Pathogen
Summary: Eventually, the world will start over new.. Sequel of INFECTION.
AN: INFECTION is posted on Love Is Only A Word's channel. INFECTION is my original story that was given to my editor. I have had this story for awhile just never got around to posting it. Did anyone guess the hidden meaning in the quote at the end of INFECTION? If not, it was hinting a sequel, so here is the first chapter. I would like to thank my editor, Love Is Only A Word. Please review any questions or concerns with the story. (Grammatical or plot line.) And I will get back to you. Thank you.
Pathogen
"Eventually the world will start over new, but I can't imagine a world without you."
A void. It was like a void. There was nothing. Absolutely, nothing. Like you were floating or suspended in air. I was calm. I was at peace. Something broke through my void. It disrupted everything. A man was standing in the middle of all this darkness. His eyes were closed, with a small smile playing along his lips. His black hair was resting over his face. This man seemed so familiar.
The smell of chemicals was the first thing I smelled. My body was lifeless as I as remember it. But yet there was something off. There was a slight pain in my head, but even more so in my heart. Thoughts swirled around my head, a jumbled mess. I couldn't remember who I was, or for that fact, where I was. It was like a barrier I could almost touch but not quite get there. A barrier that separated me from pushing though the fog that hung over my mind. Wherever I was, all I smelt was clean, sterile almost. I don't know how I remembered that smell. It seemed odd and I was so confused.
My hearing was the second thing to come back to me. I almost wish it didn't.
"Hold the IV over his head!" A man yelled somewhere around me.
"We're getting a pulse!" Another shouted.
"Patient's name is Hyuuga Neji." The first voice said. "Does he have a history of this?"
Voices. They were everywhere, shouting commands and other soft, worried ones. The barrier was close now, I was touching it. Still, I had not crossed over. It was so close, why didn't it disappear?
I was moving. But how?Warm breath washed across my face. I inhaled the familiar scent. Another jumbled memory. I couldn't place what it was.
"Neji? Neji? Can you hear me?" A beautiful voice asked.
"Ma'am he is still knocked out. I don't think he can hear you." An older voice remarked.
"Here is an empty room. You stabilize him. I have to go. We are having Code Blues all over the place." A man called out.
Where was I? Who were these people?
"I know he can." The voice said to the other man. "Neji, can you hear me? It's Tenten." The voice said again sweetly.
"Tenten..." I groaned, subconsciously.
Like a switch, that one word made the fog around me shatter into a million pieces. Bit of memories flooded my mind. It was very hard to sort though.
Tenten she's here with me? Yes we're together in heaven. But why was there so much pain? It shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't feel pain.
"The patient seems to mumbling to himself. Sir, can you hear me?" The older voice asked.
"Ma'am can you step aside." Another remarked.
"My name is Tenten and no I won't." The beautiful voice said, angrily. "Neji it's going to be ok, the doctors say you'll be fine."
Tenten. Doctors? Tenten... Tenten? TENTEN? How is this possible? I'm dead. I killed her. I killed them all! All dead. My head seemed to split open as the memories consumed me, burning everything in their wake, once again torturing my soul. I opened my mouth to scream in agony, but no sound came out. In the distance I could faintly hear a machine beeping out of control, but I paid it no mind.
"Calm him down. We don't want him going into Cardiac Arrest." A voice commanded.
"Neji, you're at the hospital. You fainted at school." The older voice continued.
This is not possible. This is not possible. She's dead. They are all dead. I'm a murder! The infection.. I'm immune. Memories if the helicopter crash exploded into my mind. Another memory of me leaving my best friend for dead. No. No. NO! This can't be happening. There has to be an explanation. What is going on? Tenten I killed Tenten!
"Tenten.." My hand searched blindly for hers through the air.
The fog was gone. Almost like it was never there in the first place. The darkness was just from my eyelids being closed. I had to see. I had to know. Open your eyes, I told myself. Open them, NOW.
I forced them open to see a bright light. Shaking my head, my vision cleared. White walls, white everything. I turned to my right to see a person standing beside me. And to my horror and utter delight I saw Tenten staring back at me, her brows furrowed together in worry. My body acted on its own. I bolted out of the bed and wrapped my arms around her. Not caring if it pulled my IV out.
"Uh... Neji." She said awkwardly.
What's wrong? Why isn't she responding to me?
"Tenten you're alive but how?" I asked stupidly.
"Umm what?" She asked.
"How did you survive? I-" She cut me off.
"Neji you hit your head pretty bad at school. You might have some amnesia." She told me feeling my head.
The doctor beside her nodded and strolled out of the room to finish his paperwork. The others murmured a 'be right back' and went to help other nurses. There were a lot of people. Why was it so crowded?
"Tenten, what day is it?" I asked slowly, not releasing her.
"October Twenty-first." She replied. "Is something wrong?" She asked pulling out of my grip as my arms dropped down to my sides.
"..."
October...21... No, that can't be right, that was the day of the...
"School is over and.." She sighed and said slowly. "And... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Kiba is planning to throw a party at your house tonight." She said looking up at me.
And that's when I heard the monitor flat line.
I fell backwards onto my hospital bed. Catching myself, I stared at no one particular. My mind raced. And I started to hyperventilate. Proof. Neji, I told myself, you need proof. I yanked my shirt up exposing my abdomen. No bruises. No scars. I poked my right shoulder. Where the bullet hole should of been, I felt soft flesh. I then checked my forearm. No stab wound. Nothing. I couldn't have been imaging that. Could I? Just then a deep pain throbbed from down in my heart. No. This is too real. October 21. The day of the infection. The day we ran and never looked back. What is going on?Could it be that I was given a second chance? Or was it all a dream from the beginning. Why was I the only one who remembered this experience? Whatever is happening it brought me back to the time right before the party.
My eyes shot up to look at the clock. Almost seven P.M. Seven hours from now the world will become living hell. How is this possible? A voice broke me from my train of thought.
"Neji, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have told you that. I know how much this pisses you off." She rambled, her hand reaching out for mine. "I'm so stupid. I shouldn't had said anything."
"No it's not that." I told her. Pushing myself from the bed, I turned to her. "We have to leave, NOW."
"What? Why?" She asked, confused.
I began to rip the IV out of my arm. The monitor flatlined once it disconnected with my flesh.
"Neji!" She yelled, shocked.
"Hurry. We have to get my house." I continued.
"Your health is more important than your house, Neji." She scolded.
Grabbing her by the arm, I forced her out of the room. We pushed past nurses and patients. No one noticed us. They had their hands full. The hospital was crowed. EMTs were everywhere. What was going on?
The elevators were full. People were lined up waiting. I diverted our course for the stairs. Tenten walked behind me, unwillingly. So she made me start forcing myself to drag her down a flight of stairs. The stairs were crowed too. I had to push past people to get through. What the hell was going on?
"Neji what are you doing? Where are we going? Neji-" She started.
I forced her around onto the wall. Her back slammed into the wall, but she seemed not to notice it. My right hand remained holding her arm, while my left arm was holding myself up against the wall. The people around me disappeared as I focused on her and only her. My eyes bore into hers before I spoke.
"Less than ten minutes ago, Tenten, I thought I was dead. I could remember every damn detail of my death. I was shot in the arm, a knife into my forearm, and finally a bullet to my head." I told her.
I waited watching her reaction. Shock to disbelief to understanding and finally to her poker face.
"It must have been a dream, Neji. You did look like you were in pain while you were unconscious." She replied.
A chuckled, kinda crazily and said in a hush, rough whisper, "Yes I was in pain. But none of that pain can compare to me losing you."
Her eyes widened at my statement.
"I don't know if it was a dream or if fate is giving me a second chance, Tenten. All I know is the world is going to go to shit in a matter of hours. I saw it all happen. And you say Kiba is throwing a party at my house? Well that's how it all began in my dream or whatever I saw." I pulled myself back as I realized we were slowly leaning into each other.
Grabbing her arm, I continued to pull her out if the hospital.
"Hey you can't leave!" A doctor shouted from somewhere. He was soon silenced when an ambulance pulled up.
The EMTs yanked the back doors of the ambulance open and grab ahold of a stretcher. A man was pulled out moaning in pain. Purplish, black veins came from his neck. My eyes widened. And jolt of fear- no adrenaline ran down my back and into my very soul. It was then I knew that what I saw was not a dream. A vision, maybe. It was real. And it was going to happen whether I liked it or not.
I hurried us out the door then stopped.
"How did we get here?" I asked.
"Huh?" Tenten replied confused.
Sighing, I turned her, "Where is your car?"
"Oh! I'm parked over there." She said pointing to her yellow Corvette.
I nodded and pulled her as fast as possible to the car. I stopped her from going to the Driver's side.
"Please just let me drive." I told her.
"It's my car." She said, pouting.
"Just... Uh. If you were in my shoes, you'd understand." I told, opening the passenger door for her.
"Fine." She submitted and tossed me the keys as I closed the door behind her.
Sprinting around to the other side, I jumped into the Driver's seat. Turning the key into the ignition, I peeled out of the parking lot and onto the highway. My hands were firmly clenched on the steering wheel. The lights of cars drove past me as my thoughts took control of me.
What could I possibly do different to save everyone? Everything happens for a reason, right? Just get to the house. We'll leave before the city goes under. But will they believe me? I have no proof, just the images in my head.
"Neji, do you have to drive so fast? Tell me whats going on, please. Maybe I can help." Tenten said to me.
Taking me eyes off the road, I turned to look at her.
"Alright. In my vision/dream or whatever I had, there was this infection, like a pathogen. We left school and headed to my house where Kiba was throwing a party. To make a long story short, the city had a blackout. We thought nothing of it until a car crashed outside my house. We realized something was wrong so we got into my Hummer and Naruto's car and got the hell out of here. We split up." I took a breath before continuing but Tenten stopped me.
"We split up?" She asked.
"Yea, Kankuro and Sasuke left to head back to the city, while the rest of us: Sakura, me, You, Shikamaru, Temari, Kiba, and Naruto, continued on to Shikamaru's lake house." I sighed remembering the details. "We encountered these 'things'. They were not human. It was a mutated virus that spread from person to person by blood. Pretty much like a bite from an infected person will finish you. We all died off one by one." I said the last part through my teeth. "Near the end it was only us Tenten, you were infected. I was however immune."
"Immune?" She asked.
"Yes, my body could live with the virus and not be infected. But I couldn't save you. Your blood type was different from mine." I told her.
"What did you do?" She asked me.
"I rather not say." I said biting my lip. "It was the lowest point of my life."
We rode in silence for a minute until she spoke again.
"You believe your vision is going to happen again?" She said, fear hidden under her voice.
"I don't believe. I know. I have never felt something so real in my life. In fact, I still think I'm dead and must be in hell." I smiled slightly and looked back at the road. "But if this was hell you wouldn't be here. So it must be real."
"Neji... You seem different." She told me. "More, more... Ah I don't know the word for it."
"Compassionate?" I offered.
"Yea, I guess." She told me, but I could tell she was in deep thought about something.
I took a left into my neighborhood. My body was still ridged. One thing about death, there is no more stress. I sighed.
"Neji?"
"Yes?"
"Did something happen between us in your vision?" She asked.
Ah.. So that's what she has been hiding. My lips pulled back into a thin line as we rounded a corner. I was not going to answer that question.
"To prove I'm not crazy, I tell you where everyone is. Shikamaru will be sleeping and Temari yelling at him. Kankuro is harassing some girls we have never met. Hinata and Naruto will be on my roof. And Kiba will be inside causing the most damage." I told her as we rounded another corner, my house coming into view. As in some creepy ass movie, I was exactly right. Tenten looked at me surprised. I smirked at her and pulled into the driveway.
"Now let's get everyone out before it's too late." I told her, turning ignition off.
"Kiba!" I yelled entering the house.
I found him on the couch counting his money while on the phone. I yanked the phone out of his hand and pressed the phone to me ear.
"Sorry ladies, we won't be needing your services tonight." I said and hung up.
"How did you know I was hiring hookers?" He asked, surprised.
"It's not hard to guess." I said, simply. "EVERYONE OUT!" I yelled.
People began to run out like scared dogs with their tails tucked in.
"No. Not you Kiba." I told him as he tried to sneak out.
He straightened up and looked completely defeated. "Aww, come on man. We were just having fun."
I ignored him and his comment as I called out, "Shikamaru, Temari, Naruto, Sakura, Kankuro, Sasuke, Hinata get your asses in here!"
One by one they appeared to stand in front of me. Shikamaru was groaning and tiredly glancing towards the couch. Everyone else just looked curious.
How am I going to handle this? I can't just say, 'Hey guys, a zombie like apocalypse is about to happen. Follow me and I will save all of you.'
My eyes focused on Sasuke and Kankuro. They would be the first to leave our group because of disbelief. I can't allow that to happen. Lie, my mind offered.
"I'm disappointed you threw a damn party at my house and all of you know how I feel about that shit." I said more harshly than I intended.
"Come on, Neji. It was an innocent party." Naruto said, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"And the rest of you coming when you obviously know I wouldn't allow it." I continued.
You're running out of time Neji. Get them out of the house, out of the city.
"Yes, well, my parents called. We are going to my beach house for a vacation." I said putting a fake smile on. "In fact, we are leaving now."
All of their faces were dumbfounded as they stared at me.
"Ok, ok. What's up with you Neji?" Sasuke said first, by my utter surprise. "You're mad that Kiba throwing a party at your house and now you are inviting us to your beach house?"
"Yea, and the Neji I know would never invite us anywhere during a school week." Sakura said as they continued to stare at me.
Fuck, they are not going to listen. Plan B, the truth.
"We need to get out of the city." I said seriously.
"Why?" A couple of them asked at the same time.
"The city will be living hell in a matter of hours. I've seen it." I said, turning to make it sound as believable as possible.
It was quiet then, Kankuro started to laugh.
"Wait, you've seen it?" He said between laughs. "Seen what?"
"That we all are going to fucking die if you don't listen to me." I said harshly.
He scoffed and stopped laughing momentarily, "I find it hard to believe it. Is this a joke?" He howled with laughter.
The rest of the group began to laugh as well, all but Tenten.
"Hey." I yelled trying to get their attention. "This no joke! God dammit would you listen?"
"Guys quiet!" Kiba yelled as they quieted down. "This is serious. Neji is obviously trying out for the movie, Final Destination Six." He said bursting into laughter once more, rallying the whole group up again.
"Jesus Christ! Can all of you just listen for five fucking minutes? Or is that too much to ask?" I felt myself explode.
The room was silent. They all stared at me and shuffled their feet.
"In only-" I glanced at my watch, "-six hours the world will go to hell. Millions of people with be infected with a virus. No ordinary virus. This virus kills the host and reanimates the body." I yelled.
"You're saying that there will be a zombie apocalypse?" Sasuke asked skeptically.
"I wish it was only that." I said sarcastically. "These infected are more serious. The virus causes the body to grow and become stronger. It's more of a creature."
"Have you gone crazy?" Kankuro asked his eyebrows up.
"I know it's sounds insane. But you have to believe me." I begged.
"Dude. This is a bunch of bullshit. Stop trying to scare everyone." Sasuke said.
Taking a deep breath, I replied, "You know what? I don't care. Don't believe me. But when it happens, you better not come fucking crawling back to me."
Silence once more. But then Shikamaru stepped up. He had been quiet the whole time.
"Neji, I've never seen you so certain of something, but how do you know? I mean, how am I to believe this story?" He asked.
Do I have to do something outrageous for them to even consider me? A wild thought appeared in my mind as I smiled and ran out the front door. Opening the passenger door of my Hummer, I pulled the pistol out of the glove compartment. I jogged back inside and stopped in front of them. I cocked the gun as their eyes widened.
"Won't need the TV anymore." I said, pulling the trigger and firing a round into the Tv.
As the gun went off; they all visibly jumped and stared at me in horror.
My eyes scanned the room, "Or the sound system." I announced putting two bullets into it.
"Neji!" A female voice said in fear.
"Or the expensive china set." I added, shooting the glass.
"Neji." Another person said in fear.
"Or the walls." I yelled my fear and anger getting the best of me as I put two bullets in the wall.
"Neji!"
"Or for that matter, if we stay here, might as well shoot myself now." I yelled pulling the gun to point at my temple.
It all happened at once. Screaming erupted from a bunch of people as two people launch themselves at me. I easily evaded and jumped back as they neared. With the gun still to my temple, I pulled the trigger.
Click.
Click-click.
"It's empty." I remarked throwing the gun to the floor.
True I knew it was out of rounds before I put it to my head. But I had to do anything to convince them.
"Now would I destroy everything in my house if I was fucking joking?" I asked. "I may look insane, but can't you see how hard I'm trying to get you out? I'm trying to save your lives." I sighed. "You!" I said pointing to Sasuke. "I saw you leave. You died in the city. Kankuro you were infected and went crazy. You died. Sakura, you were bitten, no, eaten. Naruto you tried to protect her but met your fate." I faced Kiba and he stared wide eyed at me. "You fell out of a helicopter that ripped you to shreds." I turned to Temari. "You were infected." Then I pointed to Shikamaru, still looking at Temari. "He shot you when you begged him to. After he tried to take his own life, but I stopped him." My voice rising in pain. "Shikamaru you died giving us an escape." I turned to Tenten my breath hitching up.
All these memories were hurting me, remembering every gory detail. But it all came to this. Out of everyone, I needed to convince her the most.
"You were infected." I started, slowly. "You wanted to be you until the very end. You begged me to. And I did. I put a fucking bullet into you." I yelled in anguish.
"But of course fate was not on my side. Never was." I said calming down a bit. "I was immune. The virus had no effect on me. I was the last one left and being me, I put a bullet through my skull." I finished tears threatening to fall as I fell to my knees. "How could I have possibly lived with everyone's blood on my hands?" I yelled staring down at my hands.
I was a broken man, a man who had seen too much and wanted it all gone. I had broken in front of my friends. Showing them a side of me that no one has ever seen.
"Please.." I heard myself beg.
How could I be reduced to this? Why me?
"Please.."
The weight of everything I've been through was too much. And to think I was going to have to relive it drove me insane. A hand touched my shoulder, breaking me out of my own pit of despair.
"I'm with you." Tenten said looking down at me, giving me a reassuring smile.
"Me too." Shikamaru said, walking to stand by me.
"Same." Temari said throwing her hands up and standing by Shikamaru.
"Well in that case, I'm coming." Kiba yelled jumping over to me.
No one moved, as the two sides stared at each other.
"Yea. I'm coming." Naruto decided, crossing the invisible line.
Sakura glanced around her and sighed walking to join us, "Count me in."
We all stared at Sasuke, Kankuro, and Hinata, who hadn't moved. Sasuke shook his head deep in thought about something. While Hinata just looked scared out of her mind.
Kankuro nodded his head and then crossed the line. "Might as well all die together." He joked, part of him still unconvinced.
"Well, let's all join this bandwagon." Sasuke said walking over to me with Hinata following on his heels.
A clouded thought squeezed its way into my mind as I stared at the group of people around me. They all stared back. Some with fear in their eyes, others confusion. I made a move to get up, but something stopped me. Fear paralyzed me. Fate was giving me a final example of proof. I gazed down the line of my friends. They had joined me in the order of how longed they lived.