Jeannie/Echo Part II

Daniel remained by Echo's side all day, from helping her shower to bringing her food. At first, she'd felt self-conscious, yet he'd been nothing but polite and attentive to her needs. He didn't try to take advantage of her vulnerable state, nor did he make her feel like less than a human being.

Once she showered, he gave her privacy to dress, leaving her with a set of soft, cotton clothes and a pair of flats. When he came back, he donned a new uniform and pair of gloves, carrying a tray of food and setting it on a nearby desk. He pulled the desk chair out for her and motioned for her to sit as he unrolled a spoon and a napkin.

Echo's stomach rumbled loudly, cramping after nine days of nothing to fill her stomach. Her mouth watered from the strong smell of fresh food, and she closed her eyes, inhaling the aroma.

"It's good to see you craving real food," Daniel said with a grin, dropping into a chair beside her.

Echo hoped he wasn't implying something as ridiculous as zombies, but she wasn't as surprised as she felt like she should have been. He did say her virus would kill everyone. Or maybe he was just suggesting she liked to eat dirt or makeup.

She awkwardly reached for the soup spoon, closing her fist around it the way a toddler would. Her mind told her this gesture was wrong and that she needed her right hand instead. Liquid slopped back into the bowl, splashing a small amount of soup on to her shirt.

Echo huffed, dropping the spoon onto the tray with a clatter.

"You'll adapt," he said with a smile, reaching for the spoon. "Let's play a game."

Echo eyed him skeptically at she leaned back in her chair. "What kind of game?"

"One where you guess what's in the food."

She smirked, blurting out the first thing that came to mind in a creepy installation where she was the human guinea pig. "No poison?"

Daniel rolled his eyes as reached into his pocket. Plastic crinkled, and Echo wondered what he could need for a game. "Why would I go through the trouble of risking contamination and releasing you from the bed if I wanted to poison you? It'd be easier to let you die on the exam table."

Yikes. This man needed a better sense of humor, but in a way, Echo still preferred his blunt manner of speaking. He didn't beat around the bush or sugarcoat the truth, though he could probably work more on his delivery.

A blue surgical mask greeted them as he tore the wrapper open, sending Echo into a fit of giggles. "A mask? I think we're doing everything in the wrong order. I can't eat with something covering my mouth."

"I don't keep ties or blindfolds at the ready," he said, raising his eyebrows.

Heat flooded Echoe's cheeks at the innuendo as another image of her imaginary friend flashed before her eyes, this time of him with his ugly ass tie being wrapped around her wrists as he pinned her to the bed, nibbling at her breasts and collarbone. She'd gasp as his tongue roamed her body, and he'd tease her, hovering above her as she squirmed beneath him, trying to wrap her legs around his waist.

Happiness and despair warred inside her heart over the memory. For the life of her, Echo couldn't remember this man's name, but she was beginning to question whether he was imagined but instead someone she'd known. Her gut told her he was real-that they'd loved each other, and that she'd somehow lost him. A longing she couldn't explain expanded inside her chest, and suddenly, his face, his voice, and his arms around hers were all she could think of.

"Jean Bean..."

"Echo?"

The vision shattered, bringing Daniel back into her blurred vision. Someone was gasping for air, sobbing loudly, and Echo thought her chest would explode. She didn't remember falling onto the floor or tucking herself into a ball as she buried her head into her knees.

Daniel's arms unexpectedly went around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. She continued to scream, getting snot all over his clean shirt, unable to stop herself as her heart shattered.

"Sh, sh, it's going to be okay. Let it all out."

"No, I don't want to remember!" She wailed, feebly beating her hand against his arm. "I just want to forget everything!"

"Okay," he whispered, "but part of letting go is acknowledging your pain. It will only get worse if you bury it."

There had to be a reason she couldn't remember her life before this. People who suffered traumatic events often forgot as a mental defense mechanism. Echo wondered what had been so bad that her brain had chosen to erase her entire life from existence. All she had to go off of was hallucinations and the words of a stranger.

She sat in his arms for several minutes before her cries died down, replaced with hiccups and the occasional whimper. She backed away, wiping her eyes with a loud sniff. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Daniel shrugged, watching her with a sympathetic smile. "It's okay. The world literally just ended and we've all lost someone. Besides, it's just a shirt."

Right. His sister. Echo was having a mental breakdown not remembering. She couldn't imagine what it was like for Daniel to recall the heartbreak of losing a loved one. She instinctively reached for him, stopping in mid-air when she remembered she was infected with an incurable disease that could kill the entire world.

She dropped her hand into her lap with a thump. "I'm sorry. I must seem really self-absorbed right now. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not yet," he said in a soft voice, pushing himself up to a standing position as he averted his eyes. "I'm not ready to relive Bethany's death. She had so much to live for, and now...now it's as if she never existed." Extending his hand, he smiled again, masking the pain behind his eyes. "Also, I don't think you're self-absorbed. You've been through more than most people twice your age. It's okay to feel your emotions."

The same could be said for him, but Echo understood wanting to keep things close. So far, all she remembered was being strapped to a table for nine days, left to sit in her filth and ignored unless someone needed to draw blood.

While Daniel had admitted to drawing her blood, he was also the only person to acknowledge her so far. Company was company, and his presence wasn't so bad. At least he felt genuine, even if his beside manner needed work.

Taking his hand, Echo allowed him to help her to her feet as she took her chair again. She nodded her thanks and turned the subject away from depressing thoughts. "So you promised me a game?"

Daniel's throat bobbed as a small laugh escaped his lips. "Yeah. Are you feeling up to it?"

Echo reached for the mask on the desk and fumbled with the straps, positioning it over her ears and pulling it over her eyes. Without her sight, her sense of smell intensified, picking up all of the aromas she missed before-meat, vegetables, and spices, mixed with fruit and grains. It was as if she was guessing the ingredients to a mystery food on a TV show where she was the star judge, and Daniel was the chef seeking her approval.

Her memories faded into the back of her mind as she grinned. "Yeah. Just try not to spill it on me."

"Only if you try not to bite me," he teased.

"I only save that for special occasions," she said, sticking out her tongue.

For a moment, everything seemed normal. Echo didn't feel like she'd lost her arm or that she was trapped within a cage. She wasn't a woman with a world-ending disease and Daniel wasn't a man babysitting her. They were two ordinary people spending time together.

Echo almost felt like they could be friends.

After dinner, Daniel removed the tray and returned with a hair brush. When Echo sat on the bed, Daniel positioned himself behind her, combing her hair with soothing, even strokes, running his hand through her strands.

Echo couldn't remember the last time someone had done that for her, but another clear image of a young girl drifted to the forefront of her mind, and she was certain she'd combed this little girl's hair once, braiding it elaborately as they dressed in costumes together.

The vision was fleeting, but strong enough to bring tears to Echo's eyes as a yearning for family came over her. Perhaps they were sisters? The girl could even have been her friend, yet she couldn't recall anything but a bright smile and the feel of the girl's tiny hand tugging hers as they skipped down the sidewalk together, giggling and collecting candy.

"Am I pulling too hard?"

"No," she said, swiping her cheeks to hide the moisture. Jeannie would have cried. Echo needed to be strong and emotionless. "Where did you learn to braid hair so well?"

Daniel's deft fingers worked her hair into a tight weave, and he laughed as he tied it with a band. "My mom was unforgiving with a brush, so my sister would cry and beg me to do her hair instead."

Echo giggled. "What a nice big brother."

"Big brothers are made to protect their little sisters."

"And big sisters," she blurted out, inhaling a sharp breath as she said it, seeing the little girl before her eyes again. Whoever she'd been, Echo couldn't remember a thing about her except that she'd been important. She couldn't help but think this little girl was a reminder of the past she was walking away from, just like her imaginary friend with the blood on his shirt.

Daniel set the brush on the nightstand and turned her around, tilting his head to the side and watching her with a serious expression. "Are you remembering something?"

Echo shook her head, gesturing as she spoke. The mattress bounced beneath them, despite the fact she didn't weigh more than an oversized puppy. "No. I don't know why I said it. I get these images in my head of people, but the second I try to remember who they are, I forget."

"Is that why you talk to yourself?"

Curiosity burned in his bright green eyes. Besides the one feature, he was nothing like her invisible friend. Daniel was clean shaven with serious features, dark hair, and he was open with her. The other man was a phantom she'd made up, bearing a five o'clock shadow, a mischievous smile, and said very few words. He was something to comfort her while she was alone in the other room.

Echo shrugged. "I'd like to think he was real-an old boyfriend or something, but I was by myself for so long on that table, logic would suggest I made him up to keep myself company. I don't even know his name."

Daniel rubbed her shoulder and offered her a sympathetic smile. "You know, when my sister died, I swear I saw her everywhere. Maybe he's more than someone you made up. He could be your mind's way of remembering what you forgot."

"I really don't see the point in dwelling on the past," she whispered, turning around on the bed to face him as she crossed her legs. "I have no memory of who I was, but I have this horrible feeling that I don't want to know. I'm in a government facility where I'll never be allowed to leave, and my contact will be limited. At least by moving forward, I have some degree of control until I die."

"Please don't say that," he murmured. "I won't let them hurt you. Beth and I were here just before the outbreak went nationwide. I brought her with me when I was called to help, thinking she'd be safe here in case the virus went beyond these walls. The day of the outbreak, I was with a raider team outside the gates on the other end of the compound, screening people as they came in, but there were so many. My sister was asked to help with the intake, and she was attacked during the medical screen. She turned not even two hours later.'

'Doctor Amari wanted to get a blood sample while she was still alive, but I disagreed. Dr Benson, the psychologist over the medical division of the council, confined me to my quarters after I killed my sister in an act of mercy. He didn't want me to assist with this project, but when I heard about you, I couldn't stand by, knowing what they'd subject you to, so I volunteered to monitor you when no one else would."

A familiar emotion burned inside Echo's chest, triggering a fresh wave of tears as emerald eyes stared back at her. The broken words, 'I...love you, Jean Bean' kept haunting her as he pleaded for death and she held something heavy and metallic in her hands. Had she killed someone? Was that what she'd forgotten? To think she was capable of something so horrible, even in an act of mercy, was enough to induce a panic attack.

And though Daniel was calmly sharing his sob story, Echo was the one sucking in shallow breaths as a panic attack overwhelmed her and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Daniel took her hand and pressed it between his, holding it to his chest. "What's the matter?"

Echo shook her head again, sending tears everywhere. "It's so stupid. Here you are, telling me about your sister, and I'm the one freaking out. It isn't right."

His gloved hand caressed her face as he forced her to meet his gaze. "I made my peace with it. She was better dead than forced to suffer. Did you kill someone? Is that what you're running from?"

"I...I don't know," she admitted. "I can't remember if it's real or something I made up, but all I know is I'd rather submit to experiments here, not remembering who I am, if it means I can live in blissful ignorance of something that horrible. Every time I try to think about the past, I feel sick to my stomach."

Daniel opened his mouth to speak as the door buzzed and the lock clicked on the other side. They both turned to see a new man in pressed gray slacks and a pinstripe shirt walk through, followed by a guard wearing a face shield, carrying a rifle at the ready while keeping his index finger just above the trigger.

Echo instinctively scooted back as Daniel stood, raising himself to his full height. The stranger appeared nonplussed, casually scanning the room until his face landed on Echo. Tucked beneath his arm was a tablet, which he pulled out as he stood at the foot of the bed.

After tapping the screen, he looked up and smiled, bringing his creepy mustache up at the sides. He made no move to shake Echo's hand or sit down, but why would he? Echo was infected. He probably couldn't wait to see her shot so he could eliminate any threat she posed.

"Hello, Miss Adams. I am Doctor Benson."

Benson was the man who'd locked Daniel in confinement after killing his sister. Echo wanted to run away, but there was nowhere to flee, so she slid off the bed and straightened her spine, staring up into Benson's shrewd gray eyes. Maintaining an even voice, she said, "I changed it. It's Echo Shade now."

His lip curled into a sneer, and Echo resisted the urge to slap him as her eyes caught the flash of the guard's rifle raising an inch in her direction. Benson's eyes narrowed with his smile until he resembled the Grinch, victorious in whatever plot he'd devised.

"Very well, Miss Shade. Doctor Amari has requested your presence in one of the labs."

Daniel bared his teeth into a snarl, making no attempt to hide his hostility as he stepped closer with a puffed out chest. "Then Amari can come get her. Haven't you terrorized everyone enough?"

"You wound me, Major Orson. Every doctor takes his profession seriously, and I only wish to evaluate her now that we've deemed her safe to be out of her restraints. I'm sure you understand the precautions, given what happened the day of the outbreak."

Daniel moved his hand over his sidearm, and the guard behind Benson swivelled his rifle to face their new threat. The doctor shifted his gaze back to Echo, completely ignoring her fuming companion. "I don't suppose you want to stay locked up in here, do you?"

"That depends on what kind of experiments you want to run on me in the labs," she said in a trembling voice.

"No experiments, Miss A-Shade. We only want to consult with you regarding the virus."

He didn't offer anything else as he turned on his heel and left the room. The guard backed into the wall, motioning for Echo to follow. She exchanged a look with Daniel, whose expression darkened as he glared holes into Benson's head.

Echo swallowed, wishing she hadn't eaten. A wave of nausea threatened to send the contents of her soup back up, and she didn't know when she'd see food again. "Are...are they going to hurt me?"

He slowly shook his head, continuing to flex his fists by his side. A muscle twitched in his jaw as the guard jerked his head and his rifle toward the door again, visibly growing impatient at the delay. Releasing a slow breath, Daniel uncurled his fist and offered Echo his elbow. When she took it, he whispered so low, only she could hear him as he guided her through the door.

"Doctor Amari needs you for a cure. He won't harm you as long as you work with him. It's Benson you need to worry about."

The door closed behind them with another buzz, making Echo jump. With the guard following them, Echo fell into silence, keeping her eyes on the ground as their footsteps rang against the empty corridor. The guard kept his distance, keeping his weapon trained on her, and Echo couldn't help feeling like he'd kill her the moment someone gave the order.

Daniel urged her on, maintaining his silence as they continued until Benson stopped ahead of them, pulling a key card from his pocket and swiping it at a door's control panel. A green light flashed, and Benson pushed the door open, waiting for Jeannie and Daniel to enter.

Just before they reached him, Daniel mumbled again. "Don't trust anything he says. Do whatever Amari asks within reason to buy us time."

"Time for what?" she breathed back.

Daniel's gaze never left Benson's, and his grip around Echo's hand tucked into his elbow tightened. "We're going to make the government wish they'd never heard of this virus, Echo. They're going to pay for what they did to everyone."