Yesterday's Gone: Season Three (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER)

hadn’t told anyone outside of a small circle, at least not until the last minute, and somehow managed to shield his thoughts enough to prevent leaking the information himself. Boricio could do this better than anyone, especially when Will was busy, which he had been for the majority of the past several weeks.
    Will pulled away, and met Boricio’s eyes.
    Boricio knew he knew. “I’ll explain later,” Boricio whispered.
    Will swallowed his knot, furious, wanting later to fuck itself so Boricio could explain immediately.
    “I’m thirsty,” Luca said.
    “Hold on, I’ll get you some water.” Will smiled at Luca, rubbing the top of his son’s head before leaving the room. He nodded at Boricio with a silent instruction to follow him out into the hallway.
    The door slid closed behind him; Will narrowed his eyes, stealing a glance around them to see who, if anyone, was within earshot. The coast clear, he said, “How could you?”
    “He was inches from dead,” Boricio said. “How could I not? ”
    “The serum hasn’t been tested on humans,” Will said. “You had no right to use Luca as an experiment.”
    “Oh please,” Boricio said. “He wasn’t an experiment. Haven’t you been reading the research notes? You’ve seen what the serum can do! Apes, mice, monkeys, pigs, and anything else Old McDonald can throw in the lab. It’s worked everywhere they’ve used it. And it worked on Luca.”
    Will swallowed again, trying to control his rising anger. He had never wanted to hit anyone in all his life so much as he wanted to smash his fist into Boricio’s arrogant face right at that moment.
    He exhaled from his nose and drew a deep breath. “What if something went wrong?”
    “The doc said he’s in perfect health,” Boricio said, standing straighter. “And you’ve known me long enough to know I’m not wired to sit around and swing a sack of nothing while my baby brother is beating on his final breath.” He shook his head. “Not a chance. Those vials were a gift! You know it’s just a matter of time before we’re using the serum as a chemo-cocktail to cure everything from cancer to carpal tunnel.” He took a step toward Will and bored into his eyes. “Shit, Dad, isn’t that the ditch you said we’re supposed to be digging?”
    “Not like this.” Will shook his head. “How can you not see how foolish this is?”
    Boricio pointed at the door and the brother on the other side. “How can you not see how right this is? You taught me to take risks. You taught me to believe in myself. It’s about damned time you listen to your own advice. If this had been some random test subject, cleared through the proper channels, you’d be the first one popping the cork! So stop looking at the red tape and start walking on the red carpet, Dad. This is our time . Three surgeons made a miracle in there today! A miracle that would have never happened if you and your buddies hadn’t found those vials. At some point you’ve gotta start being able to see destiny dancing, Dad, especially when it’s twisting in a tango in front of you!” He shook his head again. “You’ve gotta stop turning your head from what’s supposed to happen.”
    Will took a step back and stared through the door’s window at Luca, lying in bed, smiling and waving. It was a smile Will had been afraid he’d never see again. Boricio was right. Will hadn’t allowed himself to believe in miracles for far too long, even though he had always believed in fate.
    Maybe this was an even blend of both.

    * * * *

CHAPTER 2 — Boricio Wolfe Part 1

    Kingsland, Alabama
    The Sanctuary
    March 28
    sometime after midnight…
    FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT…

    Well, this is some beer-battered bullshit.
    The second the old fucker pulled the trigger, Luca’s memories started spinning through Boricio’s brain — how Luca and Will had met, how Will had comforted him after his dog died, plus dozens of others — like a bad acid trip, blended with anger, betrayal, and confusion.
    Boricio shook his head, trying to flush the memories so he could deal with the immediacy of the old man with the gun.
    “What the fuck?” Boricio said, raising the shotgun he looted from one of the Sanctu-fairy fucksticks, and drawing aim at Will, pointing the barrel right between his eyes.
    Will acted as if Boricio wasn’t even there, dropping his pistol to the snow and staring down at Luca. “I’m so sorry,” he said, falling to Luca and cradling the man-kid’s head