Noah maintained a neutral expression as she looked at him, perhaps seeking a reaction. He thought he saw accusation in her eyes, though that might have just been him feeling guilty.

“Aw, that sucks,” Brian said.

Dr. Jansen glanced at him with brows raised. “I would say so, yes.”

This is personal for her now, Noah thought. It’s not just our lives on the line anymore.

The doctor briskly replaced the mask on her face and pulled on a pair of blue elastic gloves. She then smiled at May and knelt next to her chair, unwrapping a square alcohol wipe and scrubbing it over the girl’s arm and lower leg.

May sat with an impassive expression, watching the doctor do her work.

“Are you ready?” The doctor asked. Her tone was kind, yet Noah couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. Before she revealed her own infection, it would have been reassuring that she cared deeply enough about helping them to make such an unorthodox move. Now, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was desperation for her own health that drove her bold decision. Was she acting in their interests, or her own? What else would she be willing to do?

He wished he could tell if May was sharing similar thoughts, but she displayed no outward signs of doubt in the doctor.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Dr. Jansen nodded, roughly tearing away the wrapping on the razor in a single motion and making a swift slice. The blade dipped smoothly in and out of her shoulder. May flinched slightly, perhaps having expected a shallower cut, but she didn’t say anything.

“And now your leg,” Dr. Jansen said calmly. May was wearing shorts, so the doctor simply wiped the razor with another antibiotic swipe before making a second incision on the outside of her calf. May didn’t blink this time.

The doctor sat back to observe the results with an intent gleam in her eyes.

Despite his misgivings, Noah was interested to see what she was able to glean from this test. He leaned forward out of his seat to get a look at May around Brian and Leah.

Each wound was marked by a bright red line, but there was no other sign of blood spreading from either cut.

“You still do not feel any pain, correct?” Dr. Jansen asked.

May cleared her throat. “That’s right.”

Dr. Jansen leaned over to grab a plastic container from her desk. She unscrewed the lid and dropped the used blade inside, then replaced the container on her desk, all without breaking eye contact with May.

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“Interesting,” she said. “Neither incision is bleeding. There are no signs of settling blood in the lower limbs, implying a notable blood pressure and circulation, yet here the blood acts as expected without a pulse and does not seep excessively from the wounds. There is no visible difference between the two incisions.”

As she spoke she pulled out her tablet and made a few quick scribbled notes.

She glanced at the other students. “Further testing would be beneficial…?”

They all looked at each other unwillingly. Noah shook his head.

“Perhaps not today,” the doctor said easily. “Regardless, this has been informative. I appreciate your cooperation with my unusual request, May.”

The girl nodded.

Dr. Jansen grabbed a band-aid and fingered at the wrapper. They watched her struggle for nearly half a minute.

Finally May spoke up. “It’s fine, I don’t need a band-aid.”

The doctor frowned. “You should cover the cuts.”

“Unless you want to bring another person in here, I don’t see any of us being able to open those things,” Leah said. “Right now a healthy person wearing winter gloves would have better luck.”

Looking like it physically pained her, Dr. Jansen put down the unopened band-aid. “Unfortunately, I must agree with that assessment.”

“You don’t have any other tests, do you?” Noah asked nervously.

“No. Those are the only two I had planned for you this afternoon. I would have prepared more, but I believe it would be redundant, as I have been in contact with a downtown medical complex by the name of Insight Labs. They are very interested in meeting you four. I have arranged a trip tomorrow for you to visit their testing center.”

“Wait, you did what?” Leah said, standing up angrily. “We never agreed to that. Why are you only mentioning this now?”

“It is my duty to ensure the health and safety of all students attending Oakridge Community College, and this is necessary for me to effectively perform the job with which I have been entrusted.”

“No, it’s not. Plenty of students have the illness now, whether we like it or not. Find a volunteer, and if there are no willing students, volunteer yourself. You’d be just as good a test subject as any of us. We’re not going to go to this medical center. Right, guys?”

Noah and Brian nodded their assent. Leah rounded on May. The quiet girl bobbed her head quickly.

“Yeah! So, sorry, but you’re going to have to find someone else,” Leah said. She crossed her arms.

“You don’t get a say in this,” Dr. Jansen said coldly. “As the campus physician, I know better than you what is in the best interest of this community. You have the most developed case of infection and thus are the best choice. You will be picked up tomorrow morning at nine. Ensure you are ready to leave at that time.”

The doctor sat down in her chair and reclined back. “There is currently a van waiting for you in the back parking lot. It will return you to your isolated housing units, where you will continue to reside for the foreseeable future. I suggest you don’t make them wait.”

Leah audibly ground her teeth, glaring hatefully at Dr. Jansen before stomping out of the office. They could hear her footsteps all the way down the hallway until she opened the exit door and slammed it shut behind her.

“Let’s go,” Brian said quietly, looking upset. He walked out with May close behind, leaving Noah alone with the doctor.

“What are they going to do to us?” he asked.

“Whatever they deem necessary,” Dr. Jansen said. “They are known for getting results.”

Noah swallowed. “Okay,” he said, and left her office.