Dr.William Birkin
David walked through the surreal area, this was the part of the park he hated with every fiber of his being. The wooded path wound around the lake and eventually ended by branch street...his destination was where he had last heard the cleaner troops were falling back to..find the generic henchmen...find their leader..find their leader...and then find Markenson...then kill the son of a bitch... thought David, enjoying how he could maintain such a vengeful state of mind even when scared out of his wits. A low fog had rolled in from the lake area, and the moonlit clearings only added to the dream..or nightmare..like quality of the path. Walking slowly forward, David passed a trooper with a large radio..the radios static hum changed instantly.
Markenson had decided it was time to close the noose...seeing David walk past the trooper was just the opportunity he needed. Keying in the radio frequency..Markenson prepared to deliver the ultimatum...
"David,....David Sunderland..." the radio began to sputter. "WHAT THE?!" David spun around, aiming his mac10 at the woods, realizing it was a radio, he cautiously went over and answered the call. "Yes? This is Sunderland...what the hell do you want..". "David...it's me..your old friend Markenson..." laughed the garbled voice. "YOU....god..why can't people like you ever die when you should..you're like a cockroach, wandering aimlessly through the shadows of the world...a pest that just cant be eradicated but in the end is just a weak, pathetic screw up of nature". Laughter burst forth over the line, "That's what I always liked about you Sunderland...even when you're about to die you maintain that cynical little sense of bitter humor...god..I'm almost going to regret doing what I have to do...". "Which is..?" responded David, now impatient. "I have a friend of yours with me...her name is Alexandra Temple...I believe you two are quite close...". "You're bluffing...you....you have to be!" screamed David, refusing to believe it. "Oh really?!" The sound of wild sobbing was heard over the comm. radio, "YOU CALL THAT BLUFFING? LOOK SUNDERLAND, I CAN ONLY KEEP PIERS AWAY FROM HER FOR SO LONG...you know how to find me...I suggest you do so....this little game you've been playing has to end....". David turned, and saw a camera imbedded in a tree, the lens shimmering in the pale light of the full moon. David stared in hatred at it, and raised his weapon. "If you touch her...I swear to god I'm going to make you sorry you ever heard of me..". Throwing the radio away into the woods, David pulled the trigger, blasting the camera into a useless hunk of metal in a burst of .45 acp rounds.
Markenson sighed, and lowered the radio, staring at the static filled screen. "And now for the beginning of the end..". Switching on an intercom, Markenson lit a cigarette "Piers....you know what to do...make it painless as possible for her, and remember, try to go for no permanent mental aberrations caused by the procedure..". "Ohh...you never let me have ANY fun!!!!" responded Piers. The sound of laughter and cries of horror were heard over the open intercom..as Piers moved to complete phase 1...
May god have mercy on us all for this.... thought Markenson quietly, sickened by the brutality of his colleague, and the horrors they would bring upon the remaining survivors....
City of the Dead
Jarred was beginning to think splitting up was a dumb idea, but then again he had Vanessa on his mind ever since him and John had separated from the others.
"What's going on with you two?" John asked.
Jarred knew what John was asking, but he played it off as if he didn't.
"What do you mean?" Jarred asked.
"You and Vanessa, I mean what I saw wasn't just a glad to see ya...Well, it could be" John said.
"Heh, that's none of your business" Jarred joked.
At about that time, distant gunshots told them both that the conversation was over.
"Shall we dance?" John joked.
"Lets" Jarred smiled.
They both ran off in the direction of the shots. Jarred led the way, he rounded a fountain and hopped over a few benches.
"Hurry up John" He yelled to John who was trailing behind.
A large thud hit the ground in front of him and Jarred was surrounded by a hulk of olive scar tissue and burnt muscle.
"Holy shit" He yelled as he gazed upon the disfigured shape of the Nemesis.
It's face was horribly mutilated, compliments of Jarred's earlier work. Torn black leather was burnt onto it's skin, and a mass of violet pulsating cords ran in and out of its body, collecting at the head and arms.
Jarred went to grab his assault rifle but it was too late, the Nemesis drew back his bleeding arm and a wave of tentacles grabbed hold of Jarred. He felt the grip tightening around his throat and stomach as he was lifted into the air, brushing up against the tree branches.
"Godammit, eat this you piece of shit" John yelled unloading the buck shot into the creature. He watched helplessly as the creature slammed Jarred to the ground like a toy. His face hit hard on the cement, chipping most of his front teeth, he felt something trickle out of his mouth, not knowing whether it was spit or blood. He couldn't even tell where he was at the moment. John continued to fire, cursing the monster loudly.
"Raghhhhhh" The nemesis growled as he ignored John and took a few steps towards Jarred's floored body. It seemed as if the creature was seeking revenge on the one who had nearly killed him earlier.
Jarred could see the blurry figure approach him, he was just about out of it and he could barely move. He summoned up all his strength to raise up, but was smacked back down again by the creature.
"Jesus Christ, it's going to kill him" John yelled. He ran closer and continued to fire.
Then all of a sudden, the Nemesis recoiled and backed away from the fallen survivor. It let out a disappointed growl and ran right past John and away from them both. If they both came out of it okay, John would have been overjoyed. He ran over to Jarred who appeared to be unconscious on the ground.
Oh god, please don't be dead.
"Aw no dude" John said assessing Jarred's injuries.
Blood covered his face and he was already bruising up.
"Oh dear god, don't die on me Jarred" John yelled at his fallen friend. "Dude, we all need you... Vanessa needs you; you can't die like this."
Jarred was gone, unconscious, he was very endurable, but no one could handle a thrashing like that. John gently helped him up, draping Jarred's motionless arm around his shoulder.
"Come on, we're going to go somewhere safe for now, until I can find the others" John said, he knew that Jarred couldn't hear him, but he said it anyways.
"Well, I'll be damned" Piers said.
Markenson almost didn't hear his comment; he was lost in thought, watching Alex in the holding room. He turned around and saw Piers standing at the monitors.
"What is it?" He asked looking into the black and white screen.
"I knew it, its true" Piers said excitedly.
"What?" Markenson asked again.
"That Jarred boy, the Nemesis withdrew from finishing him off" Piers smiled.
"I'm not following you" Markenson said.
"Don't you see, I knew it all along, that kid's blood type is the only one that can resist the effects of the virus and its mutations, meaning that the injection of ME3456 wouldn't mutate him or change his body, we need him alive" Piers said excitedly pointing to the monitors.
"Wait a minute? What the hell was that?" Markenson asked.
A rumbling could be heard overhead, they had set up their communications and surveillance systems in the basement of City Hall, which also doubled as a bomb shelter, so it was very rare to hear anything from the outside.
Markenson turned and began to fumble with the camera controls.
"Uh oh, looks like we have more company" He said staring closely at the monitor.
The choppers sat down near High Street, at least four or five of them. The doors swung open and out jumped many armed troops.
"Looks like Isis is on to sliver" Piers said looking over at Markenson who was infuriated.
Markenson picked up a two-way radio and set it to where it would come across all the cleaner's frequencies.
"Attention men, we have new orders, Isis troops are on the ground near High street, shoot to kill, repeat shoot to kill, don't forget about those bastards as well, we want the ones Jarred Orr, Nathan Law, and David Sunderland alive, anyone else is to be shot on sight, over" Markenson slammed down the radio. At about that same time, he quickly collected himself and was eerily calm again.
"Well, this is going to complicate things" He said to Piers. Markenson knew that Isis was onto them, they had no other reason to be there. More than likely the Isis troops would make attempts to keep the survivors away from Blair as well as well as destroy all their research, but they wouldn't be successful.
"Don't worry, no one is going anywhere" Markenson said walking away from the camera monitors...
Carlos Oliveira
Feeling himself hit the floor Nathan looked up and saw Winsor falling with the hunter into the water. Quickly standing he reached down and collected his rifle slinging it over a shoulder before diving in after them. The water wasn't very cold as he swam down into the murky depths. Flicking on the tac light he saw Winsor fighting to free herself from a tangle of net that she had caught her foot in. She looked up with pleading and sorrowful eyes. Seeing that see was about to pass out Nathan swam back up and took a deep breath as he plunged back in. Swimming down to her he grabbed her shoulder with one hand and slipped his other behind her neck pulling her lips to his. He pressed his lips firmly against hers and when her mouth opened he exhaled the air into her lungs and pulled away. She looked shocked and thankful all at the same time. He dove down and pulling out a small pocket knife he started to free her from the netting. Suddenly he was slammed from behind a driven deeper into the abyss. She caught a quick glimpse of the hunter pushing him deeper then water was churning so badly that she couldn't see him anywhere. She heard a few muffled whooshing sounds and then saw the tac light coming towards her. Nathan reached up and freed her ankle and with an arm around her waist, swam her up to the surface.
Not only was she shocked but impressed as well at Nathan's ability to think clearly in a situation like this. When their lips touched not only did she feel the air rush into her lungs but she felt something else,....desire. Shaking her head she thought that maybe it was a desire for air, but in the end she knew it wasn't. Nathan pulled her to the surface and swam her to shore. Laying there for a few moments he held her tightly. When she sat up he looked into her eyes and whispered,..."Jesus. I thought I'd lost you." Quickly realizing what he said he tried to avoid embarrassment by looking away but she reached out and with a hand to his cheek turned him back to her. Smiling....actually smiling at him. She pulled him to her in a tender embrace and whispered,..."Thank you,...for everything."
Silently they sat there holding each other as they each let some of their demons go. For them both it was a release of the past and a beginning of the future. When they parted he somehow lost himself and kissed her cheek. It seemed like the right thing to do but instantly he felt like he had done something wrong. She smiled again and so did he. Standing up he helped her to her feet and held her hand longer then necessary.
She let go and started to hand dry her hair. She wiped her face on her shirt cleaning the water off and when she looked up Nathan was staring at her with a strange look in his eyes. A look she had never seen before from anyone.
Quietly he whispered,.."My god your gorgeous."
She answered like she hadn't heard him,...."What was that?"
"Uh? Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud. We should get going. We need to find David and Alex." he replied
Reloading his rifle he turned towards the path and then suddenly looked back.
"You know I don't care what you say Sam. Nothing can make this night worse then it already is! I really like you a lot! More then I think I ever have. Your attitude doesn't scare me but the complete opposite! I'm attracted to you. It's so obvious! And I know you don't feel the same and never would but I'm not one to lie or beat around the bush! I'm glad we got stuck together and I'm even happier that we took a dip together too! There is something about you that draws me like a moth too a flame and I don't know what it is! I do know that it isn't hate, anger, or anything bad, and if the only way I ever get to kiss your lips is by having a creature knock you into the water and almost drown you then I'll take it!! Either way I feel I know you a little better then the others and for some reason trust you more!......Ok go ahead and yell, curse, smack me, whatever you'd like. I'm tired of hiding things from you like my feelings. I may not be able to tell my parents how much they meant to me but I sure as hell can tell you!" Nathan stood there as he finished waiting for her reply. Whatever she said it couldn't be worse then what he expected. So either way he was safe from the hurt. Maybe not from the loneliness though.
She stared at him as he poured himself out at her in another rant. This one being different, she didn't know what to say until he finished. Looking into his green eyes she never felt this way before and without thinking opened her mouth and the words came forth like they we're coming from somewhere else.....
Jill Valentine
The empty moans grew closer and closer; quickening the slow steady pace that Vanessa and Ryan had once settled into. The dark cannibalized figures closed in on them faster and faster; as several more corpses emerged from the darkened bushes surrounding the City Park.
"Fuck!" Ryan cried through breathless gasps of fear. "We can't fight them off, let's get out of here!"
Vanessa didn't hesitate to disagree with his suggestion, and immediately sprinted on after Ryan as he darted around dark corners, and dusty forest bends.
Before they knew it, they had narrowly escaped the lifeless cannibals, Ryan leaning over toward the ground, desperately gasping for air as he glanced up around him; looking for any signs of danger.
"It's best we find the others..." he gasped, holding his abdomen in pain. "We can't fight those things by ourselves..."
"But that defeats the whole purpose of us splitting up in the first place!" Vanessa cried. Ryan glared up at her, through tired, yet angry eyes, opening his mouth widely, as the words thundered out at her.
"Would you like to die here? Huh?! Well I'll tell you now, I have had just about enough of people dying on me okay? So are you going to listen to me and find the others? Or die a miserable death?!"
Vanessa's face grew pale; fear drawn into her expression as she nodded slightly, indicating her agreement. Ryan's facial expression softened.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I've just been through a lot..and I don't want anyone else to die, and that includes you..."
Vanessa smiled, deeply acknowledging his apology, for she understood what he was going through.
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Not far away-
John paced on quickly, an unconscious Jarred leaning off his arm. He had a lot going through his mind at this point of time; he
was scared for Jarred's life, and his own.
"Please, Jarred buddy, don't die on me now..."
Trudging heavily through the muddy slabs of the forest trail, John was determined to survive, as well as taking his six friends along with him.
There were sudden conscious moans coming from Jarred's sleek, yet bloody mouth. John gently set him down on the ground, lightly shaking him in the hopes he would wake up.
"Jarred? You ok? Get up man." John pleaded, still shaking him.
"Mmm...Where are we?" came rattled gurgle from Jarred's red, bruised face.
"We're still in the park dude...I'm trying to find the others, but I haven't seen them!"
Jarred forced himself to stand up, almost tumbling over at his first attempt.
"Do you think I would be able to walk?" He asked, wincing at the dim light that had formed the image of John's face.
"Maybe, just try for yourself."
With his weak legs trembling from his forced steps, Jarred collapsed, crying in pain as he fell.
"Ah shit man!"
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Ryan and Vanessa were still quite a distance from where the group had initially split up.
It was dark, and the midnight air cooled their warm human bodies with it's cold still touch. The forest trees swayed gently in the cool breeze that whirled through the City park, and the gentle rattle of the leaves colliding with the hard cement pathway set a rhythmic beat throughout the stillness of the forest.
"So," Vanessa began, trying to initiate conversation. "You think this whole thing will...blow over?"
Ryan gave Vanessa a disturbed look, trying to find an answer to her question.
"Well, in time it will," he replied. "But we are the ones who have to stop it."
"Yeah...I wish this whole thing had never of happened.." She suddenly muttered, peering up at the pale, moonlit sky that shone brightly over her.
"Doesn't everyone?"