I came back with a yell of my name, “Skylar!” I looked up to Ryder with tears lining my blue eyes. Ryder had the murderer by the scruff of his dirtied lab coat. I stood up swiftly and with two strides I was in front of the small old man. With a jolt of a reflex, I balled my fist tightly and connected with his jaw. While he was hunched over, I tangled my fingers through his silver hair and pushed his head down to join with my right knee. I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to stop my actions. I didn't dare look up, for I knew that Ryder wanted me to calm down.

Biting my lip in an effort to fight the fresh tears that threatened to cascade I spoke, “Why?” My voice was stern but had emotion layered in. “Why did you shoot an unarmed man?” I roared turning to the bloodied devil. His voice choked on fearful tears and flinched at the tone of my words.

“I thought you were infected. I thought you guys were coming here in hopes of finding a cure to save yourselves,” he stuttered out through his quivering lips. “I thought you guys would kill me once you found out the truth.”

Ryder interjected quickly, “What truth?”

The man breathed slowly, “That there is no cure for Motrisus. Whoever has it will soon follow the rest.”

I huffed and got down to my knees, wrapping my hand around his throat, “How do you know there is no cure?”

His clouded eyes met mine, “Because I’m the one who made it.” I tensed at his confession and released his neck. I shook my head, a pained expression played on my face. “I didn’t want to, you have to believe me! They forced me to create a new virus that would level out the population to make way for a new generation, a new mutation of people that could never die. I tried to warn the President, but she wouldn't listen. She dropped the bomb on New York and other major cities excluding D.C.,” he let out a shaky breath and continued. “I know that there is no excuse for the actions of my people. I never wanted anyone to die in such a horrific way.”

Ryder let go of the man, “We haven’t been infected yet. Is there a possible way our DNA could have a cure somewhere?”

He shook his head in a distressed manner, “It would take too long. There is only one solution but it’s not what you were hoping for.” Ryder and I leaned in, signaling him to continue. “There is a cure. A cure to obliterate the Wikeds,” he trailed off looking in another direction.

Ryder took the mouth of his gun and put it under the scientist’s chin and turned his face to us. The veteran got close, so close his nose was brushing the others and said calmly, “What might that be, sir?”

The man pulled away standing up. He ran his hand down his long coat, patting off any dirt. Pointless considering it was already full of mud stains and holes. After adjusting his tie he spoke, “I have been experimenting with this gas. All of the subjects I’ve tested it on has turned to dust. If we shoot the gas up into our atmosphere the pressure will cause the rocket to explode, spreading the gas over the country… hopefully.”

“Hopefully,” I question sarcastically. “How are you sure this gas won’t kill us as well?”

“I haven’t tested it on any live humans due to the fact there are virtually none left. We will hide down here just in case. Then we could hop on a boat to go to Europe, hopefully the disease didn't hit there. I have the rocket all set, all I need to do is to set and push a button. Oh, and by the way my name is Kenswick.” Kenswick rushed over to the jumble of computers typing away, I assumed he was getting the rocket set.

I wrapped my arms around my waist and let out a depressed sigh. I gazed over at Jack’s stilled body. He looked as if he was sleeping from this angle. I’d rather think of him in that sense than the other obvious one. I felt a muscular arm hook around my shoulder and I instantly rested my head on Ryder’s chest.

“He’s in a better place now, Sky. He’s with his family and his boyfriend. He’s waiting for us to join him,” Ryder spoke softly into my ear. I sighed and looked over at the American flag cloth hanging on the wall. A tidal wave of anger washed over me staring at the three colors. I pulled away from Ryder’s hold and faced our nation’s symbol.

I reached into the back of my boot to remove my knife. I slashed a strip vertically down the red and white. “You lied! You promised us,” I scream my pain at the flag. “You promised us hope, you promised us safety. Look what you have done! We are dying because of you.” The two other bodies in the room didn’t seem to want to stop my temper tantrum as I continued, “All I learned about this country was greatness and prosperity and you let us down. You let me down. I have to fight for my life because of what you created. I have to kill my own people like a bounty hunter. Like a filthy savage to make your job easier. Well, you know what? I’m done being your slave.” I ripped the remains of the once great king and threw it on the ground. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a pack of matches.

“Woah, Skylar. What are you doing,” Ryder questioned, holding his hands up defensively.

“I’m not going to be a slave for this thing no longer! I won’t stand for it, it has killed too many of the people I love.” I held the head of the match against the rough paper the lined the sides of the small box.

Kenswick butted in with worried eyes, “If there is a fire in here that door will automatically seal. There’s no way of survival! The fumes forming in the room will surely combust, do you really want to die?”

I looked up at the two men that surrounded me, then down at Jack. I made eye contact with Ryder one last time. He knew what I wanted and he wanted the same, showing with a slight nod of his head. This was no life, there was no future here. No future in another country. Motrisus won't stop. I gritted my teeth and let out exhausted tone, “I would rather die than live in a world where I’m only going to be a test subject.” With that I lit the match, I felt no pain as the warm flames engulfed my whole body. I was finally free, I finally felt no more fear.