to all of my readers!! The amount of reviews I received after my last chapter was the most I've gotten, and I'm so, so thankful! I wish I could respond to everyone, but it doesn't allow responses on the guest posts. Just know I read all of it and love it!!

If you haven't already, or you feel like doing so again, please let me know in the reviews if you like the story! Tell me your favorite parts, your favorite scenes, or your favorite characters! What don't you like too? Anything and everything! Don't worry, chapter seven will be up soon!

Thanks so much again :)**