Chapter 7

That night, Roxanne started feeling dizzy and weak, her throat swollen and sore. Sure enough, she had caught the flu. Remembering the packet of medicine that the organization had distributed, she rummaged through her things, yet no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find it. In the end, she pushed open Zoey's half-closed door and found her untouched packet of medicine on her nightstand. Zoey, on the other hand, was lying in bed, looking a little under the weather as well. "Why is my medicine in your room?" Roxanne demanded. Zoey opened her eyes. Realizing it was her, she wasn't apologetic in the least. On the contrary, she said matter-of-factly, "Oh, I took it. I caught the flu, too, and one dose wasn't enough, so I used yours." "That was meant for each of us! How could you just take mine? Did it ever cross your mind how I'd feel?" Roxanne couldn't believe her reasoning. Zoey scoffed. "Why on earth would I consider your feelings? My life is way more important than some housewife's! I've already taken it. What are you going to do about it?" With that, she got out of her bed and shoved Roxanne out the door before slamming the door shut. Roxanne stood outside the door, trembling with anger yet unable to do anything. Dragging her fevered body, she went door to door, politely asking whether anyone had any extra flu medicine. Most of them shook their heads, as medicine was scarce during the outbreak. In the end, a kindhearted family took pity on her and gave her a few pills. Roxanne thanked them over and over, went home, took the medicine, and drifted off into a groggy sleep when it kicked in. … In the middle of the night, while she was sound asleep, her door was kicked open. The loud bang jolted Roxanne awake. She opened her eyes and found Callum standing in the doorway, his face frosty and his gaze frighteningly sharp. "What did I tell you before I left?" he thundered. "I told you not to go out! Did my words mean nothing to you? You went out to buy those useless clothes, caught the flu, and still had the nerve to come back and pass it to Zoey! You never learn, do you, Roxanne?" Roxanne was struck dumb by the baseless accusation. When his words finally sank in, all she felt was endless sorrow and disbelief. She forced herself upright and tried to explain herself, "I never went out! Zoey sneaked out to buy new clothes, caught the flu, and even stole my medicine. If you don't believe me, check her closet. You'll find the new clothes and receipts! You can also ask our neighbors if I've been outside in the last few days." Callum stared at her wordlessly for a few seconds. When she thought he might actually look into it, he said coldly, "That won't be necessary. I only believe what Zoey said. Since you disobeyed orders, snuck out, and infected someone else, you must be punished!" He didn't give her another chance to defend herself. He barked, "Haul her out. Strap eighty-eight pounds on her and make her run six miles. If she doesn't finish, don't let her back in!" "Callum Moreno!" Roxanne looked at him with despair. "How could you?" Right then, two soldiers burst in and dragged her off her bed. The training ground was mercilessly cold in the dead of the night. With a crushing weight on her back, Roxanne forced herself forward, one grueling step at a time. Weakened by the flu and racked with pain from both old and new wounds, she could barely see through her sweat and tears. Roxanne had no idea how she found the strength to cover those six miles. By the final stretch, her legs suddenly gave way, and she tumbled down the steep slope beside the training ground. … When she came to, she found herself back in a hospital bed, her whole body aching as if it had been torn apart. Callum never once showed up this time. Several days later, when she could finally get out of bed and walk again, she went to the doctor's office on her own to have her bandages changed. As soon as she stepped out of the treatment room, she came face-to-face with the two people she least wanted to see. Callum was carefully supporting Zoey, his tone filled with a nervousness Roxanne had never heard from him before. "I won't relax until you've had a thorough check. I can't risk anything happening to you." Zoey giggled, "You haven't changed one bit, Callum. You still make a big deal out of every little scrape I get." Then, she changed the topic and asked casually, "By the way, I heard you punished Roxanne. Apparently, she rolled down a slope and ended up here for treatment, too. Do you… want to check on her?" His voice went cold in a heartbeat. "No, she got what she deserved." Roxanne heard every word he said from around the corner. It felt as if her heart was stabbed again and again by ice picks until the pain dulled into bitter irony. She was about to slip away when someone exclaimed, "Chief O'Brien? My goodness, it really is you! What are you doing here?"