Ok thanks for baring with me, here's the rest of act 2. Enjoy!
Chapter 10.
The battle in the subconscious.
In the mansion hidden deep within the Arkly mountains insanity had clearly taken hold, not just the physical monsters of mutation but the fractured minds that many of the more intelligent denizens of the lands possessed.
For it was a well-documented fact that as the virus created by the scientists in their underground labs mutated the flesh, it also mutated the mind and indeed the very soul of its host.
A man driven insane by a voice inside his head, whispering dark words of feasting on the flesh of his colleges, the whispering breaking his resolve until when the change came he welcomed the oblivion of his sentience.
A snake now turned into a queen, dominating the shadows of the forests with chilling eyes and crushing coils. Her own mind heightened beyond that of an animal, now possessing a terrible cunning and intelligence all thanks to the virus in her cells.
A girl tortured and broken by men and disease, her form now barely human and her mind on the very brink of collapse. Her frantic hold on her humanity slowly slipping away as the virus whispers in her mind.
And lying between death and life on a stained white bed another victim of humanities cruelty, barely alive his mind is open, weak…VULNERABLE.
The setting is a room shrouded in darkness, indeed a room is a false description as no walls can be seen and the impression of anyone viewing this place would believe that the darkness extends forever in all directions.
In this 'room' of shadows a light flickers weakly in the centre of the shadows, for indeed the shadows are very intent on this light in their midst. Inside the pool of light there is a bed, dusty and with hints of white on its sheets that has mainly turned a dark red.
On this bed lays a young creature, a Tyrant who has named himself Hazard, unaware of the irony of this, and now rests as his body slowly heals itself.
The darkness is watching him but Hazard is unaware, he merely sleeps on, peaceful in the small oasis of light he resides in unknowing of what is happening around him.
Or of whom is watching him.
At the edge of the shadows between the light and dark a cloaked and hooded figure stares at the sleeping Tyrant, no features can be determined on this figure except its height that is just below six foot.
Still the figure says nothing just stares at the sleeping Tyrant, a shift of its hood suggests a tilting of the head as Hazard mumbles words in his sleep.
Within the cowl two black eyes glint in amusement, or perhaps just because of the light reflecting off them like mirrors, and perhaps it is smiling or just as easily snarling.
However the silent watchers actions become more focused as it senses a change in the darkness around it, the shadows become tangible more oppressive, enclosing… threatening.
The cloaked figure turns and stares into the darkness defiantly, its unseen eyes gazing into the dark as if it can see something approaching, something invisible yet nevertheless can be perceived by the cloaked figure.
And when the shadows begin to move, flowing like fog around the pool of light the figure acts.
Quickly stepping out of the darkness, ignoring the tentacles of shadow that are questing along the barrier of light, the figure strides purposely over to Hazards sleeping form.
The figure stops beside Hazard. Its gaze, now silvery in the light, looking tenderly over the sleeping tyrant. A gloved hand reaches out and gently touches Hazards cheek running along it comfortingly.
Hazard sighs in his sleep and curls upon himself blissfully and the watcher chuckles at his actions.
Then an insane laugh cuts through the silence like a knife, echoing around them sinisterly.
The figure stops its actions and quickly stands stiff and alert as its senses, far different to the material five, scanned the darkness that now bellowed and swirled like storm around this island of light.
The laugh sounds out again, madness and cruelty evident in its high notes, and the watcher looks down upon Hazard.
"We will protect you Hazard… we promise" The figure whispers in a soft and musical voice.
"We will protect you Hazard! Ha! So full of purpose are we?" A voice hissed, for indeed it had a voice perfect for hissing, mockingly from behind.
The watcher stiffens again but does not turn around; "You have no right to be here," It says softly but with grim warning.
"I have as much right to be here as you, perhaps even more so! This body is mine, Hazard is mine, and you are nothing more then an echo of a dead and weak mind" The voice hissed again, but this time filled with menace and challenge.
"You are a corruption neither we, nor Hazard, wanted… you have no rights here"
"I do not need the right spectre I only need the power! And it is growing! You tried to stop me but if I recall wasn't it I who saved Hazard from that wretchedly inferior bioweapon?"
"You did not save him! You placed him in even greater danger then needed, you unleashed your frenzy on that zombie and it was Hazard who had to suffer for it!" The watcher roared, its gloved hands bunching up with anger.
"And don't think we don't know why you did it… we know what you have planned!"
At this the cloaked figure looked down towards Hazards body and pointed at Hazards tail, "We know what you wanted" it said quietly as its extended finger pointed towards a lump of flesh growing on the Tyrants tail.
"If you should fall I shall regenerate you, if you should be bested I will give you the weapons to win next time, if you should die! I will reincarnate you! THAT is my promise to Hazard and I am fore filling it!" The creature behind roared in anger, the shadows around the light rolled and broiled in response.
"He never asked for your promise, and WE never asked for you… Virus"
And saying this the cloaked figure, Hazards subconscious, turned and beheld the monster behind it.
The creature grinned at the other, pink gums glistening with saliva and blood as long serrated teeth were bared for view.
"Look upon me 'protector' and see that this is how Hazard SHOULD be. THIS is the pinnacle of what I can make him into!"
And the cloaked figure did, gazing in revulsion at the monstrous apparition before it.
Its figure was humanoid, and if the cloaked figure tried hard he could see a lot of Hazard buried in the perverse form. Certainly the majority of its skin was a light purple, the height was the same as Hazards, and there was still slenderness and some grace in its physique.
But that's where it ended, after that everything else of Hazards had been mutilated by this… abomination!
Horrible lumps of flesh like tumours grew all over its body, many of them with slim wiggling tendrils of flesh like worms emerging from them.
Hazards clawed hands, once delicate and beautiful like an ornate weapon had now changed to the equivalent of a rusty cleaver. Knobs of flesh grew around the knuckles and the claws themselves had extended by a foot and covered with venomous slime.
What were worse were the long tentacles like great whips that grew out of Hazards left arm. Coiling obscenely around the limb they grew from they reached to the floor and were covered in pink bulging veins.
Hazards tail too had been horribly mutated as the cloaked figure's revolted gaze swept down the creature's form. The previously slender tail now was covered in seeping tumours and spines of bone erupted from its length.
Even worse was that the tail had split at the end like a forked tongue both ends wiggling with pained spasms.
Forcing itself not to throw up, although technically it couldn't though it could feel the sensation, the watcher looked upon the mutation's face almost backing away in horror at the sight.
Nothing of Hazard was left here; the previously gentle and beautiful features ha vanished in a wave of mutation.
Hazards soft lips and smile were gone, the mouth stretched wide by the rows of serrated teeth that had erupted from the gums forcing the creature to keep its mouth open in a snarl. Even as it watched the figure saw a long slimy tongue shift lazily in the diseased orifice.
The nose had become nothing more then two slits above the mouth, and Hazards ears had fallen away leaving only two holes in the side of the monsters face.
Even more horrible was the next mutation, extreme in its corruption of Hazard. Hazards long jet-black hair had fallen away completely leaving the head bald, what was sickening was the thick tentacles of flesh that grew from his skull, three on top and another behind that coiled around the monsters head languidly.
The skin was stretched upwards by the tentacles and was covered it bulging veins, the effect was to remove all beauty from Hazard.
Finally the ultimate 'rape' of Hazards form was examined and the watcher felt his rage grow as he looked into the monsters mocking eyes.
The previously jewel-like golden orbs had been corrupted into a bulging red-vein filled parody of themselves. The golden iris had become a milky white surrounded by redness on the eye itself.
Worse still was the pupil, a single tiny black dot on both eyes through which pure, joyful, insanity stared out.
"You are nothing but filth… a rapist of beauty and corrupter of innocence" The watcher forced out through gritted teeth. It moved closer to Hazard protectively as those two black dots of the virus blazed with fury.
"I am perfection. Hazards physical appearance may be, shall we say, no longer pleasing but in the end does it matter?"
The creature spread its hands in a gesture of appraisal, its many tentacles swam through the air, and coiling around the body they inhabited with excitement.
"In this form he would be invincible! Immune to disease, age or poison. Any bodily damage would be repaired in seconds and his strength and ferocity would bring swift death to any who oppose him!"
The Virus smiled its shark-like grin, "I offer him safety and strength… and what can you offer him? A mere voice in his mind?" The Virus asked with amused disgust.
The watcher raised its head and stood tall and proud, "I offer what he truly needs… Trust, loyalty, friendship and compassion… things you cannot give him" The watcher said with conviction.
The Virus unleashed a high pitched laugh, clutching itself and shrieking in incredulous disbelief.
"Trust! Friendship!" The Virus laughed some more before it got a grip on itself then eyed the watcher in distaste; "These are delusions, pathetic imaginings of weak willed minds trying to find some pride in their lives when they do not have the strength to advance their own position!"
The Virus's pinpoint pupils glanced towards Hazard for a second then shot back towards the cloaked figure between them, "Hazard does not need such things, not friendship, not beauty, only POWER!"
The Virus snarled and lashed its whip like tentacles as it flexed its claws, "And he does not need you…"
The virus stepped forward into the ring of light, there was a moments resistance as the Virus pushed against the barrier but it quickly gave in and now the monstrous creature stood just a few feet from the cloaked figure who tensed in anticipation of conflict.
"You would do well to be wary of us" The watcher hissed at the Virus.
It laughed insolently, "You have no power here, I am the true strength of Hazard and now I will guide him, The Virus pointed an outstretched claw towards the cloaked figure, "Now STEP ASIDE!"
"Never"
"So be it!" The Virus shrieked and lunged for its adversary, teeth bared, tentacles outstretched and claws extended to their fullest.
The Virus flew through the air, an engine of incredible power, strong, fast, possessing incredible regeneration and the power of mutation and as it hovered above its enemy the cloaked figure looked small and frail compared to the beast.
The monster was within inches of its prey, eyes shining with bloodlust; spittle flying from its mouth as it loomed over the watcher and on the bed Hazard whimpered in his sleep.
Then the watcher's eyes glowed with silver light under its hood and it waved its hand in a back slap at the lunging monster.
A wave of force slammed into the monster smashing into it and pushing it back with stunning strength, the Virus screaming in shocked disbelief as it was thrown back into the shadows.
The watcher stepped forward hand raised before it and a pale blue glow illuminating the gloved hand, it reached the edge of the barrier but stopped when it saw the Virus was not where it had landed.
The cloaked figure quickly backed up to Hazard who was squirming restlessly in his sleep, the figure glanced down wanting to comfort him but knowing it couldn't just yet.
Unfortunately the second it looked at Hazard was when the Virus struck.
Charging from the right the Virus roared as it slammed into the watcher, the cloaked one crying out as they both fell to the floor.
A powerful bony hand clamped onto the watchers neck and with frenzied speed quickly slammed the hooded figures head into the ground, the watcher tried to fight of the nausea as the Virus's high pitched laughter rang in its ears.
The watcher raised its hand to throw Virus off it but fell back with a scream as the Virus's tentacles stabbed into its body, the Virus laughed as its squirming tentacles moved within the struggling figure tearing at its psyche.
"Did you really think you could save him?" The Virus whispered softly as the watcher struggled beneath it, "You survived the corruption of the body, I am impressed that even this much of you was left"
The watcher snarled and quickly raised a hand towards the creature a slivery glow beginning to grow but acting with lighting speed a tentacle wrapped around the hand and forced it back down.
The figure groaned as it felt itself breaking up, the tentacles inside it couldn't do physical damage because they were both mental manifestations, but it could feel itself being overruled and erased by The Virus that held it down.
"You must of known that this would happen? Did you think you were special, that you could somehow survive the… persuasive power of the virus on a mind?"
"You haven't killed us yet! Hazard still remains and you won't have him!" The watcher yelled defiantly as it fought the grip on its limbs.
The Virus laughed and leaned closer its mad eyes glowing as it smiled at the struggling persona.
"But I have killed you… I corrupted your body, I erased your mind and have made you into something far greater then you once were!"
The Virus glanced towards Hazard who was tossing and turning in distress on the bed, the Virus grinned and spat out, "And in a few seconds you will be gone and I will turn Hazard into the Tyrant he should be! And your precious 'humanity' that you cling to will be swept away like all the others who have been blessed by a virus!"
The Virus threw its head back laughing in triumph as it contemplated the insanity to come and the change it would enforce on Hazard, beneath it the cloaked figure stared up in horror as it imagined too what would happen.
"Are we gonna be ok?"
The watcher frowned as the words of Hazard came back to him, their last conversation before his sleep.
"I don't wanna die"
The watcher felt tears fall from its slivery eyes, this monster above him would never care for Hazard like it did… would never comfort him, never laugh with him, never feel happy with him.
"You've been a good voice in my head"
The watcher felt new strength flow through his body as he glared up at the laughing Virus through a red haze, with a rising growl he began to raise his hand.
'Hazard doesn't need the power of mutation'
The hand was raising and the Virus looked down in confusion as the hand stretched out towards it, it snarled and tried to pull the hand back down but it wouldn't budge.
'Hazard doesn't want to be a Tyrant he wants to be HUMAN!'
The silvery glow returned and the hand began to glow with blinding light as the Virus shrieked in pain and surprise.
"Hazard doesn't want you he wants ME YOU BASTARD!" The figure screamed in righteous fury and expelled its power in an explosion of energy.
The Virus screamed as it was blasted off of the watcher; it soared through the air disappearing into the shadows again.
The cloaked figure struggled to its feet swaying slightly as it stared into the swirling blackness around it, it waited a few seconds then the Virus broke cover roaring at the top of its voice as it charged forward with claws bared.
The cloaked figure danced to the side with incredible speed, swinging right and under the Virus's attempted tackle as the monster charged past.
Still moving the cloaked one charged up a ball of silver light in its gloved hands and pivoting on a foot it turned towards the Virus and threw it forward.
The Virus didn't have time to move as the silver orb smashed into its back exploding and throwing the Virus a few meters away to the edge of the darkness in a crumpled heap.
The Virus slowly levered itself to its feet; its eyes blazing as it stared at the silent watcher, who stood poised and ready. The monster screamed and charged again this time lashing the air with its whip-like tentacles.
The hooded figure didn't try to evade this time, its whole body glowing and it merely raised its hands above it and to its horror the Virus felt itself gripped in an irresistible grasp as it began to float into the air.
"Time for you to go" The watcher whispered as it made a few complex passes in the air with its hands, the Virus shrieked a, "You can't do this!" but the watcher merely smiled and threw its hands to both sides.
The Virus screamed as it began to glow with a blinding light; its shrieks becoming higher pitched until with a last flash it disappeared completely.
The watcher sagged in exhaustion and closed its eyes tiredly, around it the black clouds became calmer and more languid.
The hooded figure forced itself to walk and stumbled over to Hazard who was curled upon himself and shaking fiercely, the young male shivered as the watcher laid a hand on his shoulder but soon relaxed at the soothing touch.
The cloaked one stared out into the darkness as it stroked Hazards cheek contemplating the future; the Virus was not dead of that it was sure. It merely had the power to banish the Virus it couldn't kill it completely.
It sighed and murmured, "But at least we won this battle".
Looking down at Hazard it felt the shadows around it flow in excitement as Hazard began to slowly awake the watcher smiled and moved closer to Hazards pointed ear.
"We will always protect you, we promise"
And in his sleep Hazard mumbled a "I know" as he began to regain consciousness.
Chapter 11.
Hard decisions.
Lisa had been searching for that insufferable creature for over an hour now and had found not a single trace of him!
She wondered where he had gone as she sat on a dusty step of the stairwell down to the first floor, behind her was the second floor balcony above the dining hall and that was where she had last got a clue to Hazards whereabouts.
"Stupid, irritating thing" She muttered to her self as her tentacles slapped against the wooden banister anxiously.
Her ears twitched as the zombies below her began to fight and she leaned forward for a better look.
Looking between the banister she saw that the two zombies below had dragged a mutilated corpse along the ground tearing off chunks and fighting for the choice parts.
She sniffed the air again, which she had done twice over, and still couldn't pick up anything over the heavy rank smell of blood in the air.
She looked down at the body as a loud crack echoed in the room, a zombie had torn open the corpse's rip cage and was biting deep into the heart nestled within, pushing away the other as it did so.
Lisa licked her lips and had to fight the urge to rush down there and claim the meat for herself, she hadn't eaten for awhile and despite the gruesome sight and smell Lisa couldn't be bothered to be squeamish, food was food as far as she was concerned.
But… there was the worry.
'What if its him?' She wondered nervously.
Despite her previous thoughts now with the possibility of that mangled corpse being Hazard she found herself feeling… sadness.
"But why? Why should I care for that thing" She growled in annoyance at herself, even as she said it the answer formed in her consciousness.
'Because of a smile, and soulful eyes'
The confused Tyrant cradled her head in her bound hands in distress; YES she did feel some sadness for him. He had done nothing wrong… he had seemed so nice and felt wrong for him to die like that.
He had smiled at her and shown mercy when no one else had… and what had she done? Tried to kill him twice!
'But he's a… boy. He's dangerous and a threat to me, he's stronger then me!' She thought fearfully.
But then she remembered the purple ones squeak and his embarrassment outside… such a creature couldn't be evil could it?
"This is getting me nowhere" She muttered and glanced at the body. She needed to know right now whether he was alive or dead.
Cause if he was dead then at least she could get over him.
Quickly hurrying down the stairs she stopped before the feasting zombies hissing fiercely and raising her tentacles in challenge.
The two zombies glanced at her, she could tell that they where wondering what to do… their rotten brains didn't allow them to think fast really.
'Oh well their loss'
Lunging forward she grasped the closest zombie with her bound hands and dragged him upright; before it could think to attack she swung round and threw it at the wall behind her.
There was a loud crack as its bones broke at the impact and it fell to the floor in a heap black blood trickling from a large crack down its skull.
The other zombie rose to its feet and stepped forward clumsily raising its arms towards Lisa and groaning. She just stepped forward and lashed at its head with a tentacle practically tearing it off then throwing the body to one side with dismissal.
Both zombies dealt with she kneeled down beside the seeping corpse fighting off her hunger and focusing on the unease she felt, it gave her focus although made her feel annoyingly upset.
Her tentacles sorted through the body, the clothes were ragged, blood covered, and even worse there were tatters of a lab coat.
'He was wearing a lab coat' She thought in mounting dread.
She found a hand that was undamaged and gave a sharp gasp at the long claws that grew from its fingers.
'Could be anything, claws are common with viral creatures' She thought to reassure herself.
She couldn't find a tail that was a plus but with all the damage it could have been torn off and eaten.
She turned the body over frowning in distaste at the ruined mess of its face as she did and as she did something heavy fell from the body.
She almost jumped at the noise then quickly looked for the source, she saw that the other hand of the body had been clutching something which it had dropped when she moved it.
Reaching forward with trembling hands she picked up the item and stared in horror at the heavy metal object in her hands.
It was a large knife… the same one that the creature carried.
Lisa fell back onto the floor into a slump holding the knife and staring at it in shock, it couldn't be…
But as she looked at it she felt the implication of this sink in, Hazard was dead and this corpse (which she no longer felt like eating) was his.
"He's dead" She whispered. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced down the sob she could feel rising, she hadn't felt so strange in a long time.
She swiped at her eyes as tears began to leak from them but despite her trying she couldn't stop the tears. Finally she did cry out, an enraged roar as she stabbed at the ground with the knife and smashed the floorboards with her tentacles.
"YOU BASTARD!" She screamed in fury and despair.
Yet another person had been taken from her, without realising it she had become to warm towards the purple one or at least the possibility of having a friend again. And now that would never happen...
After a minute of enraged thrashing, smashing the floor and punching holes in the walls she stopped only when exhaustion set in. Instead curled upon herself in a seated slump, her shoulders shaking with repressed sobs, and as she looked upon the corpse of Hazard her amber eyes glistened with tears.
"I'm sorry… that I never talked to you" she whispered, sniffling afterwards.
So she sat like that for a few minutes staring at the corpse, silent except for occasional sobs, then looked down at the knife in her hands.
She remembered when he had this poised above her, when he had the chance to kill her and he hadn't. Slowly she let the knife slip from her fingers until it fell to the hardwood floor with a dull clatter.
So that was it then… she was alone again.
She was surprised at the sick feeling that grew at the back of her throat and the vice grip that her heart felt trapped in, she hadn't felt like this since that time in her old cell when…
The girl hissed and her eyes glowed in anger as she almost remembered, a brief flash of anger made her swipe her tentacles across the ground slamming into Hazards corpse and turning it over with a dull thump.
Lisa laughed mirthlessly; "Now I'm hitting him even when he's dead" She chuckled, as her masks grew damp with tears. God she was no better then anything else here in this hell on earth.
So lost in her sadness Lisa didn't hear the faint snap as a damaged sinew dropped something onto the wooden floor, nor the wet rolling as a round object rolled towards her and thudded gently against one of her lying tentacles.
Her eyes looked down at it wearily and after a seconds consideration she realised it was an eye that had fallen free of the body, probably when she hit it.
She was about to slap it away in revulsion when she realised that this was the purple ones eye. Her sad gaze suddenly became thoughtful as she contemplated the white orb.
After a few moments deliberation she reached for it with her manacled hands and gingerly picked it up.
'I wanna see that look again' She thought with a smile of fond remembrance of golden eyes as she turned the eyeball round.
Then instantly frowned at the dull white eye and small pupil that looked up at her.
'This isn't right, Hazard had a bright golden iris?' She wondered as suspicion grew in her mind.
She sniffed the eyeball carefully recoiling at the pungent smell, the purple one probably hadn't bathed but he hadn't smelled that bad.
Praying for forgiveness if this was his eye Lisa popped it into her mouth and chewed carefully.
She snarled at the horrible taste but even as she did her spirits soared. The corruption in this eye was extensive and it tasted as if it had been dead far longer then a mere few hours.
'This isn't his eye at all!'
Although he was infected with a virus, (well to have purple skin, a tail and claws he had to be) he wasn't dead and therefor would not taste like something dug up out of the ground!
Spitting the eyeball out in disgust she quickly crawled over to the body and examined it more extensively.
After she wiped away the blood she discovered to her delight that the body was covered in red skin not crimson blood!
Its teeth too, though many were smashed, were rotten and cracked and Hazard had had a nice clean smile.
'This isn't him at all!'
"It's a zombie!" Lisa shrieked in delight, she threw her head back and laughed at the world for she had never felt such a powerful, and oh so wonderful, sense of relief.
Her ecstatic laughing turned into shoulder shaking chuckles as she shook her head in amusement at her own feelings.
"You bastard" She giggled, her swear much more pleasantly directed at Hazard. She couldn't believe how much trouble this one creature had put her through, she hadn't even talked to him yet and he had her crying like a five-year-old over his suspected corpse!
Standing up with a sigh and still snorting with laughter she looked around her, with a much happier outlook, and wondered where to go next.
It was then that her body voiced its own needs, the girl cringing as her stomach growled in indignation at its emptiness. It knew Lisa had a large stockpile of food and it was rightly annoyed that it was still empty.
"All right, all right I hear you" She muttered. Glancing around she gnawed her lip in indecision… would he be all right if she left for an hour to feed?
She glanced at the ruined body of the zombie at her feet. Doubtless he was strong enough to fend for himself for a little while.
'Though… there's stronger things then zombies here…'
After some seconds for thought Lisa reached a compromise with her stomach, she'd do one last circuit of the mansion to look for him and if she didn't she'd head towards the great hall and return to her cabin.
"Well one last try… for now" She said standing tall, (well as tall as the shackles allowed) then headed back up the stairs.
Half way up though she stopped as a thought hit her, glancing down the stairs she considered her brainstorm for a moment then hurried back down.
And picked up the Tyrants knife.
Stowing it within her rags she smiled at the thought of returning it to him, perhaps it would go some way to saying sorry?
At least it would show him she had a brain and wasn't just another monster, so decided she hurried back up the stairs and took her memorised routes through the mansion.
Hopefully she'd find him this time.
And maybe when she did she'd invite him to dinner?
Just one room away a sleeper slowly awoke from his unconscious stupor as Lisa hurried up the stairs outside.
Half awake Hazard mumbled nonsense as he heard the sound of her feet racing up the stairs, but by the time he opened his eyes and entered the realm of the waking the sound had faded and had been just as quickly dismissed by Hazards yawning senses.
Hazard lay on his front, arms and legs spread out exhaustedly and his face turned sorely to the right. His golden eyes looked ahead of him without seeing as his thoughts rested in a pleasant pink mist between sleep and consciousness.
He was aware, as much as his semi-conscious mind could be that there was something unpleasant looming in the horizon of his memory. Something that would make him feel very uneasy but for the life of him he couldn't think what it was.
Hazard closed his eyes and yawned widely, he finished and blinked his eyes moving a reluctant hand to wipe at the gunk around his sight.
And then the worry and unease that Hazard had been half-aware of hit him like a bullet.
Not just the normal kind but the variety that can punch holes through a tank.
Hazard gave a sharp gasp as the movement of his arm jumpstarted a circuit of pain throughout his body, his muscles were on fire, his insides felt like goo, and his head felt like something was trying to burst out of his skull!
"Oh god!" Hazard groaned falling limp again and shutting his eyes tight. What the hell happened to him, why was he in such pain?
'Be grateful for the pain Hazard' His subconscious said cheerfully.
"Why the hell should I be grateful!" Hazard hissed as he rolled over onto his back curling up in agony.
'It means you are still alive'
Hazard considered this ominous sentence even as he slowly fought against the pain, what the hell did his… subconscious mean?
'What do you mean?' He thought back questioningly, while trying to stretch a leg without it falling off.
'We mean that your body regenerated successfully, the pain while unfortunate means that your recovering' His subconscious answered matter-of-factly.
"Why am I in pain in the first place?" Hazard asked perplexed as he hesitantly swung his legs round and sat up, it hurt but the pain was reluctantly fading.
'You will soon remember Hazard'
"Remember what?"
'Just focus on overcoming the pain first then we will talk about what happened' His subconscious ordered.
Hazard felt his anger rise, which thankfully dulled the pain, he would not have his question ignored by himself! Or something like that anyway.
"NO, you will answer me now! What happened to me?" He yelled.
He felt his subconscious hesitate to speak, he waited a few seconds and then drew breath to swear at the damn thing when it spoke.
'Do you remember the stairs?' it asked quietly.
Hazard paused in mid-breath; he frowned but quickly racked his brains for the answer.
"I was walking down them, he said slowly, and something… grabbed me? Yes something grabbed my ankles"
Hazard looked into the distance as images unrolled behind his eyes, "I couldn't stop myself from falling, it was too strong for me"
He then shuddered, "Then I hit the floor and… the wall?" He reached for his head feeling his queasiness grow when he felt the long scar across his temple.
'What then?' His subconscious asked pressing on.
"A crimson came from the shadows, Hazards were now twin pools of golden terror, I tried to move but I couldn't get my limps to work, it lunged at me and I-I could see it so clearly… its hunger and its claws and teeth and then… and then…"
Hazard frowned as he dug deep into his memory… what had happened then?
'Is there anything you can remember Hazard?' Hazard noticed a trace of urgency in the voice.
"Just a… feeling" Hazard was growing very worried by this blank spot in his mind, "A feeling of… anger, rage and also joy… pleasure at doing… something"
'Is that all?'
Hazard closed his eyes tight trying to force out something from the pit in his memories.
Strange images flowed along his eyelids like painted canvas, tearing into something; blood and screaming… a sense of extreme thrill as claws tore into a face… and then.
Hazard screamed as a sudden horrifying image flashed before his eyes. A purple face with a wide toothy leer and red bulging eyes, blood gushing from pink lips and insanity shining from two pin sized pupils.
His own face warped into something else.
'ENOUGH!' his subconscious roared.
Hazard gave a yelp of surprise as the image faded and then another as he fell off the bed.
He lay with his ass propped against the bed and his head laying on the floor in silence. After a few minutes he asked, "What happened to me? Please"
'Hazard you're aware that we are another voice in your head, to be more precise we are a whole different persona in your mind'
Hazard nodded, "You said you were the person I used to be"
'Correct somehow we have survived the process done to your body and now we remain to guide and comfort you… at least we hope this is what we are doing' His subconscious said meekly.
Hazard smiled, "You're doing a good job" he conceded.
'Thank you… unfortunately we are not the only 'voice' in your head Hazard'
Hazard gingerly picked himself up and sat back on the edge of the bed, he stared at the floor distractedly as he thought back 'who else is in there?'
'The Virus Hazard, it too has a persona here thankfully not as… vocal as ours but it still exist here and that persona is responsible for your blackout'
Hazard felt his heart beat faster in terror, he licked his lips and asked incredulously, "It can control me?"
'To a degree, when you are angry, weak or very scared… until now it had been contained but as your wounds show it has now made an appearance'
Hazard looked down at the many scars, scabs and fresh sensitive skin that covered his body; "It did this to me? He wondered aloud, why would it hurt its host?"
'The crimson did that to you Hazard, the Virus just allowed the zombie to get in more hits then normally it would be capable of'
"But why?"
Here the voice went cold and tight with anger, 'To make you need more regeneration Hazard… look at your tail'
Hazard still felt confused and fairly frightened but reached for his tail and dragged in onto his lap, he examined it carefully and stared in surprise at the anomaly.
A large lump, a strange swelling under the skin, was growing on the underside of his tail. Hazard reached for it prodding it gingerly and quickly pulled his hand back in disgust when yellow pus dribbled out of it.
"What is it?" Hazard asked fearfully.
'It is a mutation… thankfully relatively minor and easily removed' Hazards subconscious answered.
Hazard continued to stare at it in revulsion then jumped into action as he quickly ran his claws over himself frenziedly searching for more stigmas in his terror.
'Hazard relax! There are no more mutations we are sure!'
"PLEASE TELL ME THAT IM NOT GONNA MUTATE! I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THE OTHERS!" Hazard screamed in panic, the thought of becoming a mindless monster heightening his terror.
'You are not going to mutate Hazard now calm down!' His subconscious ordered hotly.
Hazard fell quiet panting slightly as he fought to calm his heart; he closed his eyes tight and took a few calming breaths then glared at the lump on his tail.
He wanted rid of that filthy aberration… he didn't care how much it hurt he was not going to allow anymore perversions of his form.
Reaching for the cancerous lump Hazard began to dig his claws into the skin around it, he gritted his teeth as the skin tore and yellow and red slime oozed out.
The pain was intense and Hazard bit his lip to stop himself crying out, which didn't help much as now his teeth were cutting into the soft flesh of his lips. His tail shook with agony as Hazard felt his claws sink deep into the flesh and he had to hold it still with his other hand.
Feeling around under the skin and the hard muscle he could feel a firm lump inside the swelling itself, curling his claws around it he took a deep breath then ripped it out with a powerful pull of his arm.
"ARRRGGHH!" Hazard finally unleashed a scream as his tail was set alight with pain, he fell back onto the bed sobbing in pain as he felt blood stream from his fifth limb and hoped that it would heal soon.
'Do not worry Hazard, we will ensure it heals normally' His subconscious said quietly.
Hazard whimpered a "Thanks" as his chest rose and fell like a piston as he tried to ignore the pain, thankfully after a few minutes the agony faded and Hazard risked a glance at his tail.
The torn skin was now covered in a thick pulsating scab, bright red with streaks of black on it, his tail was shaking traumatically and Hazard gently stroked it in apology.
He then realised he still had the lump in a tightly clenched hand, cautiously opening his claws he eyed the hideous flesh that squatted on his palm.
It was like some kind of fleshy seed, about the size of a walnut and pinkish in colour it was covered in bumps and veins. Even worse was a small tentacle that was emerging from the top of it and, to Hazards disgust, still wiggling.
He growled and tore the disgusting mass apart feeling some small satisfaction at this. Afterwards he peeled off his lab coat, which took some time due to all the blood that glued it to his body, and used it to clean himself up.
He considered the dirty garment in his claws and decided that it was better to be bare then wear this filth, so Hazard chucked it into the nearest corner.
"Another question" Hazard stated after some consideration, he placed his claws on his hips and tilted his head thoughtfully, "How come I haven't mutated yet? Why do I still have my mind when everything else infected by a virus either goes insane or dies… what's so special about me?"
'Because of us' His subconscious answered with some trepidation.
"Explain"
'We swore to protect you and we shall… we are the one that keeps the virus in check, it wished to mutate you but we prevented it'
Hazard fell silent as he considered this, "You… protected me?' He asked nervously.
'Yes Hazard'
"Why?" Hazard paused then added more meaning; "I mean of course you don't want a messed up host body but what other motives do you have?" He spat aggressively.
His subconscious was silent for a moment then it whispered, 'Is that what you think of us?'
Hazard frowned at the sad and accusing tone, to tell the truth he didn't believe this 'voice' was evil but he was feeling very confused and a little scared so he couldn't stop his harsh words. "I don't know what to think, I have two people in my head one of which wants to make me into a monster according to you! So forgive me if I sound harsh but I'm just trying to make some sense of this!"
He sighed and began to pace around irritably, "Doesn't help that I'm a damn schizophrenic" he muttered.
'We mean you no harm Hazard… if you cant believe that we care for you then believe that is in our best interests at least that you remain intact for both our sakes'
Hazard hung his head, his lank hair falling over his eyes. After a few moments consideration he chuckled and said bemusedly, "Strange thing is 'voice in my head'… I do believe you"
He looked up at the ceiling with a still bemused smile, "Weird that the only person I can trust is myself… but sorta not myself if you get my meaning?"
'We do Hazard, and we are proud to have your trust' His subconscious said happily.
Hazard laughed, "Man what would I do without you in my head?" Hazard frowned as a thought came to him, "Still I bet a lot of people when all alone imagine voices in their heads to keep them company"
'As we assured you when we first spoke you are not insane, we are real… well as real as a bodiless personality can be' His subconscious conceded.
Hazard nodded and looked around him curiously, now that that was settled he wondered what to do now? But before he could dwell on that something else began to bug him.
"You know, he said hesitantly, if you are 'real' then you need a name… I can't just keep calling you 'voice in my head' can I?"
His subconscious seemed to consider this, 'Very well we agree but we have no ideas of what to call ourselves'
"Ok then we need a name for you, Hazard said cheerfully while pacing again, something unusual like my name but also something that states what you are"
'We have no ideas Hazard'
Hazard frowned as his subconscious spoke, "We…we…we…" he snapped his claws, "That's it!"
'We are not being called 'wee'' His subconscious said with unamusement.
Hazard grinned, "You always refers to yourself as 'we' and me and you are pretty tight and united so I thought how's about… Unity!" he said proudly.
His subconscious considered the name, 'Unity…'
"Well?"
'We… like it. Yes from now on we are Unity' Said Unity pleased.
"Great!" Hazard beamed in delight as he looked around him, "Now Unity what do you think we should do now?"
'We think that perhaps you should find some new clothes' Unity said with a chuckle as Hazard eyed his ripped and torn jeans, and the mud encrusted 'footwear' he wore.
"Suppose your right" Hazard conceded. He looked around for inspiration for this dilemma and his golden gaze fell on the chest that was propped up against a wall beside the door.
"Aha?"
'We too are optimistic' Unity said as Hazard crept over to the metal strongbox with a hopeful expression.
Hazard ran his claws over the cold metal lid of the chest hoping that perhaps this would have the answer, considering the track record of the previous metal chests he had high hopes.
With a deep breath he grasped the lid and threw it open. He stared in silence at the contents for a second then whooped and jumped into the air in delight, (Then winced and rubbed his sides as his wounds grumbled).
Hazard sorted through the jumbled clothing throwing the useless ones aside, those being the ones too small or too ravaged, and tossing the promising candidates on the bed.
He squealed in amazement as he found some footwear hidden at the bottom of the heap. Pulling them out he found them to be some old trainers, a bit weathered but still in good condition.
They were coloured a dark black with red and white soles and some red stripes along the back. Hazard tore off the straps of leather that had protected his feet, (having to use his teeth at some point due to how tight they were) and hesitantly placed his right foot inside a trainer.
"They fit!" The tyrant yelled in excitement, Unity just laughed within his skull as Hazard pulled the other trainer on and took a few testing steps.
"Well that's my feet sorted, Hazard eyed the crumpled clothing on the bed, now lets see if there's anything else here of interest"
Hazard poked his head out of the door of his hideout scoping the area for threats, he wondered about the three dead zombies on the floor beside the stairs but quickly dismissed it.
He stepped outside shutting the door behind him hoping that nothing would wander inside, as the door couldn't be locked from this side. The medical room made a good hideout considering it had a bed, (Though he'd have to find new sheets) chest, medical stuff and a lockable door.
He patted the door amiably then took a few steps towards the stairway his crossbow drawn, no way was he gonna let his guard down again.
At the zombies he stopped in disgust at the large pool of blood around the mangled corpse of the crimson 'he' had killed… probably the zombies had come to feed on it.
'And then something else killed then it seems' Unity mused.
Hazard eyed the two dead 'normal' zombies, one looked like its head had been wrenched off and another was halfway through a wall.
'Whatever it was it must have been in a hurry as they haven't been eaten' Hazard mused.
He eyed the bodies again, he really wanted to search the area for his knife as doubtless it had been lost during the fight and couldn't be too far away.
But considering all the blood he didn't want to dirty his new found clothes.
Not for the first time Hazard looked upon himself admirably, damn he looked great.
Above his trainers he wore a new pair of jeans, darker toned then the previous and with some slashes around the knees and lower legs to add some nice effects, (He had done it himself with his claws).
He also wore a red long-sleeved shirt with the words 'j00 d34d f00' across the chest in white and black lettering, he wasn't quite sure what it meant but it looked great!
And on top of that a simple black jacket that he had left unzipped exposing the shirt below, and additionally it had a strange grinning face on the back with the words 'Bit3 m3' underneath.
He couldn't believe his luck in finding these items, and some extras, in that chest.
All in all he though he looked pretty sweet.
So rummaging in that bloody messes for his knife was making Hazard carefully weigh up the pros and cons.
'Weapons are more important then looks Hazard' Unity pointed out annoyed.
"Some things are worth small sacrifices," Hazard said clutching his new clothes fearfully.
'Hazard stop being an idiot. Get in that mess and find the knife!'
Rolling his eyes and grumbling distractedly Hazard knelt down and began to poke around the body (Using his crossbow when possible) and trying to keep his clothes clean.
After a few minutes, and much swearing, he was slightly confused on the lack of knifes in this room.
It wasn't in any of the zombies and despite searching back and forth along the corridor he couldn't find it.
"This is weird" Hazard muttered as he sat on the stairs thinking.
'Perhaps it was taken?' Unity suggested.
"By what?"
'Whatever killed the zombies'
Hazard thought about this carefully. Whatever had killed these zombies had been strong to do such damage, he glanced at the holes and deep imprints in the floor and walls around the battle site, and yet intelligent enough not to just start eating and make off with his knife.
Perhaps a reptile thing?
Hazard shook his head dismissing that thought, why would one of them be interested in his knife. Their claws looked sharp enough already.
'Maybe something we have yet to meet?' Unity said.
Hazard sighed, "Well what should we do now? Continue to explore the mansion… we haven't been to the other side yet."
Unity considered this, 'In time Hazard, it said slowly, but for now we should see to your body's needs'
Hazard frowned at this and quickly did a check over of himself, "I feel fine?" he said confused.
Unity chuckled, 'Yes Hazard but pretty soon the effects of so much regeneration is gonna kick in and your gonna be starving… besides I know you haven't drunk anything for almost a day'
Hazard considered as he licked his lips thoughtfully, yes he was feeling a little thirsty.
He stood up and did a little stretching, "I suppose I should try and find a way back to those caves"
Hazard winced as he thought about having to go through that cabin to get down there… seeing that dead girls home was bad enough but having to brave that tentacle creature again was NOT going to be fun.
'We would have thought just going underground would be bad?' Unity asked amusedly.
"Can it" Hazard growled.
He sighed and examined his crossbow again; at least he still had one good weapon left and if that failed him…
He held up his claws grinning as he flexed the powerful digits, that tentacle thing was gonna get it if it tried another fight.
So motivated Hazard headed up the stairs and set a course for the great hall, he winced with every step and grew somewhat annoyed with the aches of his body.
'Bloody regeneration why can't it be quicker?'
'Stop your grumbled the pain means you're not dead'
'Yeah but if I was dead I wouldn't be alive to feel the pain'
Lisa stared up at the painted wall thoughtfully; she wondered whom this family was meant to be considering daddy made this place.
'Its not us' She mused, not for the first time, so who where these people to daddy?
She shrugged and turned away walking back down the carpeted stairs to the lobby; she had to stop wondering about such stupid things.
She looked around her considering what direction to take now or if perhaps she should stake out the great hall and see if passes by at some point.
'Everything wanders across here at some point' She thought with experience. She knew most of the routes the monsters took to get around.
She shuddered as her stomach growled painfully and plunked herself down on the comfy stairs; she leaned her head on the ornate banister staring at the great double doors wondering if it was worth hiding here. For all she knew he wouldn't come by for days.
It was as she was considering what option to take that a loud creak sounded through the hall, Lisa snapped her gaze towards the great double doors in surprise as it slowly began to open.
The doors stopped halfway and Lisa's stare became a concerned frown as she sniffed at the air and began to slowly stand up… something was hiding just out of sight behind the door.
She was about to turn and shuffle up the stairs when a chorus of chirps and squeals began to argue behind the doors, Lisa felt her heart pound and blood race as she recognised those noises.
It was then that the reptilian head poked carefully around the doorway. Two murky brown eyes looked around carefully until they fell on Lisa's frozen figure on the stairs.
The slits of its pupils widened but instead of quickly backing away like Lisa hoped the Hunter gave a wide grin of delight as it stepped into the room.
Lisa felt her tentacles quiver and her hands bunch up into fists as her body prepared for battle, she wrestled down her fear disgusted with her unease. It was just one Hunter she could tear the thing apart.
As if sensing her changed mood the Hunter turned its head towards the double doors, its slitted eyes still locked on hers, and shrieked a high pitched chirp of command.
Lisa felt her fear return redoubled as more Hunters filed into the room standing to attention behind the one that had called them, some of them looked nervous but as their numbers increased they stared at her in growing hunger and confidence.
Lisa continued to count in growing horror as more stepped into the mansion until a total of seven Hunters leered at her.
The larger one at the centre who had called them glanced to his sides at his brethren and Lisa knew he was saying 'I have the advantage here'.
His eyes looked back at hers and they were filled with triumph and gleeful anticipation, as Lisa looked closer at its features she groaned as memory gave her a sickening realisation.
She was certain this was the same Hunter she had met yesterday, the one she had wrestled the deer carcass from.
Now it seemed he had come for payback.
Lisa hunched herself up and felt her frenzy grow in anticipation of battle, her tentacles slashed through the air excitedly and she clenched her fists as she prepared to lash out.
She snarled at the group and rising up unleashed her characteristic shriek that made several of them cower momentarily.
If she were going to die here she'd take all of these monsters with her!
The leading Hunter chirped and waved his arm towards Lisa, the Hunters surrounded her and began to close in. Their fanged maws drooled with saliva, their claws shook with excitement and their eyes glowed with rising bloodlust as they inched closer to Lisa.
The leading Hunter grinned at Lisa and chirped again. And was answered by six ravenous roars as the Hunters charged the defiant figure.
And battle was joined.
Hazard stopped in mid-chew as the sound of shrieks and animalistic roars echoed around him; he cocked his head listening intently as the sound of fighting reached his pointed ears.
"The hells going on?" He murmured as he swallowed the piece of meat he had scrounged from the kitchens.
'We don't know, perhaps we should investigate Hazard?' Unity said curiously.
Interest aroused Hazard listened for a moment trying to deduce the location of the sounds, the growls and screams were faint yet seemed to be coming from the direction of the great hall.
Holding tight to his crossbow Hazard raced towards the hall wondering what weirdness was going on now?
Lisa snarled in defiance as the Hunters circled her, already she sported several wounds but the dead Hunter at her feet proved that they were not unrewarded.
Still regenerating was a slow business and every hit made her that bit slower so that when they next stuck she-
'Damn!'
Lisa gritted her teeth as a Hunter lashed her with its claws scoring her sides and retreating before she could counter, she cursed as her wounds slowed her tentacles response as the Hunter ducked under her swipe chirping in amusement.
Embroidered by its fellows success another Hunter tried to attack from Lisa's other side but her anger gave her the needed speed as she danced away from its attack.
The split second of unbalance as the Hunter missed was enough for Lisa, lunging froward she swung her bound hands like a hammer catching the Hunter under the chin with a devastating blow.
There was a loud crack as its jaw broke and it spurted teeth and blood as it was thrown head over heels. It hit the ground in a dazed heap and before the others could come to its rescue Lisa smashed a foot onto its skull. Her virus enhanced strength causing more then a bad headache.
She allowed herself a brief smirk of satisfaction before the remaining five rushed her with animalistic screams of fury. Then she could only focus on surviving.
Hazard raced through the dining room as a strange sense of urgency forced his legs to ignore the pain and instead focus on accelerating.
For some reason he felt he had to see this fight, whomever it was fighting, and possibly intervene.
For all Hazard knew it could be a human fighting just ahead in desperate need of aid.
He skidded to a halt before the carved wooden doors to the entrance hall and a sudden sense of preservation made him stop in his blind rush to throw open the double doors as dramatically as he could.
'After all it could be a bunch of crimsons having a party that's private membership only'
'Unlikely but possible' Unity murmured.
Carefully opening the door a crack Hazard glanced into the next room cautiously trying to make sense of the scene that met his astonished eyes.
There were reptile things for a start. Three of them lay dead on the marble floor in various poses and another four were clustered around something at the other end of the hall. They were chirping and growling in excitement and Hazard eased himself into the room beginning to circle round silently to see what they were focused on.
It became apparent when the 'thing' they were around unleashed a scream of rage and two reptiles were thrown into the air squealing in dismay.
Hazard stared in surprise at the tentacle creature that towered for a moment above the hissing monsters, its tentacles slashed through the air warningly, its stance was strong and powerful despite the blood that covered it and its amber eyes glowed with hate.
And then the moment was lost as the two reptiles still standing lunged at it and brought it crashing to the ground.
'Its putting up a fight' Unity whispered in awe as a reptile was thrown aside by the waving tentacles. For a second it looked like it would break free but as the tentacle creature tried to get back to its feet a bigger reptile planted its fist into its face with a resounding crack.
Hazard winced at the noise and continued to stare unsure of what action to take. The tentacle creature had tried to kill him TWICE! Some people would say it was deserving of a good beating, Karma obviously.
Yet watching this unfair battle as the four reptiles ganged up on this one opponent he could feel his morals yelling at him to intervene.
When the creature screamed, a surprisingly human one too, as a reptile broke through its defences and almost severed one of its tentacles Hazard knew he had to act.
"Bloody morals" He swore and leapt into the fray.
Lisa knew she was in serious trouble now.
It was becoming harder and harder to keep the Hunters at bay as they swarmed round her scratching and clawing every chance they had.
Every time she tried to get to her feet one of them would sweep her legs out from under her or slam her back into the ground, it didn't help that the ringleader had almost torn one of her tentacles in half.
The chance for escape had long passed and Lisa could feel real fear grow in her chest as she fought to keep them at bay as her tentacles wildly slashed the air.
But she knew, and so did they that she couldn't keep this up for long. They were willing to wait until she grew tired and then they would break through the barrier of her tentacles and attack her more vulnerable body.
She felt her extra limbs weakening and as their attacks slowed the Hunters acted three of them quickly grasping them and holding her tentacles still. The leader barked a command and one of them rose up above her raising its claws like an executioners blade as it leered down upon Lisa's defenceless form.
Despite her fear and exhaustion she still found the will to snarl back at her killer, snapping her teeth and shrieking in defiance.
'So this is how I finally die' Lisa thought with a sort of numb sadness as the claws prepared to strike.
"OI!"
There was a quiet 'snick' as an arrow bored into the back of the standing Hunters head and half emerged from his temple in a spurt of blood and bone.
The Hunter looked ahead in stupefied shock as its fellows, and Lisa herself, stared at the bolt protruding from its head.
It teetered right and left for a moment then fell backwards in an undignified heap as its brain finally realised it was dead.
The three remaining Hunters looked at the direction where the attack had come from, stared in confusion at the grinning, purple, and strangely dressed figure that addressed them.
"Good shot or what!" He said cheekily as he tied a small crossbow onto his belt.
The Hunters previously confused gaze slowly twisted into an expression of rage as they all growled together.
The purple creature merely swished its tail nonchalantly and smiled at its aggressors.
It was the last straw, as one the Hunters released their grip on Lisa, who quickly scrambled away and hid behind the staircase, as the Hunters advanced on the waiting figure.
As the two sides battled one question was banging on the front door of Lisa's thoughts.
'Why did he spare me again?'
'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?' Hazard considered as he ducked a reptile's swipe and punched it in the face in retaliation.
'Well you wanted to be a hero' Unity replied as a reptile monster swiped at Hazards feet who jumped over the attack.
'Well it was the right thing to do' Hazard answered somewhat uncertainly as the bigger reptile monster floored him with a clothesline.
He yelped and quickly rolled to one side as a reptile monster jumped into the air and planted both clawed feet where his head once was, surging to his feet with the roll Hazard felt his annoyance quickly becoming white-hot anger.
A reptile came for him and Hazard ran for the dining room door an idea coming to mind.
At the pillars he raced round one of them pushing as much force into his momentum as he grasped the thick pillar digging his claws into the stone as he swung round it.
The chasing reptiles look of surprise was almost comical as Hazard spun round the pillar and planted both feet in to its face throwing it away several feet.
It shakily got to its feet still swaying and as it tried to focus its dizzy sight on him Hazard dashed forward and planted his trainer between its legs.
He knew he was gambling here as he couldn't see anything between the scaled thighs but the high-pitched shriek the reptile loosed as it fell to its knees brought a smile to his face.
It clutched itself and tried to roll away towards safety but Hazard didn't let up, quickly grasping the reptiles' head he did a vicious twist and snapped its neck.
It still had its look of surprise as it dropped to the floor lifeless.
Snarling demonically Hazard glared at the remaining two scalys, the smaller of the two glanced around at all its dead companions and decided that running was the better part of valour.
The larger reptile screamed abuse (judging by the tone of its cries) at its fleeing partner and then fixed Hazard with a hateful glare.
It was obviously considering running too judging by the glances it made towards the door but soon hate and pride won and the large monster rose up to its fullest height screaming a cry of challenge and intimidation.
Hazard conceded that it was certainly big but something else was nagging him about this creature, he glanced at its thickly muscled arm and understood what it was.
A long blackened scab ran across one side of its arm in a jagged line, and again on the other side. Hazard understood now that this was the monster he had stabbed down in the sewers yesterday.
'It heals quick' Hazard thought somewhat annoyed as he eyed the nearly regenerated wound.
'We are not the only ones who heal quickly Hazard' Unity pointed out.
The large monster had finished its posturing and charged at Hazard its claws held low and ready as it quickly closed the gap between them.
It lashed out a claw for his face and Hazard raised an arm to block hissing as his forearm stung with the impact. Not letting up the reptile shrieked and tried to slash him with its other claw that Hazard also caught in a tight grip.
Hazards smile of triumph as he believed he had contained the monster vanished as the reptile lunged forward smashing its skull into his own.
Hazard was knocked back several steps fighting to keep his balance as his vision swam and his brain rattled in his skull, he just about saw the outstretched arm swinging towards him in time to duck.
The monster flew past missing Hazards head by inches as he ducked but as it went by he smirked and remembering his first ever fight quickly sweep his tail across the rushing creatures path in a wide arc.
He grunted in pain as his tail impacted on the reptiles hard scaled legs but the sudden block and its own momentum brought it crashing to the ground with a shriek of surprise.
Quickly turning he dashed towards the stricken monster and jumped on its back his claws reaching round its neck.
The monsters eyes widened in fear as it felt Hazards iron grip around its neck but its fear lent it strength as it bunched up its legs and arms and threw itself onto its back.
Hazard gasped as all the air was forced from his lungs as the heavy weigh of the reptile crushed him into the hard marble floor. His few seconds of winded stun was enough for the reptile as it launched itself to its feet and quickly grasped Hazard by his jacket and pulled him face to face.
The monsters eyes were practically red with rage as it glared hatefully into Hazards somewhat crossed eyes; it opened its mouth and roared into his face revealing its huge fanged teeth.
Still dazed Hazard gingerly raised a claw to his face and wiped away some of the spittle from his cheeks, "Ever heard of Mints scaly?" he asked cheekily.
The reptiles slitted eyes narrowed and Hazards immediate thought was, 'Shit its really pissed now'.
Holding him tight the monster suddenly swung Hazard around dragging him off the ground and throwing him with all its might at the end of the turn, Hazard yelled as he found himself feeling a sickening sensation of flying before his journey was stopped by a very hard object.
"Ow" He muttered weakly as he fell face down beside a marble pillar.
Lisa had half emerged from her hiding place and was watching the fight with undeniable fascination.
She had watched as the purple one, 'Hazard', had shown no fear when the large male Hunter had roared and showed off its body, she had felt her breath catch as he easily caught the Hunters arms when it tried to attack.
Then winced as the Hunter head-butted him.
She had felt her heart pound faster in fear as the Hunter made to slash Hazards head off but she had applauded when he ducked the attack and then tripped the monster with that handy tail of his.
Then she watched as he climbed on top of it to snap its neck and prayed it would succeed but then that damn Hunter and thrown itself backwards trapping Hazard between it and the floor.
Now it brought them face to face and had roared terrifyingly into his face but the purple Tyrant had merely smiled (somewhat dazedly) and insulted it.
He was being held by something with enough teeth to bite his head off and he was joking with it?
Lisa would never understand the insane bravado of males but still a part of her felt approval at his lack of fear… or perhaps his control of his fear?
Unfortunately the Hunter had not been pleased and she had gasped when it had thrown Hazard across the room towards the dining room doors and more importantly the large marble pillars that stood in a row underneath the balcony.
Now Hazard lay defenceless and possibly beaten and she could see that the Hunter was savouring the moment as it stalked confidently towards the still Tyrant on the floor.
Lisa knew this was the time when she should be making a rush for the front doors, if the Hunter killed the purple one and then ate him it would give her enough time to reach her cabin in her weakened state.
'But he saved you'
Lisa winced at the accusing voice that spoke in her mind, she glanced towards Hazard who was trying weakly to fend off the Hunter.
'I didn't ask to be saved' She thought defiantly.
'But you wanted to be… you've always wanted to be'
Lisa considered this, true he had rescued her but that didn't mean she was indebted to him!
'He shouldn't have saved me, if he was smart he should of just let them kill me and carried on when they had gone' She thought angrily.
But even as she thought that she felt her insides clench and squirm with guilt… he spared her and now he had saved her.
"It's his own fault" She whispered as she watched Hazard fall back against the pillar as the Hunter punched him.
She remembered a long time ago when she and daddy had talked about such things as promises, loyalty, and compassion; (it seemed like a lifetime ago).
She had been young and was being given this speech by daddy because of the way she had been mean to the other kids at her school, because daddy was rich and she had grown up among wealth she had believed herself better then the other kids.
But daddy had scolded her and said that wealth alone does not make a good person, he had said that a truly good person would show compassion and sympathy to those lesser then him, that they would remain loyal to friends and true to their promises.
'It was so long ago' Lisa mused but now as she watched the Hunter pick up Hazard to finish him off she felt the sad and disappointed eyes of her father looking down on her and knew she had to act.
"It's the right thing to do" she said as she steeled herself, to be honest she didn't think she had the strength to defeat that Hunter as she was still regenerating but she had to try.
For Hazards and her fathers' sake she had to try.
Hazard knew he was in trouble and he cursed himself for getting into this mess.
'All for another monster who's probably ran for it' He thought angrily as he tried to break the grip of the reptile monster that held him a few inches above the ground.
The monster was glaring up at him and as Hazard watched it ran a green tongue across its lips hungrily.
'Hell no!' Hazard thought as he redoubled his struggles, he almost broke the grip when the head of the monster impacted on his skull again dazing him.
'Hazard the crossbow use it!' Unity yelled.
"Not loaded" Hazard mumbled as the Hunter opened its drooling jaws wide.
'One of the bolts! Stab it with a bolt!'
Grasping this idea Hazard quickly lowered a hand to his belt and tried to tug a crossbow bolt free but to his horror the damn thing was caught in his clothing.
'Bugger' he thought as the reptile lunged forward.
And then something powerful impacted against the side of the reptile and threw the two of them apart; the monster shrieked at it was knocked away barely keeping its balance as it stumbled.
Hazard managed to stop himself from collapsing completely and kneeled on his knees as he looked up weakly in confusion.
His eyes widened in amazement as the ragged creature that had attacked him before, and had buggered off when he had come to save it, had now placed itself between him and the green snarling monster.
The reptile mirrored Hazards look of surprise as it circled them warily but its evil leer returned when it saw how much difficulty the tentacle creature was having keeping on its feet.
Still despite the pain it was obviously feeling the rag covered figure rose to its full height (Which Hazard noticed was very tall indeed) and shrieked a cry of challenge and defiance as its still functional tentacles lashed the air and it held its manacled hands ready at its sides.
The reptile roared back and charged the creature, its body hunched low as it prepared to bowl the sadly frail figure over.
But the masked monster didn't wait but charged as well meeting the reptile head on and swinging its bound hands like a hammer towards its face.
Unfortunately the scaled monster had expected this as it ducked under the attack and slashed at the figures sides. Hazard winced as the sharp claws easily pierced the thin rags and crimson blood splattered the floor but although it must have hurt the creatures' amber eyes merely hardened as it continued to spin.
Hazard understood what it was planning as the momentum of its first attack spun the tentacle creature like a spinning top and as it swung round its bunched hands came down low like a bat aiming straight between the grinning reptiles eyes as it crouched low at its side.
The reptile shrieked in surprise a spilt second before the hands hit, then it was flying several feet black, filthy blood and teeth spraying from its mouth as it rolled across the marble floor.
The masked figure almost overbalanced as it stopped its spin and stood with legs wide apart and panting heavily in discomfort as it swayed gently.
Hazard stared at it knowing that it was seriously hurt and probably could not win this fight if that reptile continued to- damn! Hazard grimaced as the scaled monster levered itself to its feet spitting out some loose teeth and roaring in outrage.
He glanced at the tentacle creature and he saw it look back at him, for a moment their gazes met and Hazard was shocked at the emotion within those amber orbs… those surprisingly human looking eyes. It KNEW it couldn't win yet it was still going to fight… for him.
'Sod that! Nobodies dying for me!' He thought angrily as he tried to force his body to get to his feet.
Even so the anger and fear he felt didn't impress his limbs much as they felt comfortably as jelly and didn't want to move.
"Damn it move!" Hazard hissed as he rolled onto his side grumbling.
'You have not regenerated fully yet, and in your weakened state could you beat that bioweapon?' Unity asked.
"I need solutions not foolish questions! I will not let that… that person! Die for me!" Hazard hissed as he watched the monster stalk towards his swaying guardian.
He couldn't let it die, not after it had saved him, not now when he had seen true intelligence and emotion in those eyes.
Monsters did not know sacrifice, monsters did not make decisions to fight unwinnable battles, and monsters did not care!
He'd be damned if he would this creature die! Not when it seemed it was like him, a monster with a soul.
'Hazard we have more ways to fight then our claws' Unity hinted.
'What? Unity spit it out I don't have time for games!' Hazard mentally raged as he forced himself to his knees.
'Use the crossbow you idiot!'
Lisa watched as the Hunter approached trying not only to stop her legs from giving out but also to prevent her eyelids sliding shut.
She had probably lost a fair bit of blood, couple that with the wounds and beatings she was receiving and it was only a matter of time till blackout.
'Oh well I got myself into this best to see it through' she thought resignedly.
The Hunter roared and charged and Lisa prepared herself to fight as best she could when she heard a strangely familiar sound… a sound very much like 'snick'.
The Hunter screamed and stopped in mid-charge as it suddenly was sprouting a crossbow bolt from its chest, Lisa stared in surprise then glanced behind her at Hazard who was trying to quickly reload his crossbow.
He noticed her staring and shot her a grin, Lisa quickly looked away and focused on the squealing Hunter.
Bloody stupid male, had to save her and then grin at her! Who did he think he was a knight in shining armour or something!
Thus she told herself the warmth in her cheeks was embarrassment for having to be saved not that it could be anything else!
The Hunter swore as he grasped the bolt in his chest and gave it an experimental tug, the sharp pain and spurt of blood told him it would be best to keep in it for a moment.
Damn the fates they were laughing at him in their caverns deep in the earth! He had come here with six brothers intend on finding that purple bastard that had wounded him and exact sweet revenge on him.
But although searching for many hours they found nothing. Then Lo and Behold they had crossed paths with the strange tyrant girl all alone and unprotected.
He had thought the 'Dweller in the darkness' had provided him with this opportunity but it seems now that instead he was cursed!
Three brothers died to best her but he had believed it would be worth it to remove this threat to the clans and that the elders would reward them thusly.
But then that damn purple creature had appeared out of nowhere! Slaying two more brothers and then the last had run like a coward leaving him alone to face his enemy. Even so he had beaten his nemesis and had him at his mercy.
Then the girl had intervened and just when he had been about to kill her the purple one had shot at him!
He glared at the girl who still stood between him and his prey and said prey who was even now reloading his weapon.
The advantage had gone, to continue to fight would invite death and he had no intention of beginning his journey into the caverns of the dweller just yet.
He screamed a last curse at his two enemies and sprinted for the door, throwing it open and escaping into the forest setting a course for the clan tunnels.
He was beaten today, but he was not dead. They would suffer one day.
Oh yes… one day they would SUFFER…
Hazard climbed back onto his feet leaning heavily on the pillar beside him for support, as his shaking legs felt as weak as jelly.
Glancing towards the thrown open double doors that the large reptile had escaped through he wondered when they would next meet again.
'The hatred in that monsters eyes… no way is it gonna let this drop' he thought.
Inwardly groaning at having acquired a nemesis, it seemed, Hazard looked across the room at the rag wearing and tentacle-bearing creature he laid his head against the cool stone of the pillar as he watched it, and it in return watched him.
It seemed to be trying to get a measure of him as it just stared at him with its wary amber eyes and shuddered with small spasms of pain.
Ignoring its frightful appearance, ignoring the mutations growing from its back that lay weak on the floor, ignoring the skinned faces it wore Hazard just stared at its eyes replaying its actions in his head.
And then he stood up straight (wincing painfully) and asked it, "Are you ok?" with as much compassion as his sore throat could muster.
To say she was surprised was a severe understatement; something like absolute shock was more accurate.
The purple creature had such a weak and frail appearance (though her own probably wasn't that good either), leaning against the pillar with bruises and cuts covering his skin and his whole body shaking.
And his first words were 'are you ok?'
Lisa almost snorted, there had to be some other motive? Why was he showing concern, just what reasoning did he have?
His face was showing confusion as she hadn't answered but at this moment she couldn't bring herself too, strange conflicting emotions were arguing in her skull with megaphones and Lisa was too deafened to hear any of their options.
So she did what made the most sense at the moment, she reared up (hiding the pain) and hissed at the other tyrant warningly then turned on her heel and started shuffling away.
All the while a small voice in her head called her a fool and a coward but she ignored it.
She just wanted to go home and sleep.
'Ok. That's very grateful'
Hazard hadn't been afraid when the creature had did its little 'hissing show', he understood it was telling him to keep away and at the moment he was happy to do so.
'I mean I save its life and all I get is a snarl and a growl? Well next time creepy you're on your own!' Hazard silently seethed, he watched the creature stumble towards the front doors, its tentacles trailing on the floor behind it, its back bent with exhaustion and found the image very… unsettling.
"Arg!" Hazard punched himself in the side (cursing afterwards), damn it why should he care! It was obvious that the creature did not want his help!
'Perhaps it doesn't know how to accept help?' Unity wondered.
"Don't care, I'm going" Hazard muttered resentfully.
But he only managed a few steps towards the dining room before the sound of something falling made him stop.
And sigh.
And turn around and wearily watch the fallen creature.
'Its got spirit' Unity whispered as they watched the kneeling creature lever itself back to its feet and even manage another few steps before it was forced back to its knees.
Hazard just stared as it sat on its knees, blood covered and shaking as its breathing switched between deep and erratic with pain. He glanced at the blood trail it was leaving behind it and sighed as he saw its tentacles flopping about weakly as they tried to rise up into the air and take their station above their charge, yet could not find the strength.
'It won't make it back to its cabin'
'I know Unity'
'The trails it leaves and its weakness would attract predators for miles'
'I KNOW Unity!'
Looking up at where he hoped the ether was Hazard cursed whatever deity was watching and limped over to the fallen creature cursing every step of the way.
Lisa had her eyes closed and was trying to regulate her breathing with deep calm breaths as her body waved its notices of pain.
She knew that she was in a serious state. She had never been so far away from her cabin and with her body so weakened.
She laughed bitterly, and all because of that 'Hazard' creature, who probably would have helped her if she had asked.
'Yeah but you're too much a coward to ask for help'
Lisa winced at the accusing tone, 'I am not a coward! I'm just wary… besides I don't need his help!'
'Oh? Well then get up if you're so self-reliant' her inner voice mocked.
Lisa snarled and again tried to get to her feet fighting against the burning pain that scorched her body. She managed to get halfway to her feet when the pain became too great; she cried out in agony and fell to her knees defeated.
Lisa sniffed miserably as she felt hot tears build in her eyes and grinned in crazed mirth. She couldn't even find the strength to wipe the tears away…
"Could I sink any lower?" she whispered.
"Possibly but I won't comment" answered a young and amused voice.
Lisa's amber eyes flashed with surprise and she almost squeaked in shock as two strong arms curled around her mid-rift and a person kneeled behind her.
She immediately tried to struggle. Even as her limbs screamed in pain she tried to strike the stranger, fear and mortification giving her strength.
"Listen, the voice whispered soothingly, I'm not going to hurt you but I kinda decided that I'm going to help you even if that means knocking you out and treating your wounds while your unconscious"
The arms tightened their hold, but not painfully, as the stranger spoke cheerfully, "So how's about giving me a hand instead of making this difficult k?"
And then Lisa felt herself being lifted up, she considered struggling but at the moment the thought of being supported on her feet instead of laying face down on the floor was more appealing. She added what little strength she had and soon she was standing up, leaning against a tall and strong body.
She glanced across the figures chest wondering for a moment at the strange lettering. As if reading her thoughts the person chuckled, a surprisingly pleasing sound, and said "Yeah I get confused with that too but hey it still looks nice"
She looked up towards his face feeling her breath catch as she looked at the purple face… she had forgotten how nice Hazard looked up close.
What was he doing? Why was he helping her? Had she not done enough to discourage him?
Her own eyes met his golden ones and she swallowed hard, he tilted his head looking down on her gently before saying, "You don't talk much do you?"
Lisa didn't answer. She couldn't answer. This was the first time in over a decade that she had been held in arms that weren't trying to crush her, and almost her whole life since she looked up into eyes that contained caring and warmth.
She couldn't look anymore; she hung her head curling upon herself in distraught.
She had no idea what to do in a situation like this.
Hazard couldn't help but smile as the creature hung its head and curled up upon itself, it was a surprisingly cute action.
Still for the moment despite the questions and words he wanted to say such things would have to wait for now. His was in no state to be caught by a monster and forced to fight, especially if he had to protect his new found companion.
"Ok, Hazard said as he gently turned the ragged creature and himself towards the dining hall, we can't stay here it's not safe so you're gonna use me as a crutch and we're gonna limp to my hideout ok?"
The masked creature didn't answer but nodded hesitantly instead. Hazard smiled pleasantly and started walking doing his best to ignore his own sensations of pain, his charge clung to him tightly as if afraid that to let go would mean being swept away into danger.
"Easy now" Hazard murmured as the creature stumbled on its chains, he caught it before it fell and the creature quickly righted itself and continued to walk.
They reached the dining hall door and Hazard took a moment to prop the creature against a wall then take a peek inside the room, thankfully it was clear and the two continued their journey.
Once inside the constant ticking of the grandfather clock and the rustling of the creature's chains echoed in the still hall, Hazards eyes darted about the room worriedly as they slowly crossed the room.
"So, Hazard said to distract himself, um I'm Hazard by the way, we've meet before and I'm sure you tried to take my head off but that's ok! I don't hold grudges… anyway just wanted to ask what your name was by chance?" Hazard asked somewhat lamely.
The amber eyes of his companion merely glared into his own in answer then focused ahead of them, Hazard coughed to hide his embarrassment, "Sorry forgot you don't talk much… my bad".
'It's got that 'barely stopping myself from killing you let alone talk' vibe eh Hazard?' Unity chuckled.
'Shut it'
Lisa was focusing on taking one step after the other and keeping her drowsy senses as alert as possible for danger, it was better that then think about the purple tyrant currently supporting her.
Ok he was helping her fair enough and because of that she wasn't ripping his head off (and she could if she wanted to!) but in the end he was merely repaying a favour. She helped him now he was helping her, simple as that, no strings attached.
But even as she thought this she knew she was fooling herself, Hazard was trying to strike up a conversation with her for gods sake! Didn't he know how foolish he was being? She was dangerous and he was trying to talk to her… as if she were-
No. She wasn't going to go there, she wasn't going to consider that thought, such thinking was too many years dead.
Too many painful years dead.
She shook her head banishing her foolish musings (something she was doing quite often these days) and instead focused on what options were available to her.
Ok she would accept Hazards help and once she had recovered and eaten she would leave and try to minimise their interactions from that day on.
She wouldn't try to kill him again, he had earned that but she could not afford to get any deeper in this situation then she already was.
Just his presence was strange enough imagine if they started seeing each other even more!
Hunting together, eating together, talking to each other.
No she couldn't allow that to happen, she couldn't risk it she'd just have to accept his help for now and then-
Lisa lurched forward as a wave of dizziness crept up on her; she frowned as the unsettling feeling made her vision swim and her body shiver uncomfortably.
Hazard was saying something and trying to hold her up but Lisa was too confused to focus on the words, she groaned as her eyelids grew heavy and she felt her grasp on reality slipping away.
She knew what was happening, she had lost too much blood and even her viral enhanced constitution couldn't stop her from passing out.
Even the thought of being left defenceless and vulnerable in the hands of a male couldn't stop her consciousness shutting down, though she struggled franticly to prevent herself falling unconscious.
Her legs had given out and Hazard was holding her tight to prevent her slipping to the ground and was trying to talk to her without success.
Lisa last thought as the darkness covered her sight was a silent plea, 'please don't hurt me' to the male who held her in his power.
"Wake up! Please wake up freaky tentacle creature!" Hazard yelled desperately at his unresponsive charge. The amber eyes of the creature were shut tight behind the veil of faces and its body hung limp and dead in Hazards arms.
"Bloody hell…" Hazard breathed uneasily as he glanced around him for danger, bad enough being caught weak by a monster now he had the added danger of being caught carrying dead weight too!
'Guess the damage was too great Hazard' Unity said while Hazard gently laid the rag covered creature on the floor.
'I guess' he thought back wondering what to do now.
Ok first things first. Hazard carefully lowered his face closer to the veil of faces covering the creatures own, trying not to cringe at the awful sight.
Turning his head he relaxed slightly when he heard that the creature was still breathing but he doubted the sharp gasps it breathed were good.
It was clearly in a bad state and Hazard knew he had to act fast. Steeling himself he kneeled at the creature's side and carefully slide his arms under its legs and back and picked it up, releasing a small grunt in pain as the weight made his wounds ache.
He stood up swaying for a moment until he found his centre of balance then continued his journey holding the unconscious monster in his arms like a sleeping child.
Opening doors was a hassle but then having a dextrous tail solved that problem. It was a few more rooms before Hazards curiosity outgrew his pain and he began to sneak peeks at the slumbering creature in his arms.
The first thing he noticed that the creature weighted next to nothing itself, it was the chains and manacles that gave it weight, and he could see why as the creature seemed to be depressingly thin.
Glancing at its hanging legs and bare arms Hazard frowned as he began to realise that under all the dirt the skin was pink, and that the limbs were very much human. Thin and delicate with small hands and feet possessing nails not claws and certainly no growths or mutations.
Suspicion was growing in Hazards thoughts as he reached the stairway to the second floor and the corridor of mirrors; he looked down at the veil of faces the creature wore wondering now what the true face underneath really looked like.
Perhaps not as monstrous as he first believed? Perhaps… this creature was a human once?
The more he thought about it the more sense it made to him. Pink human flesh, clothing, and intelligence.
Perhaps this really is another mutated human like me!
'Just because it once may have been human does not mean it still is Hazard' Unity warned.
'Perhaps but I don't think this is the case here Unity!' Hazard hissed back, not wishing to be deterred from his train of thought.
The creature then gave a sharp gasp in pain and curled up in Hazards arms in distress, Hazard felt its body shaking and knew he had to hurry.
Putting on a burst of speed Hazard halted his musings and sprinted for his room. He would not allow this (possible) person to be taken from him.
Lisa awoke feeling herself in a strange, but not unwelcome, sense of bliss. She was refreshingly free of pain for some reason and her tired body was laying on something warm and soft that made her want to snuggle deeper into the source.
She had yet to open her eyes. Curled up in a ball and with a happy smile on her face she didn't want to spoil the paradise of numb relaxation she was in by seeing the cave of her bedroom.
No she could enjoy this for a little longer then return to reality.
As she rested she wondered why Ted wasn't in her arms; she moved her hands lazily but couldn't find him around her.
She sighed and decided he must have fallen off the bed during the night, it often happened, she'd but him back in his place on the bed when she got up.
She had barely dismissed that when she grew aware of her tentacles moving around behind her, she could feel five of them either drooping over the side of the bed or laying behind her but the sixth was moving around restlessly.
Again this wasn't unusual as her tentacles had a semi-intelligence of their own and tended to move about like dreaming dogs while Lisa rested.
But strangely she couldn't feel much of this one, she couldn't sense its actions or feel what it was thinking (well the instincts and raw emotions that were their 'thinking').
And try as she might she couldn't stop it moving.
Now that she thought about it she couldn't stop it because it had already stopped.
Somebody else was moving it…
Lisa's eyes shot open 'Somebody else is moving my tentacle!' she thought in shock.
She quickly tried to roll around and confront her assailant when a clawed hand stopped her in a gentle yet undeniable grip.
"I've just got you bandaged up so it's probably not a good idea to move" it said quietly.
Recollection returning Lisa remained still more out of confusion then anything else. Behind her Hazard, for it must be he, returning his attentions to her tentacle twining something firm and soft around her extra limb.
Lisa remembered that that tentacle was the one that had almost been cut in half by the large Hunter. Hazard was tying it back together with something and Lisa could feel the split flesh stitching back together.
She kept silent except for occasional winces as Hazard tightened the bandages, his gentle apologies relieving her pain a bit.
Hazard finished his work and she heard him sigh as he moved back, "Ok you can move now just no sudden movements ok, I don't have many bandages spare"
Somewhat hesitantly Lisa sat up her body still aching but more tolerantly now, she rested her hands on her lap looking over herself examining Hazards work while the purple tyrant sat watching her silently at the side of the bed.
She was impressed with the competent dressing on the wounds on her arms and the good bandage around her damaged tentacle but as she pawed her sides feeling linen strips criss-crossing her stomach she shot a glare at the suddenly nervous male who was backing away slightly.
"I swear I kept my hands to myself and only looked at your injuries" he said hopefully while holding his hands up pleadingly, he tried to smile winningly but it came off as more like a painful grimace.
Lisa continued to glare but after watching his nervous squirming for a few moments she snorted and returned to examining herself, she wondered what her body looked like now and her tentacles moved to the bottom of her ragged dress and took hold.
She stared at Hazard irritably until he got the message, surprisingly he blushed (making Lisa more suspicious) and turned his back mumbling apologies.
Lisa winced sorely as she lifted the dress over her head gently placing it at her side as she curiously looked over her body, she glanced at Hazard hoping to catch him peeking so she would have an excuse to attack him but the tyrant was being surprisingly noble. He was clutching his claws behind his back and staring ahead patiently while his long tail swayed to and fro across the floor.
Put out, yet secretly pleased, Lisa ran her tentacles over herself pawing the bandages and finding herself to be quite pleased with the job Hazard did… though still unsure about him having seen her unclothed.
'But he didn't do anything to me so perhaps there's some decency in him' Lisa thought as she threw her rags back over her body quickly covering herself as Hazard started fidgeting.
Lisa swung her legs round resting on the edge of the bed facing Hazard, she watched him curiously for a moment considering him. Thus far the male had done much more for her then she had ever received for decades and now she wondered what to do now, this situation was completely alien to her.
It had been so long since she had felt… grateful, to someone.
Realising Hazard was probably getting impatiently (yet too honest to just turn round, which she found herself liking) she coughed politely, or as polite as she could, to get his attention.
Hazard cursed his senses as he heard the rustling of a dress being pulled free of a (surprisingly) interesting body leaving bare skin, a soft and secret place and-
'STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!'
Hazard shut his eyes tight clenching his claws behind his back in an effort to distract himself, he knew he shouldn't be thinking about this but it was so damn hard!
Behind his closed eyelids images like a crude playback flowed across his pupils, he had brought the tentacle creature here and laid it on the bed then started searching the room for anything he could use to treat it.
The various medicines and drugs were beyond Hazards knowledge and to try one at random would probably do more harm then good so he had scrapped them. However he had found a small stash of bandages and cleaning alcohol and had quickly started working on the unconscious creature cleaning and bandaging its arms, legs and some of its tentacles.
Then he had hesitated as he realised that in order to get at the wounds on its side and chest successfully he would have to remove its ragged clothing.
And he strongly suspected the creature wouldn't be wearing any form of underwear once the dirty dress was removed.
At that point he was on two minds, literally, on what to do at this point.
Unity believed that it would be best just to get on with it and try and ignore whatever was underneath the clothing. It believed the creature would most likely be extremely mutated underneath the rags too.
Hazard agreed but even so he was worried about the creature's modesty, even if it was horrible mutated Hazard didn't have the right to just stare and judge its body. He certainly wouldn't like being naked and stared at by a total stranger.
So perhaps he could… keep his eyes closed and bandage by touch and smell alone?
To which Unity had scoffed and said how stupid that idea was. He couldn't hope to properly treat someone blindly. Would a doctor try and perform surgery on a woman blindfolded because he would have to look at her breasts?
So feeling a little chastened Hazard had carefully manoeuvred the creature into a sitting position (apologising gently when it whimpered) and began to pull its dress over its head.
Slowly the old garment had moved up the creatures body, Hazard being careful not to dislodge the veil it wore while doing so (he felt removing that and looking on its face was going to far, it obviously kept itself covered for a reason).
He had been somewhat surprised as he raised the dress at how long and delicate the creature's legs were. The curves that were slowly being revealed was making Hazard just a little bit edgy.
And when the dress had pulled back to the creature's hips revealing in all its beauty a small, cute and rounded ass Hazard had quickly slammed the dress back down over the amazing sight.
He had swallowed hard finding his throat suddenly dry as he contemplated what this meant. What this creature really was.
Because Hazard had contemplated many things about this creature, that perhaps it was once human, perhaps it was sentient and even perhaps they could be friends.
But he had never even considered it might be a girl… possibly a very attractive girl considering that small and wondrously curved ass that was hidden under the deceptive rags.
Even Unity had been shocked into silence and so Hazard had been left alone holding a GIRL in his arms ('who lets not forget has a gorgeous ass' Unity whispered in awe) and now he had to undress her!
Cause he had to… he had to do something about her wounds because he knew that the only thing keeping her alive was the virus in her cells and it was at the end of its strength unless Hazard stopped the blood loss.
But he also knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself looking, with a naked girl before him there was no way he was gonna be able to stop himself from glancing (And from glancing outright staring) at her breasts and… oh god! Her other special place too!
Hazard had to bite into his hand at this point to stop himself groaning and after punishing himself Unity had kicked him into gear, with a calming breath Hazard had continued to raise the girls dress hoping, praying! That she wouldn't wake up and take this the wrong way.
He had closed his eyes as he lifted up the dress and carefully dropped it on the floor and laid the girl on the bed, he then kneeled shakily at the side of the bed until Unity shouted at him to bloody open his eyes and get to work.
And he had opened his eyes… and both he and Unity were struck dumb by the sight before them.
The body lying on the bed before him was defiantly that of a female. Though malnourished and somewhat thin it was still curved in the right places and possessing all the right parts.
Hazard frowned as he saw that many ragged scars blemished the girls' pale, (though dirty) skin. He gently ran a claw over one shivering as he contemplated how many battles like the one before this girl had been in to amass so many.
'I'm so sorry… that I mistook you for another monster and didn't look at what you really where' Hazard thought in self-disgusted apology as he gazed at the girls closed eyes.
'Hazard you can make it up to her by cleaning her up ok?' Unity said gently.
Hazard nodded and quickly got to work dabbing at the wounds with the alcohol and dressing the cuts. Trying desperately to focus on the task at hand and not on-
Her breasts look so firm and soft… girl's nipples look so much better then guys.
Ok a bit more cloth needed here.
Her skins so soft and pale…
This wounds fine, ok Hazard focus on the next injury.
Her stomachs so flat and smooth… feels soft and warm.
Wrapping the bandage around a few times should work.
Oh shit I'm looking down, don't look down Hazard, don't look down!
Tie it here and I think this will hold… hey it worked!
Oh crap I looked down.
This tentacle needs to be tied together tightly.
Man… it looks… I can't believe… It's so alien yet so… amazing…
And I'm finished!
Hazard breathed a sigh of relief when he finished and quickly dived for the worn dress on the floor raising the girl to a sitting position gently (Shaking as his own body pressed against her soft bare skin) and tenderly covered her up again.
After that he laid her on her side away from him (cause he really shouldn't be looking at her and imagining- 'stop thinking about it!') and sat with his back against the bed holding his head in his claws while trying to calm himself down.
'Think about chairs or something Hazard cause if she wakes up and sees what's between our legs doing a salute she'll go nuts' Unity sniggered.
'Jesus Unity! Did you have to remind me of that! Just shut up ok!'
Hazard breathed deeply fighting to keep his body under his own control as certain parts of him screamed their own opinions at him or just throbbed painfully (But strangely pleasantly) to distract him.
'Bloody hell this is harder then I thought' Hazard groaned as he began to calm down.
'Speaking of hard-'
'SHUT UP UNITY!'
Hazard muttered irritably as Unity fell silent with amusement, the tyrant paused in his silent rant as something began to tap on his back.
Looking over his shoulder Hazard saw one of the girl's tentacles was moving around lazily and to his annoyance its movements were unravelling the bandage around it. Hazard sighed warily and got back to work fixing it up.
And it was around then that the girl woke up and brought him to this memory lane journey.
Hazard opened his eyes as he heard a cough behind him, he stood still uncertainly for a moment until the girl behind him coughed again irritably and he carefully turned around.
The girl-creature was sitting on the edge of his bed ('a girl on my bed!') and was looking around the room nervously as she fidgeted with her hands squeezing the hem of her dress tightly.
"Feel better?" Hazard asked concerned and the girl stared at him for a moment before her gaze returned to exploring the room. Though the tyrant saw that she gave the barest of nods to his question though she wouldn't look at him.
'Is she nervous?' He wondered.
Hazard swung his hands nervously unsure himself how to break the silence. The two occupants of the room looked everywhere but at each other and both were brainstorming desperately to think of something to do or say.
Hazard broke it first, coughing to get her attention he leaned against the metal storage chest as he gazed at her curiously.
"Listen I know that your not the same of the other creatures here, he said carefully, in fact I'm willing to bet your a lot smarter then you've let on especially considering I've seen that your-". Here Hazard stopped as he realised what he was going to say, the girl must have guessed too cause he say her bristle in anger and her amber eyes spark. He blushed and scratched his head distractedly while the girl continued to watch him though less hostile now at seeing him blush, Hazard thought quickly and tried again.
"Look we both agree this is a dangerous place and it would be best for both of us that we… work together. Ally perhaps?" he said lamely. The girl remained silent though she tilted her head slightly as if considering his words.
Hazard cursed and punched his hands together angrily at his less then perfect wording, he looked at the girl trying to fathom something in her silent eyes as he waved his hands through the air trying to structure a sentence.
"What I'm trying to say is… perhaps we could… we could be friends?" he asked quietly biting his lip in fear.
The girl remained silent but Hazard frowned as he saw something in those eyes dim, he wasn't sure what was going on but he guessed he must have said the wrong thing when the girl stood up her tentacles rising into the air.
"I don't want to fight" Hazard whispered sadly as the girl stepped forward, his words made her stop and hesitate for a moment.
To Hazards surprise a tentacle began to snake through the air towards him, he almost flinched back as it approached but something in the girls amber eyes stopped him… there was a strange sadness there but no aggression.
Despite Unity's warnings Hazard allowed the tentacle to touch his face. He shivered uncertainly as it ran over his cheek; down his neck and rested against his heart.
He stared uncomprehendingly at the girl as he mouthed a question; in response the tentacle patted his chest and quickly pulled away returning to its mistress.
"We won't fight… but we can't be allies" The girl said softly. Hazard gasped as the light, musical words reached his ears but after a few seconds of stunned silence at hearing her speak he jumped to his feet as the words sunk in.
"Why not?" he asked as she reached for the door handle, "Why can't we be allies?"
The girl opened the door and turned and fixed him with her glowing amber stare, "Because we're too different" she said. Hazard noticed that her quiet voice sounded choked with some painful emotion.
She made to walk out and Hazard stepped forward throwing his arms out to his sides in bafflement, "So that's it? You're just gonna walk away and never see each other again? After what happened, after the help I gave you you're just gonna say 'thanks now piss off!' and never talk again?" he shouted incredulously.
The amber stare hardened but Hazard was too hurt to care, "I thought I had someone in my life now… I thought I may have a friend" he whispered brokenly.
The amber eyes didn't change but the girls hands clenched tightly, "You were wrong" she hissed and with that parting remark she walked out slamming the door behind her.
Hazard remained in dazed silence as the girls words echoed in his ears, Unity whispered soothingly to him but the tyrant was too deafened by the words in his mind to hear.
He stumbled back falling onto the steel chest and sitting on the edge of it dumbly staring ahead at the closed door in silence.
After a few moments two trails of tears began to crawl down his face, the young tyrant sniffed wetly and wiped them away with a flick of his claws but as the wetness increased he soon gave up.
The silence was soon broken by ragged sobs as Hazard laid his head in his clawed hands and cried alone in the dark room.
Always alone in the darkness.
Lisa ran as soon as the door slammed behind her, the loud bang acting as a starting pistol for her legs as she raced for the stairs on course for her cabin.
And all the time Hazards soulful words echoed in her ears.
'I thought I may have a friend'
Damn that stupid fool! Why'd he have to say that! Why did he have to go and press the issue?
She hadn't attacked him and considering she saved him and let him off from unclothing her she was being very lenient. How dare he ask more of her!
'Because he doesn't want to be alone anymore… just like you really'
Lisa screamed in rage at the accusing voice in her head, swinging her bound hands at a passing wall smashing a hole in the ancient plaster.
She kept running reaching the second floor balcony in record time and skidding to a halt at the banister.
Trying to calm herself she tried to swallow the bile she felt at the back of her throat as Hazards shattered face swam before her eyes, she couldn't stop seeing his tearful gaze as her harsh words tore into him.
She shut her eyes tight shaking with emotion as she tried to stop the guilt she was feeling.
'We're too different… that's why we can't be friends' she thought in justification.
He was still young and unspoiled by this place and she was… well a hideous monster now.
Lisa hugged herself tight as she continued this train of thought, he was innocent and pure, still had humour and despite his appearance his humanity.
So what would happen to him if they started to hunt together and meet together, he would end up just as twisted and corrupted as she was by this place.
She sniffed miserably and continued walking, if he knew what was good for him he would leave this place and find other humans who weren't monsters.
'Yeah but didn't you already try that? How many days were you out in the forest before you had to turn back?' Lisa's conscience said irritably.
Lisa growled as she threw open the entrance doors to the mansion daring anything to attack her in her present mood, nothing took up the challenge so she was forced to listen to her inner voice prattle on as she stomped through the woods.
'Besides how long do you think he will survive without your help?'
"I'm not his babysitter, he can take care of himself" Lisa hissed.
'Well he'll have to certainly treat his own wounds alone as you didn't even offer to do that for him, even though he helped you without question'
"I never asked for his help!"
'But he gave you it anyway, surely that deserves some reward?'
"He undressed me" Lisa spat, shaking as old memories stirred behind her eyes.
'Yes he did. But did he touch you? Did he molest you? No. He dressed your wounds and treated you with dignity which is more then you have given him!'
Lisa stopped as the voices disgusted words rang in her mind, she actually hadn't thought about that… she had forgotten he was hurt as well.
But to go back-
'I can't'
'Why?'
'… Because I'm afraid'
Her conscience laughed bitterly, 'more like a coward Lisa'.
The tyrant girl reeled as if struck by a physical blow at her inner voices mocking words. She hadn't wanted to consider it but perhaps it was true… she was a coward.
Hazard helped her at the expense of his own safety and well being and she threw it back in his face. She tried again to justify it to herself but her arguments felt hollow now and the sick feeling in her stomach grew stronger as she realised the full weight of her folly.
"What have I done?" She whispered horrified with herself.
This is what had become of her, she had survived for so long and now finally she meets another intelligent being who only wants to be friends she does the metaphorical equivalent of tearing out his heart and stamping on it.
What has she become? She was worse then the mindless monsters and even the man with the sunglasses.
They were mere animals and would threaten your live but not your heart or emotions, (Well the not the physical heart that's quite a delicacy). Even the dark man didn't make you believe you could trust him or even like him before he hurt you, he was cruel but at least you knew that straight away and couldn't be fooled into false security.
But she had done that to Hazard, he said (or began to say) that he knew she was once a human because he had seen her naked body. Though she still felt uneasy about that, it had given him hope that perhaps she was something more then all the other monsters of this place.
'Well you sure proved him wrong, what with the whole 'one wolf' thing' her conscience said dryly.
'Hazard!' Lisa turned and began to head back towards the mansion when uncertainty made her stop. What if he didn't want to accept her apology? What if she had gone too far and he just slammed the door in her face.
She couldn't face that; it would be too much…
She quivered indecisively for a moment glancing between the mansion and her cabin thinking quickly while in the trees above her a few crows watched her with curiosity.
Lisa perked up, laughing in joy, as an idea came to her. Dashing as fast as her chains would allow to her cabin she prayed that Hazard would accept her apology.
The crows watched her go, cawing to themselves in discussion, then eyed the girl with interest as a few minutes later she returned clutching something against her chest and racing for the mansion.
The birds took flight following her. They could smell a good drama starting and anything was better then dropping stones on zombies' heads to see if they were noticed.
Hazard lay on his bed curled upon himself and sniffling sadly as he buried his head in his arms. He sobbed piteously wondering how he could have been such an idiot. How could he have let himself be used and tricked by that miserable creature?
'Don't let this get to you Hazard, she obviously has some serious issues in her head' Unity whispered gently.
'That's no excuse, I helped her the least she could have said is thank you but no instead it's a brush aside and leave me alone' Hazard thought hurtfully.
'Perhaps it's been so long she doesn't know how to say thank you?'
'I DON'T CARE! I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE COULD BE A FRIEND! INSTEAD I GET THE COLD SHOULDER AND FOR WHAT? BECAUSE I CARED? BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY THING HERE THAT WANTED TO HELP HER IT'S I WHO MUST SUFFER!'
Hazard thumped his fists into the bed, tearing at the mattress and snarling in scorched anger. After awhile he stopped curling up into a ball again and chuckling bitterly, "I'm such a fucking idiot…"
Unity remained silent for a few moments before quietly saying, 'You still have us Hazard… we won't leave you'
Hazard snorted and rolled onto his back staring at the cobweb-strung ceiling, "Forgive me Unity, that helps but I wish I had another more physical friend" he said trying to keep his tone non-surly.
'We will accept that as long as you accept that you can get over this, that there will be others to meet besides her'
Hazard closed his eyes considering this, "But how long until we meet any others Unity?" Hazard asked miserably.
'We do not know, but when we do hopefully they will not look at just our skin'
"They better cause I think my purple colours quite nice actually" Hazard said with mock indignation feeling himself smile afterwards.
Unity hummed in satisfaction, 'That's it Hazard keep your chin up and look to the future cause remember what we promised together?'
"What's that?"
'We are not going to die here'
Hazard grinned hiccuping slightly in amusement, "Your damn right".
He opened his eyes again feeling a little better now, true he still felt his heart aching with the pain of rejection but it was dulled a little now.
"I'm glad I have you Unity" Hazard said shakily.
'You will always have us Hazard'
Hazard sighed as he sat up wincing at his general soreness, "You know, he said wearily, all I've done for the last few hours is be constantly sore and bruised"
'You will heal, however perhaps you should clean yourself up a little and maybe take some herbs'
Hazard nodded considering his options; he still had a few bandages left (Not many though, he used most of them on that ungrateful brat) and he had those blue herbs still.
'But will they help? For all I know the blue ones could be poisonous and only the red and green are actually helpful' Hazard thought uncertainly.
Hazard stood up and limped over to the medical shelves pawing through them inquisitively for anything useful but soon gave up. The drugs and bottles probably had many wonderful and beneficial properties but as far as Hazard was concerned they might as well be cough medicine considering the gibberish that was scrawled on their yellowed tags.
"Looks like its bandages and a kip eh Unity?"
'Unfortunately so'
Hazard grumbled to himself, cursing the fates, the monsters of this place, and especially that girl as he undressed wincing as he saw the long scabbed scratches and dark bruises on his body.
He had thrown his clothes back in the chest and started rooting around for the bandages when a knock sounded on his door.
Freezing in surprise Hazard remained still listening intently but no other knocks sounded, he frowned as his hearing could just make out the noise of something hurrying away from the door quietly.
'This is unusual' he mused as he carefully turned around and approached his door. He doubted very much a zombie would knock politely on a door then run off, nor a lizard monster either.
Curiosity aroused Hazard armed his crossbow and holding his hand on the door handle he steeled himself and threw it open.
And what met his burning gaze was nothing.
Hazard poked his head outside and down the passageway frowning in confusion when nothing but silence and stillness greeted him. He took a few steps outside his room but when nothing happened he started to feel a bit silly standing around like a dork in his pants.
'Really strange' Unity muttered.
Confused, and somewhat annoyed, Hazard returned to his room muttering in aggravation when his feet bumped into something at his doorway.
Glancing down Hazard stared in surprise at the cardboard box that was placed outside his door, glancing around him Hazard picked it up and poking his claws inside it curiously.
The box contained more bandages and even a few green herbs (freshly picked judging by the dirt around their roots), Hazard smiled in delight as he saw a bottle of water inside too and even a large slice of meat!
He breathed deep of the meats smell feeling himself start to drool then licked his lips as he held the bottle of water up for inspection. Now looking at the water he suddenly felt acutely thirsty.
Digging deeper into the box for more goodies he almost dropped it in shock as his questing claws unearthed something very surprising.
He squealed in glee as he pulled out his very own knife from the box, holding it up before his amazed eyes as he turned it around he felt his heart sing with the return of his treasured possession.
Even unity was amazed, but quickly overcame it to ask, 'But who gave us this?'
Hazard had been considering this too, he dug deeper for some clue, and sure enough he soon found a small scrap of paper, yellowed with age and dirt.
Holding it up to the light Hazard stared at the hurried scrawl of writing on the paper, he read it three times feeling a wide smile grow across his lips as he practically vibrated with happiness.
'It says 'I'm Sorry' Hazard' Unity whispered in amazement.
'Yes it does!' Hazard thought beaming happily.
Looking around him Hazard still couldn't detect anything but he was aware that the very air felt edgy and expectant.
Smiling widely Hazard yelled, "THANK YOU!" grinning blissfully. He didn't get a response but he didn't expect one so wasn't all that worried, not now.
Still practically levitating with happiness Hazard returned to his room believing that this was a perfect end to a day and things could only get better now.
Because he had a lot of plans for tomorrow, and the future had become suddenly very much brighter.
And just around the corner Lisa sighed in relief and quietly slipped away back to her cabin. And all the way she didn't once stop smiling under her veil of faces.
The future seemed so much brighter now.
End Act 2.
Bloody hell this took god knows how long to finish… I can't even feel my fingers now oww.
Anyway hopefully you have enjoyed this act and as before any reviews, be they good or bad, are welcome and I look forward to your opinons and any ideas you may have.
So thanks again and I'll get started on the next act as soon as I have time.
Bye!
