Survivals Curse

Chapter Seven: Patrol

It had been two days since she had spoken to her Beta. Finally an opportunity was to present itself to Aymelek for her to recruit the twins. A patrol out beyond the wall. She was relieved as she and the other seven members were briefed on what was to happen.

Any Signs of infected? Hunt them.

Any infected? Kill them.

Any survivors? Bring them in.

Plain. Simple. To the point. Aymelek began going over what she would say in her head. Mulling over it, consistently all the way up until it was time to prepare. She filed in with the others, and began prepping her gear.
A pair of Jean's, a black tshirt, belt, combat boots, twin set of mazikeen blades, and finally a set of folded steel twin kukri knives strapped to her back. She, paused looking at the others getting ready, all their guns and whatnot, and couldnt help shaking her head as she hefted up a lightweight crossbow and quiver. The noise was going to attract the attention of other infected, and possibly worse a wendigo or two. But the humans had yet to discover the wendigos. Unlike the werewolves, wendigos were sole hunters. Preferring to work alone. Catch one, and you were in for a world of hurt, with a fair chance of walking away alive, but to catch two? Or more? Chances of survival decreased to nothing.

Walking out after the rest of the crew, Aymelek hung slightly behind, keeping time with the twins before she finally approached them, muting her com and signaling them to do the same. When they obliged she finally spoke.

"Let's skip the pleasantries. I'll get straight to the point... Doctor Shrackner is trying to turn what remaining living humans there are into werewolves in an attempt to avoid this infection." She stated simply, her eyes peeled on their surroundings watching closely.

"Well, that's a good thing then. Hes trying to save everyone. Doing more than most people are." The male, who Aymelek had learned was called Markus, replied.

"And anyway why are you even talking to us? Plan on killing us the same way you did those other recruits?" The female, Cassidy added on, glaring at Aymelek boldly whilst they ventured further out from the group, swinging left to venture around the far side of the compound, getting them away from the rest of the team.

As soon as they were out of sight, Aymelek ripped out her kukri, slammed Cassidy against the wall and held her there.

"If I wanted you dead you would already be Dead. I'm trying to save your life. I've been locked up here the past two years, with my mate, locked up, sedated and treated like a f*cking lab rat to be used for experimentation. Now either you can hear what I have to say and decide whether or not you plan on LIVING, or you can go ahead and go lay down with the rest of THEM." She snarled, backing off and pointing her blade. The vision was nothing short of a horror film. Bodies stacked for miles, both infected and non, just laying their, rotting. The twins were flabbergasted and Cassidy retched at the mere sight. The two stood staring whilst Aymelek moved on, occasionally kicking over a body, double checking it.

"This... this is horrible." Markus stated quietly, as they followed. Aymelek looks at them all. The decaying bodies of hundreds of people.

"This is hardly what one could call horrible." Aymelek stated honestly, pushing on in silence for a long while before speaking up.

"About a year after the virus broke out, resources began dwindling... Prey became scarce, and the werewolves without packs started starving... because of it the Rogues, as we call them, did what they needed to survive, and began dining on the flesh of the dead. Including the infected humans.... well like any genetically engineered virus, it mutated in the rogues. Today, they are what we call Wendigo. Basically, a shifted werewolf, with a rotting corpse for a shell, and a very bad attitude." she explained calmly, inspecting her crossbow for a moment before looking at the two.

They were quiet for a long time before Markus spoke up.
"Why should we believe you?" He asked boldly, staring her in the eyes.

"I didnt say you have to believe me... I can just as easily show you. But are you prepared for the onslaught that will descend if I do?" Aymelek remarked calmly sinking into a crouch as she further inspected one particular body.

Cassidy came over and gasped, her eyes filling with unshed tears as she grabbed ahold of Markus. It was nothing more than a child, clearly infected, but a child nontheless.

"The longer this plague goes on, the worse it will get, Cassidy. I'm offering you guys a CHANCE. A true chance. One where you arent cooped up being tested, categorized, and placed in prey or predator categories. I'm choosing you. To join me, my mate, and our pack." She stated calmly, as she stood up, staring back at them.

"I dont understand any of this. You have to explain." Cassidy stated clearly overwhelmed with all of the information Aymelek was placing before them.

She would sigh and gesture for them, taking a kneeling position, away from prying eyes and potential spies.

"I'll give you the fast version, since we dont have much time. Schrackner is using my mates blood to try and change humans. Those people that you have heard of me "killing" are his failed test subjects." She explained, speaking quickly.
"Just understand. Once you do this, theres no coming back. You will never be human again." She added quietly looking at them with earnest.

"You said failed test subjects... how do you know that the test wont fail for us?" Markus as he looked around at all of the dead lying about. Their coms crackled, requesting them to return to the base.

Aymelek remained quiet until they were mere yards from the group before looking back at the two.
"I said they were HIS failed test subjects, I didn't say they were MINE." She stated simply, her eyes narrowing upon the two before they rejoined the group.