The Touch of Infection

Chapter 21: Where were you two years ago

Amite had managed to drive them out of the hoard of zombies. Marnik holding tightly onto Carisa the whole time. His eyes darting to the doors every time he heard a bang. They were speaking with each other but Marnik didn't understand half the things she said.

The vehicle coming to a stop, catching the two by surprise. Ezhno the first to walk out and open the door, Marnik quickly outing her behind him in case anything came running towards them. The place was empty, in fact, it was an old town. The streets, the houses, her eyes widened... she knew this place. Walking out before Marnik, her eyes grieving the sight before her.

Marnik was still inspecting the area and Amite was the first to notice Carisa's gaze, inching towards her and asking, "Something wrong? You don't like the place, we can leave if you want."

"No... it's alright..." Her eyes still lingering through the streets, so many memories. Stepping around the place she felt Marnik walk up behind her. Looming over her and keeping an eye on her. Seeing him like this she wondered if he'd been here before... if it had been him the one to tear the place down.

Did he use those same guns from earlier if he had? Would he have shot her if that had been the case... if she hadn't gotten out of the place in time... would he have killed her back then. Staring up at him she grabbed his hand, inspecting it, if he wanted to he could snap her in half. She knew there was something between them... but not sure what.

That kiss... what did it even mean for him? She let go of his hand and crossed her own over her chest, it was getting colder. Making her way back to the vehicle she sat with her legs out with the door opened. Memories of the place drowning her senses.

Amite walked to Marnik, elbowing him slightly, "Something's up with her... try talking to her and not standing behind her like a creep."

Marnik grumbled under his breath over her calling him a creep. Walking over and sitting beside her, trying his best to find the words, "You alright?"

She looked at him a frown on her face, Marnik could see Amite hiding close by to listen in on the conversation. He was pretty sure she wasn't all in to hear their conversation but more to help him understand.

"Where were you two years ago?" Carisa finally asked, looking up at him in question.

He only got half of what she said looking at Amite for help. She first exasperated and the leaned against the vehicle beside him, telling him what she said.

He spoke to Amite telling her to traduce what he said, after all a little more than two years ago was when the infection started, "Tell her that two years ago exactly I joined the scientist team."

Telling her that precisely Carisa looked at him. Coming to her own conclusions that he helped develop the plague that tore her world apart, "So you helped cause all this?"

When Amite told him what she said he looked at her worried. He knew he and the rest of his kind were to blame for what happened to this planet. But he didn't want her to see him in that light, "No, I joined the team afterward. We're trying to find a cure." Maybe telling her that would get him on her good side. Even if he knew there was nearly no chance for a cure.

Amite worded it out for her but Carisa didn't look any happier at it. Amite was regretting even helping Marnik with this, she felt and knew she was in between all this and didn't like it.

"Have you been here before?" That question of hers stood out among the rest.

Amite had already pieces everything together and wondered if Marnik had. Seeing his eyes staring at her and the way they did, she could tell he hadn't. Traducing it out for him she hinted, "Maybe she'd been here before."

But he didn't really listen and answered, "I've come through here before, but I've only taken samples... why.... why do you ask?"

Hearing his words translated by Amite, she glared at him, 'samples?! What kind of samples and when?! Did he kill people!? She closed up her fists crumbling her shirt in the hold, "When exactly was that?"

"A year ago." He answered, her expression slightly calming. A year ago... then that wasn't him, "Please tell me why you're asking." He begged her reaching to grab her hand, having her turn away.

"It doesn't matter." She said and got up to walk a bit away.

Amite grabbed Marnik before he had the chance to walk after her. Looking him dead in the eyes, "Piece things together Marnik, you're smarter than this."

He raised an eyebrow at her, too concerned over Carisa to think clearly.

Grabbing him by the shoulders Amite squeezed him in her grip practically spelling it out for him, "Look at the way she sees this place. How her eyes linger on spots... she's been here before... she asked where you were two years ago and if you've been here before... Marnik I think this is her home."

He gasped slightly at the stupid realization, feeling bad about it. The place was crumbling down, this is why she was angry. The place she knew as home was surely nothing like her memories. He slowly walked towards her and wrapped an arm around her whispering, "I'm sorry."

Pushing him back she looked up to him in a glare, 'You might have not been the one to cause this... but why am I so sure you helped!? I hate you... I hate you so much, I wish you and the rest of your kind were dead!' That's what she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't find it in her. Instead, she continued to glare at him for a while, "I used to live here." She admitted with a frown.

Walking down an area and pointing, "Right down this street... I remember the day they got here... I was going to the movies with one of my best friends..." she looked back at him, "I saw her get bit on the neck... I screamed so much... I was so scared, my mom came rushing to my aid... and she got bit, and scratched ALL OVER HER ARMS!"

Carisa walked up to him her eyes wallowed up with tears, "My dad was a doctor, and one of those' Crazy patients' bit him... one week later and my mom was gone! She helped me up a tree, running away and screaming so those things! Those zombies ran after her... my dad covered my eyes! AND I STILL HEARD HER SCREAMS!"

Pointing at his chest she laughed as tears rolled down her eyes, "Dad walked with me for days... I could see the life disappearing in him... he ran just like a mom... he screamed just like her... and he died just like her! Nobody shielded my eyes! I saw him get ripped to pieces!"

Marnik felt worse knowing he didn't understand, what to do? She was crying, she was yelling... Amite was covering her mouth just a few feet apart... she knew what Carisa said. He couldn't believe it when he saw Amite's eyes water up and turn away, walking towards Ezhno. Just what had Carisa said?

Giving her one last look he acted, hugging her as tight as he could and keeping quiet. He didn't know what to say... and even if he did how to make her understand? So he only held her in his arms.