What Remains (Book 3): Epidemic

by Barrett, Tyler

  Evans was able to wrestle control of her mind most of the time, but her other half clung, always tearing at her mind. The occasional dark thought or harsh comment would make its way across the mental barrier she had erected. Sometimes it would be too strong to fight, and she fell to the force, giving control.

  It wasn’t long before she closed her eyes, feeling tired. Evans dreaded sleeping, never knowing if her other half would take over while she rested. Glad to be locked inside the containment room, she would be unable to harm anyone if she did lose control. Feeling at ease, her mind drifted, falling asleep.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Evans ran, her shoes slapping the concrete as she passed building after building. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst through her chest, but ignored the feeling, fearing what happened if she stopped. Eventually, her body forced her to halt, as her legs began to give out.

  Throwing herself at the nearest door she could see, Evans ended up inside a shop. Sliding under the counter that once was used to check out customers, she curled up into a ball. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she sobbed, deep, body wracking wails.

  This is all my fault, mine. She’s dead now, all because I stupidly believed I was immune. The only person that kept me going, who helped me, gone. She’s one of the Infected now! Meika, you didn’t deserve this!

  Evans’ mind felt as though it was going to explode, emotion pouring out.

  What do I do? I have to go back…I have to… NO! There must be a way to save her. I…I…I’ll think of a way to cure her! Someone out there will be able to help! They can make a cure, bring Meika back! There has to be a way; there has to...

  Rocking back and forth, Evans cried, letting out another wail of pain and sorrow.

  A low moan echoed throughout the store, interrupting Evans momentarily. Knowing the infected wouldn’t attack her, she continued to rock and cry. Shortly after, the moan grew louder until the slap of the infected person's hands began to beat on the countertop. The sound was constant, stronger, and stronger with each hit, making Evans curl up tighter. This continued until Evans couldn’t take it anymore, wanting it to stop.

  “STOP!”

  Her scream only sent the creature into a frenzy, throwing itself over the counter. Evans climbed out from underneath, standing up to face the infected. It was a man, dressed in a tattered suit, a large chunk missing from his right arm.

  “STOP! Please…Just stop!”

  Her answer was just a moan and more aggressive lunges. Evans’ emotions shifted from grief and sadness to anger, hatred.

  These infected…they just never stop; they never give up. They always attack, bite, infect…not like I do. I’m the next step in the Virus’s plan. Nothing can stop me, not even myself. Why try? I can still be useful; I can still be of use to someone. They can use my blood; make sure that no one else will ever get infected.

  Evans watched the creature, trapped by something as simple as a wooden countertop. How could something so hellbent on destroying the Human race, be so easily stopped. It was only temporary, though, knowing that once she left, the creature would follow her until it found another prey. It was inevitable, the infected would always chase, never giving up.

  Evans had to do the same. After all, she was one of them, but the only difference was she was able to keep her mind. The creature before her was just a simple mindless vessel for the Virus.

  I am not one of those creatures. I am still myself, nothing like this thing before me. It’s just a walking corpse, nothing more.

  The creature let out another moan, begging for Evans to come closer. Evans’ anger, boiled up, white-hot heat radiating through her body as if someone had dumped molten lava down her throat.

  “I told you to STOP!”

  The creature didn’t respond, and before Evans knew what she was doing, she grabbed the creature’s arm, yanking it over the counter. It fell face first onto the floor, flailing its limbs. Evans planted her foot on its back, keeping it on the ground, focusing her anger into the hate, she began to kick the infected man’s head.

  Using all of her might, she wanted to kill the creature. After a few successful kicks, she had done just that, as the man stopped moving altogether. Her rage continued as she began to stomp her foot into what was left of the man’s skull. Black, thick, blood oozed out of its brain. Portions of brain matter were forced out of the gaping hole Evans had stomped into the infected man’s head.

  Evans stopped, staring at the destruction she had wrought once more. This was more carnal, gore all over the ground around her. Lifting her shoe, black ooze slowly fell off onto the floor with a sickening slap. Breathing heavily, Evans felt the rage subside, feeling drained.

  I need to find somewhere to take a rest. I need to clear my mind, get a plan together.

  Evans took a step back, wanting to be away from the gore and smell of death. Losing her footing, her gore covered shoe slipped, falling backward. Her head struck something hard, and she crumbled onto the floor, blacking out.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Evans groaned as she opened her eyes, head pounding. A sharp pain shot through her neck into the base of her skull. Pulling herself up, Evans spotted the infected man she had killed earlier, feeling completely indifferent about what she had done. One less infected, one less problem in the world. Carefully, she walked toward the entrance of the building. It was late evening, several hours later than when she had entered.

  Okay, think. I need a plan; I need somewhere to go to regroup. Where do I go?

  Looking around, Evans didn’t know her surroundings and began to tremble. Her stomach felt tight, sinking down into her legs, but ignored the feeling. Shambling down the road, she had no direction, aimlessly moving. Making it a block away from the store, Evans stopped at, thinking it was just the wind, but she swore her name was called.

  “Evans.”

  More pronounced, Evans clearly heard her name called but wondered who or where it was coming from. There wasn’t anyone in sight, and she couldn’t make out the direction the voice originated from.

  “Evans!”

  Stopping in the middle of the street, she looked around, trying to figure out who was calling her name. There wasn’t a soul in sight, only abandoned buildings, cars, and empty streets.

  “Hello? Is someone there?” Evans called out, spinning around looking to see if someone would appear.

  Suddenly, out of the corner of her vision, she caught a glimpse of someone running down an alley.

  “Wait!” Evans yelled, giving chase.

  Moving toward the entrance of the alley, Evans slowed down momentarily to see if she could spot the person but didn’t see any movement. Inching her way further, she wanted to find this person.

  I don’t want to be alone…I can’t be…

  At the end of the alley, Evans caught sight of someone’s legs, just rounding the corner to the right.

  “Are you lost? I can help you.”

  “Wait, come back! I am lost, I need help!”

  Chasing the person, wondering why they were running away from her, she sprinted after them. Where are they leading me? Why won’t they talk to me directly?

  Evans reached the end of the alley, looking to the right, finding it empty as well. Confused, she looked around once more, a sinking feeling of worry filled her being.

  What is going on? Who is this messing with me?

  “Hello?” Evans called out once more in frustration, “I don’t have time for these games!”

  “Of course, you do, if there’s anything you have, its time. Look around, it’s the apocalypse.”

  “Where are you? Show yourself! Stop hiding!”

  At the end of the block, she caught another glimpse of movement, someone running behind the building. Sprinting, Evans was determined to catch the person and demand why they were doing this to her. She had to put a stop to this game.

  Reaching the corner, she barreled around it, full force into one of the infected. Evans bounced off the man, sending
them both flying. Scrambling to get up, she sent a kick at the man’s head, who was still lying on the ground.

  “Haha, you should watch where you are going.”

  “This…isn’t…funny!” Evans yelled in between kicks.

  She stopped kicking once the infected man was still hunching over to catch her breath. Looking around, she knew the person was close enough they could make fun of her for running into one of the infected.

  “I’m giving up. I’m not chasing you anymore. I don’t want or need your help!”

  “You don’t need me, huh? Well, Evans, I need you.”

  “If you need me, then why don’t you show yourself!”

  “Haha! I’m waiting for the right moment when you give me control.”

  “What are you talking about? Show yourself!”

  “Move closer to the building toward the window.”

  “Why would I do that? I can’t see you; I don’t know you.”

  “You want answers, move to the window. I promise I’m not here to hurt you.”

  Begrudgingly, Evans moved closer to the windows. The building was glass, from the ground to the roof, darkened so no one could see inside, reflecting the street. Looking over her shoulder as she approached the window, Evans half expected someone to ambush her.

  “Where are you? I’m at the window like you said.”

  Evans’ reflection was the only thing in view in the window, nothing else moved. Her reflection was disheveled, covered in grime and dirt.

  Growing impatient, Evans turned around, “Are you going to show yourself?”

  “Look at the window, really look at it.”

  With a heavy sigh, she turned around, facing the window, expecting the same reflection as before, but this one was different. Jumping back in surprise, the reflection didn’t move, standing still, smiling. Meika stared back at her, with that charming smile that lit up a room. Evans began to shake, turning around, finding no one behind her still.

  “It’s me, Evans, why do you look so worried?”

  Looking back at the reflection, Evans shook her head hysterically, “NO! I watched…you turn. You aren’t real, you can’t be.”

  “I am real. I’m a part of you now. I told you I wouldn’t ever leave you, and I kept my promise. I’m here with you.”

  “No, no, no. You’re infected. You’re just in my head.”

  Laughing Meika clapped her hands, “If I was in your head, then how are we talking? Besides, I need you.”

  “You need me, what for?”

  Meika shyly looked away, “I need you to get up and fix that radio. Together we can escape, just like we planned, nothing has changed. We can get out of here and back to the rest of the world.”

  “But…I’m not immune, I’m a carrier. I can only hurt people. Like you.”

  “You didn’t hurt me, you freed me! I should be thanking you. I no longer feel pain, and I get to always be with you now.”

  Evans fell to her knees, crying, placing her hand against the window, “This is all my fault. I can’t. I can’t go on.”

  “Not even for me?”

  Evans watched as Meika moved her hand to match along with hers, and the glass felt warm for just a moment.

  “Come on, if you won’t do it for you, do it for me!”

  Evans shook her head, wiping away tears.

  “Evans, get up!” Meika’s tone changing to a less pleasant one.

  “Fine,” Evans replied weakly, shakily standing.

  “That’s it. You just have to believe, together, we can make it through this.”

  “Where do I go? I don’t know where I am,” Evans asked, looking to Meika for help.

  “I’ll show you the way, just follow me. I have things I want to show you along the way.”

  Meika continued walking in the reflection down the street; Evans caught glimpses of her moving building to building and moved to follow. Advancing three blocks, Evans caught up to Meika, stopping next to her.

  “Why are we stopping?”

  “Look, do you see those tall buildings in the distance?”

  “Yeah, is that where the radio station is?”

  “Yes, but first we need to make sure you can survive getting there. We don’t have any supplies or a weapon.”

  “Okay, I’ll search, how will I find you?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll always be nearby. Just call for me, and I will be there.”

  Evans looked at the building they were stopped at, deciding to enter it for her search. Thirty minutes later, she entered the street again, holding a small plastic sack with various food from a vending machine. She wasn’t lucky enough to find a weapon but had the necessities.

  Looking around, Evans couldn’t spot Meika and called for her, “Meika?”

  “I’m here. Don’t worry. It will be dark soon, start heading toward the building, but choose somewhere to hole up for the night.”

  “Okay,” Evans replied, nodding.

  Jogging down the street, Evans cleared several blocks before she stopped, spotting a small group of the infected heading the same direction she was heading in. About to turn down a side street to go around them, Meika made herself known once more.

  “Why hide from them? You know they won’t hurt you.”

  “Because I’m not one of them. They make me uneasy.”

  “You are one of them, Evans. They accept you as one of their own, yet you don’t do the same, why?”

  “I just don’t…”

  “You don’t, what? Trust me, Evans, walk with them, join their group, there’s no reason to hide or be afraid of them.”

  “But…I just don’t…”

  “Evans, do you trust me?”

  She didn’t respond or move, frozen with indecision.”

  “Evans! Go, join them!” Meika said forcefully.

  Walking slowly, but still faster than the infected, Evans was able to catch up to the group, who didn’t notice her join. Looking at the infected, she studied them to make sure they weren’t going to attack her.

  “See, you have nothing to be afraid of. They accept you. Why don’t you follow them for a while, search for a place to stay?”

  Evans followed behind the group of infected, totaling five, not including herself in the group, after all, she wasn’t completely like them. I can still at least think for myself. I remember who I am. They don’t seem so bad, though. I can use them to my advantage, make it easier to get around without worry.

  The closest infected to her was a woman, wearing a beige jacket, and blue jeans, with shoulder-length hair. If it wasn’t for her unmistakable gait, Evans would have figured that she was normal. Following them, she got the sense of a pack; they all moved together, seeking a singular goal as one.

  Evans' pace was faster than the infected; her motor functions unaffected. She quickly passed the others and was ahead of them, and they began to follow her. Continuing on her path toward the radio station, the infected followed, if she turned a corner, so did the group.

  “See Evans; you lead them. They follow you, as I did. All this time you were afraid of them, but instead should have thought of them as your own.”

  “They need you too, just as humanity does. You are the key, the savior of both the infected and Humankind alike. The bridge between life and death.”

  I'm the key; I’m the one who can stop this all. Meika is right. I need to fix the radio equipment and help the world.

  “You have a purpose, Evans. Don’t let anything get in the way of that.”

  Evans felt more confident with each step; she was the leader of the infected, a champion of their virus. However, she was still human, and their savior as well.

  A crash halted her walk, taking her out of her own head. The noise came from a building on her right, a small house, door ajar. Evans had stopped in the street, but her infected compatriots moved in on the source of the noise. She watched the house, knowing that someone was alive inside, as she spotted the top half of someone's head peek through the window.
>
  Evans watched as the infected closed in on the door, but a man stepped out to greet them. He dual-wielded a hammer and a crowbar, rushing to meet the first infected, the woman Evans had first inspected. The man slammed the hammer into her head, followed by an upward jab with the crowbar, quickly ending the woman.

  “This is your true enemy, Evans. Those who don’t understand us. The virus isn’t something to be feared or attacked. People like this man are dangerous, they attack without question.”

  Evans watched as the man killed two more infected, clearly seasoned at the task.

  “Be wary of the soldier who fights for survival. They have no leader, no rules, only fear. He's killing others like us with the virus, what’s to stop him from trying the same to us once he finds out we are infected?”

  “He’s just scared; he’s not a threat to us,” Evans said softly, entranced.

  “No, Evans, you know better. You’ve seen what people who are afraid do. They kill indiscriminately. No remorse. This man is unfit for the gift we have.”

  Without realizing it, Evans began to move toward the man as he fought with the last infected. She felt as though someone was wrestling her own mind away by force.

  “He's unworthy to remain in the utopia we will build once we leave this island. He must be stopped, or he will bring ruin to us.”

  Evans felt like she was a backseat driver within her body as she lost control and was only able to watch.

  The man noticed Evans approaching, taking a step back, staring at her eyes wide with fear. He shouted something at her in Japanese but didn’t know what he said. He stumbled over one of the bodies of the recently killed infected, scrambling to get up. He wildly swung his hammer at Evans, but her body easily dodged them.

  It was clear the man wasn’t use fighting living people, as he gasped in surprise as Evans grabbed the hammer, yanking it away from him. Defenseless, the man began to scream and cry, crawling backward.

  “Do you see now? He is weak. He is nothing. Unfit, unworthy, undeserving. He attacked us out of fear; he must pay. How will we make him pay?”

  “He doesn’t need to pay! We can leave him alone! He is just trying to survive!” Evans screamed, but no words came from her mouth.