The Night

The mind of a survivor

      I snarled at Alicia, annoyed. "Telling me this isn't gonna help, I don't care whether I did that or not. I can't see straight anyway, your stupid simulation is everywhere." All I could see around me was some code, I had one last job to do and all she could talk about was the past.
          I looked around, Paul and Arya were gone. How had I not realised... Every bad thing always happened to me, everything. It wasn't fair, it never was. I guess that was another thing for me to sort out, I thought running out seeing a pile of bloodied bodies on the floor as I ran out the open door of my old short lived cell. Bodies absolutely everywhere, none of them I knew.

Stef's pov

       Where, where was I? One second I was in a room with Alicia and Kreis, the next my body floated away and here I was. In some city, an open world. My body willed for me to chase after some unseen enemy, to run. Everything was so confusing, I let go of myself, watching. Watching my body run loose across the city, scaling buildings effortlessly and I knew it had finally come and this was what it was like. Finally, I was infected.
          Maybe my body was chasing an allie's call for help? I remember studying them and how one would always help another no matter how far away they were. I was still sprinting when I saw what I was searching for. I saw a victim, a person lying on the floor, at our mercy. I was a Reaver know so I had to act, think and be one. There was prey on the floor so I would finish it. There was no room for emotion, that was what had gotten me so far in life. Pity was pathetic, you didn't have time to get sentimental over anything.
         I did what I needed to to survive, if that meant creating a disease then so be it. If surviving also meant tearing and eating a victim then, y'know I have to do it. Plus, it's who I was now, it was in my bloodstream to do these things.
          When I advanced I saw who was on the floor, it was her. Harper lay there, barely moving. Her dark brown hair was covering her face but I recognised her anyway... It didn't matter. Sentimentality got you nowhere. I told myself I didn't care and I should start finishing her off. Death would be a mercy, right?
         Seeing her lie there, I couldn't. What was going on with me? I had never struggled to kill someone before? I was growing weak, something was wrong. So tired. I felt like just dropping on the floor, why couldn't I do anything? Where was I? Harper... Just there on the floor surrounded by Reavers. So vulnerable, weak. Before me, at my mercy. She didn't even recognise me, too weak to open her eyes.
          Eh... Bah, who cares. She needs to die, goodbye Harper. I raised my arm ready to attack and the others readied, goodbye forever. It was nice knowing you, farewell. I flung my arm at her head, bludgeoning her and the others ripped her apart. She was too weak to even see what was happening. Weak. Useless, I told myself, that's all she was. She means nothing to you, you're survival is all that matters.
        It was all the same, whether manipulating a human or Reaver. You always had to look like one of them, be friendly and popular. Comedy was often a good way to win approval, Reavers didn't get humour. To manipulate something you need their trust and respect. Kreis respected me once upon a time, or at least he thought he did. He just had a fake memory of mutual respect, it's fake. There is no such thing as friendship, only two people who need each other. Who use each other, that's how the world works and that's how it will always work.
        I would earn the Reavers respect first, then. Then I would finish this nonsense, forever. End all these petty squabbles. Start the world anew, yes, that's what I would do and no-one could stop me. I would be a God to them, I could be powerful. I must.

Kreis pov

        I ran down the hall to see a mess of bodies. I felt no pity for them. Not because I was cruel but because I was made like that. I had, quite literally, no heart and no emotion. Everything around me was a lie, I was designed to be a killing machine. This... Disease which I took made me everything I once hated, I remembered. Everything. My old life, the nights where I would go without food. The cold cold winter days as a child, no family or friends to help me. I came to them because I thought they would help me.
          Looking back at it, they did help me. Gave me fake memories of happiness taking my humanity away with it. I don't understand how everything went so grim, I couldn't think about that now though. I had a job to do.
        At the end of the corridor lay 2 bodies I did recognise. I felt, yet again, numb. On the floor lay 2 people, one my friend and another the enemy. I wanted to feel anger, hatred or grief but I just couldn't. I'm a killing machine, not made for emotions. I am made for one thing: Killing and I don't intend to get teary upon seeing the dead I tried telling myself.
         I heard a voice behind me that I recognised immediately, "Nice of you to join the party Kreis." Oscar called out, cunningly suspicious. "I heard you found out the truth, a shame. Oh yeah, those two died in a fight. Paul was your friend I believe? Too bad, go on. Shed a tear for him," He mocked, "Oh wait? You can't you heartless monster?" Evetthing was so much darker than I could have ever thought.
        The other person there was Ike, I doubted he was truly dead. Just faking it. "Oscar, do me a favour," I said, "Shut up and let me do my job." I felt fury swelling through my bones, not for the dead but for Oscar. He thought he was so safe, that I would do as I was told. How he was wrong, letting the fury consume me I ran towards him. I might as well do what I could do best. Kill, I would kill Oscar right here right now. My bloodied, infected hand was through his heart before he could even say my name.
        I gripped his shoulder with the other hand and pulled him down. "Rest in peace, there's a place for you down there Oscar. Guess I'll be seeing you there soon, Hell awaits us both." I whispered into his dead ears.
        I looked back up and saw Ike begin to move. He obviously knew that I hadn't fallen for him playing dead, he grinned like this was a game. I could see him bracing for a fight, without warning he punched me in the kidney, I was too slow to react and doubled over, it was ok. My condition would guide me, my instincts.
          He launched another hit but I was ready, I grabbed his fist and twisted his arm, dodging a kick he sent and junping up elbowing his face. He recoiled temporarily and was back in the fight within seconds.
         Ike began talking after a few minutes, "We both know neither of us can die. But there is one way, one way to remove scum like you." He snarled, "If I was to put you in a state beyond repair you would sit and suffer for all eternity. Forever." Another punch my way, I was tiring way to quickly.
         I saw no other choice so I began running down the corridor, he caught up and threw me to the ground pinning me down, hastily I kicked him off and resumed my escape. The doors opened before me and I was getting far. Closer towards my objective. My job.
         Still yet he mercilessly hunted me. Sprinting down after me, kicking and smashing anything in his path. I was close now, just had to keep running. "Come back you coward, pathetic." He taunted. Still yet I ran, it  was a matter of seconds before I reached a dead end in a collosal room, he grinned, his voice a quiet warning. "You've caused me enough problems child. You're pathetic, a shame and cowardly." He knew he had me backed up, there was no escape.
        Eerily silent, I whispered my prayers. This was it. I might not have emotions but there was one thing that made me feel like a human again. He pushed me to the floor, laughing maniacally. I had to do it, I said remembering. I was a Skulker, I could summon those creatures, I thought releasing that hoarse inhumane cry and Ike also screamed his volatile screech.

Stef's pov

      I saw the ground yet again dematerialise. It took a second for me to realise what had happened. The bastards. This city, it was a simulation made to preoccupy me or something. Harper too, I guess. The wave of nausea hit me and I felt another recall, unlike the one before. This one, it felt more powerful. Like my leader was calling for me. Well, I thought, let me be ready for a big fight.
    
Kreis pov

         I was cornered still, all the Skulkers in the world couldn't change that, they were preoccupied fighting Reavers and still I was stuck. Stuck, but ready for it. I saw a few familar faces, well not see them. I could feel their presence, I could feel Harper fighting on my side. Through to the end, I doubt half of them knew what was going on.
        I was going to die but... But I had hope. I had hope and a dream. Those two things will save the world, my ideals will live on even if I don't.
        One last time I whispered, "I love you Arya." Knowing somewhere out there she would say the same. I knew it was impossible for me to feel emotion but I still shred a tear aware of the sacrifice I was about to make for her. For everyone, a life of eternal pain. I was ready.
        Ike saw my face of confidence and faultered, "Why so happy? You're a dead beast."
        "Maybe I am, it gives me energy to know that you are too." And I felt Alicia ripping the entire facility apart, blowing the core of the lab up like she planned, cracking the earth beneath us and pulling us down. The force of the explosion tore a hole down the earth several hundred miles deep. I saw me and every single other infected person ripped apart, my life force drained and futile. I heard one last explosion and piles of debri evaporated into the air before reaching deep into the abyss and a realm of undying and infinite pain awaited.
     The disease was gone. My job here was done. My heart yearned for Arya but sometimes the only way to show you really love someone is to let them go. Fighting a battle you know you can't win, that's bravery. Fighting it in an attempt to save those you care about, that. That is the face of a true hero, and it is at this point where I let go. Give up everything and free myself, graciously accept the pain and lie here. Lie here glad that I can finally rest, the world is safe from those brutal mutants.
      Though I say it over and over again, I know she can hear me. I'll say it one last time, "Arya. In the brief time I knew you, your upbeat attitude kept me going. I was told I couldn't feel emotions, I was fake and heartless. You changed that, you made me a real person again, however short. You already know it but. I love you." I whispered into the dark void, a vortex of permanent hell. The only safe place for people like me.
         This is the end. Farewell whoever you may be, whoever lived beside me. Fought beside me.