Two years ago, the Devil's House had been laid to waste by the Man on Fire. For two years, its charred remains have continued to crumble, standing like a ghostly tomb with the ash an' bones still inside. For those that attempt the perilous visit, some say if you listen to the mist long enough… you can still hear the voices inside.

Others say… it's just a ghost story.

Chapter XI
Awakening

"DEVIL DOG, HOW COPY!?"

The mist was all-encompassing, penetrating the jungle like a deep fog. Visibility was next to impossible, but Snake continued to run anyway; dodging obstacles that would appear as if out of thin air.

"DO YOU COME IN, DEVIL DOG!?"

The moist ground beneath him was soft and spongy, splashing mud against his fatigues with each step. It mattered little to him though, as he had already been soaked through. The air was thick with moisture, warm and dense enough to collect drops of dew on the large foliage that would splash against him as he ran past.

"PEQUOD, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?'

A voice could faintly be heard, inaudible behind the shroud of static that cracked through Snake's earpiece. Behind him, he could hear the enemy following though the jungle. The echoes of their twitchy, twisted movements that sounded like the crack of bones bounced around the mist. Snake was sure he had become lost, but knew that stopping to check his surroundings would lead to his death. He had to first escape the Skulls…

The canopy darkened overhead as the last light of day faded away, coloring the mist a hazy blue that shimmered like a ghostly specter wafting through trees. Snake slowed his pace as the silence of night began to set in. The twisted movements of the Skull's were no longer audible to him.

Scanning the area around him, Snake searched for any source of movement between the nut-brown trees that towered like high-rises overhead, disappearing behind a ceiling of lush greenery. The only thing that moved was the mist as it hovered in the air, settling close to the ground. The stillness was uncomfortable, but the silence was even worse. The jungle was a place of life and activity, even at night. To be without it… almost felt alien.

Snake's ears burned with anticipation; listening intently for even the slightest of noises. He knew the Skulls would never give up this easily… not when they had him on the run. The crack of a twig caught his attention, turning quickly to face the direction of the disturbance. If there had been something behind him, it was now gone… vanishing into the bush like a shadow.

Sweat trickled slowly down Snake's brow, burning his eye as he peered into the darkness. Ghostly figures danced around within his peripherals like blurry figures hidden behind the hazy blue mist, but they disappeared whenever he looked in their direction. He was being watched… but by what, and why?

Snake could feel the weight of the satchel he carried growing heavy. Heavier than it should have been. Perhaps he was simply more aware of it, his senses on alert; or perhaps it was the parasite calling for them. With him, Snake carried a piece of flesh, cut from one of the Skull's; but a piece of flesh it truly was not. He carried a slice of the 'One that Covers', the parasite that covered the Skull's epidermis… and like all living things, it wished to return home.

"Snake…"

Snake turned quickly, startled by the voice that come from behind. There was nothing to set his eye upon except for the blue mist that hovered above the ground. Raising his assault rifle slowly up to his chest, Snake scanned the surrounding forest. He could feel the eyes on him… they came from the trees, the bushes, and the fog. He was the center of attention.

"Snake…"

The voice came from behind again.

Turning quickly, Snake faced the figure in the mist. His features were undefined, hidden by the blue haze that silhouetted his outline; appearing as if the he was a shadow, standing alone without a source.

"This life your living…" Snake recognized the voice, or rather, didn't; but it belonged to the phantom that had appeared to him in the past. "It wasn't meant to bring you happiness…"

"What are you. Show yourself!" Snake barked his command, raising his rifle towards the shadowed figure.

"You must let her die… or you shall bring ruin to us all."

"Show yourself!"

The figure was gone, vanishing into the mist on the winds of a cool breeze. Snake stepped forward, his rifle pressed against his shoulder as he peered into the darkness. He couldn't shake the feeling…

The Skull leaped from the darkness like a lion pouncing on its prey, a blade high above his head that sliced through the blue mist as if it were butter. Snake saw him in the corner of his eye just quick enough to react before he could be run through by the Skull's blade. Turning sharply in his attackers direction, he pulled the trigger with the snap of his finger, spraying a stream of bullets into the air.

Snake's rounds caught the Skull while he was still in the air, sending him to the ground with a snarled growl. Writhing in the dirt, the monster quickly returned to his feet, but by time it had done so… Snake had already disappeared into the jungle.

(-)

Mother Base
Seychelles Waters
2230 Hours

Code Talker had fallen asleep at his desk - as was common in times of tedious work - atop a collection of books and notes when Snake returned to him. Snake, of course, paid little attention to the old man's slumber as he tossed the satchel he carried on the table with a loud thud. Shocked from the sudden disturbance, the old man quickly shot up straight in his chair; disapproval visible even behind his glossy white eyes.

"Is this your attempt… to make sure I'm not dead… or were you trying to kill me… with a heart attack?"

A scowl crossed Snake's lips, unamused by the old man's sense of humor.

"I have brought you what you requested…" Snake pointed a ridged finger towards the satchel on the table but never removing his eye from the old man. "Now synthesize me a cure."

Resting back in his chair, Code Talker closed his eye's as he exhaled calmly.

"I am tired… and this old man needs… rest. The girl's condition… will be no different tomorrow… I shall start then."

Snake took in a sharp breath as if he was about to protest, but accepted the old man's decision. Regardless of his calmed exhale, however, he still stormed out of the room in frustration.

The moon was high over Mother Base, its light unhindered by a cloudless night. Snake couldn't help but stare at it as he walked across the connecting bridge between platforms, absorbing its peaceful glow. It wasn't often he was granted a simple moment to enjoy the calm sounds of night, or the crisp smell of the salty sea. Of course he had moments of peace in the past, but they were always burdened by the thought of impending danger or the stress of Mother Base's unrelenting politics. To walk the bridges, alone and at night, was… relieving.

Snake stepped into Quiet's room silently, more-so out of respect than concern that he might make to much noise. He knew better than to believe that any loud sounds would wake her.

At night, the room was colored softly with the blue hue of the moon's light that shined brightly outside the open window. Snake noted how beautiful she look in such lighting, though the scars and sores across her body became more defined as he stepped closer.

Pulling up a chair, Snake sat at the side of her bed; taking her hand in his own. Her skin was soft to the touch, despite its brittle texture. With his eye, he followed the curves of her body, studying the features of her figure. He couldn't help but admit that she was very pleasant to look at, disregarding the sore spots that plagued her for the time.

As the night dragged on, Snake's thoughts wondered between subjects, his mind growing tired and the burdens of the outside fading away. When he would close his eye, images of Eva and Paz would fade in and out of his consciousness. They were all but memories of the past… blurry memories… incomplete….

Why?

Mother Base
Seychelles Waters

5 Days Later

Snake had learned the art of patience out in the field. As a hunter, the skill was one of his greatest advantages, but it could also be a great weakness. Some opportunities arrive swiftly, with no hope of second chances.

A master of the art, Snake knew the hourglass of time was quickly draining as he waited for Code Talker's cure; finding the delicate balance between patience and impatience increasingly difficult as the days rolled by… each day seeing a rapid depression in Quiets condition. She had "woken" on several occasions, though each time consisted of a violent seizure that required several men to hold her steady until the attack passed. They soon became so frequent that Snake found it difficult to leave her bedside. But it was not just the days…

Snake spent his nights in the medical room, even if it meant sacrificing a soft bed and a restful sleep. He felt comfortable watching over Quiet… knowing he was there to keep her safe. Most nights, everything remained calm and silent, with the slow beat of the waves acting as the only symbol of life outside. With each passing night, Snake lowered his guard, growing content with the endless silence. On the sixth night, the rumble of storm clouds could be heard in the distance, though Snake thought little of it… closing his eye as he rested back in his chair.

Snake woke suddenly, his heart racing with the sharp crack of thunder and the rattle of the metal walls around him. Listening to the chorus outside, he could hear the crash of the waves against the platform and the downpour of rain that sounded like a roar of static noise. It's a bad storm. Inspecting his watch, he sighed at the thought of having only gotten several hours of sleep before the storm rolled overhead. Perhaps, had he been in his own bed, he would not have been as easily startled. Of course, that was only a passing thought. Snake wanted to be here, watching over Quiet… though he could not see her, his eye having not adjusted to the darkness. The beat of his heart settled to a comfortable pace as he thought of her…

A streak of lightning broke through the clouds, lighting up the night sky like a flare of white phosphorous. The light poured through the window, brightening the room with a flash that only lasted a second. But a second was all Snake needed to recognize the twisted, writhing movements of the girl in her bed…

Snake felt the beat of his heart jump as he launched himself from his seated position, the room returning to darkness in the same motion. He moved as quickly as he could, though the lack of visibility caused him to stumble around in the darkness before finding the edge of Quiet's bed. The room filled with light as another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. In that moment, Snake took in everything he could… Her milky white eyes that had rolled up into her head, the bubbly foam that seeped through the edges of her mouth, the sores across her body that stained the sheets red. She vanished from his sight as the light disappeared, but he could still sense her… hear the vibrations of the bed as she writhed around.

"Medic!" Snake cried out instinctively, his voice drowned out by the crack of thunder. There was no one around to hear anyway…

Grabbing Quiet's arms, Snake pressed his weight against the girl, intent on preventing her from hurting herself. Behind the downpour of the rain, he could hear what sounded like muffled cries… cries of pain. With each flare of light in the night sky, he could see the pain; he was face to face with it, holding it in his arms. Closing his eye, Snake took solace in the ignorance of darkness; riding out the storm with the hope that it would soon pass.

The call of the seagulls woke Snake when dawn had broken. Opening his eye for the first time since the previous evening, he took in the red and orange colors of the room… first mornings light. The storm had all but been forgotten as the ocean gently batted against the platform outside.

Raising his head up, Snake noticed he had fallen asleep atop Quiets stomach. He could feel the dried blood stained across his cheek. His body ached and his joints creaked as he rose to his feet.

"You can have my wheelchair,… if you like."

Snake turned, recognizing Code Talker's voice instantly.

"Just a bad nights sleep is all, I'm not that old yet." Snake smiled softly as he spoke, finding what little humor he could in the situation. The old man did not laugh however, looking towards Quiet. "She doesn't have much time." The humor that had been in Snake's words before was no longer present, replaced with sadness.

"Then it's good… that I come just in time." For once in his life, Snake could have sworn he caught a glimmer of life behind the old man's unseeing eyes.

The procedure was quick and easy. As Code Talker explained it, he had used the sample Snake brought him to synthesize a liquidated compound of the 'One that Covers' that could be mixed with a sample of blood plasma. From there, all that was required was to inject it into Quiet.

Snake tapped his finger against his side in quick recession as he watched the plasma slowly travel through the clear tube toward the needle stuck in Quiets arm.

"You're nervous?" Code Talker commented, looking towards Snake.

"What if it doesn't work…" Snake kept his eye on Quiet.

"It will." Code Talker pointed towards the plasma filled bag. "My mixture… is designed to combine… with her blood. From there, the… 'One that Covers' will travel through her body… become… part of her body. If my theory is correct… the pure, unmodified strain… of the 'One that Covers' will… overpower and destroy… her Vocal Cord parasites."

"And if your theory is wrong?"

"Then… she dies…"

Snake turned his head quickly towards the old man, distress present behind the reflective gloss of his eye.

"But I'm not… wrong." Code Talker responded quickly, as if to calm Snake's nerves.

The two continued to stand in silence until the entirety of the serum had been injected into Quiet's body. Snake breathed heavily as he felt the tension in his muscles begin to relax.

"Now… we wait." Code Talker spoke softly, turning his wheelchair as he did so. Snake watched the old man with a tired eye as he slowly rolled out of the room.

Finding himself alone, Snake sat in his seat next to Quiet's bed. Closing his eye, he drifted out of consciousness.

The creaking sound of rattling metal woke Snake from his sleep, though he was unstartled. His vision was groggy, but clear enough to notice to twitchy movements of the girl next to him. Blinking several times to focus his sight, he watched Quiet's sharp muscle movements that rattled the bed frame gently. They weren't quick, violent movements… but sudden twinges in her joints and muscles.

Noticing a stain of fresh blood soaking into the bed, Snake stood up from his seat; grabbing a damp towel from a water basin nearby.

Standing over the girl, Snake placed his hand over her forehead. She was warm to the touch. Looking at the towel, he turned it over in his prosthesis, exhaling a sigh. For a moment, he believed he could have felt the dampness of the water against his fingers.

As the hours of night rolled by, the tired soldier simply stood there, watching over the girl. When her wounds would bleed, he cleaned her body with the damp towel. When the towel became blood soaked, he would wash it off in the basin of water. When the basin of water was filled with blood, he tossed the towel aside and used his own shirt.

This was how he spent his nights. During the day, he slept… in a uncomfortable chair… next to her bed…

Blood stained across his arms…

Mother Base
Seychelles Waters
0100 Hours

New Years Day - 1987

Christmas on Mother Base had never been considered to be a big deal. At best, the different ethnic and cultural groups that populated the base would gather independently of one another and host private celebrations. New Years, however, was a much bigger occasion. For many on Mother Base, death is understood as an inevitable reality that could arrive at any time and come for anyone. To survive another year is considered a success worth celebration. On the first day, of every new year, Diamond Dogs held a feast for everyone that was part of the organization, including the refugees. Anyone out in the field on the first would return home, and anyone out in the field unable to do so would stand down for the day. For Kaz, New Years Day was considered to be the revival of 'Peace Day', and he made sure everyone knew it and recognized it. Perhaps it was his memory of Paz that fueled this belief, or perhaps it was an actual desire to see the end of war. Regardless, one thing remained consistent… one day, every year, Diamond Dogs would abstain from bloodshed.

The sound of fireworks popped in the sky like loud gunshots. Ocelot watched them as colors of blue, red, and green burned intensely in the night for seconds before dissolving. Around him, he could hear the chatter of Diamond Dog soldiers and staff in between the cracks. The platform was busier than usual, mainly because of the occasion. People moved about and around him, many brandishing a smile or raising a hand as they passed by. Ocelot, however, paid little attention to them. He preferred to continue watching the fireworks.

"Have you seen the Boss?" Ocelot recognized Miller's voice behind him, though the tap of his cane had already given him away. "He's been missing all evening."

Ocelot took his attention off of the sky as a particularly bright firework illuminated the ground around him, turning towards Kaz.

"He remains where he as been all week… and the week before that, come to think of it."

Ocelot only saw the scowl that crossed Kaz's face for a second before the illuminated flare in the sky disappeared, returning the two men to the shadows.

"This… this has got to end." Kaz's voice came from beneath his breath, like harsh whisper. Turning away from Ocelot, he moved as fast as his limp would carry him.

"Where do you think you're going!" Ocelot called out, surprised by his companions sudden departure.

"To finish what I should have done long ago."

A firework burst in the sky, as red as an ember, and as loud as a cannon. Ocelot had not heard Kaz's final words…

The medical platform had a habit of becoming seemingly abandoned during the New Year celebration. Staff would leave to enjoy their time and patients would be left to themselves until their return. The platform, itself, was also a good distance away from where the celebration was being held; isolating it from the disturbance of the fireworks and other commotion. Though their pops could faintly be heard in the distance, Snake remained undisturbed.

Resting back in his chair, the tired soldier looked over the blood-stained towel in his hand before dropping it to the floor with squishy splat. Turning his gaze towards Quiet, Snake knew he had no more energy, a heavy yawn escaping his lungs. Closing his eye, he slipped into a deep sleep quickly.

The fireworks continued to pop outside…

The night carried on… until all was silent…

The room remained still…

Snake remained undisturbed when the door hissed open. He did not wake as the shadowy figured stepped in and crossed the room slowly. He did not recognize the light taps that echoed off the walls, accompanying the figures movement. He did not sense the man standing in front of him, hovering over Quiet. He did not notice the weapon that glistened under the rays of moonlight, pointing directly towards the girl. He did not hear…

The weapons hammer clicked as the figure cocked it slowly.

Snake's eye snapped open. In a heartbeat, he was on top of the shadowy figure, knocking the weapon fiercely from his hand as he hooked his fist violently into the man's skull. The figure was unable to defend himself, stumbling backward from the attack before collapsing to the ground. Snake hovered over him, preparing to strike again, before realizing the man had stumbled into a ray of the moons light.

"K… Kaz?"

Snake stepped back in surprise, struggling to find the chair he had been sitting in. His head throbbed with a dull pain, thoughts racing through his mind as he collapsed into the chair. He didn't want to believe… his friend… but the weapon on the floor was all the proof he needed.

"W… why?" Snake didn't know what more to say, vocalizing the first word coherently available to him.

Kaz had been laid out on the floor, grunting as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. He made no attempt to reach for his cane, settling with his back against the wall as he caught his breath. As he moved, he avoided Snake's glaring gaze, keeping his eyes to the ground.

Snake, however, needed not to look him in the eyes to recognize the anger that burned behind them.

"Look at me!" As the pounding in Snake's mind reduced, he turned towards anger. "You will tell me!… why?"

Kaz remained silent. The room remained silent. The only sound to break the noiseless air was the low hum of the two men's breathing. They were both uneven, out of sink… uncomfortable.

Snake motioned to speak again, but his friend broke the silence…

"Boss… you know I've got your back… I've always supported you… faithfully!" Kaz snapped his head upwards as he spoke the final word, meeting Snake's eye. "But… you've grown unfocused… detached from… everything we've built here!" The tone of his words grew harsher as he continued, raising his voice every other interval. "All because of HER, Boss."

Snake narrowed his eye as he and his friend continued to stare each other down. He didn't notice his prosthetic hand clinched into a fist.

"She's the ENEMY!" Kaz continued. "Always has been. Why can't you see that?! We got lucky when she decided to leave… and here you are bringing her BACK! Bringing… the parasite back."

"Code Talker… he found a cure." Snake's response came from a calmed voice, hopeful that they might find common ground.

"It's been months, Snake!" Kaz snapped. "You're holding onto a fools hope! You've given yourself over to it… you've lost the person you used to be!"

Kaz continued to speak, but Snake did not hear his words. His mind lingered on his last accusation. You've lost the person you used to be… why was there something so haunting about those words. His thoughts turned to the phantom that had appeared before him on several occasions, though he could find not a connection or significance. Something about those words…

"Hey! Are you even listening to me!?"

Kaz's angered words brought Snake back from his thoughts. Having lost track of the conversation, he could only look dazedly towards his friend. Kaz glared condescendingly in return, realizing he had lost Snake.

Shaking his head in disappointment, Kaz returned to his feet slowly, awkwardly struggling with his balance as he did so. When he had done so, he took a quick glance towards Quiet before spitting on the floor.

"As I said… bringing her here will be our ruin." Kaz turned his back to Snake, limping towards the doorway. "But I guess you don't care about that anymore, friend."

Just like the venom in his words, the door hissed sharply as Kaz left the room. Snake did not move from his seat, keeping his eye on the door… not removing it until the break of dawn.

With great relief, Snake watched as Quiet's condition improved with each passing day. Not to say she had completely healed, but he was resting easier knowing that Code Talker's treatment had actually worked. The first noticeable sign that gave it away was the pigment of her skin; the pastiness of it faded away as life began to breath natural color back into her skin tone. The sores across her body had also healed to some degree… they were still present, but no longer bled.

Standing over her, Snake rested the palm of his hand against her forehead. She was warm… but not burning up. Taking this as a good sign, he reached for a small pair of stitching scissors. Handling them gently, Snake lowered them close to Quiet's mouth, pushing one edge of the blade between her lips. Holding his breath to steady his hand, Snake slowly pressed the blades together, catching the stitches on her mouth in-between. With little effort, the thin strand snapped… one by one. Snake continued until he had cut all of the bindings that held her lips together.

Smiling, Snake watched as Quiet's mouth slowly parted, the skin of her lightly pinked lips suctioning together until release. It had to have been his imagination, but he could have sworn he heard a moan escape her lips in that last moment.

Snake's bones cracked as he lowered himself into his chair, stretching himself to pop his tense muscles. When he was relaxed, he closed his eye; his breath lengthening as exhaustion set in.

Sleep overcame him quickly, Snake having grown accustomed to the uncomfortable chair.

Snake awoke to the commotion of people moving about and talking amongst each other. Grunting, he blinked to clear the blurriness in his eye as group of doctors and nurses came into focus. Their shocked and bewildered expressions were admittedly worrisome to Snake, who was not expecting such a reception… though they took little interest in him. Instead, they had amassed around Quiet's bed, something having grabbed their attention.

Standing up, Snake raised his hand in front of his face; a stream of light blinding him as it filled the room through the window. His vision blurry, Snake pushed his way through the crowd, approaching Quiet's bed. As the light spots in his eye bubbled away, he was greeted with a pair of beautiful eyes… green as the leaves of a pine forest… sparkling like the reflection of the sun against the clear ocean.

A smile cracked across Snake's lips…

Mother Base
Seychelles Waters
1100 Hours

Quiet watched Code Talker curiously as he poked and prodded her with needles and other medical instruments, her eyes following his movements with impressive precision. Snake stood close by, watching just as curiously, as the old man nodded his head and spoke a string of words so silently that he must have been speaking to himself. Snake opened his mouth to ask what had him so interested, but the old man spoke first, turning towards Snake.

"Her blood… it is good."

"And the Vocal Cord Parasite?" Snake inquired in response.

"No longer present. The stronger strain of… the 'One that Covers'… destroyed it."

Quiet's eyes glowed with excitement. Looking towards her, Snake watched as a smile began to cross her cracked lips… but it was quickly replaced with a grimaced expression as she winced in pain. Recognizing the sudden change in attitude, Snake moved quickly to her side, grabbing her arm and resting his hand behind her back as he lowered her to the bed.

"You mustn't get too excited child,… your body… it has not yet fully healed." Code Talker revealed a syringe as he spoke, poking it into Quiets arm. "Here… this will help… with the pain."

Quiet nodded in thanks before looking towards Snake. In a moment that seemed to last forever, the two locked eyes… each inspecting one another… studying their features… memorizing their faces. Snake tore his eye from her, forcing himself to look away before he let his emotions get the better of him… taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

When he looked back towards her, Quiet had tears swelling in her eyes… and a weak smile across her face. Maybe it was sadness, or happiness… though Snake suspected a little bit of both. Raising his hand to her cheek, he motioned to wipe the tears from her eyes with his thumb… but at the touch of his cold prosthesis, Quiet jerked her head back. Hitching his breath at the sudden movement, Snake stared at his hand with a frown… he didn't blame her… but this was the first time he had ever looked at his missing limb in disgust.

Quiet noticed is expression instantly, raising her hands shakily to grab his own, pulling his prosthetic fingers to cup her cheek. Though he could not feel the touch of her skin, Snake smiled at the gesture. Closing her eyes, Quiet cooed softly as she drifted to sleep, her grip on Snake's hand loosening.

"Welcome home…" Snake whispered as he slipped his hand out of her own, making his way for the door.

"S… Sna… ke…"

Snake stopped dead in his tracks, his heart beating quickly. That sweet, accented voice... he had only heard it once before. Turning, his eye met Quiet's. Though she produced no sound, he knew what she was mouthing to him…

Thank you…

(-)

(-)

(-)

Later That Day

The high pitched squeal of the sirens blared across Mother Base, echoing off the blue ocean and the helicopters that circled in the sky. Snake stood on the edge of the Command platform, staring across the ocean at the Refugee platform in the distance, clenching his fist in frustration.

"Boss!"

Snake turned to find Kaz standing next to him, having not heard his approach amongst all the commotion.

"You know… sometimes being right fucking sucks… but I fucking told you this would happen!"

Snake did not flinch at Kaz's outburst, keeping his eye on the Refugee platform.

"I fucking told you, if you bring her here… now we have an outbreak on the Refugee platform! The English fucking strain!"

"Kaz!" Snake snapped his neck, turning his head towards his friend.

"Don't give me your moralistic shit! This is your fucking fault!"

"Kaz!" Snake snapped, louder this time, attempting to grab his friends attention.

"You have destroyed…!"

His knuckles popping from the pressure, Snake turned quickly to face his friend, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket. Shocked from the sudden attack, Kaz dropped his cane as he closed his mouth.

"Burn it down…" Snake hissed.

"W… what?" Despite the anger that fueled him moments before, Kaz looked genially confused.

"Burn it… down. Burn it all down! Before it spreads!"

"The whole platform? The women and children… families? Th… there are people not yet infected still…"

"Miller! Burn it down! That's an order!"