Zere's face positively beamed at the sight of the kid arriving with Crane ushering them into the trailer. "I'm so happy to see you! You know, Crane couldn't really give up."
"You shouldn't be too happy about that. That psycho Rais is hell bent on making me join his stupid gang." Kyle mumbled.
"I think he is underestimating you a lot Kyle." Zere smiled, the blonde glancing to him spotting a look from Crane to keep his promise to Jade and start talking as the boy could fill in the researcher far better than Crane on his whole journey. "I promised Jade I would do this and I… I guess I do want to see people saved…" The kid started from the beginning, Zere listening patiently holding his questions as the young male went into the detailed account.
"You have been through so much…" Zere sighed, his voice a little shaky in grief. A comforting hand went to the blonde's arm as he finished to give it a pat.
"You want to see them?"
"Only if you wish to show them. I do not want you to suffer anymore, not physically or emotionally."
"You'd have to fix Harran with a snap of your fingers for that." Kyle chuckled backing away a little glancing over the cramped space. "Maybe we should this outside. Also this is a little too cramped for the other stuff like the strength."
"Of course, great idea!" Zere enthuastically agreeing giving Crane a silent expression that it was fine with the dangers outside counting on the guards and Crane to protect him. His eyes sparkled in curiosity as Kyle grabbed an empty vial and gave to him, the man taking it outside with them. The green eyes darted with the guards with a sigh eying him. The looks in the tower had been the same and they never would be like before again. It didn't matter how hard some tried, Kyle wasn't some poor starved kid full of attitude that Crane had brought in anymore. He was some freak kid with zombie attributes right now that instilled fear in most gnawing away, people always a little reminded again when seeing him of the thing that ruined their lives when they didn't see it in the shambling zombies boasting it. He could feel it so much. Desperation to stay calm, desperation to still see him as some poor victim kid that needed protection trying to believe he'll never turn as claimed, hope shimmering in what his existence could bring while trying to battle the demons inside conjuring up dark thoughts of desperation to be free from the threat that a cure promised. The looks never ended, warm smiles that had started coming to him changed to that save for Jade although it crept in around Rahim, Rahim most of the time, Brecken, Lena, Zere, Gerritsen and Crane. "Crane, have the vial ready you can guess what I'm going for."
"Can't you just do one hand?" Crane asked with a sigh stepping closer. "You'll hurt yourself."
"I don't mind, I want it to." Without another word, they rushed out in the blink of an eye morphed so fast it couldn't even be comprehended, the guard's hands shaking keeping their jittery fingers away from the triggers. The blood drawn from the metal claws, Zere watching in utter amazement, dripped into the offered vial. "If I bleed out of them, zombies won't attack just like my chest. Anywhere else and I become a target. Taking out itself doesn't hurt without making it from wearing the metal claws. As fast as they come, they switched back to hands, the cuts from the metal ones gone as they didn't transfer as the dark skinned man watched furiously taking notes mentally. "Hope this will help with a cure. "And then there are these." The spikes shot out of arms facing, the deadly tips facing away from the body, the boy glad to be wearing a short sleeved shirt as ripping the few good clothes one had in Harran wasn't great. "I think it's bone or bone like at least. Doesn't hurt either. I can try breaking off a tip for you…"
"No, this blood sample means so much already. Please I don't want you to take risks like that Kyle." Zere replied. "Just showing me this is already worth more than you imagine."
"Okay, let me know if you change your mind." Kyle glanced away from the guards stepping away, smelling the piss in their pants. They leapt out as the men came closer to the fence getting good view of Kyle positioning himself at the nearest car. A little smile played on his lips as he saw the great opportunity to vent causing the smile to turn into a small grin with a sadness shimmering in his eyes as the boot hit the car in a powerful kick sending it flying into the air and sailing away crashing down loudly down the street splattering three biters. "Want to see another one?" 'I could really use it to vent right now.' Zere and Crane noticed the look on his face having kept his expression down the road, the men glancing at each other and giving the sign to go ahead knowing the boy needed this right now. Kyle picked another car, this time a van with the backdoors halfway off showing there was nothing left to loot and his boot collided again wrecking the car and sending it sailing away. If it was night he could keep going. Kyle returned into the fenced area, the guards quickly stepping out of the way, Zere having made it very clear that he didn't want the kid to hurt himself to showcase the red eyes having been quickly flashed in the trailer for Zere to have a closer look, the glowing having to wait for night. Zere put the sample in the trailer, the man opening his mouth but stopping Kyle picking up on the fleeting moment immediately glancing away with a sigh.
"Just ask already. Don't treat me different from others and just ask what you want please."
"Alright, I'm sorry. I just don't want you to be in more pain, at least not more that we can prevent. No one should have to endure this. I was going to ask if I could have another blood sample, a regular one not from the claws so I could compare the two. It won't take long."
"Go ahead." Kyle shrugged offering his arm, Zere thanking him profusely shortly dabbing the spot with an alcohol swab noticing out of the corner of his eyes that Kyle avoided looking and tried to hide that he actually didn't do well with needles, Crane noticing it too. Zere gave a quick glance to Crane giving a nod to go on certain Kyle didn't want to back out of it or he would've denied Zere in the first place. The man felt awful drawing still, still feeling guilty about the antizin incident despite having had no idea what it would do and being requested to help in the first place. Zere was already overjoyed with what he received from the kid firmly believing that the blonde held answers but the man would never force the thirteen year old in any way for the research despite the importance. Bidding farewell to a very excited Zere, the duo headed off to Jade having asked to meet with her in one of the box cars near the school having an idea on where to get more antizin which never seemed to be enough in the horror that Harran had turned into.
"Hey boss, since that monster kid is alive I have some information."
"Well then speak." Rais prompted the thug having come to him.
"Somebody saw the kid get a shot of antizin and it almost killed him. Said that doctor guy compared it an allergic reaction." Rais lips pulled up into a bigger smile, sinister thoughts already coming up with twisted ideas to hurt the kid and use him against Crane and the whole tower.
"Good job."
"Hey come here. You should see this. Something is going on at the school. Tahir's men have been hauling boxes out of that place for hours. We need to get a closer look."
"What's in the boxes?"
"Good question. If it's antizin, we need it even though we just managed to get some." The trio hid behind a car peeking out, Jade pushing down Crane with a finger over her lips, Kyle hidden enough by crouching down as a yellow car drove by with the driver talking.
"We're approaching the front gate."
The three crept closer hiding behind the pillar peeking out from behind it, Jade continuing closer. "Jade, where… shit." The two Kyle's quickly and swiftly followed suite crouching down behind the next car with Jade across from them behind another car. One of the two hostages suddenly yelled to run both trying to but shot right away not getting further than a few steps with one in a yellow shirt running between the two cars they hid crawling towards the two Kyle's silently asking for help while Jade motioned to stay down. "Fucking Tahir. That guy should die in a fire. We- Fuck, where did she go?"
"Into the school." Kyle replied as they watched the jeep leave, Crane quickly checking for pulse on the man in a puddle of blood but finding none.
"How many bandits are inside?"
"I only saw the one that went in after Tahir, but I'm not sure there's more. We should use different entrances- we'll cover more ground, and we'll make less noise moving separately. Kyle stay with Crane though." The kid followed Crane's lead finding a dead end, the silent question to rip off the handle given a no with a shaking head as Crane informed Jade.
"Ok. Shit. You'll have to come in the way I did. I just hope we can find another way out if we have to. Head for the outbuilding on the roof." The duo made their up, Crane giving a hand in bigger jumps, greeted by spitters on the rooftops dealt with quickly. The door opened revealed a bomber not helpful in staying stealthy at all, the two stepping back watching it explode before continuing on heading further into the school.
"Okay Jade, we're inside."
"Check the classrooms. That's the most likely place for them to store supplies. They should be marked somehow. Military jargon is pretty straight forward, so it shouldn't be hard to notice."
"Hurry up! We don't have all day for this shit, and thing is last place I want to be at night! Did any of you idiots check for the basement? Of course not, because the key is still up here! Get your shit together." The intercom went quiet again as Crane looked through the locker moving into the next room and pushing against the door expecting Kyle push beside him making it easier only to find that the boy wasn't with him.
"Kyle!" Crane whispered glancing around as his gut turned. "Damn it…" 'What the hell is he doing? Maybe he's trying to cover more ground but how the only way would've been back.' Crane decided to keep going figuring since they all looked for the same thing, they would converge on the same spot hoping the blonde didn't get himself into trouble.
Kyle climbed through the gap, his face setting in a frown as the loudspeaker message faded having tried to track with heightened sense of hearing only ending up separated now wandering through the school.
Tahir smirked to himself having received the news from Rais about the kid's weakness.
"Who the fuck are you? Guys! There is somebody here!" As the guy from Rais fell, the alarm went off, Jade on the radio quickly as Crane let out a swear, thoughts immediately worrying about Kyle.
"Turn that damn thing off! We're gonna have walkers swarming the place towards the school!"
"Jade, I lost Kyle and he can't handle alarms with his heightened hearing, it cripples him!"
"Fuck! Focus on turning that off, I'll look for him as well."
"We've got somebody here that don't need to be! Find and kill him!"
"Ugh… so annoying…" Kyle grumbled stumbling in his step leaning against the wall as one hand moved to the side of his head but by far this wasn't as loud as the fire alarm had been or the one at Salim's house although it would be a whole different situation if he was outside. The boy pushed on supporting himself on furniture and the walls.
More thugs came at Crane gunning them down as they came through the doorway while Jade came alive on the radio again to yell at him. "For fuck's sake, Crane! Turn that damn that damn thing off or you're going to get overrun! Find the janitor's office. The switch ought to be right in there."
Kyle gave a sigh of relief, the alarm stopped quickly ducking behind a turned desk as Rais' men came around the corner, the blonde rolling back to jump to his feet and send the desk at the men with a grin mowing them over mercilessly at deadly force.
Jade snarled kicking down a zombie, the alarm off now but having drawn in a few and the quick mission turning seemingly lengthy seemed to become more risky than worth with them having antizin for now and Kyle separated from them in the midst of Rais' men.
"Jade, still no luck with any antizin. I still have Classroom C to search. Did you bump into Kyle?"
"No. The basement is pretty big. Find the key. I'll meet you down there." Crane found the key on a thug relieved to bump into Kyle at the grey double door sliding in the key. But the loudspeaker crackled to life, one of the thugs faced with Kyle unknowingly having managed to make a radio call to Tahir able to mention him but not getting out more than the 'The kid'.
"Welcome Crane's brat, I hear you're in the school. Your teaching happens at the garrison though. You'll make a fine soldier to Rais." The one at the loudspeaker laughed mocking him, lips pulling into snarls.
"What the hell is he so happy about?" 'Should be scared from having seen what a freak I am and they don't even know more than what they saw from when I faked my death.' Ignoring the taunt, the two headed down to the basement, Jade already at the box flashing a smile of relief seeing the kid with Crane.
"Give me a hand here, would you?" Jade said holding out the crowbar to Crane who took it.
"Yeah, sure" Crane replied proceeding to smash the latches.
"GOD, Crane, you're such and OAF! Why don't you just stick your head out the door and shout, "Here we are! Come get us!"
"Hey, sometimes there is nothing wrong with the direct… approach."
"Holy shit. That's plastic explosives, right?" The trio crouched down as footsteps started coming down the hall.
"Listen. You take this stuff and get back to the Tower. I'll deal with these assholes. Kyle you're going with Jade, help her carry."
"I wanna fight with you!"
"No, you're not. Go."
"Don't be ridiculous. We'll fight them together!" Jade protested.
"And risk letting them keep this much ordinance? No, just go. I got this. Meet me back at the Tower."
"Promise me you won't let Rahim near that hive!"
"What? Of course! I promise, I promise, just go!" Jade tried to gently pull Kyle away refusing to budge.
"She can carry that just fine."
"Listen Kyle, somehow they know you're here and Tahir might be with them, I'm not letting that guy near you! Go!" Jade gently tugged again but the kid stubbornly slipped out of her grasp dashing out of the room into the tiled one avoiding a shot with a slide countering with a headshot killing the thug coming out from the wall and Crane quickly rushed forward giving Kyle a look as both shot, the blonde giving another stubborn determined one back and Jade took off to get the explosives to the tower. "You know you need to start listening better."
"Sure when you don't risk your hide so much." The two reached the exit quickly but came to a stop outside for moment as their eyes landed on a bolter scampering off with a few almost slobbery sounding yells climbing up a pipe after a few hops.
"Crane, you made it out okay?" Jade came on the radio.
"Yeah we're fine."
"Okay listen, I'll give these explosives to Sa'id, and you talk to Rahim. Make sure he stays away from that hive."
"Will do. Don't worry."
"Don't worry? Right…" The travel back proved easy and quick back to the tower luckily not coming across any volatiles. After meeting with Jade, the two finding Rahim on the roof.
"Crane! Sa'id told me about the explosives you guys found! How perfect is that?! Jade gave them to him- Sa'id used to be on a bomb squad, so he knows about that stuff."
"Yeah, kid, that was a lucky find."
"My buddy Omar's making sure Sai'id's putting good timers on those. We have to be able to get our asses out of there before they blow."
"Wow, "we"? There's no "we" in this. I mean, yeah, that nest needs to go. And now, it's possible. But if it gets done, I'm doing it on my own." Crane said although Kyle didn't say a peep knowing he'd come along not that he would ever let the man stop him and Rahim noticed, eyes narrowing.
"Oh but he gets to come along? Because he's a-" Rahim barely stopped himself, now Kyle's eyes narrowing glancing away with a scoff.
"Just say 'freak' already. I don't mind when people say it, it's true so don't try to sugarcoat it and just say it." The blonde slightly growled. He hated being treated like a minefield.
"But… it's my plan!"
"Hey, he's not…" Crane gave a sight with a growl seeing Kyle's face. "Well, he's different."
"Yeah, different enough you don't even need bombs with getting ignored he can just stroll in and kill them all." Rahim scoffed regretting it instantly, face carrying an apology immediately looking to Kyle.
"That's way too dangerous, all it takes for him is to trip and scuff his knee and then he's hunted just like us!" Crane exclaimed, sighing tiredly afterwards. "I will execute your plan perfectly. I promise."
"But… ah, shit. There is no arguing with you, is there? Fine. I'll contact you as soon as Sa'id's finished with the charges."
"Rahim, do we have a deal?"
"I guess…"
"Do we have a deal?"
"Yes, we have a deal."
"One more thing… I keep seeing this bizarre kind of infected. Is Dr. Zere out at his trailer? I'd like to talk to him about it."
"Nah, he's down in Sickbay, visiting Dr. Lena."
"Thanks, kid. I'll see you soon."
'They don't have a deal, at least not now he's too upset.' Kyle glanced back to Rahim again following Crane back down the tower to the doctor in sickbay.
"Oh Crane! How can I help you?"
"Remember when I told you about the infected I saw?" Zere's eyes shifted to Kyle behind him. "Not him, the other one that's actually turned. You know, the one who took one look at me and hauled ass away? Well, I just saw another one, and it did the same thing."
"Hmmm… I believe I HAVE heard your colleagues talk about those creatures. "Bolters", they call them. Apparently they have favor certain areas of town over others, but only appear at night… I don't suppose you could catch one, and bring me a sample of it's flesh? You see, a thought occurred to me- a long shot, I realize- but if these creatures favor areas where I left my experimental "bait"…Well. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Please do obtain a sample. But it has to be fresh, so you have to get it back to me quickly." Zere's eyes shifted once again to Kyle, the perfect chance now to show the glowing eyes and Kyle stepped closer so he could have a better look, other eyes in the room glancing to them in awe and fear at the same time. "My, they glow brilliantly! It's just like you described! I see how it's nothing like those of the turned infected. Thanks you again for letting me see this Kyle."
"Ok. And where exactly do I find these things?"
"I'm told that quartermaster chap has been keeping track of them."
"Hey Kyle, think you can track one down?" Crane mused as they made their way to the quartermaster.
"Probably could if I tried but if you're asking me about the spots I have no clue. I never paid attention to where the zombies hang out."
"I'm surprised you didn't race with those doing it with volatiles instead."
"Remember, all of them ignore me. Volatile racing only worked when I got hold of a firecracker."
"What can I do for you?"
"Doc Zere says you know where I should look for these, uh, "bolters"…
Super-fast infected? Covered in big green blisters?"
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I can point you in the right direction. Here, here and here. Though, you ask me, if trouble don't come lookin' for you, no reason to go lookin' for trouble."
"Words to live by. Thanks." Crane and Kyle ate a meal before heading off picking a spot with the closest safe zone. "Let's catch some rest before night." The two made it the safe zone quick also picking the spot that would be closest back to the tower and Zere's trailer, the two setting up two bedrolls before lying down neither falling asleep quickly as they tried. "Hey, I don't think Rahim meant what he said he's just upset."
"I know, I saw it on his face. But he has a point you know. I don't how long it would take me but I could try it."
"And I said no way. One scuff on the knee and you'll be swarmed. And even if we go in together that could still happen. Take heed of the words we just heard."
"Crane… was it really so obvious that I was there on the bridge?"
"No but I know now or have an idea why the pylon had puncture holes, they were confusing. I almost gave up…" Crane admitted feeling shame and guilt immediately.
"Damn my plan was great… I went that flashy because I figured using smoke or something was too easy to see through and because I don't make sense, turning into a volatile didn't have to either."
"Well, I'm glad that chest made you sneeze screwing over your damn perfect plan." Crane growled but smiled again glancing to the kid smiling himself and letting out a laugh rolling over facing Crane.
"How long do you think the tower will take to get used to me?"
"Not long, you have this charm and no amount of your sarcasm can hide it. I mean, I endured you for a week and look at me I dragged you back from the dead." Crane smirked.
"Cuz you got lucky." Kyle pouted with a smile.
"Yeah, well sometimes your luck in getting your way has to be cancelled." Crane chuckled with a stretch.
"Waiting sure is boring…" Kyle sighed flopping on his back with his arms out on the bedroll.
"Yeah it is." Eventually the two fell asleep, Crane the first to wake up with the darkness settled in having gently shaking awake a groggy Kyle waking up. "Come on, let's go."
Kyle quickly put on his backpack having left the claws on during sleep and the two headed out the location dismayed to find it raining soaking them as the crept to the marked spot. Crane cautiously crept closer aiming the gun, both ready to sprint back to the safe zone behind them. His finger pulled the trigger of the rifle gunning down the bolter and the man rushed forward cutting out some tissue with a scrunched up nose bagging it as the air filled with volatile screams. Crane's short sprint came to a stumbling stop hopping over the fence as Kyle had suddenly frozen after stumbling and slicing his arm on a glass shard on the ground from the nearby busted car having turned to the scream as his eyes widened recognizing the one he felt drawn to. Kyle didn't move, the volatiles skidding into sight with more screams, their grotesque mouths shaken with saliva and the tongue out. Kyle to Crane's horror didn't budge away from the volatiles rushing at him, Crane quickly taking out the gun again and aiming it from the stairs shouting for Kyle to get in quickly. The volatiles rushed at the blonde almost making a halfway circle around the kid, a few glancing to the safe zone with snarls but refusing to enter the zone surrounding the boy as he bore the bloodshot eyes staring at them. But not all. At a specific one, the one right in front of them having moved far more eagerly to the kid with odd movement not doing a full on rush faltering a little even before the blood shot eyes. Crane kept the gun steady but didn't shoot at the tense stare off shouting for Kyle again to come to him as to not draw in even more zombies bound to come sooner or later anyway as the bloodshot eyes firmly stopped the frantic volatiles circling the boy in their tracks from a full pounce. The rain stilled poured on them, having revealed the very reason Kyle's heart fell in his gut with wide eyes connecting dot after dot coming to a realization, an instinct confirmed flooded with emotion being a mixture of sorrow, pain, relief and hope. Crane' eyes narrowed on the pink tie still hanging on the neck surprisingly not off but halfway there which Kyle had his eyes glued to slowly tilting his head upwards with silent tears starting to roll down his cheeks. And his next words, quiet just barely picked up by Crane broke the man's heart.
"Dad?"
"Kyle, that's not your dad anymore, get in the safe zone!"
"Dad… I know you're still different…" An increasingly teary face accompanied by a heartbroken voice shaking with soft cries put on a small smile of hope. "Come on dad, you can do it… just change, please… come back to me…"
"Kyle, come on!"
"Dad it's me, Kyle! I'm okay!"
"Kyle!"
"Crane, it's my dad!" The boy smiled at him, Crane growling on the inside with no idea what to do. To jump into the circling volatiles was suicide and Kyle refused to come inside completely absorbed with his turned father waiting like a cat to pounce and tear the prey apart although less than the others. For a fleeting moment, the man thought he could even see doubt in the already restrained pounce movement. The volatile did act different, but dad or not, Crane didn't want him near Kyle. "Don't shoot!"
"It's not safe around him Kyle, come inside please!" He didn't know what else to do other than beg the boy to come inside, three biters crawling closer from their talking and shouts.
"Come on dad… snap out of it, please…" The boy turned around again, tears becoming stronger anew as his hand moved to the claw like hands. "Please dad…"
"Kyle, don't!" But Kyle's hand already grabbed his father's turned one and the volatile pounced, Kyle's arm raised in defense receiving the slash causing bleeding scratches and the sudden shove from the rush abruptly stopped again sending him stumbling back knocking at the leg of a circling one pouncing with uncertainty as the bloodshot eyes threw if off but still reacted to the fleeting touch. Without warning, Kyle's father pounced the other volatile causing a short screech from both, Crane unable to shoot in the fast moving fray afraid to hit Kyle in the rain. The tussle didn't last, a quick pounce driving the other back and aside only for Kyle's father to whip around again to pounce at his son and fail at it stumbling around with a screech staring intently at the blonde again staggering to his feet with bloodshot eyes straying to his bleeding arm.
"Dad, snap out it! Please! You can't leave me!" Kyle cried out, blood shot eyes kept steady throwing his arms around the volatile immediately trying to devour him but stopped from the height difference and Kyle busting out the flesh claws and using his strength to keep the footing unsure, the fact the blonde was shorter than his taller turned dad also used to his advantage. It almost looked like trashing in between as the volatile would jerk and freeze momentarily in his actions only to make no sign of sparing him with the scratching hand coming down his shoulder almost catching his face only missed because he pressed his face closer against his dad shivering. "Snap out of it dad!" Crane started shooting, the other volatiles more erratic again trying to pounce themselves in the mess yet leaping away but with Kyle stuck to his dad they couldn't hit the blonde making it possible for the man to shoot as his thoughts raced, his gut upside down and his heart thundered in his chest growing frantic with panic moving to leap over the gate no matter the danger to protect the screaming crying boy desperate for his father. The screams of volatiles, Crane and Kyle pierced the air the boy calling for his dad to snap out of it again, stumbling back from the volatile struggling and the mandibles barely missed the neck as he yanked away piercing into his shoulder as they toppled over together. The bullet rushed into the shoulder of the tie wearing volatile causing him to jump off the boy opening his eyes again keeping them bloodshot as his body trembled crushed by emotions of agony, barely stumbling after Crane evading deadly grasps yanking him up and hauling him over the gate with a yell using all his strength and determination both crashing down behind it into the muddy ground with the rain soaking them and washing their wounds. "Dad… no…"
"Kyle, no, stop it!" Crane wrapped his arms around the crawling boy reaching up to the entering and exiting patch with a sob pulled into a tight hug by the man. The kid with more sobs slowly leaned in, arms dropping to his side before they hugged back, the metal claws avoiding scratching the bigger Kyle easily having worn them so long, flesh claws away again as Crane slowly pulled him into the hut sitting down with the kid tightly wrapped in a hug rocking him as Kyle sniffled crying into his arms. "You're safe, I got you…"
"Dad… h-he…"
"He's a volatile now, you have to stay away Kyle, I'm sorry." Kyle tried to soothe the sobbing kid. "Just let it all out, Kyle." Crane softly encouraged and Kyle let himself burst like a dam releasing every cry from the day he was bitten, his cries echoing through the night filling the street. Crane deep down already knew the sample wouldn't be a fresh one anymore as he rocked the wailing boy hugging back tightly. Crane had seen many horrors already in Harran and he couldn't even imagine in how much agony Kyle was right now, every time he cried out again and again a stab to the heart. But what was worse, was knowing his dad being a volatile possibly hurt even more than his mother who had tried to devour him. Because his father acted just the tiniest bit different from the others hesitating for split second more strongly left just trickle of hope and Kyle's own abilities a dangerous playing room for desperate tries like the one he just tried to pull. And Crane didn't know if he'd try again and if he could save the boy from himself again. How did someone stop a moth from going too close to the flame?