Godead

LXI

"There's no way that was Misty...," Claude said, disturbed by the thought of the bloody little girl being her.

"Sure. Just keep telling yourself that, dear," Abby said, smiling as sounds of the girl scurrying through the vents echoed from above.

"You said Misty was the child Debra kidnapped before losing track of her, right?" Jake asked.

"Yes. And I've been very worried about her ever since. I just hope that little girl we saw just now wasn't her...," Claude said worriedly.

The five then continued through the facility, passing door after door as they traipsed through bodies and debris. The building was large, and had two floors which both seemed devoid of life. After passing countless doors, the five finally reached a large room.

"...This is my father's office," Caroline said nervously, a gold placard outside displaying the name 'Howard Reed'.

The five slowly opened the door, soon finding the large office in ruins. Papers were strewn everywhere as desks and filing cabinets lay upturned.

"No sign of your old man. Told ya he's already dead," Abby said snidely.

"There's no bodies in here, though. Is there anywhere else around here he could be?" Claude asked.

"...Maybe the basement," Caroline said. "It's where he spent much of his time at work, and where he performed most of his research."

"Where is it?" Hannah asked.

"At the west end of the facility. Follow me," Caroline said, leading the others out of the wrecked office.

The five continued through the corridors, passing several bodies of men in lab coats. As they headed west, the halls became increasingly dark. As they passed an open door, a zombie suddenly lunged out at them.

"Aiieee!" Hannah shrieked, stepping back as the creature groaned and slashed her.

"Heads up!" Claude exclaimed, raising his pistol before shooting the creature square in the temple. The shot lit up the darkness, blood splattering against the wall as the zombie fell to the floor.

"D—Damn! That thing came from out of nowhere!" Caroline said.

"Are you alright?!" Jake asked, looking on at the trembling Hannah. She slowly looked down, noticing a large scratch on her arm. As the others noticed it, they froze, warily looking to each other.

Back in Berkfield, Debra flew around the streets, casually humming as she barrel rolled and back flipped through the air. Just then, she paused, spotting a familiar figure wandering around in the distance. She swiftly flew near, eyes going wide as she realized who it was.

"Ah, hah! Found you at last... Elsa!" the girl said with a grin. Elsa's blank eyes slowly turned, the woman moaning as a trickle of blood dripped down her lip. Debra blinked at her, heaving a small sigh moments later. "...Great. So they got you, too, huh? Guess you're one of them, now." Elsa listlessly stared ahead, clothing torn as she gave a small groan. Debra placed her hands on her hips, slowly moving toward Elsa as she stared her down. "...Hey! Is there anybody in there?" The girl curiously looked on, staring into Elsa's blank eyes.

"Hhhhwwwwaaaaahhhhhh...," Elsa replied, slightly swaying with her arms at her sides.

"Can you hear me? Do you remember who you are?" Debra asked. Elsa briefly paused, apparently trying to think through her zombified haze. After several moments, her mouth opened.

"...Ehhhh... ssssaaa...," she replied. Debra stepped back, taken by surprise.

"...That's right! You're El-sa!" she said. "I knew you zombies had something of your humanity left in ya! How about me? Do you remember who I am?"

"Hooooo... yuuu... aaaahhh...?"

"Yes. Who-I-am. I'm Debra! Can you say Deb-ra?"

"...Dehhhhhh... brrrrahhhh..."

"Very good! Oh, how cute! I think I've got myself a new pet!" Debra said, smiling with glee as Elsa blankly swayed back and forth.

Back in North Carolina, Blair and Amanda continued driving south, Marcus and Andre tailing from close behind. As the two followed the policewoman in their red compact car, Andre turned to Marcus from the passenger seat.

"...Whatchoo think of that police shawty? She fly, ain't she?" he asked with a sly smirk.

"Hell jeah. Too bad she a cop," Marcus replied.

"Who gives a f*ck? Imma hollah at her next time we stop!"

"Psh. Nigga, please. She ain't goin' anywhere near yo raggedy ass."

"Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, fool? Ain't no woman can resist ol' Dre when he wants tah play!"

"Jes keep yo' self in check. The last thang we need is you mouthin' off and makin' enemies of a cop and that chick with wangs."

"Aww, yeah! That bitch crazy!" Andre replied. As he spoke, something crawled from under the backseat. "When I first saw her, I was all like 'what the f*ck'! She got some nice titties, though, and that pussay doin' it too, if ya know what I mean!"

"You crazy, fool."

"Hah! Hey, a chick's a chick. You done tapped stranger thangs in yo life, nigga, don' even lie!" Andre said. "I'd prolly get a hold o' them horns, and she'd be all like—" As Andre spoke, a giant bug suddenly leapt over the seat, latching onto his head and neck. As he started to scream, Marcus turned to him.

"What the f*ck?!" he exclaimed, suddenly screeching the vehicle to a halt. Andre hollered in pain, he and Marcus trying in vain to remove the giant flea bearing down on Andre's head.

Just then, Blair and Amanda noticed that Marcus and Andre's car had stopped. They looked to each other, making a U-turn before parking nearby. As they got out, Marcus jumped from his car.

"Yo! Help us out!" he shouted, Blair and Amanda hurrying over to the car. As they looked inside, the giant flea continued clawing and scratching away at Andre's head, its massive legs crushing his skull as it continued sucking blood.

"What the?!" Blair exclaimed, quickly raising her gun before taking aim. She fired a single shot, killing the massive bug as it exploded in blood.

"Andre! Andre!" Marcus yelled, leaning inside, frantically trying to revive him. It was no use, however. Andre lay motionless, skull a mangled pile of gore.

"Damn!" Marcus yelled.

"Marcus...," Blair said somberly.

"Ain't nothin' safe no more!" Marcus exclaimed.

"...At least it didn't kill both of you," Amanda said. Marcus looked to her, soon turning to Andre before shaking his head.

"...F*ck. Man, hell naw. Dre was mah boy," Marcus said somberly.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Marcus. That's not the first time we've come across giant insects, though. You should ride with us from now on," Blair said. Marcus sighed.

"...Aight," he said, the three heading back to Blair's car before taking off.