"It's nothing. It's nothing!" She repeated over, and over till she found the bandages, and everything she needed for stitches. She could already smell the necrosis settling in. "I promised…I promised…" She breathed hard, the panic settling over her heart.
"You did it. You were activated. They won't kill you now." Ace chuckled. She returned to him and helped him sit up against the wall. He took off his uniform top and was left with a white undershirt. His upper shoulder by his neck was bitten and was already turning an ugly color. "I wanted to make sure you were safe…" He chuckled again, and she could hear the liquid filling his lungs.
She grabbed the rubbing alcohol and poured it over the bite. Ace didn't even show it hurt. "You're going to be fine Ace. You're going to be fine…" Mina's heart was running faster than ever before. Her brain running over the many different outcomes that could happen.
She had lost her knife in the fight in one of the zombie’s head. And her body was overheating by the overuse. Ace was laying there.
Dying.
All because she wasn't fast enough.
The hot tears tumbled down her face, and she could see the very tips of his fingers start to turn black. It was already spreading. "Ace…" Mina looked at his face, which was an ash white. "Ace you're going to be okay." Gently she touched his cheek.
He had the lightest of smiles. "I'm going to die." He coughed as he laughed. "And that's okay because I met you. Please shoot me, don't let me become one of them."
Mina reached into her right back pocket where the vial was. Her gut was screaming at her, screaming to use it…
She pulled it out and watched the liquid float around. She bit the cap off and seen the large needle. Ace kept coughing; a trickle of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. "What is that…?" He grunted.
Without warning she brought her hand back and stabbed the needle in the side of his neck. She pushed down on the syringe, watching the liquid disappear. Ace reached out and grabbed her leg, squeezing hard. When it was all gone, she removed the needle.
Her attention went back to his arm, the necrosis stopped before it reached his elbow, and didn't move anymore. Mina lowered her head and sighed. "It's what I thought. An antidote…the only one." She got to her feet and looked at the carnage around her. "Stay here Ace. I'm going to find my father and make sure this never happens again…I'll save Lyle and Nadine."
Ace groaned, "Why…why me? You could've saved Nadine with it…or the world…" His eyes were fluttering.
Mina glanced over her shoulder; her eyes had changed from the soft viridian green to a bright gold. "Because you mean more to me then you'll ever know. You rest here, I'll be right back." She picked up the discarded clothing and wrapped it around him. "Rest my love. Rest."
Chapter Ten
Mina walked into the elevator as soon as the doors opened, her mind set on grabbing Nadine, killing her father, and getting the fuck out of dodge with Ace. The phone she stole from the captain started to beep. She reached into her front pocket and pulled it out. The timer started ticking down from thirty. The military and cleanup crew will be here in thirty minutes. I have to hurry up. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, feeling the adrenalin pump through her body.
This is it. I must be strong, use this damn body for good. I can't let my father get away with this. She watched the light above the door click down to the number 6.
As soon as the door opened, she was welcomed in darkness. A singular light above a long pole was on. On the floor was a young kid, with black hair. Bloody yellow shorts and shoes. His head was hung down, blood covered his temple and the left side of his face. Mina grabbed her gun and took silent steps into the dark room.
Above her, a speaker clicked on.
"I see you made it Yellow Cat, and you've been activated. I guess that cop was worth more to me alive then dead. Too bad he's been infected; did you kill him like you were programmed?" Her father’s voice chimed over the loudspeaker.
The first thing that came to Mina's lips, were lies. "Of course, I had no choice. He was infected, and it's my job to make sure all the infected are disposed of. Isn't that why I was made? Just in case of a…accident like this city?" Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she was able to see the rest of the room.
Just like the hallway, and the upper corridors. It was concreate flooring, with metal walls. There were several spots that were covered with dried blood, bullet holes and above her on the ceiling was a large octagonal room. Covered in barbed wire and that special metallic alloy. She could see her father in the only window, he stood there staring down at her. His eyes wide, bloodshot, and frantic while he kept licking his lips.
"Yes, that’s your prerogative. Your coding is to kill, not save. Anything or anyone that you come across that's infected is to be terminated. You were made for our company. To take down anything we program you to take down. Too bad your handler is dead…" There was a gentle sigh, before he started to laugh. "Humans are weak. But you're not a human. You're a weapon. Man-made to be indestructible. Now…"
There was a sound of buttons being pressed, a cage descended from underneath the room. The light from it casted a long shadow over the cage. "You must destroy the very thing you sought after. It's too late to save her. The fever had taken over her brain and she has lost all sense of who she is. Project Wolf, must be terminated."
In the large cage was a monster.
Not her sister.
Its hair was long and stringy, covering it's once beautiful face. The body had become disjointed. Hunched over and covered in patchy hair. The creature kept snarling, grabbing at the bars, and pulled. The cage door unlocked and swung open. The very floor underneath Mina vibrated with each step.
The white dress Nadine once wore, was no longer there. Just shreds of cloth covered her groin and chest area. The creature turned its attention to Mina, its eyes glowing a deep angry red in the dark. Its bottom jaw hung out over the top. As it opened its mouth to roar, Mina could see three rows of sharp teeth that traveled down it's throat.
Blood like spit spewed from its gaping maw as it roared.
Mina's brain clicked and she took off at a sprint to Lyle, who was still out cold. She dropped to her knees and grabbed the chains that held him to the long pole. Putting her gun down, she reached out and grabbed it with her hands. In a single pull the iron chains snapped. The young boy fell forward moaning.
"Lyle? Lyle! Wake up!" She glanced away from the young child to the creature stalking her. The child groaned, in her arms. The monster breathed heavily, its eyes glowing down at them. "Lyle!" She screamed into the boy's face.
Without hesitating she struck the child hard against the face.
He lifted his head, his eyes open and surprised. She gave him one last good shake. "Lyle? Listen to me, my name is Mina I'm officer Wilder's friend. I need you to run to the elevator. Press the three button and go up there with him. I'll follow behind you shortly. I promise."
"Uh—wha?" The confusion in the boy's eyes irritated her.
She gave him another hard shake. "I said, get to the elevator, go up to the third floor and stay with Officer Wilder! Go now!" She got to her feet dragging the child with her. She had no more time to deal with this shit. She turned him in the direction of the elevator and shoved him, "Go!"
The boy still unsteady on his feet, started to look back, "Don't you dare look back. Just run!"
The deepening roar of the creature sent the boy forward, he tripped once before getting his footing and taking off. She turned around to face Nadine. Kneeling she picked up her gun. The monster was tall. It's head almost touching the ceiling. It kept twitching; she could see the muscles running underneath the thin skin. "Nadine…" Mina whispered.
It tilted its head.
She sighed, "Don't make me do this Naddie. Come back to me. Please." As she tried reaching up to the creature, the sudden movement caused it to react. It was so fast she couldn't even see it happen—
The hand got her right in the stomach, t
he claws raking across her white flesh. Hot pain went through her body. Mina's body was tossed across the room, her back striking the metal wall. She felt the bones in her body crunch. Her head struck the hardest, she could feel her teeth rattle in her skull.
Sliding down the wall, she landed on the floor with a hard thump. In a kneeling position she pressed her hand against her stomach and was met with the feeling of hot blood—
Nadine turned her attention right back to Mina. Roaring at the sudden scent of fresh blood. Mina pushed herself back up her back and ribs screaming in protest. Though the wound on her stomach was already healing, she could still feel the aches running through her. "Nadine! Stop this right now!" Mina bellowed.
"She can't understand you Yellow Cat. She's lost. The only way to stop it, is to kill her. Can you find her weak spot?" Her father spoke over the loudspeaker.
The new voice caused Nadine to turn her attention away from Mina—
The only open spot was on Nadine's side. It was a single deep wound, enough to hinder—the creature turned its attention back to Mina, it bent down on its legs placing its hands on the cement floor—
Her eyes widened as Nadine was running after her in a full-on sprint. Mina threw herself to the side, landing and rolling. She brought her gun up, aimed as carefully as she could and squeezed the trigger three times.
Nadine lifted up on her hind legs and roared, the whole building around them shook and trembled. She can feel it, Nadine can feel every bullet entering her body—
She was on all fours again.
Mina stood and sprinted to the other side of the large room. She dropped to a crouch and shot off another four rounds. She watched them slam deep inside Nadine's face.
Her teeth shattered on impact, she reared back up and grabbed at her face. Green liquid sprayed from each wound. "Nadine! Listen to me, it's Mina, your sister!" She had to bellow to be heard over the deep laughter, ringing from the speakers. "Please! Remember who you were!" She tried again.
Nadine lowered her hands, anger pulsating throughout its muscles. One eye gone, shards of sharp teeth littering the floor underneath her. There was still no recognition within the only eye she had left.
"She won't ever remember you Yellow Cat. Just take her down. Kill her."
Mina screamed, running to the creature. Nadine stood on her hind legs, the long reptilian like tail came from behind her. Mina didn't even see it till that moment. Large sharp bones stuck out through the whole thing. It raised above Nadine's head.
And Mina watched the whole thing happen in slow motion. The tail coming down, cutting through the air. It was happening so fast she didn't even get a chance to stop and turn back around. All she could see was the bright white of bone in front of her face.
The tail slammed into her body, and she hit the ground hard. Sharp bones piercing her flesh and breaking her ribs. Mina howled in agony; the breath being taken right from her lungs. Her life essence surfacing from the puncture wounds. She was pinned to the ground, stuck to Nadine's tail.
Before she could blink, she was lifted into the air. "Nadine stop!" She cried. She was hanging in the air, face to face with what used to be her sister. It's one eye staring her down, its decayed breath washing over her body. "Naddie…please…"
Mina couldn't move.
She was at Nadine's mercy.
"Remember when I took you to the beach?" She tried to dig into Nadine's memory. "You asked me to walk you into the water, you were terrified because you didn't know what was in the water." Mina pushed her right arm off a spike, bellowing as she did.
The creature tilted its head.
She continued, "We went to get ice cream that night. You didn't know what it was…there was so much to life you didn't understand because you were in a cage all your life." She huffed; her right eye closed from the pain. "You hugged me and cried when you tasted strawberry ice cream for the first time. You kept asking me to have another, and another, and another. Finally, the ice cream guy just gave you a taste of every flavor."
Mina coughed out a laugh, "The face you made when you tasted mint. It was…the most beautiful thing I had ever seen." She unpinned her right arm. Screaming, "You had a crush on the boy you met at the library. He had blonde hair and green eyes. You wouldn't leave him alone…"
Nadine slow blinked.
"You knew how much I hated you crawling into bed with me." She closed her eyes, her head hanging. "But I lied. I loved it. I loved keeping you safe…you knew I would protect you no matter what happened."
She swallowed hard, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I wanted too. I tried so hard to get to you." Black streaks tumbled from Mina's eyes as she tried reaching out to Nadine. "I would die for you, you're the only one who understands what I've been through. I never hated you Naddie, never. I…"
She screamed through the pain, as she sobbed. "I wanted to bring you home!"
Nadine's eye widened, she reached out and grabbed Mina gently pulling her the rest of the way off her barbed tail. Mina howled as she was pulled free, like someone pulling a thorn from their body. "T…Mina…?"
"Even if the world is falling apart and burning, Naddie, I wanted to bring you home." A hard sob wrecked Mina's body.
Nadine brought her body closer, holding her like a baby doll. "I…so…rr…y…" Nadine gurgled. She laid Mina down on the cement floor, turning her attention back to the room above the testing chambers.
Mina tried pushing herself back up, but the pain kept her down. The floor underneath her was cold and felt good on her burning body. Her blood had already coagulated, and she could see the steam rising from the deep gouges throughout her body.
She managed to roll over on her back, Nadine had left her and went to the room above them. There was a deep gurgle in Nadine's throat as she grabbed the sides of it.
"Too bad you're a failure too Yellow Cat." A mechanical noise came from the bottom of the room. "You would've been a perfect specimen. We just reached too far, but soon, soon the whole world will feel the company’s wrath."
Bright flashes came from the bottom of the octagon.
Mina pushed herself up, watching as dark green fluid came from Nadine's chest. There was no sound coming from the flashing lights. All she could hear was Nadine's roar of pain.
"Naddie!' Mina roared.
Her body didn't want her to move, but she pushed herself up. She watched the shadow of their father leave the room. The weapon that kept shooting at Nadine pushed her back.
Mina watched her little sister stumble and roar in pain. She tried covering her face, to block out the weapon shooting at her.
It was too much.
Nadine collapsed to the ground.
The room trembled at her sheer weight, the smell of burning flesh lingered in the room as Mina forced herself to her feet. She pressed her hand against her abdomen. She watched as steam rose from Nadine's large body, acid leaked from the swollen flesh as she started to shrink.
Mina limped over to the shrinking form, the fur fell, and the muscles shrunk. Before her, in the puddle of stringy goo, green gunk and mucus, was Nadine. Her chest was peppered with small holes, her red hair covered in the green gunk. Her body coated with it. She kept breathing hard as fresh blood surfaced in the wounds and fell over her pale flesh. Her left eye was missing as she turned her head to look at Mina.
She could see inside her skull.
"Mina?" Nadine whimpered.
Mina fell to her knees at Nadine's naked body, listening to the little girls crying whimpers. She tried touching the holes throughout her stomach and chest, but Nadine screamed in pain. Mina winced, "Shh…shh Naddie…" Ignoring the slime, Mina slid her arms underneath the frail child and picked her up in her arms. She was so small compared to what a twelve-year-old should've been.
"Mina it hurts…" She whimpered.
Mina swallowed the knot at the base of her throat. "I know Naddie, I know…"
Nadine kept trembling; black tears stained her pale white face. Her lips were the color of
violets. She kept blinking trying to hide the tears. "Tell me a bed time story, like you used too. Please? And don't let me go."
Mina sat back, stroking Nadine's hair. Her eyes fogging over, "There once was a little girl with hair so red that everyone thought she was a troll. No one ever wanted to play with her, because of how she looked. That was till one day she met another little girl with hair so black she thought it was made from the midnight sky…she kept coming back to that other little girl, telling her of her dreams to play among the stars." She swallowed, Nadine never breaking eye contact from her. "Till one day, the black-haired girl took her by the hand and led her to the sea. It was nighttime, and the red-haired girl didn't know where the sea started and the sky ended—"
Nadine reached up, grabbing Mina's chest. "Don't stop…don't stop telling me the story. I want to know how it ends."
"A…alright Naddie. Alright." Mina stroked the young girls face, "The black-haired girl told her to take her hand, when she did the black-haired girl grew bright colorful wings. She picked her up and carried her to the sky. Through the clouds, to the very top among a million stars. She never wanted to leave. She wanted to stay with her new best friend till the day they died."
Nadine took in a deep breath, "I'm scared sissy."
"I won't leave your side." Mina stroked her hair, watching Nadine take in her last deep breath.
Chapter Eleven
Ace's head throbbed with his shoulder. The world was still fading in and out, the only thing keeping him going, was the thought of Mina…he didn't give a rat’s ass about what she was. Just who she was. Anyone else would've left a stranger to defend for themselves.
Anyone else, wouldn't have stayed and tried to find their sister.
Mina wasn't like everyone else.
She was strong, powerful, and one hell of a woman. It didn't matter to him how she was made. I knew there was something about her the moment I saw her. She held herself like a soldier. He lifted his head, and watched the elevator door open—
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