Free V-Day: (M-Day #4) by D.T. Dyllin Page B

Nyx if things had been different. Did any of that really matter?
    I shoved all my emotions back down again, hating that I ’ d let them out even for a short period of time. “ Evo ’ s right. There ’ s nothing any of us, even me, can do about what ’ s already happened. All we can do is move forward. ” I sighed heavily, meeting Ty ’ s gaze. He nodded encouragingly. “ Men-V swept the entire world, not just the US, but I ’ m sure you ’ ve all probably guessed that. ” More tension filled the air. I could tell by everyone ’ s expressions that they ’ d hoped otherwise and I ’ d just confirmed their worst fears.
    I hated having to be the bearer of such bad news. I continued on anyways. “ But it ’ s not that simple as you ’ re all finding out. The virus has been mutating, more and more of those I-Monsters are going to start showing up. It seems as though the virus has broken off into different strains, or quite possibly, Doctor Greensley released different versions, I ’ m not really sure. I do know that all I-Men won ’ t just turn into I-Monsters, but some I-Men have already been infected by the virus that will cause the I-Monsters. There could be other strains out there that we don ’ t even know about yet. ” I rolled my head, my neck cracking. “ As much as I know … there ’ s more that I don ’ t. ”
    “ Ummm …” Ty interjected. “ I ’ m pretty sure there are more strains out there. ”
    “ Okaaaay, ” I drawled. “ What have you seen? ”
    Ty turned away from me and cupped the back of his neck, fidgeting. “ Are all of the strains I-Monster causing? ”
    Anxiety knotted my stomach. “ Hopefully not, but since I don ’ t know anything about these other strains …” I bit my lip, studying my twin ’ s tense back. “ Tell me, Ty. ”
    “ We ’ re all infected, ” Evo said matter-of-factly.
    I blinked rapidly, staring at Evo ’ s bland expression. “ All of you? ” My mind was reeling. Women could be infected too? I ’ d thought their immunity was a certainty.
    “ Yep, we ’ re all infected means all of us. ” Sarcasm dripped from Evo ’ s tone. “ Or would an actual list make it easier for you to understand? Me, X, Zee, Max …” She ticked off everyone ’ s name on her fingers.
    Tuning out Evo, I pulled myself to my feet, wincing as I hobbled over to Ty. “ What are your symptoms? ”
    Zee came to stand in front of me, letting Ty slide down to sit against the wall with Nyx. “ I ’ d wager a guess that each of us have different strains by the information you just gave us, or each couple does. ” He motioned to Max, his face stoic. “ I infected her with whatever I have. ” He dipped a finger in his eye, popping out a contact, causing me to gasp. It was ice blue. “ One blue, like a regular I-Man, and the other normal. ”
    Max motioned to her own eyes. “ Mine have a ring of ice around the outer edges. We ’ re stronger, faster … a lot of the same symptoms the I-Men exhibit. ”
    “ And more aggressive, ” Zee tagged on.
    “ Yeah, that too. ” Max nodded.
    Evo sniggered. “ You don ’ t want to leave out the best part — Zee came back from the dead. With him being only partially infected, we ’ d thought he was going to stay dead. Turns out he ’ s our little groups very own zombie —”
    “ Evo! ” Max snapped as she leaned over to smack her on the back of the head. “ One thing at a time! ”
    “ What? ” She rubbed her head, glaring at Max. “ And don ’ t ever hit me again or I ’ ll cut off your goddamn hand. ”
    Max crossed her arms over her chest. “ No. You won ’ t. ”
    “ Wanna bet? ”
    “ Guys! Stop! ” Nyx yelled, her face flushing with anger. “ I ’ m sick of the two of you fighting! ”
    “ I didn ’ t start it, ” Evo growled. “ Max obviously needs to get laid. ”
    “ I swear to God —”
    “ Enough! ” I bellowed, effectively shutting everyone up for the moment. “ I need to know everyone ’