The Touch of Infection

Chapter 36: Nothing like a dog

Marnik was walking so quick Carisa was falling behind. Trying her hardest to keep up she finally called out to him, "Wait for me, why are you in a hurry?"

Stopping to see how behind she was he walked back to get her, "I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind, that's why I'm in a hurry I guess. Didn't notice you fell behind."

She leaned her head to the side, taking a good look at him, "What's wrong?"

Marnik smiled at her, "I'm excited to have you here, and I have a lot to tell you and show you still... and I need to figure out how to do all that without pushing you away." Marnik felt her grab his hand, instinctively looking down at her.

"Then take it slow, we've got time. Don't we?" Carisa let go of his hand, waiting for where he'd go, "And I'm happy to be here. I get it you're trying your best, and i appreciate that."

Leading her forward he kept a better eye on her. Keeping in mind what Ezhno had told him about H being dangerous for her to meet. He'd have to take caution when presenting her, making sure H can't bite or lick her. It's like having to treat the dog like an infected at this point.

Reaching the area he'd been heading to he stopped a second to explain things to her, finding her looking out a door. Quickly getting behind her he saw what she was looking at. Into one of their labs, infected where being taken for experiments.

"Why do you have zombies... you said this place was safe?" She was scared saying this, her hands up in fists. Small steps back as one of the damn things turned and growled at her.

The Alaois in there taking tests noticed her, and stepped towards her, stopping only when noticing Marnik behind her. His scowl making them turn back, and her words causing him to glare at them.

"It's just temporary... you won't have to worry about it." He dragged her away even as her eyes kept looking towards them.

Bringing her through a door he headed in the room where some of the animal species they carried where being kept. Walking behind her he instantly noticed when she froze, her eyes wide looking from side to side.

"I don't wanna be here." She spoke out quickly, ready to head back. The bests in every cage where horrific, double heads, horns, a slimy looking body to some of them. She wondered if te things even had bones.

Marnik held her in place, "Don't worry, I've asked them to get H in a separate room."

"Then can't we take a different route?" She didn't waste a second asking for this. She just couldn't really stand how terrifying the animals looked.

"Well..." he sighed and began taking her back through the entrance, "I thought you would have liked seeing the different species."

Seeing she made him feel bad she was again going through the path she dreaded, "Just stay close, they creep me out a little."

"No, you don't have to if you don't like it." Seeing her walk through it so fearlessly, made him think twice if she'd really just even hesitated to walk through it.

Keeping an eye on the animals, how they momentarily looked at her before going back to whatever they did, while some of them growled at her. He'd change to that side in order to keep it as far from her as he could.

"W... what is that?" Her trembling voice shaking like crazy, especially when one of the animals lunged at the bars, being the only thing holding it off her.

Marnik practically lifted her up and dragged her out the place before anything else could lunge at her. His grip on her letting him feel her shaken body, the way her eyes where wide and her small hands clutched onto him.

"That was a dangerous creature I'll never let you near to again... I promise I'll never make you go through this area again." As he said this he'd made it to a much emptier area. Having few aliens here and there minding their own business all doing their thing. He set her down more calmly knowing nothing was suddenly going to attack her.

"Marnik!" He was called all of a sudden, a male alien smiling towards him. Behind him a two headed beast staring intently at both of them. One of its head with a snarl while the other looked stern.

"Amil, ah, just the person I'm looking for." Marnik spoke his native tongue, walking with Carisa in hand towards him.

Amil instantly took notice of Carisa, his mouth hanging open a few seconds. Speaking in their native tongue, "Oh, you brought the lady, you weren't kidding when you said she was small... she's so cute." He observed Carisa closely a second before returning to Marnik.

Marnik laughed and nodded, "Carisa this is Amil, old friend. He's been wanting to meet you since I first mentioned you."

Carisa waved at him from behind Marnik, "I'm glad to meet you."

Amil looked at Marnik in question to what she'd said, "Um... I still don't know any english."

Marnik explained what she said and looked over at the beast she'd been keeping her eyes on, "Carisa, this is H."

Carisa sucked in a deep breath, having both the beasts heads looking at her, "This is nothing like a dog." Carisa didn't dare touch the thing like she'd envision she would, staying away from it.

Amil rubbed one of H's heads showing her it was all fine, "He's, big but stupid."

Marnik snickered, "Turns our it's a boy Carisa, give me your hand." But Carisa didn't want to, holding her hands tightly against her chest.

He pulled her hand slowly taking it. She got stiff, stepping back, one of the heads growling at her. Marnik shushed the beats and places her hand on the oposite head who was quiet. It's tail wagging back and forth, closing his eyes while Carisa pet it.

"See, just like a dog." Marnik declared and looked at Amil speaking his tongue, "I'm not confusing species am I?"

"It's two dogs sharing one body Marnik." She huffed and looked at Amil, "So do you take care of H?"

Marnik traduced things for him and repeated what he said to Carisa, "He works with animals often. Since I asked him to bring H, he did me the favor to bring him... he doesn't exactly speak english so you'll need help when talking to him."

"So he's like a you from a couple of weeks ago?" She teased and continued paying attention to H.

Marnik's face turned sour, "Yes..." he let her pet H on her own and spoke to Amil, "Did you get invited by the commander to an activity, this afternoon?"

"Oh you mean the party, yeah everyone got invited." Amil kept an eye on the other head, seeing how it still growled at her.

"Then how come, Amite and Ezhno where sent away, commanders say they have work to do... but I don't believe it." Marnik explained and saw Carisa warm up tp H, "Don't touch its mouth Carisa, the saliva might burn you."

She inched back a little hearing H whimper and sit on the floor, looking up at Carisa while the other head decided to look away. Going to stand behind Marnik H laid down and she just pet it a little longer.