Link of the Dead II
Chapter 7:
Link and the others stood on the dark, empty street breathing heavily and thinking about what had just happened. Looking around, Link saw that the twenty five people that had been part of the group originally had now been reduced to just under fiteen.
"Is everyone okay?" asked Link, "Is anyone bitten?"
No one said anything.
"Where's everyone else?" asked Mila, "Are they okay?"
"I don't know," said Link, though he was pretty sure that they were dead, or undead.
"I can't do this anymore!" announced Salvatore, "I nearly got my legs chewed off! These bastards are scary and I can't take this anymore!"
"Listen," said Link, "We've made it so far. The journey back to the town hall is long and possibly dangerous."
"Everything is dangerous!" shouted Sal, "No matter where we are! I can't take it anymore!"
"Stop complaining!" snapped Link, "I've spent two fucking days on a fucking Redead-infested island trying to survive harsh wilderness. You should have known this was gonna be dangerous! You shouldn't have..."
"Link!" interrupted Mila, "Your sister..."
Link looked at Aryll, who sat on the floor, clutching her leg. Link bent down and inspected it. He saw where the injury was...When she fell, Aryll landed on a jagged rock that cut deep into her knee.
"Does it hurt?" asked Link,
"Yeah," said Aryll, trying to hold back her tears.
"We gotta put pressure on it," said Mila, wrapping a cloth around her knee.
"That's a deep cut," said Anton, "It may have gotten infected, and if it's not treated properly, she can get very sick. I should know, I'm actually studying to become a doctor."
"Great," said Link, "But how are we gonna treat it? We need the proper tools."
The gang stood there for a minute, thinking.
"Maybe," began Anton, "We could break into the hospital and see if there's any medicine?"
"I've been there," said Link, "And believe me, I'm not going back! Besides, it's too far!"
"What if we just broke into someone's house?" suggested Lenzo, "There are some houses on this street. Someone has to have medicine in there, even if it's just too hold Aryll off for a short while."
"Okay then," said Link.
"No, Link!" said Aryll, "It's not safe! Please don't go! I'll be fine!"
"I promised Grandma many years ago that I would always protect you, Aryll," said Link, "I can't let anything happen to you!"
Aryll began to cry.
"It'll be alright," said Link, hugging Aryll.
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After a while, the gang stmbled across a large house resting at the corner of the street. They examined it for a while.
"I'm going in, guys," said Link, "Keep watch!"
"Be careful, Link," said Aryll.
"Let me go in with you," said Mila.
"Mila, you can't," said Link, "It's too dangerous!"
"I can't let you go in alone," said Mila, "Please let me come!"
"Alright," said Link, "We'll watch each other's backs. But be careful! We lost too many people already."
Mila nodded. The two slowly entered the house.
"Anyone else wanna come?" asked Link, before opening the door.
No one answered.
"Alright then. Be careful...And keep Aryll safe!"
Link approached the door and kicked it down with all his might. As it opened up, Mila and Link entered the dark house and began to look around.
"Got a light?" asked Link.
"Yeah," replied Mila, who then lit a torch.
Link then grabbed the torch and began to light various candles around the house. It was eerily quiet and during their time in the house, Link and Mila were on high alert for any Redeads.
"Looks like there was a struggle here," said Link, staring at an overturned table in the living room.
"I hope the person made it out okay," said Mila.
"Me too," said Link, "Come on, we better find the bathroom. That's most likely where the medicine is."
Mila and Link searched the house for a bit. Along the way, they saw more furniture knocked around. After spending a while searching the house, Mila and Link had no luck. They began to head upstairs.
"Here it is," said Mila, passing by a small room in the corridor.
"Great," said Link, who began to enter the small, dark room.
Link approached a tall wooden cabinet that leaned against the wall.
"There has to be something in here," said Link, who began to open the door.
Just as he expected, there were several vials of medicines and creams. Link just needed to find the right one.
"So, Link," said Mila, "You really have been going on all these adventures since you were a kid, huh?"
"Yeah," said Link, searching the cabinet, "It all began when my sister was kidnapped many years ago, and I set off to rescue her. Little did I know I would become part of a mission to save the world from an evil sorcerer!"
"I remember that," said Mila, " I was kidnapped too. We shared a cell together. I can see why you feel so responsible for taking care of her."
"She means everything to me," said Link, "She was always there for me..."
"How did you meet Tetra?" asked Mila.
"I saved her from a monster. She wasn't really interested in helping me out, but she eventually came along. We went through so much together. I miss her so much..."
Mila placed her hand on Link's back.
"It's okay," she whispered, "You're not alone. With your guidance, we'll all get through."
Mila thought about her father and the whole situation she was in right now.
"Found it!" said Link suddenly. He pulled out a small jar. "These boko baba seeds are supposed to treat injuries."
"Great," said Mila, "I guess we can go..."
Just then, they heard a noise.
"What was that?" asked Link.
"We better get out," said Mila, "I'm scared."
Link and Mila fumbled about the dark, desolate house, searching for the exit.
"Be careful," said Link.
Just then, there was a loud boom. Link and Mila turned around instantly to the source of the noise, but there was nothing there.
"What the..." began Link.
Suddenly, a Redead popped out of a nearby closet and charged for the duo.
"This is fucking nuts," said Link.
The Redead grabbed Mila and the two fumbled around for a bit. Link managed to pull out his sword and charge towards the monster. Thinking quickly, he pushed Mila out of the way before turning to face the Redead. However, he did not get a chance to swing his sword: The Redead had grabbed Link's arm and bit him in the area just above his bicep. Link felt a sharp, stinging pain that travelled up his arm. Link could see blood pouring out of the wound as the Redead sunk its teeth further in.
"You'll pay for that!" snapped Link.
Link shoved his sword into the side of the Redead's head, causing blood to pour all over Link. Link yanked the sword out of the creature's head, causing chunks of its face to break off. As the Redead fell, Link gripped his damaged arm and fell to the floor.
"Link," said Mila, getting up and approaching Link, "Oh my God! We better treat that fast!"
"Mila," began Link, "Don't you see? I've been bitten! I'm gonna transform!"
"But," said Mila, "It can't be..."
"Just leave," said Link, "Give the medicine to Aryll and tell her I love her. Leave me here to die."
"I can't," said Mila.
"If I go out there," said Link, "I will turn into a Redead and I will kill everyone."
Tears began to fill up Mila's eyes. She couldn't believe that this was how it was going to end for Link after all that they've been through. As the pain in his arm intensified, Link knew his time was almost up. He too could not believe that this was the end.
"Wait," said Mila suddenly, "What about the potion? Don't you remember the potion Bandam made?"
"Yes," said Link, pulling out the small bottle from his pocket, "But I don't deserve this."
"What do you mean?" asked Mila.
"This was intended for Tetra, but I failed to save her. Why should it go to me, when she had to die for it? Give it to someone who deserves it more..."
"But Link, you are the only one who deserves it! Many people have died, but with your guidance, many were saved. We need you, Link! You're our leader!"
Link stared at Mila for a while. His stomach began to churn and his vision became blurry.
"Alright," he whispered.
Link opened the bottle carefully. Almost immediately, a pungent smell entered his nose.
"There's a chance this might not work," said Link, "If it seems I'm about to transform, kill me, got it?"
Mila nodded. Link then plugged his nose and chugged the potion. A strong, spicy flavour filled his entire mouth, and a powerful shock shot through his body. He began to feel very sick as the potion took effect. For a few seconds, Link could not move at all.
"Link?" asked Mila, "Link, are you alright?"
Link opened his eyes and saw Mila. His vision was back to normal, and his stomach was no longer queasy.
"Are you okay?" repeated Mila.
"I think so," replied Link.
"Let me treat that," said Mila.
Mila took a bit of the medicine and rubbed it on Link's wound. She then gave him some of the baba seed potion. Link stood up and tore a piece of his already-torn shirt and wrapped it around the wound.
"We better head outside," suggested Mila, "They must be worried."
"Let's go then!" said Link.
Link pulled his sleeve down over the wound and walked outside with Mila.
"Link!" said Lenzo, "What took you so long?"
"We had a run-in with a Redead," said Link, "But we're alright. Where's Aryll?"
Aryll approached Link. Link performed the same procedure that Mila had done to him inside the house. Once Aryll's wound was treated, a random man gave Link a cloth to tie around Aryll's leg.
"I guess we're done here," said Link, "Let's go to the bomb shop!"
The crowd cheered.
"Link," began Salvatore, "I'm sorry I got angry before and yelled."
"It's okay," said Link, "We're all scared. But now that we're gonna end this, we need to keep our wits together."
Sal nodded. The gang began to head to the bomb shop. Suddenly, Aryll turned around.
"Um," she said, "Guys, we have company..."