Chapter 12: Speaking With The Enemy

"I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."

-- Roy Croft

The words echoed throughout my head, did he really just say what I thought he said? Were Dustin and Alex both with the humans? But how? There were so many possibilities and none of them good. They were probably captured, but for what? I looked towards Cornelius for any confirmation but he gave me none. I took in a deep breath and I started towards them, but he grabbed my arm to stop me. I looked up towards him and he simply shook his head and that was followed by words

"Lucretia, it's broad daylight, you can't just waltz right into a pack of humans."

"You make them sound like animals." I responded, ignoring him.

"That's what they are to us now, and that's what we are to them. We're different and they'll probably kill us on sight." He said, not letting go of my arm

"We need to rescue them, or else!" I nearly screamed but he hushed me

"Well, we have to think of something then, right?" He said, smiling a little at the end. I still stared at him, horrified by the thought that we might not do anything. He let me go and we both stood in silence trying to figure something out. He was right, they probably would kill us on sight and that wouldn't get us any for sure. I sighed heavily. I didn't want to give up, there was no way that I was going to give up, but if we didn't figure anything out soon, we'll be screwed. Then he said quietly, as if he'd regret it

"I'll lure most of them away, and you go in there and release Dustin and Alex, alright?"

"But what if they get you?" I questioned worriedly

"Don't worry about me, just get them, alright?" He said quickly. I knew he was feeling that he would regret it, I could hear it in his voice. I simply nodded my head is response, and so did he. He took in a deep breath and got ready to go. He was trying to be a hero, and that doesn't usually work when it's not on the big screen. I could also tell that he was just as worried as me but I decided to calm him just a bit. I called his name, he looked at me, then I planted my lips on his cheek. I had to stand the tips of my toes just to try and reach him, but he moved down just a little lower for me to. I smiled at him, trying to make it easier that way too, and his eyes danced with both excitement and wonder. I nodded my head once more and got ready to head on out. As I turned, he grabbed my wrist and bent down to whisper in my ear

"Forgive Alex, it wasn't his fault."

"Wha-" I questioned as I turned back around to question him. I was only cut off with his lips to mine. They were soft and unsure, but I responded just as tenderly. What was he doing? What was I doing? He still held onto my wrist when it finished only a few seconds later and I looked at him. His eyes still danced but with a hint of sadness in them. I was about to question him again but he just pushed me away. He let go of my wrist and I began to run. I didn't look back, I didn't want to look back but I knew he was standing there, watching me run for Alex. I wished for his safety, but something told me he might not be. So I mustered up all of my courage and headed straight for the large group of humans. I'd need all that I could get.

I stood behind the trees and watched them closely. They held guns, wore strange military clothes, and walked beside rather large vehicles that pulled cages behind them. Some were empty, some weren't. The ones that weren't empty puzzled me though. They had various infected in them and seemed to be quite at ease with going, but why? I watched and waited till I saw any sign of Dustin or Alex, but there weren't any. Then I heard Cornelius in the distance, and apparently they did too. Most of them ran towards the sound leaving behind their prizes. But there was one that seemed different, he seemed more than just a grunt doing the dirty work. He held himself high and mighty and wore an expensive looking suit. Some of the infected hissed and tried to claw at him, he only told them to shut up but they ignored him. I figured he was the boss out here, but that wouldn't stop me. I took in a deep breath and began to make my way.

As I was about to step out of the bushes, I saw him. I recognized his tattoos and the way he seemed so at ease with this. Then he was followed by the three others he was with. How could Francis be here? They managed to live? I was thrilled but also worried. My thoughts were cut off by their words

"I think it would be nice if you helped them, Mr. Taylor. I need all the men I can get and you're experienced."

"Hmph, what do I get out of it Gibbs? There's nothing you have that I want." Francis said sarcastically back.

"Your life?" The one named Gibbs offered. "We can just feed you to that filthy thing that you call a "Hunter" if you please. It's your call Mr. Taylor."

"Whatever." Francis growled and began to march over to the commotion ahead. The other three followed leaving Mr. Gibbs alone with his power. I growled under my breath, how could he treat my father like he was only just a pawn in his game? I needed to hurry if I wanted to keep Cornelius alive and rescue the others. I walked out of those bushes angry, something you should never do.

I forgot that I was a zombie to them, and that Gibbs was still standing there. I growled as I got closer and he turned his attention towards me. He didn't seem afraid, which made me even angrier than I already was. As far as I could tell, he gave a sly smile towards me and greeted me. I didn't attack, but I was getting ready to. As I was about to, he said

"Ah, someone who's infected but still kept their mind? How intriguing indeed. May I ask who you are?" I only growled and snapped at him and he smirked. It got all the other infected to join in with me. For once, I felt like I was dangerous and held power and that he was the only thing standing in my way. I soon realized that I couldn't waste time chit-chatting with this man and get what I needed. He then spoke

"Answer me, before I shoot you." I couldn't say anything due to it only sounding like shrieks to him. I looked around for answers and then to my fingers. I stared at them, then towards the ground. I decided to scribble something into the ground. I bent down and his eyes followed. I scribbled

"Tell me who you are first. Or all scratch you face off."

"You think you're so dangerous, hm? Well, I'm Rufus Gibbs. I work for CEDA and I'm rounding up all these freaks for experiments." He responded. I growled at the word freaks and wrote my response

"CEDA? What do they want with all these infected? And were not freaks."

"You're different from us, of course your freaks. The scientists want you things so they can see where they went wrong." He answered almost instantly which made me even angrier than usual. Something about that didn't seem to be true, I could feel it. I responded with

"You're lying Rufus, I can sense it. What's going on here?"

"You're a smart girl, too bad you're dead. Just to keep it between you and I, were gathering them for something. Something big. Plus, too parents want their son back. Apparently, he was mixed up in all of this."

"Something big? And what do you mean someone's child got mixed up in it?" I wrote

"Our two top scientists, Claire and Sebastian Asher, lost their son Alex." He answered quietly

"Alex?" I wrote. That's all I could say. He didn't mean my Alex, did he?

"Yes. Now, I need your cooperation." He said and I looked up to find a pistol in my face. I stared at him, I felt played. He smiled at the shock on my face, and he said

"You seem valuable. Far more valuable than some lost kid. Now, if you come with me, I'll spare your li-" I was far too angry to be played like this. With one swipe of my hand, I knocked that dinky pistol out of his hands. He didn't seem to like that at all and grabbed my arm, which was the wrong thing to do. I growled, he told me to shut up as loudly as he could, and then I responded with my horrible shriek. From the bottom of my stomach up, I screamed right in his face. He yelled, but it was drowned out with just my mind numbing screeching. He fell to his knees but still held onto my arm for dear life. All the other infected were getting restless now too and wanted to be apart of this. I tore my arm from his vice grip and stood over him, feeling that power once more. He looked up to me as he held his head and whispered

"What are you?"

I just glared at him and ran to find Alex and Dustin. These past few minutes were wasted and Cornelius was probably getting tired as well. I ran for dear life to try and beat the minutes passing. I had many questions for Alex anyway. Was he really the son of Scientists, or was it just coincidence? And what did Cornelius mean by "Forgive Alex, it wasn't his fault." And the kiss Cornelius and I shared, I couldn't help but wonder what caused him to do that. I growled though, my questions would be answered soon, very soon.