Chapter XI: Atonement
The minutes passed slowly in the Church, the light grew dimmer as the day inevitably began to give way to night. Axl had been sitting on the step in front of the altar the entire time, keeping his thoughts to himself while the Priest, Father O'Brien, went back and forth throughout the Cathedral constantly mumbling prayers in Latin that Axl couldn't understand. At times the priest asked Axl if he wished to join him in prayer, but each time Axl refused. There was too much on his mind.
In the mean time, Axl had taken the time to check his inventory and get his gear ready, placing his weapons back in their rightful places. They felt a bit lighter on his back than they had a little while ago, but he guessed it had something to do with his now healed wounds.
"All right, I've still got plenty of magnum rounds but I'm getting low on clips for my AK-47." He grabbed the backpack he had left beside him and opened it up, taking out a box of shotgun shells. He took his Benelli, set it on his lap and began loading it. "That zombie in the backhe's a damned Umbrella scientist. I don't know what kind of information I can gather from him, though. Damn it, I wish I had grabbed that nametag, at least then I might have an idea what he'd knowDamn it!" He set the last cartridge in and locked it into place. He checked the gun over and placed it on his back. Axl scanned the Cathedral, the light of the fading day gave the building the feeling of a safe haven. He thought aloud again, watching the sun through the stained glass. "I don't even know if I can control myself when I speak to this guy"
The priest walked from the door to the back room and stood next to Axl, looking down on him. Axl looked back up, tilting his hat up so he could look at the priest's face. The Priest nodded, "Martin is awake now, we can talk to him."
Axl half-smiled and stood up, "Well it's about time, I've been waiting a good forty-five minutes! I was guessin' he'd died or something."
"Please don't joke about such things, that is very inappropriate!" The priest gave him a scolding look, but Axl shrugged and walked past him.
"Whatever, I don't mean to be disrespectful or anything, but I've been through a heck of a lot today." He scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, I guess it's how I handle things. I just hope this wasn't a waste." He opened the door and looked back to the priest, "Let me speak to him alone, there are a few things I'd like to sort out." Without hearing the Priest's consent he walked inside and shut the door.
-
The zombie had not moved from the table, but Axl could see its chest rise and fall as it breathed under the warm glow of the light above. He walked over and looked, seeing its eyes were open, staring blankly toward the ceiling. Axl didn't say a word as he gazed at it, not knowing what to expect.
Martin spoke first, breathing heavily but managing to speak fairly clearly. "It'sYou are a Viral Hunter?" His clarity surprised Axl, and his observation even more so.
Axl responded to the point, "Yes, I'm an agent for the Viral Hunters. How'd you know that?"
Martin smiled and breathed out, sounding to Axl like a long, weak laugh. "It's not a usual sight to see a boy your age carrying so many weapons, even in a place like this."
"And you've heard of us from Umbrella, the company you worked for. We've destroyed countless specimens and outbreaks you people have unleashed."
"I did hear about you from Umbrella, of the organization that sabotaged our work and destroyed out labs and sites, even murdered our scientists." It took a breath, "How I've hated your kind since I first knew of your existence"
Axl smiled vindictively, "You know, it's poetic justice, a scientist infected by his own disease." He leaned closer, "Let me make this clear, you deserve to die, as does every last person who works to create such a vile thing. Your virus has killed so many, and you dare speak to me about murder? I want to know, how dare you say something like that to me." Martin tried to say something in return, but Axl continued, pacing along the table and pointing at him, "No! It doesn't matter if you saved my life, it is because of you that this town is dead! If it weren't for Umbrella, this world would be a far better place and this hell on earth would never have existed!"
The zombie remained silent for a moment, still breathing heavily, "I had no partUmbrella had nothing to do with this outbreak, I was caught unaware. I'm not sure what happened, but I didn't want this"
Axl was still furious at the infected man, "What did you want then, to be told when to flee? How many people were given that luxury in the past?" he stopped himself, closing his mouth tightly. He paused for a moment and spoke in a less angered tone, "This is pathetic. I don't have to tell you anything, all you have to do is look outside."
"I realize nowI know you are trying to make things right, that is why I used up the last of my strength to save you. I don't expect mercy or pity, just please know that I understand nowand I am sorry."
"You're sorry?" Axl couldn't take this, he could hardly contain his anger at this man. He drew his revolver and pointed it at its head as he stared coldly with piercing eyes. "A hell of a lot of good that does! Sorry will not bring back the dead! Tell me what you know about what happened to this town, I want answers. I'm trying to save people here, and if you help maybe then you can atone for your sins. If you truly feel remorse-"
Martin nearly jumped, but his muscles were still recovering from earlier. He shouted, "I told you, I had nothing to do with this! I didn't want this to happen, not to anyone!" He calmed and turned his head, facing away from Axl. Axl could hear him begin to sob, though it did not sound genuinely human. "I swear to you, I did all I could to try and save these people, but by the time I found out, it was too late. I don't understand how the virus could appear so suddenly and affect so many at the same time."
Axl listened intently, but kept the weapon trained on the infected scientist. "What do you mean, how did it spread so quickly? Wouldn't there be signs or stages of its spread, before the outbreak became critical?"
"Iam too weakmy mind is fading, I cannot think anymore" The zombie pointed toward an old, beat up cabinet in the corner of the room, but Axl didn't understand.
It was obvious that the outburst of emotion from the both of them was draining the infected man, his voice was becoming weaker, "Myit will explain" he whispered. Axl glanced back at the cabinet, but before he went to look Martin gasped suddenly and began to twist and turn, crying out sharply in torment, drawing Axl's attention back to him.
"Dear God" Axl's expression hardened, his face cold and grim as he lowered his .357. Martin's breathing was beginning to become more sporadic. He closed his eyes as the pain of the virus devouring him nearly doubled. Axl placed his gun back as he saw his face contort harshly; he really was going through hell. Axl knew it wasn't long before he made a complete transformation. There was no need to be angry with him any longer.
As Axl remained silent, watching him writhe in agony, he could hear Martin whispering.
"the Black Tyrant"
Axl heard something by the window high in the corner of the room and saw movement outside. The thicket of dense leaves shifted back and forth through the dirty glass, their dried branches scratching the windowpane. He turned back to Martin, speaking straightforwardly. "There is no need to worry about it any more, I killed it."
Martin opened his eyes half-way and looked into Axl's own. "Noyou couldn't have killed it"
Axl felt his heart beat faster as the sentence worried him. "What do you mean, it couldn't have survived. Nothing could survive that explosion." He did his best to conceal the worry in his voice.
The zombie spoke quickly, as if his breath would give out at any time. It turned its head to face the window, "Did you hear the noise outside? Thosewhere hunters." Axl squinted as he listened. "They know you are here, and He knows you are hereThe hunters have been told to go ahead of you and await your arrival at the prison."
Axl unknowingly stepped back, his anxiety taking hold. "W-what do you mean, how do you know all that?"
Martin turned back and faced Axl once more, pointing to its head, "I hear Him, even now. He can speak to anything infected and order it, only I can fight it because I still have my will powerIt's so hard, I can feel his control over me increase as each second passes He's waiting for you and has told the other Virals to let you pass. The girl is being used as bait, it is a trap"
Axl closed his fists tightly as he looked down, his emotions shifting between despair and anger as he spoke aloud to himself, "It's impossible! It couldn't have survived that explosion" He tossed his hat to the floor, "Damn it, it really is hopelesshow can I fight something like that, I don't even know exactly what that freakin' thing is!"
Martin was really getting worse with each passing moment. He whispered while trying to control himself, "Genesis"
Axl shook his head, confused, "Genesis? What is Genesis'?"
Axl saw Martin's hand grip the edge of the table, causing him stepping backwards at the sudden movement. Martin looked at him and spoke, trying to speak through the pain. "It believes itself to be a god, destined to destroy, infect, and *gck* rule all He constantly speaks of the death of the old God in place of himself on the throne of creationYou have to stop it!"
Axl stood quietly, unable to even think with his eyes wide open. He mumbled, staring at nothing, "I can't, I can't" His mind was blank; he didn't understand the whole biblical thing mentioned, but it seemed that with a monster as powerful as that he could do nothing to stop it. If there were no way to fight back, the world as he knew it would end. He only regained his grip on reality as Martin broke him from his daze, clutching his arm.
"There is one thing" Axl regained his senses as Mr. Harrison continued, "Itit fears you"
Axl looked again at Martin, "What?"
"It refers to you as an Archangel, believing you were sent by the old God to stop him. As it watched you through the eyes of the virals you've slain, it could see your own strength and ability. It fears you like nothing else, driving it mad with terror. That is why it wants to kill you and knows it must fight you itself to do it."
Axl's heart regained some of the hope it had lost for only a moment, but his face was serious. It was still a powerful creature, it didn't matter if it were scared or not. However, as a sentient being, if Axl could cast doubt over it, he might have a chance.
Martin was now feeling extremely weak, he could not keep up speaking for much longer but managed to smile. "Itis weakened, your first attack was not in vainthe armored plates have been damaged, it may be susceptible to armor-piercing bullets."
"Wait, the plates can be pierced by armor-piercing rounds?"
Martin nodded and Axl literally jumped with joy, the rest of his hope crashing back into him all at once, "Yes! I have armor-piercing rounds! My AK-47 is designed to fire that type of bullet and I have a clip of them with me!" He took out a clip with a red piece of tape on the bottom of it, making sure he had it. "And my magnum can crack the engine block of a Buick!"
Axl smiled, the rest of his success could ride on his skills with his weaponry. He felt there was still hope, as long as he could injure it he stood a chance. But despite his firepower, he prayed he had enough to stop it.
"It is up to you, V-Hunter, you have to end this now. If you don't strike now, while it is vulnerable, you won't get another chance. If that thing survives, life as we know it will no longer be."
Axl nodded firmly, "I understand. It looks like I have a second objective now. There is no time to waste here anymore." He bowed his head slightly, "I'll take my leave." He swiftly walked over to the door and placed his hand on the knob. "If you ask meyou've been forgiven for your sins." He didn't look up from the handle. "All you needed was to be shown the consequences of evil, in a way the suffering has cleansed you, a purification with fire, so to speak. I don't know how you got mixed up with Umbrella, butIf you believe in God, I hope he shows you mercy when you die."
"Waita final favor"
Axl let go of the knob and turned to look back at the zombie on the table.
"PleaseI can't let her see me like this, I can't become one of them"
The image of Axl lingered in the shadows of the room, not making a noise. This was not the first time he had been asked to do this.
"I can't resist it any more"
"Do you know what you are asking?"
"Yes, I do kill me, before it's too late, before I am no longer human"
Axl tilted his hat lower. He walked back to Harrison slowly, removing his revolver from its holster once more. As he stopped, he aimed the barrel a few inches from the zombie's head. His voice too had grown a bit shaky, "Please reconsider"
Martin looked at it and back at Axl. He felt his muscles could no longer permit him to rise so he lay limply on the table, speaking as well as he could. "I only wish I could have seen her one more timePlease don't feel regret, there is no time left for that. Know you have saved me and I can finally be free." He smiled, and despite his mutilated condition, it actually looked human. He closed his eyes and took in his final breath.
Axl did not tear his gaze away, focusing on Martin's head. He had to fulfill the duty set before him. "Vaya con el Dios."
He pulled the trigger.
