Back in the Twin Peak's hospital Jim the morgue attendant finished pushing the gurney containing John Does' body into the back of the room. Just as he started to walk away the left arm of the corpse slipped out from under the sheet and after Jim noticed it he walked over, lifting the arm only to flinch when the nails of the corpse scratched his right hand.
After placing the arm back on the body and covering it back up he examined his right hand, noting that the nails had only left a scratch.
With a shrug Jim left the body where it was, closing the door behind me. As he started to make his way towards the staff lockers so he could change out of his uniform he looked at the scratch on his hand a mild itch making him scratch at it with his own fingernails.
Back at the diner I sipped at my coffee, looking over at Dale when he cleared his throat. "Yes, Dale the coffee and the pie's great. Thank you for asking." I told him and Harry smiled at me as Dale frowned. "That's not what you were asking was it?" I added, already fearing the question.
"Megan, how long after someone's infected do they turn bloodthirsty?" Dale asked and I narrowed my eyes at him, setting down the coffee cup hard enough to raise a few eyebrows in the diner.
"Dale, stop asking me questions like that. You don't get it do you? I managed to escape with the clothes on my back, constantly chased by the infected and just when I thought I'd escaped the city you want to drag me right back." I growled, still glaring at him until Harry interrupted.
"Megan, we only want to make sure Twin Peaks stays safe." Harry explained and Dale nodded, not liking the way I was glaring at him.
"If I caused you undue stress I am sorry but this is important. If that man is still infectious even after death we need to make sure no one other than Doctor Hayward comes into contact with the body. Otherwise we could be looking at another Raccoon City." Dale apologized and I chewed my lip, picking up my coffee cup.
"I...don't want anyone to go through what I went through. I'm just..." I trailed off with a sigh, swallowing as I stared into my empty coffee cup.
"Scared? You have every right to be, Megan. Believe me I wouldn't keep asking you these questions if I didn't have to." Dale explained and I nodded after a pause, turning my head to look at him.
"From what I can tell there are two main ways of getting sick. The main ones are a bite or scratch from anyone whose already sick." I told them, watching with a thin smile when Dale grabbed a napkhin and after pulling out a pen he jotted it down. "Though some people got sick and they didn't have a mark on them from one of the infected so maybe it's airborne as well."
"Airborne and physical contact with the infected. Got it." Dale said, looking up once he added to his list. " Symptoms?"
"If you want to play that game, Dale so can I." I told him as I raised myself up so I was standing over Dale. "The virus spreads through your body making people lose their sense of reason. It can be your best friend or a family member but it doesn't matter. Once they change they only see you as a meal and nothing else. Their body starts to rot even while they technically still alive and they're oblivious to pain even after being shot or stabbed." I took a breath as Dale quickly jotted down everything in dot points. "I've seen people missing parts of their bodies, even one missing everything below his waist and yet that didn't stop him from trying to eat me. A crowbar I found put a stop to that idea."
"Coop, maybe you should stop." Harry said, noting that several patrons were looking in our direction but I just shook my head at Harry determined to finish.
"Dale wanted to know what the virus does so I'm going to keep going. They seem to only attack the living and only people that I've witnessed. They usually wander around in hordes so if you get trapped you're meat to them. They tear the flesh from your bones, not caring how much you scream at them that you know them or beg them to stop." I finished, slumping down in my seat my shoulders shaking. "I...saw that happen more times that I want to remember so thanks, Dale for bringing that memory back. Could have gone the rest of my life without reliving that."
Even Dale stopped writing noticing that there's a thin sheen of sweat on my face and that my skin's pale. "Thank you, Megan." He finally answered and I nod, my fingernails digging into my knees in an effort to stop my shakes. He quickly pockets the list, making a mental note to speak to Doctor Hayward and warn him so that no one comes into contact with the infected man. "I'll call Albert and see if he had a chance to find the identity of our mystery survivor."
"Yeah...you do that." I muttered, finding my empty plate a lot more interesting. "If I had known he was infected I would have taken care of him myself."
"Megan, you can't murder an innocent man." Dale told me and I turned my head fixing him with a blank stare.
"You wouldn't think that if he'd bitten you or Harry. Your mind slowly being torn away leaving only that knawing hungry for human flesh. Looking at your friends and only viewing them as a meal." I whispered only loud enough for he and Harry to hear, ignoring the stares from a few people who kept glancing our way. "Just be grateful you didn't get infected from a bite or a scratch. There's no stopping it then."
"I think we have an audience, Coop. Maybe we should go." Harry muttered and Dale nodded, climbing out of the booth and I followed standing apart as Harry followed. After we paid for the coffee and cherry pie we left the diner and most patrons went back to what they had originally been doing. Though I did hear a few whispers and a glance or two at me as we exited via the front door and my shoulders slumped, just in front of Harry and Dale.
"Harry, now would be a good time to bring Megan back to the Great Northern Hotel." Dale suggested as I trailed in front not looking at either Dale or Harry when they reached my side.
"You shouldn't keep asking her so many questions, Coop. Megan's getting more and more worked up." Harry told Dale who just shrugged, looking at the back my my jacket.
"Harry, if that virus is as infectious as Megan says it is we need to make sure no one touches that body. Even a tiny scratch is enough to infect someone." Dale commented and Harry nodded, watching as I reached his jeep. "But I'll take your advice and let Megan rest for a few days. She doesn't look very well." He pointed out and I turned around frowning at Dale who gave me a tiny smile.
"Just so we're clear do you promise you'll let me rest in Twin Peaks for a while, Dale? I don't know about you but I need a long nap and some peace. I don't even know where I'm going now that I've lost my home." I asked him, chewing my lip as I glanced down at the dirt ground beneath me. "No more questions." I repeated and Dale sighed, giving me a slight nod.
"Alright so now that that's settled let's get you signed in at the Great Northern Hotel." Dale told me and I managed a weak smile, allowing him to open the back door so I could climb into the backseat of Harry's jeep. "I called the agency and they've agreed to cover the room. On the condition that you don't breathe a word of what happened to your hometown to anyone but me, Harry or the agency." Dale added and I just nodded, pulling my legs into the spot behind the front seat so he could close the door.
"To the Great Northern Hotel." Dale said, giving me a thumbs up and I kept a straight face until his back was turned before I rolled my eyes. Seeing that Harry cracked a smile, moving to the driver side as Dale climbed into the jeep.
I spent the trip back just staring outside at the trees my mind flashing back to what happened in the diner.
Hopefully now Dale will stop asking me about Raccoon City and let me get on with my life. Though I'm going to have to figure out where I'm going to live now that the city's a crater. Great and if I didn't feel homesick before I've just made it worse.
"Megan, we're nearly there." Dale commented and I looked towards the passenger-side seat to see him looking at me. "Didn't fall asleep again did you?"
"I've been thinking not sleeping, Dale." I sighed, rubbing at my eyes. "Besides passing out in the parking lot doesn't really count as 'sleeping'." I added as Harry slowed at the traffic lights, glancing back at me for a few seconds. "I'm fine just had a bad experience from our morgue 'visit'."
"If you're sure. You can always get a check up from Doc Hayward if you feel sick." Harry told me and I nodded, silent as the light changed to green and he drove away.
Once Harry parked his jeep outside the Great Northern Hotel I let out a breath. Grabbing my backpack I started to climb from the car, only to stumble. When I looked down I noticed that my legs were shaking so as Dale and Harry started to climb from the jeep I stretched my legs hoping that that would stop them from seeing how exhausted I was. It helped and I managed to walk beside them as we entered the hotel.
After I signed in, putting a false last name since I technically didn't exist anymore, I handed the pen back to Dale. The moment I wandered away, choosing to check out the interior of the hotel rather than speak to anyone, Dale handed the pen back to Julie the recpetionist.
"Now remember that you promised Megan you wouldn't ask anymore question about her town." Harry said to Dale who gave him a grin their attention moving to me as I stared up at a stuffed deer.
"Don't worry, Harry I keep my promises. Besides I have all of the information I need." Dale reassured him as I wandered back to them after getting the weird sensation that someone was watching me. Though it could have been the stuffed deer head.
"Megan, you're all signed in so let's find your room." Dale announced and I tried for a smile though I yawned at the same time leaving me slightly red-faced as I followed Dale and Harry further into the hotel.