(Really quick, before the ramble: MoonCat, you misunderstood my notes- I had up to chapter nine planned, then there was a MASSIVE brain freeze. It's going to be longer than nine chapters.
Oh my God. Chapter seven is not all that conducive to happiness, for a couple reasons.
Reason one: The events in this chapter are not happy events. Not to say they're sad; they're just not happy.
Reason two: In two chapters, I have no idea what's going to happen. Seriously. Chapters ten through twelve- huge blank. But I have an idea for what I want to do for chapter thirteen.
...actually, I'm starting to get an idea... OH MY GOD THE INSPIRATION IS OVERWHELMING MUST WRITE THIS DOWN -writes-
Ahem... I should start this chapter before I totally forget about it, huh?
Characters © Nintendo)
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Days of Damnation
Chapter Seven- Silence
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DStiles25 has logged in.
Raisin has logged in.
DStiles25: 5 days off! 5 days off!
Raisin: STFU, you bastard. We only get three.
DStiles25: Oh.. sorry, Victor.
Raisin: Oh, whatever. I miss the lab, actually.
Raisin: At least there I'm not surrounded by morons.
DStiles25: -sigh-
Raisin: I gtg, Derek. I'll see you later.
DStiles25: Fine. Bye, Victor.
Raisin has logged off.
DStiles25 has logged off.
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Derek dragged himself into the kitchen to see Greg and Angie sitting at the table, drinking coffee.
"Good morning, Derek," Angie greeted as the brunette instantly gravitated towards the coffee pot.
"How are you this morning?" Greg asked, sipping from his coffee mug slowly.
"I've never been so hung over... and I didn't even drink that much," Derek groaned as he poured himself a cup of the caffeinated beverage, then joining Greg and Angie at the table. "I'm still trying to figure out how that's even possible..."
"What are you talking about, Derek? You drank like, four beers in fifteen minutes near the end of the party," Angie chuckled behind her coffee mug. "It was kind of fun playing video games with you then... you were just drunk enough to curse the television, calling it the devil's magic ninja."
"Ugh..." Derek frowned, somewhat ashamed of himself. "No more alcohol for a while, then..."
"But did you enjoy yourself?" Greg asked. "That was really the whole point of the party, to give everyone a chance to goof off, for once..."
"Yeah, it was ni--"
Derek suddenly remembered the question he had asked the night before...
"...Dr. Kasal, will you answer my question now?"
Greg's smile faltered slightly...
"Angie... will you please leave the room for a few minutes?"
"Yes, Dr. Kasal..."
Angie left the kitchen, taking her coffee with her.
"...Derek, feeling guilty about infecting others is completely normal," Greg began. "Nearly all the people I knew in my residency felt guilty at some point, including myself- that's part of the reason we're called the Damned. Because we feel things that the other people don't."
"...so, I'm not losing my mind?" Derek asked hopefully.
"No, you're not," Greg shook his head.
"Thank God..." Derek sighed.
"...but... just because it's normal doesn't mean that it's always a good thing. It could become dangerous..."
"...huh? How?"
Greg sighed, his expression stoic.
"Like I said, feeling guilty is normal. But... most residents get over it by the time they become full-fledged doctors. Some people, however... never get over it. They go around infecting people like they ought to be, but... they're looking for a way to change everything. To overthrow the system. And if they're found out, discovered as the traitors that they are... they're... silenced."
"W-what?!" Derek gasped, disbelieving. "They- they kill them--?!"
"Derek, I'm warning you now," Greg continued, leaning a little closer to Derek, frowning slightly. "It's okay to doubt... but you've got to play the game, by their rules. I don't want you to disappear, too..."
"...you knew someone that was silenced...?"
Greg hesitated.
"...yes... my--"
"Excuse me..."
Derek and Greg looked up to see Angie standing in the doorway, holding the cordless phone.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Dr. Kasal, it's for you..."
"Tell them to call me back later, I'm busy right now--"
"It's urgent, they say."
Greg frowned; something didn't feel right about this...
"...alright."
Angie hurried over, handing Greg the phone. He brought it to his ear.
"This is Greg Kasal."
Greg's expression suddenly became one of shock.
"S-sir...! ...what do you need from me?"
As the person on the other end spoke, Greg's hazel eyes focused on Derek. The young brunette could see the troubled and worried look behind those hazel eyes...
"...I understand, sir. ...yes. You're welcome."
He hung up. Greg slowly handed the phone back to Angie.
"Dr. Kasal, who was that?" the young blonde queried, her green eyes reflecting her curiosity.
Greg stood up.
"...someone important. I have to go in to work," he spoke, his tone serious- direct. "There's an emergency patient- they want my help."
"But you're supposed to be off!" Angie protested. Derek, however, sensed something odd about the whole situation...
"Dr. Kasal... was that Dr. Hoffman?" he asked.
"...no. ...someone with... more authority than Dr. Hoffman."
Before he left the room, Greg looked straight at Derek. Derek suddenly understood- the emergency patient; Greg was going to have to silence them--
"Are we going with you?" Angie asked, following Dr. Kasal out of the room. Derek finally stood up, moving slowly, deep in thought...
"No. I want you both to stay here, Angie." Greg grabbed his jacket from his bedroom, pulling it on before heading for the front door.
"Yes, sir..."
"Dr. Kasal."
Greg turned around, his hand on the doorknob, to see Derek standing in the hall, his brown eyes serious... almost worried.
"...do you know the patient?"
Greg froze briefly...
He knows something's not right... how long until I have to tell him...?
"...no, I don't," Greg shook his head, opening the front door. "...it's eleven now; I should be back by four at the latest. I'll see you both when I get back."
"Alright, Dr. Kasal..."
Greg left, closing the door behind him.
Derek sighed.
"Derek... what's wrong? ...and what were you two talking about, anyways?"
The young brunette ran a hand through his messy hair, thinking.
"...we weren't talking about anything serious. ...I've... got this feeling... something's going to happen- something bad," he replied. "...there's no sense worrying about it, I guess. ...let's straighten up. This place is a mess."
"...alright, Derek."
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It was seven thirty.
Greg still wasn't back.
Derek sat on the front porch, waiting; he had promised Angie, before she went to take a nap, that he would wait for Greg to return.
And now, even he began to worry...
Wait--
Ah! That's his car...!
The silver Corvette slowly pulled into the driveway; Greg got out of the driver's seat.
Derek stood, starting to approach Greg.
"Dr. Kasal, what--"
He suddenly froze.
Even in the fading light, it was evident that Greg's skin had taken on an ashen color. His breathing was labored; his hand clawed at his chest as he stumbled towards the front door.
"Dr. Kasal, what's--"
"Derek..."
Greg's voice was raspy, but still strong...
"Derek, go inside..."
"What's wrong with—"
"INSIDE!!"
Derek flew through the front door, fearing Greg's fierce tone; Greg followed, collapsing onto the couch in the living room.
"Dr. Kasal, what happened to you?!"
"Derek, get over here..."
Derek quickly approached Greg, kneeling by the sofa. Greg's piercing hazel eyes looked directly at Derek.
"I don't have much time," Greg began, his voice strained. "You... you asked me if I knew someone... who was silenced. ...my girlfriend, Cybil... and... my brother's wife... they refused to... to follow the system..."
Derek's eyes widened.
"Your girlfriend and Sidney's wife--?!"
"We never saw them again," Greg gasped for breath. "But... it was supposed to intimidate us- to make us--"
The hand on Greg's chest suddenly flew to his throat; he began coughing violently--
"Dr. Kasal--?!"
Derek froze in horror as blood flowed from Greg's mouth, falling onto the sofa, to the floor, dark red blood everywhere--
"Angie!" Derek shouted as Greg continued to cough up blood. "Angie, get in here!!"
He heard footsteps rushing down the hall--
"Oh my God...!"
Angie's green eyes widened in shock and horror; her hands flew to her mouth--
"Angie, call someone!" Derek ordered, panic rising to his voice. "Call... call--"
"Call... Sidney..."
"What...?"
Greg's hazel eyes were never before so intense...
"Call... Sidney..." he ordered, his voice soft yet strong. "You need... to tell him... they got to me, too- you have to warn him--"
Angie ran to the phone...
Derek's mind began to race...
They got to him, too...? Then-- then, he- he's--
"You've figured it out... haven't you, Derek?"
Greg allowed a small smirk to play at his bloodstained lips as a look of realization came to Derek's face--
"...why would you do this-- ...and why would you tell me, Dr. Kasal?"
"Sidney? Th-this is Angie Thompson... your brother, he--"
"Listen carefully, Derek," Greg began, blood still trickling from his mouth. "Yes, I've refused to give up my guilt. When they disappeared... it was supposed to frighten us into submission-- they didn't succeed. We were convinced... we had to keep trying- to correct the injustice--"
"'We'?"
"Yes... me, Sidney... others--"
Another coughing fit came over Greg; blood poured from his mouth--
"Dr. Kasal--!"
"Derek... you need to talk to Sidney; I'm... I'm almost out of time..."
"...yes, Sidney- we'll be there soon."
Angie hung up the phone, quickly approaching Greg and Derek.
"Dr. Kasal, we're taking you to Caduceus." Her voice was firm; she refused to show her fear and worry. "Derek, we need to get him in the car."
"What? But-- why? What for--"
"Just shut up and pick him up!"
Derek quickly slid an arm behind Greg's back; carefully, he lifted the bleeding surgeon, carrying him out the open front door.
"Dr. Kasal, where are the keys to the car?" Angie asked.
"...still in... the ignition..."
Angie quickly got into the driver's seat.
"Derek, get in the back seat. You'll have to watch over Dr. Kasal."
"Alright."
Derek carefully put Greg in the back seat, then climbed into the car through the other side.
Angie quickly drove onto the street, racing off.
Greg groaned, clawing weakly at his chest.
"Dr. Kasal, hold on," Derek pleaded softly. "We're going to--"
"Derek... I'll appreciate your efforts... but you won't be able to save me," Greg cut off, his voice fading fast. "But... the real question is... what will you do... after my death?"
Derek froze.
Never before had he felt like this...
So anxious to save a life, instead of ending it.
"Dr. Kasal... we will save you. ...just hold on."
Greg's hazel eyes slid shut, a weak smile playing at his bloodstained lips.
The car raced towards Caduceus.
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(End chapter seven.
Holy shit! What's going to happen next chapter?
I guess I better write it faster, huh?
Please review!)