THE FIFTH DAY: Chapter XVII

"He said not to!"

I didn't think I'd ever seen Echo so upset.

"Echo, that was years ago! Things changed. Remember?"

"Nothing changed! It's not for her to know!"

"Know what?" I questioned, annoyed.

"Everything! Anything!" Echo turned on me.

"Echo," Madeline started levelly. "You remember when we met? You remember the deal? You remember Five?"

Echo seemed to calm down. She stepped backward, nodding slightly.

"I proved that I would never ever do anything to endanger you, didn't I? Didn't I prove that?"

"Yeah, but-"

Madeline cut her off.

"Who's higher in the ranks, here?"

"Captain Scout." Echo replied shrilly.

"'Five isn't here right now, Echo. 'Here' as in here."

Echo looked down.

"You are."

Madeline nodded stiffly as though only just coming to terms with the fact that she was the responsible one present. She squeezed Echo's shoulder gently and then walked by her, sitting back down on the rock we had talked on earlier in the morning.

"What do I have to do with all this?" I started.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing if you want nothing to do with it."

Madeline's reply was prompt, but Echo shot her a look that said there was more to it than that.

"Who's Five?" I questioned. "Like, who, exactly?"

"Five-C-Zero-U-Seven," Madeline rattled off. "It's his code number. We just call him 'Five' for short. It's easier. Some of us know him by another name, too, but we keep his given name out of conversations. It could lead to..." she laughed, "unpleasant situations."

"He's a traitor," I realised.

"Yeah. He is."

"You can't exactly rebel against and execute a virus," I stated somewhat sarcastically. "So... what's the plan?"

And then Madeline tensed slightly. Her eyes flickered to Echo, pausing there a moment, and then they flickered back to me.

"What do you know about Senator Josef Sly?" she asked.

I raised an eyebrow. What did I know about Senator Josef Sly?

"I know he's the current leader of our world," I said carefully. "I know he lives in China. I know he supposedly has our best interests at heart."

I shrugged unhelpfully.

"Anything else?" Madeline prodded.

I threw caution to the wind.

"I know I hate him," I added, "Why do you ask?"

"Because he created the virus on purpose."

I stiffened. Somehow, it hadn't escaped my knowledge that this virus was not natural. Sicknesses such as this one didn't just happen. Something had to have helped it along, however unintentionally.

Madeline went on.

"He helped to create it, at least. He and the other Senators, and officials. Basically, the main government."

I knew it!

I knew Scoutfield had never had my or anyone else's best interests at heart! And now I had proof that it wasn't just him. Thousands of officials just like him were trying to destroy us.

And now I remembered Echo's words on that Third Day: "Don't listen to everything Everett Scoutfield says."

She was smart.

My eyes raised sharply to Madeline as I questioned, "And Everett Scoutfield was involved, too?"

Why did I care? I didn't even know. I just wanted a reason. Just one definitive reason to hate him beyond a single doubt.

Madeline opened her mouth, stuttered slightly, and glanced around uncomfortably.

"Everett Scoutfield is-"

But whatever she had been about to say was cut off as Echo pointed suddenly to the sky and exclaimed: "Oh, look!"

There was a dove flitting about over our heads, soft sounds coming from its throat as it came down to land on Echo's hand. She untied the small package on the bird's foot and carefully opened it as the dove took flight. Inside the package was a small vial of deep green liquid and an empty syringe. Taped to the bottle was a carefully written note which Echo read aloud.

Immunity Solution. 10+

UNTESTED!

Only use in event of emergency!

She looked up at me before sliding her gaze to Madeline: questioning. She would submit to whatever decision the elder made. Their eyes connected, a moment of chemistry shooting between them... and then Madeline nodded once, and that was all. She looked distinctly away, a calculated look on her face, and held a hand out for the kit.

"We keep it for... an emergency... as he said."