WARNING: this is a minichapter. Some of you might not like what you read in this chapter, but deal with it. Originally inspired by Shady Ashford's angst over Rebecca's condition in Crimson Africa, this particular plotline was intended for a later chapter but RamenKitty's work spurred it into action, so a big hand to Ramen and Shady777! *claps*
Thank you to all my reviewers! I love you all!
Zarbok~ that's quite alright! Uh... the pompoms. Yes, well. I think maybe I'd had too much caffeine... *scratches head embarrassedly* uh... just ignore it. ^^ thanks for the review!
Oogieboogieman~ *blushes* Thank you1 Though I have a feeling if you read that story you might change your mind, but I won't mind taking back-seat to /that/ story! THANKS!!!!
Shady Ashford~ Glad you liked! *glances at the M. of R. N. head on a spike as a desk ornament.* It took me awhile to kill it. It bounced back several times. Even now I'm not entirely convinced that it's dead, but who knows! As for Jill... you'll be finding out that all is not as it seems in about three paragraphs. Have I said too much? You tell me!
Tell Alexis thank you. Her cooking skills seem, uh, exotic. Thanks for the patent!
Ms Billy Coen~ Phffft!
Mozco- I'm glad you read! Thank you for your review! YAY! I feel psyched! I understand completely about college and stuff, so that makes your review extra special!
Claire Y- thank you! Several people have found that fact amusing. Can't think why! ^_*
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Polycythaemia= the condition of having too many red blood cells, originally treated by regaluar bloodletting of the patient, now can be treated with chemicals. The opposite of /anaemia/ which literally means 'without blood'.
5 muffins to whoever gives me the direct translation of 'polycythaemia', or one close enough to fit the bill!
Chapter 22: Feral
Jill felt queer. She felt incredibly cold but exceedingly warm at the same time, like an intense fire was spreading through her blood and melting away the ice. Her head felt... dizzy. In short, she felt faint, and many other things besides.
The surgeons, doctors and nurses around her were perplexed. "There's nothing wrong here!" the plump one fumed.
"Look at her!" wiry number two argued, "she's obviously got /something/ wrong with her, blood-loss, infection, anything!"
Number One was still fuming. "That's thing, no sign of infection, and the red blood cell count is normal."
"Polycythaemia?"
"I doubt that, there are no chemicals to say that she was being treated for an abundance of red /or/ white blood cells. Nothing, I've checked. She's perfectly healthy, except for having a torn throat."
"Doctors! She's coming 'round!"
The doctors hurried over to the green clad nurse, gathering round Jill's bed. She opened her eyes hesitantly, blinking at the intensity of the light. She saw blurred impressions of people before squeezing her eyes shut.
The raging fire in her blood now reached its peak. A restless defensiveness took hold of her. Her eyes flew open again, focussing on the people. The doctors and nurse instinctively shrank back.
Jill stood with more confidence than she'd ever thought it was possible to have, like cockiness but completely justified. She still wore her ragged cloths from the night before, soiled and bloodied. Jill was a picture to inspire only fear, the terror that would send all men home to mummy. And she couldn't have cared less.
With graceful strength she caught doctor no. 1's wrist and pulled him to her. She twisted his head to the side, revealing the fleshy neck. She was repulsed by the sight, the fat that insulated the delicate system of arteries and nerves. Quelling this distaste she bared fangs, and bit deep...
The blood was warm and bittersweet, tasting of life, tears, happiness, pain, all the human emotions in one sweet mouthful. Gone was the metallic tainted water that was tasted when she had pricked her finger or cut her hand. This was... ambrosia, the life-giving food of the gods.
The nurse began to scream, reminding Jill that others were in the room. She could hear the skeletal man creep behind a bed, whimpering. And then... a new sound! Rushing footsteps! Too many people...
The creature who was now Jill reached a lightening quick decision; stay, die- go, live. Animals have a unique sense of self-preservation. She walked over to the double-glazed window. There was a drop of three stories outside.
She grabbed a scalpel and hacked away at the rubber divide between the glass panes. All she needed was some leverage... Damn! Not working! Time to think of another plan, and fast.
Jill lunged at the screaming nurse out of sheer irritation. The long fingernails that Jill had so proudly grown since Raccoon City were now as hard as steel. They caught the nurse on the cheekbone and took with them a strip of skin. Blood cascaded over the nurse's face, who sank howling to the floor and cried.
Jill snarled and stalked through the door, hoping to still have some headway. There might not be much time; the guards sounded near. Turning to glance over her shoulder as she ran, Jill was surprised to see the guards/policemen all the way down at the other end of the corridor.
A shout of 'halt' and other threatening noises spurred Jill on. She ran, ignoring the elevator, down the flight of stairs, taking three at a time. She tripped on the last flight and rolled... got up and then continued running, completely unhurt; not even a bruise. She pushed past hospital staff, patients, searchers and anyone else who got in her way.
Finally bursting through the exit doors, she ran into the still night. She heard the faint sounds of searchers, the wind in the trees, everything. A still night had never seemed so /loud/ before. And then there was the blood...
Blood over her shirt, her mouth and even under her fingernails. How did it get there? It wasn't /her/ blood in any case. Jill found she was completely unhurt. Maybe it was Chris's, or Claire's... Speaking of her comrades, where were they? Why was she in the hospital, alone?
"What the hell is going on here?!" She screamed at the darkness.
Where to go? The sewers! That's where she had been before, and where she would find her friends. There was no time to worry now about the blood, it wasn't important. What was important was that her friends could be in need of her help, and here she was, barking to the darkness... the eerily /light/ darkness...
The confused new vampiress, formerly Jill Valentine, set of into the woods, eyes glinting
mysteriously.
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