Godead

LXV

Suddenly, Abby froze in place, remembering all that had gone down earlier. Her eyes grew wide, fists clenched as she gritted her teeth with rage. As her anger swelled, she paused, rubbing the spot the bullet had struck her skull. It was now completely healed, and she couldn't even detect where it had gone in. She slowly shook her head. She didn't know what she was more shocked at: the fact that Claude had shot her, or the fact she'd survived a gunshot wound to the head unscathed.

Abby then looked over, noticing the small bullet that was once lodged in her skull. She reached for it, picking it up before staring it down. Her eyes were cold and stoic, a cruel, wicked grin soon entering her face.

"...Claude. You naughty, naughty boy," she said quietly. "How could you shoot me, when all I had was love in my heart for you...? How could you kill me, when all I wanted was a life together with you? I had no idea you were this cruel. I thought you were sweet, but I guess I was wrong. I may have once felt for you, but that torrid love affair ends here. Now, you're just another maggot. A maggot that must be crushed!" Abby fiercely smirked, brushing herself off before shooting to her feet moments later. Suddenly, she spread her wings, taking off before bursting through the ceiling and flying away.

Back in Berkfield, Claude and the others drove back to town, looking around for signs of Reuben, Elsa, or Debra. As they entered main street, they stopped, spotting Reuben butt naked walking down the road. They parked and got out, heading over as the boy shyly covered up.

"Reuben!" Claude said in surprise. "What happened? Where's your clothes?"

"It was Debra. She apparently found Elsa as a zombie and was using her as some kind of pet. I killed Elsa, and then Debra attacked me. We fought, and I managed to scare her off with a huge attack that ripped my clothes up," Reuben explained, blushing. He then looked around. "...Wait. Weren't there more of you earlier?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, Hannah and Jake were killed, and...," Claude said, briefly pausing. "...I had to kill Abby." Reuben looked to him in surprise.

"You... killed her?" he asked.

"Yes," Claude replied somberly. Reuben blinked.

"...Are you sure?" he asked.

"Positive," Caroline replied. "Claude shot her in the head. I saw her go down myself." As she spoke, her father slowly stepped forward, eyeing the curious horn on Reuben's head.

"...Incredible!" Doctor Reed said, pushing his glasses up as he inspected the boy's scalp. "I've never seen anything like this! You must be one of the young vectors!" Suddenly, Reuben paused.

"...Vectors?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes. A person infected with the Vector Virus who's gone through transformation. What a wonder!" Reed said, looking the boy over in amazement. As Reuben gave a nervous expression, Claude stepped forward.

"That's enough," he said. "Reuben's not a vector, nor is he some kind of science experiment that needs to be gaped and gawked at. He's human, and a valuable friend of ours." As Claude smiled at him, Reuben froze, blushing as Claude ruffled the young man's hair.

"Yes. You're right, of course. Forgive me, Reuben. That was quite rude of me to say," Reed said. Reuben briefly paused.

"...It's okay," he replied warily. "...This transformation. Do you know anything else about it?"

"Yes," Reed said. "I can't say for certain, but going by my research, I believe those infected with the virus can be divided into two categories: affected and unaffected."

"What do you mean?" Claude asked.

"You see, every one of us is infected with the virus on some level. In we, the AB-negatives, its effects go unseen, and are largely inconsequential. We are the 'unaffected'. In children, however, it's far different. Children seem to go through three different stages of the virus: the incubation stage, the juvenile stage, and the maturation stage," Reed explained. "I believe young Reuben here is in the juvenile stage, and can be classified as 'affected'." Just then, Reuben's eyes grew wide.

"You mean...?!" the boy asked nervously.

"Yes," Reed replied. "I believe you have yet to undergo a final transformation."

"So children transform twice?" Caroline asked.

"Precisely," Reed said. "The first change appears to happen rather quickly. The second change, however, is more of a mystery, and I'm afraid with my limited resources at the lab, I was unable to study it adequately." Reuben looked on in fright, a lump forming in his throat as the boy suddenly went pale. Claude sighed, putting a hand on Reuben's shoulder.

"Geez. Way to scare the sh*t out of the boy, doc," he said curtly. "Don't worry, Reuben. You'll be alright. We won't let anything happen to you." Reuben tensely looked up at Claude.

"...Really?" he asked meekly.

"Really," Claude replied with a firm smile.

As Reed scratched his head, Caroline looked to Claude, smiling at his kind treatment of Reuben. Though Claude seemed distant after killing Abby, it appeared he still had that underlying kindness about him, a trait Caroline found most attractive. Though Claude was well over ten years younger than her, Caroline was only human, and couldn't help but feel something for the boy.

Just then, a sleek sports car fast approached from the distance, the four looking on as the bright blue Porsche sped toward them. As it drew near, it stopped, parking on the side of the road in front of them. Claude and the others watched as a tall, lanky man exited the vehicle, giving a dry smirk as he readjusted his small, rectangular glasses.

"Pardon me," Doctor Flood said. "But I've come to your lovely state in search of a certain pair of individuals. I wonder if you wouldn't help me locate them...?"