Chapter 3
Dr. Cockroach bites down hard onto Susan's shoulder. Blood pours as he bites harder into her flesh. She screams in pain as the other man-eating humans surround her and others chased after Link, Bob and Rusty. He releases his bite and hisses at the humans trying to steal a bite from his prey. Blood drooled from his mouth as they back away hissing at him and followed the others.
But before he could bite into Susan again, he was pushed off by Link's tail and hit the wall of bricks hard. He lets out a painful howl as he drops to the ground. Susan gets up and saw her friends came back for her.
"You came back for me?" she said with tears in her eyes.
"Of course we did! We would never leave you Susan," Link said comfortably.
Dr. Cockroach staggers up and sees them. He yowls angrily dropping to a low crouch and raced towards them with raging speed. "Come on!" Link ordered. Susan climbed onto his back and gripped for her life as they ran from the doctor.
They turn a corner on the street and spot an abandon old 2-story house. Link bursts through the door and shuts it tight with Bob helping. Susan and Rusty back away as the door was being pounded by their friend.
They heard him holler and cry in a monstrous way they have never heard before. It was almost like half bird, half squirrel, half monster sounds all mixed together in a high or low pitch. It frightened Susan and her friends. The once kind hearted, caring, noble man they used to know gone.
The yowling and pounding dies off and all was silent. "Is he gone?" Bob asked in a low whisper.
Link looked through the peep hole and nodded, "He's gone," They let out a long sigh as if they were holding it in forever. Susan sat down on an old ridge couch and shivered.
"Susan," Link said settling himself next to her, "It's okay, we'll get through this, together." He put his arm around her and hugged. She felt calm around her friends, but she felt part of herself missing without the doctor. They get startled when there was a knock at the door. Link went up and looked through the peep hole.
"It's Monger," he said looking back at his friends.
"Well, what are you doing? Open the door!" Bob persuaded.
"But how do we know if he's not infected?"
"Is his eyes glowing green?" Susan asked.
Link looks out then back to them, "No," he opened the door to a crack.
"Link, it's okay. It's me General Monger," the General whispered. Link opened the door to and shut it as soon he was in.
"General, I'm so glad you're still alive," Susan said getting off the couch and hugging him.
"I'm glad you guys are too. I know about Dr. Cockroach, and I know you are scared. But we have a mission to do, for him, for the world, for our lives. Half the world has already been infected," he said letting go of Susan, he turned to face the others with shocked expressions; "Now I have a plan, but it…it's a big risk to go through."
They looked at each other then Link looked back at him, "We'll do it."
-MvsW-
The monsters were in the dining room, Monger laid out a whole map of the town onto the dusty table as Link, Bob, Susan and Rusty crowded around him.
"Okay, this is where we are," Monger pointed to a giant house in the east, "And this is where the old building is," he points to a giant building next to a green house, "That's where the infected-or zombies for short-get their energy source for the weed that's on their back. It's your quantonium Susan, that's why you were small in the morning. Now if we can leave here," he points to the house, "and get to here," he slides his finger to the building, "We can take out the flower. Without the flower the weeds on the humans will shrivel up and die."
"But what about the vines on buildings and streets and all?" Link asked.
"They didn't get on a human in time, they feed off of them. Making them cannibals, meat is the most nutritious for these kinds of weeds," Monger replied.
Susan winced as she remembered being bitten by Dr. Cockroach in the shoulder. Then she remembered the mark he left, she looked down to her shoulder to find teeth mark. Link must have noticed because he said, "Monger, will Susan get infected if she's…bitten?" he whispered the last word.
"No she won't," he answered, "The only way we can get infected is if the weeds from the underground catch us. They've gotten faster on infecting, once they get to your spine, they can control you, that's why the world's almost zombiefied. Dr. Cockroach was just a rough draft. They decided to try it on him first."
"That's why he wasn't in the green house," Susan said under her breath.
"Exactly," Monger said to her, "Now, we have to get to this hotel," he points to a building south of the house they were in.
"That's like 3 miles from here! We'll be dead the second we step out the door!" Link exclaimed.
"I know it's a long way, but we have to try. We can go into buildings to hide away from the infected," Monger explained.
"Why do we have to get to the hotel anyway?" Susan asked.
"Remember when we were going on vacation and we all had separate rooms?"
"Yeah."
"Well Dr. Cockroach's stuff was in room 23, he has highly technical and useful weapons in there, we can use it to fight off the zombies," Monger explained. He rolls up the map and turns to face the frightened team, "It'll be dangerous but we have to do what's right. Even though if we are the last people on earth." The room came to quiet.
"Okay!" Monger spoke up making them jump a little, "Now let's prepare."
The monsters took every bit of hard steel and sharp material they could find, anything to defend themselves from the infected. Susan wrapped her shoulder with bandage and sent a silent prayer while coming into the living room. Link was looking out the window blinds. He looked determined and so bold that Susan secretly wished she was like him, fearless in a time like this.
Bob was alarmed looking around at any sound he heard, his goop shook a bit when he saw Rusty appeared. Rusty had the expression of worry, even though he was a puppy; he sat, staring at the floor with his eyes wide as he reminded himself of the chasing scene. Monger was packing the weapons into a dark green bag as small as Rusty. His face was blank, no emotion was showing.
"Anything Link?" Susan asked.
"No, not yet," Link replied. He stopped looking out and went over to Bob.
"I'm scared Link," Bob said trembling.
"I know Bob, but it's gonna be okay. Nothing is going to hurt you as long as we stick together. Hey, do you like waffles?" Link joked.
"Yes we like waffles," Bob muttered.
"Do you like pancakes?"
"Yeah we like pancakes," Bob's voice came lighter.
"Do you like French toast?"
"Yeah we like French toast! Do-do-do-do can't wait to get a mouthful!" Bob sang happily.
Link chuckled patting his back and walking away. With a pang of guilt, he remembered how he, Bob and Doc would sing that song together when they were really bored. "Good times," he thought. He shook the image away and looked back outside.
"We ready?" Monger asked taking the backpack and turning towards them.
They exchanged worried glances and Link nodded, "We're ready."
"Good, now remember we have to be real quiet alright?" Monger said as they nodded. "Good," Monger opened the door slowly. He peaked out and opened the door wide.
They ran silently to the black jeep with a roof. Rusty's heart leaped when he saw a shadow go past. He wanted all of this to end, now. A single tear ran down his fury cheek hitting his scarred paw. They shut the doors once they were inside. Link was in the passenger's seat while Bob, Susan and Rusty were in the back.
Monger in the driver's seat sighed, "Whew, safe."
"General, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to Insecto?" Link asked with anxiety in his eyes.
Then, a giant figure in front of them made them scream in terror. Insecto, with green eyes shining bright at them, shrieked loudly.
