Heavy duties

Another unhappy ending

- '' This is it, Murphy. This is California now'', Warren said as we reached the coordinates we were given. It felt almost unreal. I was expecting to see a big laboratory but instead, there was this small building that looked like a cafe. 

- '' Why does it look like a greasy kitchen?'', Murphy asked with a huffy tone. Nobody could answer him because we didn't know any better.

- '' Stay here, we'll go and check'', Warren said as she left with Vasquez, leaving the rest of us outside. 

- '' Could this be it? The end of this journey?'', I asked while observing the building. Murphy snorted at my question. 

- '' As if it would ever end'', he said and sat down on a rock. 

- '' If it's gonna end like the last time we were at a lab then Murphy I'd like you to save all of us if possible'', Doc said while scratching his neck. I let out a small laugh and Addy looked at me. 

- '' What? It was funny. Gosh'', I said but I suppose it wasn't that funny for them. I wouldn't know, I was unconscious. 

- '' What if this is the end? What would all of you do then?'', Murphy suddenly asked with a serious tone. 

- '' I don't know man, maybe I'll start my own z-weed plantation'', Doc said while he shrugged. 

- '' I will knock out all the z's, just like now'', Addy told. 

- '' And what about you, Y/N? What would you do?'', Murphy turned to look at me. I looked at his weirdly colored eyes for a while. 

- '' I-'', I managed to say before Warren cut me off. 

- '' It's okay, get in!'', she called. 

There was a nice lady inside the place which was, indeed, a greasy kitchen. But that wasn't the lab, it would be too dangerous I guess. Instead, the lady called Dr. Merch and her team to fetch us from here. It didn't take them long before they appeared, all dressed up formally like it wouldn't be the end of the world. 

- '' So you claim to be the great Murphy. Dr. Merch, do you recognize him?'', a man in an army leader suit asked. 

- '' I am not sure, I only saw him for a few minutes'', she answered. 

- '' Oh come on, you ruined my life and don't even remember me?'', Murphy felt annoyed and probably anxious too. There really was no reason for him to trust that woman. 

- '' Alright, let's not waste any time. Murphy, the world needs you'', the man in the suit said as they walked out. We followed them outside, not sure what was going to happen. They were all packing themselves inside the cars but Murphy was hesitant. 

- '' I'm not gonna come with you, at least not alone'', he then said to the man who was waiting for him to get in. 

- '' We only have a place for one more person'', the man said.

- '' I'm fine with it'', Murphy said before turning to look at me. Somewhat I almost felt relieved because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to him. I looked at Warren and she nodded before giving me a hug. 

- '' Take care of you both. And if things get fishy then get the hell out from there'', Warren whispered to my ear and I looked at her in the eyes with a determined face before getting inside the car. 

The lab was in a secret submarine which kinda freaked me out because I wasn't too comfortable getting into one but I had no choice. I had no idea what would happen to me or Murphy now and it really scared me. Once we got in, they showed us the cabin we could stay in and that was it. They didn't want me snooping around the place and made sure I'd stay inside the cabin as they took Murphy away. I sat down on the bed before taking a deep breath. I could take this if it would save humanity. Or something like that. 

Murphy's POV

Dr. Merch tied me up on her table which was of course very kind of her and woke up my trust in her. 

- '' We'll start with some blood tests'', she said as she took a needle out. 

- '' Do what you need'', I mumbled, not really caring at this point anymore. 

- '' I need to ask you some questions too''. 

- '' I am Murphy, I got bitten by the zombies, I survived, blah blah blah'', I rolled my eyes in boredom. 

- '' I know those. What kind of illnesses have you had? As a child, for example''. 

- '' Anything you could possibly have''. 

- '' Do you have a tattoo? Have you done vein-injected drugs?''. 

- '' No but I wish''. 

- '' Do you have any STDs? Are you sexually active?''. 

- '' That's a bit personal''. Someone called Merch outside the room and she excused herself before leaving. How long would this take? How long would it take before the vaccine is ready and we can leave? What were Warren and the rest of them doing currently? What was Y/N doing in the room right now? 

I heard a conversation outside the room and I stopped my stream of thoughts to hear what was going on. Someone was talking to Merch about something. 

- '' What should we do to the woman Murphy came with?'', a male voice asked. 

- '' We don't need her for anything but let's keep her around so that Murphy will be more willing to work with us. Afterward, do what you want'', Merch said. Oh, I see. I should have known better. It's the apocalypse, no one really has a good heart anymore, huh? 

It didn't take me long to get off the table and sneak behind the door to catch Merch as she walked in. 

- '' I see what you are planning. Naughty girl, always thinking about herself'', I said and noticed that Merch seemed to be truly frightened. 

- '' Don't worry, I will keep you around'', I said before sinking my teeth onto her cheek. 

Murphy's POV ends

I heard the alarms go off as I was almost falling asleep on the bed. It made my heart beat like crazy; would we sink now or what? Can a submarine even sink, isn't that what it's supposed to do? I got up and tried to open the door but it was locked. I tried to kick it but it was for nothing. Panic grew up inside me as I started to bang the door with my fists. 

- '' Let me go! What's happening?!'', I yelled but only heard people running around and shouting at each other. I kept banging on the door until I heard the lock open. 

- '' Calm down, our visit time is over'', I heard Murphy say as he opened the door. I felt so relieved to see him but behind him were Dr. Merch and some soldiers with creepy, blue eyes. 

- '' What's going on?'', I asked but Murphy grabbed my arm and pulled me with him. 

- '' It's time for our revolution, baby. Let's blow this tin can up like a rocket to celebrate it'', he said. I didn't understand what he meant but at that moment I was just happy to be alive and there was hope for my survival. The soldiers behind Murphy kept shooting anyone who got in our way and it was then that I noticed that he had bit all of them, even Merch. 

// do you just ever lose your dog's mitten in chest-deep snow and cry