At the police station communications were being swamped with officer requests for back-up and calls coming in from all over the city reporting people being attacked by "monsters."

In his office the chief was trying to make sense of what was going on. He was getting very worried. They had lost contact with numerous officers and even decontamination teams that had been dispatched to some of the areas. Before losing contact said officers, some of whom were seasoned veterans, had all sounded utterly terrified. He had heard multiple references to "those things," "creatures" and such. They still didn't have any solid information on what was going on but by the sound of things it would soon engulf the whole city.

One of his men came rushing into the room without even bothering to knock. His face was drawn and pale as he said "chief, you've got to see this."

Concerned the chief immediately rose and followed him out into the main hall. On a nearby TV screen was an image of a man with short black hair and pale blue eyes.

"…Broadcasting this on all channels. My name is Osta Basalok. I have a message for the police of this wretched city. By now you must be wondering what exactly is going on. I will enlighten you. A short time ago a number of devices planted in various locations around this city activated, releasing a bio-engineered spore into the area. The spores quickly became inert in the air but before doing so they infected at least a few civilians. Here is a demonstration of the spores effect on humans."

The image changed to that of a man lying strapped to a gurney. The chief and other officers watched in horror as the man was sprayed with white mist and rapidly mutated.

The image changed back to the speaker. "Once infected the subjects are essentially mindless, driven only by a need to pass on the contagion to others. Furthermore a single touch is all it takes, transforming a normal human into a plague-spreading beast within a matter of seconds. The infected hosts have a lifespan of approximately twenty four hours."

"So now you have a choice. You can either wait until you also succumb to the plague or evacuate the city to die from radiation poisoning. Or simply take your own lives. It makes no difference to me. This is your penance for destroying The Sight."

With that the screen went dark.

Unaware of the broadcast their fellow officers had just seen Aska and Chage continued their desperate rush to avoid the ever-growing horde of infected men and women. With no other way out they had been forced to keep going upwards while yelling warnings as loud as they could to anyone in earshot.

"Good thing we stayed in shape while inside huh?" Aska said as they ran up another stairway, their booted feet pounding on the steps.

"Yeah" Chage agreed. "I hate to point this out but we're fast running out of places to run to."

Aska replied "we'll head for the roof."

"And then?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Fortunately the rooftop door was always unlocked in case of fire. Unfortunately that also meant there was no way to seal it behind them.

Side by side on the rooftop they continued to fire their guns in an attempt to keep the infected people at bay back. Within just a few moments they ran out of bullets, their guns producing nothing but futile clicks.

Aska and Chage glanced at each other and nodded. They both knew there was only one thing they could do now. If they couldn't stop this threat to their city and its people then at least they could make sure they would not become part of it.

"See you around buddy. It's been a good ride" said Chage. Despite the circumstances he was smiling.

"Yeah. I wouldn't change a thing" Aska agreed. He too was smiling.

"Me neither."

As the mutants rushed them they leapt off the edge of the roof.

I'm too late Hope thought as she flew between the towering walls of concrete, glass and metal that made up the city. She had arrived moments ago, coming back through the same tunnel Aska and Chage had driven her through all those years ago, only to be greeted by an awful sight.

Something terrible had happened here. Everywhere she looked she saw hordes of oddly deformed people rampaging through the streets. Her heart ached at the sight and she longed to seek out survivors to help but she could not afford to stop. She had to find her friends.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

Her wings were tiring but she ignored that, flapping them even harder as she drove herself onwards ever faster.

There! On the roof of a rapidly approaching building were the two officers. Her relieved smile instantly became a look of horror as she saw that they were facing a mob of the corrupted people she had seen on the way here. As she watched both officers backed up to the edge of the roof and then jumped off!

"NO!" Hope cried.