::Summary::
Ecterina is a simple girl with a rare illness... She prepares for the worst until a faceless man gives her an offer- but does the catch leaver better off than her precious fate? (Rated T for Language)
-Pre-story info-
Ecterina: means "innocent" Greek.
Dendritic cells (DCs): are immune cells that form part of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the surface to other cells of the immune system, thus functioning as antigen-presenting cells. Named after the long slender appendages that sprout off the cell. They can be used as treatment towards Cancer and other diseases.
Chapter 2:
The longer I lied there the longer my senses grew numb. I was wide awake now, my staring eyes where half open and I looked up to the ceiling. My mind was empty yet swarming with static from my thoughts, unable to focus on any thought in particular. A few hours passed before I was able to return home, the whole experience of leaving the hospital, as well as the car ride, was lack luster and deadpan.
My sister helped me inside and guided me to my room, not a word hit the air between us.
I was now in my bed at home allowing my thoughts to run thru my imagination then to processing and finally flow out my tear ducts onto my cheeks and pillow.
Why?
Why was it me?
Why was I the poor soul who for some reason deserved this?
My heart did not ache but I grabbed at the skin in the normal place out of habit. Lost within my inner dwelling I had lost track of time and I turned over to see the sky had turned dark.
The static in my mind cleared and a single idea flowed to the front.
Why do I have to wait this out?
It would surely be slow and painful. I did not want to leave this world in such a way. Taking care of my due date myself was a terrible thought that I did not want my mother nor sister to find.
A leaf blew in through the open window and the breeze froze against my wet cheeks.
I stared down the dead red leaf before rising to my feet. There was no way however- that I was going to sit and wait for this disease to kill me.
The stairs creaked under my weight as I crept down them, making my way to the back door. It took some effort but I was able to slide open the glass door and step out onto my back deck.
The night was deaf and cold as my darkened eyes drifted their view into the tree line. Without warning I jolted forward and started walking- no, marching- toward the edge of my yard to meet the trees.
I froze just before my step landed past the boarder of the forest, I took a deep breath.
With my head held high I strutted my way into the woods without a sense for any direction in particular.
I shrugged my shoulders to adjust my unzipped black hoodie. I didn't look around, only ahead, as I walked into the dense woods.
The pain in my heart shocked me with a hard jolting stop.
It's close.
I turned around slowly to see a towering figure over mine, his face devoid of any features minus a sharply angled and pointed nose. My head began to scramble but I fought back a reaction to the effect it was giving me.
We stared for a long while before a deep voice echoed through my head but around me as well.
You are in my forest.
"And what do you plan to do about it." I snarled, daring him.
The air grew thick and a spindly hand wrapped around my throat and I smashed back against a tree, my toes about three inches from the forest floor. I grabbed at his hand out of a natural reaction, not really trying to pry it off.
His blank face craned down to haunt in front of my eyes, the static clearing so he could speak.
You came here on your own accord. What do you want. the voice growled and echoed about, his brow lowering in a glare.
"Kill me." I coughed out.
These words seemed to enrage him; his grip tightening.
He didn't say anything but dropped me and his image shuddered and he reappeared 20 yards away.
No. The voice did not seem any more distant than before, making him sound near me still.
"What do you mean 'no'?! You were going to yesterday! What's stopping you now, monster?!" I shouted in frustration.
I do not take orders from children- from anyone.
"I am not a child!" my jaw tightened.
He didn't reply but a high pitch note screamed through my mind and my heart burst with pain.
I staggered back against the tree and my vision twirled.
The world shuddered around me and I fell back as I no longer had a tree to lean on. I was standing next to the streetlamp that had lead me to safety last night; my shoes just barely half a foot from the edge of the golden beam.
Go home, human. The entity snarled and I turned to see his incredibly tall frame towering over me.
The static in my mind resided and I clenched my fists, my rage boiling. I faced him entirely and I could see he was intrigued by my opposing stature, tilting his head slightly. "Why won't you just take the opportunity!" my voice was louder than I thought I had strength for. His blank angled face was just tilted even more then he leaned down to me, completely mute.
"I am going to die anyway!" I felt tears boil to the surface.
I know.
I paused.
What? He did?
This only increased my rage and I glared up to the entity.
I do not consume the tainted- nor the willing.
"What do you mean tainted?" My voice cracked.
Go home. He waved a pure white hand in front of my face, causing my strong stance to faulter.
I stamped my foot and my leg ached "ANSWER ME, DAMNIT!" However I was shoved and I fell back into the light beam and the atmosphere returned to normal.
I snarled and got to my feet. Yesterday that he-thing was going to 'consume' me but hesitated. I sprinted from the light off the road and back to the forest. As I ran my body ached and pained but the tears that streamed down my cheeks where those of utter frustration.
I came to a small clearing and stopped; then pivoted about to find myself alone in retrospect- but I knew he was near.
"Come out you coward!" I screamed as I turned to look for the creature.
He was still nowhere to be seen but I could feel him, a small static buzz turned my head to look over my shoulder. He was standing across the clearing and I connected my glare to his, however I couldn't get a word out.
My heart felt like I had been shot and with a scream of agony I fell to my knees. I cried and gripped over the pained organ. The pain pulsed and throbbed stronger and stronger; I cried out in agony again and my whole body shook.
The pain instantly ceased and I opened my eyes to be looking at black dress shoes.
That. Is what I meant by tainted. His voice echoed over me, irritated.
I grabbed his left calf pant leg the fabric stinging in my palm "Then just kill me! Nothing else!"
Stupid girl- I cannot do one without the other.
A tendril wrapped around my wrist and pulled my grip off. The snake-like appendage unraveled and shrank back into his figure.
I looked up with a tear stricken face and sobbed "Please... "
Go home. His tone changed to something of a sigh.
"I'm not leaving this place alive!" I screamed and my voice cracked. I struggled to my feet and I started to run in the first direction I could.
He was following me but this time he wasn't chasing, he seemed to glide through the woods after me. I came to the edge of the river that split the forest land in half, slipping on a rock and plummeting into the shallow edge.
I swished around to see him standing on the beach just staring at me.
Watching... without eyes...
Fine… That's it.
I struggled to my feet and trudged deeper and deeper into the rapids. I slipped on a mossy rock and tumbled below the surface. Drowning was obviously not my first choice but like I had said, I wasn't leaving this forest alive. I didn't even try to pull myself up as I drifted into a much deeper section of the river. I couldn't swim so even if I wanted to I couldn't get out of this abyss.
A long black tendril wrapped around my leg and I was yanked from the icy waters. My hoodie slipped off and I was down to my white tank top. I shivered profusely.
I coughed and sputtered and he held me in the air by my leg in front of him.
Stop this nonsense.
"Why?!" I cried out in his face, the blood rushing to my head and hands.
Because I have a proposition.
A second hard shiver shook my frame and another tendril wrapped around my waist and I was turned right side up.
I didn't say anything at first, I was unsure if I wanted to know what his offer was. But my curiosity won over and I swallowed a shake in my voice.
"What is it?"
He craned down to me again and tilted his head a bit.
Do you want to live, human?
"Obviously not." I snarled to him. What a stupid question.
I do not mean now.
"What are you getting at?"
He stood up straight and just looked down me.
You possess a disease that has encased your heart... 'Cancer' am I correct? He paused for effect It will kill you soon.
"Just tell me what you want!" I hissed with another shiver, my patience thinned.
A proxy.
What the hell is that? He could see the confusion on my face, but remained silent.
"A... A proxy?" I shook this time not from being cold but of the fear of whatever this proxy thing is.
He just nodded in response.
"What is a proxy?" My voice was quieted.
An assistant.