"Diane, so far Megan has been somewhat forthcoming on what happened to her hometown of Raccoon City. Even with her testomony and the body of our mysterious John Doe, who now rests in the morgue of Twin Peaks hospital, we still don't have enough to completely trust her. While I wait for Megan to regain consciousness after her fainting spell I will try and find out who this man is and what connection he has to the city's destruction." Dale said into his tape recorder, unaware that I was awaking up in Harry's jeep.
While I waited for the fog to clear from my head I studied the ceiling above me counting quietly to myself until I was able to sit without immediately falling forward. "Hmm...I'm lying on the backseat of Harry's jeep it looks like. Must have passed out again." I mumbled to myself, running my tongue over my lips to remove the fuzzy feeling from it. Tasting something bitter coating my teeth I grimaced, coughing. "Note to self; make sure I brush my teeth the next chance I get. Or at least find some mouthwash." I coughed, hearing a faint knock and I looked around until I located Dale who was standing at the open door, holding a tape recorder in one hand and my backpack in his other hand.
"Diane, looks like our patient is awake and not too happy judging from the way her eyes are narrowed in my direction. I wonder if that anger is aimed at me." Dale said, stopping the recording as I started to shift towards the open door only to find right away that my legs wouldn't be able to support me and I slip forward off the backseat, grasping the seat under me as I tremble.
"You just figured that out?" I grumbled, allowing the FBI agent to help me back onto the seat where I spend the next few minutes breathing in and out, slowing catching my breath. "Before you think I'm a weak woman I've seen more blood and guts that you'll see in a lifetime, Dale. Besides the smell of rotting flesh just...hits you and you can't forget it." I added, rubbing at my eyes to remove the crusty feeling from them. "Thanks for the bag." I mumbled, taking from his outstretched hand before I set it carefully down on the seat beside me.
"When you think you're well enough I'll take you back to the Great Northern Hotel. I've managed to get you a room on the same floor as mine coincidentally so you have somewhere you can stay until we figure out what to do next." Dale explained as I slipped the bag on over my shoulders helping me off the seat when I make another attempt to stand. Despite a slight moment of wobbling I managed to stay upright trying hard not to stumble as we head towards the front door of the hospital.
Once we step through the door, Dale holding the door open for me, I noticed that Harry's standing there giving me a slight smile once he noticed I'm walking again. "Megan, you sure you should be standing?" He asked and I shrugged, taking a deep breath.
"Megan?" Dale said and I jump once I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Let's go back to Harry's jeep. You look a little peaked." He agreed as I forced myself not to hyperventilate in front of Harry and Dale. I managed to keep myself from passing out or worse, vomiting on myself comes to mind, as Dale and Harry walk me outside into the crisp and fresh air.
Leaning over slightly I take several deep breaths feeling my lungs which made me feel well enough to walk the rest of the way towards Harry's jeep. I spend the next minute staring up into the sky watching the clouds pass overhead before Harry cleared his throat looking over at me for a moment.
"Megan?" Dale called out and I look up, pushing my hands into the pockets of my jacket when he approached me standing at my side. "Would you like a lift or do you want to walk beside Harry's jeep?"
"Very funny, Dale. There's no way I'm walking all the way back to the Great Northern Hotel." I grumbled, pulling open the back door before I sat on the backseat. "Are you coming or what, Cooper?" I added, rewarded with a faint smile from Dale.
We did eventually leave the hospital and as Harry drove out of the parking lot I clipped my seatbelt in, leaning to one side once I was belted in.
"Megan, do you think that..." Dale began to ask, trailing off into silence when I closed my eyes deciding that now was a good enough time to take a nap and he just frowned at me. Harry fought back a laugh as he concentrated on driving, though he couldn't help a chuckle at Dale's expensive as the FBI agent stared at the backseat. "Never mind."
"Coop, take my word for it. If you keep pestering Megan she might give you a black eye this time. Give her time to rest and then maybe she'll help you." Harry advised Dale when he sat back staring through the windshield for several seconds.
"You might be right, Harry. For now we'll concentrate on finding out who that man was in the morgue and what really happened to Raccoon City. I'll contact Albert and see if he can make a positive ID on our victim." Dale replied and Harry gave him a slight nod, driving towards the hotel.
I was woken by a sound, a low groan of pain that had become all to familiar and as my eyes shot open I see something standing two feet away, teeth red and dripping blood as I struggle to wake up fully. By the time my eyes adjust the figure has halved the distance and my eyes widen enough to focus on Dale who watches me with two clouded eyes, growling faintly at me with no recognition in his eyes before he darts towards me. I let out a cry of pain when he knocked me backwards, the hard gravel digging into my back as he lunged for me. His teeth bared he snaps at my face and I raise my arm, trying to keep his teeth away from my throat.
Before my eyes he grasped my arm and I scream as his teeth bit down hard enough to tear my jacket's sleeve, ripping at the skin underneath and as my blood flies into his face he lets out a groan some of my flesh now danging from his teeth.
Screaming I raise my head, eyes blinking rapidly as someone stands over me and as a hand reached for mine I cry out, batting it away. "Megan, shh." Dale whispered and I freeze, my eyes staring at his face until I noticed that his eyes aren't cloudy anymore instead they're a brown I've come to actually like looking at. Not that I'll ever let him know that as I take the hand that he offered, climbing to my feet before I sway.
"W..where am I?" I asked, rubbing my fingers between my eyes as Dale stared back at me for long enough to make me feel uncomfortable.
"Still in Harry's jeep. You fell asleep and by the time we arrived at the Roadhouse you were tossing and turning, whimpering. You had a nightmare." He pointed out as I closed my eyes, hoping that no one noticed how badly I'm shaking from the dream I've just had.
"One of many, Dale. But they usually go away." I explained hoping that that would be enough to stop him from asking more questions. Apparently not when he kept staring at me until I groaned. "Look you try escaping the zombie apocalypse and come out of it sane."
"I hope we don't have to, Megan." Harry answered for Dale and I nodded, wincing a little at the slight headache making its presence known just above my sinuses.
"I've told you everything I know so can we just drop it? If you want to know more ask someone else. I'm not the only survivor." I pointed out and Dale gave me a tiny smile, patting my shoulder and I frowned at him suddenly knowing he wouldn't rest until I had given him everything minor detail I knew.
"But we have you here, Megan." Dale told me and I groaned as I closed my eyes giving the two men a perfect impression of one of the living dead. "Though I'm sure we could all use a break." He added, getting a nod from Harry and I opened one eye to find Dale smiling at me. "I know of a local diner that serves the best cherry pie you've ever tasted."
"Okay, Dale. Lead the way." I sighed, making a mental note to make a trip to the Roadhouse's restroom while he and Harry ordered for us. I had barely stepped through the door before I excused myself entering the bathroom with my backpack now clutched tightly between my fingers.
After I moved in front of the mirror I open the bag, digging around before my fingers find the toothbrush and toothpaste, dropping the bag at my feet as I stare into the mirror. I spent the next minute brushing my teeth as thourerly as I can, rinsing the toothbrush before I start again trying to get the last lingering taste of vomit out of my mouth. It takes me two attempts to get the bitter taste out of my mouth and once I'm happy with the result I drop the toothbrush into the bag, grabbing the hardbrush next.
"I wonder what's keeping Megan?" Dale asked, looking back towards the bathrooms once the waitress had left with their orders.
"Coop, give her a few minutes. Didn't you tell me she wasn't feeling well?" Harry asked when Dale turned back, fiddling with the napkin under his fingers.
"She did say the smell from the morgue made her feel sick. Though she'll feel better once she tries the cherry pie they serve here." Dale answered and Harry cracked a grin both men looking up when I exited the bathroom heading their way as the door closed behind me. "There she is now. Feeling better, Megan?" He asked me and I nodded, sitting beside him on the booth when he moved over.
"Much better thank you, Dale." I answered, giving him a faint smile only to frown slightly when I noticed him staring at my mouth. "Is something wrong?"
"You have a white substance on the left side of your lips." Dale pointed out and I quickly grabbed a napkin, wiping away the toothpaste I had missed.
"It's just toothpaste." I sighed, crushing the napkin between my fingers before I slip it into my pocket. "Now what's the coffee like here? Any good?" I asked and Dale gave me his trademark smile that had me smiling back.
"The best I've ever tasted." Dale told me and I nodded, thankful that he hadn't mentioned the dead man again as I settled down to wait for my coffee and the 'best tasting cherry pie you've ever tasted'.
Little did I know that my experiences with the virus and the undead that had overwhelmed Raccoon City were not over yet.