Distopian Recreation

Chapter 7

I woke up to a fluster of bright lights in the room , getting to my knees u felt the burning sensation in my chest , every breathe drawn and exhaled heralding a testament to the unparalleled pain living inside my chamber.  I looked around the room , all was white. The floor , the ceiling , the walls. I attempted getting to my feet. Taking a faltering walk over and taking a view of what I was placed in. It looked exactly like a laboratory. Just as I managed to walk at a much faster pace I walked straight into glass and staggered back a few steps. Holding my nose , while simultaneously contemplating on what I had walked right into.

The white glow of my eyes faded , allowing me to see the glass walls that had enclosed me into a refined area. So this was the plexiglass cell which Astrid was so keen in putting me into. It was impressive indeed.
Taking a look around I saw that this cage was fairly large enough for me to get a days worth of activities done in , the faint sound of breezes escaped from the edges of the wall , tubes filtered the air inside this place so I'd have clean air to inhale. Whoever designed this was clearly in need of proper recognition for his craftmenship. It was just.

Despite me constantly praising this cell , I needed to get out but I can't. My chest was still healing and in too much pain to exert too much force. I was also trapped in plexiglass meaning that it needed an extreme amount of force to break out of , that I didn't have at this exact moment.  The real question was why Astrid , Ethan and Brandon hadn't ended me yet ? I was infected after all ! and why was is my chest in such pain. It's as if I was punched in the chest to near death.

I shook away my self conscious thoughts as I look around and examined all.the lab equipment in the room. Looking behind the microscope I saw a man lying down on what looked like to be a hospital bed. Squinting my eyes I then recognised who it was. Brandon , why was he on lying with a bandage over his right hand. Then realisation struck me just like thinder struck trees.

All the memories of my attempt to escape yesterday came flashing at me like a flood from the ocean. I sank to the ground realising hoe much pain and trouble I caused him. Touching my chest I felt the pain disipate. It was healing at an adnormal pace , it was almost too astonishing to believe was true.

My shock was taken away by a set of footsteps coming from outside the room , my eyes scanning the room found an access door madeof shining metal on the other end of the room. The doors swung open slot as Astrid , Ethan and two other young fellows entered the room with clipboards and labcoats on. The two men who had came with Astrid and Ethan then attended to various machines while they attended to Brandon , who was coincidentally beginning to wake up.

I tried looking away but I couldn't , I stared at Brandon. His brown eyes glaring at the two , a smile adourned his face as if nothing had happened to him. Although whenever he attempted moving his hand the smile faltered and faded for a few seconds before returning. With a pat on the shoulder he got up and they began walking over to what seemed to be a meeting table as they all say down - the other two men included - and they began looking at some papers, which my brain had already assumed was some test results from yours truly.

I grabbed my chest again and noticed that the pain was gone and my energy returned. I quickly rose to my feet and took a couple of steps back. With a full sprint I ran towards the glass barrier holding me in its clear grasp. I collided head on with the glass but I didn't flater , crack not shake. Instead it sent me flying backwards in a second and I ended up hitting the back of the cell just as painfully as I had attempted to break it.

The group's eyes jerked up faster than a deer's did when it got a hunching suspicion that something was afoot. They all left whatever papers they were trying to converse about and walked over to the cage. Just as I had finally managed to gather my wits again , ten eyes hazed at me from the other side of the glass with intrigued looks.

" Raiden , your awake. How is your chest feeling today ? " Astrid asked with a raise of an eyebrow as he took some notes.

" Feeling normal " the words escaped from my mouth. It felt wierd. Those were the first words I had uttered ever since I turned into whatever behemoth of an infected person I was.

" Fascinating how you healed so quickly , Brandon had smashed your entire rib cage in a few successive punches. You should've taken at least a month for any noticable healing to have taken place , that's if you were to have survived " he said not looking at me with any interest. Where had this version of Astrid come from ? He had never treated me like this. In his entire life

I  stilled and didn't give any further response. Astrid tool it as a signal  for that to be the end of the discussion. He took off and the rest followed. Accept for Brandon who stood where he was looking into me with cold emotionless eyes. I couldn't meet his gaze and looked away. I heard the metal twist of a door handle and a squeel. I hadn't noticed the door. He came and stood directly above me. Towering like a Sentinel over my small inferior figure.

He leaned forward and got to his knees. I closed my eyes expecting another trashing but instead I felt his arms cover me. His chest against my head. He was warm , and gentle. Is this how his soft side was ? I questioned myself absently. He let go of me soon and gave me a pat on my head with his good hand.

" I know you weren't in the exactly sane part yesterday , and I don't blame you for it at all. I just want you to know that I'll always protect you regardless of the problem , and if I can't I would've let you down okay? " He said so in a light voice and stood up.

All I could do was nod , he took that as a yes and went out of the cell , locking the door behind him. I curled into a ball and covered my face with my hoodie. Tears welled up in my eyes and ofelt my body temperature increase. Soon I let sleep take over me once more.

......

I looked forward and saw all but an abyss of darkness. I walked into it regardless of what I was to encounter . I spent hours walking and walking until I reached a mirror. Inside I saw myself but I was different. Glowing red eyes , red hair. Dark purple skin and I was all but a shadow figure. I looked into my reflections eyes and it faltered. It his away in tge mirror and when I tried touching the mirror it appeared once more.

A puzzled expression adourned it's face and gave me a wry smile of concern yet happiness.  I guess this was conscious self. What made me do all those things. This is what I was. I delicately attempted to speak to it , trying to make my voice smooth and gentle so I wouldnt scare if as much as I used to.

" Hey , In Raiden what's your name ? " I asked politely and curtly making sure I didn't fluster it or make my voice sound harsh and rash.

" My name is Raiden too......... I'm you " he said slowly , scared and unsteadily. It's eyes turned yellow then red again.

" Uhm what are we " I asked , trying to not enterogate me and get some answers simultaneously.

" You are your soul , your true self. I am the virus. The body of you. Everyone infected by the virus has a me version in them , but it didn't happily bond with the persons inner self and took over " he said softly and looked down sadly.

" Why didn't we lose our sanity " I asked pleadingly with an unsure gaze.

" You faught and didn't want to let go of yourself , meaning you kept intact. This means you won't be able to use me fully to your advantage though. " he said shyly his voice sounding more and more saddening then the previous sentence.

" If I allow you to be me , what will happen ?" I asked , fear lacing my voice  suddenly.

" You will remain sane , but with the abilities of those who have lost theirs , but I you will keep your born abilities and they'll be amplified along with ten abilities I give you " he said with hope glimmering in his eyes.

" I agree " I said accepting myself fully.

I reached into the mirror and he did so too , our hands connected and the  mirror disappeared. Infront of me stood my virus version. Our bodies soon coincided and joined into one. I was him and he was me. We were all a single living soul.