Tabib sighed desperately, "She's infected."

Marnik squeezed Carisa in his arms and shook his head, "No, she's been here days, she would have turned, I've seen everything she's done, everything she's eaten! Carisa isn't infected."

Hearing her name, Carisa could only understand some of the words he spoke, but his tone was enough, "What's the wrong Marnik?"

He shook his head and held her close, desperately, "You're right, there must be something wrong with the device! Scan her again."

Tabib stood up and again they scanned Carisa, but the results were the same. He didn't get it, he knew she'd never been bitten, everything she ate was fine. He was careful!

"Make a new de-"

"Enough Marnik!" The strong voice of Fallyn came through, she stood not far, walking in on them, "I've heard enough... our devices don't malfunction like that."

Tabib held his head down when Marnik was about to speak, "I called her as soon as the first one gave the results." He admitted, "I'm sorry Marnik."

Marnik bit down on his lip as Carisa was still out of the loop, "I've taken care of her..."

"I'm sure you have Marnik. Which is why we're retracing her steps. She might be one of the slowly turned infected, might have gotten bit even before you met her." Fallyn's words went unheard as Marnik seemed lost in his thoughts.

She looked down at Carisa a frown on her face, "Carisa... we need to talk."

Carisa nodded, this all had to be connected she thought. When she tried to walk Marnik wouldn't let her go, he was stuck in place. His eyes staring blankly as his expression was sour, "Marnik, come on." She said.

When he didn't react Fallyn was over, pushing Marnik forward along with Carisa, she needed an area more private. Where Carisa would feel more at ease... where she could let out her feelings when hearing the news.

Taking a small office as ten closest private areas she sat across from Marnik and Carisa, "I'm sorry to have to drag you like this."

"It's fine." Carisa spoke, as Marnik was still zoned out, "What do we need to talk about? Is it about human preservation?"

"No... you know you've just been scanned Carisa, the device can tell us of any illness you might have. Carisa... you're infected." At Fallyn's words, Carisa's eyes widened.

She shook her head, "But I haven't been bitten, not even scratched."

Fallyn nodded, "Which is why we need to know everything you've done at least the past three months before you came here." She paused, and looked at Marnik, "Some humans take longer to change, although the norm is a week maybe two, some people last months. Some people even survived the initial outbreak in the city, from the purest source. But after a while, they all eventually turned."

Marnik's eyes slightly widened speaking in his tongue, "She... I... this is all my fault. I should have been more careful, I should have known my idea was stupid." He slumped down without a clear explanation as Fallyn's eyes brows furrowed.

She turned to Carisa, "Where have you been since you met Marnik?"

"I've been in the forest mostly, some random small towns, and once the city, I woke a mask tho." Carisa saw how in the end Fallyn's head fell.

"The masks don't work..." Fallyn stood up and turned her back on them, biting her hands, "The air is less toxic yes... but it still gives the effects. How long ago was that?"

Carisa didn't answer as tears streamed down her face, she sucked in a deep breath, getting Marnik to snap out of his trance. He brought her into a hug whispering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Repeating the words over and over again.

Fallyn felt hurt at the sight of them, the one human to make her start the preservation project, was here in front of her slowly dying. Carisa clutched onto Marnik, who desperately tried to console her.

But as much as she pitied them she needed an answer, to know how much more time they had, "Marnik, how long ago was that?"

He looked at her, "Over a month."

Fallyn bit her lip, "We have a prototype cure... but it's got less than a fifty percent probability of working. It's only been tested on already 'dead' subjects. Not anyone that's currently infected."

Seeing Marnik glare at her she grew quiet, getting up, "I'll speak with you later Marnik. You should let Carisa rest for today."

Fallyn walked out shortly and all Marnik could hear where Carisa's sobs. She was so heartbroken. And just minutes before she'd been laughing with him.

She looked up at him, the tears staining her face and making her cheeks puff up, "I don't want to go out like this. I'm happy here..."

He kissed the top of her head, "I know, I'm not going to let it happen. I'll work hard, harder than ever to get the cure."