Chapter 7 - Infected

Hollow stood in shocked silence as Hatter began to cry, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

"No..." Hollow muttered in disbelief, "NO! This cannot be happening! Hatter! Tell me that isn't what i think it is!"

"I'm... so sorry Hollow. I should have... told you. I- I didn't mean to..." Her voice broke off into a sob as tears dripped down her face and splashed onto the dirty floor. The commotion brought the others through into the kitchen and they huddled around the doorway, confused.

"Hollow? What's going on? Why's Hatter-" Fluke broke off as he spotted Hatters arm, and her dismal expression. In the few minutes they had been talking her arm had grown worse, the skin peeling off even further and the green infection spreading up her arm, now almost touching her shoulder.

Unexpectedly, Rage broke out of the group and ran to Hatter's side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Rage. I... know you think you can fix everything but... there's nothing you can do." She said with a sad smile, "It's been too long, even before I- I met you. I know i should have said something but i just... i didn't want you to leave me and i wanted to be in a group, have some... friends before..."

Rage walked in front of Hatter and put both his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me Hatter." He commanded. Hatter reluctantly raised her head, and Rage looked her right in her eyes as he said, "Yes Hatter, you made a mistake, you should have told us you had the bite. But that doesn't mean we would abandon you! Even though you're just a random girl we met in a basement, we will still take care of you. And i promise you, you will make it through this." Hatter smiled gratefully up at him, and Hollow patted Rage begrudgingly on his back.

"And besides," Continued Rage, his cocky grin returning, "You are a fan after all! I mean, I'd love to just shoot you and leave, but i don't want to ruin my reputation!" Hatter laughed at this, and the rest of the group were silently surprised that Rage, of all people, had been the one to cheer Hatter up.

"You're such a dick." Laughed Hollow, punching Rage gently on the shoulder.

"Now," Said Fluke, taking over, "Follow me Hatter," He instructed "I am a Doctor, i know what I'm doing!" He led Hatter towards one of the hammocks in the corner, while Rage and Hollow bundled up some old clothes to use as a pillow. Once they were done making it comfy, Hatter laid down, letting out a sigh of relief as the stress was taken off her arm.

"Right," Said Fluke, lowering his goggles and rolling up his sleeves, "You two," He pointed at Rage and Hollow, "Go find me as many medical supplies as you can, as well as clean water and blankets." He then comically pointed at himself, "I'm going to check her bite." Fluke knelt down next to Hatter and gently turned her arm over, being careful not to touch the wound. Even so, Hatter let out a gasp of pain and screwed her eyes shut.

"How did this happen, hmm?" Asked Fluke sympathetically.

"Well... I was running away from a Horde of sheep when i tripped and fell. Before i could get up, one of them took a bite out of my arm."

Fluke sighed, and took a long time to reply. "I've never seen this before, so i have no idea what it could do." He looked at her. "I'm not going to lie to you Hatter. I don't know any way to cure this, and the most likely scenario is that it will either kill you, or..." He tailed off.

"...Turn me into one of them." Hatter finished, her voice cracking.

Fluke dropped his head. "I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Just then, Rage and Hollow came running back, their arms piled with bandages and medical supplies.

"Luckily for us, these guys were loaded!" Said Hollow happily. "Here, we brought you a cup of purified water, some sterilized bandages, antiseptic cream, what i think is some kind of painkiller, and a load of bandages."

Fluke grinned happily, "Now those are things i know what to do with!" He said, turning to Hatter, "I can't guarantee it'll get better, but I'll give it my best damn shot!"


A couple of hours later, Hatter's arm was bandaged and sterilized and she was sleeping soundly in the hammock. Fluke and Hollow, however, were lying on the floor, about to go to bed. Meanwhile, Rage was guarding the door, watching for any signs of the bandit's return.

In a low voice, as not to wake her, Hollow asked, "Do you think she'll make it?"

Fluke sighed and shook his head, "I don't know man, I don't know." He glanced across at her, "I hope so."


The next morning, Rage and Hollow were eating breakfast in the kitchen, while Fluke was checking on Hatter. Fluke came back in, a grim look on his face.

"How is she?" Asked Rage, through a mouthful of bacon.

Fluke sighed, "Not the best. The cream doesn't seem to be working, and the infection is spreading even faster than before." He sat down heavily at the table, and faced them both off. "There's only one thing that even has a chance of working. And if we do it, we do it now, or the infection will be too far up her arm."

Hollow's eyes widened, "Surely you're not suggesting we-!"

"We have to. We have no other choice."

"But she's just a kid!" Said Hollow angrily, "We can't do this to her!"

"If we wait any longer she'll be an undead kid!"

Rage sat there with a mouthful of bacon, chewing slowly. His eyes followed the argument back and forth, rather like a high paced tennis match. Finally, he swallowed his breakfast, with some difficulty, and spoke up.

"Have either of you asked her if she agrees?"

They both shut their mouths abruptly and turned to Rage, stumped.

"Good point." Muttered Hollow.

"Come on," invited Fluke, "Lets go ask her now." They followed Fluke towards the corner, where Hatter was breathing feverishly.

"Hatter." Said Fluke gently, laying a comforting hand on her arm, "I think you know what we have to do."

Hatter looked around at them all, fear in her eyes. "You're going to cut it off, aren't you?" She started to panic, her breathing increasing, "Oh god, this is going to hurt isn't it?"

"Don't worry!" Said Fluke quickly, "We'll give you painkillers, we have plenty." "They won't send you to sleep, but they'll lessen the pain."

Hatter breathed deeply, and shut her eyes, as Fluke picked up the knife. Luckily it was a long and sharp, and with a serrated edge, which they had thoroughly sterilized as not to cause infection. Rage and Hollow meanwhile, were getting ready with a pile of blankets to stop the bleeding.

"Okay, I'm ready." She said, turning away. Just as Fluke was about to start cutting, they heard footsteps coming from the driveway.

The bandits had returned.