The Mariana

Chapter 2

Chapter 2
      I have them hooked. Now for the line. "Now, before I continue such a fascinating story, allow me to present the blueprints for my submarine" I continued. The entire room snaps out of their awe-filled trance. "Yeah-Uhm... Rex, is it?" One of the many millionaires in the room, Donivan Miller guessed, "Yes. Thank you for remembering" I replied. "Well, after that story, why would anybody want to go down there again?" The room breaks out in a whisper at his statement. Some, even stood up to leave. I can't lose them now. "Now hold on. Stay in your seats please. If we are able to obtain this pathogen and possibly find out how it has such regenerative abilities, then, not only could we possibly save billions of people, but also make billions of dollars." I quickly explained. Even though I lost one person, everyone else remained seated in their chairs and even more interested than before.
Marissa, an influential and powerful CEO of a big pharmaceutical company stood up and asks, "What do mean by regenerative abilities, exactly?" I turn my head to her and respond, "The pathogen has a stem cell type of thing in it." I say nonchalantly. The line. "Stem cell type of thing? Could you explain in detail without sounding like a grade-schooler!" She barked. My calm, blank expression turns into a small smirk at her outburst. I oblige, "Why yes, of course. Lets say you, for example, broke both of your arms and were missing a leg because of a terrible car accident. The pathogen would not only heal the arms to perfection, but it would begin to grow the missing limb. It's truely fascinating. Not only that, but the pathogen can also replace damaged and dead nerve cells. It attacks cancer and tumors. It kills harmful viruses and bacteria. With regenerative abilities like that, if there is a way to control the pathogen, we could cure anything and everything in the world. Just think of all the profit. All the money to be made." They all look at me with awe and wonder. Never have they heard of such a thing. When I examined their faces, I could practically see money signs in their eyes.
All the money. There's the sinker. Too easy. "Well, what about this proposal of yours?!" Marissa asks with hidden excitement. After about thirty minutes of explaining the submarine's schematics, the airbourne pathogen to the meeting room they all sign their parts of the agreement to help fund the project.
Then, they ask me the golden question,the one that I always hear, "How does the story end?" My smirk fades away back into my neutral expression and I continue the story, "Well, here's how. Patrick was ready to die, mop in hand and the will of a thousand armies to help him fight off the creatures til the very end. Until suddenly, the hatch above him began to open. He drops his mop and begins the climb, yelling out for help on the way up. The hatch opens up to reveal an unfamiliar face. 'Get in here quickly, lets go!' The feminine voice exclaimed. Patrick climbs up the hatch into the forth floor hastily. She closes the hatch just in time as the monsters break into the janitor's closet all flooding in.
  His heart's flying out of his chest at the near-death experience. 'Who are you? What level are you from? Have you been bitten or scratched? Let me see your eyes!' She demanded with intensive urgency. 'Woah woah, relax. Listen lady, my name is Patrick, I am a janitor, and no, I have not been bitten or scratched.' He clarified, 'And why do you wanna see my eyes anyways?' He added with clear confusion, 'When infected the host's eyes turn a bright green-blue color' She answered with an analyzing stare. Patrick's eyes remain his natural hazel color, no where near an infected light green-blue. 'You look good to me, Patrick. Get up, we need to get to the captain.' Patrick stares at her, still on his bum. 'Come on! Get off your ass, lets go!' She ordered. Patrick quickly rises off the ground and follows after her down the hallway. 'Hey, hold on! What's your name?' Patrick wondered. 'It's Maria.' She responded. Maria then walks to the captain's room and opens the door. 'After you.' She said. Patrick walks into the room and is greeted by five sets of eyes staring him down. One of the sets of eyes approaches him. The man begins to scan Patrick's arms. 'I already checked him.' Maria informed. 'Well Maria, last time you checked someone, he turned and almost killed me.' The man answered back harshly. He then checks Patrick's eyes. 'Well you look fine. Just don't go tying to eat our faces off, alright?' joked the man. Patrick looks at the man, slightly scared at the sudden mood change and realises who he is. 'You're the head scientist right? Do you mind explaining what the hell is going on?' The Scientist sighs, 'We discovered a substance. It was covering a bioluminescent cylindrical tube. We took samples of this substance and ran some tests. We found out that the substance was made up of bacteria cells that came together to form a gel-like structure. With more test we realised it was an unknown pathogen. Most importantly, this pathogen was transmitted via air transmisson. The air transmitted version of the pathogen wasn't really causing the volatile behaviors. One of our men that brought the samples had direct contact with the substance on his hands. I can only assume he either touched the inside of his mouth or got a cut on his hand, because then the pathogen would spread more rapidly and violently through his body. Which caused the transformation. I'm sure as you've seen, the infected host loses all control of their mind and enters an animalistic state.' Patrick listened in blood-cold fear. 'Yeah, and for some reason they speak some kind of latin.' Patrick pointes out.
  'They what? Impossible! There is no way they could even speak. The pathogen erodes the host's vocal chords! How did you even get to hear them speak any kind of language?' questioned the scientist in pure confusion. All the other survivors continue to stare at them both . 'I ain't lying. I heard them speak some type of latin.' answered Patrick, 'Fascinating. But can you confirm they spoke latin?' asked the scientist. 'My parents studied latin and taught me it. When I heard them speak, it didn't sound like the latin my parents taught me but it did have a few words that were Latin.' Patrick confirmed. The scientist sitting crossed-legged with a notepad out and ready to ask more questions, gets interupted by Maria who slammed the door opened. 'WE HAVE A SITUATION!' She exclaimed. She motions for two survivors to help her. Patrick follows. 'What happened?' One of the curious survivors asked. 'Those damn creature broke through the hatch in the janitor's closet! I need help blocking the damn door before they get in!' She shrieked. As they turned the corner they all instantly stopped. A look of horror overcame their faces.
  'RUN! THEY'RE IN!' The other survivor squealed. All of them began running as the noises of howling and growling were heard down the hallway from around the corner. Patrick runs with them as they all enter the captain's bridge, shutting the door tight. 'How long until that escape pod is done, Conner!' Maria nearly shouts. 'I don't know maybe a few hours, why? What's going on?' Connor answered with fearful confusion, 'We don't have a few hours! Those damn creatures are loose in the forth floor!' Maria screams.
  Conner haistely continued fixing the captain's escape pod. The creatures could be heard outside the door, trying to break-in. Fear struck the hearts of everyone in the room. Knowing at any second they could all die a gruesome death. Patrick wasn't gonna let all of these people die. 'Everyone in the pod, I'll hold them off until Connor can get the pod working.' Patrick commanded, 'Who do you think you are?' inquired Maria. 'I'm no one. But, they're gonna break through that door any second now, and I ain't letting these people die because of me!' Patrick stated, 'Well, then I'll help you since I'm the one who helped you here' responded Maria."
    There ain't nothing like a glorious death, that's what he'd always tell me.
   "All of the survivors rushed into the pod and closed the pod door. Leaving Maria and Patrick outside to hopefully defend them. The creatures are now at the door, scratching and pushing to get in. Their fingers poking out of any gap or crack in the door. Patrick refuses to die without a fight, but even then, he wished he could live. But, for some reason he felt an overwelming sense of pride overcome him. He wasn't gonna let others suffer because of his mistakes every again. The door suddenly busts open with an army of monsters growling for supper. 'Here they come! Get ready to fight!' Patrick yells. In an instant the entire room was filled with them. Patrick and Maria were ready to fight til the death. The creat... ures...." I suddenly stopped telling the story as I began to feel faint.
This can't be happening now! "Excuse me for a second." I say faintly. I needed to find a restroom! I grab my backpack and haistly leave the room in search for this blessed restroom. Where's the restroom at damnit?!
I turn the corner to see the restroom sign. I quickly entered and run over to the handicapped stall. I began searching the second I entered the stall. Where is it! Where is it! Suddenly, I see it. The black spot in my veins slowly spreading. It's in my wrist this time? Crap.
  I take out a syringe out from my bag and stick it into my wrist to remove the build-up. I ignore the stinging, pulsating pain and focus on removing all of the gel-like blood and dispose the used syringe into an air-tight bag. Blood, from where I had stuck the syringe, began to leak out. I take out a bandage and wrapped it around my wrist. What's my excuse for this? They can't find out about that. I need an alibi. I check the time and find out I only have five minutes of presentation time left. I packed everything back into my bag and run back in to the room to find it almost entirely empty, except for one man. "You were gonna for quite some time, you know? What happened back there?" He quizzed. "I didn't know I was gone for too long. I forgot to take my medicine so I felt a little faint. How long was I away?" I asked. "Almost an hour. Most of them left after twenty minutes. It looks like your time is up, however. It was good hearing the story and I'm truely excited to see this submarine built. I'm intrigued by this pathogen. I'll see you in Japan in two weeks, my friend. And maybe we can finish that story too?" He wondered after answering my question.
"Hopefully, sir. I'd love to tell you the rest." I grinned. "Good to hear, son! See you then." He cheered as he left the room. I gotta pick up all this crap and leave as soon as possible to check for anymore build-ups.
I organized all the contracts, grabbed the blueprints, and leave the building. Everything's coming together just nicely. Soon I can avenge you, Magnus.