Chapter 24

Arynn, Page and Daniel reached a flight of stairs leading to the last floor of the building. They came to a stop when they saw the carnage of slain citizens covering the floors of the hallway and the walls smothered in old human blood. Arynn closed her eyes with a sigh while Daniel kept his focus on the double doors at the end. He looked at Arynn and she glanced at him. Though she only knew him for a short while, she wondered about how this would affect him. Would he be able to finish school and live a normal life? She prayed that he would, but in the back of mind, she knew that was just wishful thinking.

"Listen," Arynn said as she gently took the teen to the side. "There's a guy in there he's the cause for all of this and he has my son."

"So what do you want me to do about it?" Daniel said as he got out of her hold and crossed his arms. He looked at Page and she ignored him.

"Help me get my son back." Arynn said as her eyes stared hard into the young man's face. She appeared almost desperate and hysterical but she calmed herself down and looked away.

Daniel could see the pain in Arynn's trembling arms and leaned his head against the wall. He looked down at the dead bodies in the hall and gulped. All this time he hid away from everything, saving only his self and not stopping to help people in need. He closed his eyes and unfolded his arms.

"What do you want me to do?" He whispered.

"Don't try to be a hero." Arynn said. "Run when I say run. Hide when I say hide…" She took a sigh and looked back at the wooden door ahead. "Peter, he'll try to manipulate you and absorb you. Don't let him near you. If you see my son, get him and run."

"Alright." The young man said. "I'll do it."

"Thank you," Arynn whispered with a smile. She turned and gulped. This was it—this was the moment that she had wished for but also dreaded. She may not have been able to save the city but she knew that her actions now would make some type of impact on what was left of the city's residents and the city its self.

Tripper and Hernandez caught up to the little boy that had seemed to be leading them on a wild chase through the halls.

"Adam!" Hernandez shouted as he watched the boy fidget. The soldier turned to Tripper who was starting to walk towards the disturbed boy. "I don't know if this is a good idea." He said shaking his head.

"Adam?" Tripper asked as he watched the boy's heavy breathing. "We're going to take you home now." The Lead Commando gently said.

"Stay away." Adam whispered. Tripper stopped and quickly glanced back at his friend.

"Something's not right.." Hernandez whispered. "Are you sure this is him?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm sure." Tripper quickly said. There was no doubt in his mind. The boy fit the height of Adam and even wore the same type of clothing. But Hernandez was right there was something different about the boy. His posture slumped while his shoulders trembled. "Adam," Tripper tried again. "We don't have time for this. Your mother is waiting for you. Don't let her down."

Everyone fell silent and there was an awkward silence that loomed over the three individuals. The two men stood quiet and dared not come any closer. The boy turned and faced the soldiers. His skin was pale, his arms and neck showed protruding veins, while his eyes seemed to give off an eerie glow. It was Adam all right but to what capacity, the men were not sure. The boy opened his mouth and the familiar sounds of murmuring echoed throughout the quiet hall.

"It can't be..." Tripper said as he started to take a step back. Hernandez followed but remained quiet. The boy started to come closer.

"What now?" Hernandez asked as he looked behind them.

"We gotta find Page." Tripper said as he took his friend's arm and helped the man. The two turned but stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the blob-like body of Peter blocking their escape route.

"Shit." Hernandez muttered. A panic seemed to takeover him but he did not want to risk being absorbed.

Adam came from behind the men and walked towards his father's abnormal body. He looked at Peter's face and the substance smiled a liquidity smirk. Peter's body began to take shape as it effortlessly changed from liquid to solid. Replacing translucent cells for blood vessels and jelly-like particles to flesh and bone. The two men looked on in horror as Ashford's human body manifested itself without imperfection. It seemed he had achieved what he always wanted...the perfect soldier.

"Welcome," the pale-skinned man said extending his arms out. "Glad you could make it." He whispered out as he eyes glared at the Lead Commando and the Lieutenant. Tripper struggled to keep Hernandez up but he could feel his friend starting to loose all will in the injured leg. "Where are the others?" Peter called out taking the time to look behind him.

"They're gone." Tripper said.

"Well that's just too bad." Peter replied as he started to walk towards the two soldiers. "They're going to miss the party..." He said as he snatched Tripper by the collar and lifted him up in the air. Hernandez fell to the floor holding his leg in pain.

"No!" He shouted as Peter's hand oozed into a fleshy liquid. It slid towards Tripper's neck.

"Put him down!" Shouted a female voice from behind them. Peter turned and saw Page, Arynn and Daniel come into view. He laughed and attempted to absorb Tripper's body. "You heard me!" She shouted as she started to run towards them.

"Yea, I heard you!" Peter shouted as he lashed out his arm and caught the woman. He brought her immediately towards him and started to laugh. "What are you gonna do now, Page?" He whispered as he let his face touch hers.

"Take me and let them go. They are not apart of this." She said.

"You know I won't do that." Peter said with a slight grin. "They are very much apart of this. They made me what I am-I think it's only fair. Don't you?" He whispered.

"It was never about them. It was about Arynn and your army..." Page replied.

"You are wrong, Page." Peter snapped. "I was after all of you!" He threw down Tripper and kept Page in his grasp. "I wanted to absorb you and take from you what life never allowed me to have. Immortality..."

"What are you talking about?" Hernandez shouted. "I think this guy has gone on the deep end!" The soldier shouted.

"Immortality has always been the goal of Umbrella and Spencer and it continues to be mine. Why create a few soldiers who will die off when you can create an army of soldiers who you can use again and again without having to worry about the effects of aging or deterioration?"

Everyone became quiet and Peter started down the hall with Adam following closely behind. Tripper held Hernandez back knowing that an altercation now could jeopardize Page's life.

"Where in the hell do you think you're going?" Arynn shouted. Peter slowly turned around with a smile.

"Ahh...finally she speaks." He said.

"Put her down and face me." Arynn demanded. The infected man showed no interest in letting go of Page. He turned his back on the dark-skinned woman.

"You'll just have to catch me..." He whispered as he grabbed Adam's arm and disappeared swiftly down the hall.

Arynn looked over at Tripper and Hernandez, they glanced at her and the young man next to her.

"Go on," Hernandez said, "We'll watch the kid."

"I don't need watching." Daniel blurted. Arynn smiled and started to walk away.

"He's a handful but he knows this place. He can help you guys out of here." She suggested.

"Wait, what?" Tripper nearly shouted. "I'm not leaving here without you."

Arynn turned towards the Lead Commando and caressed the side of his face. She gave him a reassured look as she left him with the others. He grabbed her arm and drew her close.

"I'm not letting you go that easy. I'm coming with you and that's it!" He said as he kissed her lips and let her go. Arynn widened her eyes shocked at the man's determination and persistence. Maybe she needed him after all, not just for the sake of the world but also for her own sanity.

"This is it." She said as she faced the three. "Peter will go down. I don't want to lose any of you but this is my priority. Don't get in my way."

"Sounds good to me." Hernandez said, while Tripper nodded in agreement.

"What happens from this point on," Arynn continued, "is up to you. We've done what we could here."

"Right." Tripper said. "Let's get Page, kill this bastard and get the hell out of here."

"I couldn't agree more." Hernandez said as he started to limp down the hall. Everyone else followed along quietly, contemplating an end to the nightmare.