Chapter Four
Beginning of the End

I. Day Fourteen

Panic hit him hard and heavy when he opened his eyes the next morning. He had to get away from there. They were coming for him. He didn't know how, but he knew they were coming for him and, more importantly, for Alicia.

"Calm down, Rudy," he said to himself.

That was ridiculous. They'd been persistent in the beginning, but they hadn't been around as much lately. His fear was just paranoia manifesting itself in his fear of Agent G and Agent Rogan. But what about the calm before the storm? He asked himself. Things always settled down before the real trouble began.

No, he was just being silly he'd been working too hard lately. He just needed a break, and he would take one soon. He just needed to figure out what to do about Alicia. Time was running out.

He got up from his bed and went to Alicia's room. "Good morning," he said as brightly as he could, but he knew he probably sounded like a strangled moose.

He'd done the best he could at cleaning her wounds, but she wasn't getting better. The smell wasn't as bad, or maybe he'd just gotten used to it. One of his neighbors had complained, and he feigned ignorance, saying he'd look for the source of the problem. He already knew what the problem was.

Soon, Alicia would be really dead, and he felt like a failure. What did all his research, all his hard work, all his love mean if he couldn't even save Alicia?

II. Gone

Today was the day. Rogan and G would finally see what was really up with Curien.

They'd gotten clearance from the heads to find out what was really going on in that apartment. After presenting Ana's story to the heads, they couldn't refuse, especially since Curien's neighbors were complaining of a horrible smell coming his apartment. Like something dead was in there. Rogan and G had their suspicions about what that "something dead" was.

Of course, they would handle things civilly first. They would knock on his door and ask to come in. If he refused, they would continue to press the issue. If he still refused, they'd kick the goddamn door in. No one ever said that government business was pretty, and this was of the utmost importance. This one girl could effect the American public… the world even.

They arrived at the apartment a little after dark. They did their best work then. Rogan knocked on the door. "Curien. Rudy Curien," he called through the door, "It's Agent Rogan and Agent G, we need to speak with you. This is very important, son."

No answer.

"We know you think you're helping the girl, but you're only endangering yourself," Rogan said, putting his hand to his gun. Still, no answer. G pushed Rogan aside, kicking the door in with one smooth kick. They looked around the apartment before realization dawned.

"Fuck!" G said. "Curien and the girl are gone."

III. The End

He hadn't meant to stay at the bar long. His car broke down in the most God-forsaken place not far from his apartment complex. The neighborhood consisted of closed down building with signs older than he was and boarded up doors. They had to break down in Hellsville. That was just his luck. He couldn't go back to his apartment; they were looking for him, believing him to be stupid enough to return to his apartment.

The only thing that was opened was a small bar that looked as if the city's miscreants populated it. Beggars couldn't be choosy, though. He made sure Alicia was bundled tightly in her jacket.

He led her from the car, afraid of what might happen if he did leave her in the car. She was still despondent, but he didn't think she would continue to be that way. In fact, it surprised him that she hadn't already gone into a psychopathic rage as the rest of them had. Maybe he was close to finding a cure. Maybe, he decided, hope springs eternal.

They entered the bar, and Rudy led Alicia to a chair, telling her to stay put as if she were actually going to go somewhere. He went to the payphones in the corner of the club. But who would he call? Who could help him? He heard commotion, and he dropped the phone where it was, fearing the worst.

He saw a man hovering over Alicia who was crumpled on the floor. Rudy intervened before the man could kick Alicia in her stomach. "The bitch bit me!" the man shouted.

Rudy turned Alicia's face toward his; her lips were stained with the man's blood. Oh God, he said to himself, as Alicia's eyes sparked with something he'd never seen in them before—malevolence.

"What have you done?" was all he could say, as visions of Hell unfolded in his mind—the beginning of the end.

-fin