Ruby Glass

Chapter 6

The office was well lit and the desk in front of us was well organized with research and lab equipment. On the left of me were pencils, pens, and other varieties of office supplies. Then on the right towards the door stood Grey leaning against the wall, looking away and seeming to be deep in thought. The beast seemed distraught and plotting something in his mind. What he said earlier echoed in my head. My mind was loud and I felt trapped in my own world of paranoia.

The door suddenly opened which startled both of us and the strange man-beast walked in and took his seat at his desk staring at us from across the table. I usually can be strong facing a creature no matter the fear within me, but for some reason my instinct was to cower in fear and to not even attempt to be a hero. I stayed silent and held my head down low. "So, Grey tells me you are an ex-veteran" the man said with his booming voice "Why did you leave?"

I couldn't get myself to speak, I didn't know why this man was so scary to me. The beast, Grey seemed to really respect this man and if an Infected was afraid of him then what chance does a human like me have?

"Speak boy" the man snapped
"Yes sir" I said still not making eye contact "I was let go, for violating the code"
"What code?"
"To never approach an infected unless tasked by your superior" I said gulping
"Hm" he said as he looked at me with curiosity "Why did you break the code?"
I couldn't say anything because I could feel this man's eyes burning into my scalp. But I took a deep breath and let myself speak.
"I wanted to see my father"

He went silent and I feel my lip quiver, as a hand goes over mine and I look to Axel who isn't making eye contact with me but was still making an effort to let me know their presence. I relax myself and let my fears simmer down. I give myself enough courage to look the man in the eye for just a split second.
"With all do respect sir, I don't know who you are and yet you ask me all these personal questions after stabbing me with a needle, and I don't even know if you are a man or a monster. Why are you the one asking the questions?"
"Why are you trusting me with your answers?" He replied
"I'm going to die anyways"
"What makes you say that?"
"Because that thing has it in for me" I growled looking over at the beast in the corner
"GREY...will not touch you. He has no intention to harm either of you. And neither do I"

I looked at the two men in confusion as they glanced at each other.

"My name is Doctor Richard Alphie, but I'm known here as Alpha" the strange man said "Grey and I may have seemed threatening but we have both been cured as well as the others within this building"
"How many others are there?" I asked
"There are fifty three of us within this building and the numbers add up everyday"
"You have been in secret doing all this for years and you only have fifty three of you?" Axel asked in shock
"I didn't count the dead ones" Alpha said with his head down low as the beast in the corner sighed "We have lost many people because they had gone mad after witnessing so much. Or because they lose the will to live. Many of them after going through the procedure and gain full consciousness, remember the horrific things they had done during their transformation and small snips of memories during their time as an Infected. The pain of that can be unbearable"

My mind completely went blank, as I felt a huge knot in my stomach. The thought that these people who get infected, having moments of complete consciousness where they watch themselves do these horrible things made me feel sick. I couldn't imagine what that must feel like. I look to Grey an I see that he has left the room. "So what are your other questions?" Alpha asked with a slight smile on his face.

I was even more hesitant now, as I felt my brain become clouded with all sorts of emotions that I could not recognize. I didn't know what to think or feel I'm that moment. It was as if my brain was being re-wired in a way that I was ill-familiar.

"Sir" Axel suddenly said which startled me "These people you are curing, they are still monsters aren't they? They still have urges. Grey explained that earlier"
"Unfortunately yes. Although the roach is no longer within their brains controlling them, the venom still flows in their veins. As hard as that is to believe since our blood filters out parasites everyday, the venom is so incredibly potent and strong that it completely changes your genetics. Hence the physical changes we see in an infected"

"But the roach attacks the neurons in your brain don't they? That's why the people go mad" I asked
"Yes after the roach has completely burrowed itself into the brain and done the other steps needed to take control. The parasite attacks your body and your genes first by inflicting venom into your bloodstream which creates a very painful transformation. Then it makes a burrow in your brain where it can nest itself and once it's fully comfortable, it starts attacking the neurons of your brain. Which means it takes time before your brain is reconstructed"

"So what does that make your group? What makes you cured if you are clearly not human?" Axel asked
"I have almost perfected the use of lobotomy to take out the roach and completely cure my patients but it still has its flaws. It pains me to see them still suffer even after the roach has been removed" Alpha said as he looked at his hands in sorrow "I just hope this is all resolved soon. I can't bear to watch these innocent people give up or succumb to their deep depression or psychosis. Lobotomy is a dangerous procedure but it seems to be the only way to kill the roach so far. I've tried vaccinations, drugs, and so many other things and they all were a failure. This procedure seems to work the best but still it's not ideal"
"What about the remaining venom?" I asked in curiosity
"I have been doing blood transfusions with some patients which have seemed to help. But my blood doesn't work with everyone so we can only do so much"
"You have been donating your own blood to these people to help them?"
"Yes I have. I've been very weak because of it as well. Which is why I formed a small group of my strongest and most successful patients to be our protectors and to be in charge of getting more infected people that can possibly be cured and relieving those who have no chance" Alpha said rolling up his sleeve showing a bandage wrapped around his arm "I am too weak to do it on my own. So Grey and his pack have done us a great service"

I looked over at Axel and their expression drastically changed. I felt myself brewing with even more curiosity. Axel nodded to me and I looked at Alpha in the eye and said "Show us"