Godead

XIII

The three paused, warily looking on in tense silence. After several moments, Blair quietly stepped forward.

"...I'll volunteer. Shoot me. Just let Misty go," she said bravely.

"Ah! The noble civil servant steps up, huh?" Abby said. As she pointed her rifle at her, Claude approached.

"...No," he said, soon stepping forth. "...Shoot me. You can protect the others, Blair, and Doctor Jenkins can tend to their injuries. I'm the most useless of all of us. Go ahead, Abby. Kill me," he said firmly. As Blair weakly turned to him, Abby smirked.

"...Impressive! You're mighty brave there, handsome! Alright, then. It's settled. Claude will be the sacrifice!" Abby said, swiftly pointing her rifle at him.

As she was just about to shoot, she grinned, suddenly switching targets as she pointed her weapon at Ralph, opening fire before riddling him full of holes. He yelled, falling to the ground in a pool of his own blood as the others watched in fright.

"Ha, ha, ha! Die, spineless bastard!" Abby exclaimed. Blair slowly turned to her.

"...Wh... Why did you do that?" she asked nervously.

"Isn't it obvious? He was the only one who didn't offer himself! I have no patience for cowards!" Abby explained. She then sighed. "...Still. I'm a girl of my word. Here. Take the damn brat...," she said, shoving Misty forward as she quickly ran to Claude, hiding behind him as Claude watched in surprise.

"...Abby... thank you for letting her go, but... you didn't have to kill Lucy and Doctor Jenkins, you know. You have strange ideas of what a game is...," he said warily. Abby smiled.

"Thanks for the compliment!" she replied. Claude then looked her over.

"...What happened to you, anyway?" he asked. Abby tilted her head.

"What do ya mean?" she replied.

"I mean, did you live around here before things went crazy? What happened to your family and friends?" Claude asked.

Suddenly, Abby fell silent.

"...I...," she said, slowly looking to the ground. "...I... don't remember...!" she said worriedly, soon looking to Claude and the others. "...Why can't I remember...!?" she asked with a delicate expression.

"Abby...," Blair said quietly.

"...It seems your body has gone through some sort of change," Claude said. "More like a transformation. We don't know exactly what's going on, but from what the news said, it sounds like some kind of virus is going around, and it's apparently a global pandemic. It seems to change adults into mindless drones and kids into something much different. We saw your speed and how strong you are. It almost appears to increase your strength while decreasing the strength of adults," Claude said. Abby blinked.

"...Yeah, but... why aren't you guys affected?" she asked.

"...Good question. Your guess is as good as ours, but whatever it is, it seems contagious. Several people we've come across turned into zombies shortly after coming in contact with one," Blair said, warily looking to Abby. "Were you... bitten or scratched by any of them?"

Abby stood in silence, slowly shaking her head.

"I... don't know. I can't remember a thing. It's like my mind's a fog...," she replied, worriedly looking herself over. "...I don't have any scratches or anything, though."

"Well that's good, at least. Maybe the virus carries some other way, though. Maybe it's airborne," Claude said. Misty tilted her head.

"What's air-born?" she asked cutely.

"You know, like maybe it spreads through the air or something. Like spores," Claude said.

"...Yeah, but again... if that's the case, why are you three unaffected?" Abby asked.

Claude paused, slowly shaking his head.

"...I don't know," he replied worriedly.

Just then, thunder rolled in from a distance as a slow rain started to fall.

"...Damn. This rain'll ruin my dress. Let's get inside!" Abby said, hurrying into the hospital as the others followed her lead. They weren't sure if they should, but by now knew Abby's strength, and hardly wanted to provoke her.

The four entered the hospital, stepping over chairs and debris as they approached the waiting room, Abby taking a seat as the others did the same. As they sat in the quiet darkness, moans echoed out from the corridors.

"...Ah, shaddap!" Abby yelled, the zombies apparently listening as their moans died down.

"Sounds like there's still some left in here," Claude said.

"Yeah. It's hard to get 'em all. Don't worry though, handsome. Any of them creeps lay a hand on you and I'll knock their heads off and boot it out the window!" Abby said. Claude slightly smiled.

"...Well thank you, Abby. I'm flattered we're friends all of a sudden," he said carefully.

"Well we are. I don't know about these two, though," Abby replied, shooting a look to Blair and Misty.

"They're cool. Misty's a nice girl, and she and I'd be dead by now if it wasn't for Blair," Claude said. Abby raised a brow.

"...Oh, yeah? Well if you helped keep Claude safe, I guess you're alright. But you! Brat! Quit hangin' onto him like that!" she exclaimed, flinging Misty's hand off Claude's pant leg.

"Abby!" Claude said, Misty recoiling in fright.

"What?"

"Take it easy, will you? She's just a kid," Claude replied.

As Abby noticed the scared look on Misty's face, she paused, soon closing her eyes before sighing. She then leaned back, looking to them with a dry expression.

"...What? And I'm not?" she asked bluntly. The others all paused, suddenly looking over to her. "You think I'm not scared, too? You think I don't wonder why my skin's gone pale? Or why I've become so strong and fast all of a sudden? Why I'm overcome with this crazy urge to kill and maim everything in sight...!? What about me, huh!? Where's my damn leg to cling to!?" she asked, lightly trembling as she clenched her fists.

"Abby...," Blair said gently.

Abby sat in silence, rubbing her temple as she weakly stared at her hand.

"...I've killed so many by now. So many... so easily. They snap like twigs in my hands," she said, slowly shaking her head. "...Why? Why am I doing such things...?" she asked, voice shaking.

"It's probably the virus. It may effect not just your physical condition, but your mental one, as well," Blair said.

Suddenly, Abby's eyes went wide.

"...What? Like I'm some sort of psycho or something!?" she asked, getting madder by the second.

"No, Abby," Claude said gently. "What Blair said may not be true, but whatever's happening, please... you must fight the urge to kill," he said.

Abby frowned, weakly turning away.

"...I can't! Even now, I see all of you sitting there, and I just want to skin you alive! I want to tear you to shreds, and can't even explain why!" she said, voice full of emotion. Claude frowned, slowly heading over to her.

"Abby... I'm sorry you're filled with such feelings. But the truth is, you can fight them. Even now, you're doing it!" he explained. Abby blinked, slowly turning to him.

"Claude...," she said shyly.

"Don't worry, Abby. Everything will be fine. Just please... promise us you'll fight those violent impulses of yours?" Claude asked with a light smile.

Abby paused, slowly smiling back.

"...Alright, Claude. I promise."