Affliction

by Amy Miles

  This entire section of the lab has been completely abandoned. Chairs have been left toppled over. Partially eaten food trays sit beside microscopes. Security access doors are left standing open.

  I walk down the hallway with my hand pressed to the wall, smearing a blood trail behind me. The blood loss makes my vision blur and my knees give out on me twice, but each time I get back up.

  Spying a set of swinging double doors up ahead, I make my way toward them and push through to find myself in a pitch black room. File cabinets and bookshelves stakes two deep line the walls. A messy desk with hand scribbled notes strewn across its top sits off to my right.

  My nostrils flare and I shake my head to focus. The scent of Dr. Wiemann is very strong in this room.

  Glancing all around me, I look for any sign of where he may have gone. I can’t bear the thought of coming all this way only to let him die by something else’s hand.

  Then I see it. A small rectangular crack in the bookcase reveals a room behind this one. I begin shoving the books off, searching for a latch or lever and feel a small click. The door gives way and I push it open.

  Ropes of electrical cables run across the floor as I step inside. A brilliant white light in the center of the room forces me to look away but from my peripheral vision I see Dr. Wiemann huddled over a medical bed. A steady beeping comes from a heart monitor in front of him and I see two very thin and pale legs sticking out from under a hospital gown.

  “I know that you think I am an evil man,” he says without turning. “Perhaps you are right. I have done terrible but great things in the name of science in my time. None of them meant anything in the end. None of them were good enough to save the only thing I ever loved more than my research.”

  I stumble around the side, raising a hand to shield myself from the bright spotlight that illuminates a middle aged woman with blond hair and white pale skin.

  “They told me there was no hope. That there was nothing that could be done. I went to every hospital, doctor and specialist in the beginning. That was before the outbreak really began.” He turns to look at me with dead eyes. “She had been on a business trip in London and felt sick when she returned. We didn’t think much of it at the time. Figured it was nothing more than your typical jet lag and that it would pass in time. But it didn’t. She was among the first reported to have contracted the disease.”

  He reaches out and slowly brushes her hair back from her face. Her eyes are closed and appear to be a pale shade of lavender. There is no movement in her eyes related to REM sleep. She is completely motionless apart from a slow and infrequent inhalation of breath.

  “The CDC took her from me nearly three weeks before the outbreak started killing. They had time to discover a cure but instead they researched, poked and prodded her as she slowly slipped away. I had skills and knowledge that they could have used but they claimed that I was too obsessed, too personally attached. That I couldn’t see her as Patient Zero instead of my wife.”

  His shoulders slump as he leans over his wife. “They were right, of course. I couldn’t see anything beyond the woman I vowed to spend my life with. She was my everything and they just let her Wither away. But once the virus spread and panic hit the streets I knew I had to keep her safe so I made a deal with the government. I would help them create a weapon that could be used in the event of a global threat. Those men in their fancy suits and chests filled with medals had no honor and I used that to my advantage. I struck a deal and she was moved here to be safely housed until I delivered on my side of the bargain, but I never gave up looking for a cure.”

  His chair squeals as he turns to look at me. “And then you were found just outside of St. Louis. Reports of your lab work were of course sent directly to me to study. The moment I saw your results I knew you were special. I just had to have you.

  But you proved to be far more elusive than I would have liked. I spent months searching for you. If it hadn’t been for Cap’s gut instinct you might have died in that farmhouse.”

  A wave of nausea washes over me and I lean back against a metal table to steady myself. He glances down at the spreading stain of blood at my waist. “You had no clue how important you were. It infuriated me when I discovered that Ryker had unleashed my zombies on you back at the hotel but when Cap found you he brought you straight to me and I knew, after seeing your bite wound, that something miraculous was taking place.

  We documented everything, of course while we waited for you to wake and when you did I knew you were the answer to everything. You are special beyond understanding, Avery. Together we could have changed the world.”

  “I would never help you,” I spit at him.

  “Yes,” he nods slowly, “Your opinion of me was sadly tainted far earlier than I would have liked. Circumstances changed and I had to adapt. It was a rash call, I will admit but one that was necessary none the less.”

  “Those people were innocent.”

  He laughs wearily. “Is anyone really innocent these days? Most have killed to survive. Many have stolen, raped, pillaged and plundered in their efforts to hold on to the pieces of their lives. No, my dear, Avery. There are no innocents left in this world. We have all become monsters.”

  I step forward and seize him by the neck. “This base is overrun with the things that you helped to create. They are killing, eating and shredding everything that stands in their way. Nothing will survive these mutations.”

  He smiles. “You will.”

  My grip on his throat tightens. His face grows red and a vein pops out on his forehead as he struggles to breathe.

  “I would tear your wife apart limb from limb while you watch if I had my way, but I see now that she is no different than all of the rest. She is just another victim.”

  “You can still save her. Your blood can bring her back, it can reverse the virus and save the human race.”

  “No, Dr. Wiemann. It’s already too late for that.” I dig my nails into the side of his neck as I lower my face to his ear. “The human race is already extinct.”

  I yank his head to the side and sink my teeth into his throat.

  TWENTY-TWO

  There is little doubt when I untie the lab coat from around my waist to find the gash on my side already beginning to heal over that I am grateful for the benefits that the second virus dose has given me. Wiping Dr. Wiemann’s blood from my lips, I feel electrical currents of energy sparking throughout my body. I flex my fingers and breathe in deep as I turn off his wife’s life support and step over his dead body.

  My clothes are soaked with his blood. My face, arms and hands are slick with the warmth of it but I do not care. I feel powerful, rejuvenated in ways I had not thought possible.

  I walk out of Wiemann’s office and back down the hall, heading for the exit sign that hangs dark against the ceiling. It is only then that I realize the power is out.

  Pushing through the door I step out into a war zone of epic proportions. Smoke hangs thick in the air, blocking out the sunlight as fires from all around the compound burn. A tank has been upended and left on its side with its wheels grinding into the dirt. Pieces of bodies litter the tarmac, both human and non.

  In the distance I can hear the loud booms of land mines being set off and see eruptions of dirt shooting into the air. From somewhere within the smoke there are still some alive to fight. Moans of the dying hover in the air as I sense a presence and turn slowly around.

  Cable emerges from around the rear of the tank. Blood coats his torn shirt, splattered against his face and smeared through his hair. His teeth are painted red and in his hand he carries the head of a man. When he tosses the head high into the air, it falls and rolls at me feet, coming to a stop against my boot. I stare down into the glazed eyes of Fletcher.

  “He died fighting bravely,” Cable calls when I look up. “There is no dishonor to follow him to the grave.”

&nbs
p; I force myself not to react to the soldier’s death. He was with Nox when I left. Does that mean there’s a chance he is still alive?

  “And what about you?” I ask as I push Fletcher’s head aside. “Will you die today with honor?”

  A wide grin tugs at Cable’s lips but it does not reach his cold, calculating eyes. There is no life there anymore. No warmth or hint of the love that once stared back at me. The man I knew is truly gone. What stands before me in nothing more than a beast dressed in his flesh.

  “Do you intend to kill me, Avery? After all that we have been through?”

  I slowly begin to walk toward him. Bullets whizz past and screams cry out all around but I focus only on him. On that rage that boils up within me at the very sight of him.

  “I will not go with you, Cable.”

  His smile tightens. “I did not come all this way to give you the option, Love. You will be with me, one way or another.”

  “Then let us be joined in death.” I dive toward him and drive my shoulder into his chest. He wraps his arms around me as we collapse back onto the ground and slide several feet. The skin on my arms shreds and I cry out in pain but I elbow him in the face and roll back to my feet.

  Cable laughs as he touches his lip. It has split and begun to bleed. “You have begun to embrace your new abilities, I see.”

  “As if I had any choice in the matter.” I throw a punch that he easily ducks and when he grabs hold of my arm to toss me aside, I barely have a chance to brace before I slam into the side of the tank. Pain lights in multiple locations in my body as I stumble back.

  Cable rises up directly behind me and takes hold of my head, twining his fingers through my hair to slam my head against the machine. I feel the edge of my hairline split and blood trickles down my face. Reaching back over my head, I take hold of one of his ears and tear it free. Cable screams and claws at me, but I duck between his arms and run.

  I race past soldiers locked in combat with Flesh Bags. I see two of the mutated beasts released from their cage leap onto a pack of zombies and begin tearing through them. The air is filled with growls and gunfire as I weave through the smoke.

  Cable catches up to me and launches himself at me. He clips the heel of my foot and I tumble end of end, slamming against a crow’s nest guard post. I duck under the bar as Cable advances and begin to climb.

  “There is nowhere that you can run, Avery.”

  I rattle up the metal steps and leap up onto the railing as Cable takes to the stairs too look around. He is right. There are hundreds of Withered between me and the nearest gate. Mutants continue to shove their way out of the hangar, some creating their own doorways as they bust through the siding and engage the zombies.

  Everywhere I look I see desolation.

  “It’s over. Give up and accept your destiny.”

  I jump down from the railing and turn to face Cable. “I never really put my stock in that whole destiny crap.”

  Rushing the other side, I throw myself against the railing and feel the crow’s nest begin to tip. Cable’s eyes fly open wide when I leap from the platform as it tilts sideways. It crashes with a tremendous clatter as metal poles spring into the air, impaling those unlucky enough to be close by.

  Grasping one of the poles, I make my way around the edge of the debris to find one of Cable’s legs are pinned. I grip the pole tightly and swing the thick metal bat. It connects with Cable’s face and his head snaps back as he collapses back to the ground.

  All around me I can feel the Flesh Bags starting to take notice of our fight. They screech and howl as they work together to overrun those mutants that still remain. The hairs on my arms and neck stand straight as I shove the pole down into Cable’s shoulder and bury it deep into the ground.

  His cry of outrage as he tries to pull it free draw the zombies in close. I can feel their anger, feel their ill sated hunger as they stop feasting on the dying and close in on me.

  “You bitch!” Spittle flies from his lips as he wrenches the pole free. Several Withered attack the platform and lift it free. Cable climbs back to his feet but he struggles to put pressure on his wounded leg.

  “Bring me one,” he yells and zombies scramble to obey. Within seconds I hear a girl screaming as she is dragged forward.

  “No!” I start forward when Cable seizes Kira by the throat and lifts her high. “Don’t do this.”

  Cable’s face darkens with rage as he swings Kira like a rag doll. “She is nothing to the likes of you and me. She is weak, a pathetic human incapable of defending herself.”

  “Want to bet?”

  I look up just in time to see her drive a knife hidden in her camouflage pants down into Cable’s neck. Blood squirts from the severed vein and his grip on her falters. She slams to the ground with a grunt and tries to scramble away but his foot comes down on her back.

  My eyes squeeze shut at the sound of her spinal cord snapping. I do not watch as I hear him tear her apart. I flinch when her blood sprays my face.

  “Even in death she is useful.”

  I slowly open my eyes and watch as Cable lifts the remains of her torso and sinks his teeth into her flesh. Blood flows around his mouth. His eyes never leave mine and I force myself not to look away. Shock races through me when I see the skin along his neck begin to seal over and the blood ceases to squirt.

  “You did not think you are the only one who has discovered the miracle of the virus, did you?”

  He tosses Kira away and grabs a hold of his shirt. As the fabric tears I feel my blood run cold. There, all along his bare arms and chest are dozens of unhealed bite marks, similar to the two that I bear.

  “I will admit that the discovery came as quite a shock. I hadn’t planned on being bitten but in the beginning days I was still learning how to control my abilities. After the attack on your base I knew I would need to be stronger, to make myself you could be proud of.”

  When he turns in a slow circle I see that there are more marks on his back and sides.

  “You can’t possibly fathom what this feels like, Avery. The power, the knowledge and pure oneness with our people. But you will soon enough.”

  Raising his hands, the Flesh Bags press in, forming row after row of circles around me. I am trapped. The soldiers may be able to pick off several of the rows at the back but there are still hundreds of them standing between me and them now.

  “Before we leave, there is some unfinished business we need to attend to.”

  Cable steps back and a wave of movement ripples through the crowd. I watch as the Withered step back to allow several to march through. When I hear the cries of protest my knees go well.

  “No, oh, dear God, no!”

  “God isn’t listening anymore.” Cable turns to grin at me as Flynn emerges from the horde first. He struggles against the arms that hold him. Close on his heel is Liam, followed by a heavily limping Cyrus. “You are looking for him, aren’t you?”

  I feel the thundering of my heart in my chest as Cable pulls me against him and places his arm around my waist. “Although it would have brought me great pleasure to kill him when he put up a miserable fight against us in the woods, I knew that his death would be so much more special with you by my side to witness it.”

  My legs go limp when I see Nox shoved through the crowd. He lands hard on his hands and knees. His face is a mass of bruises and he looks as if he were drug through a lake of blood but he is alive.

  “Nox” I start forward but Cable’s hand tightens on my hip.

  “Now, now. There will be no spoiling the fun until you have a chance to see your final gift.”

  I slowly tear my eyes away from where Nox lies breathing heavily to see a twinkle of excitement in Cable’s eye. “What have you done?”

  “I thought it would be nice to have the whole family back together again.”

  My throat clenches a
s I turn to stare at the hole still open in the horde. The rock and moan, staring behind them, then slowly I see a flash of straw colored gold and know that my greatest horror has been realized. A strangled moan escapes my throat as Cable holds me aloft.

  “Avery!” Her voice comes out so sweet, so beautiful and perfect that I am sure that I’m imagining it. Regret that it would take this terrible event to finally force her to speak nearly takes my breath away.

  “No, please don’t hurt her.” I cry as Hope is carried out of the masses. Her eyes are wide with terror. Her dress is stained with urine and splattered with brain matter as she is tossed to the ground. Her eyes widen with horror when she looks to her right and sees Kira’s body in several pieces beside her. “She is just a child!”

  “Yes,” Cable nods, staring at Hope without feeling. “They taste sweeter. You will see soon enough.”

  Tears fall steadily down the little girl’s cheeks as she looks to me with pleading eyes and I know that I have failed her. I’ve failed them all.

  “I’ll do anything,” I whisper. “Just spare their lives.”

  “Aw,” Cable nuzzles into my neck. Nox grunts and arches his back as he stares up at Cable with pure hatred. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

  Tears well up as I stare at the people that I love kneeling before me. I have never had a real family before, at least not one worth speaking about, but each of these people are special to me. In another life we would never have met, never have discovered that bond that links us together far tighter than blood or DNA.

  Rage, the likes of which I have never before felt, rises up inside of me as I catch sight of something that makes my heart skip a beat. I turn to look at Cable to see if he noticed but he just smiles back, smug and confident that he is about to get every bit of what he has ever wanted. “At least allow me to say goodbye.”

  He rolls his eyes but releases me. “Make it quick. I’m still hungry.”

  Stumbling away from him, I rush to Nox and pull him into a tight embrace. I cradle him against my face, digging my hands into his back.