“Mollie!” a shout brought her focus back as a prisoner ran towards her, an automatic pistol in hand. Her senses seemed to slow time as she heard the click of the trigger being pulled.
Gregor suddenly appeared beside her, his claymore swinging down towards the man, slicing his hand at the wrist. The gun and hand spun in circles through the air as a cartwheel of blood flowed from the wound, spraying over Mollie’s face.
Turning, Mollie’s tongue ran along her blood-stained lips, tasting the bitter iron. Gregor watched her closely for a moment. A smile spreading over his face as her eyes flashed red.
“Ah, Mollie. Welcome back to the clan,” he proclaimed as Mollie swallowed the blood and felt the influence of the infection in her bloodstream trigger. She was entering what the Krovoz called the berserker state. A pure state of being that focused solely on one task, the survival of the bloodline. Deep down, she realised now it was a survival instinct of the synthetic blood, almost as if it were a living entity, protecting and propagating its offspring.
Right now, however, she only knew one thing. She wanted blood, and lots of it.
Chapter Seventy-One
Bella
“What the hell have you done to them!” Bella shouted, getting to her feet despite the pain in her shoulder.
The bodies of Ally, Prime, and Persephone were all stood frozen. Their expressions were glazed over as if their minds had been switched off. Salem was still sat on the floor, though his eyes were now darting around the room.
“Don’t worry about them,” Jacob said, his voice calm and collected, “they have simply been taken out of the equation.”
“Taken out of the equation? What exactly does that mean?”
“I have to say, having Salem here was quite serendipitous.” Jacob walked towards Salem, but Bella stood between them.
“I want you to tell me exactly what is going on right now!” she shouted, eyes fixed on Jacob.
Jacob sighed as Yuri floated towards them.
“They have all been collected into Salem’s mind,” Yuri explained. “It wasn’t our original plan. We were hoping to work with Persephone in order to facilitate our own work. But when we saw Salem here, it gave us a much easier alternative. You see, as you know, Salem’s brain contains the prototype ARCH tech, allowing him to receive signals from the space around him.”
“I can hear them...all of them,” Salem whispered as he looked up, his eyes seeming to focus behind Yuri.
“Yes, Salem, I simply boosted the range of the ARCH receiver in your mind through a remote hack. The boost allowed it to intercept both Peter and Persephone’s signals which they were projecting to try and overpower each other.” Yuri explained.
Jacob had walked towards Ally, examining her eyes.
“Ally here is a curious anomaly, though. I don’t know why she would have been taken in as well,” Jacob pondered, looking over at Yuri.
“Agreed, perhaps something to do with her TNDA, her genetic marker is present in both the others, inherited in the cloning. This is why we need her still, but not like this. We need to get her free of this collective we’re created,” Yuri analysed.
Bella knelt next to Salem, his eyes moving around the room again, looking at people that weren’t there.
“Salem, can you hear me?”
“Bella? Are you in here too?” his eyes darting around as though he was trying to see her.
“No, I’m still in the Nucleus. Where are you?”
“I’m not anywhere; it seems. I’m observing the others. They’re arguing about how to get out. Got to say, it’s a pretty fucking trippy!”
Bella smiled. At least he hadn’t lost his sense of humour.
“Apparently, Yuri and Jacob boosted the receiver in your head. I think they know where you came from,” she said, glancing up at them.
“Fuck, I kinda liked my whole enigmatic origin story,” Salem smiled, his hands moving around as if reaching for something. “Is my flask around here?”
Bella opened his jacket and pulled out the metallic container, and placed it into his open hands.
“Thank you,” he said, carefully finding his mouth and taking a swing.
“If we kill Salem, would that release them?” Yuri asked dryly as he drifted towards them.
“Don’t even think about it!” Bella jumped to her feet, gun in hand.
“You do realise I’m a hologram, right?” Yuri said, eyeing the gun curiously.
“Sure, but that means I’ll shoot through you and hit him!” she nodded her head towards Jacob.
“Fair point,” Yuri smiled.
“I think that killing Salem would be unproductive anyway,” Jacob added, “it could cause the signals to be trapped in his dying brain.”
“True, there are too many uncertainties,” Yuri agreed.
“Can’t you just turn the receiver off?” Bella asked, her gun still trained on Jacob.
“That would cause another problem, I’m afraid,” Yuri said. “Turning it off with all of them inside could merge the signals upon their return. They need to return separately; if they all return at once, then the minds may be entwined.”
Salem was taking another swing, missing his mouth slightly, the liquid dripping down his chin.
“Guys,” he called out. “I think I might be able to have some influence in here!”
“What do you mean?” Bella said, glancing at him but keeping her guard up.
“Perhaps it's all the time I’ve spent in VR, moulding worlds to what I want, but it seems that this world inside my brainpan, I’m a fucking god!” he laughed almost manically as his eyes began to zig-zag.
“Yuri, do you think this is possible?” Jacob asked.
“In theory, it could be similar to the human experience of lucid dreaming. Being able to control the imagination of the mind. If Salem is experiencing a distancing from the area the others are present in; it’s possible that it is being created in the same areas that dreams are formed. If that’s the case, he could be able to transpose his own thoughts and will upon it.”
“Hell yeah!” Salem laughed harder.
“Salem, you need to get them to work together to ensure their signals are separated before we turn off your receiver so that they all return to their correct bodies in one piece. Can you do that?” Yuri said.
“Oh, ho, ho, I think I can give it a go!” Salem exclaimed.
Chapter Seventy-Two
Mollie
The rage was in complete control of Mollie, the process creating an unending cycle. As she drew more of the Krovoz’s power to fight and kill, the synthetic blood was used up, creating the need for it to be replenished. Using it also reduced the control over her own thoughts, becoming more feral and acting on pure instinct, which currently meant violence and blood. This was the berserker rage that made the Krovoz both deadly and terrifying to any who stood in their way.
She was still holding the pair of blood-drenched daggers Gregor had given her as she moved through the army of prisoners. Blades finding targets with each step she took, slicing arms, torsos and necks as she almost danced around the battlefield. Her metal hand became a useful defence from several attacks, allowing her to parry and block strikes before she retaliated with her blades. Around her, the other Krovoz were equally feral, but the constant swarms of prisoners never seemed to diminish.
Glancing behind her, she saw the MPD barricade was being overrun; several sections of metal had fallen. Gregor caught her eye as he swung his sword and decapitated another prisoner. Gregor’s lower jaw extending downward, revealing the razor-sharp teeth it concealed before he grabbed the prisoner's decapitated head by the hair and lifted it above him. The blood poured into his exposed metallic throat, funnelling into his system. A roar erupted from his lungs, and he turned and dived into the battle once more, his powers reignited by the new blood.
Vladamir, who Mollie could easily see through the crowds as his shoulders towered above most of the people around him, was swinging his double-edged axe in l
arge arcs, blood spray trailing its motion. The man could have stood aside, directing the battle from a safe distance, but she knew that was not his way. Vladamir led by example and that meant standing side by side with his people. She couldn’t help but admire him for that.
Mollie turned away, as bloodlust of her own hungering at the sight of the battle. The only advantages of the MPD barricade falling, was that the slowing of the gunfire allowed the Krovoz to spread across the bridge without getting in the line of fire. One of the Bloodhounds Mollie didn’t recognise was stood standing in front of an exposed MPD soldier who was bleeding from a wound to his arm. Three prisoners leapt towards them, one firing a constant volley of bullets into the Bloodhound’s chest, whilst another dove forward with a sword he must have picked up from a fallen Krovoz. The shots slowed the Bloodhound as he walked towards the prisoners, looking like he was walking in a strong wind as bullets ripped into his torso. Finally, the sword-wielding prisoner stepped forward, driving the blade into the Bloodhound’s neck. The Bloodhound dropped to his knees as the prisoners rushed him. Mollie saw the glint of the blade flash in the air as it was ripped free, then it plunged into the bloodhound’s chest, ending his life.
As long as they kept up their bloodlust, the Krovoz could heal from most injuries, taking only a few moments to heal, but as Mollie watched, she knew the Bloodhound was defeated. Heart injuries were fatal to them, ceasing the body's ability to move blood through the body and disconnecting its link with Vladamir. The fallen bloodhound wouldn’t be able to recover. Similar attacks were happening across the bridge, without the threat of bullets, swarms of prisoners were banding together to take out the now dwindling Krovoz army. Vladamir spoke to them all through the blood connection, rallying the remaining Krovoz to form together. A line slowly began developing a new barrier consisting of twenty Krovoz cutting across the bridge. Vladamir stood at its centre with his axe in hand. Behind the line, another twenty Krovoz hunted the prisoners that had been trapped behind it.
Issak was now stood next to Mollie, clutching a katana whose blade was slick with blood.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” he hissed over the shouts of the fight. In front of them, the prisoners had also begun to line up, as though an unspoken pause in the fighting had been declared, allowing both sides to collect themselves. Mollie ignored the comment.
“They have no leader, they have no organisation, their only strength is in numbers!” shouted Vladamir, using his own voice rather than the blood to speak to his people. “Let us show them what we are truly made of!” A roar of anger and passion erupted as Vladamir charged forward, raising his axe and burying it deep within the chest of a prisoner who had stepped closer to them.
Suddenly, an explosion hit the space at the centre of the line. Several Krovoz seemed to vanish in the detonation, and Vladamir’s body was thrown backwards towards the remaining MPD forces. At that instant, Mollie felt something inside her drop away. Looking around, she saw the others felt it too. The connection to Vladamir had gone. The synthetic blood had lost its host. Like a computer without power it was suddenly dormant, taking away their abilities, their healing.
The momentary shock that cascaded across the Krovoz was snatched by the prisoners who rushed forward. The fighting resumed, but the Krovoz were no longer as cohesive as they had been, many fighting more cautiously than before.
Mollie felt an impact on the back of her head, white light flashing across her vision as she turned to see a prisoner with a baton swinging for a second attack. She raised her metallic hand, the metal connecting with the baton, the vibration forcing the man to reel back. She drove her daggers forwards and into the man’s chest, but she could tell her rage was waning, and the act caused an uncomfortable feeling inside her.
“Mollie!” Gregor shouted. She looked up as another prisoner approached her with a blade in hand. Mollie barely had time to avoid the attack, ducking down as the edge sliced the air where she had stood. Gregor barrelled into the man, his shoulder throwing her attacker to the floor.
“Go, find Vladamir! We need him!” Gregor shouted at Mollie.
“What about you?”
“We’ll hold them off as long as we can!” Gregor shouted, Issak joined his side. Vladamir may not have been able to speak to them anymore, but they had worked together for many years in many fights.
“Find him!” Gregor shouted as the two of them ran forwards into the mass of prisoners.
Mollie watched them disappear into the frenzy of battle before turning back, looking to where Vladamir had fallen. As she made her way towards the MPD barricade, she passed a handful of soldiers, no longer fighting as they tried to treat each other's wounds.
“Mollie,” a weak voice called out.
“Vlad!” she turned to the source of the sound and saw his bloodied body lying on the ground.
“It’s too late, Mollie,” he said, his voice cracking as he spoke.
Glancing over his wounds, Mollie knew he was right. Vladamir’s legs were both shattered, either from the explosion or from the impact of landing. His left arm was bent at an unnatural angle, and a tear in his jacket showed burnt and torn flesh across his chest. The area around his heart was bleeding profusely, pumping out with each heartbeat.
“I’m too weak to control the others. I need all my strength to hold on. My heart isn’t powerful enough to keep the blood circulating,” each word accompanied by a deep wheezing.
“We aren’t going to win this one,” Mollie said softly, her hand finding his, “so rest now, it’s over.” Despite everything he’d done, this man had guided her in his own way, and now, after losing JJ several months earlier, she felt like she was losing another father figure.
“You must look after them. They need guidance, someone to stop them from going too far,” Vladamir locked his eyes with Mollie’s. She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“You’re not trying to trick me again, are you?” She said, smiling.
The dying man laughed for a moment before it was turned into a bloodied cough.
“No, not this time, Mollie. Now you will lead them, and you need to save them from this battle. Regroup and find another way. The city may fall, but it is not lost.”
Vladamir gripped Mollie’s hand tighter, pulling himself to a seated position, then released the grip. Moving his hand to the wound on his chest, he touched the blood that was weeping from the wound. Mollie saw the palm of his hand, a spiral tattoo she had never seen circling out from its centre.
“My blood, take it and make it your own, Mollie,” he whispered. The blood spiralled, following the tattooed patterns around his palm. “I…I choose you as the new host, the control is within my blood, and I give it to you. He grasped Mollie’s hand again, tipping his palm over and allowing his blood to pool into her hand, then pushed the liquid towards her lips.
Moving it towards her mouth, her lips parted, but before she could taste the blood, another explosion rocked the bridge, throwing her aside and away from Vladamir. Looking up, she saw the prisoners charging the bridge. There were no Krovoz to be seen. She looked around for Vladamir as the crowds began to rush past her, filling her vision, but he was nowhere to be seen. She glanced down at her palm. Most of the blood had been spilled from her hand, but a small amount of blood-stained her palm still. She put her lips to her hand, feeling a warmth in her throat as she let it drip down her throat. Standing, she tried to move towards the mainland, but the prisoners who had ignored her initially, presuming she wasn’t a threat, saw her move and began to swarm around her. The burning in her throat trailed through her body, the increasing heat causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. The crowd stepped closer.
“I’m sorry, Vlad,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.
“Stay back!” a voice shouted from above her.
Chapter Seventy-Three
Prime
Prime was still getting used to being back in his body again, even if it wasn’t physically real.
�
�So, any suggestions on getting us out of here?” Persephone asked. She was walking a short distance away from them, testing the barriers of the illuminated area they others were stood in.
“If we’re all inside Salem’s mind, somehow, then we’d need to find a way to stop his receiver from directing our signal towards him,” Ally reasoned.
“True, but from what I understand, the receiver is only meant to attract one signal at a time. With all of us here, we’re at risk of having all our signals entangled,” Peter theorised.
“So, we need to separate the signals as we leave, perhaps by leaving one at a time,” Persephone nodded.
“What about us?” Prime said, looking at Peter, “We’re both from the same source. How do we separate?”
“I’m afraid that isn’t my problem,” Persephone interrupted, “in case you’ve forgotten, we aren’t exactly on the same side here.”
“Well, right now we are,” Ally said, stepping forwards, “this is one hell of a messed up family reunion, and I think we need to work together. Don’t for one second think I’ve forgotten that you killed Julian, but I can put that aside until we get out of here, so I suggest you put whatever ridiculous notions you have about taking over the city aside as well!”
Persephone raised her eyebrow, studying Ally for a moment before a smile spread across her lips. “So, that’s where I get my temper from, mother,” she laughed. “Very well, let’s get out of here. I feel that Yuri and Jacob are our mutual enemies at the moment anyway.”
“Just like old times,” Prime sighed.
Persephone walked back to the group as the light that seemed to shine from nowhere grew brighter. Suddenly, as if it had always been there, a statue stood between them, the light above it casting shadows across the figure of a man. The area around them had transformed into an outdoor scene, a blue sky appeared above them and the light was now coming from a midday sun, with impossibly green grass at their feet. The entire area was atop a towering island. The sound of waves crashed against cliff faces on all sides of the circular island.
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