Species: The Unknown Strain

"She kills if she feels threatened. And she has no remorse about it. None." - Dan Smithson

Prologue

The day had started just like any other day, waiting around and hoping someone would notice me sitting by myself. I must have yawned for like the fifteenth time because sitting in a lab like this truly wasn't the most exciting thing around here. Why am I doing, right now? Looking around bored, I of course remembered why! This was due to my parents who wanted me here for some reason or another, they couldn't get someone to watch me after school and with it being a Friday?

This sucks, this really damn sucks!l Supposedly for being scientists funded by the government, I never was asked to come onto this damned base, it was boring and they held all the cards for me to follow. Not like I tried, I'm stuck here again. For me in trying to say no, I was so grounded into next week all because I complained about being dragged in here. They didn't care because work was everything to them, I was just…I was just there at times.

So, in short I had to come to this place on some military thing. Sitting around swinging my legs on my chair, ultimately bored out of my mind, nearly fidgeting every-time I sighed aloud, "Oh, what do? Oh, I can't do anything because this place totally sucks!" And be forced too regardless of my answer, I knew it wasn't the best thing in the world. Yet again, like a recurring pattern of this utterly sucking.

Unfortunately I had found myself walking through the base itself, or well technically peeking into supposedly secured labs that my parents were frequent to work around. None of the adults battered an eyelash, usually I felt like a ghost at times when I tried to understand why they were so determined to work here. Of course I didn't feel like it was the best place for a kid like me to spend around, I had nothing to do and I was being optimistic, somehow.

Eventually humoring what I'd been allowed to see, it just seemed like every hallway looked the same! the same damned doors and I hardly saw anyone my age around as well. Basically I summed it up in two words, again. Finally fed up, I got up determined to not say two words, "This sucks!" I drew out flipping my hands upwards, I needed to move or do anything, I remembered where maybe my parents lived in a second home away from home again.

Inhaling through my nose I did what I could to pass the time wandering aimlessly inside this place, I never noticed the guards pay me much attention whenever I did see one. Which was like all in honesty? Rare as all hell, I hardly ever saw an armored person walk near me, they had guns of all things and I had to idly kick an empty space of air out of sheer anxiety. But no one ever stopped me to ask why I wandered around…probably, I bet my mom and dad were just telling everyone else another thing.

I knew I shouldn't have been wandering around but I didn't care anymore. I probably memorized for like the hundredth time the waiting area seemed, again it was boring all to heck and I figured to walk around, someone had to notice me eventually. Gloomily muttering under my own breath, "Well one of us will, at least I hope so."

Stuffing both hands into my pockets I kept on walking through the hallways, a metal cramped hallway. Naturally no one seemingly was around and that kind of annoyed me. I'd probably go crazy in a place like this trying to get by, I mean I didn't consider myself to be a loner but I was human. And lonely…that specifically kept eating away at me, it never changed whenever we kept moving around.

Personally I liked to talk to a few people usually, considering I was moved around a lot by my folks who were clearly told by the government. Years of new schools and years of being the 'new' kid certainly got my tolerance of finding social callings limited, friends was a word I could sparingly use in my life so far. And it sucked, it truly sucked, I had no say beyond trying to fit in where other kids just pointed at me as if I were an animal.

"Oh, who is that kid?" I mimicked sarcastically, "He's weird, he's quiet and doesn't have friends…let's stare at him!" I've always wondered if this was how people wound up in an asylum, were they talking to themselves like I did, or I bet it'd be pretty much thinking themselves to death. It'd be a hell of a comedy in my eyes to consider it, pure human will at its finest to make oneself go crazy from pondering why they were able to think.

I could picture the reactions of doctors and professional adults who did this type of thing daily, they'd think I'd be a riot in order to see my problems. So, in the end I just shrugged to myself while continuing on my exploration of the lab complex. Absently getting lost inside this place wasn't too bad, really it killed time for sure and I'd be damned otherwise to consider myself normal in today's standards.

But then again I was bored. Bored always translated to me doing something time consuming. Every hallway looked the same, but a few strange color arrows kept going and I followed them without really caring. I must have walked for about ten, or so minutes, because something really changed about this part of the labs. And for one moment I saw multiple arrows coming together at one…junction?

"Whoa!" I blurted that word out when I came to an open doorway of sorts, I literally stopped in my tracks to see a junction of a hallway split into three ways! Um, okay? I blinked when I looked around to see where the hell I was at? And nothing was clicking, I must have spaced off somewhere on my walk.

Damn, okay this is a little eerie. Never got this far and…uh, what the heck? It was so silent that I could kick the floor, literally and my sneakers would echo if it dragged onto the floor. Weirdly enough all these floors were polished somewhat. I felt uneasy when I noticed the looming halls leading to my left and right were closed by a double steel door…which were closed, for some damned reason.

I figured it was coded or unlock-able if someone had the access card for it. My folks had some color coded cards, I knew a few. Red were really important, a lot of people had yellow were just boring and green was just something not a part of this side. So, in that wisdom alone that left me to go straight towards a red lined opened doorway..

Although what I saw from here, it honestly made me blink several hands absently pinched myself a few times. I could see an open room of sorts and a box of glass? I honestly snorted in disbelief. It was incredibly opened up, as if it were nothing more than a singular object housing a giant glass…cage? Shrugging in humoring some honest curiosity, I made my way into said room.

Whistling badly I commented, "This is some weird stuff man! Wow, I have never seen this part of the base before. Never knew they were into storage labs…" I trailed off seeing empty tables filled with liquids, cleaned up work spaces and an absolutely huge amount of technical computers. It was rather disorienting. Too much stuff was left lying around, I smelt some really strong disinfectant of all damned things.

Seeing no adults around, I shrugged to myself, "Ah, hell? What's the worst that could happen?" I told myself this a few times even when I started to walk into the open room. Curiously, I noticed several cameras pointed at the far back where the glass was at, a few more seemed to be above me. I followed them all and I couldn't make anything out at first at all. From where I stood, it was just a lot of smoke or whatever type of steam that lay inside the glass box itself, I didn't know what it really meant.

Curiously enough, I walked around peering at computers. A lot of numbers were flashing on screens and a lot of these stations had microscopes, it was what I inspected within a large room. Thick steel walls were lined up all around me and they formed some sort of pyramid that got me dizzy. But then I happened to notice something, I only saw reddish blips belonging to an active piece of technology.

Uh oh…ah crap? I happened to notice a camera actually turning towards me! It lingered until I raised a hand, it didn't move an inch indicating someone was watching. Sheepishly grinning, "Hi, I…I, uh I think I got lost?" Finally I had the impression someone knew where I was at finally which wasn't as bad as it could have been, right?

So in sheer desperation for being funny, or avoiding trouble. I waved at the camera like a cheeky bastard, or that's what my father always called me. He seemed too serious about that and he never meant it as a bad thing, supposedly. Hell, I found it funny yet my mother slapped him just as much as me, when the times called for it. And despite it being fun, I always got in trouble in school for calling other kids who teased me.

Yeah…family must be a nice thing, right ?That was when we were all together for a family dinner or something. Rare as that crap was at times, I felt it was right and worth it. Gloomily sighing to myself, I glanced around and spun slowly taking everything in again. I stared at the foggy glass, it seemed to be swirling like nothing.

"Guess I should head back." I finally decided, "Nothing really to see here..." A thud on the glass made me kill my words immediately! My body reacted when I jumped back yelping in total surprise, I tripped less than gracefully over my own two feet to land squarely on my behind and had my head hit the hard floor for my troubles.

I winced when I hissed out in pain trying to ward it off, rubbing the spot that throbbed agonizingly tender. What the hell was that? I questioned in a panic as to what in the living hell hit the glass? I didn't expect anything to be in for my own sake! Wait a damned minute, since when did thudding glass scare me like a baby? I knew for a fact, I'd have a heart attack before my next birthday, I turned thirteen in August anyways.

Another thud on the glass made me freeze yet again,"Okay. Enough!" I yelped, shaking myself free from shock alone, "What the hell is doing that?" I got up, cautiously speaking aloud less than convinced, "Seriously, it's creepy!"

Willing my legs to get me up, I did what I could to stem myself from freaking out over something hitting glass inside a box. Totally not creepy in the least! I chanted trying to save what little bravery, if I had any at all. C'mon man, you can do this, just walk over and check it out. Nothing bad is going to happen, nothing bad is going to happen." Even in my thoughts I wasn't kidding anyone, I felt completely psyched out for no reason and it'd only get worse.

Warily my hands clenched into fists as I slowly made my way over towards the glass's exterior, I kept my eyes trained ahead to see through the steamy interior. Grumbling to myself I finally worked up the courage to actually man up by placing my palm on the glass's surface. I barely hesitated, I just did it. And it was warm!

"See it's nothing, you were just over reacting..." My words were steady until I saw another palm perfectly copy my own hand. I twitched and it twitched in response, my god the only difference was that it was coming from inside the glass box. It took me several minutes to fully comprehend what the heck this meant, when it did? I was ashamed to sit. I almost fell down again due to the sheer unexpected shock overwhelming my body.

It was a hand of similar tone and pale yet fingers matched my own. This was totally messed up, I really wanted to figure out what in the living hell was this to begin with and I had only two words to sum up my feelings. I practically and literally screamed, "HOLY SHIT!' My eyes shrewdly humored motions trying to piece whatever this was going on, I couldn't believe what I was actually doing.

A slender hand mimicked my limb, when I moved it over to the left and the other hand followed. I really thought this was weird, I went back over to the right to make sure I wasn't going crazy and the other hand followed. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing, I found myself owlishly staring and I had to make sure to use my spare hand to rub them out of reflex. Truthfully I had no idea what I was dealing with here, not a damned clue and for the love of god, I'd go insane to not understand why!

I would've done something, I should have but instead the hand itself began to reveal its owner. HOLY SHIT…HOLY SHIT! I yelled internally seeing a figure. Stepping out, or rather stumbling to the glass was a girl! And I promptly closed my eyes!

I saw a girl. I saw a girl who had no clothes on, oh my god and I'd be damned to not hear my mothers ranting about being respectful to a female. My dad once said to me he'd be talking to me about girls in general. Now I had no clue as to what that meant and to be fair, I'd not consider what it meant for the sake of my peaceful life.

Still that reflex made me shut my mind off to revert to not seeing a person without clothes. Taking a breather I did what I could to awkwardly speak to the girl, who I thought was staring at me and it wasn't impossible to think I'd be that much of a jerk to not say something. No matter how awkward this whole situation seemed, I tried my best in at least speaking a bit which fell utterly flat.

"Um, hi there, I uh, ugh..." Yup, it was official as this was probably the craziest thing in my life I had done. My first attempt at speaking to a naked girl ended in failure, I snapped at myself in frustration at how embarrassing this whole scene seemed to me. In the end I wanted to bite my tongue to stop my stuttering, but it seemed to effortlessly increase when I peaked out from the cracks of my fingers.

I figured to at least look like a sensible person who didn't seem like a naked person in front of them. Insanely difficult to not consider blushing, I thought this was a set up or something, "Well? Yeah well, this is kind of awkward. I don't suppose you have any clothes inside there, do you know, cover up or something?" When I peeked through my fingers, I happened to watch the prettiest blond girl I had ever seen stare at me blankly, her head tilted to the side every time I spoke up.

She looked as I dared myself to call it cute. Her expression alone but I'd not be caught dead admitting to such a word without being tortured under the pain of death! I frowned physically when the girl didn't…do anything. She didn't even react to my words, so did she not understand or something? If that was the case, weird as this whole place was then this made it increasingly anxious more so than it had to be.

I tried again, "Hello?" Another blank stare although the big difference this time was she tilted her head to the opposite side. I stared back simply saying, "Hey! Earth to silent girl, do you understand me?" I almost exhaled loudly to the point where I wanted to slap my face, I tried guessing she didn't understand what I was saying, it bothered me and I knew immediately this wasn't right at all.

Inhaling through my nose I decided to at least try this in a more simpler manner. I figured if she didn't get it, then I was stumped. Well, here goes nothing. Clearing my throat roughly to at least get my words straight, the blond girl merely blinked at me while wandering her eyes from my feet to my face. Every aspect of this meeting in this laboratory was beyond weirded out to my sense of sheer observation.

Still I lightly tapped my chest, I pointed where my heart lay beating, "Alex." I said it again trying to keep myself from flushing, "I am Alex." I mentally prayed she'd at least understood what to call me. I had nothing else better to do, or else I'd snap. This was way too much, too weird and utterly a pain to deal with.

Technically speaking, or literally, I knew this got to the point where I felt like dancing like an idiot to get a reaction out of here. However dancing into a flailing mess of limbs didn't suit my tastes, I wasn't into music all that much for lord's sake. I'd have continued in my ramblings yet again but, the girl nodded much to my shock. I inwardly thanked God for small miracles,I just may have been a believer after today.

I smiled warmly trying to say, "It's nice to meet you. Again, I'm Alex and who are you?" I gestured to her by tapping lightly on the glass to where her heart lay at. Her eyes followed my finger, if not shifting up front and I avoided staring. She had no shirt on, I desperately kept my focus on words alone.

I spoke simply, "Who are you?" Idly the blond girl tried to reach out and touch my finger in response. But the huge glass made that barrier all the more unyielding based on her expression of curiosity. Still I kept my eyes trained on her, I wanted to know who this girl was and why in the hell of all things to see she was naked inside a glass box of all things! Seriously, I'd be damned if this lab complex wasn't doing things to her that I'd report to the...cops?

It suddenly clicked within my head. OH CRAP! THEY OWN THIS PLACE?! The government owned this place and who would I report this to? If things weren't explained to me at all. And why was a naked girl inside this glass box? What in the hell was going on here?

"...e…lx…" My anxiety ended when I heard a faint whisper get stronger, "A..lex..." I heard my name from the girl, she appeared to have a strange time trying to piece it together and to be fair? Honestly I'd have been surprised if she could speak to me. In the end I wasn't a bad kid, I tried to coax her to speak more and I smiled encouragingly at her, "Yup, that's my name! You can say it, try it again."

This time around I pointed to my heart directly, the girl narrowed her eyes before saying it with more enthusiasm, "Alex. You." Her hand pointed at me as I nodded smiling, "You got it! So, who are you?"

The girl frowned trying to come up with a word. And she remained like that for a few minutes. It also hit me, really it did. I didn't think she had an answer. But I spoke up somewhat grimacing, "You don't have a name, do you?"

I had asked that question quietly as the blond merely nodded at my words, her expression became more depressing, worse than my own if I had a word to say it. I tried to do what I could to at least try to make this seem more friendly, but the glass box and lack of clothing fell flat to crush my sense of humility. Well, good move genius, now what? Scratching the side of my head I did what I could in all hopes, which wasn't much better then me not trying to think of this lab as weird as hell.

"So, how long have you been in there?" I looked up at the glass box to which the girl followed my gaze. Her eyes swiftly went back to my face and I kind of shrugged helplessly. "I'm going to guess your entire life so far? Because I'd doubt anyone would remember. I'm sorry if I seem kind of strange but it's not everyday you find someone like you in a place, well like this?" I laughed somewhat uneasy if I'd offend her?

I knew she was understanding me, I could see eyes widening mostly out of surprise. But the lack of her speaking got me worried, I never met someone quieter than I ever could be.. Hell, it wasn't everyday to meet the cutest girl you'd ever see without clothes, I wouldn't admit it on the later part and she can't speak a word. So, in my infinite wisdom I knew something was definitely strange about this place for sure.

I exhaled slightly when the girl tilted her head yet again, I thought she was trying to figure me out or something. Deciding on whether I'd find out, I went over to the glass wall and decided to sit down next to the girl, who followed me immediately when I placed myself in front of her. I really, really tried to not look anywhere other than her face. "Can you talk at all, like me? I mean, you said my name and that's fine, but..." I trailed off in uncertainty while using my hands to make motions of uneasiness, small circular motions and what not, it always helped in dealing with strangers.

Speaking aimlessly, "Do you have any likes, or dislikes, or whatever that makes you, you?" I really had a hard time trying to convey what in the world I was even attempting, I'd assume the worst that this girl had no form of contact with another person, if that were even possible. God I felt like an idiot and I felt ready to pull my hair out! Yetd ue to my thoughts, someone shifted in front of me.

I never noticed the girl crawling up to me and trying to intently study me for whatever reason why. I looked up to see her literal exposed chest, not even an inch from my face which was first in front of me. HOLY FU… And I immediately yelped, I shut my eyes within seconds, "Please for all that is holy don't do that! I promised my mom that I'd not look at a naked girl, please sit down normally or something!"

I waved my free hand in frantic motion and I had to peek through my fingers to see the girl smiling animatedly at my reddening face. No way in hell, no way was she intentionally doing this to me! I refused to accept it as I glared clearly annoyed at her, "You do understand me! Hell, I bet you're doing this just for a laugh aren't you?"

The girl smiled mysteriously enough and mimicked my shrug from earlier, "Ha, ha." I heard it clear as day. She was messing with me, I couldn't believe it. Her eyes brightly lit up, when I glared back flustered. And it was not funny.

Oh, really? That seriously made me stare at her in a deadpan, "Yeah, right. Ha, ha my foot, you're just doing this because no one's ever tried to talk to you right? Miss No-Name, though I pretend to not understand anyone since I find it funny to make nice people flustered!" I accused her somewhat of being amazed when she only smiled at me blinking in a manner akin to an owl, she hadn't allowed her attention to disrupt whatever she found me to the most interesting thing in the room.

In response I just put a hand to my cheek and leaned onto it, staring at her rather irritated now. I spoke up flippantly, "If you can understand me, then why don't you have a name? I mean don't get me wrong, I'm sure you are having a good time in fooling me around like a puppet, but what's up with the lack of a name? I can't just call you Miss No-Name because it's rather rude and I'd not make fun of a person like that." I shot question after question, not willing to back down from her amusement apparently.

The girl smiled regardless of my voice, I couldn't help but feel defeated since her expression seemed so genuine. It was like she was having the time of her life talking to me and every second I felt, it seemingly enhanced her eyes to the point where I'd get lost in them, it was creepy and strange all the same. Maybe this was how most people would feel, but I didn't like the fact I honestly felt bad for trying to hate a person like this girl, she did trick me after all in pretending to be somewhat stupid.

"Alex…you're funny." When this girl spoke my back was tingling immediately in a warning, I stared at her innocent expression as she covered her face to giggle. I dramatically puffed my face to make her seemingly start to laugh as I threw out a response, "Oh gee wiz, thanks for telling something I never knew! Almighty wise Miss No-name locked in a glass tank, I am blessed for her kind words!"

Yet again with more laughter, I cracked a smile to pretend to be offended and I think this girl knew I was only joking around. I didn't hate a person, I really didn't have the heart to say I hated some other kid and knew what to expect, I just shrugged helplessly to myself. I honestly had nothing to say, but accepted the fact I was making a naked girl who didn't have a name laugh and smile in the very same goal set. Making someone laugh certainly made my heart warm and I felt nice talking to someone different for a change.,

"I take it you never laughed at something either, right? I mean the lack of clothes is a given, if I had to guess." The question was rhetorical but the blond girl nodded at my words, I felt conflicted on whether I'd report this to someone and to do something for her. No person needed to be in a place like this, it didn't seem right and I'd be an evil villain for ignoring her in this glass box. In short, I had to man up as my dad would say.

Then again doing the right thing was never an easy thing. I had to at least try to make this girl happy for the sake of my own pity and interest as to why she was living here. A look of interest held my eyes captivated as the girl pointed at me, smiling, "I like you, Alex." It was the way she just said it, I felt like an entire world froze over…I didn't get it.

My brain almost gave out when she said this simply. It sounded so natural to her that I had to blink several times to compute what the words meant and the meaning. When it clicked inside my brain I had to look down at the floor while idly scratching my cheek to cover the blush forming. Well in truth, I never had a pretty girl like me and the fact I hadn't talked to many didn't help my case.

I found the floor fascinating, "Well uh, thanks I guess." I sputtered naturally embarrassed "I mean you seem to be a nice person and all but, ugh, I mean I'm trying to be friendly is all. And uh..." I stopped dumbfounded as a girl laughed clearly happy at my response! I swore this blond just wanted to torment me for my expressions and her eyes were glowing with emotion, literally I watched her face light up when I threw my hands up in exasperation.

At least one of us is finding this to be fun, I'm mainly curious. Never hurts to make a person laugh, I guess being a nice person really is a good thing. This would have continued before I heard high heels clacking behind me. Perking up, I turned my neck slightly around to witness the sight of my parent's co-worker. I think she was an assistant scientist or whatever, but she was walking across the doorway from other locked steel doors..

I thought her name was Doctor Baker or something, I didn't remember too clearly. Not since I met the woman a few times at home when my parents invited her for dinner. I never really knew her well enough, but to be fair, she was the person my parents sent me too when they were busy, or guided me around. More like my unofficial babysitter, or does she just like keeping busy?

Shrugging to myself, I casually called out when she walked by, "HEY! DOC!" The woman froze mid step and dropped her clipboard in apparent shock to see me sitting beside the blond girl, I never noticed she was studying the older female though not as intently. I continued honestly a little apologetic, "I'm sorry about wandering around, but I got bored and no one was waiting for me."

Her eyes were wider than anything I'd ever seen as I watched. Personally, to me they were striking as if trying to picture what was going on and I didn't see the problem. Adults are weird as hell, I give up. By heck all I stared at her akin to how the girl behind me was staring, somehow I pulled it off well enough to make the doctor go wide eyed.

"Oh my god!" I raised an eyebrow at that and the girl behind me watched my reaction based on the angle she had. I wasn't aware she had done the same reaction I did towards the adult who seemingly became more flabbergasted at the way the occupant of the glass reacted. Perhaps I got impatient or what not, I figured to at least ask the doctor about who this girl was in the first place. It was killing me…I had to know, hopefully.

"Hey, Doctor Baker." I spoke somewhat annoyed when I used a thumb pointing behind me, "Do you know this girl's name? Seriously, I mean she seems like a nice person and all, apart from the fact she strings people along to play stupid...ha ha." Again I gestured to the blond behind me who smiled almost cheerfully at my statement, I ignored it to explain to the woman who at this point was walking towards the two of us.

I continued onwards without a care in the world, "Sorry if this seems kind of awkward?" I exhaled grudgingly trying to avoid a beaming expression behind me, "But can you please answer me? I feel kind of bad not knowing what to call her? I…ugh? Well, I mean the lack of clothes is already weirder than hell."

Laura Baker seemingly remained speechless at how the occupant within the glass cage stared at her expectantly. it was almost like she wanted to know too and that made her gut lurch painfully. Whatever words were directed at her or mused upon, the occupant knew all too well what the meanings were and that alone made her afraid. Afraid of how intelligent the girl within could have been the whole time. More astonishing was the fact that their quarantine to prevent outside contact had failed, so easily at their own actions no less, but the occupant hadn't reacted violently to a suitable companion.

Interested through sheer caution alone, the doctor found her voice, "Yes well…Alex." She watched the boy momentarily in favor of another, "The girl inside her home is not technically normal per say and I would be surprised if she knew her name. I can only tell you freely that her name is Sil." It was too dangerous, too dangerous yet she needed to know how much had been wasted already.

Continuing modestly wary of a pair of eyes gleaming, "She's a special girl and the lack of clothing is merely coincidence since she had a test today." Using the word test instead of literally dissecting her appearance was merely a polite term…if it were possible. Sil was the first of her kind and she'd be damned to reveal that information to a teenager, kind or not, of all things pertaining to dangers. Already things were compromised to all hellish proportions as protocols were in place hadn't been breached before, Laura had to get her notes updated to see the interactions in more detail.

Finally an answer I could outright appreciate for once. Regardless I smiled while laughing a bit sheepishly, "Sil?" I glanced back at her finally humoring those little jokes of her doing, "So that's her name, well thanks again Doc. Again, I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to be here and all, but no one wanted to come get me."

At this point I looked at Sil with full attention in seeing her. Although the blond girl who looked beyond happy to know what she was called. I figured to start over in a more friendly manner, I guess it was to make up for anything I had done wrong against her and to be fair, it was better to be a nice guy then be a jerk. So, in hindsight, I cleared my throat and might as well introduce ourselves…again.

I spoke up in an excited manner, "It's nice to meet you, Sil." I grinned widely tapping my beating heart once more," I'm Alex." I managed in overcoming some bit of anxiety alone, "And I hope we can be friends! If you like too?"

Sil looked at me puzzled, seemingly pausing before realizing what I was doing and her face lit up like Christmas! Her voice was drenched in so much emotion that it made the adult female in the room almost clench her chest. I blinked somewhat aware as Sil spoke very clearly and very pronounced in her greeting, it was so much that it seemed practically a person who had been living in a society their entire life.

And that life wasn't exactly years upon years either, "Yes." Her voice hardly wavered beyond sounding utterly coy and somewhat hopeful,"Yes, I'd like that very much, Alex. I want to have a friend, if…" She turned her attention towards a woman whose expression paled beyond all comprehension, "Only if Laura is fine with it."

Her eyes knowingly wandered up at the woman who dropped to her knees much to my confusion as I rushed over to help her. I just saw a grown woman fall to the ground, I could see her hands shaking visibly. What the hell? Is she sick?! And I immediately bolted over, I fell over briefly in reaching out to her very concerned.

The woman looked paler than a ghost, I swore her eyes were scared at first. But then I tried to help her, yet to my shock she waved me off. All in favor of trying to settle her raging heart rate, I wasn't convinced, I felt really scared for the doctor. I knew she wasn't a bad person and to collapse while being young? God, it voiced a real danger for me to react too and I had to be careful in not trying to seem fearful.

In the end my fears were dealt with quickly, "I'm fine…really, I'm fine, Alex." Laura's voice tinged on genuine care when gently pushing me aside, "But thank you for helping me. It's not needed, but…to answer your question? I'm sure we can arrange some time for you to hang out with Sil, so just let me get my bearings first, alright?" Her smile wasn't lying, I found myself floored and my jaw dropped.

I grinned in excitement unable to contain some far flung hope in having friends, it was official now! I had a person who could play hacky sack with me, I could show my collection of movies and do anything. Best day ever! Best decision, ever. At least that was my hope now as I looked over at Sil who was smiling just as much as I was.

"Sweet!" I jumped up, almost clenching fists much to an adult woman's bemusement, "Thanks Doc, I'm saying it now. You're the best doctor in the whole world and I'd never doubt you otherwise, I don't care about needles. And you know what? I'll even take back your cooking was worse than my mothers!"

Really, I added that last part cheekily much to the woman's soft laughter. She ruffled my hair affectionately, it caught me off guard and I honestly felt my face burn up. Having two pretty girls, I'd never admit in saying that they were, but I'd take that over anything. Both talking to me in two days was enough, I'd faint if this rate kept up and I'd be damned to admit that much to anyone! I guess today was going to be a good day after all, I mean what more could I ever ask for in making a friend? I knew without a doubt I knew what I meant, I mean what was the worst that could happen?

If I only knew…Those questions were what I'd said as a child. Those questions alone, they'd define and haunt me, I knew it then. But those questions would haunt me forever.. If I knew what I had known today, I'd have thought differently and nothing would remain the same within me ever again."

End Prologue

Author's Note: I bet many of you asking me for to continue this story didn't expect this, right? The Unknown Strain, is a story many have wanted to me complete and I can safely say that the old take will never happen. It's been too long in between myself then and now, I couldn't safely finish my old tales of stories without even remotely attempting to make a story properly then

There was so much clutter, broken views and what not that I decided to scrap it.

But there is hope, a new version and a much more sinister tale is about to be told. If you thought I'd go about the same route as the last story, well you'd be wrong. I have a more ambitious attempt to make Alex enter the second movies plot with a much more bleaker outlook than what I had planned. If I had to make something different...

Well, you're going to find out eventually so I'd not spoil a single detail.

(New Author's Note: 9/4/2024) - Please note, I did proof-read and clear up the older format. I will attempt to do more, as I have free time, to make this story more visually easier for readers to view at their pleasure. But this is the first of a few edits, hopefully, I will have up to a few chapters done both for a story's continuation as well as clearing up to the chapter where I got better for grammar. Now at times, this effort will go into gradually 'adding', new scenes or I make the structure of the story for people to get a better experience.