BLUE IRIS

Colt

I HAD never been terrified in my entire life knowing that I was going to die of what to come after death. Was there really an afterlife? Like Heaven or hell?

I believed in God, but I was not a religious person. I remembered God during the happiest and toughest moments, but that was all.

Before I bled out, I begged for forgiveness. I begged Him to give me another chance. I even begged Him to give me a little time to tell everyone how much they meant to me. Then, I did not get the answer. I watched myself bled and felt the blood oozing out of my system-that was the scariest thing I'd ever experienced.

Then I woke up in the arms of the woman I loved. Iris cried again, and I couldn't stop her regardless of how I cooed her. I knew she blamed herself for what happened to me, yet I, myself couldn't blame her for that, and I was even guilty for letting her go through that pain again.

Inside the bathroom, she tried to give me a bath. I was still eyeing her when her brows squished together as she took off the pink gown I was wearing. She inspected my body-from my back, probably to my naked ass. Then she checked my chest down to my abdomen, paid extra attention to my dick.

I chuckled. "I am sure it still works well. Want me to demonstrate?"

She lifted her chin and looked at me. I could see the amusement in those beautiful blue eyes.

"I was just checking if you have lesions or bleeding. It's like magic how it just stopped," she said in disbelief.

"Aren't you glad I survived?" I shouldn't have asked her because right now, her eyes quickly reddened, welled with tears, and clouded with so many emotions. I had no doubt how much I meant to her, and she already knew how much she meant a fucking world to me.

"Are you kidding me?" She sniffed. "I wish I could switch place with you. I'd rather die with you, Colton than watching you die alone."

"I would wish the same thing." I turned on the water and moved under the showerhead. It felt like I was under the falls the water was so refreshing. It had been like ages since the last time I remembered to get inside the real shower room. "How does this place still have water?"

"I couldn't believe it as well, but this place was abandoned before we and Max have found this," she said as she lathered the soap on my back. "Everything seemed untouched aside from looters who came, took mostly medicines, then left. "I couldn't imagine how terrified you were driving alone to get in here with a dying man beside you, twig. I am so sorry."

"I blamed myself. Now that you're okay, I am glad I did that."

"You're a little stubborn and never gave up on me. That's one of the so many things I love about you."

"That's what love does, Colton-do the impossible." For the first time since shit happened, I felt relieved and satisfied. And loved.

"I do believe you. And I wanna press you against this wall," I said half-jokingly, causing her to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"As much as I missed us together, I need to make sure you're a hundred percent recovered. You need to piss and poop to check if there's no fresh blood from your discharges." "Whatever you say, doc. I missed you though."

"You have no idea how much I missed you, too." She pressed herself against mine. This time, she was already naked. I held her hands in my chest to let her feel my frantic heartbeat. "I told you, it works perfectly." When I looked down, my cock was already half-mast.

Iris just laughed at me.

After our uneventful shower, I checked myself in the mirror. I might have lost a few pounds, but I was definitely alive. When I took a closer look, something had changed in me. "Holy shit!" My eyes widened in shock as I inspected myself. "Twig, can you come over here, please?"

"What's wrong?" She rushed in, looked alarmed. She had already changed into a blue denim shirt, rolled the sleeves up to her elbows. She paired it with jeans that I haven't seen before. I felt my heart ached inside my chest. She looked beautiful though and was even glowing. Had she been- Jesus! Iris would never do that. What the hell was wrong with me? "Colton, what's wrong?"

I blinked. "Sorry. Can you check my eyes?"

She moved closer. Her mouth gaped, and I was tempted to capture it with mine. Did being in a coma make someone this horny?

"Do you feel something different?" She cupped my face and examined me particularly at my eyes.

"I feel lively. I don't know."

"Your pupils are not dilated, but the color of your irises turned darker. Like you were turned on." She guessed it right.

"I am." I snaked my hands around her waist and pressed myself against her to let her feel my hard-on.

"Not a chance, Colton. I am serious."

"I am hungry. That's all."

"Lois is preparing a soup for you." She already filled me up about everyone, and that Dr. Hull was alive.

A lot of things happened as if I had been away for a long time. I knew Gael would take care of Iris if I was gone for good, and I never doubted that he would protect her just like how he protected me. "I am hungry for something as well," I added and smirked.

She rolled her eyes, and I missed that. "Hold your horses, dude. They are waiting for you."

"Dude, huh? Did they organize a welcome party for me?"

"I wish we have that luxury."

"Where did you get these?" I changed into the clothes she offered to me. Suddenly, I felt useless. And for the first time, I had no plan in my life.

"There's a shop a few blocks from here. That's where I got this." She showed me her shirt that I thought it was from another man. "Unfortunately, it's a men's clothing boutique."

"Don't worry, I'm gonna get you clothes now I'm back on my feet. You look like a cowgirl. A hot and sexy cowgirl." I kissed her lips.

Once we were done, I followed Iris toward the room, and I stopped mid-way to see them all standing with wide eyes.

"Looks like you've all seen a ghost." I smiled. "Glad everyone is okay. That's actually the reason why I had to wake up from this death bed because I missed you all." Nobody moved a muscle.

"What? No hug? I can't infect you all, can I?"

"I thought you're dead, man. And finally, I can have Iris all to myself." Frost wiggled his brows.

Iris and Lois stared at him in disgust.

I snorted and gave him a brotherly hug. "I hate to break it to you, man, but you're not her type. So, don't let your hopes high."

"Burn," Darick reacted.

"Ah, Darick. You don't understand, eh because you don't have a sex life."

"Does it matter? I have a hand."

We burst out laughing.

"That's another burn," I countered.

"You okay, Gael?" Iris asked.

For the first time, he smiled, relaxed, then pulled me into a hug. "I couldn't be any happier, son."

"Thank you for taking care of her."

"That's what family does, Colt. You're welcome, and welcome back."

"Thank God! I thought we lost you." Lois squeezed me hard and cried. "I'm so happy right now you're awake."

"You're not gonna get rid of me easily, Lois. You and Iris are my girls, and you're stuck with us for a long time."

"Thank you, Dr. Hull. For not giving up on me." I gave the old man a hug.

They let me catch up with what I missed while I ate something after four days of lying like a dead.

"How does it feel?" Frost asked.

"Of knowing you were about to die?"

"Nope. If I finally have Iris," he joked. "Of course of waking up, man." He slapped my back playfully.

"Great. Like I loosened up. How am I even going to describe the feelings, especially seeing you all here? Still, nobody wants to give up on me. Thank you, guys."

"So, are we gonna miss the scary and tough look on you?"

"Probably." I laughed. "You haven't changed, asshole."

"Okay. Let's talk about something more serious matter since Colt is back. Do you think Otis knew something about you, Iris?"

"About a cure?" Dr. Hull asked.

"I don't know. I just thought, maybe I am immune," Iris replied cautiously.

"Have you been ill?"

"Like critically sick?" Iris thought for a moment. "My parents had been, yeah, but not me. I received all the vaccines when I grew up."

"Who gave you that necklace?" Darick asked.

"Again. We're back to the necklace," I snorted.

"My mom. My real mom."

"Just curious, man. Do you mind?" Darick lay his hand. "Maybe Iris developed quadruple helix."

Iris gave it to him and leaned her head against my shoulder. I was dead if it was not because of her. She made the biggest decision of her life alone, and I owed her big time. I always knew she was strong with or without me. That was who she

was.

"Is that even possible?" I asked.

"What's quadruple helix?" Lois gave me a confused look.

"I don't know either. Humans like us have double helix strands in our DNA. Don't listen to Darick. He probably watched too many sci-fi movies."

"I honestly don't know. I've been treating patients and haven't encountered a case like this, so forgive me if I haven't been much of a help," Dr. Hull answered, scratching his white growing scruff.

"Did you forget you helped me pulled through this shit?"

"It was my duty, son."

"You could just give up, Doc."

"As a part of this family. And may I remind you how many times you saved our lives. The least I could do was to do something"

"That was not something," Iris said. "We owed you our lives."

"Okay, let get back to the necklace," Gael interjected.

"Let us say or consider Darick's idea that you developed quadruple helices or triple or whatever. So, the other strand could be," he hesitated. "The virus. I read an article about it, but that had not proven anything, and they had been studying it for years. Until now, nobody knows what were those two helices. Could be cancer or a new disease or genetic disorder or Neurodegenerative disease."

"Let us think something less complicated," Gael suggested.

"Through your gene, the scientist could possibly create a cure out of it or a vaccine. We don't have any news about the breakthrough though. It is possible that they haven't figure out about the virus. Because it's hard to work when you're used with the digital age. It's like back to basic using the old version of the microscope. If you have an immunity to this virus, I had a feeling that this is genetically modified."

"Genetically modified? You mean my parents created the virus that killed millions or billions of people because I am sure I don't even know how to use a microscope?" she bellowed defensively.

"We don't know, Iris. It's just my theory," Dr. Hull answered respectfully. "Because if you are immune you can't treat an infected patient, can you? Unless-"

"I am carrying the virus and the cure itself?"

"Possibly a cure. Your blood has a cure. We can take your blood sample if you will allow me while we are in the clinic."

"You said yourself you've never encountered a case like this," she refused.

"Hey. Calm down, twig." I gripped Iris' shoulder. "We are just sharing ideas, okay?"

"My parents were not killers, in fact, they died treating people. And they're just doctors and not bioengineers capable of creating the virus." She studied the old doctor and everyone's reaction. "I'm sorry. I don't mean like that. I'm truly happy that Colt is alive, and whatever cured him, it doesn't matter anymore." Dr. Hull squeezed Iris' hand and smiled sadly.

"Have you tried to open it?" Darick was still inspecting the pendant.

"A sweater chain necklace with personalized pendant-it's not a perfume bottle."

"No. It has no scent, and it's empty?" She wasn't sure about her answer anymore. This conversation affected, and again, it was because of me.

"It looks like a Lapis lazuli."

"A Lapis what?" Gael asked.

"A deep blue rock. A long time ago, this rock is expensive than gold. A Tsarevich egg is made of this stone for Empress Alexandra."

"And who the fuck is Empress Alexandra?" Frost asked, mocking Darick.

"Let him finish," Gael groaned in displeased.

"She let someone made it as a tribute to her son Alexie, and now is displayed at the Museum of Virginia or maybe someone had destroyed it." Darick shrugged. "Whatever." "And?" Iris asked.

"This." Darick opened the silverwork and showed the rectangular-shaped blue stone in his palm.

"That's it?" I asked.

"There is something more." The excitement in his voice was palpable.

"Cut the crap. Tell us what's so important in that pendant, small D," Frost snickered.

Darick took the gum he'd been chewing since we sat down and dried up with his shirt. He wrapped it to the stone, making us all grimace.

"Ew." Lois wrinkled her nose.

Then he carefully unwrapped and placed it on the table. Our heads bowed simultaneously to see the result.

"What's that? A quote?" asked Lois.

"Numbers," Gael said..

"Maybe a combination, a code, or password," Darick answered.

"Of what?" Iris asked.

"Maybe your mom's locker or a safe-deposit box."

"Everything will be okay, twig." I kissed the top of her head.

She sighed. "I feel like a hoax. Before I woke up, I had this vivid dream. I was like nine or ten years old in that dream. I know it doesn't have connections to what's happening to me, but I was in that air-pressurized room while those doctors were watching me. I can't remember something happened to me in real life though. That was probably because I was under stress, but I saw my mom there though."

The silence stretched around for a few seconds until she broke again. "The truth is, Mom didn't die, just my dad because she was apparently immune to the virus. Her team made us believe that my parents died in that village. Months later, I received a call from an unknown number. I recognized her voice. I was terrified that I received a call from my dead mom, but I wanted to see her because I haven't been able to adjust to the new family I had. I was still grieving. It was a difficult time my brother and I were separated, then Otis was treating me like shit. So, she asked me to trust her. I went to see her after the class, then my mom injected me with something and said sorry that she had to do that." She wiped her face dry. “She said she only wanted to protect me. I never told anyone about that because she made me promise not to."

"It's all right. You don't have to tell us anything." Frost gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I don't want to keep any secrets from everyone anymore. The last time I did, I put Colton's life in danger." She paused. "I was so young at that time to even ask. I can still remember the horror in her eyes. She seemed paranoid and vigilant. She hurriedly walked away as if someone was watching her. Two days later, she was dead with bullet wounds on her chest."

None of us able to talk, even Dr. Hull, but I couldn't see the anger, blame, or pity in their eyes. It was not her parents' fault. It was their employer. I would say bullshit if they said it was to protect the people of this country. How the virus spread again? We still didn't know.

I scratched my beard, waiting for someone to break the unwavering silence, but it remained as it was, until Iris spoke again.

"You can decide if I should surrender myself to the CDC. Maybe it's not too late to save this country."

They shared look as if Iris was losing her sanity.

"You're kidding right?" Frost reacted.

"Now we have the answer why Otis was after you. Do you have to do that?" Lois asked.

"I doubt if he knew, but there's something isn't adding up here," I said.

"He was following orders," Gael said.

"No. Zypher was infected, and he was in that car that blew-up. That was why they were wearing masks," Iris explained. "Because he needed my blood."

"You know what they did to you back at that colony, and you're still willing to be their lab rat? I don't think it's a good idea. Fuck humanity! Fuck the government and the people!" Darick stood up, glaring at Iris. "Those scientists studied years and spent billions from our taxes, and for just one job to contain the virus, yet they failed. They failed us! And look at what happened? If you go there, you'll die." He pointed her. "They won't take a bullet to protect you, Iris. This is bullshit!" Iris' mouth gaped for Darick's outburst.

"You don't owe them shits. Your parents gave their lives to save those victims. They were also victims, Iris. The people behind this shit stole their lives from the world, from you, their future, their family. Aren't all of these too much if you will do this to save the fucking humanity?"

"I told you this guy is something. He's a piece of work. When he talks, he's always on point," I broke the tension even though Iris' idea started to piss me off. "So, Gael, what do you have in mind?"

"I don't like it. What she's about to do is suicide. Forget about it, Iris." Gael was already on his feet. "Let's move to find Templeton's dad."

Iris raised her hand to stop us. "I'm not going with you. I need to make things right."