Unstoppable: Revitalized

-47-

"-A true breakthrough. His body is still alive."

"Whatever you do, do not remove those bullets. It's the only thing keeping that creature dormant."

"Yes, I know, we were briefed. I just wish we had a better place to operate, it's freezing down here."

"Just focus- Wait."

"What?"

"He just moved."

My eyes sprung open, the other half of me allowing my eyes to immediately adjust to my surroundings. The Cooler ceiling was all I could make out, those same fluorescent lights I'd gotten to know before. I raised my hands, hearing something metallic snap as I looked at them, noticing the claws I'd grown to love already adorning my hands. I flexed them, thankful to see and feel again, before swinging my feet up and jumping, a few popping sounds followed by metal clinking onto the floor. Looking down, I found myself standing upon a metal table, cold and structurally sound, with a few metal casings adorned on it. Four restraints, two for my arms and legs respectively, looked shattered, shiny shards falling just below them. Turning to my right, medical equipment stood, a few tubes hanging loose as they now flailed around, panicking about their sudden change. The biggest one was a machine, which was now screaming, a constant beep filling the air. I stretched a claw out, swiping it and silencing it, the rest of the gear catching the edges of my bladed hands as I turned to the door. Instead of finding it open, I found two people, dressed in scrubs and masks, banging against it. I didn't even speak: My lust for revenge, to release this anger I'd let build in me, was too strong. I lent back on my legs, as I'd felt my other half do before, before springing forward, landing head first on one of them, my new body tearing through his skin, flesh, and bones with ease. The other one ran to the other side, trying to make some room. He begged and pleaded, sweat dripping from his face, but he soon stopped once my maws entered his throat, his body seeming to taste better than his friend. The door was then yanked off of it's frame, thrown against the room as I flew up the stairs, breaking through the wooden trapdoors, splinters raining around me as I began to feel the air, trying to find someone.

'I have someone you have a connection with. I believe they are currently on the second floor of the main building, in the centre classroom.'

Thank you, bud.

I bounded across the concrete until I faced the front of the main building, the window I wanted in plain sight. Sprinting towards the brick wall, I stuck a claw in, using them as climbing tools to quickly scale the wall, smashing the window as I lined myself alongside it, diving in. Two people immediately spun, both unknown to me. The first one went to grab something, but his arm soon disconnected, as did his soul from his chest, cutting his head off and taking a large chunk out of his thigh with my teeth. His lifeless body was thrown against my other opponent, knocking him to the floor. By the time he had pushed the carcass off of him I had my clawed foot raised above his head. It came down incredibly hard, cracking the floor as it exploded, small chunks of gristle, bone, and flesh rolling in every direction as I checked the area, finding it clear.

Wow. Oh my god. Holy... Okay, okay. Deep breath...

'I do not need to breathe.'

No, me. I need to breathe. That- that was a- a lot. Christ.

'This room is clear of anyone threatening.'

I'd like to come out now, thank you.

'If you insist, Adam. Please, be careful.'

I will, I promise.

Once again, my feet planted themselves on the floor, the destruction I'd just caused sending wind rattling against the damaged pane, the two bodies mixing blood and stringy flesh as I headed towards the door. My hand touched it, and began to twist it, before my ears picked up something just behind me, the faintest movement, someone I hadn't caught. Thinking they had the same capability Callum had, I instinctively dove to the right, kicking a table over to use as cover. A bullet soon ripped through it, embedding itself in the wall. I kept still, my body still full of adrenaline as I pushed the bottom of it, constantly moving myself as I continued to approach my target, more and more holes appearing in my cover.

I'm running out of space here.

Sensing I was close enough, and noticing how the table looked more like swiss cheese than cover, I dove out, seeing my target and knocking them to the floor. I instinctively slammed their head into the ground, grabbing their gun and aiming it at them as I stood, my hands shaky and my breath ragged. In the same moment, my body seemed to dump the adrenaline, fatigue taking over as my bones sagged. My vision slightly blurred, but my alien side came in to help, as it quickly refocused, allowing me to see who was in my sights:

Charlotte.

She was still dazed, laying on her back, her arms curled around her as she took deep breaths, her hair covering her eyes.

"You... Stupid... Fucking... Idiot..." She managed to fight through her head injury, barely able to speak as I took a step back, more confused than anything.

"What the fuck are you doing? I came here to-" I stopped halfway, the penny dropping as Charlotte swept the hair from her face, using a nearby desk to help her stand, a bittersweet smile on her face.

"You finally... Figured it out... Ow-" She had one had desperately dug into the wooden frame, the other one holding her head tenderly. A single streak of blood ran down it, dripping from her elbow onto the floor. "Took- took you long enough. I thought for sure you- you'd catch- catch on sooner."

"You- you're with him? " I kept the gun raised, that same anger I felt re-igniting in me as I felt my hands shake with rage build again. She laughed weakly, the gentle trickle turning into a steady stream.

"You weren't supposed to- to wake up. For fuck- this hurts, Adam... Do you know how much you were worth? How much he paid both me and Callum? We were gonna get out of here. Escape from- from all this. S-Someone heard this. They-they'll be up- up here in a minute. Just put the gun down. Just- just- just, please..." 

"Where's Poppy?" My voice held firm as I took a quick look behind me, knowing that part of her words would be true. She hesitated before answering, her conscience betraying her

"S-she- she didn't want to join us. She's with The Boss. I don't know where that is."

I lowered my gun to her leg, and fired, the shot sliding through the skin and back out, causing Charlotte to scream as she fell. I gave her a few seconds, letting her feel how I'd felt, before asking her again:

"Where's Poppy, Charlotte?"

She didn't look at me, or move her lips, so I shot again, this time in her stomach, a slow stream of crimson dying her shirt.

"I've got more of these Charlotte. And if I run out, I'll let him out. And I know he'd just love to eat you whole. Now..." I approached her as she had both of her arms covering her new bullet hole, her eyes fluttering as her breath began to rattle.

"Where is she?"