Hello peoples. Hope you enjoy. And on an irrelated note, who do I have to harrass to get Bloody Roar V made? Also, I made a few changes. There not big and I doubt ya'll will notice them. These events happen years later after BR3.
"We advise everyone to stay in doors and avoid all contact with any infectious persons. If you happen to come across anyone who exhibits symptoms, call the number illustrated bellow or the local 911. They will be equipped to handle the situation. All schools for the area have been closed temporarily. Please, we advise everyone not to panic. The CDC has everything under control. Our sources say that the Blitz strain has a short shelf life. We urge to remain calm and wait out the storm. Remember stay at home, lock your doors and don't-"
Shenlong noticeably paled as the bartender turn off the TV. It seemed the virus had everyone nervous, because the Biltz part was just a cute name the media gave it. People like sports. So they settle for a name most people knew. The street name was anything, but cute; slimy, putrid, mangy, contagous, but not cute. People thought that the Z-strain would stand for zombie and it would've been a whole lot easier to accept too, because everyone was ready for the zombie invasion, not this.
The club was barely populated. Why the hell did Shenlong come to Mardi Gras if people were to scared to leave their houses? Ordering another drink, he noticed a woman noticing him. He smiled at her and she smiled back, giving him the invitation eyes. She had on a skin tight red dress that showed too much cleavage, too much leg and a lot of back... and by too much, it was just the right amount. Her long curly brown hair had golden highlights that matched her glistening skin. As he glided down the bar stools, a disheveled man in a brown suit sat between them, belching like a frog and smelling like a drunk armpit. The woman held her nose and walked off.
"H-hey, sooooome peopil are tryin to waaaatch that," said the drunk man.
"Alcohol and fear don't mix. It's too late for that non-sense anyway," said the bartender.
"You're just suppose to listen, pour drinks and do what the customers says. So i command you to turn back on the fear... I mean the news."
The bartender motioned his mouth to move, than surveyed the area. Turning the TV back on, he went to address the other customers. Who wants to argue with a drunk man? Shenlong went after the woman in the skin tight red dress, but the drunkard grabbed him by the arm. The animal in him wanted to tear it off and shove it where the sun didn't shine. "Hey, you, tell me what you think?" said the drunk man.
"Ugh, customer gets what customers wants... most of the time. Now let go of me." Shenlong tried to pry his arm loose and felt the man and the chair bend under his strength. The woman was already leaving his line of sight. He kept tugging and pulling, but the man wouldn't let go and all of the tuggle warring was causing him to gag. "Ugh, that's all I need. Barf on my new shirt."
"No, no, not that. About the world. Look around. This supposed to be the funnest place in the wurld right now, most beeeziest place in the New Nited States of Muricah. And it's emptier than a afternoon church service on Super Bowl Sunday. You think this is the end of the world?"
Now some random dude was talking to her. He had to move in now. "I don't know man." When he went to yank his arm free, but pulled the man out of the stool and up on his feet instead. It was clear that this was one of those nights at the club. Guess it was time to kick a random guy's ass.
"I really want to know what you think. I want a tourist perspective."
Shenlong took in a deep breath. He just wanted some ass, not to kick it. Entertaining the same sex wasn't on his agenda tonight, not when he already caught the scent of a beautiful woman in red and when a tiger gets a whiff of something he likes, he has to sink his teeth in it. "If I tell you what I think, will you leave me alone."
"Like a flying vegetarian on a-"
"I think the world is fucked. It's been fucked ever since man begun fucking with other peoples lives so he could feel like God. The only difference now is that the average dumbshit person just realized it. The sooner the virus cleanse the planet, the better. We deserved nothing less and a fate far crueler, but I will say this. This virus made me believe in God. Who else would design a such world ender with such poetic justice?" Probably those fuckers at Talon. The virus stunk of them, but he didn't voice it.
The whole place got quiet as all eyes were on him. His chest was heaving and his face was red. Now he had turned into the loud mouth idiot and he couldn't blame it on the alcohol... ok maybe he could a little, but the girl who he was checking out, he had her attention. However, not in a good way. Her eyes were huge and her mouth agape. Shenlong sensed that whatever chance he had with her went flying out of his mouth. She clung to her new random guy, whispering something in his ear. Whatever she said to him, they practically vanished into thin air. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what would make a man leave a bar so fast with a female on his arm.
Sighing to himself, this place had worn off it's appeal. He ordered another drink, downed it one gulp and left. As he was walking down the sidewalk, he checked his watch. The last streetcar should be at the end of the block in about fifteen minutes.
Everything around him just seemed wrong. Usually Mardi Gras was supposed to be this epic festival... at least that was what he heard, but hardly anybody was out and those who were, tip-toed like roaches and mice. Shenlong waited for the streetcar at the end of the block. Pulling out his prepaid flip phone, it was too early to go back to his hotel room. He wasn't planning on going back anywhere near sober, especially since a girl wasn't on his arm.
Rubbing his arm, his growled at the top of his animal voice... which scattered birds and vibrated glass. People in the near the area rustled like frighten children. It took all of his human fortitude not to give in to the animal and hunt them down.
Shenlong waited in what seemed like forever, until it's brilliant headlights shimmered around the corner and boy, was it trying to make up for lost time. "Bout fucking... time?"
The street car passed him as if he and the bus stop didn't exist. He stood there for a moment, his face blank as paper and his mouth wide open. That was the last scheduled streetcar for the night. Shenlong recited all the curse words he knew, fusing some together and made up the rest. It took everything he had not to beast out and go on a bloodthirsty rampage.
He was stuck out here all night, unless he called for a cab. Reaching unto his pocket, he paused. His hotel was only a couple of miles away. By the time he calls for the cab, for it to get here and take him back to the hotel, he would've gotten there already by foot.
Why not? It was a nice night for a stroll and it wasn't like he was in a hurry.
Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his dark purple slacks, his black vest and purple dress shirt was still a bit too steamy for this New Orleans heat. Shenlong kept his body loose, his head tucked and his eyes up as he walked the mean streets.
The buildings had a French dingy look. Most decent business were closed and the few people who weren't clubbing, hurried along home not making eye contact with anything. He wondered what it must feel like for humans to be so scared of their own shadow. If they saw some of the same shit he did, they'd crap their pants. As he passed a club, its doors flew open, yawning an eye-stinging fish breath followed by loud techno trash music that vibrated the black curtains that were drawn to conceal the inside. He thought it strange that no bouncers were guarding the doors. A sickening vibe rushed into him that made his flesh crawl. Something was wrong with that club and it felt like the wrong kind of wrong. The kind of shit that makes the devil facepalm himself. Yea... fuck that place.
From the corner of his periphery, an ivory skinned woman in a red and white kimono type robe walked inside and pass the curtains. It had been so fast that for a second, he thought he'd imagined it. As he thought about it more, the more confused he became. He suddenly remember her flashing him a coy smile, a smile only a woman can give, that set his body on fire... but did that really happen or did he imagine that? Was she real? Now when he thought about it, he remembered her having an angelic glow. Than the sweet smell of her rose scent canceled out the club's noxious odor. She had to be real, but he wasn't sure. He was all types of confused. There was only one way to find out.
Everything in his gut was telling him to go back to the hotel, but his curiousity was peaked. He saw a beautiful woman he had to get to know. Plus, he was kinda horny too. It was the kind all unique to his feline brotherhood... and sisterhood too, depending on the time of year. Hell, he was sorta still hoping for some action tonight.
Pushing past the curtains, he followed the scent of roses that led him through a dim 'N' shaped foyer that spilled into an even darker ballroom. Seizure inducing lazer strobe light, cut through the darkness on beat with the thrashing noise vomiting out of the speakers. As he looked around, it was hard to see anything, with the light show and the darkness combining together, but underneath the music, he heard grinding and snapping. It was strange that no one was here, but the music and electricity was still going. In the misty darkness, he noticed hunched over sillouettes. All red flags were now raised as he tensed into fighting mode. Shenlong wanted to kick himself for not noticing earlier, but it was too late. Something foul was in here and it wasn't the music either, neither was it human... nor Zoanthrope. Zombeasts.
A mangy rat looking fucker lept out from under the mist, with scraggly yellow claws and teeth that looked like they never seen a toothbrush. Shenlong smacked it in the face with his foot and sent it spiraling in the other direction. It hissed and snarled all the way until it collided into a cement wall with a squishy thud. He heard it still thrashing around, than it went quiet. Shenlong praised himself for not dirting up his hands on such a foul creature. Suddenly, jagged teeth chomped into his shoulder. He cursed at the pain and frustration for allowing something to sneak up on him from behind. Flexing his muscles, the mangy beast that bit him, its head exploded into chucks. Luckily, the force of his flex blew the creature and his head goo backwards, but Shenlong was out of a shirt now.
As he started to clear his mind, what happened here fell into place. Somebody got infected with the Z strain virus, went out clubbing, the loud crappy music forced them to transform into Zombeasts prematurely and they... ate those closest around. Jeez, he was glad the lights were so dim. From what he heard on the news, it spreads quickly, hits hard and dies in a blaze of bloodshed. He had to get out of here quickly, but he heard the creatures gathering for another group attack. Taking in a deep breath, he tried to sharpen his senses, but that fucking music was fucking up his fucking concentration. There was one way to handle it and FUCK! he didn't plan on beasting out anytime soon. When a Zoanthrope transforms, for some reason, electronics go haywire. The stronger the Zoanthrope the bigger the disturbance. With his present attire, he was going to be naked when he transformed back and he damn sure couldn't waltz back to his hotel room as a hulked out Tiger man. If he ran around town looting stores for clothes, a camera was bound to film him. He could imagine the news coverage now, 'Wild infected Tiger man mauls local strip club and than loots stores. The sheer pandimonium alone would cause holy hellstorm. But, he couldn't worry about that now.
Gathering the energy kept sealed in his stomach, he tapped into his inner animal so he could pull it to the surface. As he felt the change, something came crashing through an overhead window. A thick lumpy mass slammed into the floor, crushing some of the zombeasts. Suddenly, the music stopped and the strobe light were shut off. The overhead lights came on, revealing the true horror of the room. Half eaten bodies, severed limbs and other flesh bits littered the wooden floor. It was foul, not the foulest he ever saw, but it was still... However, what stole his attention was the thing that was knocked out of the window. It was tumor infested, mangy like a oozing boil, had two opossum looking heads and the size of a small French car. How the hell it turned out like that, fucking mutations. A deep chill crawled into his spine. Whoever turned on the lights, dimmed them back down greatly.
When he glanced up at the broken window for a quick glimpse at his unknown helper, the remaining creatures snarled as they attacked him from behind. Thin shiny objects shot out of the room and into their skulls. They fell dead instantly in mid air. Whoever threw those, had insane aim. Who was he?
A dark figure leaped and rolled out of the window and landed with a grace that was cat like. His jaw dropped as he recognized her from the entrance. Dressed in a white and red kimono that stopped at her thighs, silky white leggings with red lace that came up to the helm of her skirt and white tabis, she had a katana holstered on her hip, a short sword on the other side, thick long throwing neddles hidden all over her clothings, and a kitty shaped nap sack tied to her red cloth belt. Her eyes were narrow, long, outlined with red eyeliner and slightly upturned like a mischievous fox. She had thin rosy lips and unearthly flawless pale skin. The woman looked like a porcelin doll possessed by a fox spirit. Shenlong didn't know whether to say hi or prepare for a fight. So he just stood there, analyzing what he could about her. She was no doubtly, a sacred warrior and definely not human. "Color me impressed," he said. "I'm Shenlong... and a friendly. So, please don't try to kill me."
She stood eye to eye with him, her smile inscrutible and her gaze burning through his skull. Her red eyes had an intelligent and stoic spark that went beyond her years. Finally, she broke the silence, introducing herself. "
I'm Mana. Would you mind taking me to your home so we can talk... alone?" His mind went blank. Her question stunned him more than being jumped by Zombeasts. "I'd like to be rid of this place as soon as possible."
There were a million question swarming in his head. This was the second time in his short life where a woman had disturbed him to his core and aroused him at the same time. Fuck it. Whatever can be shared between them now would be infinely classier in his hotel room... alone. "Uh, sure," he said trying to hide his smile.
Shenlong used the club's phone to report the bodies to the authorities. The police probably thought it was a prank, but they'll realize soon enough. In all honesty, Mardi Gras had worn off its effect and he didn't want to stay in town longer than he had too. Shenlong borrowed a clean purple shirt from a dead guy on a table who died from a broke neck. As he and Mana headed towards the luxury hotel, they walked in eerie silence. Ever time he tried to start small talk, the words died in his mouth. When he finally led her back to his room on the seventh floor, he closed the door behind her. For a second he debated whether or not he should lock it. Women tend to get nervous when men lock doors behind them too quickly, but than again she didn't look like the nervous type. Besides, if anything's after them, a wooden door wouldn't do any good. So he left it unlocked.
"You have any tea to serve?" she asked as she glanced around the room as if she half expected a gang of creeps to squeeze out of some small dark corner. He had to stop himself from giving a sarcastic answer.
"No, I don't. I have Coke, water, leftover pizza from yesterday and some chips. Does any of that interest you? If not, we can order something fancier."
"I'll take some water. Do you have a teapot?"
"I don't have tea and I don't have a teapot."
"Okay, that's fine," she sighed as dug out a water bottle from the frige. "Have a seat and take off your shirt, please."
His mind with blank for a second, but as took off his shirt, he hissed in pain. One of those fuckers had bitten him in the shoulder and the wound stung like hell. Even though Zoanthropes are immune to sickness and infections, he still wanted to clean it.
"I'll be right back."
"Stay right there, we don't have much time," she urged as she retrieved a metal cup and tea bags from her nap sack that was tied around her red cloth belt.
"There's no rush baby, we got all night."
She shot him a glare. "No, you don't. You're going to die in the next hour and be reborn as a abomination."
Her words flew in one ear and out the other. "Wait... what?"
She spoke softly and patiently, making sure he understood everything she said. "You were bitten and infected. I must drain the poison or you'll die and come back as an undead demon. We have thirty minutes or less. So sit down. Think of a happy place and whatever you do, don't change."
For those who have been waiting awhile for this chapter, sorry for the wait. Life. But I will be uploading chapters regularly.