Zone 10
Chapter 14
Amy's POV, VEX control, Earth, 1:20pm.
Coming out from the portal leading into Zone 10 was just like a remember it. My head spun and my mind went still for a few seconds till I was approached by a helping hand.
"Miss Rose?!"
Upon getting my head clear, I looked back up to find Gordon helping me up from the floor with a tug of my arm.
"Gordon!" I said relieved to see another living soul.
Giving him a hug, Gordon quickly asked.
"Are you okay?"
Shaking my head, I replied.
"I'm fine, but we need to keep the quarantine up." I stated as he immediately questioned.
"Wait. Where are the others? The soldiers?" He asked in confusion as I gave him a look he could read.
Gordon's eyes went silent in loss, as I quickly replied.
"There's still hope. The lieutenant is still looking."
In even more loss Gordon questioned.
"It's still alive?"
Nodding my head, I quickly added.
"It's worse then we thought."
"What is it!?" Asked a man from along the side of the room as I began to look around.
Families and workers, some I knew, all huddled together in fear as they all stared at me and my blood stained lab coat.
I slowly looked around at each and everyone of their scared faces, and slowly sadness hit my heart. I knew deep down this was all my fault. I guess I just wasn't ready for this yet.
"Is it still alive!?" Wondered a fellow family man as he stood next to his kids.
Taking a breath as Gordon stared into my eyes for the answers, I gently replied.
"Yes." Mumbled conversations now filled the room. Some of terror. Some of hope. Mothers and fathers all tried to keep calm, but in realty I don't blame them. Kids shouldn't be brought up in this danger. My danger.
"Where are the soldiers?" Wondered Gordon as he saw my disposition.
Gordon got close as he soon realized I didn't want to say the answer out loud.
Catching my stance, I replied.
"Dead. It killed them. The lieutenant and Kid are still inside the facility looking for it."
"Shouldn't we call for help?" Questioned Gordon as some people got near to try and listen in.
Slowly shaking my head, I replied.
"The lieutenant wants everyone to stay put till he come back."
"If it was able to kill the other soldiers Amy it can...!" I cut him off with a raise of my voice.
"It won't!"
Gordon went silent as I said.
"He's coming back. Once he comes through that portal we can all leave. Until then is there anywhere we can move these kids? They shouldn't be here." I stated as Gordon nodded.
"I can move the families to the cafeteria for now."
Giving him an agreed nod, I replied.
"You get them going and I'll go clean up a little."
Giving me a quick nod, he quickly came back to ask.
"Are you okay?"
Nodding my head while looking towards the floor, I replied.
"I'm fine. Just shaken up is all."
Taking hold of my shoulder Gordon replied in a soft tone.
"I would be too, but hey?"
Calmly looking up into his eyes he said.
"Your alive. That's what matters now. Go wash up and check in with me when your done."
Nodding my head, I quickly made my way past the large group of families drawing heads as I made it to the exit.
All of them saw the blood. Nothing but the blood. Blood I splashed.
Shadow's POV, Sector A, Zone 10, 1:23pm.
Blood trailed at my feet from the pool left behind me in the atrium. Nothing but blood was among me. My whole uniform was drench in it from this nightmare. Blood on my vest. Blood on my pants. Blood on my face. Blood on my hands.
Nothing but the blood.
It was so thick I thought it was seeping under my skin, but that wouldn't be right would it? Cause most of it is from my brothers. All of them.
Cruz's rifle remained in my hands as I kept it leveled with my eyes.
The iron sights I used stared down the hall, as I was ready for just about anything.
I knew that fucker took Kid down here somewhere. I just have to find out where.
Calmly pressing by more labs then I ever wanted to see in my life, I maintained myself in a solid form hoping the next corner would lead into Kid. I was hoping though that it didn't drag him back into the sewers. If that was the case however, I had a feeling where he would be.
As I neared the end of the hall I noticed an open door to my left further down the corridor.
Slowly pressing forward, I aimed for the frame and prepared myself for the breach.
In a way I was waiting for Cruz to tap my shoulder, but soon enough I remembered.
I shut my eyes for not even a second to come back with despair covering my body.
This wasn't suppose to happen. None of this was.
I had to calm down. I knew I wasn't all that was left in the means of hope. If Kid was alive I had to find him. He's all I got left now.
Quickly turning into the lab, I checked each corner to find it clear.
Anger filled my heart, and in rage I brought my rifle down to slam my fist into the wall next to me.
The sound of my anger filled the room, and as I managed to control myself once more, I noticed something laying along the floor behind a small lab cart no more then ten feet away.
Quickly I approached to widen my eyes in a spark of hope and fear.
Kid's MP5. It was left to itself among the floor with the sling snapped in two.
Gently taking it into my hands, I pushed Cruz's rifle aside till it was holding steady along my back and quickly got up with Kid's weapon in my hands.
Roughly I pulled off the remaining strap and tossed it to the floor, freeing the gun from it.
Slowly I checked the clip to see it was full.
Upon putting it back in the gun, I looked around for any place he could have gone.
The lab was a dead end. I don't see how he could have...?
In the realization of what I know knew, I looked up to see part of the ceiling missing. A tile was forced off it's setting and above it was a vent.
My mind told me not to follow. I already went through this once and I had no intention of doing it again so soon. Not until now anyway.
I had no choice. Kid was relying on me to find him.
Quickly pulling over the lab cart that remained at my side, I carefully got on top to reach for the vent with both hands.
Kid's gun made this impossible.
Gently tossing the weapon up into the vent, I jumped the rest of the way up after it.
Soon my body managed to climb in, and as I entered I found real fast Kid must have been injured.
Blood trailed along the vent in a thin line of red. He must have cut his arm or something when it forced him in here.
As my hands and knees pushed through the ice cold vent; my sanity for this planet went with it once again. I swear I was far past my point of staying awake.
I bet it was only a matter of time till it was my turn to sleep.
Amy's POV, Bathroom, Earth, 1:30pm.
Splashing water along my face, I watched as some dry blood came off in thin pieces.
Gently patting my head dry with a nearby towel, I looked back up into the mirror to see me staring at myself.
I knew guilt was one thing on my mind, but the other was the worry of Shadow getting killed.
If he died by Project's hands it would be all my fault.
I don't know if I can live with that. All I can say is that I will have to try if he doesn't return soon.
Placing the towel down along the sink, I looked to my side to see my lab coat resting on the toilet seat.
Red stains impaled its texture as I neared to take it back into my hands.
I was not going to wear this again. I wasn't ready.
Quickly reaching under for the small syringe and jar, I rested them down along the sink counter and went back to take hold of my badge that was holding still on the other side.
Putting the metal badge under my view, I lowered my head to the sink and let out a rough breath of hot air that was filling my lungs from the pressure of all I had accomplished.
Letting the badge rest alongside the infection and cure, I took my care to try and recollect my position.
I signed up for this. No one else but me was able to do what I did. I'm doing what is right. It's for the best of the government. I just need to hope Shadow returns soon so I can leave this hell-hole.
"Knock! Knock!"
My eyes immediately shot open and as fast as I could I placed the infection and cure back under my lab coat.
"One second!" I urged whoever was outside the door as I took hold of my badge.
Quickly placing it in my back pocket, I turned for the door and took hold of the nob to swing it open.
"Hey."
It was Gordon again. He looked like shit.
"Oh, it's you. What's wrong?" I wondered as he looked at me with a straight face to reply.
"Nothing. I was just checking in on you. How are you doing?" He wondered as I moved some of my quills out of my face.
"I'm okay. Just a little shaken up is all." I replied as I turned to head back to the sink.
"I would be too." Stated Gordon as he entered in behind me leaving the door open.
Slowly I began to fix my quills leaving him in the center of the room in confusion.
As I moved some of my quills aside, I was looking back in the mirror at him. My eyes widened as he picked up my lab coat from the toilet.
Calmly he began to look around the blood left along it's white surface.
"What happened in there?" He asked in concern as I looked back to reply.
"You don't want to know."
"But I do." He replied with a nod as he neared me, gently placing my coat back on top of the infection he had no idea I was in possession of.
I remained silent as he looked into my eyes.
"Those soldiers Amy were no treat. Something killed them. Something in Dr. Hemer's lab. What was it?" He asked in seriousness as I looked to my coat.
"Did you make it?" He asked in complete concern as I grew weary of the subject.
"Gordon, I had nothing to do with it."
"Then why were you brought in?" He questioned as I looked back at him in a bit of an attitude.
"I was brought in as an assistant."
"An assistant?" Questioned Gordon as I nodded quickly.
"Yes. I correlated data Gordon. All I did in the sector for the past year was help Hemer and the others with organization of whatever projects they were working on at the time. I had no clue it was going to get out."
Gordon fell silent as I added.
"I wasn't even inside the sector when it happened. How can you blame me for this?" I wondered as he shook his head quickly in denial.
"I'm not blaming you. I'm just trying to get things straight." He stated as I now ignored him by turning around towards the sink once again.
Gordon sensed my anger and gently he took hold of my arm from behind to say.
"I'm sorry. I know you had nothing to do with what's going on in there."
Letting my anger retreat I took ease to look over into his brown eyes.
"I'm just trying to understand what's going on."
I felt the understanding in his voice and slowly I nodded my head to reply.
"All I know is the power went down in sector D."
Gordon looked focused now as I continued.
"I will admit Gordon, I knew Dr. Hemer was working on this sort of project from the first moment I got transferred here, but I'm not lying to you when I say I had nothing to do with its creation. The most you can pin on me is for keeping it's paperwork in check for the others."
"So what happened?" Asked Gordon next in an intrigued voice as I let out a yawn.
He watched as I recovered and carefully I replied to his question.
"I don't know for sure, but I can probably guess with all I saw over there."
Gordon fell silent as I started.
"When the soldiers came to contain it, I knew something wasn't right. When I used the security computer at the access door to begin trying to bypass the electrical grid lock-down, I saw the power was only being kept down through hydroponics' grid."
Gordon now was calm as I continued.
"I didn't bring it up to anyone because I thought it was just a forced shutdown when the quarantine was activated. Soon however it became clear to me that the power grid had been shut off manually through the junction box in hydroponics itself."
"So what does that mean?" Questioned Gordon as I calmly replied.
"Someone had shut down the power by accessing the box in hydroponics and turning off the circuit breakers manually."
Gordon looked confused then asked.
"So it was an inside job?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"Someone must have sneaked in and done it while the others were working."
"Could it have been one of the doctors?" Wondered Gordon as I nodded.
"It's a possibility. Yet I wouldn't understand why they would do that. I mean who would be dumb enough to let something like that free?"
Gordon went silent once again but in deep thought as I added.
"And if it was one of them they didn't get too far."
Gordon's eyes widened and slowly he asked.
"Are they all dead?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"The soldiers found them."
"Fuck." Whispered Gordon to himself as I nodded slowly.
"It doesn't make any sense." He stated as I quickly replied.
"None of this does."
After a few silent seconds of deep thoughts Gordon looked at me to ask.
"Do you have any way of seeing if the lieutenant is still alive over there?"
Sadness once again hit me as I shook my head in disapproval.
Gordon fell short on the subject and as I began to look away he said.
"I'm sure he's coming back."
I gave him no sign that I cared and as I looked away from him I asked.
"And what if he doesn't?"
Gordon seemed protruded by the question and replied.
"I don't know. We may have to shut down the portal till help can arrive."
"And when would that be?" I questioned as he thought.
"If he doesn't come back, then we'll be forced to shut down the quarantine and hail for it. That could be a matter of minutes to a matter of hours I would suspect. I mean, I would think whoever sent those soldiers here would be wondering by now why they haven't called in."
"I think they couldn't." I stated as he replied.
"What?"
Looking back at him I replied.
"The comms they had were short range. There is no way they could have reached earth for reinforcements."
"They could have just came back through the portal and called it in." Stated Gordon as I shook my head.
"Have you tried to call for help since this started Gordon?"
Giving me a confused looked he replied.
"No."
Nodding I continued.
"The quarantine blocks out all communications till it's lifted. No one can contact the surface." I stated as he went silent in confusion.
After a few awkward seconds of silence, I took my opportunity to say.
"No one's coming for us. Not till the quarantine is lifted."
Quickly looking back into my eyes he asked.
"How long do you want give the lieutenant?"
In deep thought, I replied with a lock to my watch.
"Let's wait an hour. He should be back here by then." I stated as he calmly nodded and replied.
"Okay...an hour. I'm going to try and work something out at control. Come see me when you're done okay?" He wondered as I turned back to the sink.
"Okay."
Watching from the mirror as he turned to leave, I saw the look on his face. It looked confused but yet suspicious. Hmmmm.
Shadow's POV, Ventilation, Zone 10, 1:38pm.
I knew my gas was coming to an end. I could feel it in my veins. My blood ran cold from the lack of oxygen in my system and I felt my lack of sleep begin to fill around my eyes. They were so heavy, I swear I was about to pass out at any second if it wasn't for the adrenaline keeping me going.
My knees were hurting. The bases of them were both beginning to bleed from under my pants. This metal was torture, but I'm sure it was worse for Kid. His blood was thinning as I continued to follow but mine was leaving a new one behind.
"Crack!"
Instantly I stopped to feel the plate under me crack. My mind went blank and I only knew what I was taught to do back in boot camp. Take it slow.
Gently bringing my hands and knees forward, I began to move as slow as possible to avoid collapse.
"Crack! Erhkk!"
Again I forced myself to stop.
"Shit." I said to myself as I saw the blood continue on down in front of me.
"I had to keep going. Faulty vent or not."
Gently bringing up my knees once again, I brought them forward and reached out with my right hand to the next section of the vents in front of me no more than a few inches.
"CRACK!"
Just as my hand reached the vent gave way and immediately my eyes widened as I lost my grip and fell down through the floor onto the solid white tile below.
My whole body cracked the ground under me and I felt Cruz's rifle had been pushed into my spine.
"Ahhhh!" I groaned as I slowly managed to move my hands back to send it up and onto the floor next to me.
The pain from the gun left my body but not after taking my physical ability to move with it.
My legs didn't want to move and I wasn't about to push myself any further knowing I was in this much pain.
As I laid there I looked to my left to find myself in another fucking lab.
Gently shutting my eyes, I took my time to recover from the fall itself.
After a solid two minutes of me remaining still and down, I took my care to open my eyes once again. This time with something waiting for me.
"Shadow?"
Upon getting my blurry vision to subside, I saw Kid come from my right.
"Kid...! Ughhhh!" I groaned in pain as I shut my eyes tight to hear him urged.
"Stay down. Shit. You don't look good." He stated as I opened my eyes to see him getting down on his knees next to my chest.
Letting out a chuckle I replied.
"Neither do you. Hehe."
Blood was covering his face and part of his vest and shirt was missing. They looked like they had been torn apart.
"How did you get away from...?" Gently I felt his hand take hold of my shoulder.
"Don't worry about that. We need to get you back to the VEX."
Slowly I nodded while shutting my eyes.
"I can't feel my legs Kid. I can't feel my fucking legs." I stated as I felt him take hold of my chest with his other hand.
"Don't worry about that Shadow. You're safe now. I got you." He stated as I heard his voice go silent.
My head went vacuous as his grip tightened on me.
After a few seconds of silence, I began to feel as if I was about to drift away, but as I neared that state, I panicked as I heard.
"Raughhhh. Arghhhhh."
Immediately my eyes opened to be caught in such a shock I swear I nearly killed by that alone.
Kid was gone and in nothing but the void of death itself I stared into the blank white eyes of what use to be Foley.
Blood dripped out along his bottom lip and multiple spots around his neck had been torn off. Beyond that was piles of his own muscles that hung by strings around his chest. Everything but his face had been taken from him. Huge holes in his arms showed the feast that had been taken on him. Even his legs were gone. Some places I saw bone.
His cold hands held me down in such a force I swear it was like a boulder had been set on top of me.
"Foley!" I shouted as I attempted to grab hold of his arms.
Immediately he lunged at me with his teeth and I sent my head back into the floor to retreat from his range.
"Aghhhhh!" He screamed as he pushed in.
By now my left hand held his chest and quickly tearing my right hand off his eaten arm, I sent it under his chin to grip him by the throat.
His skin was damp. He must have somehow gotten out of the flood.
"Arghhhh! Eckkkk!"
His teeth slammed together in such power I knew if he made contact with me it would tear right through my skin in a matter of seconds.
My body was in full gear and as fast as I could I attempted to reach out to my left to Cruz's rifle that was only feet away.
My fingers couldn't reach the stock.
"Rughhhh! Aughhhhh!"
Blood splashed my face from under Foley's gaze as he continued to scream for me in hunger.
My eyes shot back to the rifle as I again attempted to reach for it.
My fingers were so close but I wasn't able to get a grip.
In all my strength I attempted to push Foley away, but he held there in so much power of his own it felt like a brick wall I was trying to move.
His face went tight as I continued to push.
I could feel him. He was trying to fight back and it was overwhelming.
My hand that held him away began to bend back. I could feel it cracking from under his weight.
"Aghhhh! Raughhhhh! Eckkkkk!" He grunted in a quick pace as I could feel my hand giving way.
Immediately I looked back to my left to try and reach with all I could towards the rifle.
My arm felt like it was ripping from its socket, but I slowly felt the butt entered my fingers halfway.
It was just enough for me grip and move closer to my palm.
Quickly the gun was pulled an inch closer and I was able to grab it with my hand by the stock.
As fast as I could I turned it to its side to grab the trigger guard.
"RAUGHHHHH!" Screamed Foley as I took hold of the rifle completely with my left hand.
My hand lost its place on his chest and in reaction he lunged.
As fast as I could I brought the rifle to the side hitting him just barely in the side of the head.
Foley's body dropped to the side a few feet away as I immediately manage to roll to my left.
"Ahhhhhh." He groaned as I got up to aim at him.
I found myself unable to shoot, and I continued to stare on in fear as he got back on his feet to face me.
Blood made its way down from where I had made contact with him and in anger he took a step forward.
"Stop!" I ordered as he stared into my eyes with nothing but the need to feed.
"STOP FOLEY!" I begged as he lost control and rushed me.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Bullets broke the rush and in shock I watched as he stood there with the holes in his vest.
Slowly his gaze went down to them and in confusion he felt his vest.
My eyes stayed wide as he slowly poked his fingers through his vest and into his chest.
"Ahhhhhh." He groaned as I watched him dig around.
In seconds he brought his hand out to stare deep in confusion.
Gently lowering the rifle I watched on as he let his grip falter and drop what he held.
The bullets hit the tiles deep. Letting small drops of blood splash around their impact point.
My mind went blank as he looked back up at me to scream.
"AURGHHHHHHH!"
For some reason the rifle I held remained down as he lunged at me from only three feet away with his teeth.
I don't know what it was, but as he made contact with my body I dropped the gun to fall back into a large table that was awaiting my collapse.
Foley, with all his power sent me down on the top as I took hold of his head.
My right hand locked with his forehead as my left took under his chin.
His anger was stronger than my will to fight back, and in its own form of karma; he pushed down into my neck.
I felt his teeth centimeters away as he smacked his teeth together viciously for the scent of my flesh hitting his nose.
I had no chance at moving and my hands were locked.
Roughly I widened my eyes as I felt Foley take his hands that were around my chest and panicked as he gripped both my wrists sending them back into the table.
With a demonic smile, he stared at me. With full intent of devouring the warm meal under him.
In reaction to my own fear of being eaten alive, I attempted to bring up my legs that dangled over the table I was on.
Foley felt this coming and as fast as he could he lunged at my neck just barely away before my knees came up hitting his chest.
My knees forced his head away and in anger he bit down into my knee guard.
I felt the force at which he was using and widened my eyes as my right pad snapped free; landing in the dark away from us.
Foley now got the smell of the skin resting under the pad and in speed he went to attack.
Immediately I brought my head up past my knees connecting into his forehead.
"Ruaghh!"
In anger, Foley lost his grip on my arms and as fast as I could I went for the rifle that rested on the floor.
As soon as I managed to grab it and turn, I looked back to find him in my face with blood dripping down his face and his teeth once again going for my neck.
In reaction, I moved to the side dropping the gun, and I was forced to watch as Foley came right back around to charge.
Nothing but the need to live now was in me and quickly looking to my right I found a microscope of some sort resting along a metal cart.
In speed, I took hold and brought it forward hitting Foley in the side of the face as he came within inches once again.
He immediately fell into the large lab table I was on and as fast as I could I went for the rifle again taking it back into my arms, but this time to aim back at Foley who I found rushing me once again with everything he had.
"BANG! BANG!"
This time I wasn't able to stop him. Even with the force of the bullets hitting him.
One had drilled his chest and the other had gone in his neck causing a spout of blood to squirt out at me as he took hold of my shoulders.
In force I was pushed back.
"Please Foley!" I begged as he pushed me into a lab cart that immediately rolled away due to our combined weight hitting it.
My back spiked in pain as I kept my eyes locked with his.
"Raughhhh! Aurghhhh!" He hissed at me as my back came to an end.
Slamming directly into another cart that pressed itself along another table, I was forced onto it with such a grip I swear my shoulder blades were bound to crack from his grip.
"Arughhhh!"
Blood spilled onto my vest from the hole in his neck as I saw a screwdriver behind me on the table.
The upper half of my body was bending back over the cart, and in one last desperate attempt to break free I brought up my legs to place them along his stomach.
Foley immediately swung at my head and as fast as I could I pushed myself back onto the table to reach for the driver that was only a few feet away from my grip.
Quickly recovering, Foley ran back at me as I reached for the driver and took hold of both my legs.
Instantly I looked back to see him begin to try and pull me towards him.
In such an attack I sent my boot into his chest and watched as he fell on his ass a few feet from the cart.
To this, I turned back around on the table to hear Foley scream.
"RAUGHHHHH!"
As the sounds of his hunger came into my ears, I panicked and lunged for the screwdriver that flipped up into my palm as I pushed down on the head of it.
Foley feet now thumped along the tiles and as I felt his hands within reach of my neck, I turned bringing the end of the driver through his thick bloody skull.
The sound of his dome cracking from under his cold skin made my heart stop in shock as I stared deep into his still eyes.
With his hands still out for my neck, I watched in shaken fear as his arms dropped to his sides and he fell over to his side, landing in a blood thumped heap among the white tiles.
My heart was beating madly and still in shock I looked over the edge of the table to see his eyes wide open in death with the screwdriver pressed through his forehead.
"Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhhhh!" That was the only sound that remained in the room. My heavy panting over my fallen comrade who just tried to eat me.
Slowly gaining some ground, I looked around the room to see Cruz's rifle resting on the floor where Foley had sent it and Kid's MP5 pressed under a table near where I had fallen from.
Shell shock was kicking in and in nothing but fear for what I had seen and done, I managed to get up to step over Foley who was now gone for good.
Gently heading for the rifle of my dead leader, I swung the sling back over my shoulder and looked back to Foley who looked like someone I had never seen before in my life.
Letting out more pants of fear and shock, I made my way over to the MP5 and got down to slide it out from under the lab table.
Gently setting it in my hands, I took my chance to plummet to the ground alongside the table.
Letting the MP5 rest in my right hand, I used my left to wipe the blood and sweat around my war torn face.
I couldn't think of anything else but the crime I just committed. I never wanted to kill any one of my brothers, but in a matter of hours I was forced to leave three behind. Rosin, which I was unable to save from the water. Foley who I was forced to murder. And Cruz. God I never thought this would happen. So many fucking missions together to just get wiped out by one fucking infection!
Anger brought me to a boil and I sent my hand with the MP5 into the edge of the table generating a huge bang.
Nothing but rage took me by storm and in such; I got back on my feet to approach Foley who remained down with the driver resting deep in his skull.
In force I took its end and pulled it out from his leaking brain and tossed it across the room in anger.
Letting my pants try and relax me to the core, I got down on my knees to reach under Foley's shirt.
My eyes shut to the cold touch of his tags and in nothing but regret and sadness I tore them off, letting the chain dangle out of my hand.
Revenge was all that mattered to me now.
I promise I won't let this go unanswered. I assured Foley as his white eyes stared at me with nothing behind them.
Letting a tear roll past my eyes, I moved my hand up to drift down till his were shut tight.
In anger now and nothing but, I got back up with the tags in hand to stuff them away in my pouch.
As the tags rested with the others, I slammed my hand back into a cart that rested along my side and pushed it onto the floor. Sending everything in and on it to the ground among another one of my brothers.
Amy's POV, VEX control, Earth, 1:50pm.
I found myself back in VEX control.
My blood stained lab coat still wrapped itself around me as I proceeded to Gordon who looked to be on one of the main terminals with some of his lackeys.
The infection, along with what was left of the cure, remained under my coat. It was perfectly hidden. There would be no problem sneaking it out of here so long as nothing else happens to delay me.
As I got behind Gordon he looked back to see me trying to eyeball what it was he was exactly doing.
Calmly looking back to the terminal, Gordon took a gentle breath to say.
"We're trying to see if we can access camera controls over there."
Shaking my head I replied.
"You would need to establish an up-link to the main security command. Then on top of that you would need the access codes."
Nodding his head Gordon replied.
"There's a connection that was made through the sewer system. I'm going to see if I can use that to somehow sub-root the command over to the other sectors."
Now nodding my head I admitted.
"I made that link. You should need an access code to get by the lock-down I had to place."
Gordon looked confusion to question.
"How do you know the access codes?"
Letting a breath pass by I replied.
"When stuff started to get bad over there the soldiers needed camera access and we needed to get into some of the labs that had been lock-down after the evacuation. So I found this." I stated as I pulled up the key-card I had found back in the checkpoint on Zone 10.
Gordon and his friends stared on as I finished.
"It was in the security checkpoint you spent most of your time in Gordon."
Gordon quickly replied.
"I knew I forgot something."
Giving off a slight smile I replied.
"Either way I'm happy you did."
Giving me a small nod Gordon asked.
"Can I see?"
Gently handing him back his card, he took care to swipe it alongside the edge of the terminal.
The four of us who were huddled together around the computer watched as it allowed access to the facility on Zone 10.
"This is going better than I expected." Stated Gordon as I watched the camera selection pop up on the side of the screen in a drop down box.
Gordon ignored it for the time being as he examined the condition of the sectors.
"Did they check all the labs?" Asked Gordon as I nodded.
"Most of them. There is some left in sector B and A."
Gordon took this in consideration as I continued to stare at sector A that rested along the screen showing what labs are open and what labs remained closed.
"Where would the lieutenant be doc? You have any idea?" Wondered Gordon as I shook my head in denial.
Gordon lowered his gaze back onto the screen as I continued to stare at around the labs where my ex could be. He wouldn't go back into the sewers, would he?
Shadow's POV, Surgical lab sector A, Zone 10, 1:53pm.
Sitting alongside Foley's corpse, I had the MP5 resting along my right leg and my both my hands down near the sides of my thighs.
Anger still roamed around my mind as I thought about where to go and what to do next. Kid was ether dead by now or lost somewhere deep in this fucking place. The odds were stacked against me and still that science project is walking around looking for me. Things are just going fucking great.
My whole team is dead. All the men I had the pleasure of knowing for the past two years. Gone. In a blink of an eye. This mission is FUBAR, but for some reason I still feel as though I need to complete it. Maybe it's because it all my brothers were slaughtered by that thing, but maybe it's because I just need some closure. I don't know. But I do know one thing. It's not getting out of here alive. Not when it's taken so much from me.
Slowly I got the power to want to look back down at Foley.
The hole I made stared at me like a feeling of pain. I killed him.
Or did I set him free?
Gently moving my hands over to his side, I got him to roll on his back and carefully I moved his cold, unmoving palms away from his belt.
Roughly his dead knuckles made a connection with the ground and in a slow pace I began to search his pouches.
I was looting my fallen brother. This is what this infection has done to us. This is what that monster has done to us.
Taking out two clips for the G36C, I set them aside next to Cruz's rifle and went back to look towards his side.
Foley's M9 remained in its strap and upon reaching for the butt, I took it out to bring it to my face.
"Click."
The clip unloaded in front of my view and upon seeing a full mag I set it in my holster.
After a few more seconds I took hold of his knife and set it to where mine would be.
Anger was calmly leaking from my heart and with my hands beginning to shake; I reached for his last pouch that was holding itself steady on the left side of his belt.
My fingers gently felt around for anything inside, but I came in contact with nothing.
Letting anger fill my breath and leave my lungs, I rolled Foley onto his stomach to get a look at his backside.
My eyes immediate widened as I noticed a small side compartment next to where he had kept the mines I had in my possession.
Slowly opening up the Velcro strap, I widened my eyes further as I took hold of a small black clacker.
My mind went still as I now knew I wouldn't have to kill myself to end this nightmare anymore.
Quickly pulling out one of the mines from my rear pouch, I took my care to search around the surface of the dial to find it could be set to manual detonation.
As fast as I could I set all three of the mines to the setting and felt as if there was hope for me to kill this thing and leave in one piece.
Quickly placing the mines and the detonator back in my pouch I got up on my feet to hear.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
My eyes looked towards the door to hear something coming from the other side.
Immediately I ducked to my left behind the lab table to listen in as it entered the room.
I held my breath to eliminate the sound of my breathing and as carefully as I could I leaned out to the right to see it standing by the door smelling around the air in front of him.
My eyes looked on in confusion to see he was bleeding himself.
His right eye was gone. It looked like it exploded from inside his head. Bleeding slowly sleeked its way out through the large hole and as he sniffed about with his nose, he managed to see Foley who was only three feet in front of me with his one good eye.
As fast as I could I got my head back behind the table and listened in as it's large clawed feet plowed their way over to the corpse.
"Sniff! Sniffffff! Sniff!"
My body was still in anger. I had half a mind to try and kill this thing now, but I knew why I thought it would be nothing more than an attempt on his life.
Remaining perfectly stationary behind the table, I cautiously moved the left side of my head around the corner and got my pupil locked tight on it getting down on its knees to examine the body.
It stared at the hole in his head and slowly it felt around his neck to stop instantly at the smell that was covering his pouches and vest.
I knew it was me and in anger it began to growl.
Quickly moving his head back to where I had fallen in from, I watched from behind the table as it got up to trace it back to the broken vent.
I stared on as it looked up.
I saw its blood covered teeth snarl at the vent and I immediately moved my head back around to safety from its gaze and continued to listen as it made a choice of action.
In confusion on what I was hearing now, I turned my head back around to see it climb up into the vent.
"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump. Thump. Thump."
As it made its way to where I was before I entered the vents, I got my feet back and got up to approach the door where it had come from.
Looking out into the hall to see it filled with nothing but white, I backed my way back into the lab to grab hold of my weapons that remained next to Foley.
As I got the rifle around my back I looked back into his closed eyes to shut my own in remembrance.
Not one thought through our time together didn't go forgotten as I reopened to find I was still trapped with the same goal, but this time...with more of a purpose. Nothing was going to stop me now. I had to end this. One way or another. Someone will die.
Amy's POV, VEX control, Earth, 2:00pm.
Gordon remained seated as I continued to watch him waste time on other security checks.
"Do the cameras even still work over there?" Wondered one of the security guards who stood next to Gordon as he looked to me for the answer.
"They should. Unless the power was cut off again somehow."
The guard nodded in acceptance of the answer as I looked to Gordon who brought up the cameras.
Clicking on camera 112 in sector C we all watched in awe as the camera came on fine.
"Guess the powers still on." Stated Gordon as I looked on the main map to see one of the lab doors open in sector A.
Immediately I jumped to the control forcing Gordon to back off as I went to find the nearest camera to that lab.
"What are you...?" Gordon and everyone around us stopped in concern as the camera came up with the lieutenant exiting the lab and making his way into the hall with a rifle at the ready.
"He's alive." Stated one of the guards as Gordon asked.
"What's he doing?"
I already knew the answer.
"He's looking for Kid."
"Who?" Questioned another guard as I quickly replied.
"The only other soldier still alive from his team. Before I came here the thing took him."
"Then he's probably already dead." Stated another guard as I shook my head.
"We don't know for sure. It already took the lieutenant once and he managed to get out alive."
Everyone but me went silent in awe of the statement as I stared directly into the side of Shadow's blood covered face.
He looked so determined. So angry. I wish I knew what he was thinking right now. Cause I hope to god for his sake he knows what it is he is doing. Cause it can surely be the end of him.
Gordon and the guards that still remained at my side continued to watch as I followed Shadow through the camera system as best as I could.
But as I continued to stalk him I realized he left the door to the VEX portal open. If Project is smart he'll forget about his need to kill Shadow and Kid and came for us.
I knew this was a complete possibility but no one else did. They were all too focused on the lieutenant on his hunt. The hunt that could lead to nothing in truth.
Yet as he continued his way deeper into the sector I saw no sign of Project anywhere. It was as if he was already absent from the base. That or he's hunting himself. And if that's the case, Shadow is already dead.
Shadow's POV, Sector A, Zone 10, 2:02pm.
I followed the vents through the halls. One way or another it would lead me to where it took Kid. I wouldn't have long to though. It would come back for me. Sooner or later I will have to fight this thing and when it happens I'll be sure to put a bullet in its fucking head.
The vents soon came to an end. An end that waited behind another closed door.
Placing myself along the keypad, I got my anger together and prepared to breach.
With the rifle locked in the grips of my palms I opened the door to rush in and aim around to find blood along the center of the room.
The lab was small. Looked like a storage room of some sort. Boxes of standard size and shape laid around the room as if someone had pushed them over in force and slowly inching my way forward I stepped through the blood to aim to the left.
A small door led into the next room and it was already wide open with blood all along it's frame and knob.
Getting a solid pace down I entered through to find more crates down on their sides.
"Kid?" I said softly as the lights in here were out.
Quickly reaching under the barrel to Cruz's rifle, I activated his light and aimed forward to see the blood had stopped no more than a few feet away.
Following what was left of the trail, I stopped to see one of the crates had been broken open by shear force. A large claw mark was left on its broken side and what was inside the box had been sent out to the floor. All it was, was some paper, but it still made it hard to pinpoint where Kid could have gone.
"Kid?" I said again as I heard from my right.
"Thump!"
Immediately I aimed to see three large crates resting along the wall of the room.
They were evenly placed except for one.
My light shined among this crate in confusion of what had happened for it to be beaten up this badly.
Claw marks and deep dents filled its metal interior in thick spots of black and torn metal as I said.
"Kid?"
Nearing the crate in concern, I saw it had a keypad on it.
It was an easy one to crack and upon putting in the code, I aimed in fear of what might be inside to hear it click open for me.
Gently moving the barrel to the rifle on the frame of the door, I took hold of the edge of the door and as fast as I could I swung it outward past my face to widen my eyes in shock.
Kid was pressed along the door. He was out-cold and as the door opened he fell into my arms.
"Fuck!" I said as I let the rifle got along my back to catch him.
Kid's weight now in my arms, I looked back for the exit and made my way back into the light to see all the blood that ran its way down the left side of his shirt.
Carefully placing him on the ground, I took my care to reach out for his drenched black shirt.
As my already blood stained fingers made contact and I began to pull it down gently, I widened my eyes in loss as I saw he was bitten.
A large chunk was ripped right out from him. It was a deep bite too. Nothing but muscle was left there as I let the shirt go back up to cover my mouth in confusion on what to do now.
After a few depression filled seconds, I felt for a pulse to see he was still alive.
"Okay. Okay." I mumbled to myself as I examined the rest of his body.
As I expected his arm was cut wide open from wrist to elbow. The amount of blood he lost was probably the reason he passed out so fast. I had to get it sealed. If he loses anymore he'll die within minutes.
I had to move and I had no time left to think rationally. I had to get him to the VEX and back to earth. I can't treat him here. Not alone and not without supplies to do it.
Quickly taking Kid back into my arms, I got us both back up looked and head towards the exit to the lab.
As I appeared in the hall with Kid on my left shoulder, I looked to the side to place my eyes directly on a camera. It stared right back.
Amy's POV, VEX control, Earth, 2:08pm.
Everyone looked on in shock as Shadow came out of the lab with Kid on his shoulder in nothing but blood.
"He found him." Stated Gordon as I stared on in confusion of his next move.
Quickly Shadow made his way past to the main hall to head for what was in my mind the exit to the sector.
"He's coming through the VEX." I stated out loud as Gordon looked at me in the seriousness of the statement.
As it became clear that was what he was going to do, Gordon shouted to everyone around.
"All non-combats report to the cafeteria and stay there till it's all clear! Everyone else is to hold position here!"
Quickly people who were not of the combat force made their way out of the control room in speed as maybe ten guards prepared for Shadow's arrival with Kid.
"You need to go!" Stated Gordon as I reached under my coat to grab hold of the pistol Rosin gave me.
Gordon widened his eyes as I replied.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Looking directly into my eyes, I watched as he nodded and went back to the computer to shout.
"He's nearing the atrium! Get ready just in case!"
Everyone got their guns pointed towards the portal as I moved next to Gordon who also got his Glock aimed at the portal entrance.
Gently looking back over to the computer I stared on as Shadow was now in the atrium.
Shadow's POV, Atrium, Zone 10, 2:10pm.
Kid dangled along my side as I was panting my way into the blood covered atrium to find the VEX chamber no more than fifty feet away.
As I got to the stairs I stopped to look back and hear.
"ROAUGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Immediately I looked to right to see a large brown figure come from sector A.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I saw it was heading right for me as fast as it could, with its claws at the ready cutting the air as they powered through the hall.
Instantly I turned to run with Kid who was still out-cold.
"THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!"
As I reached the large steel vault door, I looked back to see it pounding down the stairs no more than twenty feet away.
In almost enough force to break my hand, I hit the switch next to the door to watch as it began to close.
"ROAUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Its anger filled roar shattered the air as it reached the halfway shut door to try and claw at me and Kid.
Letting Kid turn away I screamed in pain as its claw ripped into my right arm.
"AGHHHHHH!"
Immediately I let Kid go to grab hold of the rifle and aim as it stepped through in rage of not nearly killing me.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The bullets left my gun so fast I was able to empty the whole mag into its chest and I watched as it backed up into the still shutting door to get caught off guard as it was nearly about to shut on him halfway through.
As my chance came clear to me, I charged sending my boot directly into its bleeding chest and I widened my eyes as I was able to send it off its feet and nearly ten feet down the hall that lead to the stairs leading into the atrium.
In shock by what I just did, I was caught off guard as it got back up to see the door shut tight keeping it back from me and the portal.
"Thump!"
I backed up in shock as it slammed its body into the door with all it could muster.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
I knew it wouldn't stop trying. I had to go now while I could.
Quickly taking Kid back off the ground, I dragged the pair of us to the gray goo that awaited our presence and forced us in.
Everything went off like a flash as I soon hit the ground in front of a lineup of guns and familiar faces.
"Hold your fire!" I ordered as everyone lowered guns to see mine and Kid's conditions.
As soon as I got a chance to move I was taken by Amy who asked in a scared tone.
"Are you two okay?!"
Shaking my head I replied.
"Kid needs medical attention!"
"What about you!?" She wondered as I raised my right arm to reply.
"It's just a...?!"
My eyes immediately opened wide in complete loss as I saw the wound was gone.
"Scratch?" I finished as Amy looked confused.
"Your fine! Come on! I'll get Kid some help!" She stated as I slowly nodded to see a guard come from my side to take Kid away from me and head off towards the exit to this room.
Amy tightly took my hand and began to follow as I was led to another med lab of a smaller sort.
"What's this?" I questioned as we got Kid on a bed.
"Just a med bay! It's not much but we can help him!" Stated Amy as she approached Kid to look at his arms.
Upon seeing the wound she ordered.
"Find me some antibiotics and a stitch kit Shadow!"
Nothing but confusion roamed in my head as I slowly nodded to approach one of the nearby cabinets to try and find what we needed for Kid.
Taking hold of a stitch kit and some antibiotics, I handed them over to Amy who quickly got to work with a few guards and Gordon standing over her in concern for my brother who already looked dead.
As Amy ran her stitch kit, I remained alone behind everyone in deep confusion of what just happened.
"Where did I get that strength? And the wound...how did it?" I wondered as I looked at my arm to see the tear in my shirt that it left.
There was no doubt in my mind that it didn't hurt me. I know it did. I felt the pain and saw the blood.
In nothing but the need to figure this out, I took hold of the knife that rested on my left thigh and brought it to my right palm.
Letting my eyes force themselves open, I brought the edge of the blade down slightly into my skin.
"Ughhh." I groaned to myself as I felt it break skin and began to see the blood squeeze out underneath the blade.
Getting enough of a cut, I pulled back on the blade to stare at the wound I just created to widen my eyes at what was happening.
The skin moving back in place. It was...healing?
After a long ten seconds the small cut was no longer visible. The blood remained but it was gone.
Shock was setting in and Amy slowly looked back at me to say.
"Shadow?"
My eyes were wide as she watched me slowly back my way out of the lab.
"Shadow!?" She shouted as I made my way for the nearest bathroom.
The halls were lonely. Not a soul was in sight as I found a bathroom near the living quarters of this facility.
In speed, I entered to look at myself in the mirror. Blood dragged itself along my face and in confusion of my own body I began to undo my vest.
Letting the black bulletproof vest fall to the ground I immediately turned around to try and look at my back.
In confusion my eyes widened as I felt something fall from under my shirt.
Slowly I turned to look at the ground in confusion of what it was.
Gently getting on one knee, I bent over to pull it into my view.
My mind was shot as I shall it was a long strip of surgical string. It was a solid red from...?
Turning back to the mirror I stared directly at my back to see it was naked of wounds. The gash was gone.
Letting the string land in the sink in front of me, I grew panicked and reached for the blade that I had placed along the edge of the sink.
Immediately I brought it to my chest letting the blade slash its way down till I was bleeding down to my pants.
My eyes went blank in the quick pain as I watched it slowly seal its way back up to nothing.
Letting the blade fall to my feet, I stared into the mirror in utter shock as I couldn't believe my eyes.
As I looked into myself, I panicked bringing up my hand to my face.
In force, I got as close to the mirror as possible to stare directly into my eyes.
Among my crimson was a few yellow orbs.
"What the fuck!" I said out loud as I went to turn on the sink.
Upon splashing cold water onto my face, I looked into the sink to see the dry blood of my brothers making its way down the drain.
Quickly looking back up into the mirror with wet blood rolling along my cheeks, I stayed wide as the yellow orbs refused to leave my crimson.
Fear was hitting me hard like a knife. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what was going on.
Seeing as my eyes wouldn't change, I took my butt to the floor in nothing but confusion.
"Was this the infection?" I wondered as I was just confused why I wasn't craving flesh like the others.
Nothing made sense anymore. Amy cured me. She had too. I can't be turning. Not when I'm this close.
I body felt normal. Nothing to even give me a sign this was happening to me.
Slowly inching my way back up to my feet, I turned to look back into the mirror with a shaky fear of my own image.
My eyes held the small yellow orbs like a trophy. They just stayed there in place taunting me with their mystery. I had no idea what to do.
Gently taking hold of my weapons and getting back on my vest that sat along the floor, I made my way quickly to the door to find some people out in the hall this time.
I stopped in the doorway to look at some of them. These were families. Their kids stayed close as they all took noticed of me.
Most stopped to look back as I was the one who looked like a walking hell. My torn clothes, my destroyed vest, the pints of blood that covered my broken body.
Letting a thick gulp of my own fear and concern for my own health pass down my throat, I began to walk back to where Amy as still treating Kid. Guards let me by as she and Gordon got his arm patched up as good as new.
Amy quickly glanced up for second as she saw me enter and I think she immediately noticed the change in my personality and my eyes. Because the second she went to look back at Kid her head jerked back to me almost instantly in confusion.
For some reason though she didn't act upon it. She kept her mouth shut as Gordon asked.
"How do you feel lieutenant?"
I tried to keep calm as he and my ex awaited my response. Her more than anybody.
"I'm fine. How's he?" I wondered as I got closer to Amy's side to look directly at Kid who was still out-cold from the blood loss he endured.
Amy tried to see my eyes as soon as I neared her and as I got next to her side Gordon replied.
"He's unconscious. The doctor here managed to get him stable."
Slowly looking over to her, I asked.
"Is he going to wake up any time soon?"
Amy, who continued to stare into my eyes calmly, replied.
"I don't know. He lost a lot of blood. It could be a matter of hours till he's up."
Gently nodding to the response I then replied.
"I'm going to get heading back in."
Gordon widened his eyes as Amy shook her head.
"No, you're not doing anything of the sort Shadow. Your here now with Kid. Alive might I add. You're not risking anymore then you already had." She stated in force as I got up the rifle.
"It's still alive. I'm not leaving till my mission is accomplished and my brothers are avenged."
Gently Amy reached out pushing the gun back down with her right hand.
"It's stupid to head back in there. That thing is waiting for you. It's not worth your life Shadow." She stated as I shook my head.
"My mind is set Amy. It's been set since I had to kill the Captain. You're not stopping me from this." I stated as she stared directly into my eyes with a slight hint of anger setting in.
Gordon continued to watch as I turned to him to ask.
"Do you mind giving us some time alone?"
Quickly nodding Gordon replied.
"I'll be at VEX. Just come find me if ether of you need anything."
Both Amy and I watched as he left shutting the door behind him tight.
Calmly looking back into Amy's eyes I said.
"I don't want to argue about this. It's going to happen one way or the other. I recommend you just drop it now before things get worse."
Immediately Amy asked.
"What's wrong with your eyes?"
Almost as fast as I told her to drop it I replied.
"I don't know."
Amy gently took hold of my bare shoulder to stare directly into my eyes.
She took about a minute to examine them, and as she seemed like she knew something I remained silent till she was ready to tell me.
"How do you really feel?" She wondered as I shrugged my shoulders.
"I'm fine physically. A little tired, but beyond that I'm good."
Amy slowly nodded as she looked to my forehead.
"Your wounds are gone."
I remained still as she looked to my back.
"Let me see the stitches."
Giving her a nod to show my answer, I undid the vest once again to rest it down on top of Kid's bed.
"Turn." She ordered as I shifted my body to the right.
I couldn't see her face but I'm sure she's just as confused as me.
"That's what I thought." She stated after a few seconds of making eye contact to my naked spine.
"What's what you thought?" I questioned as I turned back to see her worn face.
"Your body must be reacting to the shot I gave you."
"The cure?" I questioned as she nodded.
Immediately I asked.
"But the infection is gone Amy. How can this be happening to me?" I questioned again as she calmly replied.
"Your still infected Shadow. Just not the way you think."
I was now in frenzy, and pacing my way to the back of the room I shouted in anger.
"So I'm still infected?! The cure didn't work?!" I questioned as she quickly tried to approach with the response being.
"Traces can be found in your blood! There is nothing I can do for that! But I stopped the infection process before it got too deep in your DNA! You're infected, but you won't turn Shadow! I promise!" She stated in a sincere tone as I caught the anger coming up in my throat with both my hands pressed along my face in fear for my condition.
Amy gently reached behind me to take my shoulder. Slowly I looked into her eyes as she said.
"You're going to be okay Shadow. The infection is still there but it won't do what it did to the others to you. I quelled it. The cure worked like it was suppose too. It's just now that your body has had some time to absorb the infection your DNA has been slightly altered."
"What do you mean altered?" I questioned in confusion as he let out a thin breath of air to reply.
"The germ that causes your body to shut down was killed. But the germs that make the infection work probably after connecting to the DNA strands of the infected host still exist in your system."
I stared on in loss of what she was saying.
"What I'm saying is that your body is infected, but with the positives to the infection. Not the negatives."
I was lost as she took the clearness of my position to think of a way to explain it easier to me.
After a few seconds of her letting her mind go to work she looked back into my eyes to reply.
"What I'm going to tell you doesn't leave this room. Got it?" She asked in all seriousness as I slowly nodded.
Getting herself together, I watched as she took her care to look at Kid.
"This infection was not made. It was not found. It just existed according to Dr. Hemer and what we were able to find throughout the course of this excavation."
Amy got comfortable next to Kid as I remained standing alone in the center of the room.
"That thing that killed your men isn't an alien. It was made, as I already explained to you before."
"Made how?" I asked in confusion as she got herself ready for the explanation.
"Zone 10 is a secret for a reason, and a research facility for another. We get the best equipment and the best staff around the world to make sure the job we are assigned gets done to the best of our abilities. And when I say we get the best equipment I mean we get anything we need. Including bodies." Stated Amy as I gave her a look of loss.
"Bodies?" I questioned as she nodded.
"Convicts to be precise. Men and women who were sentenced for life in prison or death. No one cared how they died, so they sent some of them here to help us with projects that needed test subjects."
"You experimented on people?!" I stated in anger as she whispered.
"Shhhhh! Shut up! Do you want to hear the rest or not Shadow!?" She questioned in anger as I went silent in my own form of anger.
As I fell quiet Amy continued on.
"Yes, we tested on people Shadow. It had to be done. They were a waste of space on this planet anyway. They had no rights left to live. So we took the steps needed to make sure they paid for their crimes in full. Be it an instant or slow death." Stated Amy as I got my sensible side to return for some questions.
"So that thing is a human being?" I wondered in disgust as Amy nodded.
"David Chester was his name before Dr. Hemer turned him into what you are seeing now."
"And what is he now besides a monster?" I questioned as she stared on at me as if everything she did was right.
"Besides an abomination? He's a genetic marvel. Years of work and history itself is what he is, but beyond that is what the infection caused to happen to his brain. He has no intelligence, no main set anymore in the meaning of having a life to care about. He is only going off the one thing he knows he needs to do."
"And that is?" I questioned as she looked down to Kid.
"Survive."
"And you feel nothing for him!?" I questioned again as she got back to looking at me.
"Why should I Shadow? He was criminal. He hurt people. He had no soul to call his own. I feeling nothing for David Chester yes, but I feel only sadness for Project 23."
"Project 23?" I said to her as she nodded back in response.
"That was his test number. Number 23."
"And let me guess. You and the other doctors murdered twenty two others before you fail with him?"
"Failed?" Questioned Amy as I stared at her.
"Shadow, Project is a success. He is what we originally were trying to accomplish. It's just bad luck it was all wasted like this."
"Wasted like what?" I repeated as she slowly replied.
"He's going to die. I can see it in you. How bad you want him dead for the loss of Cruz and the others, and I don't blame you. No one does. It's by that note I know he has no chance. All of our work and effort will be lost the second his eyes close to death."
"Why don't you try and stop me then?" I questioned as she shook her head in disapproval of the idea.
"There is no point. Cause in the end no matter how important the work Hemer did was, letting something like that live is far beyond mad."
"So you agree with me for once?" I wondered as she nodded.
"I never said I didn't. I just wish there was another way. You would be amazed what that thing is capable of Shadow. It's just too bad he's too dumb to know what to do with it."
Amy looked away as I remained still in the center of the room in utter confusion of all that was being told to me.
"I can't stop you from avenging your fallen Shadow. No one can. But when you go promise me something."
"Anything." I replied as she looked back into my eyes with sadness.
"Make sure get rid of everything that facility hides. Destroy it all to hell."
Both our eyes stayed locked as I saw the seriousness in her eyes. And after a few silent seconds passed I got the mind to reply.
"We're already in hell Amy. All we have to do is raise the fire."
Amy gently smiled as I felt my neck.
The bite was gone. It wasn't a surprise to me now. Inside I was fucked and I knew it for sure now. But still one thing remained clear. I was going to end this. One way or the other. That thing isn't going to stop me.
Amy gently looked back to Kid to say.
"Strength."
Giving her my attention I asked.
"What?"
"The infection. You're stronger now. Tenfold perhaps."
Clutching my right fist I went on to listen as she continued.
"Your cells will divide faster causing your wounds to heal almost instantly depending on how bad they are."
"So I can't die?" I questioned as she shook her head.
"You can die. You're just a little harder to kill now. Don't get confused though your blood still counts. You lose too much and you end up like Kid here. Lucky for him he got here because of you."
I gently looked to him as she slept.
"And you're going to feel faster. The infection likes to cling onto your reflexes. So don't be surprised if you can dodge and attack before he has a chance at countering."
I slowly nodded my head as Amy looked into my eyes.
"Your eyes will stay like that by the way."
"Will it get worse?" I questioned as she nodded.
"Only if you get bite again. I couldn't even begin to think what would happen to your DNA if you got bite by Project."
I looked away as Amy reached under her lab coat to pull out a syringe.
"I saw the bite. Don't worry he'll be fine. Just get going before anything else goes wrong."
Softly reaching for my rifle that remained on my back, I replied.
"Make sure he stays safe."
As I waited for a response, I watched as Amy got down next to his arm, to place the needle deep in his center vain. Kid didn't move as she looked back up to me to reply.
"You just be careful in there."
"I will." I stated as she nodded to approach me.
"I don't wana have to leave this place alone Shadow. You better not die on me in there."
Smiling I replied.
"You won't have to. I promise I'll be back. You just take care of him okay?" I urged as we both looked to Kid.
Slowly she replied.
"I promise."
Gently moving to her arms I replied.
"I love you."
With a small smile Amy pressed her lips together with mine to soon reply after a deep kiss.
"I love you too Shadow."
Letting probably the last smile of my life pass my lips, I retracted from her arms to look to Kid who continued to sleep on in loss of mind and body.
"I love you too Kid. Don't you worry, as soon as I get back I'll get you home to your dad. You can count on it brother." I stated as he just continued to breathe calmly through the mouth.
I knew he couldn't hear me, but it just felt good to do. Something good I haven't had the pleasure of doing for the others. If only I was...ughhhhhhh! Fuck it. There is no point in complaining anymore. Nothing can be said to bring them back. Nothing in the world I can do will ever bring them back to me. All I can do is stick by my word and make sure they rest in peace.
Amy watched as I turned to head for the door leading out of the room and into the hall.
As I got near she said.
"Be careful Shadow."
Nodding my head as she vanished from my sight I replied to myself.
"I don't plan to."
Alright the last chapter will be on next week I hope so long as everything goes okay for me in terms of writing it. And I don't know about you all but I'm looking forward to a series again. I loved writing short chapters with a lot of fun to it. And I decided I will continue Love Struck. Please let me know what you think of that and this chapter please. All your reviews help me out a lot. I haven't had much to smile to for the past few weeks so I'm hoping this will be my chance to change that.
Remember that I love and care about every one of you guys and gals. And nothing means more to me than your opinion good or bad. And with that the next and final chapter will be next. So please be standing by for the conclusion to Zone 10...for now anyway.
By the way, sorry for any spelling errors. I'm trying to get better on them but I still make mistakes.
mT Shadow