DAY TWO
Scully wiped the sweat from her forehead and leaned against the metal gurney. This was the second patient they'd lost in the last half an hour. Two seemingly unrelated deaths, both caused by massive blood loss due to multiple injuries. It had been non-stop that morning. They had been in undated with various injuries, some of which didn't seem consistent with the breaks and bruising caused by the hurricane. There were a dozen people with tearing to the skin and puncture wounds to the chest, face and arms. All seemed to be the victim of an unprovoked attack by another person. There were several more suffering from an outbreak of blisters on the face and neck. She made her way out of the theatre and into the waiting room, to be greeted by double the amount of patients that had been there an hour ago. She glanced around, her eyes darting from one person to the next to see who seemed to need help the fastest. Her eyes settled on a young boy of about ten. His hand had been wrapped in some sort of gauze, held together by a girl of about fifteen. She seemed to be his opposite. He looked small, painfully shy, whilst she seemed to relish standing out. She wore a tiny skirt, tank top and a thick layer of make-up that probably masked a naturally pretty face. Scully walked over to them, motioning for him to turn his hand over. He did so, unveiling a nasty burn that covered the palm. The skin had already started to blister and pucker, infection ready and waiting to set in. Scully removed the towel, concerned that it may already have caused the wound to become dirty.
"What's your name?" She asked. The boy went to open his mouth, only to be talked over by the girl.
"He put his hand on the stove." She rushed out, before pausing and relaying the question back in her head. "Kevin, his name is Kevin." Scully looked at her for a minute, then switched her attention back to the boy.
"Okay Kevin come with me and we'll try to clean this up for you. Are you his sister?"
The girl nodded, following them into the small treatment room down the hall.
"I need to phone your parents. What's your name?"
"Amy. Please don't call them. If they know this happened my dad will kill me." She seemed genuinely worried, although Scully was pretty sure the girl wasn't stupid. She must have known that a burn this bad couldn't be covered up.
A face appeared at the door. "Dr Scully please come quick I don't know what to do!" The face belonged to Dr Hagull. Dark skinned, slightly chubby and softly spoken, he had arrived a day before she had, flown in from a specialist unit in Dallas. He was still a med school student, sent as part of a training project. She followed him quickly, alarmed at the urgency in his voice. As they rounded the corner the chaos hit her full force. Two Doctors were wrestling with a scantily clad woman, a third doctor clutching at his throat as blood pumped out at an alarming rate. The patients had mostly disappeared, save three who were now dead, sprawled over the seats and on the floor. Scully went to go forward towards her injured colleague, when she caught sight of a body stirring at her feet. A man in his fifties groaned loudly, his face a mass of blisters and sores. He managed to roll himself over onto his back and before Scully could utter a word, he had jumped to his feet. He staggered towards her, his movement's jerky and his mouth leaking blood. He lunged forward, swiping at her face. Scully backed up, shoving Dr Hagull behind her. Before he had time to finish voicing his protests she was pushing him along the corridor back into the treatment room where Amy and Kevin waited, oblivious to the chaos outside.
Mulder closed the lid to his laptop. He felt exhausted by the heat. He had made the effort to get up when Scully did so that he could get everything out of the way for when she came home. Now he had exerted himself unnecessarily and had several hours to kill before she returned. He stretched his long frame out along the bed and grabbed the remote, turning the television on. He flicked through channel after channel, not really understanding what was said. In a second the box went blank. Getting up, he switched it on and off, and on again. Nothing. Shit, the fact that his laptop had ceased charging meant a power cut. Jumping off the bed he descended the stairs into the main reception. A dead silence greeted him. He called out but still no one came. Then something caught his eye. He looked out into the street to see two men wrestling in the street. He ran toward the door, but the next sight to greet his eyes stopped him dead in his tracks. Five, six, seven more people launched themselves onto the men, ripping at the older mans clothes, hair and skin. Eight, nine, ten now clambering to get their share. Mulder watched in horror as they tore flesh to pieces. He half expected them to begin eating the flesh, turning the scene into something from a George Romero film. They didn't do this. They did however, quickly lose interest once the remains were scattered onto the road. Mulder ran back up the stairs into the hotel room. He grabbed his cell phone and car keys, hoping to god he could get to the truck without running into anymore of these creatures.
It was the most horrific sight that Kevin had experienced in his short life. The four of them stood behind the door; watching, almost waiting for the figure behind it to knock it down. She slapped herself against the window, blood pouring from her scalp and eyes. Dr Scully had moved a table in front of the fickle plastic door, holding it in place for now. Were they waiting for her to come through? Waiting for death? He didn't want to wait any longer.
Mulder drove at a furious speed, through the desolate streets where no soul roamed. He had expected to see more of the same behaviour that had occurred outside the hotel, but so far he was given hope that it was an isolated incident. He picked up his cell and dialled Scully's number. It rang out only once before she answered.
"Scully? Scully it's me. Are you still at the hospital."
"Oh Mulder, " she sighed with relief, "I'm at the hospital but there's a situation here."
"Let me guess, violent outbreak like 'Day of the dead' without the brain eating?"
" What? It's happening out there too?" He heard the fear seeping into her voice. Maybe not fear, more annoyance than fear. It took a lot to get the F word from Scully.
" I'm coming toward the hospital now, where can I meet you?"
"We're holed up in a treatment room, but there's a window round the back of the hospital. I'll open it and you can pull up outside."
"No! Don't open it Scully the place is crawling with these things."
"Things? Mulder, they're just people. Granted dangerous people but only people just the same."
"Scully, please don't argue with me about this. Mark the window in some way and stay on the line. We don't want any unnecessary attention so I'll tell you when I'm pulling up and if it's safe."
Scully got to work on the window, unfastening it until it was locked only by a side handle. It was a decent size, easy for them to climb through. She rummaged through drawers and cupboards trying to find something to mark the window. She found nothing of any use, it had to be something that would make a visible and clear indication that they were inside. Eventually she turned to Amy. "Do you have a lip stick?" She sensed the girl was about to question her motives, and then quickly produced a dark red colour from her handbag. Scully pushed it hard into the glass, marking a giant 'X' across the whole window. She picked the cell phone up again.
"Ok Mulder, I've marked the window, are you close? I don't think we have much time." She looked over to the door and how there were now several figures banging and thrashing against it.
"Ok Scully I'm here. I've opened the sun roof, when I pull up outside the window get on top of the car and slid in."
She was about to tell him that she was not alone, when the truck appeared outside. She opened the window wide, pushing the two kids out first.
"Where will we go?" Hugall asked her, hesitating.
"I don't know." An almighty crash drowned out her words as the door finally gave way. "But anywhere's better than here – come on!"
They had been driving for an hour, Scully tuning the radio back and forth trying to find a station that could clarify the situation. Every so often they would pass groups of blood spattered individuals, wandering around on the road. In one instance Mulder had tried to stop for a young woman that had run out in front of the car, slamming on the hood for them to let her in. Convinced that she was not among the violent masses, he had pulled the car to a stop. However, they had watched in horror as two strangers had sprinted with amazing speed up behind her, whacking her head on the hood and rendering her dazed. Mulder had gone to open the door, before Scully reached across and grabbed his sleeve. What good was he dead? She had stated. As they had pulled the car into reverse, they had watched, horrified as the two men tore her body in two. In the back seat, Amy and Kevin sat huddled together silently. Hagull was the first to speak up. "Where exactly are you taking us? Eventually we're going to run out of fuel and then what?" Scully waited for Mulder to respond. She didn't have a good answer, she was hoping that he did.
"I'm going to drive us to the only way out of here. The dock behind the prison."
"What about my Mom? My Dad?" Amy sobbed, pulling Kevin closer. "Where will they be?"
Mulder passed the cell phone to the back seat. "Call them on this," his voice became softer, "tell them where we're going and they can meet us there."
She nodded, taking the cell and dialling a few different numbers before leaving a message during the final phone call. Scully turned in her seat,
"Try not to worry, they would want you to be safe." Amy simply stared out of the window. Maybe she had read Scully's mind, that their parents were dead.
The prison looked nearly as foreboding as Mulder had imagined it to be. A large stone grey building that lay behind a small barricade of scaffold and wire. A Soldier sat at the top, rising to his feet as the car ground to a halt. Warily he jumped down, running to the driver's side, gun hoisted. Mulder wound down the window.
"What's your purpose of business sir?" The young soldier parroted as if it had taken him years to learn it.
"We need to leave the island. Or at least find some kind of haven until the authorities get here." Mulder went to explain on, but found he had no need. The young soldier got out a small cell phone and rang what sounded like a senior officer. No one in the car could here the incoming call, all they could hear was the youngster replying.
"Two men, two women, one boy." After a moment, he put the cell phone away and pointed to a small side entrance. As they neared it, the metal gate lifted upwards and they entered.
The main hall seemed to be the antithesis of what a prison should be. Good candle lighting, warm fire and beautiful wooden furniture surrounded them now as they sat around the huge banquet table. The five of them sat together, surrounded by six militants, possibly ordinary foot soldiers. They had been introduced to the senior officer Captain Briggly and his deputy Private Holstein briefly before being herded into the hall. Briggly was even taller than Mulder, with muscled arms, a rough face and very short blonde hair. His deputy seemed to be his opposite. Short for a man, his was hair thick, black and tousled. Mulder had expected to be privy to a full and frank explanation of why such a tiny island had been but under military supervision. Supervision seemed an understatement. They had asked to have access to the docks and it had been denied, a topic of which there had been no negotiation. "We need to wait for help to be sent. Under no circumstances can I permit civilians to venture out there without the proper protection or transport." The mood among the troops had seemed light and optimistic and there had been a definite air of boy's club camaraderie which had been subdued quite a bit by the arrival of the two women that day.
" So what's the plan?" Scully had asked bluntly, receiving a few disapproving looks, along with a few other looks that Mulder didn't feel totally comfortable with. The Captain studied her for a moment.
"We have sent a signal for help. Unfortunately all power has been cut and our cell phones do not work in these barracks. To get a signal you would have to travel back towards the centre, which is too much of a risk at present. We have the correct methods to defend ourselves and so we wait until help arrives. We estimate that it could be at least a week away." The main doors swung open and three figures walked wearily into view. All wore casual clothes unlike the soldiers and as they sat down the first two introduced themselves. The third man needed no introduction.
"Dr Swanson?" Scully stared wide-eyed, not quite believing her eyes. "Dr Swanson I thought you left the island last night?"
He closed his eyes, about to speak when Briggly interrupted him.
"Do you two know each other?"
Swanson looked haggered, like he had aged ten years in the last twenty four hours. "She is a medical Doctor at the hospital. Dr Hagull is a junior there." He answered.
The other two men sat up a little straighter. Ben Evans seemed young, with short, with dark cropped hair and a beard, while Louis Tranter was older, taller and as well as being probably the better looking out of the two, he seemed also the more confident.
"A medical doctor?" Tranter asked, looking at her.
"This is excellent," Evans chimed in excitedly, "She could help us so much with our research….Dr Scully would you be willing to….."
Holstein banged his fist onto the table, making everyone jump to some degree
" Don't assume that you have the power to dictate or assign power here." He snapped. " As far as I was aware your department are making adequate progress!"
"Adequate progress?" Evans countered back at him. "We're no further along then we were a week ago! We're out of our depth and the more pairs of hands in that lab the better!"
Briggly stood now, maintaining the calm and rational persona he had portrayed since they had arrived. "I think everybody is tired and frustrated at the moment. Dr Scully we would be grateful if you were to give us your medical opinion on our situation here, in the morning obviously."
Scully nodded as the room descended into uncomfortable silence. Mulder's mind had been whirring the since the moment they had arrived. This was supposed to be the safest place they had been in the last twenty-four hours. If that was true then why did he feel they were at their most vulnerable?
Private Wenson looked the part. Young, strong and silent he was the epitome of what a soldier should be. Private Andrews followed him. Andrews seemed a little older and much more relaxed. He wore his uniform as if he had thrown it on, the charmed smile on his face most of the time told Mulder that he was probably a hit with the ladies back home. They lead the five visitors up the stairs and into what seemed like a long corridor. It wasn't until they entered the corridor that it became apparent that they had entered the main prison.
"It don't look like much," Wenson explained, "but the beds are comfy and its clean enough." It was true; the beds had been changed from the typical hard bunks into comfy beds with the use of cut up foam mattresses and duvets.
"They started to change this place into some kind of hotel. They only got as far as downstairs when they sold out. It was either move everything into here, or all sleep in one room. Too many soldiers here and they all want their privacy – if you know what I mean?" Mulder nodded, but he could tell that Andrews' cocky attitude wasn't lost on Scully. Mulder could see her mind working, measuring the man up ready to put him in his place when necessary. They arrived at the end of the block. To Mulder's dismay there were only two cells left. "Don't worry," Wenson pre-empted Mulder's next question. There are three more across the other side; we figure it must have been some kind of isolation wing.
"Anyway sort it out among yourselves, then come back downstairs. I think Briggly wants to talk to you about security around here." Wenson left, Andrews' following behind him.
Amy spoke up for the first time since they had arrived. " We want to stay together, we aren't splitting up. I need to look after Kevin." Mulder nodded, he understood the responsibility she felt now that she had accepted that her parents were probably dead. He hoped it was a concept lost on Kevin, at least for now.
"Dr Scully?" Kevin released his grip on his sister's coat. "Please stay with us. I'm frightened."
Scully opened her mouth to speak, unsure about how to answer. Of course there was only one answer when she looked into the little boy's eyes. "Of course I will Kevin, I promised I would look after you." She quickly looked at Mulder. They hadn't had a minute alone since they had arrived and she knew there were a million things to discuss. " Amy why don't you go take Kevin to the other hall. Make sure its clean, we don't want dirt getting into that burn." She then looked at Hagull, hoping he would take his cue to leave.
"I'll go get the supplies from the car, I brought my medical bag and grabbed a few bits and pieces. You never know when we might need them." With that he disappeared. Mulder wasted no time in pulling Scully into the first cell. He pulled her close, whispering in her ear.
"I don't like this Scully, there's something going on here and the less I know the less I like it."
"I know," she said softly. " There are so many questions they need to answer Mulder. Including why the docks are suddenly out of bounds, and why on earth are the military here in the first place?"
"I think you might know more tomorrow when you go with Evans and Tranter to the lab. You gonna be okay?"
"It makes sense Mulder, I'm going to try and get Swanson on his own at some point; get him to tell me what's going on. If I'm over there I'm out of the way. There has to be a weak link among the men too. Maybe Wenson? I don't think waiting this situation out is an option. Anyway," She used her hand to guide his gaze into her eyes, "we're safer in here then out there. I'll be fine."
He hoped she was right.
Once both children were sleeping, she and Mulder lay quietly on Scully's bed, she on her back staring up at the ceiling, Mulder on his side wrapped around her. Soon the peace had been interrupted by the sound of many pairs of boots stamping their way up the stairs. "Maybe I should just stay with you." He said, tightening his grip around her waist.
"No Mulder." She pulled herself into a sitting position. "I don't think it's a good idea that they know who we are, or that we suspect anything. Not until we know what their real objective is. You can find out. You can infiltrate them. Holstein and Briggly already see me as a threat. Spend some time with the others. You can listen to what they say; they might even confide in you a little."