Chapter 4: I'll never recover...
The apocalypse has begun... The virus seemed to have spread inexplicably quick... but has it reached Area 51? How will Selene and Danni react? Will the facility be prepared for the freak bag convention? Why am I asking these questions? Xp
This chapter was particularly fun writing. ^-^ Special thanks to Zombitude for helping me brainstorm this chapter!
I named this chapter after Love Somebody by Maroon 5. (You'll see why as you read on...) ^-^
I do NOT own ANY songs by Maroon 5 or ANY Cod characters.
"Hey sleepy head! Wake up!" Selene's voice raised me from my sleep.
I opened my eyes, still flash blinded by the teleporter's light.
"What am I doing on the ground?" I groaned, digging my fingers into the dirt.
The dirt clung on my hands, indicating it was damp.
"You knocked yourself out..." Selene laughed.
"What? How?"
"When you flashed in from the teleporter, you landed on your head."
"How does that even happen? I was standing when we transported."
"Yes you were... but you couldn't hold still when flying through time and space. You became disoriented and appeared upside down, landing on your head. I would know... I did the same thing awhile back. Its actually an amateur move to do but since you can't remember, Its ok." Selene explained.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"About 20 minutes. I had to carry you for a while since you wouldn't respond... You're lucky you didn't injure your spine..." She glared.
I wanted to punch her for that comment but instead countered with a sarcastic remark; "I dunno, I kinda ache..." I faked a cringing expression, feeling my spine.
I could tell she wasn't too amused with my joke because she looked at me with a blank face.
"You're fine, come on get up."
I began to sit up, noticing something when the rest of my sight returned...
"Holy shit! What is that?!" I screamed, staring at a monster of a tree that shot up from the soil.
It must've been 200 feet in it's diameter. Let alone; stretch another 1,000 feet into the air.
"Thats the gateway between the aerial zone and the bio zone... Which we're in right now." Selene explained, utterly mesmerized by the tree that scraped the sky.
"Its also where you come to see the majestic view of this zone..." Another computer-sounding voice entered the conversation.
"Oh hi Molly, we were just looking for you." Selene snapped out of her trance, looking at the ghostly figure.
I wasn't sure how to describe her, or it. All transparent and pixely looking. It sure as hell wasn't normal...
"W-what? W-w-what are you?" I blurted, still petrified by her presence.
"What kind of question is that?" Molly asked, taking aback by my question.
"Oh right, Barry told me about your condition. I'm sorry for startling you." Molly backed off.
"Danni, shes one of the I told you about... Remember?" Selene reminded me.
"And what are we doing with her?"I asked.
"Shes gonna make us look less noticeable." Selene answered.
"Don't worry sweetie, I have just the thing for you two." Molly smiled through her ghostly face, floating towards the colossal tree, acting like shes waking on the ground.
"I really don't want to have my face lifted!" I shouted, thinking thats what her plan was.
"Wow, you really don't remember a thing about me do you? Thats okay, I don't believe in plastic surgery. I have something more... natural." Molly smiled.
I watched her drift to the tree. Only to be stunned when the trunk of the tree magically spawn a doorway. I couldn't fathom how she did that, now I definitely felt skeptical about following her blindly.
"Relax, I promise you have nothing to worry about." Selene looked at me with those precious green eyes.
I found truth in her eyes; she would never lie to me. Shes practically my little sister... I think. Even though she was close to my age, she was smaller than me.
I followed her uneasily.
There was a stairwell on the other side of the doorway that dipped down about 200 feet before spilling out into a cavern...
Unexplainably large, detailed with a combination of stalactites and stalagmites growing from the surfaces of the cave.
I figured there had to be some source of water when I saw the reflection of the ripples, projected on the ceiling.
We trailed behind Molly until we stepped on a portion of the cavern where the floor was smoothed out. I discovered why the floor was so flat when I started sinking in the ground...
"AHH! WHERE DID YOU TAKE US!?" I shrieked, expecting death around the corner.
"Its alright Danni, see?" Selene assured, falling back on the liquid floor.
The liquid shot up at her back, catching her then forming a beanbag-looking chair that was still attached to the floor.
I couldn't figure out what was happening, other than Selene tipping over as if she knew the ground was going to do that.
"You've done this before?" I questioned her.
"Are you kidding? This used to be the favorite part of my day until I saw how much you were suffering... I couldn't have fun knowing you were getting whipped for absolutely no reason." Selene added.
"Oh..."
"I used to hide you down here after you got mauled by all the experiments. Well, you know, if I got to you first. Sometimes, Zane would be standing there with that chain whip, waiting to punish you." Selene frowned.
"You were skittish for a while when we first brought you here. Of course, Barry never knew we sheltered you... he was paranoid enough..." Molly spoke, revealing a secret drawer in a stalagmite.
"I would always keep my distance from you. Selene did the same although it killed her to see you in tears. That aside, I knew you would eventually start trusting us if we showed you that this place is a safe place." Molly would explain, searching for something in the drawer.
"You found refuge just walking around. It was actually quite depressing... It was like watching a lost soul drift about earth." Selene said, looking like she wanted to cry.
"That is, until you eventually followed the river upstream to my little hideaway." Molly hinted.
"You always went there to-HEY!" Selene got decked by an empty bucket, thrown by Molly.
She narrowed her eyes as if reminding Selene not to finish her sentence.
"... to swim in the spring that was up there. Sometimes you would show the most warming smile, I'd ever seen you do. It wasn't a scary grimace but it wasn't a smirk either..." Selene finished.
"Anyways... you eventually warmed up to us... Please sit down" Molly switched the subject.
I looked down at my feet, submerged in the ground.
"On what? Exactly?" I glared at her.
"Just fall back, the ground will catch you literally!" She insisted.
I hesitantly tipped backwards until gravity was doing the work. I expected to smack the hard ground... I didn't.
The floor somehow turned to liquid, shooting up at my back, cushioning my fall. Then the liquid rapidly morphed into some sort of gel, forming the same beanbag chair that Selene rested in. Then it moved itself next to her... with me in it.
"I don't like it" I decided, trying to get up but Selene froze me in place.
"Quit being so stubborn. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go to the shooting range." Selene pointed out.
Molly started floating towards me with a neatly-woven basket.
"What the hell is going on!?" I Panicked.
"Easy now, you're going to startle it" Molly warned, putting her hand in the basket.
"What are you DOING!? I'm not letting... whatevers in there, near my face!" I shrieked.
"Calm down, she does this all the time. Its not going to hurt you. I'll prove it, do me first Molly." Selene assured.
"Alright" Molly agreed.
I studied carefully at Molly with her suspicious basket as she stood next to her. Selene extended her arm in the basket. I waited for the worst to happen. I couldn't bear to watch but I kept my eyes on her arm. Something started seeping up her skin. It looked like goo of some kind. "It tickles!" Selene giggled trying to keep her arm still. The goo awkwardly moved up her arm and around her neck. It rested there briefly. "Whats it doing?" I asked. "Its trying to remember her, studying her thoughts" Molly explained, oddly intrigued by this creature. "Trying not to move..." Selene croaked, wanting to laugh. It then spread around her face.
I immediately became defensive.
"If it kills her, I'll kill you." I threatened.
"She's fine. Just be patient." Molly replied, slightly irritated.
Molly replied, slightly irritated. The creature vibrated before shifting its shape around Selene's face. It changed color to a bright scarlet red as it formed a mask that covered part of her face. Her hair tone brightened along with her skin. Once her look stopped changing. She opened her eyes to see that they changed to hazel.
"What the hell just happened?" I asked, wide-eyed amazed how altered she looked.
"These creatures are masters of physical alteration. They change your appearance based on the thoughts of your sub conscience. Once they finish working their magic, hardly anyone recognizes you. Plus, if you want to look like your previous self again, they respond only to your touch so you can take them off like it was just taking off a mask. However, they find it difficult to focus when the client is panicking." Molly explained, petting the gooey creature.
"Thats so fucking cool!" I yelled, truly amazed.
"That was your same reaction when you saw it for the first time" Molly smiled.
"And you get a little message from it too. Now its your turn Danni..." Selene looked at me.
I was curious to see what this creature was capable of turning me into. So I relaxed back in my chair.
The creature slowly crawled from the basket looking rather shy. It felt hesitant touching my skin; I nearly jumped out of my skin when it finally did touch me. It felt like jelly inching it's way to my face. I noticed it sank down on my skin, assuming it had relaxed itself also. A smile grew on my face, it did tickle but it was also soothing. I closed my eyes, focusing on the caterpillar-like steps it did making its way up my arm then onto my neck. I had a feeling it did that on purpose, it must've sensed I was ticklish. I felt it's form surround the back of my neck. It froze there just like it did with Selene...
"Alright, now what are you doing?" I thought, feeling it's idle movements.
It multiplied itself into separate parts, a few parts running down my back, down the back of my arms and wrapping itself around my hands. The rest of it climbed up my face circling around my eyes. It was being gentle with me when it part of it separated again and sank into my skin. I could feel it merge with my skin as I felt it solidify into a mask.
"I think its done..." My mind said...
"Gosh she sure did calm down fast..." Molly whispered.
I opened my eyes to have Selene in shock.
"What?" I asked, not sure of what my new look was.
"N-nothing... I-I just..." She stuttered.
"Whats wrong?" I repeated, growing worried.
"See for yourself..." Molly handed me a mirror...
"Oh my gosh..." I thought. Selene had every right to be speechless...
The mask I was wearing... It was painted with perfection. The color of the mask reminded me of darkness. Not a single smudge on it. The edges of it curved down my cheekbone without a single flaw. I had to touch it... It was remarkably smooth. I noticed I had fingerless gloves on. They fit so perfectly, I probably wouldn't have noticed them. They were black along with streaks of red brushed on. My hair darkened too. My eyes lost it's hazel color with emerald green taking its place.
"Nobody will recognize you for sure" Molly replied, looking like her breath was stolen.
"Wow... you look awesome..." Selene managed to say.
"Thats for sure..." I thought.
"Nobody should recognize you, just as long as you don't talk too much. Some experiments can pick up on your voice" Molly informed.
I heard a ringing coming from the top of the stalagmite.
"Am I hearing things? Or do is your rock calling?" I asked.
Molly picked up on the ringing too because she levitated towards the rock and pressed a button. The rock projected a hologram of Barry.
"Everything alrig-OH... MY... GOODNESS..."Barry observed me, stricken.
"Yeah yeah were fine. What do you want?" I rolled my eyes...
Barry must've ignored me because he had his attention directed towards Selene.
"Well done Molly" He nodded his head in approval.
"Well, it wasn't really me. I leave it to the professionals..." Molly blushed, pointing at the basket.
"You also created them. Don't forget that." Selene flattered.
They were so small and so cute for a lab experiment. I wanted to keep one for myself.
"Can I keep one?" I asked.
"Technically you already have one. It won't respond to anyone else's touch but yours. So no one can rip your mask off. And another thing... Since hes already studied your subconscious, it may know stuff that you don't but don't bother asking it; it can't talk." Molly explained.
She wasn't giving me a straight answer, I hate when people do that. I just wanted to know if I could keep it.
"Can I KEEP it though? I really really REALLY want to keep it." I repeated, hoping for a clear answer this time.
"To answer your question... yes" Molly finally said.
"Yay... Now what do you want Barry?" I reverted back to Barry.
"When you guys are done letting off steam, come back to building A, I'll be waiting at the elevator with a "Gift" for you Danni." Barry told me.
"What is it?" I narrowed my eyes.
"You'll have to wait and see..." Barry teased.
"TELL ME NOW!"
"Temper, temper Danni..." Barry shook his head, before abruptly turning his head. I could've sworn I heard yelling and crashes.
"Actually, don't move. I'll come to you." He changed his mind, starting to cut the transmission.
"Where are YOU!? YOU LITTLE..." I heard someone from the transmission.
"That didn't sound too good" Molly said with an undecided look.
"Shit..." I heard Selene swear which really put me on edge.
She looked at me, terrified of my silence.
"Uh...?" Selene struggled to find something to say.
"Why don't you two go somewhere and talk? By the time you get back, Barry should be here..." Molly suggested, trying to distract our minds from possible danger.
"What was the threat though?" I thought, wondering if we're in possible danger because of me.
"Is it my fault?" I spoke up.
"Was it ever your fault? Selene countered, possibly having a point but still not answering my question.
She then started pushing towards the underground river but I stopped her...
"You're supposed to be my best friend! Why aren't you telling me anything?"
"Its more complicated than you think... I'll tell you all I can but you have to come with me" Selene sighed.
I gave her a dirty look.
"Don't think I won't use my power on you." She warned, raising her eyebrows.
I was getting sick of the lies, the very thing that breaks my trust.
"All I've known in life was a lie! No truth and always abuse! I'm sick of this! Why won't you tell me...?" I demanded.
"We're trying to protect you Danni!" Selene started yelling.
"HOW!? By lying to me? How has lying helped? IT HASN'T! Why do you think I find ways to try to end my life!? So I don't have to live with lies! You think this is FUN?! Knowing every single fucking thing about Pain!? But I don't get any kind of comfort! I don't have a family! At least you can DIE!" I frailed, throwing a punch at Selene.
She caught my hand at the last second with her mind.
I looked through her mask, seeing how pissed she was but she didn't do anything. Her face said it all; she wanted to lay me out for yelling at her. I couldn't have cared if she did.
I couldn't cry. Not anymore. No one answers my cries except for more punishment.
I don't cry because I'm tortured. Nothing scares or saddens me.
I've been molded into a heartless monster who only knows how to destroy everything.
I can barely trust my own creator, the very one who supposedly raised me before I was stolen.
I barely remember you...
I wish I knew you better...
I wish I didn't exist...
I wish I had someone to love me...
Selene let me go, regaining her composure. "I'm sorry; I should be the one making your life easier. Its just been hard to do ever since that day... I can never understand your torture." She began, holding back tears.
I stood there in silence waiting for more.
"Look, before you lost your memory, Brock had been ordered to capture you. Thats why we had to keep you quiet. It was bad enough you were screaming your head off. We couldn't tell you anymore. If we did, you would've blown your top. Brock would've found you and you would've been stuck with Zane forever. Do you remember that Gas masked dude from the memory room? One of the reasons he was there was to check what kind of condition you were in. Thank god, you didn't snap when he was in there. We were trying to get you out of this fucking endless cycle. And we were doing that by getting you into the N.S.S. We're close to breaking you out of here, away from Zane for good. We just need to wait a day longer..." Selene spoke.
"Just please... Let us get you out of here."
This wasn't exactly a sincere apology but I got more information, which I hope is the truth.
Wait... The N.S.S?
"Whats the N.S.S?" I asked.
"Nation of Super Soldiers..." She breathed, still looking at the ground.
"What is it for? Why do I even have to go? That means I'd have to leave you and Barry." I pointed out.
"I don't know exactly. I heard they're building an army of them. I just want you to escape this place. I can't stand another minute of your suffering." Selene explained, on the verge of tears again.
"... I've never heard anyone care so much..."
"Thats because nobody else gave a shit about you! Nobody else except for me and..." She calmed herself down from snapping.
"Wait... What do you mea- Hey guys! You over there?" I heard Barry's voice.
His voice froze me in my tracks...
"Just the last person I wanted to see..." I thought.
"Danni, please come out. I need to give you something." Barry pleaded.
I couldn't react fast enough when Selene pulled me out to his voice.
Barry was holding a crossbow of some sort. It lit up with flashy lights and had a quiver full of arrows... I think it was arrows...
"What is it?" I asked
I stared at the arrows, they were changing colors. It amazed me. Barry broke my train of thought though.
"I call it the Nova Bow!" He announced, handing me the foreign weapon...
Whoa... I'd have to say... Heartbreaking but this story won't have a tragic ending... Like the titanic... Or The Phantom of the Opera...
I'd like to give a lot of credit to Zombitude for helping with quite a bit of this chapter.
I guess the virus hasn't struck quite yet... (YAY MORE SUSPENSE!) I hope you guys enjoy the Storyline so far... Leave reviews please! ^-^