I n f i n i t u m

Chapter Eight

"Are any of you bitten?" a gruff voice demanded. I shook my head while the taller girl choked out a 'no'.

They pulled the both of us in and immediately slammed the doors shut, locking them in place with metal pipes as thick as my leg. They proceeded to frisk us, checking for any injuries, specifically any possible bite marks, and the armed guy eyed my bloody sleeve.

"I killed a man," I winced, "he was one of them."

He gave a clipped nod and jutted his chin to the medics waiting behind him, "Get that checked out."

I was taken to one of the many cots situated in the back of the hangar, where a bunch of other people were being tended to. Gratefully, nothing was as gruesome as expected and everyone was passed out for the most part. One of the nurses shined a light into my right eye before doing the same to my left.

"Can you tell me your name, age, and where you are for me?"

"My name is Fang, I'm twenty, and we're in the hangar of the Hero Corps."

She gave a look of approval and switched off the flashlight, "No signs of trauma to the head, just a little bit of shock."

"Do you know what's happening?" I questioned.

The nurse gave a sympathetic smile and shook her head, "I'm afraid I don't have the answers. You can try speaking with one of the Heroes that are here, they might have something to share."

I thanked her before I made my way through the throng of cots, and it didn't take long before I found the large cluster of people standing by the combat crafts, their voices an inaudible murmur I could barely make out. I weaved my way through the people and situated myself close enough to hear what they were talking about.

"Our best team in the entire corps just goes up and missing after you guys throw them out there and then you want us to go next? What about Striver's team? They're the next best!"

My heart jolted at the sudden news of Wren's team. It was no secret that his team was the best of the best in the entire Hero Corps, but in that very moment, I wished that they were referring to another team. I must have been visibly shaken, because the person standing beside me touched my shoulder in solicitude. I didn't know the stranger, but solemnly nodded in acknowledgement.

An individual at the center answered, "They've already been sent out. We still haven't heard back from them."

Everyone was thrown into turmoil after the man's statement and I struggled to find my footing when everyone began to push to get closer to the center. My team had been sent out on an expedition while I was unconscious and now they're MIA as well— this was turning more into a shit-storm the longer I listened!

"Those were good men and women!"

"They don't deserve this!"

"What about everyone else? All the people from the sectors?"

The crowd began to get riled up as more and more voices added into the argument. I looked around anxiously, trying to search for the face of authority within the fray.

"Yeah! We can't just leave them for dead!"

"My family's still in sector 4!"

My heart plummeted even more. What happened to sector 4? Did the crazy cannibal people get there? I finally whispered to the person standing close enough beside me, "What happened?"

I wasn't sure he heard my voice over the noise of the crowd, but he answered soon enough, "A section of the Curator went down a few hours back. Horrors have been pouring in ever since. I don't know where the crazies came from, but they've been coming in waves all throughout the city."