Swamp Thing: The Darkness Within

Chapter Four - Necrotising Fasciitis

Alec nodded "The balance is vital for nature". Alec and Abby found themselves next to dead rotting tree, it oozed out this black substance. Alec spoke "Abby we shouldn't...". Abby interrupted him "I just need a sample" she quickly added. Alec was starting to get nervous, and he spoke with a soft growl "Abby the Darkness knows that we are here". Abby gave a quick glance Alec, and carried on bagging her sample of the rotted tree branch. Then the Darkness grasped at her right arm. Abby screamed in fear and panic. Alec rushed towards her, and attempted to pull it away from her wrist. Abby moaned in pain, and Alec pulled it away, and then the Darkness retracted.

Abby whimpered "Alec...in here". She pointed that the bandage on her bag. Alec wrapped it around her wrist, and helped her stand to her feet. Alec his put arm around her to hold her close. They ran through the rotted dead swamp. The tree branches started to fall, almost hitting them, but they missed every time. Once they out of the rotted swamp, Abby spoke "We need to get to the...lab...the lab...". Alec spoke "Okay, just keep running and don't stop". Abby nodded, and Alec held her left hand, and they started to run again, back the lab.

Once they arrived at the lab, it was dark outside. Abby was moaned and whimpering in pain, and the Darkness started to flow in her veins. Alec held her, and put on the table and took her jacket and the blooded bandage. Abby spoke, but she was breathless "Alec...". Alec spoke "Just stay here, okay". He grabbed a light from the other side of the lab. Abby moaned "What was that thing that bit me?" she questioned him. Alec spoke "It was some kind of tendril coming from the Rot". Abby moaned and look at her wound, she whimpered. Alec sighed "Your wound it's...". Abby groaned, and gasped for breath "It's a necrotizing fasciitis..." She moaned again "...a flesh-eating bacteria...".

The Rot inside her started to spread further, but it was slow and very painful. Abby screamed in pain, and breathed out "The Darkness...". She shrieked in pain again. Alec spoke "Abby, we need to get you to a hospital". Abby shook her head and cried "I won't make it to a hospital". Abby whimpered, and breathed out "There are plants Chinese Lanterns, it's a powerful antiseptic...". Alec raised his voice "They don't grow around here, listen to me...". Abby grabbed his hands "But they grow somewhere, you can make them grow" she spoke. Alec shut his eyes and thought about the plants, he could here them whisper to him.

Suddenly, he saw the plants come crawling through one of the windows. He let go of Abby's hands, and rushed to retrieve the plant. He took the plants, and put the seeds inside Abby's mouth. She swallowed them quickly. He cupped her face "Look at me, look at me...yes...". Abby nodded, but was still in pain. She looked at her infected wrist, and saw her veins from her shoulder start to turn green. She breathed in and out, in a way to try and control the pain. The green veins started to move closer towards the rot. She whimpered out "It's not working, it's not working...". Alec started to sound more panicked "The rot is fighting back...". Alec took Abby's injured wrist, and held it delicately. Abby whimpered and moaned, and then let out loud and painful scream.

Abby passed out onto Alec's shoulder. Alec carried her onto the table, her breathing was starting to become lighter. The only thing Alec could do is wait for her to wake up. A few moments later, Abby breathed out, and she was gasping for air. She felt like she had drowned, and only to be revived minutes later. She reached out for Alec who was above her. He held her hands and reassured her "I know I know, it's okay...just breathe". Alec pulled up the sleeve on the white shirt, and saw the rot had almost destroyed the power of the Chinese Lanterns. The rot had taken over her right arm, and it was starting to poison her. However, Abby couldn't take the pain and she cried and moaned in agony. Alec started to panic more, but he was determined to save her "It's a war inside of you, between the Rot and the Green". He carried on "There's 200 species of flora inside your body".

Alec held her body down, and pulled her shirt up to reveal her stomach. He spoke "If I could coax them all to growl and to heal, I will be able to save you". Alec put his right hand above her stomach, and breathed out. He thought about Abby, and he wanted her to be safe, and how he wanted her be cured and no longer in pain. Abby looked at him for a moment, but she was too distracted by the pain coursing across her body. She kept gasping for breath, as soon as Alec's vines gently poked and prodded on top of her skin. She screamed in great pain, and she struggled to keep still. Her arms and legs moving across the table, while she lifted her body up in a form of struggle. She was still shrieking in pain, and she still screamed as she felt the war in the body start to begin. Then she passed out due the the pain being too much.

Alec saw her, as she was no longer screaming and no longer moving at all. He spoke with a concerned tone "Abby...Abby..." he moved his hand away from her stomach, and pulled down her shirt. He checked her pulse, and it was started to become less faint. She breathing was smooth and less raggedy and sharp. He carried her in his arms, and put her on the bed. He adjusted the pillows and put the blanket over her body. Alec walked to the otherwise of the lab, and found his first aid kit. He opened the box and found some antiseptic spray. He could see that the rot had started to retract in her body. It moved back to the bound and disappeared completely. The wound looked normal, and it only had a small amount of blood oozing from it. Alec started to clean the wound, and then Abby's eyes fluttered open.