The Azrael (Book 4): Tricon

by Gagnon, Jesse

  “Shhh, bitch. Yer gonna call those zombies.” He spoke through rotten teeth.

  She still struggled to scream and only a subdued noise escaped beneath the tape. The man struggled to mount her as she fought him, kicking and jerking around. It angered him and he slapped her across her face. It snapped her head to the side causing a tear to escape her eye. She turned back at the man and the man had turned into José from the gang compound.

  “You’ve got no fucking respect culona!” José shouted and spat at her.

  She was now bound to a wooden chair. She shifted from left to right until she fell over. She lay on the ground, which was now covered in blood, still strapped to the chair. The red fluid gradually increased its volume almost covering her mouth and nose. She gasped and had trouble breathing. Lying next to her bleeding from the neck from a large mangled gash was the man from her apartment. The Tricon tattoo was glowing as if it were on fire. The blood continued to rise choking her. She spat out the blood from behind the tape, but it did not help. She was drowning.

  The environment became darker and her head throbbed. Cold water caused her to shiver and was at her chin, she was going to drown. After a quick investigation, she realized that she was still in François’ car and the seatbelt kept her from moving. To her left François was unconscious with a steel rebar puncturing through his chest. Blood coated his face and a large scab across his forehead revealed where it came from. What happened?

  Taliah reached for her seatbelt, activated the release button and became free. She coughed and rubbed at the indention around her waist from the seatbelt digging in. She attempted to pull the rebar from his chest but it was stuck in there good. The other end of it was attached to concrete in the water on the other side of the windshield. She didn’t have the strength to do it, but maybe if he were awake. She slapped him across the face.

  “François! Wake up! François!”

  He didn’t respond. She slapped him again even harder. His eyes opened frantically.

  “Pu...putain!” François stammered. He made an attempt to move and was unable to break free.

  “It’s that metal pole thing. It’s stuck through you.” Taliah pointed at it. “I...I...” Her teeth began to chatter out of control. “I tried to pull it out...I...couldn’t.” Water reached her mouth and she choked.

  “Sortez!” He spat out against the rebar dug through his chest and jerked violently causing even more blood to pour out of the wound. “Get out of here. Do not worry about François. Get yourself...” He searched for a solution as the water reached his mouth too. He raised his chin. “Get out Taliah!” He shouted while swallowing water. He gagged and coughed it out.

  Taliah swam through the windshield and reached the surface. A bridge was above her and the bank was about twenty feet away. She swam for the bank. She glanced back at the car. It was steadily sinking. Within twenty seconds, it became only bubbles on the surface. She searched for area recognition, threats or someone to help. She found nothing. Her teeth began to chatter again as the cool breeze caused her to shiver. She pulled into herself and rubbed her limbs with her hands attempting to warm them. Two minutes later a body surfaced with its face in the water. It was François. Taliah dove back in and flipped him over on his back. She wrapped her right arm around his neck and pulled him towards the bank. She dragged him to a large flat surface and laid him down. Instincts drove her to do CPR. She compressed his chest several times and followed with breaths into his lungs. She continued for three more rotations until she started to feel weird. She paused for a moment and became extremely dizzy. What was going on? Her stomach felt uneasy, she turned and vomited into the water. Her body shivered even worse than before while her vision blurred in and out. Instantly she knew what was happening. She was changing. The virus, François has the virus. She was going to turn into one of them. Anger, sadness, pain and frustration all hit her at once. Seconds later, she seized.

  Moments later François awoke choking on water from within his lungs and turned to spew it out. He inhaled a large breath followed by a few coughs to clear his lungs of the remaining water. He lay on his back looking into the night stars and steadied his breathing. Noises of movement next to him startled him.

  “Taliah?”

  He sat up and inspected the body next to him. She was foaming at the mouth and moving like bacon in a hot pan. What happened? He brought himself over to her and inspected her body. She was burning up and seizing violently as if she were bitten. Bitten? He searched for bite marks but found none. He wiped a strand of saliva frim his lips with his sleeve and then studied where they were. Did she attempt CPR on him? “Merde! Stupid girl.” He spat.

  François scanned his pockets for the Azrael serum but they were in the car. He dragged her further onto land and leapt back into the water in search of his bag in the trunk. He got it open after a minute and retrieved his bag. When he made it back to her, she was not breathing.

  “Taliah!” He called out to her. She did not respond. “Taliah can you hear me?” He continued until he neared her body. She still rested there lifeless. However, her heartbeat thumped quietly. It was too slow and sporadic. Maybe she beat the virus. He inspected the syringe and looked at her. If he gave it to her then she would be dependent on it every single day for the rest of her life. Yet, there is still a chance that she will still turn. She remained calm with a faint heartbeat now beating to a slow but regular cadence. She was in a comatose state but did not turn. The stress of the seizures and whatever the virus did to her must have been too much for her brain to handle, he contemplated.

  François picked her up and placed her over his left shoulder along with his bag on his right. He climbed up the bank and back onto the road. He surveyed in both directions searching for which way he came. The skid marks from the tires identified where the car skidded out of control. François remembered what brought them into the river down below the bridge. Two large Azrael were charging towards them from the bridge. There was nowhere to turn to avoid them so the only option was to face them head on. The collision ended violently, decapitating and amputating one Azrael while crushing the other underneath. Unfortunately, the strength of the Azrael’s legs redirected the car into the river while breaking a large slab of concrete with the heavy framed exotic vehicle. That was where the steel rebar came into play. He studied his chest injury and rubbed the soggy scab.

  François found one Azrael corpse on the road just before the bridge. However, the other one was but a stain on the road. Did it fall into the river with the car? Alternatively, was it out there waiting to attack when his guard was down? He did not want to find the answer to that and jogged while carrying Taliah back towards where he came from. He remembered seeing a structure about a mile before the bridge. The dangers of following the road on foot were high but he did not have time to waste. Taliah was burning up and needed immediate medical attention. He was covered in mud from the bank and so was Taliah. He hoped that it was enough to mask their scent, at least until they arrived at the house.

  Chapter 26

  Catch Up Part II

  “Shit, so dad kept Janet chained up in the backyard as a guard dog? Jesus, what an asshole. He even found a way to piss off an awakened Azrael enough that she didn’t mind eating the man.”

  Jason shrugged.

  “If anyone is capable of that, it’s our father. Take me to where you buried him.” Giselle asked.

  Jason walked out back and the Azrael chained noticed Giselle and snarled. Jason grunted angrily towards them and they quieted down. About a hundred yards away by the stream that fed into the lake, small mounds of dirt identified both bodies buried.

  “What’s this written on the grave marker?”

  Jason grunted, gestured writing and shrugged.

  “I mean, your handwriting was shitty before, but what the fuck is this? A circle, backwards J, and the roman numeral for three mean Dad?”

  Jason shook his head.

  “So this is Janet?”

  Jason
nodded.

  “And what looks like frog legs, the number seven and the peace sign is Dad?”

  Jason nodded.

  “Fuck it, I can live with that.”

  Jason shrugged and then nodded.

  Giselle sat down at the edge of the bank and dangled her feet in the stream. Jason sat down next to her and studied the movements of the creatures in the water. His natural Azrael smell seeped through his pores, his breath and out of his behind. A long-winded fart escaped his ass and he didn’t flinch from it.

  “Excuse you. Jesus, Jason.”

  He glanced up at her with a look of confusion. He shrugged.

  “That’s part of the motor functions Awakened don’t get back. It was in Vlad’s report as well. I forgot about that, sorry Miss Giselle.” Toko explained as he walked over to them.

  “I guess there is no need for pleasantries among zombies. Do you think it would smell different based on their diet?” She asked.

  “The virus has certain enzymes in the digestive tract that are specialized at breaking down human tissue. Since Jason has been consuming wild animals, the enzymes must have had trouble breaking down some of the bacteria from the meat producing a more pungent odor through his pores and through flatulence.”

  “So the other Azrael would know that they were different?”

  “Their diet was different. I guess they would notice that.”

  “Do you think that’s how the Alpha has been able to avoid the others?”

  “That’s a good theory Miss Giselle. I’m sure Jason can’t wait to meet the other Awakened Azrael.”

  Jason nodded his head. Movement in the woods near the house alarmed all of them. It reeked of Azrael and was moving towards them recklessly with no regards to stealth.

  “Are you expecting company?”

  Jason shook his head.

  Azrael in rural areas had developed cunning tactics at hunting. The heartbeat of the unexpected visitor seemed a bit slower than an Azrael but was racing for a human. Its voice sounded troubled and familiar as it apparently was running for its life. Upon further investigation, a small herd of about nine was roughly a hundred yards behind and closing fast.

  “Giselle!” The girl cried out.

  It was the girl from the last house. How did she track them? She held a smart phone in her hand…the phone.

  “Toko, the phone. She tracked us with the phone.”

  “Hai, looks like she brought some friends too.”

  Jason turned to Giselle with a troubled look on his face. He sprinted towards the girl. Toko and Giselle were right behind. The speed at which they were approaching Samantha alarmed her. She slowed and tilted her head.

  “Giselle?”

  “It’s me girl. Run! Don’t look back. Run!” Giselle hollered.

  Giselle was unsure if they would reach her before the others did. They appeared well fed and were large experienced hunters. The girl ran towards them once more. Giselle removed her pistol and aimed at the largest one, which happened to be the closest to the girl. They were beyond the maximum range of the weapon but she had no choice. She had to take the shot or the girl would most assuredly be bitten into.

  She pulled the trigger several times. They connected but the power behind the shots barely slowed it down.

  “Shit!” She remembered making a modified version of Jason’s flash grenade. It was in her bag. She reached back, unzipped it and hollered over to Jason. She did not want to stop running so she could continue bridging the gap. “Grab the flash grenade out of my bag and throw it at them, hurry!” She instructed to Jason.

  He came over, removed the grenade and tossed it towards them.

  “Girl! Close your eyes. The field ahead is clear. Don’t worry about running into anything. Just close your eyes. Trust me.” Giselle hoped that she listened.

  The grenade landed beside the girl and rolled behind her. It activated illuminating the field in blinding light. Jason and Giselle squinted but tried to maintain visual of the girl. Toko shut his eyes and listened for footsteps. He heard the girl’s steps but the Azrael still moved forward. However, their speed dropped drastically. She would make it to them in time but a fight will take place.

  The girl ran past Toko and Giselle still closing her eyes.

  “You can open your eyes!” Giselle hollered and was relieved that her plan worked.

  The Azrael continued towards them in a stagger. The light fizzled out and they all gradually received their vision back. Toko opened his eyes and his sight had been unaffected by the grenade. He removed his sword from his back and sprinted ahead of the group. Giselle and Jason struggled to regain control of their heightened senses that had just been overstimulated. However, Toko took advantage of his tactical advantage and engaged the nine on his own with his blade. Although, culture would encourage a traditional folded samurai blade, he used a 1060 high carbon steel katana that was clay tempered to allow flex. Modern day steel lacks the carbon impurities that the traditional Japanese blade smiths had to work with in the days of old. Therefore, there was no need in folding out impurities on a fine piece of steel.

  Through calculated strikes and a visual advantage, Toko dispatched a swift death to each Azrael of the group. Without that advantage, most of the strikes would have been dodged or blocked. Fortunately for Toko, all of the Azrael’s sight was handicapped due to the intense light delivered by the grenade.

  Giselle and Jason eventually arrived while Toko was sheathing his sword. Jason gestured towards the pieces of Azrael and pointed at Toko. Giselle held a grenade in her hand that she retrieved from her gun belt and was ready to throw it.

  “Hai, Thanks to the phosphorous glow of justice, I was able to deliver a silent judgment.”

  Jason’s face scrunched up. Giselle slowly reattached the grenade and explained Toko’s words.

  “He’s a romantic optimist. What he meant to say was due to the grenade blinding them; he was able to kill them.”

  Jason nodded.

  “Do not diminish the value of life Miss Giselle. Although infected with a maddening virus, these creatures still have a heartbeat.”

  “You’ve killed hundreds of these things. Why have you been so sentimental about them lately?” Giselle asked.

  “Every day we are learning more and more about these creatures. Look beside you. Although awakened, your brother is in fact an Azrael. And according to Vlad’s reports the one they call Randall said…well gestured, that before he was awakened his mind remained within the body of a crazed murderer that he had no control over.”

  “Are you saying that if you turn into one of them, you don’t actually die but remain stuck inside the body as it kills on its own? That’s ridiculous. How could anyone remain sane after that? Even if you bridged the gap to reconnect to the body, how fucked up in the head would you be after that?”

  “Which is why we must respect all creatures equally Miss Giselle.”

  “Or give them a quick death.” Giselle corrected.

  “Hai.”

  The girl slowly walked towards them.

  “What are you guys talking about? Awakened?”

  Giselle pointed to Jason. “He’s one.” Jason approached the girl. She stepped back. “He’s my brother. Unlike those over there.” She waved her hand towards the Azrael pieces. “He’s actually still in control over his actions, hence he’s awakened.”

  Jason bumped her shoulder with his fist and gestured sleeping.

  “Oh, right. When his mind sleeps, his body takes over. So he’s half in control.” Giselle corrected.

  “What does he eat?” The girl asked.

  “He still eats meat but only wild animals. Right Jason?” She glared at him.

  He nodded, gestured sleeping and followed with a shrug.

  “Why isn’t he saying anything?”

  “The virus does something to that part of the brain.” Jason interrupted gesturing to his throat. “And some lump in his throat affects his vocal cords or they are his vocal cords. I don’t
know. All I know is that he can’t talk.” Giselle continued.

  “Can he write?”

  “Nope.”

  Jason nodded.

  “That shit wasn’t words Jason. I’m sorry.” Giselle scolded Jason.

  He shrugged and quietly grunted to himself.

  “Tell her about us too Miss Giselle.” Toko added.

  “What about you? Should I be concerned?” She backed up a few more steps.

  “We also were infected with the virus…in a way.” Giselle continued.

  “Awakened?”

  “No, not like that. We never entered the necrosis event. Once that happens, it hardwires your brain to be primitive hunters with the urge to spread the virus through the bite. Apparently, it also does something with the ability to communicate on an intellectual level. We’re still learning more and more about it each day.” Giselle explained.

  “So what are you then? Are you contagious?”

  “Yes, we are still contagious.” Toko answered.

  The girl stepped back once more.

  “Only through the saliva.” Giselle added.

  “So, don’t drink after you…check.” The girl responded.

  “I mean, we do still have all of the Azrael’s enhanced senses and their incredible recovery times.” Giselle boasted.

  “Giselle actually came back from death.” Toko exclaimed.

  “But wouldn’t that have kick started the necrosis event?” The girl asked.