When I finished Ever Evolving and started getting messages from people wanting more, I was expecting people to care about what I was writing next. Only 1 review a chapter is a bit depressing in comparison. C'mon guys, I write for you all. When only a handful of people say anything to me, I just don't feel motivated. Anyway, heres your next chapter. Read, Review, Enjoy...
The smell of burning flesh and the screams of infected and humans alike filled the air. I couldn't quite grasp yet how this all happened. My mind was racing while my body was moving unconsciously trying to find Enid and Alice. I hacked and slashed past every infected that was within three feet of me. Less of them hunting for humans, the more likely I'd find my daughter before them.
When I came to the first door I opened, I had to take cover because I was welcomed in with a wall of bullets. I kept trying to lean and get a peak in but the moment they saw me they fired.
"Hey bro, you wanna get in there you need to find a vent or something."
Some hunter came walking up to me covered in blood from a fresh kill and he strut like a cocky fuck.
"Vent huh? I got a better idea..."
Before the hunter had the chance to respond and ask to get in on my idea, I drove me claw through him and raised him off his feet. He squirmed and struggled but he was already hooked on. With this infected, I turned and faced the people who were inside as they opened fire again. This time my new meat shield gave me cover and lent me a few seconds to scan the room.
I didn't see Enid or a child in there, I was wasting my time. The next house I entered was up in flames but I heard something from inside nor did I see anything. Another waste of my time. The mere seconds were pressing on me, making angrier and more impatient.
As I ran out the door and searched the area more, I spotted a small squad of troops bulling back and blocking citizens. If they were rounding up citizens to protect them then maybe Alice was with them. I took a quick look around to see about finding a vantage point, best I found was just on top of the roofs so I got to climbing.
The closest building was the one I had just left and it was up in flames, now wasn't the time to be picky though and I started digging into the wall with my claw and launching myself upward as fast as I could. It didn't take long to get to the top and start running to the spot where I had seen the soldiers. I felt the heat of the fires inside with each step I took, even through my boots I felt it burning me.
It wasn't surprising the roofs starting to give way to my additional weight, I could almost hear the wood creaking and breaking. I figured it out too late though and fell through the roof. My claw hooked into the roof and I was dangled over the pyre inside. I tried to pull myself up but each time I got my hand up I just broke off more roofing.
I could feel the roofing my claw was dug in starting to weaken and crack. I wasn't ready to die, I didn't want to die, I wanted to be with my daughter, I wanted to protect her. I had nearly stopped trying when I heard a scream. It was Enid's voice. I couldn't hear her words over the sound of flames. I could only make out a few words. "-I'll keep them safe-". She was still fighting to protect Alice. What kind of man would I have been if I had just given up? I reached up again and again tearing away more loose roofing until I grasped a part that was secure. I pulled myself up and got to me feet again.
I continued my run to the end of the block and heard another scream from Enid. Once I reached the edge of the final house, I saw her trying to fight off the infected on her own. The soldiers that were with her were now a pile of corpses. She was back to wearing her military uniform and using her M16. Behind her though was my daughter, my dear Alice. With her was another girl, a bit older and holding on tightly to Alice. Could she be Anna, Lance's little girl? My mind snapped back to Enid who was reloading her rifle. As she got the magazine she was grabbed by a common. I jumped down and slashed it in two and scaring the them all.
"C-Cole?! Where did you come from?!"
"Ms. Vasten, it's another monster!"
"Shhh Anna, this one is nice. He won't hurt us."
My daughter pulled her face from her friend and looked up at me. I swear I saw her eyes glow for a second when she looked at me. I was overcome with such joy and relief as she ran to me and hugged me again. I missed her so much.
"Daddy! Where were you?! The monsters are hurting people!"
I nuzzled her as I always did before I left to try and reassure her and keep her from crying another tear. I just wanted to hold her forever and not let one thing harm her. I held her tighter as she buried her face into the chest of my uniform deeper. Even in the midst of all this chaos, I found bliss in just hugging my daughter. I think I actually even began to forget where I was. That was until a charger grabbed my from behind and pinned me against a wall.
"What do you think you're doing punk?! We are attacking the humans not eachother!"
"I'm not with you assholes! Stephanie! Lance! I found them!"
"Shut your mouth!"
I reached for his head with my claws but he ducked back out of my reach and slammed me into the ground. With him being out of reach, I went for his arm. My claws dug in deeps but caught on his bone. As I heard him wail he tightened his grip around me, breaking a few ribs. I made a mistake attacking him, cause now in his anger he was beginning to smash me into the pavement repeatedly.
"Well what now fucker?! You ain't getting away from me!"
"..."
"Say something you little shit!"
"Look up..."
"I ain't falling for tha-"
Stephanie and Lance heard me and came promptly to help. Just wish it had been before my ribs were being destroyed. Stephanie had dropped onto his back and sank her teeth deep into his collar bone where she injected her venom. It was enough for me to loosen my claws from his arm and to make him release me as well. I was freed entirely. Lance came next to the fight with a busted up stop sign in his hands. One swing was all it took for him to take the charger's head clean off.
With that issue dealt with Lance had his reunion with his own daughter. Stephanie crouched down next to me to see how badly I was hurt. It was pointless though, she knew that no matter what I could keep going and fighting as much as I wanted to. Still, it was nice to have someone concerned over me.
"You have 3 broken ribs and a big bruise here Cole. How did you let that charger do this to you?"
"I was having a touching moment and he surprised me. Got unlucky too, claw got hooked."
"Can you move? The main body of the horde is coming this way and we need to go now!"
I stood up straight without flinching from the pain to show her I was fine and she didn't need to be worried.
"I'll be fine, I want you and Lance to get them out of here now. Leave the horde to me."
"Hell no!"
"Go now!"
"There's too many! I'm not just letting you kill yourself when you can run and stay alive!"
"Shut up! Either they all die or they will follow. Food is hard to come by so there is no way they will just let us go."
"Then I'm staying too!"
I was being honest with her, the horde had to die or they would follow us. This wasn't just me playing hero, this was for survival. Stephanie was an idiot though and couldn't just stay out of my way and keep safe. It was infuriating, her persistence. So I smacked her across her face.
"Enough dammit! You won't last and I need you to help Lance get the girls to safety! I'm not letting them kill me so quit being a child and go! Now!"
She just stood there holding her cheek and her eyes beginning to water. She closed her eyes and nodded with a serious look on her face.
"You die and I'm kicking your ass Cole."
"I die and you'll have to come find me in hell."
Her mouth formed a smile and she directed Lance to take the lead out and herded the girls toward the gates. As for me, I walked down the street and saw a swarm of infected looking straight at me.
"Hey assholes! I'm going to gut the lot of you!"
They knew who I was and who my friends were. They knew what I had done already to most of their horde. Just looking at me pissed them off. To provoke them even more I flipped them the bird and as soon as a few came running at me more decided to join until the entire horde was on me.
"This is going to be fun..."
The first three leaped at me baring their teeth to me. One sweep of my claws cleaved them all. Next were a few chargers and boxers, I jumped to dodge the charges and landed on top of the boxers, the best spot for ripping their heads off. More and more of the infected rushed me. One by one, two by two, and three by three I slashed through them and tore them all apart.
In the midst of the fighting I felt something I hadn't in so long. When I finally was free it was exciting but not fulfilling. This was what I had been missing since I was free, the blood and carnage. I was a fighter, always was a fighter. I was never going to be killed, I could feel it. It was exhilarating! The longer the fight went on the stronger this feeling became. Each kill made me attack faster and stronger. I... I felt my heart beat... just once.
"You are all fucked you little piss ants!"
I blacked out soon after, whether it was from exhaustion or getting taken down I wasn't sure. It was raining when I came to and I was covered head to toe in blood and wounds. It was a hell of a sight, all those bodies on the ground. Some humans from before I had arrived but most were infected I had killed myself. Now that the fight was over I wasn't so happy about it all anymore. I was just disgusted with it and myself for being the one who did it.
I stood there in a trance, looking at those bodies. I started thinking, maybe I shouldn't be a father, maybe I really was a monster like the other infected. The way I had savored the violence and blood certainly matched the description of a monster.
My mind left that matter for another time when I heard the thunder crashing. Whatever I was , monster or not, my goal was protect Alice and I intend to do just that. It was time to catch up and meet them all in the sewer. My first step made me collapse from pain, I was holding my sides and coughing up blood. I tried again to stand and walk. This time when I took a step I did not collapse but I screamed in pain and spat up even more blood. I took another step, It hurt just as much but I held it in and kept going.
I have no idea how long it took me to reach the bridge where the runoff was but when I reached it I had no easy way down with my wounds so I just dropped into the river. I landed in the water without making much of a splash and hooked my claws to the shore where the runoff pipe was located and dragged myself out of the water. My vision was beginning to blur and I wobbled left to right, using the sewer walls to prop myself up. Eventually I just fell over from exhaustion and blood loss, luckily I was caught by Lance who threw me over his shoulder before I passed out.
It must have been a while between then and when I woke up. I was asleep long enough to start dreaming. It was all about my little girl and me playing in the woods. I was seeking while she tried to hide from me. It was so peaceful and I loved it and I love her.
My nap ended abruptly when my eyes shot open to see the cement ceiling of the sewers. When I tried to sit up I could feel something squirming around next to me. In my head I was praying. "Please god don't let that be Lance." Thankfully when I looked down it was Stephanie asleep and drooling on me. It reminded me of our first meeting when she tried to kill me.
"Hey. Hey Stephanie. Open your eyes already!"
"Huh?! I'm awake!"
"So I see."
"Cole! You're alright!"
Stephanie was bawling when she saw me awake and caused a commotion by hugging me and shouting at me for being an idiot. It got some attention and brought Alice to me. She was just the same as Stephanie, crying while she hugged me. Hurt like hell with the both of them pressing against my wounds but I didn't care.
Lance came walking over with Enid beside him and his own daughter holding his hand.
"Welcome to the land of the living sir."
He stood up straight and saluted me like a damn war hero. He was hardly serious about it judging from the smirk on his stupid face but he earned the right to act like stupid since he dragged my half dead ass here.
"Ok girls, can you get off me that hurts. Heh heh ow ow..."
Stephanie stopped but Alice didn't, she couldn't understand my growls and snarls. Now that I thought about it, she never heard me talk before but now that she did hear me, she didn't seem to care. With her unable to understand me I had to grab her shoulders and gently push her off. She looked up at me with a confused face, all I could do was give her a smile and kiss her forehead. It was enough for her to stop hugging me and just sit down next to me to play with her stuffed rabbit.
"Stephanie, we need to talk."
"What is it? Lance knows how to treat wounds better than me so if you're hurting-"
"No, it isn't that."
Though now that she had mentioned it, my uniform had been removed and my wounds were stapled shut. It looked grizzly and hurt like fuck but I doubt he had a med-kit to work with.
"Remember when you told me that uniques are still working on the inside?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"I felt my heart beat."
"Holy shit! Let me hear it!"
Stephanie reached out her hand to my chest and started leaning towards me. I stopped her short, I had questions and the only one who could give me answers was her.
"Focus Stephanie."
"Right sorry."
"How is this possible?"
"I suppose I can tell you. You know the 3 reactions to the flu right?"
"Nothing for those lucky to be immune, infection for the unlucky, and mutation which makes the specials."
"Right! Well the infected are are decaying bodies, so are the specials. Specials are just a combination of infection and mutation. That's why they are susceptible to mental decay and go crazy. We uniques don't have that decay part of the infection. We are purely the mutation part of it, we aren't dead like other infected. We never did die and come back. Our bodies do tend to go through some afflicting side effects though. No heart beat is one of them, but we can get them going again with enough adrenaline."
She went on and on about how we are different from the infected. Why we are stronger, faster and smarter. She described in great detail as if she had been studying this for her entire life. It was all alot to take in. Then came the part about how she actually learned all this. She helped a unique give birth. When I heard that my mind went blank, I thought she was playing a sick joke. Apparently that unique was a researcher at one point who studied the flu and tried to find a cure, that's how she knew all this.
"Enough..."
"But Cole..."
"Please, just let me have some time to process this... Wait a second, is that why you are always trying to get me to fuck you?!"
"Not really, though the idea of a little me is nice. Raise her to be a real hellian!"
"...You are fucking nuts."
Ok, show of hands, who the hell saw that coming? Don't ask why I wanted to put it in, just felt like it! Anyway, leave a review and tell me what you think of this development. I really want some feed back so I can improve.
