In the wolf's lair

You arrive in front of a diner and you park in. Before dismounting your car, you close your eyes and breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Now that you've calmed down a little, you enter the lunchroom and take place. You're so immersed in your thoughts that you barely notice the waitress (a stereotypical old woman in a pink uniform) asking for your order. You answer a hot dog and you peek at her as she goes behind the counter. You then carefully scrutinize the other patrons. There are about a dozen of them, both boys and girls. You start to feel nervous again. What if it has already spread? What if one of them is here? And if not, shouldn't you warn them of the imminent danger?

-Here it is 'hon.-.

You politely thank her. It was quick. Of course it was, you're the only one who isn't already eating. You take a deep breath once again.

Like during an exam, you review the capitals of European states in alphabetical order.

Amsterdam

Andorra

Athens

You have to distinguish prudence from paranoia, and you can't just stand on the table and yell for an epidemy of, of sexual estrogens! Instead, what you can do is go on the offensive. You can't cure any disease without a previous diagnosis. It's risky, obviously, but running away won't be of any help. And your mother... she counts on you.

You dial your cousin's number and put the phone to your ear. You open your mouth to greet him, but you find yourself voiceless. Your eyes are burning.

"Don't panic. Cry later. Focus now.".

-Hello?-.

-Hi Tom, it's me.- You try to sound as casual as possible, managing to keep your nerve.

-Emily!- There is a pause of seconds, then: -Hi, what's up? I wasn't expecting you call.-.

-Everything is fine, thank you.- You answer, lowering your voice a bit, not to be heard from anyone else but without raising his suspicion: -Just wanted to hear from you, you know, from my cousin. Good you too?-.

-Yeah! Yeah, yeah, everything as usual.- He replies with great emphasis: -How are you? With exams and so on?-.

-Mmm... not bad, I mean, you know how it goes. They never end, huh?-.

-Right!- He chuckles: -And how are Uncle Mike and Aunt Maddie?-.

Your heart misses a step at that question. Mom... Dad...

-They're fine too. Oh, hasn't your mom told you?- You decide to throw a bait.

-About what?-.

-She passed by this morning. Well, I wasn't there, Mom was, but she... she told me everything. Later.-.

-Oh, uh, no, must have slipped from her mind.-.

-Really? Doesn't Aunt Jess tell you everything?- You insist with a giggle.

-Y-Yes, probably I wasn't paying attention since she...-.

-She?- You shift on the tip of the chair at that interruption.

-Erm, forget it, nothing important. So... you're at home now?- He abruptly changes the subject. You're a bit deluded, but you're almost sure he's hiding something. He's not using the same tone as your grandma, though, it seems tense rather than fake.

You have an idea for setting another little trap.

-Actually, I'm just fooling around. How about we meet at the park? Take a break from studying?-.

-Well... sure... why not? Are you already there or do you need a ride?-.

You twist your mouth. If he had implied that you were with your car, which you don't usually do because of pollution, that would have suggested that Mom or Grandma had warned him.

-No need, thanks. Another thing, uhm, don't tell Kim and Tina if possible.-.

-Oh. Oh, right, them.- You're a bit surprised by his surprise, like he hadn't even considered the (theoretically foregone) idea of a four meeting between cousins: -Yeah, no problem. I mean, fine by me, but why?-.

-Ehm... I need your advice on something, and I prefer that no one hears it.-.

-My advice? Well, uh, if I can be of any help...-.

"Trust me, Tom. From how you are behaving, I think so.".

-Good. See you in fifteen minutes!- You close the phone and sigh. You look down and remember your hot dog, waiting on your plate.

Damn, it's cold.

Twenty minutes later, you are lurking in a corner of the park, spying on Tom who is sitting on a bench. He seems to be alone as promised, with no trace of anyone else.

-Hi! Sorry for the delay.- You chirrup approaching him. Your body is tense and ready to escape, but he simply smiles and stands up to greet you. If you were afraid for Jess or someone else to come out and run to you, it's not happening. However, you prefer not to give them the chance.

-Let's go for a walk.-.

...

-So, what did you want to ask me?- He growls as you wander around.

-Err, let's get there step by step, 'kay?-.

He nods. You set the plan in motion and take him by the hand, a simple gesture that still makes him scowl. You give him a timid smile. It's a bit weird, but not inappropriate for cousins, after all.

-So, Aunt Jess didn't tell you what they talked about.- You pass by a young couple who's holding each other's hands as you do, and you cringe inside. You just hope nobody you know is here to see you. To see you f...flirt with...

Tom shakes his head, and you continue in an allusive tone: -Well, actually Mom told me she was behaving oddly, like... I don't know, how is she at home?-.

You see him flinching and then he answers: -Normal, simply normal. I don't think there's something odd in her, but what was the topic?-.

You pretend to scratch your cheek to give sneaky glances around you. Everything seems normal, people do what is normally done in a park: there are children playing, young couples hugging and elderly ones walking. The idea that something bad could happen at any moment is surreal. But you can't forget your mother's desperation.

-If, if it's no secret, I mean.-.

-To be honest, she gave her something.- You hint, squeezing a little against him. You immediately feel the anxiety rise and a vague sense of disgust make its way, so much so that you can no longer stand to look him in the eye. But you have to. He doesn't have to suspect you're acting.

-And then she has shown that to me.- You smile. His cheeks take on a reddish nuance and his eyes restlessly wander over your face in search of an explanation.

-Something... like...- He blatters.

Inside your shoes, you're curling your toes desperately for the next part. Jesus, it's your cousin. Since you entered the Medicine faculty, you are afraid of having to operate on a relative one day; but this, this is even worse.

-Come closer, I'll tell you in the ear.-.

He would normally react with a chuckle, you assume, or a wave of embarrassment, or even (oh God) excitement. You haven't played these games since you were kids, when everything was differnet. Instead, he seems genuinely scared by your behavior, he's looking at you like an alien, as if he knows what to expect now. You lean forward, standing up on tiptoe, swallowing down your revulsion. If you're wrong, he'll believe you've gone crazy. But you know you're not wrong. You're doing this for Mom.

-What do you think, huh?- You whisper seductively. You didn't dare to say anything more explicit, you just couldn't. His body freezes and, when you retract, you see that his eyes are bulging.

-Em-Emily, you too...?-.

"You too"! You knew it! You were right!

Oh shit, shit! You were right...

-Me too? What?- You giggle to hide the trembling in your voice, caressing his shoulder like you're used to with your boyfriends. Your heart is racing in your chest and your eyelids are on fire. His fingers tighten on your arms, then loosen, he bends his elbows as if to draw you to him, but then he doesn't. You feel hope swelling in your chest, but you push it down.

-We-we can't...-.

Your face is burning. He's aroused, of course, but overall he's reticent. He's like you...? Oh God please, please, make it that he's like you!

-W-Why not? In some Countries it's not il-illegal...- But you stop and burst out in tears. No, no, why are you...? He still has to tell you the truth! He still has to prove that he's on your side!

-Emily?- He exclaims, completely unprepared. You throw yourself into his arms and bury your face in his shoulder.

"W-What am I doing? It's still dangerous, I'm exposing myself, I can't trust him yet, I can't...".

With horror, you feel his arms closing around your back. It's over, you think. You've failed your Mom and your Grandma. You've been stupid, you've been reckless, you should have just run away, and now your pride has condemned you.

"I'm sorry...".

-Emily, c-calm down... don't cry, please!- He clumsily says. He's not laughing at his victory. He's trying to be comforting. And he's not holding you still, you realize. He's just hugging you. You finally feel that you can let out your cries without any fear.

"Then I... then I'm not alone anymore...".

---

You're now sitting on a bench, he looking at you awkwardly and you, bowed head, wiping your eyes with your palms.

-I'm sorry. I didn't know if I could trust you.- You explain.

...Reykjavik, Riga, Rome...

Sniff: -Please, tell me I'm not crazy.-.

-...you're not crazy.- He says after a while.

-How did you... how did you find it out?- You ask. He pauses and his lips have some shudders, like he's struggling to calibrate the next sentence.

-They... they were strange...-.

-Tom, I... I need to know... strange how?-.

He clenches his digits on the boards of the bench.

-I... I saw them kissing... Kim and Tina, I mean.- He babbles. You open wide your eyes at that revelation. Your cousins...! Your cousins have...!

But even in your state, your analytical mind cannot ignore the lie in his words. Something even more terrible must have happened, something he's ashamed only of thinking. But, sadly, you can figure it out by yourself.

-I'm sorry.- You say. He nods gravely.

-Have you any idea of what it is? A virus, some serum...-.

He frowns at this question: -You think it's some kind of disease?-.

-My mom told me.- You explain, darkening at the memory.

-Before she... she didn't make it. I think. I don't know, she told me to run and I ran away. I left her...-.

-It's not your fault...-.

-...and then our grandmum saw me and... and she wasn't herself anymore... and I left her too...-.

...

-It's terrible.- He comments with his voice broken by the emotion: -I don't know what to say, Emily. I'm sorry that you've been through all this.-.

-Thank you.-.

-But why did you call me? I mean, why didn't you think that I was, uhm, infected?-.

You take a deep sigh.

-It was a gamble. I think it infects only females. I have no real evidences, but I guess I'm right now.-.

He looks at you with all the seriousness in the world.

-Then you should hide, or-

-I can't.- You shake your head: -I have to find out what it is. How to defeat it. Tom, I need your help.- you look at him intensely.

-How?-.

-I need a sample of DNA from one of them. Blood possibly. I know what I'm asking you to do- You add as he turns pale: -but I can't do that by myself. Mom or Grandma has probably already alerted your family about me. You're the only one that can make it.-.

He gulps down and then accepts. You tell him to be careful and give him one last hug before you turn around to go back to your car.

-Emily!- He calls you after some steps. He's smiling weakly, but it's enough to cheer you up a little.

-I'm happy that you're still yourself.-.

You lift a bit the angles of your mouth, and then you move away.

---

As you get closer to home, jitters assail you again. A disease, a virus! That explains everything. Your family is sick, they're just sick, they don't really love you. And Emily neither... wait, what's with her? It's not that... you were sincere before, you're really glad Emily is still Emily! But maybe, maybe, in a little corner of your mind, when you got out, maybe you were hoping for something else.

However, you stop dead in your track when you see a car parked in front of your house, and a blonde woman getting out.

Your aunt.

"Oh shit! Shit! What should I do now? Why is she there?".

You reason about hiding or running away, but she turns around and notices you.

-Tom!-.

You have **** but to move closer. She seems normal, perfectly normal, her posture, her tone, if Emily didn't tell you otherwise you wouldn't have suspected anything.

-Hi Aunt Maddison, why you there?- You ask trying to sound casual.

-Oh, just a visit.- She says with a candid smile, her smile. You strive to keep looking her in the eye. Not just for your nervousness, but also because of her... gulp, her bust.

-Ah, but, I thought you saw Mom this morning.-.

She doesn't bat her eyelashes and titters: -You got me! Actually, I tried to call, but nobody answered. I just need to discuss some topic with her, don't worry.-.

Nobody answered... wait, Mom was actually sleeping when you descended the stairs: she woke up at you only to go to her room, where she couldn't hear the phone ringing. Plus, Kim sometimes puts earplugs on while she studies and Tina... well, you think you've heard her masturbating. No, you're sure that you've heard her masturbating. Kim decisively needed her earplugs. Therefore, she's probably saying the truth.

But that means they still don't know about Emily!

-So, shall we go in?- She asks, not expecting your next reaction.

-No! ...Actually, I think they're out. That's why no one has answered.-.

She frowns, then takes a glimpse towards the garage: -But cars are there.-.

-They're on foot. You know, a hike to the park. Mom wanted to, erm, strengthen the bond with my sisters, if you know what I mean.-.

-Oh...- A smirk of realization stretches her lips: -I see, yep.-.

She see? See what? Has she really bought it?

-Well, I'll inform them that you've come.- You conclude, hoping that it will be enough to make her go away. But you were too optimistic.

-Hold on sweetie, why so in a hurry?- She grips your arms and her devious grin widens even more: -I mean, we can spend some auntie-nephew time, can't we?-.

-E-Erm...- You give a quick glance at the front door. For some miracle, nobody has heard you yet, and you can't allow her to enter, or it will be over.

-Sure, let's go!- You move towards the front passenger door of her car, arousing her perplexity.

-But I meant... oh, whatever, that's fine.- She jumps in and turns on the engine. You wince at her sinuous body sitting right next to you with a swish of her tight clothes.

She's there, and she wants to fuck you, a thrill echoes in your mind.

And you want it too.

-Where do we go?- She asks.

Yeah, good question. What can you come up with now? Where do you take her and, above all, how the hell do you take a sample of her blood?