The 50/50 Vaccine

Chapter 9

It took me a few weeks to get used to this strict schedule, but it is helpful to have a routine. Lexi and I only see each other at the end of the day, but it’s still good to hang out and have someone to talk to. I keep doing this routine and trying to get to know people around me. So far, I’ve had good conversations with a handful of people and learned their names, but none have become friends. I’m still shocked at how quickly Lexi and I became friends during the quarantine.

I spend most of my free time in the garden enjoying the fresh air and soaking up the sunshine. I’m still waiting for this ability to arrive, and pray it’s not scary or dangerous. The other day while walking down the hall we had an issue where pipes in the walls exploded. Come to find out someone discovered that they have control over water and accidently summoned all the water in the building to themselves. It’s funny to think that if they were in the bathroom, the toilets would have exploded, but then when you consider how that would have made them feel, I felt guilty smiling at the thought. The lady who summoned the water was stunned and baffled while standing in ankle-deep water with more pouring down from the ceiling above her and the walls beside her. Someone quickly came and helped her, though I’m unsure how much they can help her. They had someone repairing all the pipes and whatnot within the hour so it appears this unexpected manifestation happens often here.

“Mandy…” I hear someone calling my name as I step outside into the garden. I glance around trying to place a face to the voice, but I don’t see anyone so I continue to my favorite spot in the garden. It’s a bench sitting under a maple tree that reminds me of home. I was told it’s called a Bigtooth Maple the colors of the leaves are just comforting. “Hey Mandy, wait up a minute.” The voice calls out again. This time I turn around and see Nolan jogging over to me. I haven’t really talked to him much, more a quick hello in passing. He seems nice enough, I just haven’t had enough time to have a proper chat with him.

“Hi, Nolan. What’s up?” I ask with a smile.

“I was wandering around and saw you.” He gives me a smile as he nervously runs his hands through his blonde hair. He’s average height and looks active enough with some muscles with brown eyes.

“I see, well I’m going to keep walking. You can join me if you want to.”

“Thank you. I… I know we don’t know each other well, but I’m a social person. I am struggling here being the only one. I recognize you from the group and you seem nice. I was hoping we could chat and get to know each other.”

“I’m not looking for a relation…”

“I’m just looking for friends. Nothing more, I promise.” Nolan cuts me off before I can finish turning down his advance. “It’s okay if you don’t want to be friends. I just feel so alone here.”

“What about your bunkmate?” I propose.

“He died two days before our release date. I came with our room neighbors as we had planned before he passed. I… I hate to admit it but I’ve been struggling to make friends here. Everyone seems extra cautious.”

“Cautious is good.”

“I’m more of an impulsive type.”

“Interesting. Impulsive how?”

“Well, let’s just say I got the vaccine on a dare,” Nolan said bashfully.

“What?!” I stop walking and turn to look at him. “Are you serious?”

“Very. I have always been in the crowd of risk-takers, daring each other to do what we fear most to overcome the fear. I guess you could call us ‘thrill seekers.’ I learned from one friend to apply for a Storm Chasers job. He actually got the job and loves it. Another friend dared the whole group to go skydiving. It was thrilling, and ever since we’ve been looking for the next thrilling experience. My Storm Chaser friend dared me to get the 50/50 vaccine. We had a strict rule for backing out of the dares, thinking about it now it sounds pretty dumb.” Nolan says with a nervous laugh.

“Wow, that’s some story. I spent almost two weeks researching the pros and cons of getting the vaccine. The only con I kept coming back to was ‘You could die!’ but the more my life seemed to unravel the more the pros outweighed the one con.” I admit.

“Can you believe it took two days after I received the vaccine before I thought ‘What the hell was I thinking? I could die now.’ It took seeing the first person reject the vaccine before I realized how stupid I was.”

“It took two days for someone to reject it?”

“Yeah, why? How long for your group?”

“Less than 24 hours,” I recall.

“Damn.” Nolan looks around and shakes his head. “I think I would have had a panic attack if I saw the rejection that soon if I’m being honest.”

“I thought she was just having a seizure. My bunkmate is the one who explained that it was a rejection of the vaccine, as they separate the people with preexisting medical conditions.”

“That was a tame rejection. Those are the ones that usually get forgotten over time as they told us in group.” Nolan shrugged. He glances at his watch and sighs. “I’m sorry if I’m just babbling. It’s just good to have someone to talk to finally.”

“We all need someone to talk to. It sounds like you’ve been pretty isolated, I’m glad I could give you some friendly company during your break time.”

“Yeah, I have open gym next. You know the part of the day they have us doing various exercises until we receive our abilities.”

“Personally, I prefer that over mediation hour.”

“Yes, sitting still in silence listening to a group of people breathing. It’s enough to make me stir-crazy. I have to agree with you.” Nolan began pacing back and forth in front of me while I sat on the bench under the tree.

“Movement has to be a big thing for you as a thrill seeker,” I comment.

“The stories I can tell you about my crazy adventures based on dares.”

“I look forward to hearing them.”

“I bungy jumped into the Grand Canyon on vacation once. Then there was cliff jumping into the Pacific in California.”

“A lot of jumping stories on top of sky diving, where you jump out of a plane and plummet to the ground with only a parachute to catch you.”

“I love to jump,” Nolan said with a shrug of his shoulders. To prove his point he crouched down and jumped up. Only it wasn’t just a jump, he ended up launching himself into the sky. I heard him whoop loudly when he realized what he was doing. It only took seconds for him to disappear from view. I see a shadow of someone launching into the sky after him. Within five minutes, Nolan was falling back to the ground and the shadow intercepted him to bring him down safely.

Back on the ground, it’s clear that Nolan passed out. “Is he okay?” I ask the man who is standing over Nolan. This man looks annoyed with a permanent scowl on his weathered face. It’s clear that he’s at least sixty easily with streaks of grey running through chestnut brown hair and beard that covers his chin and neck.

“Flew to high up. Thin air causes one to lose consciousness.”

“Seriously?”

“Vaccine makes us immune to illness, not breathe where there is no oxygen.” The man commented pulling his phone out of his pocket. He types something on it and then puts it away. “He should be okay in an hour, but he shouldn’t be left alone. What is your name? I can ensure you won’t get written up for missing your next rotation while you stay with him.”

“What? You are not making any sense. Why wouldn’t you just bring him to the infirmary or something? Also, why would I get written up if I miss a rotation?”

“You must have come in with a family member as a bunkmate. That explains the wholes is your knowledge. They run a tight ship here. If you miss your rotation and it was for any reason beyond your ability manifesting, you will be written up. After three write ups, they pull you in for a lecture as punishment with the explanation of the next level of punishment if you continue to disregard their rules.” The man explained. “What is your friend's name?”

“Nolan, I… I don’t know his last name. We’re in a few rotations together for group therapy. Other than that this is my first conversation with him. My name is Mandy Greene. Lexi is my bunkmate and roommate.”

“Well, I know from experience he’s going to wish his ability manifested indoors. He’s going to have one hell of a headache when he comes too. I strongly suggest you advise him to take the day off and spend it inside lying down.”

“What if he doesn’t want to?”

“I’m sure he’ll be relieved. He’ll get a new rotation schedule tomorrow morning after he rests. He’ll be feeling the high-altitude symptoms when he comes to.”

“Which is why he should be in a bed not left here on the ground.” I protest.

“Not my problem. My job is to patrol the air and ensure all newcomers are safe in case of situations like this. I have someone coming down to talk to you more about it. I need to return to my post. Take care.” He leaped back into the air and disappeared back to where he was before Nolan shot off.

I sit back down on the bench watching Nolan carefully not knowing what else to do. I don’t want to move him and chance hurting him, and I’m not sure I could lift him. I strongly feel that he should have brought Nolan inside to at least a couch in the lobby. I see him begin to stir and let out a low groan as he tries to roll over to his side. I jump to my feet and kneel next to him on the ground. “Don’t get up. Someone is coming to check on you.” I inform him gently nudging him to remain on his back.

“Did I just fly or was that a dream?”

“No, my daredevil friend, you truly flew to new hights. Into the thin atmosphere and passed out. Luckily you are not the only one around here with that ability and someone was able to save you from plummeting to your death.” I informed him.

“Then why am I on the ground outside?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out myself. I was told someone is on their way to check on you and not to leave you alone.”

“Well, thanks for hanging out. I hope you won’t get in trouble waiting around with me. I still don’t recall everything that happened. One minute I’m bouncing into a knee touch jump, the next thing I see are a flock of birds flying straight for me. Funny, I always thought clouds would be like touching fluffy cotton. Instead, I felt like I ran through the sprinkler with low water pressure.”

“Clouds are just a collection of water droplets in the air. It makes sense it would feel wet.” I conclude trying to reassure him.

“Right. I guess I missed that lesson.”

“You missed second-grade science?”

“My head is a bit scrambled from that flight, don’t hold it against me.” I can’t help but laugh. He’s making mild dumb jokes after almost dying. “I think that was a rush I’ve been missing since I got the vaccine.”

“You didn’t get a rush when you realized you injected yourself with the bullet in your dumb game of roulette?”

“I didn’t think of it like that. It was a dare, and then reality sunk in with a mild panic. Every day I held my breath praying I survived it. Never thought of it as roulette. Though that’s a fair comparison. I still owe you stories.”

“How’s your head feeling?”

“Lightheaded and throbbing, nothing I can’t work through once I get to my feet.”

“Take it easy, someone is coming now, I see them,” I assure him as I look up at the building. I see Sasha and another woman walking towards us. Sasha looks like she’s ready for business, the other woman is walking just as confidently. It’s hard to read their expressions as they approach. The woman with Sasha appears to be a realitive as they look very similar. Maybe they are sisters? I’ll have to ask Lexi tonight.

“Mandy, thank you for agreeing to keep Nolan company. Nolan, this is Esme, she’s a healer for the community. She’ll check you out to ensure you didn’t suffer anything damaging from your flight. Once you are cleared, you are to go to your apartment and rest. Mandy, I will ask you to escort him there, then return to your normal rotation.” Sasha states.

Esme kneels next to Nolan and her hands hover over him as she moves from his legs to his head. At his head, she gently places her hands on his forehead and begins to hum softly. After she is finished she stands up and walks away with Sasha.

“I guess I can get up now?” Nolan states sitting up with a grunt. “The lightheadedness is gone, but my mind is still spinning.”

“I can imagine. Hey, congratulations on discovering your new ability to fly.”

“Thanks, for everything today. I appreciate it.”

I walk with Nolan back inside to the elevators, and then to his apartment. It’s slightly smaller than the one Lexi and I have, but the setup is similar. “Are the guys you came in with next door?”

“Nope, this is the floor for the singles, or non-pairs who come in. I don’t know where they are. I haven’t seen them around here and we’ve been here for nine months now. I guess it explains my restlessness.

“Well, if you ever feel you need a friend or some company, you are welcome to come visit me and Lexi. She’s laid back and fun to chat with.” I reply writing our apartment number on a notepad on his fridge.

“Thanks, that means a lot to me.”

“Just don’t be absurd with times. Anything after nine at night unless we plan it, is a bit much.” I quickly add.

“Got it, I will not be showing up at random unsavory hours. Scouts honor.”

“You were a scout?”

“When I was a kid, you know Cub Scouts. I never wanted to continue as I did it with my grandfather and when he passed, I stopped wanting to go.”

“That’s tough.”

“It’s all good. Anyways, you need to get going. I’ll see you around. Thanks for the company today.” He walked me to the door and closed it behind me. As I enter the elevator I can’t help but feel a bit sad for him. If I came in with two other people and they just left me like that, I’d be depressed and lonely.

***********************************

I made dinner tonight as Lexi and I rotate chores to keep things even here. When I cook she does dishes and the next day we switch. “How was your day?” I ask her trying to make conversation.

“Same as usual. Yours?”

“I was talking to this guy I’ve seen in therapy while we both had a break. All of a sudden he just shoots off into the sky. Thankfully they have someone monitoring that and was able to help him return safely to the ground, but it was something.”

“Seriously? That’s amazing. Was he okay?” Lexi seems eager to hear more about the story. I retell her the story and finish with my follow-up question. “Why would they separate him from the two he came in with?”

“There are things I’m starting to have questions about myself. That does seem odd unless the apartments are only available in two or single rooms. As for them not seeing each other, I’d have to know who he came in with and ask around to get your answers.”

“Is Esme a relative?”

“Sasha’s little sister, why?”

“She looks like Sasha’s twin. I figured they were related.”

“Yeah. We have a rather large family and extended family. How are you feeling about being here?”

“After seeing Nolan almost plummet to his death. I’m more apprehensive to be outside in case I get an unsavory ability that puts me at risk outside.” I admit.

“I wouldn’t be too worried, some are scary in closed spaces. He could have had that happen indoors and broke his neck.”

“That’s a more pleasant thought,” I stated sarcastically.

“Just keeping it real.”

“I know, can you believe he was dumb enough to get the vaccine because of a dare? Never mind that who would think that would be funny to suggest?”

“I stopped trying to understand the way others think a long time ago. Think about the protesters harassing and discriminating against the participants going into Greenway Industries.”

“True. I hope you don’t mind, but I told Nolan that he is welcome to come visit here if he wants as long as he does so at appropriate times before nine at night.”

“Fine with me. I’ve noticed the uncomfortable atmosphere around here. It seems the more new faces that enter the more discomfort comes out. I can’t imagine being here alone like he is right now. They need to get to the bottom of this and fast before we have rivalries forming within the community.” Lexi replies. “It’s good that you have a friend who's not part of the family to talk with. Just in case things go sideways, he'll have your back I hope.”

“You are truly concerned.”

“Cautious more than concerned, but yes. If things continue to remain tense, then we may have a situation on our hands.”

“Well, I genuinely hope you are wrong and that everything works itself out.” I shut the stove off and began plating our dinners.

Dinner was quiet for the most part as it usually is between us. We watch a movie and then part ways into our rooms for the night. I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight after everything that has happened today, but as soon as I lay my head on my pillow I feel the need for sleep wash over me and my eyes close.