White Lies

Part 1: Chapter 3

Marco's POV:

   After training was complete, we headed back to the main room in our specific groups. The entirety of the service was split up like this for group missions. All 397 of us, with ninety-eight groups of four, and one group of five.

   I was put into a squad with Axel, and these two other girls who were roomates named Jasmine and Clarice. Jasmine was a tall girl with dark skin and long black hair that reached to her lower back. Her eyes were gorgeous; A gentle violet, yet seemed to almost have a hint of gold to them, accented by her gold septum piercing. Clarice was smaller, with short bleach blonde locks and sea foam colored eyes. Her pale skin had a few beauty marks here and there. The two were inseparable, basically attached at the hips, conjoined.

   But today wasn't those days for me. Some groups were assigned missions, while singular people or pairs were assigned solo or partnered trips. I was assigned solo, while the other three were in a group. Axel turned to me, pouting, "I don't want to be taken from you! My Marco!" He suddenly clung onto me. Goddammit. "Don't take me away from my true love!" The girls started to drag him off, "My dearest! Always remember me!" I gave him a warm smile, casually lifting my middle finger to him. That was the end of that.

   An official approached me, tapping her pen while looking for my name and order, "Ah. Marco. Yes. You are to set out to scan over the eastern side of the city". I nodded, "Yes'm".

   Our city, trapped in walls due to being infested by those horrors. Scanning an area simply meant tracking down any of them or any beings possible of having traces of the infection. Other times there are more powerful beings that require special care. For example a skilled soloist or partners would be needed. Or they just send out groups for that. Scanning the area was just like a doctor's check-up. You go in and out, happens every so often, the usual. Other, more difficult missions, to compare, was like going to the doctor's on your own accord if you think there's something more serious going on. Then there's of course your daily life, where you don't go to the doctor's. To compare that to something, is a break day. When people aren't assigned missions and get to stay back at the facility to either rest, train, hang out, etc.

   I got my gear on. A black latex suit, slipping on a black matte, metal chest plate and matching knee pads and shin guards. I stepped into black combat boots. The only color to it all was reflecting blue stripes up my sides and a panel on my chest, over my heart, of the moon symbol that glowed at night. I put a hand over it, closing my eyes with a quick prayer of luck before grabbing my two gun-blades, dual pistol swords. They were the same metal as my plates, with lasers attached beneath the barrels that emit a blue light to aim in the dark. A quick scan didn't require much.

                                                                          --- 

    I casually strolled down the street, checking the time. 7:49 p.m. People knew of the service, but rarely saw us since we work later in the day. This helped with having less obstacles and interruptions and since those horrid creatures usually came out at night to feed due to it being less obvious. It was still early to be considered night though, so I took my time walking around. Built onto my gun was a scanner which I waved over any people. They didn't mind though, again, aware that it was for their safety.

   I took a moment to appreciate the time I got out of the base. I looked over the few people passing. A woman hushing her whining son, saying how tired he was and that he wanted to be home. A business man hurrying off, constantly checking his watch. A disheveled teen walking with a girl towards a restaurant, I assumed going on a date. Love was dumb though, an excuse to try and cling to someone the rest of your life, using them for your own pleasure, able to get your heart broken at any time. Why bother?

   But what do I know, I never bothered with actually getting into the idea. I only had one goal, to wipe the Earth clean, and some petty thing like dating was only a distraction. You want to go out with me? Fine, but you have to bear the burden of knowing people could be dead and I could have stopped it if it weren't for you.

   I gave the city one last look around, the tall stone walls painted white surrounding the place entirely. Only way to get out was the silver gates, and even those were locked tight. Luckily, everyone I've met in this city so far hasn't been much of the traveling type.

   I slipped into an alley.

   Waving the scanner around, I heard a small click. There was traces. As I walked further down, it clicked more and more, speeding up. Eventually, I stumbled across a man, hunched over another. He slowly looked back to me, his whole body trembling. His eyes full of tears, his mouth smeared with blood. The second man before him was obviously dead. He was completely still, not breathing, his eyes still open but blood shot, his mouth slightly agape. That, and his entire stomach was also torn to shreds, his organs exposed, some pulled out.

   I sighed, "Quite a meal you have there. Sorry to interrupt dinner, dear", and lifted one of my guns, "But not really". The man quickly rolled away as I shot at him, dodging the bullets. He was quick. Inhumane. Yet that was already clear, not simply from the fact that he was feasting on one of his kind and had a boost in speed and strength.

   He didn't look entirely human either.

   His eyes leaked constantly, along with drool from his lips, but it wasn't all clear tears and spit. It had a hint of black, a transparent grey. His pupil size was irregular, much larger than a normal person's, making his eyes appear darker. His body was covered in blotches and spots that ate away at his flesh, leaving holes, leaking the same sticky fluid that flooded from his mouth and eyes. He spoke, his voice raspy, nearly a croak, "Go.. Away.. Save y-yourse-". He suddenly choked, doubling over. He hacked away like a cat on a hairball, and proceeded to vomit out tar-like blood and some of his.. "Dinner". A half chewed bit of lung, what previously was a kidney that was now mush, and scraps of skin.

   This wasn't even the end of the transformation, they could grow to be deformed, horrible things. This man was recently turned. He still had some sense to him, a small slice of sanity. But that only shriveled away to nothing as his stomach was now empty again. He mindlessly charged at me. I was already bored with him.

   I side-stepped and just as he was about to pass, I swung my knee up. It connected to his jaw, landing him flat on his back. I planted a foot on his chest, only to squint. He thrashed, chomping at the air. Leaning forward a bit, I touched the blade of my weapon to his tooth, "You got a little heart stuck in your teeth, bud. Lemme help you with that". I picked it out, "Now, open up. I bet you're just craving dessert, eh?"

   I aimed my gun between his parted lips, soon putting a stop to his constant struggling as I pulled the trigger, "Well then. Bon appétit"