Chapter 17

Moi-Moi: I couldn't sleep so I decided to finally get off my butt and finish this chapter for you guys. :D

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Marcus Immunity wasn't as professional when their "Chief of Police" was out. The entire station was empty, not a cell bothering to keep up the appearance of protecting and serving the city of Marcus. If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered stealing Kat's keys and breaking in cleanly. As I searched through the files in Kat's desk, I nearly growled at the site of yet another useless file. Who gave a spit about some missing influenza rat or open domestic case? If I didn't know any better, it was almost like Kat was serious about this Immunity Chief gig...

There was a part of me- a part so small it was worth barely any attention- that considered taking Kat's out. Leave her to run this body and finding a new target. To go through with my plans would mean an end to this city and to her. I wanted her both dead and alive, and the two halves of me were always at each other's necks. I wanted her to pay for her betrayal because it's what she deserved. But she was more useful to me alive than dead. Then again, she's only useful when she cooperates.

"Jackpot," I whispered and grinned. Kat had hidden a folder away within a locked drawer, as if that was enough to keep me out. "You've been busy, baby." Blueprints of Cerebellum Hall, guard rotation schedules, and even a layout of major highways in Marcus... I could see Kat's flowing handwriting along the files, her notes outlining a decent plan. With a little work and muscle... I smirked and tucked the files into my trench coat.

I was about to shut the drawer again when I noticed the other folder at the bottom. It was an innocent looking thing, but you can't judge a book by its cover. The file was thick and had a little weight to it. Kat must have had something pretty big planned. Flipping the file open, I stopped at the sight of my mugshot staring up at me. My eyes read fast, a sneer growing on my face with every line. I was more than aware of how much detail a police report contained, but this was a bit too detailed. Flipping through quickly, I couldn't help but curse loudly.

I'd wondered how a two-bit Immunity force like Marcus' had had the kind of materials and restraints necessary for someone like me. I'm unique- a one of a kind killer. There was no way these wet behind the ears white blood cells would know how to take me on. But here it was; Kat's considerable contribution. The half of me that wanted her dead was growing louder. But that would have to wait. She'll get hers. Not now, but soon. Slipping this file into my trench coat too, I closed the drawer and made my way out the back of the station.

With Kat's plans in my possession, I had everything I needed to take down Marcus. Hell, I would even have a few hours to spare on my deadline. But the two halves of me were at war again over Kat. I wanted to destroy her for all that she had done to me. I wanted to burn everything she had managed to accomplish in this body. I wanted to recreate how much she had hurt me and multiply it by a hundred. I felt a deep frown slide onto my face. No, she hadn't hurt me. She'd only hurt herself by spitting in my face time and time again.

And yet there was the other half of me that still wanted to forgive her. I'd infected her. I'd infected her and yet it felt like she had managed to invade my very being. She made me want to forgive her, take her back, and leave this body and all of her bad decisions behind in a fiery blaze. And she had the nerve to accuse me of not caring about her sorry ass.

I just had to head north towards Cerebellum Hall. I still had ten hours left on my deadline. I could get this done quickly, be in and out in an hour with these files. Then I could move on to the next body. I'd have the next one on death's door in forty-eight hours. I grit my teeth and glared northward. "Spit!" I cursed loudly and did an about face. If I hurried, I could get to Marcus Memorial Hospital in less than an hour.

I'd give her one more chance not to disappoint me.

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The hospital was crawling with more Immunity officers than necessary. It made sneaking into the building far too annoying. More than once, I questioned whether this was worth it. I had to constantly duck into rooms and listen out for which room Kat was in. I'd never admit it out loud, but part of me was relieved to hear that she was already out of the ICU. I wonder if these cells would be able to tell that she was infected...

Leaning against a wall, I looked around a corner at were two officers were posted up in front of Kat's door. I was in the middle of figuring out the best way to incapacitate both the cells when I heard a loud crash. The officers turned to the door and stepped back just as someone started shouting.

"What do you mean no one's seen him!? How useless are you idiots!?"

Kat was throwing a tantrum again. I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight of her bodyguards trembling slightly. Personally, I liked it when Kat got a bit riled up. When she wasn't getting pissy with me, it was quite the show. Her membrane would glow a bit brighter and she'd get hot enough to turn a cold room into sauna. Even her hair would come alive, like a crown of fire for the queen she liked to think that she was.

"Quit wasting time here! Get out there and find him!"

It might be a bit cocky of me, but I couldn't help but feel like she was talking about me. I chuckled silently. You want Thrax? You got Thrax, baby. I watched the door open quickly and two officers shuffle out with frightened faces. I watched a food tray go flying and hit one of them in the back of the head. Seconds later, Kat stood in the doorway and glared at all four officers. "Get the hell out of my sight, all of you. I want every man we have on the streets looking for him. Put out an APB, call every informant we have out there, turn over every stone in this body if you have to, just find him!" Kat shouted. She was making a scene now, some of the nurses turned tail and fled, but her officers stood their ground and took the verbal beating. "If he's not found and sent out of this body before I'm cleared to leave, I'll have every one of your asses!" Kat shouted before slamming the door in their faces.

Like I said, quite the show.

I watched the officers scurry away like rats with a smirk. When the coast was clear, I slunk out from behind my cover and walked over to her room. She'd left the door unlocked. When I stepped in the room, I could see Kat laying on the bed with her hands over her face. She was dressed in a plain hospital gown and some white socks and her hair was loose over her pillow. "Whoo. It feels like someone turned the heat on in here," I said and locked the door behind me.

I watched Kat freeze in place before sliding her hands down her face. She grimaced. "Of course. Why am I not surprised to see you here, Thrax?"

I stepped closer, avoiding the bits of hospital food littering the floor. "Because you know me so well, baby," I answered. She kept her eyes trained on me, but I could see her hand inching slowly towards the side of the bed. With a grin, I snatched up the remote at the side of the bed and held it away from her. "Ah ah ah. I don't think it's any fair for you to call for help before I've said my piece."

"Your piece? Spare me, Thrax. Why don't you just get out of here before-"

"Before what? Before you have me arrested again? Before you have me beaten by your thugs with a badge and flushed out of Marcus?" I interrupted and leaned over her.

"If you're fishing for an apology, you can go to hell. I don't owe you, spit."

She had a defiant light in her eyes and her chin raised at me. She wasn't dressed any special kind of way and her face was bare of any makeup, but she didn't need it. I sneered down at her before I pulled her keys out of my pocket. Her eyes widened in surprise. I dropped them onto her lap and said, "Don't worry. I made sure to lock your office when I was done."

"Damn you, Thrax! You only came to get what you wanted from me. You didn't care about helping me at all!"

It almost sounded like she was hurt by this. "Don't lay those accusations at my door, Kat. Not after you betrayed me and gave Immunity the one thing they could use to take me down."

She froze and looked away from me and didn't reply for a few minutes. "Of course you see it as a betrayal. I was just trying to protect myself. You were gonna kill Marcus. I wasn't about to let you destroy the body before I'd even had a chance to start running things," Kat said in a soft voice.

"I didn't hear an apology in there anywhere, sweetheart."

Immediately, she turned to me with fiery anger in her eyes. "You can take your apology and shove it right up your-"

I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth and leaned in even closer. "Listen up, Kat. We both know where I'm headed once I leave this hospital. I'm going to finish what I started. I only came here to ask you a simple question. Are you in or out?" I whispered in a hard tone. I could see the disbelief in her eyes. "I'm not gonna beg you to stay with me. The decision is yours. You can stand with me and we can leave this body behind and put everything behind us, or you can stand against me and die along with every other cell who tries to get in my way. You choose," I said and took my hand away from her mouth.

Her eyes were wide as she stared at me silently. I tried not to let it show how much the silence bothered me as I waited for her answer. Her lower lip shook slightly before she finally managed to say, "You'd actually do it... You'd really kill me just to meet your stupid deadline."

"I don't have to. I won't if you don't make me," I said. The half of me that still cared for her was practically ripping his hair out. This twisting, anxious feeling in my chest was one of the most uncomfortable feelings I'd ever experienced. She infuriated me to no end, but I still wanted her around. This wasn't love. It couldn't be. I wasn't the kind of creature who could love, but it would be a lie if I said that I wasn't the least bit fond of this hot-headed, self-centered, violent bitch of a she-cell.

"I know you, Thrax. You won't stop until you get what you want. It's one of the things I like best about you," she said. She looked so tired all of a sudden. I watched her entire body melt into the mattress as she sighed. She rested her hand on my forearm and frowned. "But even if I stand with you today, I don't know if I'll be able to stand with you tomorrow. Your dreams are more important to you than my life. If you get to be selfish, then so do I."

I bit the inside of my cheek and aggressively pushed down at the anger threatening to overwhelm me. I wanted to give her another chance, but she threw it back in my face again. There was a throbbing in my temple, like a heavy bass drum. I was the one raising the temperature in the room this time. Even though she could see it, she didn't look afraid. The threat of her own death was standing next to her bed, but she wasn't scared this time. The hand on my arm felt like fire. I clenched my hands and took a deep breath.

"Then I'll see you on the battlefield, baby," I said. She had a sad look in her eyes now and I could feel some sadness trying to claw its way up my throat. I swallowed thickly and leaned over her one last time. I let my lips rest on her forehead and slipped the panic button into her hand. When I stood back, I could see the tears starting to gather in her eyes. I slipped on my shades and turned to leave. I ignored the sound of soft sniffling as I slipped out of the room.

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Moi-Moi: I bit more emotion than we've seen Thrax show towards Kat. Crazy, right? Who would have guessed that he actually cared in his own messed up way? I for one can't WAIT until the next chapter. I'm hoping the next chapter will be the last one before the epilogue. I really don't want the plot bunnies to take over and make me add yet ANOTHER chapter to this story...

Don't forget to review! And thank you all for your incredible support so far. :D