Screams, bloodied memories, dark creatures, stench of death, bodies being pillaged of life, burning buildings, smoke rising high above into the skies, military attacks and dictatorship and Elizabeth Green, every day and every second it haunted him like a bad nightmare. The problem was it wasn't a nightmare; it was a reality that he lived through. From a professor and scientist to the most wanted man in American military history, to a living breathing virus that had no cure, no weakness but itself. 'Zeus' had unleashed the virus in New York himself. Back then he was known, and still to a certain few, as Alex Mercer. He was wary of the true nature mankind would go to war if they did gain this virus. Genteck, a name he despised, a bad taste in which he had to spit every time he even thought of that name. He swiped it and ran, but unbeknownst to him he was chase by personnel of the company, they followed him to the train station, he wanted to get away, bury the virus in the deepest seas, the highest peaks, anything to stop it falling into the hands of the people who would use it for evil. But he was cornered, and in a moment of desperation he smashed the glass container against the ground, unleashing the virus in New York.
Alex held his head, how could he been so stupid. He caused the single most tragic event in American history…maybe even world history. But unlike the rest of humanity in the city the virus attacked him differently; it changed him, right down to the cellular structure of the body. He woke up in a lab, being tested on, he broke free though and ran, however two marks men chased him and backed him up against the wall and shot…but he never died. From that moment on he went on a journey to discover what he was, to learn what caused the infection and to find out what he was truly capable of.
Alex lifted his head and stared out over the sky line of the city, under the heavy cover of night the buildings where alight with fire. The rain poured heavily, soaking him to the skin. It seemed like such a long time ago, but it was merely eight months ago. New York had become a war zone after his journey, the infected had no leader, it was the survival nature of every creature that the infected picked up, every man for himself. Over the eight months the military gained ground and began taking the city a bit at a time. Now they could see an end to this. Alex watched as helicopters shot at another Hive only nine blocks away. But concealed under the darkness there was no chance of them seeing him. He had become accustom to hiding in the shadows. Even though he practically singled handily took out the infected leaders and gave the military a fight chance, the world media placed the blame on him for everything, he was most wanted, very few knew the truth about Alex Mercer and his deeds to save the city, but he'll always be an outcast.
Alex didn't blame them, he could never forgive himself for what he'd done, setting this city into a mindless population of infected. Everyone he had consumed, their memories showed the suffering of what they went through, of the pain and emotion involved back in the 'Viral War' as it was dubbed. Alex didn't consider his being as a single entity anymore, instead he was many, Alex Mercer was nothing more then a small part of him, a beginning to a much bigger picture. He now called himself Zeus as well.
Standing up Alex cracked his neck. Becoming stiff from bending over the ledge to watch the action taking place, putting his head back he let his face become wet with the rain, his hair matted due to the dampness. Closing his eyes he exhaled. The sounds of guns and the smell of smoke and the stench of bodies filled the air. Lowering his head he looked out onto the city, pulling his hood up Alex jumped off the building. Heading for his safe house, his sister's flat. Alex just wanted rest, Alex was peace, Alex wanted a way out of this, Alex wanted to be human again.
"FIRE!" The commanders voice roared through the headset. Cassie voice blared as her gun shot at multiple infected. The blaze of the Hive burnt into the night's sky and lit the entire area. Seven units surrounded the Hive, infected poured out everywhere and hunters tried to fight the assault on their home. The walls of the building were slowly falling down and the bodies of the infected littered the area. Cassie reloaded, even with her army clothes and helmet she was dripping wet. Her slender fingers placed the magazine into the gun and she continued to shoot. She was a new recruit into the Army, and she loved it, adore the combat and the shire smile on her face was like that of a mad women possessed. Her dark curls peaked from under her helmet. In the fire lit night her skin seemed as if rubbed by charcoal.
Again Cassie had to reload her gun. This time more difficult than the last as her hands where covered in both a mixture of sweat, rain water and grease. Once the familiar click was heard she let loose another round at the horrid creatures.
"Oi!" A male solider shouted from her right, she glanced at him and could see the smile on his face as well, his teeth almost illuminated in the present light, "This bastards are putting up a good fight aren't they Bambi" His voice thick with a southern accent. Cassie smiled, Sean had given her that nickname when they joined the army together, they met in the registration office and since became good friends.
"Good fight?" Cassie questioned, her voice was layered with an English accent, from the midlands which housed cities such as Birmingham, "This is fuckin' torture" Her bullet rammed right through a hunter's head "I can't understand why they have us out doing this?" Her voice breaking during heavy volleys of rounds that shot at the Hive.
"Don't ya know?" He paused to reload his weapon "This is all political bullshit! We were shipped out here beca…" Sean narrowly dodged lamppost thrown at him by a hunter "Motherfucker" Sean grabbed a grenade hanging from his jacket and in one graceful and sweeping motion pulled the pin and threw it over towards the hunter which was being protect by the onslaught by a group of low level infected, the second the grenade hit the ground an explosion ripped them apart and debris was thrown everywhere, Sean and Cassie along with the rest of their squad had to duck to avoid getting hit. "Anyways" He screamed, firing again, "It's because it's political bullshit. No one wants to wipe the arse of a fat man taking a shit, so they throw us guys in to do it, small mindless fuckers who will do anything daddy tells them to"
"You're just a winey prick" Cassie joked, for the next five minutes the fighting continued. Neither side giving in, eventually the military looked like they were taking control when a mighty roar erupted from the Hive. Cassie and all her fellow military groups stopped, having to hold their heads because of the shire volume of that deep ripping voice. The front wall of the Hive fell, and nine Supreme Hunters, easily twice the size of the normal hunter. "What the fuck is that?" Cassie whispered suddenly having her heart being encased in ice, as if a hand grabbed it. A lump formed in her throat.
The lead Supreme Hunter walked forward slightly, its four legs breaking anything it stepped on. The army had turned silent, the only sounds heard was the burning of wood, falling bricks, and the heavy breathing of soldiers. The Supreme Hunter looked around at the seven units and then threw his head back and roared, followed by the other Supreme Hunters.
"You…think we should leave?" Sean muttered but he couldn't even hear his own voice. This was suicide. His body had become rigid with fear, his hand cramped around his gun and his eyes bulged in his head. The Supreme Hunters stopped roaring and then ran for the units. Some fled, while other opened fire. Cassie however wasn't going to back down now. No matter how big.
She grabbed her grenades and then threw them, three in a row and shot at them. She cried at the top of her voice, Cassie wasn't aiming at anything in particular, she just shot anything that moved. Tanks were thrown like rag dolls, bodies of army personnel tossed about and devoured, their screams filling the night. The Supreme Hunters tore everything apart, nothing stood up to them.
Cassie fell over and dropped her gun, she landed hard on her back. She tried to pull herself up straight away but a sharp pain ran up her spine. Cassie fought against the pain, and reached out to retrieve her gun, everything around her was being obliterated, as she crawled and stretched out to grab the butt of the AK-47 a tank flew passed her body, she didn't take notice of where it landed, she kept her mind occupied, her mission was to get that gun. As her fingers touched the black metal a claw ripped into her right leg. Cassie screamed loudly, her voice breaking. Tears streaked down her face. Her teeth gritted between whimpers.
The Supreme Hunter snarled before burying it head into Cassie's body, devouring her. No matter how good the army was doing in defeating the virus, there was always a few battles lost…
Alex landed on the rooftop of Dana's apartment building. Dana was lucky in that her residency was in an area that the virus didn't reach. Alex looked over his shoulder to see flames burning high on the other side of the city, he heard the screams and the clashing of a mighty battle taken place. Alex closed his eyes and turned away, one time he'd have ran off to help in the fight, but now he didn't care, he lost that emotion along with his humanity almost a year ago now. Alex rarely fought, only to protect Dana and only to escape capture. Placing his hand in his jeans pocket he pulled out a key, he fingered it for a bit, seemingly dazed. Alex did that a lot nowadays, day dream, about his past life. Shaking his head Alex opened the door and climbed down the stairs.
Dana turned off the news once she heard the key in the door. Looking over the couch she saw Alex walk in and lock the door. He turned to her and smiled, smiled warmly. She was the only person he showed any affection for. He walked over and sat down beside her. He pulled down his hood and looked at her. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke, his deep voice filling the room, "They tried to take down the last Hive tonight" She nodded numbly at him. Secretly she was still uncomfortable with what he was, but he had yet to noticed, "I think they might've lost, by the sound of it"
Her blonde hair framed her face, her blue eyes met his green ones "Shouldn't you have given them a hand?" She asked, her timid voice almost the opposite to his, "I mean you could've helped?" She questioned.
Alex shrugged, "I left that life behind me long ago" His reply was short, simple and sweet.