The Touch of Infection

Chapter 80: New targets

Need a and Zareb had continued their path with Carisa in hand. Getting attacked various times until Neda caught on to something when separating from Zareb. The group that had been following had chosen to follow him while she was with Carisa and not a single one of them, even those trailing behind looked at them.

She cocked her head o the side confused about the actions, meeting up with Zareb up ahead and wanting to test her theory. She handed Carisa to him without a word and signaled to run while she ran in a different direction. It took the creatures a while but after chasing Zareb a while they stopped like the trail had gone cold.

All too quick turning and running in Neda's direction like they'd spotted something new and more interesting. She looked at her wound instinctively seeing it was still shut, but turning her head back to them. They hadn't caught the scent of the wound but of her.

She looked ahead at Zareb who had stopped and was catching on to things as well. Neda quickly got back beside them and grabbed Carisa, "They don't notice you... like at all. But they're targeting us." Neda whispered and saw the things clawing up the tree they were in.

Carisa didn't understand why the things were targeting them. Didn't they ignore the alaois?

Before Carisa could suggest anything Neda ripped Carisa's sleeves off and tied one to Zareb's arm, "won't help as much as we might need but it'll do." She tied the other one to herself and they began moving again.

Neda's observations paying off as a lesser amount followed behind them, but the night was still long, and rest was an impossible option. A harsh and cruel night was with them. And no rest in sight. The solution Neda had only working so long till Carisa's smell rubbed off them.

But having been running so long the camp was finally in sight. Neda stood at the very top of a tree looking over to it. She could see the lights on and Alaois around the walled-off area shooting their guns. She knew that if they showed up without notice they'd get shot.

And although she was sure those creatures would have a hard time killing them their guns would make quick work of them. She hopped down signaling Zareb to watch her back. Neda moved to a spot she deemed safe for her attempt to get noticed.

Aiming her gun at the sky and shooting straight up a couple of times until seeing those at camp all aim the guns up and shoot at the sky. She sighed in relief and the three of them ran to get inside.

Zareb set Carisa down and Amite had heard the commotion and rushed over.  She pulled Carisa towards her looking at her everywhere, "You three were supposed to arrive hours ago!"

Neda stood up in front of Amite, "We were attacked, we had to use another way. It was only later we realized how long it would take." Neda explained and untied Carisa's sleeve from her arm, "those things out there, are targeting us."

Amite's confused expression told Neda they were completely unaware, Zareb got in front of Neda, "Carisa seemed to be what masked our scents. But why are they targeting us now, they ignored us just a few days ago."

Amite pressed a hand to her chin analyzing everything she was told, "Nothing has escaped any of our lab's right?"

Neda shook her head, "Nothing at all. They'd have to break into HQ or here to manage that." She said and caught onto Amite's thoughts, "I believe they have mutated on their own... but it spread too quickly... do you think someone is at fault?"

Amite slowly nodded and looked behind her to the camp, "Head inside, get your wounds treated. I'll deal with this for now."

Sending the tree of them off another alaois quickly pulled Neda aside seeing the wound in her arm while Zareb and her shared a look. He continued following Carisa walking side by side.

"The people have dispersed into a couple of groups. But we've been trying to just keep them in one solid group. So we constantly have to break things up." Zareb tells her and looks round to see everyone was being kept inside and not let out.

Carisa nodded and she gazed concentrated on a simple tent-like building, which had a small head poking up looking at her, instinctively she turned walking over to it.

Zareb grabbed her hand, "That's the family tent Carisa, we have a separate tent for you."

"It'll just be a moment." She told him pulling her hand away and just as she took a single step Zareb stood in front of her.

"You'll be able to converse later. After all, you haven't rested all night, it's best if you go to sleep. Vasin and Bavyn might have already arrived perhaps, it would be a shame to make them wait."

She saw his intent gaze, looking past him where the small head had been poking out, now nowhere to be seen. She sighed disdainfully, "Alright, let's go."

He smiled and lead her off in a different direction, her eyes wouldn't stay still. Looking for anyone at all around, but it all seemed empty. Not a person in sight, like they were in some kind of lockdown. When her eyes fell on a wall she realized why.

Long scratches and even patches of blood were on that wall and around the floor. Like some beast had battled there, whatever it had been didn't seem to be here anymore. But must be the reason everyone was inside and not even looking when a new person they'd never seen shows up.