The Diary Of The Dead

Step 16: Loyalty

'' Everything going according to plan professor?'' 

My vision is blurry, I can't focus on anything. I inhaled deeply as I saw a man with a jacket, raising a man's body with just one hand. ''Where..'' I suffer to talk. 

Both of the man look at me. ''Where.. am I?'' I continue. The man put the other man down as now I assume he is the professor with his white jacket. ''Look, he is alive!'' The professor cough and try to catch his breath after being released. The big buffed man walk towards me. 

As my vision got clearer. I now realize that i'm being chained down by an uncountable number of tubes. Pumping some green liquid into my bloodstream. I struggle to break free. ''Now now, you are not suppose to wake up yet, in fact, you should not be talking..'' He stopped as he inject the same green liquid direct to his neck. His body releases smoke as the liquid pumped into his bloodstream. ''Sorry, need to take my medicine, now.. Go to Sleep!!'' He raises his hand and jab me. 

**** 

''You can't sleep Captain?'' I turn my body to face Tom. I force a smile for him.

''Why are you not sleeping yet Tom?'' I ask as he lights up a cigarette. 

''Guard duty'' He pull a chair and took a sit next to my medical bed.

''You should not be smoking here Tom.'' 

''Sue me'' He replied as he puff smoke after smoke. ''Got an extra one?'' He smiled and hand me one. ''You should not be smoking here Captain.'' ''Sue me'' I grab the lighter and ignite my cigarette. 

''You know, this brand is Cecil's favorite.'' He play with the box as in inspecting every detail and every word written on it. ''Smoking causes Cancer'' He continues. 

It felt so bad, being weak and not able to do anything. Seeing your friend dies. Over and over again. It's not something you want to see. I cover my eyes with my right hand. Pressing it slowly to make the vision go away. ''He, made the right choice captain..'' he said while standing up. As he was about to leave, I saw him wiping his eyes. ''We need you captain'' He faces me and smiled with his red eyes. I put out my cigarette and the most hurtful statement comes in mind. 

''No you don't'' 

****

I can ensure you that this body ache is not something you want to feel. The morning was dull, nothing new as the Doctor came in and do his daily routine of checking my wounds and conditions. 'I am fine Doctor' Is all I say to him. He then check my body for bite marks. He left when he was satisfied with the results. I am not infected. Yet. 

The guys came to visit in the evening. We discussed about the low supplies and the barrier condition. ''Look I know it's not a good time but we really need a solution right now Captain'' Gunther shook his head. ''Well, I got----'' 

''No Zoan!'' Tom interrupted. ''We've discussed about this!'' 

Zoan stood up and grab Tom by his collar shirt. ''STOP!'' I screamed. The room got quiet until Zoan slowly put Tom down. ''What the hell is wrong with you guys?!'' I shouted. ''Nothing---'' Tom sat down. He was about to say something but he stopped. ''Gunther---'' I asked while pointing on both Zoan and Tom. ''Explain'' I continued. Gunther look at me and palm his face. Rubbing his temple with his two finger and a thumb. ''Erghh, how do I put this---'' 

''Idiots.'' Tom dashed outside. ''TOM!'' I can't chase him though. I just look at Zoan asking him to chase him and let him talk to me about the problem but Zoan just shook his head. ''I'm not talking to that Pussy'' His voice is serious. Like i'll kill a man serious. ''Captain, how about we call it a day eh?'' Gunther suggested and stood up. I gave him a glare. ''Okay---'' he slowly sit back. ''I'll take that as a big NO'' 

''You need to explain what is happening to me'' I tried to get them to talk. But somehow they just kept quiet. Something is definitely not right.  ''Zoan, what happen between you and Tom?'' My voice was strict. Like commanding him to talk.  He kept quiet and popped his neck. ''What is it that you want to say before Zoan?'' He inhale deeply. It's like he is carrying a big burden and try to loosen it desperately. 

Gunther look at me. ''Captain---'' 

''Tom and I had a fight'' Zoan voices shocked me. It was so deep. And freaking scary. ''I can see that'' I made an expression of 'Go on'. ''I'm leaving this camp'' Zoan continues. WHAT? He can be serious. ''Tom won't let me. He insisted me to stay here.'' I tried to cover my shocked face but my eyes are way wider than normal. ''Why?'' I try to keep calm and try to open a negotiation if it's possible. ''I'll see you tomorrow Lily'' Gunther stood up and left the room. Lily? That's rare. 

''Why are you leaving Zoan?! Don't you like surviving with me?'' I asked and he just replied with a smile. He walk towards me and pull out a note. He then give it to me. 

Patient: Captain Lily

Wounds are bright red. Darkens/day.

Day 1

Notes: The wounds are not healing, possibilities of infection. 

Day 2

Notes: The wounds are still fresh and still getting darker. It's not closing. Possibilities of infection is higher than yesterday. 

URGENT: HIGH RISK OF INFECTION! MUST BE EVACUATED

I was stunned. I don't know how to react. "The result came in this morning. The camp is in havoc. Asking to throw you out" He let out a sigh. "Your title as Captain has been denounced."

"I know you are not infected---" He then approach me and hold my hand. "I'm not leaving because I  don't want to survive with you---" He then walk to the exit.

"It's because you can't survive without me"