The 0714 Files: File #1 Inferno (Remake 2)

Chapter 25

I didn't even consider the fact he could be a hallucination, or worse, a zombie, when I ran to his side.

A guttural moan was emitted at the sound of me walking up the ramp, a sound signifying his pain. I think I hear Leon say something behind me, but in my gawking. I didn't take in a thing he said, my heart completely lodged in my throat.

With a hand on his left side and his focus gazing upward as he lies on his back on the leather couch. He begs, "Claire, I told you to—"

I flee to Marvin's side when the injured man stops to draw in a raspy breath. His face grimaces like just that alone caused him unimaginable pain. I kneel beside Marvin, all rational thought leaving my mind as I wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. Burying my face into his chest I whimper his name, "Marvin."

The tension in his shoulders only a second ago loosens at the trembling sound of my voice. I feel him shift, and his free hand brushes my side in a way I know he's going to hug me back. As soon as the thought forms though, his arm crumbles to the couch in a useless heap. He's too weak to lift it any higher.

"Madeleine..." he uses my real name; it seems all of them picked it up after I told them the truth. "You're still here? I thought you might've left for real," he resorts to speaking. Tone sympathetic and mournful at his inability to hug me back.

Footsteps scurry, scuffing against the dirty floor as I pull away from the wounded man to take in the fading color in his dark complexion as he barely manages to sit up in his seat.

"Madeleine!" Leon shouts, I look at him in astonishment at how scared he sounds. He runs to us, "What's—" he trails off at the sight of Marvin. Hands covered in blood, now limp by his sides, the stomach bandage I'd seen him wearing in my hallucination yesterday now lies on the floor beside his left leg, seeping a small puddle of coagulated blood. Dark speckles line his short sleeve, even the badge he used to routinely clean off is dirty.

His abdomen though... His intestines are visible, quivering with each shaking breath he inhales. Irritated skin puckers up around the gray and red matter of his intestines and stomach. Rivulets of dried blood cling to his dark skin; Marvin takes in a deep breath, face scrunching up in an expression of unimaginable pain.

If I weren't so overjoyed to find him awake and cognizant, I'd be nauseated at the grotesque sight of his abdomen's perforation. Parts of my brain fight with each other, wanting to know what caused that wound, but being too afraid to ask despite already knowing what caused it.

"Lieutenant?" Leon breaks the silence. Holstering his handgun and coming over to kneel on the other side of Marvin by the weeping bandage.

He says nothing in response at first, "I thought you were told not come in?" The seriousness on both men's faces tells me the words were not to be taken lightheartedly. His brows twist together and he frowns, "I guess it doesn't matter anymore since you're already here," he stops to glance my way, guilt in his eyes.

"Can you move?" Leon asks, patiently waiting with bated breath for something bad.

Marvin shakes his head. "No, I can't. And don't try to help me either."

My brain doesn't want to accept what caused that bite. Leaving the side clinging to any shred of hope that he'd let us help him, deflating when he refuses. There's a scoff to my left and the other man shakes his head next, "I don't understand. What's going on? What happened to this city?" Leon demands. I don't have to look at him to know he's stunned at Marvin's refusal for help.

The older man shuts his eyes to shake his head again, "It all happened so fast. People started getting sick all at once and then by last week they were dying by the dozens. Then all in one night, the dead began to raise. Overran us pretty easily... S.T.A.R.S. tried to warn us what was happening and who was behind it..." he stops, panting. He eyes me, and then Leon's eyes are on me next. "We wouldn't have even made it as long as we did if she hadn't told us how to handle them," he informs the rookie.