The Touch of Infection

Chapter 67: Humans and Alaois

Marnik heard Ezhno and one second later he slammed his fist on his face, "I'm never leaving!" Getting on top of Ezhno to continue punching him Marnik was knocked back by Amite.

"Ezhno go inside! Marnik!... walk with me." She said and pulled him along a few feet away from the vehicle.

"What excuse do you want to say!?" Marnik hissed, his nose wrinkled as he glared, "I'm not telling you where she is, I'm not going with you and I am not leaving her! Not going back to HQ..."

"Quiet down." She said calmly, "We are going back to HQ... we are not leaving her. Whatever Ezhno said then let him be, no ones getting through to him, but you cannot leave her in this wild place. Much less alone like you just have." She placed an arm on his shoulder gently and looked him in the eyes sympathetically, "I'm sure you've seen the new addition to the infected already, your tail is wounded... so just imagine when she gets bit and you're not around... she's all on her own. What then?"

Marnik looked at the floor, "That's exactly why you need to leave, and I need to go back."

"Marnik-"

The talk gets interrupted as Ezhno opened the door, picking his head out, "They found her... and she's headed back to HQ... what ya gonna do Marnik." He snickered, as his lip curled up.

Marnik's glare was like stone, stomping his way into the vehicle, "I'll drive."

"Not in this one you won't." Ezhno told him before passing him by and sitting at the driver's seat, "Since she is going to HQ with us in the end... I just hope they don't find a cure."

Just as Marnik was about to take another swing at him Amite pulled him out and shut the door to the driver's area, "Ignore him." Amite said and pulled him away from the door, "This is a good thing, you're both going to be together, back in HQ... just take this time to think."

As Marnik crossed his hands and sat away from Amite, Carisa had arrived at the camp Zareb spoke of. The door to the vehicle opening and Neda telling the people to walk out.

Their hesitation only got the other Alaois to begin pushing them out. When they were pushed out Carisa poked her head out to see the camp full of people walking around and minding their business. Some however glared towards the Alaois and murmured under their breaths.

Neda stood in front of Carisa blocking the view, "Let's go back in Carisa, we're going to HQ. Zareb let Marnik know we're headed there. So he'll probably make it there first then us."

Carisa stood back inside, breaking her gaze from the people, and sat down, "How's Bavyn?"

Neda turned to answer, "Locked inside a room, the commanders are busy... everyone is, any kids are just being left in their rooms and checked on regularly."

"So they're being left alone. Won't that affect them?"

Neda shook her head, "They'll be fine."

Carisa turned to look at the floor, the vehicle starting up again and begging to move. Having no other humans around Neda sat beside Carisa more leisurely.

"You know Carisa Maybe you and Marnik should leave the planet. I'm sure the other alaois ships will be more than willing to study the infection. You'll get to see so many things while they're at it. Wouldn't you like to see what's beyond the stars?" Neda asked smiling brightly.

"Well, I can do that after getting cured, after all, I wouldn't want to miss this whole, human preservation thing." Carisa mentioned but saw the change in Neda's face, "Why did you say that?"

"Because maybe you don't get another chance..." Neda looked away staring at the wall, "What if we fail... and you die?"

"Then I die... I'll be here, right at home. It's thanks to Marnik, Amite, and Ezhno that I was able to see my home again. To go inside... and just see what was left of it." Carisa curled up shaking her head and joking, "maybe you'll make friends with the humans, and get a better idea of what I mean."

"I don't think I will," Neda said rather ominously.

"Why?"

"I tried speaking to the humans, being all nice a sweet. The next thing I see is a gun in my face... and unless you pointed a gun in Marnik's face the first time you met and that's completely normal... I didn't like their disrespect." Neda spoke as her hands clenched, looking at Carisa, "Did you do that when you met him."

"First time I ever used a gun was one of Marnik's. So no, when I met him I was kind... and he was planning to eat me." Carisa spoke leaning her head on her hands. Neda laughed, as Carisa spoke again, "I'm not joking."

Her laughter died out, "Oh... so why did you stick around?"

"Because I didn't find out about it until like a week ago. Can you believe that? All the reason I've made it this far is because he felt like eating me and changed his mind later on." Carisa crossed her hands and pouted, "but..." she got serious, "Marnik's no saint, and neither are the rest of you. Because I'll never forget what you've all done, I'll move past it, I'll try and forget, but o don't know if I can ever forgive it."

Neda slumped over herself, "I can accept that, I wouldn't forgive us either if I were in your place. We are all close with each other, shoot my partner I'll rip off your head... take my whole family and life away... I wouldn't be like you... I'd already would have either killed everyone responsible or died trying." She leaned over closely, "Say you'd eat me... and I'll eat you first."

Carisa couldn't hold in the snort, laughing slightly, "You're quite hot-headed."

"I know, but from now on you never need to worry about anyone coming to hurt you. Because you became one of us... and we'd kill if it's to keep you safe." Neda whispered then, "And I don't mind haven't to break the rest of your kind, to get one single cure and nothing more."

"You're starting to sound like Marnik to me," Carisa stressed, feeling her cheek being pulled, and seeing Neda pull at her.

"Oh please ask Amite, Ezhno, Zareb, and any other Alaois that's met you and they'll say that." Neda declared and stopped pulling.

"Well..." Carisa grinned wide, "Hasn't any of the alaois at the camp... found any human... interesting I suppose?"

Neda laughed, "I don't know... I don't wanna think about it." She gasped, "What if there are a few... you guys can make the human/alaois club."

"No... just no."