"Dale, you know Albert won't listen to reason to anyone but himself," I told Dale as I paced back and forth in front of the front entrance. Even the fresh air hadn't cleared my head once Dale told me about Albert's impending return.
"That's not true, Megan. Once he arrives all we need to do is tell Albert all about Raccoon City and…" Dale trailed off when I narrowed my eyes, arms crossed against my chest.
"Make him even more convinced that I'm nuts. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, Dale." I grumbled and Dale sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stared at me. Once I saw the faint smile on his lips I let out a breath already feeling terrible. "Sorry, I'm being such a bitch right now huh?" I added in a small voice trying for humor until he stepped up close enough to drape a hand around my shoulders.
"I was going to say you have more than a few reasons to be upset, Megan," Dale answered and I managed a weak laugh when he lightly kissed my cheek. "How about we go back inside and I'll help you work out a plan?" He offered, getting an immediate blank stare from me. "About what to say to Albert?" He added with a faint chuckle when my cheeks reddened.
As we walked back towards the entrance I could feel a growing sense of unease at the return of Albert Rosenfield in the pit of my stomach. It didn't help when the FBI agent showed up the very next day and Dale looked over in time to see me shredding my third tissue as I sat in the waiting room of the hospital.
"Megan, take a deep breath," Dale said, taking the next tissue I pulled from the box before I had a chance to tear it apart too. "You can do this." He told me, grasping my hands when they began to shake.
"This is our last chance, Dale. If I can't convince him then Twin Peaks…" I trailed off, swallowing as images of our last night before the zombies tore the town apart flashed through my head.
"You know we'll do it. Even if we have to keep Albert locked in a cell we'll convince him." Dale answered, getting a faint chuckle from me though as soon as we saw someone approaching the front entrance I bit my lower lip. "I'll talk to him first." He told me, giving my hand a squeeze before he climbed to his feet glancing back at me as soon as Albert walked into the building followed by two FBI agents in suits that I hadn't been introduced to.
I could have listened in on the conversation but I was so tense I clutched the chair under me, barely even noticing when Dale finally returned to my side. I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder though once I saw who it was I blinked, feeling my cheeks heating up. Climbing to my feet I took a deep breath following Dale and Albert further into the hospital, confused as the two suited agents kept up a quick pace. When they left us the moment we reached the morgue I frowned, slowing until I felt a hand on my shoulder and as Dale guided me inside I could feel sweat leaking down my forehead.
Unable to sit still I watched as Dale closed the door behind us, and Albert crossed the room. Once he reached the body of David Bell he turned fully around.
"First let me just say that coming all of this way was a complete and utter waste of time. Dale, why do you still think this woman," Albert said, looking directly at me for a moment, "isn't in need of psychiatric help?" He finished with a smug smile on his face as I narrowed my eyes at him.
Dale, noticing the look I was giving Albert, tried to stop me but I stepped forward out of range as I glared at Albert.
"Time and time again you keep making fun of me, calling me nuts, or in need of mental help. Maybe if you saw that crater that used to be Raccoon City, heck maybe if you'd seen the hell I keep seeing every time I dream you'd believe me. I've been attacked, almost ripped apart, and died of a gunshot wound after I started to turn. But if you're that set on calling me delusional I guess there's only one thing I can do." I finished looking toward David Bell's thankfully motionless body and after a long pause, I moved closer, Dale staring at me as I pulled back the sheet to reveal his arms.
"Megan, what are you doing?" Dale asked, alarmed as I lifted one of David's arms and after he saw me looking at his fingernails Dale shook his head. "Don't you dare…" He started to say, rushing forward just as I lifted my free hand. In a blink of an eye, I scratched myself with David's fingernails, wincing at the sudden pain and Dale blinked at me, alarmed to see several thin scratches along the wrist of my right hand. Once I dropped David's icy cold hand I turned back to see Dale and Albert both staring at me in surprise and alarm as I smiled at them, examining my now stinging hand.
"Megan, what have you done?" Dale whispered, looking at me as I winced from the sting though as soon as he shook his head I finally realized what I'd just done and I stepped back panting heavily.
"Oh, fu...fuck!" I snapped at myself, barely noticing that the cut had begun to bleed just a trickle but enough to make both agents step back as I cradled my arm against my chest. "I just...infected myself. There's no cure and I'm infected…and I'm going to turn and….why did I…." I mumbled, stumbling towards the door the realization that I'd intentionally infected myself with a zombie virus causing me to collapse onto the cold floor.