Dead Serve

Part 16~You Should Have Run

Tsukishima froze, looking out on the many blocks and cubicles. Each held a different infected; a different person. These creatures used to be people. Tsukishima wasn't able to ponder on the revelation for long. Nissho only had so many supplies.

Intertwining his and Michi's fingers, Tsukishima took off. The infected reacted to them instantly, coming up to the glass. Their groaning grew louder but Tsukishima couldn't care less. He had to protect Michi... and possibly go save the rest of the team. He pulled Michi into what looked like an abandoned corridor, closing and locking the door behind him.

"Wait! Kei! This tunnel isn't finished! It carved in when they tried making it, there was no way out," Michi shouted in panic. He didn't know what was going on. One moment he was asleep on Tsukishima's chest, the next he was being dragged through a maze of infected.

"Are you sure about that?" Tsukishima pointed at the bright light that was coming down the tunnel.

"What? That's impossible." Michi tilted his head in confusion. There was no way that tunnel led out.

Footsteps echoed around the rock walls. Tsukishima pulled Michi behind him, ready to fight off anything that came at them.

"Huh? What do you know? You were right. They did come down here."

"Yama?" Sugawara's eyes widened.

Yamaguchi looked awful. His body shook and was covered in sweat. His arms were tied to either wall with thick metal chains. He let out short breaths unable to take in the needed oxygen. He barely had energy enough to keep his eyes open let alone raise his head.

"Yama?" Sugawara took a step forward but was pulled back by Narita.

"Don't! He is barely holding on, if you get too close, he could lose it."

"Narita!" Daichi never felt so relieved to see his Kouhai before. At least he was alright.

"Hi, what happened? Where are Noya and Tanaka?" Daichi winced, unable to meet Narita's eyes. Narita was the only second-year left. Everyone else was gone. "How?"

"Joji shot them," Yachi answered, tears in her own eyes.

"You.. should have... run," Yamaguchi whispered between breaths.

"Why hasn't he changed yet?" Yachi wanted Yamaguchi to survive but this just seemed cruel.

Narita shook his head. "Those ladies said something about natural resistance." Narita sighed, this was so messed up. "Let's just hope Kiyoko or Tsukishima can save us before we turn as well."

"You don't think they infect us on purpose," Yachi asked with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to die. None of them did.

Asahi shuffled, pulling Yachi close as they cried into each other. Sugawara clung onto Daichi who wrapped his arms around Sugawara and Narita. They should have run.

Kiyoko sighed in relief, collapsing into the seat. The surgery was successful, the wound was stitched up and Akakana was sleeping peacefully. The second Kiyoko gave the all-clear, Misaki ran to the corner and threw up her lunch. Kiyoko was a little surprised she was able to hold it that long, Kiyoko was impressed.

Once Misaki had cleared herself up and swirled out the bad taste, she pulled up a chair to look at her wife. "She's beautiful," Misaki whispered to herself, an adoring look on her face. "My rose, even more beautiful than the flowers she used to bring me. More amazing than the purest waterfall off the tallest cliff. More important than anything else in this world. Thank you, Kiyoko. I don't think I could have lived without my rose."

Kiyoko felt a beam of pride from Misaki's words. Her lessons in emergency surgery only went so far and if the blades had pierced any major blood vessel or organ, she wouldn't have known what to do. It's a good thing Nishinoya is failing biology or he might have aimed a bit better. She still didn't know why Nishinoya attacked Misaki and Akakana and now that they were safe, she was going to find out.

"I'll be back soon," she promised Misaki who murmured an acknowledgement but didn't really hear the statement.

Kiyoko went to open the door but froze when she heard something.

"Take them to the lab. Grab the girl when she is done." Kiyoko knew the voice instantly. Joji was outside.

She opened the door enough to see the guards drag Yachi, Daichi, Sugawara and Asahi away. Asahi was screaming, the limp body of his love being pulled from his arms and tossed to the floor like a rag doll.

"Don't leave the bodies, you idiots! Pick them up and take them to the waste disposal. And get someone to mop up the blood," Joji ordered disapprovingly. Joji sighed, rubbing his forehead in aggravation. "I swear I'm surrounded by morons." Joji leaned over, his eyes catching a glimmer of light. "Oh, are you done, Kiyoko?"

Kiyoko swiftly shut the door, locking it and pushing a table behind it. It wouldn't last long but she couldn't let him in. He will take her as well. Her eyes caught the air vents. It was a tight fit for Noya and Yachi, it will be even tighter for her but it was the only way out. Dragging a chair over to the vent, she worked on removing the bolts. It was a good thing that it wasn't one of the redone labs because all those vents had been sealed off to ensure the virus wouldn't get out.

Kiyoko could hear Joji rattling the door handle, trying to get in.

"Kiyoko? Misaki? Do you need a hand? I am very adept at surgery," Joji offered but Kiyoko heard through it. He was just trying to get in. She easily got the vent off and put in on the table, pulling herself up. She was about to leave when she caught sight of Misaki and Akakana. Did they know? Were they evil too?

"My rose," Misaki whispered, kissing Akakana's hand.

No. They weren't. Looking around, Kiyoko grabbed a pillow, tying it around Akakana's head.

"What are you doing?" Misaki seemed to snap out of her little world, grabbing onto Kiyoko's wrist.

"We need to go. Your boss just killed two of my friends. I think he's coming for me," Kiyoko explained quickly, wrapping a rope under Akakana's arms and around her chest.

Misaki gasped, jumping when Joji banged on the door. He was breaking it down.

"Get into the vent," Kiyoko ordered.

Misaki was frozen in place. She couldn't fight Joji but she couldn't let Kiyoko get caught. That girl saved her wife, she had to repay her. "No." Misaki took the pillow off returning to her place. "I'll distract them. Go."

Kiyoko watched in slight horror as Misaki took her wife's hand. Her whole body was shaking, she was scared. "Come with me, I can save both of you," Kiyoko promised.

Misaki only smiled. "You already have. Now go. Even if you could my rose in there, we will both slow you down. Save your friends. Don't live with regret like we do."

Kiyoko felt the water falling from her eyes but she ignored it. She jumped up on the chair and slid into the vent, struggling in the tight space but able to manage. Kiyoko heard the door burst open as she turned the first corner.

"Where is she?!" Joji grabbed Misaki, lifting her up from the ground.

"I-I don't know. I thought she was still here," Misaki lied but everyone knew it.

Joji growled, throwing her into the corner. He walked towards the vent, glaring at it when something caught his eye. A lotus flower. "You are traitors. Do you know what we do with traitors? Congratulations, Misaki, Akakana, you'll be seeing your 'little lotus' earlier than expected! Kill them."

Joji walked away, not even flinching from the gunshots that killed his so-called-friends.