The Horror Saga - Infection

Chapter 7

Alex paces around the lab, her hands tucked firmly behind her back. Positive and Negative sit with Plague in the corner, trying to calm his breaths and ease the steady flow of blood coming from his arm.

In a flash of sound, Rainbow Steve falls through the end portal, followed by Void and Nightmare. Alex turns toward the three, and after a short moment, Sabre appears as well, landing more steady than the Steves.

"Took you long enough," Alex spits at Sabre, who shakes his head.

"They caused a lot of hassle," he snaps back, before turning to Void. "Now, how do we get out of here?"

Void glares at Sabre, before hesitantly stalking toward the first portal; made from obsidian and encasing the familiar Nether purple glow. With a touch, the portal turns off, and behind stands a dark oak door.

"Behind is a strong stream of water that will push upward, and then a thin stream that leads into a pond." Void informs, turning back to Sabre.

"Then we'll use it," he turns to Alex, instructing her to go up first. She does, and Sabre turns to the other Steves. "Positive and Negative, you two up next. Void, go with Plague, and Nightmare with Rainbow. Now."

The Steves follow instruction, holding hands and their breath as they step through the door and allow the water to push them up. It proves difficult to swim through the shallow and narrow part of the exit, mostly for Void who tries everything to carry Plague.

Alex waits impatiently for the Steves and Sabre to surface, before instructing Sabre to lead the way back to the Town.

He does, leading them all through the expanse of oak trees. His nose gets a whiff of something on the verge of rotting and before he can re-route, Galaxy's headless remains are in sight. Void almost gags and looks away, everyone else either doing the same or covering their nose. Alex is the only one seemingly unfazed.

"Would you like to finish that off?" She questions to Sabre, who continues in his track.

"No," he replies. "His body's been there too long, it'd be a waste of energy. Besides, Rainbow's is more powerful anyway."

At these words, Rainbow Steve cringes, and Nightmare wraps his arm around the younger Steve protectively. The group continue through the forest, marking the location of Void's hut and continuing at a slightly faster pace.

Once they enter the Rainbow Town, Steves give wavering looks, of first welcoming then fearful glances. It's a straight path to the Rainbow House, at which in front of the door Sabre stops.

"Rainbow. Up." He instructs, at which point Nightmare and Void step forward.

"We can't let you do this, Sabre," Nightmare states. "Take us, take me, but not Rainbow."

"Step aside, Nightmare," Alex spits, pushing through him and Void and grabbing Rainbow roughly by the arm. Nightmare and Void try to stop her, but Alex's strength is unmatched by them. Rainbow cries out in terror as he is violently tugged through the doorway, and Alex uses her powers to hold screaming Nightmare and Void outside as Sabre follows the pair in.

Rainbow gives up on fighting as he gets to the second storey, and turns to letting flows of tears fall down his face.

"Alex, wait out here," Sabre instructs, and she nods. "Shouldn't take too long."

"Sabre, Sabre please!" Rainbow begs as he pushes the Steve toward the end room. "Don't do this!"

"You know the drill," Sabre says into Rainbow's ear, as he opens the door. "Don't run, don't scream."

The door slams, and Alex is left alone in the hallway. She releases her energy holding Nightmare and Void, although expects them to know better than to come running up. It's too late for them anyway.

She eases herself against the wall, crossing her arms and closing her eyes. She smiles when Rainbow's scream echoes through the house, almost letting out a laugh.

"What did I say about screaming?" Sabre's muffled voice growls, and Alex hears a bunch of shuffling. She briefly wonders what is happening, however when she hears a pound of lightning connect through the ceiling, she chuckles.

She should have faith in Sabre. Although he's stupidly dressed, and has named several chickens after himself, he's quite intelligent. He knows what he's doing.

After a moment, Alex hears more shuffling, before what sounds like someone falling over.

"Sabre? What's going on in there?" She questions, pushing off the wall and stalking toward the door. She reaches for the doorknob, however it opens for her.

Sabre barely stands holding the door, fresh blood covering his lips, chin and part of his onesie. His covered eyes show a pain that Alex doesn't recognise, however she does recognise his weakened state.

"What the hell happened to you?" She questions, trying to push the door open further.

"Did you... mess with the machine?" Sabre mumbles, glaring.

"Why would I mess with it?" Alex now forces into the room, seeing the machine turned off and no body within it. The scent of fresh blood and Rainbow's energy scatters the room, however his full body appears nowhere in sight.

"Why would you?" Sabre pushes himself up, however struggles to stay on his feet. "I used it as normal, but after a moment he just vanished, and I feel like I've eaten some kind of rotten flesh."

Alex looks from Sabre to the machine, before inspecting it. She checks all the wiring and the construction of it, not noticing anything different about it, nor how it would affect Sabre differently.

"So? What did you do with it?" Alex looks shocked at him, at the fact that he was accusing her of foul play.

"I did nothing to mess with the machine!" She snaps. "I've been with you this whole time, how could I possibly have done anything?!" She turns back to the machine, stepping near the pistons where Rainbow should be locked into place. As she does, a voice calls.

"Now, Lucas!"